L’homme Ideal Eau de Parfum by Guerlain

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The L’homme Ideal series from Guerlain is both extensive and extremely popular. I’m close to finishing my reviews on the last two that I grabbed newer samples of. Today’s entry is Ideal Eau de Parfum, which I’ve already experienced multiple times, but was excited to come back to it. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it actually worth a try?

What does L’Homme Ideal EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: cherry, almond, thyme, vanilla, spices, lavender, rose, bergamot, incense, leather, tonka bean, and sandalwood

Click here to try: L’Homme Ideal EDP

My Full Review

The opening of Ideal EDP is quite interesting. In many ways, it has overlap with L’Intense, yet much less smokiness from the incense note.

Instead, things are lead by cherry, leather, almond, and a mix of spices. On my skin, it is a smooth leather freshness with a warm blend of spice and a cherry note sitting on top. As it moves along, more of the nuttiness from that rather distinct almond note will peak through.

Pretty complex blend of sweet, spicy, leather, and the peaking of some floral notes. Lavender and some rose.

Actually, once those top spices lighten up a bit, I do start to pick up more of the incense. Decently close to my bottle of L’Intense.

The next phase: almond, vanilla, and tonka bean start to create a wrapping effect around the leather and cherry notes. Ideal EDP still has a nice sweetness, just sans any type of sugary candy-like aroma.

For a time, the rose will come out and I really don’t get much lavender anymore. The fragrance feels drier and has a nice balance between warmth and cold freshness.

Finally, it’s leather, sandalwood, vanilla, almond and cherry (in that order). The dry down is pretty leathery/woody with just hints of the more gourmand elements found earlier on the wear.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is pretty moderate. You do get a fairly strong start, but it really never overwhelms or dominates a room. You’ll get decent projection from Ideal EDP, though, it doesn’t hit the higher end of the spectrum.

The longevity is good, better than the sillage. I will usually get a full 8 hours of wear from this version and up to 9.5 hours, on a good day. Spectacular? No, but really a solid performer and one that won’t just quit on you. No real complaints.

Seasonally, I like this for autumn and winter. The colder and crisp temperatures really bring out its full presentation. More nuance and it simply smells better versus when it is in the heat.

This is more about the nighttime than being a jack of all trades. At least, that’s when I prefer it. It can venture into semi-formal occasions, dates, and even in the office at times. Maybe not a main daily wear, but one that will have a heavy spot in the rotation.

Overall Impressions of Ideal Eau de Parfum

Overall, do I like L’homme Ideal EDP? Yes, I really do enjoy this Guerlain fragrance. I think that it is the best of the line, that is currently available.

The cherry note, blended with leather, almond, and vanilla really is a fine experience. This one has depth and nuance, delivers a good performance, and gives you plenty of opportunity to wear it. Guys of all ages could easily wear this one without much issue.

In the US, it is no longer sold. So, you’ll have to purchase from the UK, Europe, or eBay. That can be a problem for a lot of guys and really drive up the price of acquiring a bottle.

Update: They brought it back. EDP is now widely available

Is it worth it? If you like this line, yes, it probably will be. Personally, I already have a full bottle of L’Intense and don’t really want to own multiple flankers of Ideal. I certainly thought about it and almost pulled the trigger.

Ideal eau de parfum is a fantastic wear. Not my personal favorite, but something that I can certainly want to come back to when the mood strikes.

La Belle EDP by Jean Paul Gaultier

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JPG’s La Belle is a sample that I received by mistake, when I was supposed to get different men’s fragrances and received women’s instead. But, not a big deal, since I have to do writeups for this site anyway. I’d encountered this one a few times before, but never spent that much time with it. How does La Belle EDP smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a buy?

What does La Belle by JPG Smell Like?

Notes include: pear, vanilla, bergamot, leather, floral notes, amber, musk, vetiver

Click here to try: Jean Paul Gaultier La Belle for Women Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Review

Before we get into my review, let’s see how JPG describes this scent: Jean Paul Gaultier created La Belle in his own image, an ultra sensual feminine fragrance with an addictive sillage. A green oriental perfume born of the encounter between addictive vanilla pod, fresh bergamot and a burst of pear.

Upon first spraying La Belle EDP, I immediately think that this is the female version of Ultra Male, by this designer. Two different scents, with overlaps, and really the same concept.

Juicy pear and bergamot kick things off here. The background is warm and a bit spicy, but the overall aroma is one that is sweet, somewhat thick, but retaining a light and watery freshness about it. I get amber early on, as well.

