La Petite Robe Noire Couture by Guerlain

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This is going to be my second review of Guerlain’s La Petite Robe Noire series of fragrances. There seems to be 80 million variations of this namesake perfume and they all come in bottles that look close to the same. The original La Petite Robe Noire that I reviewed was highlighted by a black cherry note with berries and almonds supporting.

Today’s review is going to cover the Couture version in an Eau de Parfum. So, let’s go ahead and jump into my review, starting below.

What does La Petite Robe Noire Couture Smell Like?

Notes include: patchouli, raspberry, bergamot, rose, tonka bean, moss, and vetiver.

Click here to try: Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire Couture Eau de Parfum, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

From the opening, I of course notice how similar Couture and the original Petite Robe Noire are to one another. Now, Couture replaces the black cherry and other red berries for a singular raspberry note.

It is interesting how this one maintains its sweetness and has a similar aroma to the first one just by swapping the fruit note.

Couture feels like it has just inverted some of the background players in the original and then dropped some other notes in favor of new ones like the raspberry.

There also is a very noticeable patchouli note in this. It’s combination with the raspberry reminds me of Black XS for Men and how it pairs itself with a lemon note. However, that men’s fragrance develops into a fairly acrid smell while Couture remains sweet and pleasant.

This perfume also contains a rose note that gets tempered by the presence of patchouli. The rose and the tonka bean pair to give Couture its smooth and powdery element and prevents the sweetness from going too overboard.

The dry down period, gives Couture a nice change of pace as the moss and vetiver begin to emerge and develops into a much more grounded woody base. It’s nice and not too masculine but I think that it gives this fragrance more character.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, La Petite Robe Noire Couture is pretty moderate but by no means weak. It’s not a perfume that will choke out a room. Nonetheless, I noticed it waft up from the skin many times during the day, as I tested this scent out.

Couture seems to have pretty good but not amazing longevity with around 7 hours of wear being well within its abilities. Not an elite perfume, with how long it lasts, but it is certainly a serviceable fragrance.

I’m not sure that I could classify this as a certain ‘season’. It would seemingly work well in all but the high heat of summertime and is versatile enough to wear at the office or out for a date.

Overall Impressions of Couture

Overall, is La Petite Robe Noire Couture worth a buy? Yes, granted you enjoy sweet fragrances. The patchouli isn’t bad in this one, which is usually a note that I don’t care too much for. If you’re not really into sweets, I’d probably avoid this one as it might be headache inducing for you.

That being said, if you enjoy fruity floral scents, this is a very solid choice. I actually think that I like it better than the original fragrance that it followed.

Couture isn’t a super powerful fragrance, but it does have a good use as a daily wear, so at a good price it might be worthwhile.

The vetiver and moss in the dry down, does help to set Couture apart, and comes across as a greenish aroma. Somewhat dry itself and a nice contrast from the raspberry and sweetness as a whole.

A*Men Pure Shot by Thierry Mugler

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I’m a pretty big fan of a lot of men’s colognes from Thierry Mugler, so I’m always looking to try scents from this designer that I have yet to experience. I received a sample sprayer of one such fragrance, A*Men Pure Shot, which is from the Angel Men line.

In this post, I’m going to go over my experiences of wearing this scent, what in it, how it performs, what I like and don’t like, and if I think that this one is worth a buy.

What does A*Men Pure Shot Smell Like?

Notes include: mint, patchouli, juniper, pepper, and sequoia

Click here to try: Thierry Mugler Angel Men Pure Shot Eau de Toilette Spray for Men (Limited Edition), 3.4 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Pure Shot is a party of mint and patchouli with some juniper throw in for good measure. Immediately, I am reminded of Ice Men, also by Mugler which also a mint and patchouli heavy cologne.

These two are almost the exact same scent, which makes me wonder why one of the two was even necessary to produce in the first place.

