Declaration d’Un Soir EDT by Cartier

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For today’s review, I’m going to take a closer look at a fragrance from the house of Cartier, Declaration d’Un Soir for men. Now, this scent is a flanker of the original Cartier Declaration. This one was released back in 2012. As usual, I want to give an overview of how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is worth a purchase.

What does Declaration D’un Soir Smell Like?

declaration d'un soir review

Notes include: cumin, rose, pepper, sandalwood, nutmeg

Click here to try: Cartier Declaration D’un Soir Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

From the start, let me state that Declaration d’Un Soir, probably isn’t for everyone. It is a fairly unique scent that will work very well for guys who have a certain taste. The opening of this cologne is a blast of rose and pepper.

The rose note is dominate for the first 10 minutes or so before the pepper, sandalwood, and nutmeg notes catch up to it. In this one, don’t expect a red rose smell, more pink…but sort of greenish, also.

I have to say, I quite like the use of the rose in Declaration d’Un Soir, it doesn’t feel feminine like some other scents that utilize this note. I’m not even a big fan of the smell of rose, but I like what Cartier has done here.

The pepper and nutmeg give this one a great spiciness, that never goes overboard with its intensity. It seems to be held in check and mellowed by the smoothness of the sandalwood and soft floral scent of the rose.

Actually, aside from the change after the first ten minutes or so, this cologne stays pretty constant. What you smell is what you get. Fresh cool spice, with a great rose, and woody base. Simple and quite enjoyable.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Declaration d’Un Soir is very solid, not too light or not too heavy. You’ll know it’s there, but it won’t envelop you. I’d say its reach with normal spraying hits the 4-6 foot range.

On the longevity side of things, this is an absolutely magnificent performer. I’m talking 10+ hours of use on most occasions, it is just a workhorse. Really wasn’t expecting it to be. Though, with repeated tries over the years, it always keeps up.

This is a good scent for casual wear, especially in the fall or springtime. That’s when I would wear it. However, it goes way beyond just that. Soir can really be worn year round and is appropriate for a wide variety of situations.

It’s not a ‘club’ kind of fragrance, so, maybe that’s its one exception. If you need a super bold cologne for nights out, you might go with another. Also, I might go with something else in the high heat. Not that this is terrible there, either. Just more of a preference.

Outside of that? This is pretty much a full go. This Cartier is crazy versatile.

Overall Impressions of Declaration d’Un Soir

Overall is Declaration d’Un Soir, worth a buy? I’d say yes. If you want something a bit different that performs very well, then this might be the scent. You have to like rose/spicy/earthy/woodsy type of fragrances to appreciate this one.

If that’s not you, look elsewhere. I don’t think this is going to become a part of my main rotation. However, I do think it has a place within my collection.

The smell is cool, fresh, and is a great example of a masculine rose scent. Super versatile and the aroma has a lot of appeal to me.

Update: This one is now discontinued, as it came out over a decade ago. It was popular, but not popular enough to get the perpetual release schedule like other favorites. It’s worth tracking down, but I wouldn’t pay too much for a bottle.

Play by Givenchy

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Another one of the recent samples, I’ve received is Play by Givenchy. It came out almost ten years ago and they describe it as a fresh woody scent. I’d actually put it more into the citrus/spice category, though. In this post, I want to give an overview of how it smells, how Play performs, and whether or not this Givenchy cologne is a buy.

What does Play by Givenchy Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, bitter orange, grapefruit, coffee flower accord, amyris wood, vetiver

Click here to try: Givenchy Play for Men by Givenchy 3.3 oz 100 ml EDT Spray

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Givenchy Play is a blend of citrus, mainly dominated by grapefruit, and a spicy pepper note. I am immediately struck by how this smells exactly like Hugo Red, if you replaced the metallic note in Red with a coffee note in Play.

Seriously, these two are almost dead ringers for one another. Since I like wearing Hugo Red in the summer; I like Givenchy Play. As Play develops more, the coffee note becomes more noticeable which give it an interesting richness, that gives it that slight difference from Red.

That’s for the opening act, it becomes more distinct from the Boss scent, after that.

Moving along, Play continues its freshness with the variety of citrus notes, and the oncoming base woodsy notes. Amyris wood? That’s the note, not sure I’ve encountered it though. Pretty generic wood smell.

Vetiver has some prominence here, though, it doesn’t strike me as powerful. Citrus with a clean spice and a fresh earthy/woods aroma.

So, mostly citrus and spice. The coffee note isn’t as strong, as it is in Play Intense. It’s not too complicated, however, a fun wear.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Play is pretty moderate, and might even be slightly weaker than Hugo Red. The sillage isn’t going to go beyond a few feet, except upon the initial spray. Definitely not a powerhouse, by any stretch.

It’s longevity is pretty decent, around 6-7 hours of solid performance. Pretty standard. Many citrus colognes like this one, don’t last very long. This is actually decent, in this category, as some fade after 2-3 hours.

To me, this is a spring/summer type of scent that is good for casual everyday wear. You could wear this in semi-formal situations or out at night, also. Still, I mainly wore the sample around town, when it was warm and sunny out.

