3 Best Smelling Creed Fragrances for Summer

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It’s not quite ‘officially’ summer just yet. Although, it has been hotter than Hades, where I live for over a month now. As such, I thought that I’d get back into doing some seasonal type of posts, and start things off with Creed.

Now, I’ve already done lists of the best overall men’s and women’s scents, from this designer; but let’s go ahead and narrow things down for the summer months, shall we? I have selected three perfumes from Creed’s lineup and presented them below in order of ‘best’.

What are the Best Creed Fragrances for Summer?

1. Creed Millesime Imperial Spray, 4.0 fl. oz.

Creed Imperial has a lemon and sea salt opening blend, which actually gives off a melon, sort of aroma. It is very fresh and salty, with the fruit ingredients being dominant throughout. However, as it moves along, more of the oceanic influence comes in, along with musk, and a light iris note.

This one is a great summer wear, as it just feels bright, dynamic, and like a day at the shore. The sillage isn’t heavy, but I’ve always gotten 7 hours of wear out of Imperial Millesime. This is my favorite one to wear in the warmer months. My original review.

2. Creed Silver Mountain Water Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.3 Ounce

Silver Mountain Water starts off with citrus notes of bergamot and mandarin orange. There is a black currant note in there, as well, but it becomes more noticeable later on to my nose.

Also later, the green tea note takes over, and this scent becomes a clean and green herbal fragrance with the citrus in the background.

The sillage isn’t super powerful with this one either, but you can overspray it pretty easily. Longevity was around 6 hours, on my skin. Silver Mountain Water Review

3. Creed Virgin Island Water Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.3 Fl Ounce

Virgin Island Water is some folks favorite Creed wear, during the summer months. For me, it is the third best, as I’m not as high on it. VIW opens with a citrus and rum accord, the citrus being bergamot and lime. I really like that opening blast, as it feels like sitting on a beach, with a tropical drink in hand.

When the coconut comes in heavier, this one starts to take on more of a suntan lotion aroma. Plenty of people enjoy that, I think that it is just okay.

Virgin Island Water is built for the summertime, though, and for that it is an over nice choice for men or women. Virgin Island Water Review

So, those are my three choices for the best Creed perfume options for the summer. I know some people might expect Aventus to be on here, but I actually think that it performs at its worst, when it gets hot and humid out. I like that one a lot more in the autumn through springtime. These three options should yield an option for just about anyone looking to get into a Creed purchase.

8 Best Smelling Coffee Scented Colognes

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The smell of freshly brewed coffee in a cafe or even just the beans themselves, is an aroma that people around the world enjoy. For this reason, it has also become a pretty popular ingredient in fragrances, particularly men’s colognes.

In this post, I want to take a closer look at some of the top examples of coffee scented fragrances and provide some guidance for those who want a great coffee cologne. I selected eight choices, but I definitely could’ve added more, that are right up there.

What are the Best Smelling Coffee Fragrances for Men?

Dry Woody Coffee

Thierry Mugler Angel Men Pure Coffee Men’s 3.4-ounce Eau de Toilette Spray– A dry, spicy, and woody blend that is led by coffee. Pure Coffee is from the A*Men Pure line of fragrances by Thierry Mugler.

Actually, there are a few of the Angel flankers, that feature coffee. However, this is the strongest example, and the one that specifically highlights this note. It joins coffee and patchouli, mainly, and creates a subtle aroma that has a mocha quality to it.

Coffee and Orange

Ralph Lauren Polo Red Extreme Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 4.2 Fluid Ounce– All of the Polo Red scents have a coffee note in them. However, Polo Red Extreme has the most dominant of the lot, and it is the main attraction in this fragrance.

It is bold, smooth, and warm. The coffee note is joined by a juicy blood orange and has woody undertones. Red Extreme is a mainstream designer cologne that can go all day and delivers that wonderful roasted coffee smell. Polo Red Extreme Review

Gourmand Blend

Rochas Man Cologne for Men 1.6 fl.Oz Eau De Toilette Spray– Sweet. Rochas Man is warm coffee joined by raspberry and vanilla. A creamy gourmand scent that dries down with more calming lavender peaking through, which helps to tone down the initial sweetness.

