Joop! Homme by Joop

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Joop! Homme has been around since 1989 and has managed to maintain its popularity among men ever since. The name kind of threw me off of it the first time I encountered this fragrance, but I was quickly won over when I found out what it smelled like.

Joop! is not only a great scent and has a name that exclaims itself but it is also very affordable, which is something many guys are looking for in a fragrance.

Though, it’s inexpensiveness, doesn’t coincide with any weakness in this sharp men’s scent. With all that in mind, I wanted to take a bit of a closer look at this floral based men’s cologne and break down what makes it worth trying out.

Other pages to take a look at: Best Colognes Under $30, Top Long Lasting Fragrances

What does Joop! Pour Homme Smell Like?

Notes include: orange blossom, vanilla, cinnamon, mandarin, amber, cedar, jasmine, bergamot, lily, heliotrope, tonka bean, patchouli, and sandalwood

Click here to try:  Joop Pour Homme Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 4.2 Fluid Ounce

My Full Review

Joop! Homme is an interesting fragrance. Not only because of the name and its exclamation point, but also because it is a masculine floral scent.

Many of the more masculine florals are toned down, but not Joop!, it opens with a bang, and can be in your face and even insufferable to some folks.

This is not the kind of cologne that will appeal to everyone, it’s brash, it’s sweet, and it can be a lot to take for the first hour plus of wear. That being said, I love this stuff, at times.

Joop! Homme opens up with an intense spice, led by cinnamon and patchouli. It’s also warmed by amber and has a few sharp citrus notes poking through. Brace yourself, this is where it can be a pretty intense experience.

It’s spicy, syrupy sweet, and floral with a bit of honeyed essence in there to boot. There is a vanilla note that is quite prominent, but it is dominated by the spices in here for the first couple of hours of wear.

This purple/pinkish juice surprisingly has a dark edge, especially when considering the list of ingredients. Yes, it’s sweet but it has quite a deep composition, and a definite masculine side. The floral notes are nice, I personally enjoy orange blossom in scents, as well as jasmine.

Those two, are fairly commonplace in men’s colognes, but heliotrope is sort of the wildcard in Joop! These floral notes begin to really emerge during the dry down period as some of the spiciness begins to subside and the sweet syrupy aroma takes hold.

You get peaks of the sandalwood and cedar, which help give it a woodsy base from which to build off of. However, it is ultimately a cinnamon/vanilla floral, that is smooth and warm but opens with a big spice. Is it for everyone? Nope. But there are plenty of folks who will love it.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Joop! Homme is very strong. Now, I want to note that with long-selling fragrances, reformulations happen.

Sometimes, the companies change the formula to save money, and sometimes things change due to regulations.

The vintage Joop! is insanely strong, like, top tier all-time in terms of being a powerhouse for a mainstream scent.

Nowadays, it still has great sillage but lots of EU regulations, have cut much of the heart out of Joop! The last bottle that I purchased, still was plenty powerful, and had good longevity in the 7-9 hour range with just 2 sprays.

Seasonally, this one is a cold weather star. It can also do most of the springtime, but in the summer, it’s always felt too messy to my nose.

Is it versatile? Sort of. It can be really brash and not always the best option for close quarters.

I once wore it to work and a female co-worker of mine commented on how ‘damn spicy’ it was. Haha. So, yeah, maybe go with one spray at work or school. However, it’s been a club beast since its release, and still works there up to today.

Joop! has an aroma that is more suited to a younger man, think teens and twenties. I’ve pretty much outgrown it and don’t currently own a bottle, but I think I’d still wear it, if I didn’t already have countless bottles and samples of other stuff lying around for this website.

Some women are going to hate this, while others absolutely love it. I’ve experienced all sorts of reactions while wearing it. This is such a love or hate it type of cologne.

Overall Impressions of Joop! Pour Homme

Overall, Joop! is a fragrance that begs to be worn by a confident man. It has a certain energy to it and it always seems to draw women towards the guy wearing it or repel, based on their tastes.

It is a strong cologne, so, not too much is needed for the desired effect, but that’s a good thing anyways as you won’t have to buy new bottles constantly.

I love the boldness, the periods of spiciness, the vanilla, and the floral notes which aren’t too common in a men’s fragrance. Plus, it delivers total performance, at a cheap price point.

It’s not my favorite fragrance ever, but it’s one that I definitely had my time enjoying when I was younger. I don’t  have a bottle anymore. Though, I suppose that could be possible in the future.

If you are looking for a bold and sexy fragrance, then you may want to give Joop! a tryout. It’s really a throwback to the 1980s and has a unique vibe that you still won’t find with many men’s scents.