The sweetness has a gourmand caramelization going on. The bergamot note will subside and that’s when the vanilla note really starts to come into its own. The vetiver note comes in towards the middle act, with a general impression of floral notes.

But, this isn’t really a floral fragrance, just a sweet fruity one. The leather, if it is there, must be hidden underneath the layers of the rest.

In the end, it’s about the vanilla, amber, musk, and vetiver notes. That’s what it dries down to. The pear and bergamot are pretty much just an impression of sweetness later on.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This stuff is pretty massive. The ability that it has to project is very far reaching, much like Ultra Male. Literally, only need a spray or two. I can catch whiffs of it from a shirt that I sprayed from 10 feet away.

So, you know, don’t go crazy with this stuff.

The longevity is pretty top notch. Well over 11 hours, on my skin, during testing. La Belle is an absolute beast and workhorse that isn’t just going to quit. This is a perfume that is bold and commands attention for a long time.

Seasonally, autumn and winter. Maybe, the early part of spring. I wouldn’t wear this when it is too warm out, but it does hang very nicely in the cold air, here in January.

The versatility is probably the biggest weakness. Not a formal scent. Not for work. Probably not for many daytime situations. However, it is a nightlife gem. This can be worn to a bar, club, and out on a date.

It does have a sexiness and attractive qualities to lure someone in. Provided you don’t over-spray and choke them out first.

Overall Impressions of La Belle

Overall, do I like La Belle EDP? I do like it. It’s not a complete love for me, because it is very sweet and kind of overwhelming at times.

Nonetheless, it is a fragrance that smells very nice and it’s a solid gourmand. The bergamot and pear opening is great. It does quickly get wrapped up in that vanilla embrace.

It can be cloying, and frankly, it does wear on my nerves after a while. The vetiver and amber and vanilla dry down, isn’t my favorite…but still pretty good, on the whole.

If you want a monstrous sillage and love sweet gourmand fragrances, this is one to check out. Understand, it isn’t for everyone or one that you’d necessarily want to wear on many occasions. But, it is a perfume that can for sure have its place within a rotation.

A Drop d’Issey by Issey Miyake

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Issey Miyake released A Drop d’Issey in 2021. I happened to get a sample vial of this fragrance with one of my orders, so I of course eventually tried it out, in order to do a review for the site. I had no clue, as to what I should expect with this perfume. How does it smell? Does it last long? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does A Drop d’Issey Smell Like?

Notes include: lilac, almond, damask rose, solar notes, jasmine, star anise, musk, vanilla, and more

Click here to try: Issey Miyake A Drop d’Issey for Women Eau de Parfum Spray, 3 Ounce

My Full Review

Here’s how Issey Miyake describes this perfume: A solar lilac accord enlightened by a musky note and an almond milk facet.

A Drop d’Issey opens up with a light and floral aroma. The damask rose and lilac are the main attraction up top, along with the solar notes. It’s light, musky, and the rose dominates on my skin for the first bit, before this fragrance starts to shift.

As it moves along, the lilac will become more noticeable and sort of split the strength with the rose note. Almond and vanilla come in and indeed give this perfume a milky creaminess. Definitely a clean lotion sort of vibe coming from this Issey Miyake.

However, the almond milk will fade out too. The jasmine note will rise with the lilac and this takes on more of a powdery quality. A musky/powdery floral, full of solar warmth and light creamy touches throughout.

For me, this dries down into a fresh musky floral with some sweetness. Much of the creamy and powdery aroma will subside. The lilac fully takes control, on my skin. So, if you’re not big into that note, this might be a skip.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is actually quite powerful. It will project itself extremely well. I can spray the sample vial on a shirt and smell it from 6+ feet away without issue. I was actually surprised by the performance of this one.

The longevity is also great. It seems to quit in the 8-9 hour range, on my skin. So, you’ll get about a full workday out of it. All in all, this one really delivers the good with how well it sticks around and let’s itself be known.

Seasonally, this is a spring and summer scent. Wear it in moderate to warmer temperatures during the daytime.

A Drop d’Issey is something to be worn casually, semi-formally, or maybe to the office. This isn’t a club beast or something that is particularly sexy. Probably best served for women in their late-20s and up.

But, the lilacs don’t strike me as old lady-ish either. Clean and pretty pleasant to be around.