Overall Impressions of Play

Overall, is Play a buy? It’s a very nice fragrance but it smells like Hugo Red and you can get a larger bottle of that for cheaper. Update: Givenchy Play came out in 2008. Nowadays, you’ll probably have to pony up a lot of money to get a bottle. Paying a few hundred for this stuff is absurd. For cheap, it’s worth a try.

However, if you were looking into Givenchy Play Intense as well, it would make sense to grab Hugo Red and a bottle of Play Intense too.

The Intense version is much more of a gourmand scent for the cooler months of the year and has way less of the citrus and more of the coffee and a tonka bean note.

I really like the citrus here and the light coffee. I dig summertime citrus colognes and I enjoyed wearing Play. Not my favorite, but was a solid example from the last decades.

La Nuit de L’Homme Eau Electrique by YSL

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On my way out of El Prat airport, I once again stopped into a duty free shop to explore the fragrance selection, and came across a newer offering from Yves Saint Laurent…La Nuit de L’Homme Eau Electrique. The blue color and the name caught my eye, so I figured that I would try this one out and wear it on the flight home. In this post, I am going to give my initial impressions and opinions about this cologne after a single wear.

What does La Nuit Eau Electrique Smell Like?

Notes include: cedar, vanilla, tonka bean, cashmere, vetiver, lavender, apple, geranium, bergamot

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit De L’Homme Eau Electrique Eau De Toilette Spray 100ml/3.3oz

My Full Wear Review

OK, so, going into this test I had zero expectations or notions about Electrique. In fact, I’d never even heard of it. I think that’s the best way to do a review of this sort, since my mind won’t be clouded by what I ‘wanted’ the cologne to be, and can simply judge it based on merit.

I sprayed this one twice on my arm about an hour or so before my transatlantic flight back to the US from Spain. Update: I’ve since had a travel spray size of Eau Electrique and am updating my thoughts throughout this post.

It initially struck me as smooth with a creamy/powdery offering of tonka bean with a woody base and some fruit thrown in to boot. Electrique was really fresh and drew me in from the very jump and I could smell it on me as I walked to my boarding gate.

That’s a very simple test of whether or not I think something is worth my while, is it an enjoyable addition to the background of my everyday life? For Electrique, I vote that yes, it is.

Eau Electrique opens with a noticeable apple and some citrus notes. The apple, tonka, vanilla, and lavender are really present up top with the main tonka bean note. Really, apple and tonka bean.

Then, the second wave brings in geranium paired with that lavender sitting under a tonka/vanilla combo.

The notes in Electrique have some overlap with Versace Eros, but, I think they are two different fragrances and the similarities aren’t that noticeable.

Eros is a much louder and has more of a citrusy aroma than does Electrique, though, the tonka bean and apple notes are shared.

Update: I could also compare this to Montblanc’s Legend Night, but noticeably lacking the heavy cardamom note.

Electrique is understated and while it has some sweet elements, it never becomes overbearing. I think the prevalence of the cashmere was a nice touch and gives Electrique some more separation from the original La Nuit.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Electrique was good during my one off test. It was noticeable during the wear and even kind of heavy at first. It isn’t a complete beast or anything but it is getting close to crossing that line.

I got 7-8 hours of use out of it. The last few hours it was more of a skin scent. However, I can’t really say for certain how it will perform with just one wear but it seems legit enough. Update: Yep, 6-8 hours, consistently.

Electrique is more suited toward cold weather wear. It worked fine in an air conditioned environment but I’m not sure that’ll hold up in the heat. Update: Not great in high heat, but moderate springtime temperatures, it is fine.

It does seem to have some versatility as both a casual fragrance and one which will work as a date night type of cologne.

Overall Impressions of Eau Electrique

Overall, is La Nuit de L’Home Eau Electrique worth a buy? I actually really liked wearing this fragrance. It’s nothing Earth shattering; but it is very good. It gives good performance and has a very attractive scent with a tangential relation to the original La Nuit.

It’s a good bet as an Eros alternative, if you don’t like the lemon note there. Also, the geranium can come across a bit like mint. It’s not a dupe, but they do have a very similar style.

Eau Electrique has now been discontinued, so, grab a bottle while you still can for cheap.

Electrique is a smooth and fresh fragrance with a powdery finish and a woody heart. It’s not super outstanding or ‘special’ but it is really damn nice.

Just Me by Paris Hilton

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I’m making my way through an old box of various samples that I purchased over a year ago, before my new batch arrives. One of these scents, is the women’s version of Just Me by Paris Hilton. which was released back in 2005. Better late than never to write a review. As usual, I will cover how it smells, when it should be worn, how long it lasts, and if it is worth a purchase.

What does Just Me for Women Smell Like?

Notes include: iris, violet, pink pepper, raspberry, bergamot, sandalwood, freesia, musk, vanilla

Click here to try:  Just Me Paris Hilton By Paris Hilton For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4 Ounces

My Full Review

Before I get into my experience with this scent, let’s see how the sample insert describes Just Me: As engaging as Paris herself, this fragrance is sophisticated, sexy and sensual. It’s original and innovative and captures the high society party girl and the 21st century socialite in one beautiful scent. It mingles both the essence of Paris’ trend-setting and glamourous side with the heart of the confident woman that Paris has become. 