It’s not always beloved, but Joop! Homme can still bring the intensity, and has a place in many men’s collection.

Mille Feux by Louis Vuitton

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Mille Feux is one of the perfume releases which Louis Vuitton brought to market back in 2016. It also happens to be one of scents that has survived being cut from the lineup thus far. I bought a bunch of sample decants of Vuitton fragrances a few months ago and gradually posting my reviews since. I finally cracked open Mille Feux, recently, and put it through its paces. How does it smell? Is it worth a buy?

What does Mille Feux Smell Like?

Notes include: leather, raspberry, osmanthus, iris, saffron, jasmine, rose, patchouli, sandalwood

My Full Review

Let’s see how Louis Vuitton describes this perfume: An incandescent fusion of raspberry and leather creates an ode to light. A golden ray, a starlit sky, the aurora borealis: light contributes to the magic of travel.

When I saw that Mille Feux (thousand lights) had leather and raspberry in its notes, I immediately thought of Tom Ford’s Tuscan Leather or Godolphin by PdM, with the saffron. However, this Louis Vuitton perfume comes across quite differently from those two, even while sharing plenty of overlap.

Mille Feux opens up with a much more intense and sweeter raspberry than does the Tom Ford. It’s bright and juicy, more feminine, and the osmanthus only adds to its brightness. LV says that the osmanthus, has a pear-like quality, and I do pick that up.

Underneath that, is obviously the leather note, which is great. I really enjoy the interplay between the fruity notes and the leather. It’s interesting that at times, Mille Feux has somewhat of a fruit-chouli vibe, as the patchouli note is pretty prominent.

It’s probably fifth place overall behind the osmanthus and saffron. The saffron note, makes this scent lean much closer to Godolphin than Tuscan Leather, just a womanly fruity/floral version of that fragrance.

For the dry down, I get a base of leather and patchouli. On top of that is the remaining raspberry and blend of floral notes. What’s nice is during these latter stages, I can pick out rose and some iris in the mix.

At this point, it takes some focus to really distinguish, but the notes are there.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This Louis Vuitton perfume is pretty light to moderate with its sillage. Don’t expect a powerhouse that projects like crazy, it’s going to stay pretty close to the skin for the entirety of the wear.

To me, this was the biggest disappointment with this fragrance. I wish the power had been amped up more, because the actual scent is lovely.

The longevity though, isn’t bad. While it isn’t a strong perfume, Mille Feux does stick around for over 8 hours. Not insane longevity, but it doesn’t disappear super quickly. It’s light and not always noticeable, but it is actually there.

Seasonally, the fragrance can work in winter through springtime. The summer might be a stretch, depending on how hot it gets in your locale. Maybe, as a nighttime fragrance it could work. Though, I’d generally keep it to the rest of the year.

It’s not a heavy fragrance that only works in the cold, however.

It is pretty versatile. Not a formal scent or a club beast, but it wouldn’t be entirely inappropriate elsewhere. Mille Feux is an attractive perfume, not necessarily sexy, but it is enjoyable to be around.

Overall Impressions of Mille Feux

Overall, do I like Mille Feux? I really do. I’m a fan of Goldolphin by PdM, so this fruitier version of that style of perfume, is obviously going to have appeal for me.

Mille Feux is more distinctly a woman’s scent, though. It’s two biggest weaknesses are perhaps its lack of unique style and how underpowered it is. I wish that this LV fragrance had more power behind it, but it just doesn’t.

What does it do well? The raspberry and osmanthus up top. The leather note. The saffron isn’t too heavy, but adds a nice touch. Heck, even the very light iris to give it some slight powdery quality. The aroma itself is great.

Is it worth buying a full bottle? Eh, maybe. If you want a quality fruity leather scent, I would for sure check it out. The lightness of the perfume, might be a hinderance for many looking to purchase it. On aroma alone? It’s a yes.

Libre EDP by YSL

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Libre has become a pretty popular release for YSL. The original EDP (which I am reviewing here) was released in 2019 and has spawned two other flanker fragrances since then. I picked up a few samples of the eau de parfum and Intense a few months ago and have tested each over the ensuing time period. How does Libre smell? Is it long lasting? Is it even worth a try?

What does YSL Libre Smell Like?

Notes include: lavender, white musks, orange flower, vanilla, orchid

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau De Parfum Spray for Women 90ml/3oz, clear

My Full Review

Before we get into my review, let’s see how YSL describes Libre: The first floral lavender for a singular trail like a breath of freedom. The iconic orange blossom flower from Morocco, a luminous and sensual white flower, twisted by the lavender from France, an ambiguous flower often considered as masculine, bringing boldness, freshness and texture. 

