Polo Red Extreme vs Ultra Male Comparison

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It’s been a minute since I’ve done a head to head fragrance comparison, so let’s get to it. In today’s post, I am going to be covering a contest between Ultra Male vs. Polo Red Extreme. I have worn both of these colognes many times, but which smells better? The Jean Paul Gaultier or the Ralph Lauren scent? I will break down each by different metrics, before ultimately declaring one, which I consider to be the best.

Tale of the Tape

Ultra Male

Notes include: vanilla, pear, amber, woods, cinnamon, cumin, sage, lavender, mint

Click here to try: Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male for Men Intense Spray, Eau de Toilette, 4.2 Ounce

Read my original Review: Ultra Male

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

Ultra Male kicks things off with its sweet and somewhat candy-like aroma, that is joined by the warm spiciness of cinnamon and sage. Beyond that is the pear note, vanilla, and mint; which brings a cooler sensation.

Polo Red Extreme goes in with a bold blend of blood orange, some cranberry, and coffee. It is delicious, with it’s own DNA, but just a nod to the original Polo Red by using the cranberry note.

Which is better? That’s tough. I really like how both of these fragrances start off. If I have to pick? I think I’ll give the nod to Ultra Male, as it has more depth, and its nice aroma.

Edge: Ultra Male

Projection

Ultra versus Extreme, both should have huge sillage, do they? Well, yes, both are strong colognes. Polo Red Extreme is definitely powerful, but it doesn’t have that top tier sillage. Ultra Male does, it is strong and definitely a bold scent. It has the edge.

Edge: Ultra Male

Longevity

Here, we are are about the same. Both of these scents, usually give me around 8-9 hours of wear, each time. Both are very good with their longevity, but not elite.

Edge: Push

Versatility

The two of these fragrances are best reserved for the colder months. Ultra Male is pretty much a nightlife fragrance and isn’t going to find too much use as a daily wear. Polo Red Extreme, leans in that direction, but can actually be used casually or even at the office.

Edge: Red Extreme

Overall Scent

This is a fairly close call, as I really do enjoy both of these scents. Polo Red Extreme is the best incarnation of the Polo Red line. It’s pretty straightforward with the blood orange, coffee, and the later ebony wood base. It’s unique and offers a good performance. Plus, is slightly more versatile.

Ultra Male, is just a bit better smelling, in my opinion. It’s bold, warm, fresh, with a great sweet and spicy profile. It is an upgrade over the still very popular, Le Male. Yes, it has a limited use, but this stuff is a beast, in the winter months.

When it comes down to it, I would prefer to wear Ultra Male, a higher percentage of the time versus Polo Red Extreme. Though, I do recommend either.

Winner: Ultra Male

Fleur de Portofino by Tom Ford

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Continuing on with the Tom Ford fragrance reviews, we have a rather popular scent from the line up, Fleur de Portofino. In this post, I want to share my experience with this scent, and what sets it apart from the pack. What are the notes? What does it smell like? How does it perform? Is it actually worth a buy or is it over-hyped?

What does Fleur de Portofino Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, Sicilian lemon, bitter orange leaf, tangerine, violet leaf, magnolia, white acacia, orange blossom, jasmine, vanilla, acacia honey

Click here to try: Tom Ford Fleur de Portofino Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 oz

My Full Wear Review

Fleur de Portofino is a part of the Neroli Portofino line of fragrances by Tom Ford. So, yes, they do have some similarities but each is fairly distinct, in my mind. The opening features a great blend of citrus notes, mostly a lemon and tangerine.

However, it isn’t a pure citrus start, as I pick up on floral notes, honey, and some subtle ‘greeness’.

This perfume does smell a bit different, particularly in the floral notes. It is led by white acacia flowers, as well, as having a healthy dose of acacia honey.

I wasn’t familiar with the scent of this flower, but it does offer a nice change of pace, from the usually neroli found in a million other perfumes.

After about 20 minutes, the citrus notes start to really take a backseat to the floral notes. They never completely vanish for me, but they don’t completely permeate things, either. I really get a lot of magnolia and what I guess is the acacia, it is a distinct white floral aroma.

The great thing about Fleur de Portofino, unlike some of the other Tom Ford perfumes, is that the floral notes are tempered enough to prevent them from becoming overbearing.

The sweetness of the honey smooth things out and the citrus, retains a light touch, to keep it from becoming a giant bouquet.

Finally, I do pick up on a decent amount of jasmine in the dry down. Now, not to the same extent as say in, Jasmin Rouge; but it does come on fairly strong. Nonetheless, it never fully occupies the composition, and the other two florals remain strong.

In the end, I get this blend of white floral notes, honey, some citrus, and an indistinct mix of some other flowers.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it starts off with pretty strong sillage, but it’s not a bomb. Later, it lightens up quite a bit, but still stronger than a skin scent for me.

The longevity isn’t amazing, but it’s solid, giving me about 6 hours of wear. These style of perfumes, never seem to go super long, but Fleur de Portofino holds up well enough.

I do with I could get a few more from this, solely because of what this fragrance costs. It just doesn’t work out that way.