Moderate sillage and longevity, but still priced affordably, and will get plenty of complements.

Balanced, All-Around Great

Valentino Uomo Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce– Uomo opens with a juicy citrus bergamot note, gianduja cream (hazelnut), and myrtle. This unique paring is divine when working in conjunction with one another.

The citrus then fades, and that is when, leather and coffee begin to excel within the composition. Sweet and a bit gourmand, Uomo has a cedar wood note at the base, and some flower notes light dancing around in there as well.

Very refined and an absolutely stunning fragrance to smell. Valentino Uomo Review

Discontinued, But Awesome

Givenchy Play Intense by Givenchy for Men – 3.3 Ounce EDT Spray– A coffee scent that isn’t as enveloping or thick, as some of the others. Givenchy Play Intense does feature pink pepper and citrus notes, which gives the fragrance a different take.

It was never a super loud cologne, despite the Intense name, but it does have really good longevity and a beautiful smell. It is slightly sweet with creamy tonka bean and also spicy with patchouli, it does have some shared elements with Rochas Man, but doesn’t have that super sweetness.

Warm and Masculine Coffee Cologne

Colonia Coffee Man 100 ML – (Boticario Coffee Collection – Coffee Man Eau De Toillete 3.38 Fl Oz)– A darker and masculine fragrance, with amber, leather, and tobacco joining the coffee note. It’s super warm and this Boticario is quite underrated.

Underneath the main notes, you get fresh spice from ginger, pepper, and nutmeg with hints of sweetness from a few floral and citrus ingredients.

The coffee isn’t completely dominant here, but more blended with the tobacco, leather, and amber. Still, very good.

Harder to Find

Armani Attitude By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 1.7 Oz–  Armani Attitude is a lively and very attractive fragrance, that demands attention, and often gets it. Lemon is blended with the coffee note and lavender and patchouli sit underneath that.

It is another well-blended men’s cologne, but a coffee led one, that was always quite sexy and performed nicely.

Spiced Mango 

Polo Double Black by Ralph Lauren for Men, Eau De Toilette Natural Spray, 4.2 Ounce– My main gripe with this one, is that it doesn’t want to last longer on my skin. Some folks don’t have that problem with Polo Double Black and are lucky, because it does smell great.

It opens spicy, with pepper and cardamom, flanking the coffee and woody notes. Then, you get a subdued frozen mango and juniper berry lurking underneath it all. It is overall warm and spicy, but there is a sweetness from the fruit notes, as it dries down further. Polo Double Black Review

Acqua di Gio Absolu vs Invictus Aqua Comparison

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In this head to head cologne comparison post, I am going to take a closer look at two of the more popular aquatic fragrances of the past few years: Acqua di Gio Absolu vs. Invictus Aqua. Which of these two scents smells the best? Which gives a better performance? The Paco Rabanne or the Armani?

Tale of the Tape: AdG Absolu vs. Invictus Aqua

Acqua di Gio Absolu

Notes include: patchouli, marine notes, labdanum, tonka bean, wood, bergamot, grapefruit, lavender, rosemary, apple, pear

Click here to try: Acqua di Giò Absolu Eau de Parfum Spray 4.2 fl oz Men

Read my full review here: Acqua di Gio Absolu

Invictus Aqua EDT

Notes include: yuzu, pink pepper, guaiac wood, marine notes, violet leaf, ambergris, grapefruit

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne Invictus Aqua Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce

Read my review: Invictus Aqua

Opening

Invictus Aqua starts out with yuzu, grapefruit, and the marine notes. The start of Aqua is my favorite part of the fragrance, as I really like the inclusion of yuzu within the composition.

It’s quite an salty aquatic citrus cologne and then the pink pepper kicks in, which brings some added depth.

Aqua di Gio Absolu also starts out with grapefruit, but pairs it with bergamot, instead of yuzu. Absolu has a woody base, apple, tonka bean, and the same sort of sea note that does Aqua.

Which is better? I think I’ll give the edge to Absolu. They have similarities but I like the woody base and tonka bean in the Armani, a bit more than in Aqua.