The separation of the two comes from the juniper berry note, which in my opinion isn’t really distinct enough to set them apart. The spice in Pure Shot is pepper, while in Ice Men it is nutmeg, but the effect is basically the same for your nose.

I do think that Pure Shot develops a bit more than its counterpart, which is pretty linear throughout wear. It has a noticeable sequoia wood note as it moves along and the juniper does allow for distinction.

I do like the mint and juniper combination, it does indeed create that fresh, crisp, and very cool aroma. It’s not amazing, but I do enjoy it.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Pure Shot is decent. It can actually be pretty heavy at first spray, but that fades rather quickly. After that initial start, I was expecting a really bold and long lasting scent, but that wasn’t meant to be.

Longevity isn’t that great either, probably around 4-6 hours, depending on the circumstance. At this price point, it should be a lot better than this. I think that it has been discontinued, as of me updating this post, so it’s become even pricier.

This could be a nice casual scent for someone. I think it provides a nice contrast with the warmer weather and a good change of pace from the usual summer scents.

It’s cooled mint, juniper, and patchouli mix gives off a nice bite of icy spice. Not really a formal wear or something for the nightlife either. Just something to spray on during the spring and summertime, when you’re just hanging out.

Overall Impressions of Pure Shot

Overall, do I think Pure Shot is worth it? Not for me. It is slightly better than Ice Men, but almost completely identical aside from the juniper. It’s not a great performer and doesn’t live up to the other gems of the A*Men line of fragrances.

I don’t think it smells horrible by any means and if you like mint and patchouli, you’d probably enjoy this one, assuming you can get a cheap bottle. It’s a fairly average scent with nothing really special about it.

Wildblue by Banana Republic

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Among the recent batch of samples that I recently acquired, was an entry from Banana Republic, that I had never heard of. This fragrance is named Wildblue and the information of the notes on the sample card, appeared to be rather vague, with ingredients such as ‘desert air accord’. Ok, then. Anyway, I gave it a try and as always a full review of my thoughts are below.

What does Wildblue Cologne Smell Like?

Notes include: sage, musk, driftwood, tea, cedar, vetiver, desert air accord

Click here to try: Banana Republic Wild Blue for Men 1.7 oz Eau de Toilette Spray

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Wildblue is a very aquatic mix of some kind of citrus note (lime?) and a musky wood. Right away, I am comparing this scent to Adidas Moves. Even though the notes composition isn’t the same, they have a very similar aroma, in my mind.

It’s as if they took the concept of Adidas Moves and added some kind of body wash fragrance from something such as Old Spice. It really is a familiar scent.

As it dries down some, that’s when the woodiness emerges for me. The driftwood and cedar notes are definitely noticeable to me, as well as the herbal quality of the sage and tea.

I don’t get the vetiver at all and I’m not entirely sure what desert air is supposed to smell like, but I’ll take Banana Republic’s word that it’s in there.

After the wood develops, Wildblue is basically a linear scent without any noticeable change. It’s aquatic wood mixed with herbs, citrus, and musk. Overall, it’s a simple and straightforward type of cologne.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I actually think that Wildblue gives a good performance. It leans toward the stronger side of things but isn’t cloying. The sillage is noticeable enough, will probably hit that 4-6 foot area surrounding the wearer.

Longevity is where it separates from its close Adidas relative, as I got a solid 7-8 hours from Wildblue, and I found this impressive. With a lot of these kinds of scents, the performance seems to be lacking, but Banana Republic got it right.

Seasonally, this is a warm weather scent all the way. I would also call it casual, as it doesn’t strike me as serious or romantic in the least. However, I would say that it is more mature than Adidas Moves, and is acceptable to wear for older guys.

Overall Impressions of Wildblue

Overall, do I recommend Wildblue? Eh, I’m on the fence about it. If you can get it for a good price, I won’t call it a terrible buy. It’s pleasant, light, but ultimately generic. Though, I did get great performance out of this fragrance.