Seasonally, this one is a spring/summer wear, all the way. While it technically is unisex, this leans much more feminine, in my opinion. Not super girly, so men can indeed, wear it safely.

Some of the others from Tom Ford that are in the same style as this one, can lean more masculine.

This strikes me more as a casual daytime wear or something that you could wear to the office. Not one for a night out or as something which could considered to be a romantic wear. Mostly something to wear, as you’re out and about on warmer days.

Overall Impressions of Fleur de Portofino

Overall, do I like Fleur de Portofino? It’s nice enough. Even if it is still a pretty basic white floral and citrus blend, it changes things up enough with the acacia, to make it distinct. The performance is pretty standard, but it is a very nice smelling perfume.

It doesn’t amaze me, shares some similarities with Sole di Positano, but overall I enjoyed wearing this one. There’s a lot of different fragrances like this from Tom Ford and Acqua di Parma, so, they all start getting jumbled together in my mind.

That being said, it’s one of the better examples. I like the citrus notes in the start and the honey which gives it something somewhat different.

It’s somewhat safe as a blind buy, if you know that this kind of perfume is your style. At the price it sells for, you may want to try it first. Though, I don’t think you’d be all that disappointed if you didn’t test it beforehand.

Pretty N Punk by Betsey Johnson

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Working my way through my pile of sample fragrances, I thought that I’d turn my attention to the ladies’ side of things today. One of the samples that I received months ago, was a release from Betsey Johnson called, Pretty N’ Punk. How does this perfume smell? What are the notes? How does it perform? Is it even worth a buy?

What does Pretty N Punk Smell Like?

Notes include: cherry, raspberry, amber, musk, sandalwood, praline, orange, vanilla orchid, rose, jasmine, peony, patchouli and more

My Full Review

Before I get into my review let’s see how the brand describes this perfume: Unapologetic and energetic. Pretty N’ Punk is a collision of fruit, citrus, and spicy scents with satiny wood and musk undertones, amplified by a sweet amber twist. With a vibrant burst and sultry finish it’s perfect for every Betsey Babe.

Pretty N’ Punk opens with a really nice fruity mix with some underlying warm spice. The spice is light, but a decent complement to the mandarin citrus, raspberry, and cherry aroma. The fruit notes in this perfume, are more of a cocktail-like approach, rather than having one ingredient dominate things.

It’s definitely sweet and warm, as it moves along, Punk becomes more of a fruity gourmand. Praline adds further sweetness and that edible quality. The floral notes are there, but feel pretty moderate, throughout. I’d say that the orchid note is the strongest, and that I can pick out the rose, during parts of the wear.

The other key ingredients here are the patchouli and the amber. The amber mainly in the dry down, as it does indeed give a warm sweetness to the woody base. The patchouli here, is a really gentle version of this note, and not one that’ll make you want to scrub your skin immediately.

Ultimately, what I get from the final stage of this perfume is a fruity sweet baked good, with patchouli, a mix of floral notes, and some ambery-sandalwood. It’s warm with a red berry type of sweet fruit. Yes, it is playful, and has an upbeat sort of disposition.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage on Pretty N’ Punk is pretty strong. It doesn’t seem to reach the ‘choke out a room’ level of strength, but it wouldn’t be too difficult to overspray, either. It moderates, as time moves along, but it is a fairly impactful fragrance overall.

The longevity is decent, clocking in around six hours of wear. Not amazing, but definitely passable, at the right price. Testing it out a few times, yielded the same results. So, don’t go in expecting a complete workhorse.

Seasonally, it works well pretty much year round. It’s got that gourmand quality for the colder months, but isn’t too heavy to move into warmer temperatures. Maybe avoid the height of summertime, but otherwise, one should be find wearing it.

It’s more of a ‘pretty’, casual, kind of perfume. It’s pleasant enough and has the depth to not just be another ‘girly’ fragrance. It does have a bit of an edge.

Overall Impressions of Pretty N’ Punk

Overall, do I like Pretty N’ Punk by Betsey Johnson? Yes, however, it is good and not great. It’s a fragrance that has been done before, but this is a really nice example of it. You get a solid blend of fruits, floral notes, patchouli, and a gourmand sensibility.

The performance could be a bit better, which would knock it up a few notches, in my book. However, if you can get a good deal on a bottle, I’d say go for it.

Patchouli Absolu by Tom Ford

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I have only about a handful of Tom Ford samples to finish getting through, after this one, before I’m done with my current stash. Of course, I’ll have to acquire whatever scents are left, in order to do writeups another time.

However, today, we have an entry from the Private Blend collection: Patchouli Absolu. Yep, a patchouli based fragrance is going to be a bit polarizing, but we will see how this one ranks. How does it smell? What are the notes? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Patchouli Absolu Smell Like?

Notes include: patchouli, leather, cypriol oil, guaiac wood, moss, amber, bay leaf, tonka bean, rosemary, and cashmere wood

Click here to try: Tom Ford Patchouli Absolu Eau De Parfum 50 Ml

My Full Review

Patchouli Absolu is a part of Tom Ford’s Private Blend series of fragrances. From the start, this particular scent is going to be pretty niche, as patchouli isn’t always everyone’s favorite ingredient. It’s definitely not mine, but it is here in spades.