Edge: Absolu

Projection

Absolu starts out pretty strong for about an hour and then shifts into something that is much more moderate. Aqua is a lighter fragance, but probably is defined as a moderate, it just doesn’t reach the same level as AdG Absolu does at the start.

Absolu is also an EDP, so, it should naturally be stronger…it is.

Edge: Absolu

Longevity

While Absolu has the better sillage, Invictus Aqua actually lasts longer on my skin. I get about 8 hours from Absolu and Aqua can go over 8 hours and touch double digits. It has really good longevity for an aquatic.

It was actually surprising, that this version could match or excel past the other Invictus flankers.

Edge: Invictus Aqua

Versatility

These two colognes pretty much hit the same beats. Spring and summertime wears. They can go casual or to a party or even to work. They can also hold their own in the cooler months of the year. I don’t see an advantage here.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Invictus Aqua has a really nice opening act. Beyond that, the performance is awesome, and it plays its role rather well. The dry down, however, brings out more of the violet leaf note and oud. It becomes woodier and ‘dirtier’, for lack of a better term.

Finally, it pretty much ends on my skin a pure sea water smell. I’m not too big of a fan of how it develops.

Meanwhile, Acqua di Gio Absolu has the citrus and marine notes, and then adds amber and wood to that. It also has an earthier smell, as it moves along, but it doesn’t get completely overrun like I feel Aqua does. Absolu also just has a better aroma, is better blended, and smells more expensive.

In the Acqua di Gio lineup, I actually prefer AdG Profumo, to Absolu. Though, between the two in this head to head, I’m going with AdG Absolu. If price is a serious consideration, then, Invictus Aqua isn’t a bad choice at all. You can usually pull bottles of that for cheaper than Absolu.

Winner: Absolu

Polo Red vs Polo Red Extreme Comparison

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or this cologne comparison, I am going to do a head to head look at two Ralph Lauren fragrances, from the Polo Red line: Red vs. Red Extreme. Which one of this scents smells better? The original Red has enjoyed a lot of popularity over this decade, but does its newer flanker release, surpass it? Which lasts longer? Continue below for the full breakdown.

Tale of the Tape: Red Extreme vs Polo Red

Polo Red

Notes include: grapefruit, italian lemon, cranberry, saffron, sage, coffee beans, and amber

Click here to try: POLO RED by Ralph Lauren, 4.2 Fl Oz

Read my full review: Polo Red

Polo Red Extreme

Notes include: blood orange, coffee, ebony wood

Click here to try: Polo Red Extreme Eau de Parfum Spray 4.2 Ounce, Ralph Lauren Men

Read my review: Polo Red Extreme

Opening

Polo Red opens up with a bright mix of citrus and cranberry. The citrus notes are lemon and grapefruit, which provides an upbeat and juicy aroma, to go along with that tart cranberry. The cranberry is the strongest note, in this cologne, and it is all wrapped up in an increasingly strengthening amber.

Polo Red Extreme opens with coffee and blood orange. I also pick up on some of that same cranberry note, but it isn’t listed officially. The blood orange is great and they invert the coffee note in Polo Red (which was weaker) and make it the main attraction.

Which is better? I like Polo Red, but Red Extreme really captures my attention. It’s very simple at the start with a juicy blood orange and warm coffee, but there is some spice and the base note of ebony wood.

Edge: Red Extreme

Projection

Polo Red starts off strong for me and then goes into a moderate sort of scent. Meanwhile, Extreme is pretty darn strong, and stays that way. It doesn’t require more than a few sprays.

Edge: Extreme

Longevity

If I go heavy with the application of Polo Red, I can get it to last somewhat longer, but it hits the 4-6 hour range with normal sprays. Polo Red Extreme lives up to the name and can last in that 8-10 hour range, it’s very good in this regard.

Edge: Extreme

Versatility

Polo Red has always been more of a spring/summer wear for me. It’s a casual type of scent you would wear hanging out, to class, and possibly to work. Not really much of a sexy fragrance.

Red Extreme is more geared to fall/winter, but could venture into more moderate temps. It’s simple yet attractive, but I don’t know if one really has an advantage over the other here.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Polo Red was a really nice release, when it came out years ago. I enjoyed wearing it around and thought that the cranberry note was an interesting ingredient to use. It has that really tart fruit aroma that gets tempered by amber, as it moves along. I always wished that the performance was better.

