Eau de Lacoste Sensuelle by Lacoste

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Eau de Lacoste Sensuelle was released back in 2013 by the brand. I have probably had a sample of this for 3 or 4 years now, just sitting around, waiting for me to review it. Well, it’s that time apparently, in my race to get caught up on the backlog of scents. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a buy?

What does Eau de Lacoste Sensuelle Smell Like?

Notes include: pink pepper, nougat, amber, black currant, rose, sweet pea, and gladiolus

My Full Review

Before I get into my thoughts about this perfume, let’s see how Lacoste describes it: The spirit of Lacoste in a sensual fragrance that captures the natural intensity of soft floral notes.

As I said, I’ve had this sample sitting in a box of them for years now. I’m pretty sure that this fragrance has been discontinued by Lacoste at this point, but I’ll review it for posterity’s sake.

The opening is sweet with just a nice amount of spice and the floral notes peaking through. Yes, that fruity tartness of the black currant is in effect, but I pick up on the nougat right from the get go. It has a slightly creamy and nutty aroma to it.

I do enjoy a good amber and pink pepper note, especially when they’re utilized together. Eau de Lacoste Sensuelle has that and it is used to great effect.

After the initial fruitiness and pink pepper has burned off somewhat, the floral notes really emerge. I honestly cannot distinguish the floral notes all that much from one another, it feels like a generic floral smell. Then again, I have zero familiarity with gladiolus, so that could be a factor.

By the end of the wear, it is a slightly floral nougat aroma that is wrapped in a nice amber note. Sweet, warm, and an inviting gourmand.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Like many other Lacoste scents, this one isn’t super powerful or a marathon performer. It’s a lighter moderate scent, but actually does better than some of this brand’s other offerings. Overall, it’s going to stay in the 3-5 foot range from the skin.

Longevity is okay. Nothing to write home about, but I get about six hours of solid wear from it, before it evaporates completely. Usable, though, you’ll want to reapply for anything beyond that.

Seasonally, it would fit best in autumn and winter. Then again, it isn’t all that heavy or dense of a fragrance. It could venture into springtime for many folks, just avoid using Sensuelle when the heat and humidity rise.

This could be a daily wear, casual, or more of a romantic/nightlife sort of scent. It isn’t a bold club beast and it also isn’t a formal sort of fragrance. But, it can fit in plenty of scenarios without really drawing unwanted attention.

Sensuelle is attractive and somewhat sexy. Not a complete stunner, but it does draw me in with its yummy sort of vibe.

Overall Impressions of Eau de Lacoste Sensuelle

Do I like this perfume? I do. It smells very nice and feels similar to other designer scents, while not being an exact copy of any of them. Mainly, I think it smells like a mix of Poison Girl and Mon Guerlain. The overlap is there, but again, not a duplication.

The performance is decent, but it could definitely be better. However, if you can still get a bottle for a decent price, I think that it’s a worthwhile one to try based on the smell and its use cases.

Sensuelle was a good release from Lacoste, that didn’t really change the game, but one that you can still get plenty of joy from wearing.

Spice & Wood by Creed

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I received three sample vials of Creed fragrances from the Royal Exclusive line of scents. I was interested in trying these fragrances out to see if any of them really lived up to the expensive nature of being such an ‘exclusive’ bottle of perfume. Today’s contestant is Spice & Wood, which wins in the most obvious title category, but does it live up to it’s high profile?

In this post, I am going to share my experience wearing this Creed frag, how it smells, how it performs, and whether or not I think it is worth the money.

What does Spice & Wood Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, cedar, birch, musk, lemon, apple, pepper, oak moss

My Full Review

The opening of Spice & Wood is where I detect the citrus notes, particularly that familiar bergamot that is found in Aventus. It’s subtle, but it’s there. Then, of course, is the main attraction the wood and the spice.

It should be noted that this fragrance is pretty damn linear, what you expect to get from the title, is exactly what you get throughout. Cedar, birch, and pepper with an underlying softness from the other notes.

Spice & Wood is a rather fresh fragrance, which is nice, as I thought that it could be a heavy type of woodsy scent but it is actually well done. It’s got a dry warmth and the spice is tempered and never a really heavy pepper note.

The wood notes remind me of being in a cabin or ski lodge, very comfortable yet still outdoorsy.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection is okay on this one. It’s closer to a skin scent and is actually fairly soft, which is fine, but for the price point I was expecting something with a little bit more of a high profile.

It’s longevity wasn’t great for me either. I’ve routinely sprayed twice in the same spot on my arm during my trial runs with this and while it’s detectable it’s mostly gone within a few hours. Not impressed.