Will you have to like patchouli, to enjoy this? Yes. However, it really doesn’t strike me as, most other fragrances of this type.

The opening act is quite woody, dry, and with a slight spice. You do have rosemary and bay leaf, at the top, but neither strikes me as being all that strong for the duration of the wear. The patchouli is there, but it really starts to break out, a little later on.

Along with the main attraction and herbal spice is: oud, leather, moss/woods. The wood is definitely cypress to go along with that oud note, which isn’t very strong.

I like the addition of the leather here, I think that is what is making the patchouli itself, much more tolerable. It’s smooth while being quite earthy/woodsy, with that super dry profile.

During the dry down and the rest of the wear, the patchouli gets stronger, and is flanked by the leather. The moss is the next strongest note, to my nose, with woods underneath.

There does seem to be at least some amber and tonka bean in Patchouli Absolu, but it is very little, and really blends together.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage of Patchouli Absolu is pretty strong. This isn’t one that you’ll want to douse yourself with, even if you really enjoy it. A little will go a long way.

Like most other Tom Ford fragrances, this one will last for a long time on the skin, as well. 10+ hours has been my experience with it. Really, it’s one that I just lose track of because it just keeps going.

Seasonally, stick mostly to the autumn and winter months with this one. In my opinion, it wouldn’t be bad on warm days, but keep away from the high heat.

This is a casual to formal wear fragrance. Not really a nightlife or date night sort of scent, unless whoever you’re dating, just loves patchouli.

It’s got a real mature sensibility about it. Most younger guys, would want nothing to do with wearing this. It’s not so offensive to a general audience, but in a lot of ways it will be more of a niche wear.

Overall Impressions of Patchouli Absolu

Overall, do I like Patchouli Absolu? It’s not my style, but for what it is, I do like it. The patchouli and leather are quite good together. Plus, that mossy dryness and wood, create a masculine and earthy scent.

It’s not too harsh, but has a definite classic feeling. I wouldn’t recommend this for most guys to just grab a bottle of. However, if you’re a patchouli fan, I’d definitely give this one a try. It’s right up there with the best of them.

Mont Blanc Explorer vs Legend

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Legend has been a best seller for Mont Blanc for many years now. A few years ago, they released Explorer, and it quickly became a favorite among consumers. They have somewhat differing styles, but which is the better cologne? Which fragrance lasts longer? Opens better? Is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape

Mont Blanc Legend

Notes include: Bergamot, Pineapple Leaf, Sandalwood, Apple, rose, oak moss, lemon verbena, geranium, lavender,  And Tonka Bean

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Legend Eau de Toilette 3.3 fl.oz.

Read my review: Mont Blanc Legend

Explorer

Notes include: sage, bergamot, pink pepper, cocoa, vetiver, ambroxan, leather

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Explorer Eau de Parfum, 3.3 fl. oz.

Read my full review: Montblanc Explorer

Opening

Legend has a fruity opening of apple, bergamot, and pineapple. It has a very citrus beginning, but it features a dry scent, with creamy tonka bean and lavender coming through. Along with, the underlying woodsy notes.

Explorer kicks off with the bergamot citrus note going strong. With that is pink pepper and sage, giving it a fresh spiciness. Can be somewhat sharp, but honestly not overwhelming. The second layer consists of leather, ambroxan, and woods.

Which is better? They both give you the citrus opening, but Mont Blanc Explorer is just more dynamic and better to my nose. I like the sage and pink pepper more so than the dryness of Legend.

Edge: Explorer

Projection

Legend is a moderate fragrance throughout, pretty average, and never ventures into super strong territory. Meanwhile, Explorer is above average for a good deal of the wear, before settling into something closer to Legend.

Explorer hits higher highs and can project itself further from the skin.

Edge: Explorer

Longevity

On my skin, I get 5-6 hours of wear from Montblanc Legend. It never goes beyond that, but to its credit, also doesn’t fail to meet that target either. It’s pretty steady.

Explorer can go 6-8 hours and will usually hit at least 7 for me. Neither one of these is elite in its performance, but there is a clear winner.

Edge: Explorer

 

 

Versatility

Both of these scents are extremely versatile in terms of when they can be worn and who can wear them. Both are low key enough for work or for school. Yet, they can also venture into the nightlife and be fine in most climates, except for extreme heat. No real difference.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Legend has never been a personal favorite of mine. I’ve always found it to be just okay and kind of thought that it was a lesser version of the original bottles of Abercrombie Fierce. Well, since those aren’t great anymore, I guess Legend is it.

That’s not to say I dislike it. I do enjoy the citrus, sandalwood, and lavender blend. It’s a very easy fragrance to wear, not going to offend, and can be a go to starter fragrance for younger guys.

That being said, Explorer absolutely is a better fragrance. Yes, it’s a pretty good dupe of Aventus, but it does have some personality of its own. It smells better, lasts longer, and is just all around more enjoyable than Legend. No brainer here for me.

Winner: Explorer