Terra Extreme EDP by Vince Camuto

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I purchased a lot of 20 or so sample fragrances from Macy’s some time ago. In this batch, was this Vince Camuto scent that I hadn’t heard of, and so it sat unused by me for a while. Turns out that was kind of a mistake, because I liked it as soon as I sprayed it for the first time. What does Terra Extreme smell like? When should it be worn? Please continue for my full review below.

What does Terra Extreme Smell Like?

Notes include: rum, sandalwood, orange flower, tonka bean, vanilla, ambroxan, citrus, geranium, and more

Click here to try: Vince Camuto Terra Extreme Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.4 Fl Oz

My Full Review

This wasn’t a fragrance that I was looking for or had even heard of until I received a sample. I had no expectations, but was pleasantly surprised because Terra Extreme is actually a very nice fragrance.

It opens up with a light citrus juiciness sitting on top of a fresh/boozy/spicy accord. A blend of citrus fruits, along with orange blossom flower to give it that initial sweetness and brightness. However, this is a thicker and more gourmand experience.

In terms of style, I’d compare it to: Armani Code EDP, Wanted by Night, Eros, and the like. Terra Extreme fits into that cold weather sweet/fresh kind of style, but doesn’t smell exactly like any of them.

After the initial citrus juiciness, the rum note really comes through, along with geranium. The geranium can actually come across a bit leathery, when surrounded by these other notes. This is when this Vince Camuto cologne is at its warmest and spiciest. Though, it never hits the same level of spice as something like Wanted by Night.

As the fragrance moves along, the tonka bean and vanilla combination become the main players. The spice and booziness fall by the wayside and it takes on more of an amber/medicinal aroma in the base; thanks to the ambroxan and benzoin.

Actually, at this stage it’s like some kind of combination of Eros’ vanilla dry down and the benzoin note from Body Kouros. It’s interesting and quite well balanced. That’s basically what you’re going to get from the rest of the wear, sitting on top of a sandalwood note.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This isn’t a super powerful scent. Though, I’d say that Terra Extreme does project itself above average. Definitely, doesn’t come across as a monster that will choke out the room, but it gives you a nice performance.

On my skin, it hit close to 8 hours of wear before fading off. Again, not an amazing marathon type of cologne, but for what I’d wear it for it does the job.

Seasonally, autumn and winter. Terra Extreme isn’t super heavy, but don’t even bother once the air  gets much above room temperature.

It is subtle enough for wear at work during the daytime, while also having enough appeal to venture into the nightlife. The booziness from the rum isn’t overwhelming but it does help to give it that attractive or seductive vibe.

It’s in the same style as a Wanted by Night or Eros, but this one skews more mature than either of those. Not as spicy or as sweet as either of them and keeps it well put together and low key.

Overall Impressions of Terra Extreme

Do I like Terra Extreme? I do. This is a fragrance that is probably going to fly under the radar, but will absolutely be a great pick up at the discount retailers.

The rum, vanilla, benzoin, and orange blossom are all great notes. It has a similar style to a lot of scents, but doesn’t smell like a dupe or cheap knock off. This Vince Camuto isn’t an insanely great fragrance, though it is very good and I have liked wearing it a lot.

For an oriental style gourmand? This is a very nice addition to the cannon. Nice balance between sweet/boozy/spicy, solid performance, and something that will have mass appeal when worn. Terra Extreme is worth checking out.

Chance Eau Fraiche by Chanel

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Chance Eau Fraiche is one of the flanker releases by Chanel, after the massive success of its Chance perfume. Eau Fraiche has come to be able to stand alone in its own right, as it has been out for over a decade and hasn’t been discontinued by the designer yet.

That’s pretty good for a reinterpretation of an original fragrance. I had yet to give this one a proper review on the site, and so, I bought a sample to jog my memory and see if it’s still worthwhile.

What does Chance Eau Fraiche Smell Like?

Notes include: citron, jasmine, teak wood, hyacinth, cedar, vetiver, patchouli, and more

Click here to try: Chance Eau Fraiche Eau de Toilette Spray for Women, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

My Full Review

Chance Eau Fraiche opens up with its citron note coming out in full effect. It is joined by the hyacinth note, which is out in its full powdery peak, during the opening act. The powdery quality of this Chanel is what really separates it from other citrus/woody perfume, like Light Blue, in my mind. 