Overall Impressions of A Drop d’Issey

Overall, do I like A Drop d’Issey? I do like it. I think that it’s a very good perfume all around and doesn’t have any particular weaknesses. Maybe originality?

I will say, that you’re going to have to know what you’re getting into with this one. It does have an aroma very much like soap or a fine face cream. Lilac is a big part and it’s not one that is particularly sexy or dynamic.

But, if this sounds like the type of scent that you enjoy, it is one that is well worth checking out. The smell is attractive, the performance is great, and it’s available at an affordable price point.

I do like the opening with the rose, solar notes, and lilac. As well as, that almond milk creaminess. I’m not a huge lilac fan, but I don’t completely dislike it either, especially with this perfume. Nice smelling, purple flowers, with a creamy/powdery finish to it.

St. Kitts for Men by Tommy Bahama

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St. Kitts has been my personal favorite from the Tommy Bahama line of men’s colognes for a long while now. But, it’s also been some time since I’ve tried it, and I’ve never written a full review for the website. Let’s change that. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is St. Kitts for Men, worth a buy?

What does St. Kitts by Tommy Bahama Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, star fruit, lime, sea salt, watery notes, musk, driftwood, and more

Click here to try: Tommy Bahama St. Kitts Men Eau De Cologne Spray, 3.4 Fl Oz

My Full Review

I bought a giftset of St. Kitts over the holidays for $15. It included a full bottle of the cologne, aftershave balm, and a body wash. For the price, it’s a pretty great deal. It had been a while since I’d tried this Tommy Bahama scent and figured it was time for a full review.

It opens up with the star fruit and citrus blend. The star fruit leads the way, with mandarin second, and that same lime note found in St. Barts bringing up the rear. Many other fragrances have variations on the citrus opening, but this combo is pretty unique and really is the selling point with St. Kitts.

The fruits are light, fresh, and give it that sweet tropical aroma. One thing I noticed here, is that the musk note seems stronger than I remember. It’s going to play a bigger role in the cologne versus the aftershave balm which is the pure fruity smell.

With the musk, comes an ambergris. It’s not too prevalent versus the musk, either.

Underneath that, water is the next main note, salt water to be specific. Not heavy or super oceanic smelling, but it does lend to the island vibe we’re looking for with this sort of fragrance.

Finally, some cedar and driftwood. These two notes are pretty light in this iteration. Almost like they flipped with the musk note. Still, very enjoyable.

St. Kitts is a rather linear cologne. The development is the fruits fade in strength and it becomes more balanced with the musk, ambergris, water, and salt.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is pretty moderate. At the start, it’ll project itself 4-6 feet with a decent amount of sprays. That’ll last an hour or two, and then, St. Kitts for Men is a much lighter scent. It’ll stick close to the skin.

It’s probably my main gripe with this fragrance, it’s eau de cologne strength. I wish the concentration could’ve at least been an EDT, or even better, and eau de parfum. That would’ve beefed it up and give Kitts better performance.

The longevity, though, isn’t terrible. The scent will stick around for about 6.5 hours on me. Much of that original opening will be gone, but what’s left is still definitely there for the duration. Again, I want that to be different.

Seasonally, spring and summer all the way. This is a very nice casual cologne for a hotter day. I will wear it around town, on vacation, or maybe even for a workout.

I personally have too many other fragrance options for this to be my daily wear, but it could have a spot for someone who wants something understated.

Overall Impressions of St. Kitts for Men

Do I like this cologne? I do. It’s my favorite from the Tommy Bahama line. St. Barts is number two. I absolutely love the citrus notes in this, which is probably why I enjoy wearing the aftershave balm more than my bottle of the cologne itself.

Those fruity notes are an amazing combination. I love them in this, but they’re kind of not being used to their full potential either.

This is a pretty simple fragrance, without too much development. Tropical fruits, watery notes, musk, and a beachy constitution.

I actually like the aftershave balm more, as you get a better version of the scent without the alcohol. The eau de cologne concentration isn’t great with these Bahama fragrances.

The performance is a weak point. The sillage doesn’t maintain its strength for very long, and while it does technically last 6.5 hours, most of the best part is non-existent by then.

Still, this is an easy one to wear, and a scent that I’m going to enjoy breaking out when things start to heat up. For $15? It’s a buy. Full price? That’s up to you.

6 Best Smelling Tommy Bahama Colognes

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Tommy Bahama fragrances tend to stick to a maritime theme, as the brand image would suggest. Over the past decade plus, they have launched new scents consistently, and have put out some enjoyable fragrances that represent a quite casual and carefree lifestyle.

