Coach EDT by Coach New York

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Coach New York has revamped its fragrance lineup over the past 5-6 years and among these newer releases is Coach eau de toilette for women. I received a sample of this perfume with an order a few months back and have been testing it out for the site. How does it smell? When should it be worn? How long does Coach last? Is it worth a buy?

What does Coach EDT Smell Like?

Notes include: pear, cedar, white Alba rose, grapefruit, musk

Click here to try: Coach Eau de Toilette from Coach New York

 

My Full Review

Before I get into my thoughts about Coach EDT, let’s see how the brand describes it: Coach eau de toilette is inspired by the spontaneous energy and chic downtown style of New York City. Fresh pear gives was to timeless and elegant white Alba roses, before drying down to a sensual cedarwood base note.

Coach Eau de Toilette starts off with a bright and juicy blend of its fruit notes. Pear, is going to be the major focal point of the top notes, but the citrus shares a fairly equal weight in the beginning. The smell is very pretty and fresh. 

As the perfumes settles, it will move into its more fruity floral phase. The citrus will begin to subside and the pear takes over. However, it is also joined by the Alba rose and some jasmine.

Coach EDT isn’t super complex. It takes on a bit of a clean shampoo sort of aroma, once the musk and cedar fully arrive. At that point, it is a rose/pear/jasmine blend, that’s sitting on top of the musk and cedar base. 

You’ve almost undoubtedly smelled something similar, if you’ve tried any sort of perfumes before. Though, this is a great example of this style of scent.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is pretty light to moderate. You’ll notice that it is there, but it isn’t going to take over the room. It’s about what you would want with a fragrance like this, non-offensive and non-intrusive. A nice balance, without being weak.

It’ll go for as long as 7.5 hours, on my skin. I’d say it’s mostly in the 6-7.5 hour range, depending on the day. Not a complete workhorse, but this Coach is still plenty useful. 

One of the main selling points with Coach EDT is just how versatile it is. It can be worn by any age group, works well in different seasons, and can be worn in a variety of situations.

Seasonally, I’d say that it is best in the spring and summer months. Maybe you’d want to go with something else in the winter, that reflects that season, but this wouldn’t be bad there either.

It is safe for work, school, casual situations, and is attractive enough to venture into afterhours if needed. It might not be the stand out in your collection, though, it will will get plenty of use.

 

 

Overall Impressions of Coach EDT

Overall, do I like this scent? I really do. Not a super unique fragrance, but it smells very nice. The opening with the pear and citrus is my favorite part.

This is a great choice for a simple daily wear perfume. Well balanced, a simple fruity floral, but enjoyable to wear. The performance is solid, just not extreme. If you need something that’s clean, fresh, and versatile…this is worth a try.

Really kind of a no-brainer scent, but not one that’s going to set the world on fire.

Nuit de Feu by Louis Vuitton

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Nuit de Feu is one of the men’s fragrances that Louis Vuitton released back in 2020. The luxury brand has really churned out the perfume releases over the last few years and many of them have been quite good. Is Nuit de Feu, one of them? In this post, I’ll share my thoughts on how it smells, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is worth a buy.

What does Nuit de Feu Smell Like?

Notes include: leather, white incense, black incense, musk, oud

My Full Review

Before we get into my thoughts about Nuit de Feu, let’s see how Louis Vuitton describes it: In the dark of night, scents of incense rise from the shadowy hollows in the dunes. Plunged into the icy night, the desert seems frozen under an endlessly star-studded sky. In the heart of this darkness, a camp fire is crackling, its dancing flames warm the travelers, its smoke curling upwards into the sky.

Nuit de Feu can hit pretty hard in the first few minutes. The incense and the oud are out in full force. Mainly, the smoky pair of incense notes.

However, that oud note does have that usual barnyard-like finish, that many people don’t like. I’m usually one of them, but here the oud settles down a lot and what you get from the rest of this Louis Vuitton fragrance is great.

It’s got a rich and naturalistic leather note, that comes across really great once you’re past that initial stage. By then, the incense have settled and the oud is in the background as a support player.

That’s what most of the wear is going to be, the leather as the highlight, with incense creating that night fire vibe. A very dry and dark fragrance with just a bit of musk coming through the base.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Nuit de Feu is not a powerhouse on my skin. It’s above average, call it the upper end of moderate, but it doesn’t blow the doors off. A few hours in, I’d say it’s pretty middle of the road.

The longevity is pretty good as well, but not elite. I’d say it will go from 6.5-8 hours on my skin. Definitely not amazing, at this price point, but it serves its purposes well enough.

I’d stick to the colder weather with Nuit de Feu. Autumn and winter is what it is made for and it’ll melt in the heat.

This is a fairly niche scent. Not anything crazy, but probably not something that is going to be considered main stream. It’s not a youthful fragrance, rather, one that should be worn by a man who’s established in his life and has a mature/stylish presence.

Semi-formal, work, nightlife and many other appropriate events in the winter months.

Overall Impressions of Nuit de Feu

Do I like this scent? I really do. It’s not my favorite thing ever, but the incense and leather notes are awesome here. Plus, the oud isn’t too much to handle.

The performance and sillage could be better, but it’s not terrible. This Vuitton cologne is going to appeal to those who love a good leather scent or something with a smokiness to it.

For a lot of you, it’s not going to be the one you want to buy. Again, Nuit de Feu has a somewhat narrow audience for whom it will actually appeal. If you want a more typical designer wear, I’d look elsewhere.

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