This is a casual scent best used for the fall/winter months. I don’t see it as a date night fragrance nor a club type of scent. Very straightforward. I guess it could also venture into more formal occasions.

The one thing that I would like to point out is the pricing point. As a part of the Royal Exclusives line, Spice & Wood is even more expensive than the regular Creed fragrances. In fact, the 2.5 oz bottle is currently priced at $545.

Of course, this limits the appeal of this scent to those who can afford it, but even if you can pony up the cash…do you really even want it?

 

 

Overall Impressions of Spice & Wood

Overall, I like this scent. It’s pleasant and smells good. Just at this price level, I really can’t recommend it. The performance is lackluster and unless you’re really a fan of spices and wood, the aroma is never Earth-shattering.

There are plenty of better options than Spice & Wood and you don’t have to spend over $500 in the process. Honestly, I don’t see the point of owning this. Perhaps, it’s just a status type symbol. Though, I don’t know who it would impress exactly.

Nautica Voyage vs Polo Blue Cologne Comparison

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In today’s cologne comparison entry, I want to take a closer look at two popular summertime aquatic fragrances for men, Nautica Voygae and Polo Blue. Now, Voyage is an insanely popular scent that can be had for really cheap and Polo Blue is a really nice release from the Ralph Lauren brand.  However, which one smells better? Which performs better? Which is worth the buy?

Tale of the Tape: Voyage vs. Polo Blue EDT

Polo Blue 

Notes include: amber, melon, patchouli, geranium, cucumber, tangerine, moss, musk

Click here to try: Polo Blue by Ralph Lauren for Men, Eau De Toilette Natural Spray, 4.2 Ounce

Read my original review: Polo Blue Review

Nautica Voyage 

Notes include: apple, musk, cedar, green leaf, amber, mimosa

NAUTICA-VOYAGE

Read my original review here

Try Nautica Voyage: Nautica Voyage By Nautica For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 oz

Opening

Both of these are summery fragrances, however, Polo Blue opens up with a much more crisp and ‘colder’ scent than does Nautica Voyage. Blue is a fresh and clean use of cucumber and a suede note which gives it a bit of smoothness.

Nautica Voyage, on the other hand, has a fruitier opening that is really bright with an apple note that seems quite orange-y in its presentation. Voyage feels more synthetic than Polo Blue. Beyond that, it has a watery green aroma thanks to lotus flower, mimosa, and some musk.

Voyage is certainly the more unique of the two, but I still prefer the start of Blue EDT.

Edge: Blue

Projection

Both scents are pretty moderate, Voyage may be a bit lighter but not by much.

Edge: Push

Longevity

The good thing is that either one of these scents has good performance in terms of their longevity. Nautica Voyage gets me around 7 hours of wear. Blue can usually get an hour or two beyond that but both are good for work or school day wear.

Edge: Polo Blue

Versatility

Voyage and Blue are two casual scents for the warmer months of the year. I feel comfortable wearing them in any environment, really. Neither one is a club beast or really a romantic type of scent. Polo Blue might be considered to have a little more class but really not much distinction.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

So, overall, I find Polo Blue to be the better cologne. I think it smells quite nice BUT it does seem pretty generic at times to me. It is very cool and crisp with a nice melon note that develops after the initial opening.

For the price, type of scent, and the brand name, I think I’d rather wear Polo Sport, to be honest. Update: With subsequent Blue releases, I’d pick Deep Blue or Polo Blue EDP ahead of EDT.

The reason that Nautica Voyage is so popular is because of what it provides for the price. It is a great inexpensive scent that is fresh and smells like summer.

Polo Blue is the better scent of the two but price could persuade me to choose Voyage plus another fragrance instead.

Winner: Polo Blue

Habdan by Parfums De Marly

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I still have a handful of Parfums de Marly colognes to post reviews of. I’m working my way through each of them and today, I’d like to present my thoughts on Habdan. How does this fragrance smell? Perform? When should it be worn? Is it even worth trying? Continue below for my full take after wearing this scent around.

What does Habdan Smell Like?

Notes include: saffron, amber, frankincense, caramel, apple, myrhh, rose

Click here to try: Parfums de Marly Habdan Men’s Edp Spray, 4.2 Ounce

The opening of Habdan hits with a bunch of saffron, some apple, and frankincense. It’s a lovely blend of sweet/spicy/smoky and honestly grabs my attention from the get go. Now, I’ve seen this cologne compared to Bvlgari Man in Black, and I do see the similarities.

Habdan, does have a leather-like aroma at times, but no leather note, and also a smoky spice. However, the two scents are ultimately different, as the Bvlgari has an infusion of rum and none of the saffron. Although, I also enjoy wearing Man in Black quite a lot.