The opening citrus is tart, with the powder of the floral note, and the heightened freshness of a cedar and teakwood combination. What’s great about this opening, is that it doesn’t come across as screeching and unbearable, as it is calmed by the floral notes.

After this beginning, the hyacinth gets weaker and mostly replaced by the jasmine. Also, pink pepper, musk, and some more herbal notes emerge into the periphery.

Compared to the other Chance scents, this one is more focused on that juicy citrus and the floral notes are more just apart of the overall picture, instead of the main highlight.

Very clean, juicy, with a bit of a sporty edge to it. I end up getting the woods, musk, vetiver, and the remaining citron coming through in the final stage of the wear. It has some depth, but this one isn’t crazy complex. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is pretty light to moderate. It’s never super strong on my skin, but it is always more than a skin scent for a majority of the wear, at least for me. This is an eau fraiche style EDT, so, you really shouldn’t expect a beast coming in. 

That being said, Eau Fraiche does have the ability to project itself just fine. No major complaints from me about it.

 

The longevity, is somewhere in the 7-8 hour range for me. Keep in mind, during that last hour or so, it is coming through as a skin scent. Before that, I can still pick it up well enough, and it’ll stick to the 3-4 foot range from where I sprayed it.

Seasonally, this is a spring and summer wear. But, within that Chance Eau Fraiche is very versatile and wearable. More of a daytime fragrance. Not really a nightlife, formal, or particularly sexy perfume…but it’s attractive.

Eau Fraiche can also be worn by pretty much all ages. It does have a sweetness to it, but it isn’t a candy-like teenager scent, though it is entirely appropriate for that age range or older. 

Overall Impressions of Chance Eau Fraiche

Overall, do I like this fragrance? I really do enjoy Eau Fraiche. Though, I’d say it’s my third pick from the Chance line.

I love the citron and hyacinth combination. The Chanel jasmine note is absolutely classic and I like the teakwood and cedar blend, instead of a straight up cedar bomb. This one isn’t too complicated, but very appealing, and super easy to wear for a good chunk of the year.

Chance Eau Fraiche isn’t the most powerful scent on the market, but it’s solid enough for me. Plus, I get a nice amount of time to spend with it. If you like the original Chance, this one should appeal to you, and give you something to wear for the summer months. 

Chance Eau Fraiche is in the same style of fragrance as Light Blue or Versense by Versace. However, I prefer this to either of those scents. But, if you’re familiar with this kind of perfume and it fits your style, it’s pretty hard to go wrong with Eau Fraiche.

Best Smelling Christian Lacroix Perfumes

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Christian Lacroix is a design house that has been around for decades, at this point. The fragrance side of things, seems to be no longer active and producing scents. However, they are still churning out scarfs and leather goods.

While you currently aren’t going to get any new perfume releases from this brand, there are still older ones available for purchase, that smell really great. In this post, I want to present 5 of the best perfume options from Christian Lacroix, if you’re in the market. 

What are the Best Christian Lacroix Fragrances?

Best Lacroix for Summer

C’est La Fete– A fruity and popular fragrance for the summer months. Pear and passion fruit, are the main drivers of this fragrance, but you also get some other fruity notes like apricot.

It isn’t a super sugary sweet scent, rather, it is a light and upbeat scent with a touch of juiciness and underlying floral notes.

Clean, crisp, with some tartness thrown in; this gives C’est La Fete a familiar yet unique profile versus other perfumes. It can be difficult to find a bottle, but they still do exist online. 

Spicy Unique Floral

Bazar– Bazar has an even more unique set of ingredients, than does, the previous entry. This one goes more of the floral route, but still has a fruity start, and a greenish spiciness throughout.

Bazar is a perfume that will take you on an aromatic journey, with its different iterations and styles. As it dries down, the aroma shifts more towards the floral end of things, with ingredients such as orange blossom, while still retaining its peppery spice. 

Most Popular

Christian Lacroix– The original namesake fragrance of the Christian Lacroix brand. It is more of a traditional sort of perfume, that still has some tricks up its sleeve.

Christian Lacroix is a floral, with a slightly smoky and amber-laden finish. Heliotrope and ylang ylang gives this fragrance its floral bonafides, with the former providing a somewhat powdery cleanliness. 

Floral notes, amber, with some light hints of fruity sweetness early on. This is truly a beautiful fragrance, that could absolutely serve as a daily wear. 