Later on, Polo Red Extreme was released, and it’s a much better fragrance in my mind. Quite linear, but the coffee and blood orange combination are great, and pretty unique.

Add to that, a base of ebony wood note, and you have a rich and smooth cologne that outdoes the original. It has become one of Ralph Lauren’s best men’s fragrances and wins this head to head, fairly easily.

Winner: Extreme

Artisan Blu by John Varvatos

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Another sample that I recently picked up with my last order, was Artisan Blu by John Varvatos. I had never come across this particular flanker fragrance from the Artisan line, and was curious, as to how it would smell. This was released in 2016.

So, I’ve been wearing it recently, and gathering my impressions on both its composition and performance. Please continue below for my full thoughts on Artisan Blu.

What does Artisan Blu Smell Like?

Notes include: lavender, basil, bergamot, bitter orange, chayote, pine, geranium, orange blossom, sage, cedar, patchouli, and more

Click here to try: John Varvatos Artisan Blu Men’s Cologne Spray, 4.2 fl. Oz. EDT

My Full Wear Review

Before I get into my review, let’s see what John Varvatos says about Artisan Blu: is the ultimate embodiment of crystal blue waters under the warmth of the Mediterranean sun.

Okay, so, we know from the name and the description that we’re in for a sunny aquatic fragrance. The opening is full of citrus, from the bergamot and bitter orange notes.

The bergamot is the stronger of the two, and it does have, that beachy vibe. Sharp citrus with spicy basil and sage, really peaking through, at the top.

So, almost right away, I noticed the similarities between this and Mandarino di Amalfi. I grabbed my sample of that fragrance, put it on my other arm, and compared the two. The Tom Ford, is much more refined, and the citrus is different (lemon and grapefruit).

The main similarities come with the sage and herbal spices that flank the citrus. They’re not exactly the same, but do have some relations.

The spiciness of Artisan Blu, is what keeps it from going into pure citrus territory. Very herbal, with strong basil, some patchouli, and sage with weakens as the wear moves on.

Now, the chayote note, gives this one much of its crisp watery vibe. The water isn’t completely like salt water or anything, but it does give a slight marine-like aroma.

As it dries down, the lavender comes out, and also a very dry woody combo of pine and cedar. The further along in the wear I get, the soapier the blend becomes. Much more green than the initial tropical blue citrus impression, my mind went to.

Ultimately, I get lots of bergamot, lavender, pine, basil, chayote. Wrapped all together it is a zesty freshness with soapy qualities. The citrus is still the standout for the entire wear.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage is honestly, not great. It’s pretty good for about an hour or so, and then, falls off of the map pretty much. Artisan Blu pretty quickly and consistently moves into skin scent territory.

That skin scent, seems to last for around 4-5 hours, before evaporating. Yeah, the performance isn’t great. That is a pretty common theme with a lot of Varvatos fragrances.

None of them have good performance, some are okay, and a whole bunch just fail completely at this price point. It’s a shame, because they are unique and often nice smelling colognes.

Seasonally, this one is late spring and summertime all the way. Very semi-casual or casual sort of scent, to wear on a warm day outdoors or to the office when it is nice out. Probably best worn by men mid-20s and up versus something that a teen guy would put on.

Overall Impressions of Artisan Blu

Overall, do I like Artisan Blu? I like the smell, it is quite pleasant. The citrus top is great and I like the later contrast with the pine note.

It is an interesting composition, which adds depth to the usual summertime citrus. The basil and sage combination isn’t something that I’m too excited about in this one. Also, I wish it was more of a citrus aquatic rather than drying down into soapy woods.

Blu is nice enough, it’s clean. Is it amazing? No. The performance leave a lot to be desired both in power and longevity. If it did better in those respects, this would be a great summer option, for day wear.

As it stands, maybe grab it, if you can buy at a heavy discount and reapply. However, I always see this at a higher retail price of around $100 or so (currently), which is way too much versus what you’re getting out of this one. With better performance? Maybe. Just not the way it actually is.