Back to Habdan, I love the crisp apple note and how it sits among the warmth of the incense aroma. This cologne seems to have so many layers to it, yet, is constructed perfectly. It could’ve easily become a jumbled mess but Habdan sort of systematically unveils an intriguing fragrance to the wearer.

As it dries down, a caramel smoothness emerges over top of the apple note, but it smells less like a candied apple and more like a baked good. Of course, this is still closer to a background player than the main event of saffron, myrrh, and frankincense.

I have found that the latter two notes, always seem to be put into some loud and over the top kind of colognes, but I absolutely love them in Habdan.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Habdan’s sillage is pretty average. It isn’t weak but it’s not an overpowering beast of a scent, either. That’s okay, because it honestly, doesn’t need to be that way.

The longevity is also solid, I get about 7-8 hours of wear out of this Parfums de Marly cologne, not the best but very respectable.

Weather wise, Habdan is best in cold to moderate temperatures. This one will shine on nights in the fall/winter months. It also has good versatility. It’s mature and sexy enough to be worn on dates, but classy enough to be worn at work.

That’s one of the reasons, it somewhat subdued nature works to its advantage. You won’t choke out a room with a normal amount of sprays applied.

Overall Impressions of Habdan

Overall, do I like Habdan? I really do. This is such a well put together and interesting scent to me. I definitely think that it is one of the best Parfums de Marly colognes, and something that I enjoyed wearing throughout the day.

I don’t think it will have a total universal appeal for all guys, but it isn’t a super niche fragrance, either. Habdan is super rich, smooth, complex, with a smoky sweetness. It develops amazingly throughout and an aroma that isn’t completely comparable to anything else that I’ve come across.

Nisean by Parfums De Marly

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After this review of Nisean, I think that I have only two more write ups to do of my Parfums de Marly sample collection. This is a sample that I had to spend some more time with in order to really appreciate and see how the cologne developed before jotting down my thoughts about Nisean below. As usual, I am going to cover how it smells, performs, and whether or not it is worth a purchase.

What does Nisean by PdM Smell Like?

Notes include: patchouli, incense, cedar, rose, saffron, labdanum, lime, grapefruit, and more

Click here to try: PARFUMS DE MARLY NISEAN 125ML EDP SPRAY

My Full Review

Nisean is not one of the more well known or appreciated fragrances from Parfums de Marly. I don’t know why, maybe it’s because it’s name looks like a Japanese car manufacturer.

Anyhow, here is how the cologne sample card describes it: “A beautiful dark wood, hyper textured (majestic patchouli) illuminated by a distinguishable incense note, having the effect of a sacred nectar warming both the heart and the body.”

Sure, ok. I definitely pick up on the dark wood, which I’m guessing is the cedar. Nisean is dry and warm with the amber and the familiar smokiness of the incense note. The saffron is there but it isn’t as intense to my nose, as it was in Godolphin (which I prefer to Nisean).

However, I think that the saffron still plays very nicely off of the patchouli.

During the dry down, there is an element of sweetness (not candy-like) that emerges from within Nisean. Like a dried fruit sweetness, from the grapefruit/lime citrus combination, and a floral sweetness provided by rose.

It stays very warm and woody but there is that citric quality that just feels like it is soaking into the cedar wood. From there, I get a bit of a pepper spice and a warm/sticky amber note.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Nisean is toward the upper moderate end of the spectrum. Not a monster, but it is solid, and you’ll know that it is there. On the other hand, the longevity is awesome.

Like almost every other Parfums de Marly cologne, this one is hitting the double digit hour mark, without trouble. I tend to lose track of these workhorses, but I’d say somewhere in the 12-13 hour range, on my skin.

Wear wise, I’d put this in the fall and winter seasonal category. It’s a mature scent, not ‘old man’, but a guy in his late 20s and up who has his stuff together.

Nisean can be worn semi-casual to dressed up and is best in that space or as an office scent. It’s not something for the night club scene by any stretch.

Overall Impressions of Nisean

Overall, do I like Nisean? Yes, I like it. I feel like it’s probably the sixth or seventh best of this company’s line of colognes. That’s saying something about the depth of options here, as this is by no means an average fragrance.

It’s a very dry woody fragrance with patchouli, incense, and amber warmth as its base.

From there, you’ll get some bit players such as the citrus notes chipping in. It smells good but it isn’t amazing, in my opinion. Though, it is a great performer. It’s a very solid fragrance and could earn a spot in a man’s rotation, but it wouldn’t be my number one option.