Best White Floral Scent

Eau Florale- Just reading the name, you already know what this one is all about. If you’re a floral lover, this is probably going to be your best bet from Christian Lacroix.

Eau Florale is a white floral fragrance, with plenty of tuberose and gardenia. Along with, lily of the valley, and subtle hints of iris. However, it doesn’t just give you a typical bouquet effect, with a heavy ‘greenish’ aroma. 

Instead, you also get some early citrus notes which provides Eau Florale with a clean and somewhat watery finish. A very nice blend of notes, that won’t be boring, but can be worn in a variety of situations. 

 

 

Classic Aldehydes

C’est La Vie– This one was released decades ago, and definitely has that old school, or classic perfume vibe.

C’est La Vie is pretty prominent with the aldehydes and floral notes. Though, it doesn’t skew completely towards flowers, but shares the duty with some fruity ingredients such as raspberry and some pineapple. 

Yes, it is an older scent, but it still has a certain style that makes it pretty timeless. Not an ‘old lady’ fragrance, but one with plenty of depth and a tradition behind it. 

Coco Mademoiselle vs Miss Dior Perfume Comparison

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Two of the big names in French design, Dior and Chanel, have very popular fragrances for ladies that are somewhat similar: Coco Mademoiselle vs. Miss Dior EDP. Which one of these perfumes smells the best? Which gives a greater performance? Which is the better buy? In this post, I will compare them head to head, to help make a decision. 

Miss Dior EDP vs. Coco Mademoiselle: Tale of the Tape

Coco Mademoiselle

Notes include: jasmine, rose, orange, patchouli, vetiver

Click here to try: Coco Mademoiselle

Miss Dior EDP

Notes include: jasmine, blood orange, patchouli, mandarin orange, rose, rosewood, pink pepper

Click here to try: Christian Dior Miss Dior, 50ml/1.7 oz.

My Review: Miss Dior

Opening

Coco Mademoiselle starts closer to a fruity floral perfume, than anything else. . In fact, it is a blend of citrus, neroli, jasmine, rose and ylang ylang peaking through. The musk is not all that heavy, but it does have a solid level of patchouli coming through.

Miss Dior starts off with citrus fruits, patchouli, and rose. It’s essentially a blend of orange and lemon, with patchouli, and a hint of rose. The rose note isn’t too strong in either of these perfumes, at this stage.

After about 15 minutes, the rose really begins to take over, and the patchouli flanks it. The citrus notes begin to fade into the background.

Which do I enjoy more? They are actually very similar in the early stages, so it can be a tough call. Between the two, I think that I prefer Coco Mademoiselle versus the Dior fragrance. I think the citrus/floral blend is more balanced and just a tad better overall.

Edge: Coco

Projection

For me, Miss Dior EDP is pretty moderate throughout its entirety. It isn’t weak, but it never strikes as a powerhouse. Solid, but not something that overwhelms.

Coco Mademoiselle starts off stronger, stays that way for a great period of time, before becoming a moderate. The Chanel perfume, wins this round.

Edge: Coco

Longevity

With Miss Dior, I’ve gotten it to last around 8 hours, on the skin. It’s a very good performer and not disappointing.

However, Coco Mademoiselle, does go much longer. With that, I can get 10+ hours of solid use, before it fades away. Neither of them, gives you a bad deal, but Mademoiselle is better. 

Edge: Coco

Versatility

This Miss Dior fragrance is best served in the colder temperatures, all the way up to moderate, but not the high heat. Coco Mademoiselle can go year round. It isn’t a summertime scent, but holds up better than the Dior.

Outside of that, they are both all around great wears for daily life, more formal occasions, etc. The Chanel gets the nod, slightly, as it does have a bit more use with varying climates.

Edge: Coco

 

Overall Scent

So, it’s pretty much a clean sweet for Coco Mademoiselle, right? Basically, but it isn’t a blow out. I don’t want to discount Miss Dior EDP, which is a very good perfume. It just doesn’t quite hit the same level.

Actually, I have other Miss Dior favorites, which you might want to check out. They can probably give Mademoiselle a run for its money, for many women. 

For this contest, I’d go with Coco Mademoiselle. They are similar, but it does everything that the Dior does, and more. It’s just a better all around scent. Usually more expensive, but it’s worth it.

Winner: Mademoiselle

Creed Aventus vs Imperial Millesime Comparison

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Deciding which fragrance to buy can be tricky sometimes, as there are a multitude of factors from which to consider. This can become especially true when the colognes that you are considering cost in the triple digits to buy.