The opening of Libre EDP gives me a strong burst of the orange blossom, with some additional citrus juice for good measure. The lavender is there, but it actually takes a back seat to the other floral note at first.

It’s a clean aroma, soapy, a bit musky, with a touch of vanilla creaminess. I will say, while this does have vanilla/citrus in it, this isn’t going to be a sweet perfume. In fact, the opening can be somewhat bitter versus what you might expect. 

As it moves along, the lavender really starts to take over to my nose. The orange blossom loses some steam, it becomes less musky, and the other floral notes all play off of the lavender. 

The vanilla is never too strong on my skin, but it does take the place of much of the muskiness during the dry down. That’s basically all I get from this perfume. Simple. Lavender and orange blossom, with some vanilla, musk, and orchid in descending strength. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, I’d put Libre on the upper end of the moderate range at least. It’s not overwhelmingly powerful but it is borderline strong and has a nice ability to project itself throughout the wear. Libre EDP is pretty consistent as well. The perfume doesn’t just weaken completely an hour in.

So, if you enjoy it, you will get your money’s worth in terms of performance.

The fragrance itself lasts for 8-9 hours. That’s on my skin, which is usually pretty good at holding most scents. The performance is darn good, and again, not something that will disappoint. However, it doesn’t ever quite reach that elite status of double digit hour or all-day wears. 

Seasonally, Libre EDP can fit in, nearly year round. I would skip wearing it on the hottest and most humid days of summer, but outside of that this is a scent that can do well.

 

 

The EDP version is more of a daytime fragrance that can venture into evening wear. While Intense, is more of the nighttime version. Libre EDP is a good daily wear option for those who want a nice lavender blend to wear.

I’d go easy on the sprays, if you’re working in a enclosed space, however. As far as its uses, I wouldn’t call this a sexy fragrance, and it isn’t super seductive. So, skip Libre on a date night or evening out, when you want attention. 

Use it when you want a lavender, soapy, clean sort of perfume. It’s close to being unisex, as well. But, appropriate for a wide age range.

Overall Impressions of Libre EDP

Overall, do I like YSL Libre? It’s nice for what it is. I’m not enthralled with the fragrance, but I enjoy it somewhat. Libre EDP isn’t super complicated, though, it is a pleasant experience as a whole.

This is the more floral version from this line of scents. So, if you want a good lavender and orange blossom led perfume, this is one that you should check out. Soapy clean and versatile with a bold performance, there’s nothing here that is terrible. 

The opening act isn’t my favorite, but I do enjoy the dry down more so, once the orange flower is out of the way. Which is strange, since I generally like that note more than just straight lavender. I think the vanilla and the fading of the musks, makes the latter stages better. 

All in all, Libre is a fine entry from YSL. Their probably going to milk this name for years and Intense is already a better option, in my opinion. Libre EDP, is a nice base to start from, and at least worth a try if you’re interested. 

Polo Cologne Intense by Ralph Lauren

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Polo Cologne Intense EDP is a 2021 release from Ralph Lauren that is a modern flanker to the classic original Polo, which dates back to the 1970s. It seems weird to finally put out a flanker, over 40 years after the fact, but whatever. I recently got ahold of a sample of this scent and have been testing it out. How does it smell? How long does it last? When should it be worn?

What does Polo Cologne Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, mint, basil, sage, patchouli, vetiver

My Full Review

Polo Cologne Intense opens up with a fresh blast of citrus and mint. The grapefruit is bright and cold, with additional mint, and the ever-growing presence of basil. On me, I get more mint at first, and then the basil becomes more prominent.

It’s got a very fresh, green/herbal sort of profile. The basil takes over and it simply has a minty edge from there on, until you get to the dry down.

The next phase has sage and violet leaf, joining the basil which gives Cologne Intense even more of that herbal greenish profile. The basil doesn’t stick out as much to me and the entire thing seems more blended together and it’s harder to distinguish between the individual notes.

The final dry down is actually pretty earthy and dry. The green fresh spice is still there somewhat, but I mostly get the remnants of the violet leaf, patchouli, and vetiver. This is where it feels most like the original to me, but it’s still a fractional overlapping. You get some of Polo, just perhaps not as much as some might like.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this one will project 4-7 feet from the skin. It’s not a complete bomb, pretty moderate, but I found it to be consistent and didn’t just quickly turn into a skin scent. I really don’t have any complaints, as I wouldn’t want this one to be a total monster.