For this post, I want to explore six colognes from this line, which I consider to be the best and you can still readily find. I have updated this post, to include some newer releases, and to get rid of some that are no longer available.

What are the Best Tommy Bahama Fragrances for Men?

Best Overall Tommy Bahama Scent

Tommy Bahama St. Kitts Eau De Cologne Spray for Him, 3.4 Ounce– Keeps up with the aquatic theme of the Set Sail line but takes on fruitier notes. Star Fruit and citrus are the opening stars to go along with a nice salty sea water note and the underlying masculinity of cedar.

You get orange, lime, and the star fruit notes. This sits on an aquatic accord, with a salty aroma. Very light woods give St. Kitts a bit more substance, but overall, its a very simple and refreshing wear for the warmer climates.

This one is closest to St. Barts, in terms of smell, but comes across as less boozy/creamy. Sweet, fruity, with a tropical chill permeating the entire composition. St. Kitts Full Review

Simple, Clean, Musky

Tommy Bahama Martinique Men Cologne, 3.4 Fl Oz– I really wasn’t much of a fan of this stuff at first, but I must say that it’s grown on me as a casual option. An aquatic/sea water aroma with lavender, citrus, and a dose of musk. I think that it settles in nicely and works well in the warm weather.

It opens up with blue lavender and a nice sharp bergamot. It isn’t overly sharp, as the aquatic notes and lavender temper the citrus a bit. The sea breeze notes are salty, but not super intense. Then, you get a musk and pepper note, to round things out.

However, the main part of this is lavender and musk. It turns into a suntan lotion-like scent, floating in a sea breeze/sea weed. The sillage is light to moderate, but you get some pretty good longevity here.  Set Sail Martinique Review

Top New Release

Maritime Journey– I got the chance to spray this one on at the store, but haven’t had enough experience with it to do a full review. Update: Here it is.  However, I think it is good enough to make the list.

Maritime Journey has some light fruitiness from apple, a very crisp and somewhat cold sensation. This is offset by fresh cedar, warm cardamom, and dry oakmoss.

It is more of a fresh woods, than a tropical fragrance like some of the others, but with a light spiciness to go along.

Nice Citrus Aquatic Fragrance

Tommy Bahama St. Barts Men Cologne,3.4 Fl Oz– Often compared as a poor man’s version of Creed’s Virgin Island Water (sans coconut), Set Sail St. Barts opens up with a blast of lime and sea notes that transforms into a boozy lotion, that makes you feel as if you’re right on the beach. I think that this and VIW have similarities but they strike me almost completely differently.

The lime note and sea notes, are also joined by guava, giving Set Sail St. Barts, a truly tropical aroma. It’s salty, with a very juicy citrus profile, that is quite intriguing. I really do love this lime note.

Once that opening act fades, you get palm wood with sea salt spray, and agave. Like a clean shot of tequila, while sitting on an island. Fresh and creamy summer wear, that I can get 6-7 hours with, when I go heavier on the sprays. St. Barts Full Review

Best Fresh Spice Scent

Tommy Bahama Very Cool Eau De Cologne Spray for Men 3.4oz– Ginger and citrus notes are the main players here. This is another one that took time for me to really appreciate. It’s a nice, slightly spicy smell for casual use.

It’s masculine with a light touch. Wish it lasted longer but nothing a few extra sprays wouldn’t fix.

Very Cool opens up with the ginger being the star, it is joined by nutmeg, and paprika. Unlike the other fragrances here, the citrus notes sit underneath the ginger spice, and it doesn’t have that oceanic quality.

As it moves along, the citrus notes do come out more, and it’s kind of a 50/50 split with the spice. Together, it is a soft and cool spice, almost powdery how it comes across. Nice freshie to spray on, casually. Very Cool Full Review

Fresh Aromatic Woody Cologne

Maritime Deep Blue– Maritime Deep Blue is a good release from Tommy Bahama, but it’s not as unique as other offerings from the brand. This is fairly closely related to Eternity Aqua and Polo Blue, in terms of smell.

This one has less of the citrus or aquatic elements of those colognes, but with more woodsy notes. The citrus is still quite prevalent, but not to the same intensity, in my experience.

It’s base has a certain dryness to it, with a really solid juniper note, which is the main distinction from the Polo Blue’s of the world. Maritime Deep Blue Review