It is one thing to purchase a crummy scent that was $20 for the bottle versus one which was $175+. Creed is a luxury boutique brand known for its high quality ingredients and beautifully crafted scents.

In this post, I want to do a bit of a comparison between two options from Creed, Aventus vs Imperial Millesime and break down which will be the better option for most people and highlight the pros and cons of each.

Tale of the Tape: Aventus vs. Imperial Millesime

 

Creed Aventus 

creed aventus

Notes of Creed Aventus: 

Top: Blackcurrant,Italian bergamot, French apples and pineapple

Middle: Rose, dry birch, Moroccan jasmine, and patchouli

Base Notes: musk, oak moss, ambergris, and vanilla.

Click here to read my original Aventus Review

Click here to get Aventus: Aventus by Creed

Creed Imperial Millesime

Notes include: Lemon, Iris, Green Bergamot, Mandarin

My original review of Imperial

Click here to try Imperial Millesime: Creed Imperial

Opening 

The opening of Aventus can be a pretty harsh citrus to deal with. I don’t really like the opening of Aventus and if all I’d have to go by was the first 15 minutes or so, I’d think that this fragrance wasn’t worth wearing. The pineapple, blackcurrant, and the dryness of birch can be a bit much at first.

However, the fragrance settles down into something much more enjoyable and fresh. The next wave has less of the pineapple, more birch/oak moss, and some sweetness provided by a light vanilla and French apple. 

Meanwhile, the opening of Imperial is much smoother, with a wonderful melon type of scent that blends with sea salt to create something quite pleasant.

The melon-like smell is like a blend of a standard melon and a bit of watermelon. This is paired with a salty aquatic note, which is why I suppose it comes across smelling that way. It’s actually lemon and mandarin orange, as the notes, and not any watermelon. 

Anyway, Imperial Millesime is juicy, musky, and very bright in the opening stages. Which scent is better? To me, I greatly prefer the start to Imperial, more than I ever have Aventus. 

Edge: Imperial Millesime

Projection

Neither one of these fragrances is slipping in quality when it comes to projection. Aventus never really requires more than two sprays while Imperial is no slouch either. Aventus is the stronger of the two and I’d say it projects more than Imperial does.

So, both start strong, but Aventus reaches the higher heights of sillage and keeps at it for longer. 

Edge: Aventus

Longevity

Wearing both of these colognes, I haven’t noticed a difference in terms of how long they last. I usually get 7-10 hours of solid performance out of each. Mostly, Aventus will go 8 or 9 hours on my skin, a bit less when it’s hot out.

Imperial is usually around 7 or 8 hours, but can last better in the heat than can Aventus. It can also reach that 10 hour mark, on occasion, like Aventus. No clear winner, in my experience. 

Edge: Push

Versatility

Creed Aventus is best worn in the spring and autumn, in my opinion. I don’t think that it holds up well in the heat, but early summer isn’t bad. On the other hand, Imperial Millesime is great for summertime wear as well as the warmer months of spring.

However, Aventus can be pulled off rather well in the winter months, to whereas Imperial would seem out of place in the cold weather.

As far as, on what occasion each of these scents could be worn, I’d say that they could arguably be worn anywhere for any event. I wouldn’t really call Imperial a date night type of cologne though and even if I’d wear other scents besides Aventus on a night out, it could be done well. 

I much prefer Imperial, as a daytime wear, in more casual situations. Overall, I’d say Aventus has the greater versatility. 

Edge: Aventus

 

 

Overall Scent

Aventus develops into something that is woodsy/masculine/leathery and the citrus notes become undertones as the fragrances wears on. Meanwhile, Imperial has that unique fruity quality blended with salt notes that just reminds me of the summer and the ocean.

I actually like Imperial better in terms of its smell, BUT I think that most men would be better served by Aventus out of the two.

I say this simply because of its greater versatility of being worn. Imperial Millesime is a great signature type of scent, but I feel that it does have its limitations.

Aventus fits in better, during more situations and climates. Imperial is rather straightforward, but has a really delightful salty melon aroma. Aventus is deeper with greater nuance.

These two are pretty neck and neck, in my book, but most would go with Aventus.  I have grown sort of tired of the formula, as there have been endless Creed Aventus ‘dupes’ coming to market over the years.

Winner: Aventus (for most guys)