The opening act is a blend of violet, iris, citrus, and pink pepper. The spice isn’t too heavy on my skin and I get a fairly sweet aroma with a distinct powdery undertone. To me, the violet is the most noticeable note here, along with the pink pepper.

I guess that I could classify it as a fruity floral, at first. However, it really isn’t slated that far to one side or the other, actually closer to a 50/50 split in the early stages. I begin to enjoy it more so, when the scent has had time to settle.

When it gets further along, the floral notes will begin to take over more. The violet is still in the lead, the iris will fade somewhat, and more freesia will come in. Also, the pink pepper will take a back seat, and I get more sweet/creaminess from vanilla.

Finally, there is the woody base. Toward the tail end, it’s a musky, vanilla, woody aroma. Sweet with floral highlights still floating around. I find the

Sillage, Longevity, and When to Wear

Just Me isn’t a super strong perfume. It will project itself decently from the skin, but it doesn’t have crazy sillage. A lighter moderate, that will radiate from the skin maybe 3-5 feet, with normal application amounts.

The longevity is also good, but not amazing. Somwhere in the 6-7 hour range, on my skin. For the price? Good enough. Though, it isn’t going to ever be considered elite, in this regard.

Seasonally, Just Me will work best in the warmer weather. It’s got a good amount of sweetness, but isn’t a thick or heavy perfume.

It could be worn casually, to a party, or semi-formally. Wouldn’t be a terrible office scent, since it’s not a monster with it’s sillage, and has an enjoyable enough aroma.

Just Me is one of Paris’ more mature fragrances. Not a candy-like teenager scent. Though, they could also obviously wear it, but it has a nice refined character to it.

Overall Impressions of Just Me

Do I like this fragrance? Yes, Paris Hilton actually has some nice perfumes out there. It’s not an astonishing, must-have scent, but it delivers a lot of value and an enjoyable wear.

I like the balance and how it is blended. Sometimes, I can pick out distinct notes, others it all comes together. There is a good sweetness with the raspberry and citrus, along with powdery floral notes, woods, and just the right amount of spice.

Bottles of this usually run in the $15-25 neighborhood, with the performance and the aroma, Just Me is a deal.

Update: This one is still going strong as an inexpensive perfume and it hasn’t seen any real price increases, as of now. I still think that it’s a nice one to pick up, if you want a fun cheapie or shopping for a younger lady.

Millesime 1849 by Creed

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Another scent that I tested out from Creed, when I visited their Las Vegas boutique, is Millesime 1849. This is a unisex fragrance that has been out for a number of years now and so I wanted to give it a good try, after spending an evening wearing Viking. How does this one perform? What does it smell like? Is it worth a buy?

What does Millesime 1849 Smell Like?

Notes include: ylang-ylang, bergamot, cedar, sandalwood, vanilla, agarwood, musk, jasmine, and patchouli

My Full Wear Review

I originally sprayed Millesime 1849 on a tester strip, when I went to the Creed Boutique and wore Viking for the first time. I remember it smelling interesting; but I also had several other strips that day with Creed scents on them. So, 1849 didn’t stand out.

I went back another day and gave Millesime 1849 multiple sprays on my forearms. The opening was quite floral and sweet. I wasn’t really aware that this was a unisex scent at the time, as it comes in a somewhat dark green bottle, much like many other men’s colognes.

Sweet vanilla and floral with the familiar Creed bergamot note lingering faintly in the background for a brief few minutes.

While I know that this is a unisex, the floral notes really doesn’t seem super feminine to me. They are soft and subdued and aided by the woody notes (mainly the cedar and sandalwood).

The dry down on my skin was more of the wood notes with the patchouli peaking through. It became less floral as it moved along and those notes felt as if they were lightly dipped in the musk note.

I have to say, that Millesime 1849 is a well put together and balanced fragrance. Nothing ever feels overpowering or out of place.

Sillage, Longevity, and When to Wear

Projection wise, this one is on the lighter side of the spectrum. It isn’t weak per se, but it wasn’t intended to be a bold powerhouse either.

The longevity was meh, at least when I wore it. Around 4-5 solid hours and that was about it. Disappointing in that regard. It’s tough to get excited about an expensive scent, with this kind of lackluster performance.

Millesime 1849 strikes me as spring/summertime casual wear. It is simple and light. Pleasant and enjoyable for those around you. While it is unisex, it does end up being more feminine than masculine, but again not crazy so.

Overall Impressions of 1849

Overall, would I recommend Millesime 1849? It’s a nice scent and after the initial floral period, I think that it becomes much more interesting and appealing. The woody/sweet/musky dry down is the highlight of this fragrance, in my mind.

It’s a safe and fairly straightforward wear. It’s not amazing but I do enjoy it. Not enough for me to personally buy a bottle of the stuff, but one could do a lot worse than giving this scent a try.