The longevity was about 7-8 hours, on my skin. Again, it’s solid, just not going to be shockingly good at sticking around. For most purposes, Polo Cologne Intense will get the job done.

Seasonally, Polo Cologne Intense is actually very versatile. It might be a bit too fresh for the coldest days of the year, but it can work any other time. This is probably it’s greatest strength. Very close to an all-around cologne.

The original Polo in the green bottle, can seem too old school for many guys who grew up in a later time period. This one does have a more youthful feel to it, but not something that would be exclusive to younger guys either. It would work for early 20s and up without issue.

It is safe for work, a night out, or semi-formal occasions. Not really a sexy scent or a club beast, but it can be an easy reach for a lot of situations.

Overall Impressions of Polo Cologne Intense

Overall, do I like Polo Cologne Intense? It’s pretty good. I like the opening phase of this fragrance, but after that it becomes pretty much just an average green/outdoorsy scent with touches of the original Polo cologne.

That mint, basil, and grapefruit is a nice combination. Very fresh and bright. But, is that worth the price of a full bottle? Probably not. Maybe once this starts to hit the discounters, it might be worthwhile for some guys to pick up a bottle.

The performance here is good enough. Sillage isn’t completely weak, it is consistent, and will last close to a full work day.

If you liked the original, this is a more modern take. Don’t expect it to be an exact clone, with more power. This isn’t nearly as woody but does give you a herbal freshness, more of the basil that is found in the original.

Polo Cologne Intense is an okay effort from Ralph Lauren, not amazing, but definitely not terrible.

Bvlgari Man Black Cologne EDT

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Bvlgari has released a bunch of its Black flanker scents. Man Black Cologne was one that they put out back in 2016, that I never got around to. However, I recently grabbed a sample online to finally give a review. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does Bvlgari Man Black Cologne Smell Like?

Notes include: rum, citrus, orange blossom, tuberose, amber, sandalwood, musk

Click here to try: Bvlgari Man Black Cologne 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette Spray

My Full Review

“A fragrance like burning hot water”. That is the description of Man Black Cologne that is printed on the sample card, I bought. Sure, whatever. 

Really, I wanted to try this one out because I loved wearing Man in Black and this one is a spring/summer version of that cologne from Bvlgari. 

Man Black opens up with sharp citrus, heavy rum, and a greenish aroma. It’s quite a pungent kick to opening things and has some of the floral notes already wafting up. Honestly, I’m not a fan of the beginning. 

It’s sharp and almost comes across like body odor. That’s short-lived and Man Black will become more tolerable, as it moves along. I don’t enjoy the citrus notes here for whatever reason.

Once the citrus note fade, there is a white floral blend of tuberose and some remaining orange blossom. All of this will be wrapped up in an amber/benzoin blanket, that has been splashed with rum.

This is probably the highlight of the fragrance for me. I like that it adds some sweetness to the composition. Amber, white floral notes, with some woody/musk, and that signature rum note. 

The problem is, Man Black Cologne loses much of its power by the time the best of the fragrance rolls around. It’s still detectable and sticks around, but that initial burst of strength, isn’t there.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here, much like Man in Black, isn’t all that powerful. Much more of a moderate aroma, with some decent projection for a time, but not going to blow the doors off. Still, it’s good for what you’ll need in the warmer months of the year.

The longevity is about 6.5-7 hours, on my skin. A bit better than Man in Black, maybe an extra hour or so of wear. Not a huge improvement, but it at least has an edge versus that version, in terms of performance. 

 

Seasonally, this is a spring and summertime wear. I do like the concept of giving us a Man in Black for these seasons, since that was limited to the colder months. 

Man Black Cologne is best used for casual outings or an evening on the town. It’s probably going to appeal most to guys in their 20s through early 30s. This isn’t an office wear or something formal, but you can pretty much wear it out to wherever else during summer.

Overall Impressions of Man Black Cologne

Overall, do I like Man Black Cologne? It’s fine, but it didn’t have the same appeal to me as Man in Black. That one was great, just middling performance. This Bvlgari is pretty good with middling performance. 

The citrus, amber, and floral notes don’t particularly sit well on me. It’s got a harshness in the early stages, that made this one lose some of its appeal for me. 

The floral stage is nice. I don’t love it either, though with the rum and softened citrus notes, the amber and white floral notes. It’s softer, smoother, and still has that boozy spice. 

I don’t hate any of this. It’s just nothing all that amazing, either. The performance is decent, the smell is decent, and that’s about all. There are better summer citruses, boozy summer wears, etc. This isn’t a terrible investment, but Man Black EDT isn’t something I’d really ever reach for.