For the right price and for guys who like this kind of scent, it could be a solid deal. It’s not groundbreaking but Wildblue is decent. The smell is nice enough, but not really something that I’d look forward to wearing.

Azzaro Pour Homme Elixir

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Azzaro Pour Homme has been a very popular fragrance for about four decades at this point. As such, one would expect the brand to create flanker fragrances to create further sales based on that cologne’s popularity.

Well, they did that, and today I am going to do a full review on one of them: Azzaro Pour Homme Elixir. How does it smell? How long does it last? Is buying Elixir worth it?

What does Azzaro Pour Homme Elixir Smell Like?

Notes include: benzoin, vanilla, tonka bean, black currant, cistus, oak moss, lavender, and more

Click here to try: Azzaro Pour Homme Elixir 3.4 fl. oz Eau De Toilette Spray

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Elixir is a blend of black currant, pear, oak moss, and lavender. It’s at this point, that it smells the most similar to the original Azzaro Pour Homme but with another layer on top of it.

This is also the part of the cologne that I don’t like. It gets better, but the opening, just feels too messy and has a weird aroma that I can’t really describe.

There are the fruit notes with that familiar dry and smooth woodsy scent. I think it’s the sweetness of the pear mixing with the rather tart black currant and other notes that I don’t enjoy.

As it dries down, this is where Elixir really begins to shine as a cologne. It separates itself from the original and the vanilla and tonka bean take much more of a center stage. It was pretty funny going from not liking a fragrance to an hour or so later, really liking what it had turned into.

Elixir has retained that classic masculine aroma that so many people find enjoyable about the original Azzaro Pour Homme and modernized it a bit.

You still have the dry base notes and the woodsy disposition, just now it has a more pleasing layer and depth to it.

It is dark, smooth, with a warm creaminess supplied by that tonka bean note. It is a sweeter version of the dry Azzaro smell, with the vanilla and pear notes, contributing to that.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Elixir is solid but not super loud or heavy, by any means. You’ll know that you’re wearing it and it’s not going to choke out the room. I’d say that it falls somewhere in the 4-6 foot range with its radius, when I’ve sprayed it on an old t-shirt.

It also has good longevity, I have gotten up to 9 hours with it on, but it usually falls in more of the 7 hour range on my skin. Not the best of the best, just good enough for a standard workday.

It is a versatile scent that can be worn casually or dressed up. It has enough maturity to be worn at the office, while being sexy enough for a night out. Elixir is a fragrance with a good balance.

I just wouldn’t wear it during the height of summer or anytime that it is very warm, the fragrance would tend to melt. Best in autumn through early spring.

Overall Impressions of Azzaro Elixir

Overall, do I like Elixir? I like what it eventually turns into. The opening isn’t my cup of tea, but the dry down is pretty darn good. This Azzaro fragrance isn’t going to get a spot in my rotation, though, it is good for what it is.

If you like the original Azzaro Pour Homme want want a sweeter/modern take on the scent, Elixir does a really nice job.

The black currant and pear aren’t a highlight, but the tonka bean and vanilla combination, really makes Azzaro Elixir start to shine. Performance isn’t a disappointment and it has some nice style to it.

This one doesn’t seem to be around much anymore, so, you might have to search around in order to acquire it.

Olympea Intense by Paco Rabanne

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I’m still making my way through a ton of sample fragrance write ups and reviews over the next month or so. Mostly, I have women’s scents left in the box, so stay tuned. Today’s entry is one from Paco Rabanne, Olympea Intense. This is a flanker perfume to the original Olympea.

How does it smell? Perform? Is it worth a purchase? Read below for my full wear thoughts and review.

What does Olympea Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: amber, vanilla, salt, orange blossom, and white pepper

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne Olympea Intense Eau De Parfum Spray 80ml/2.7oz

My Full Review

Before I begin my personal review of this fragrance, let’s see how they describe Olympea Intense in the sample vial’s card, A salty-vanilla amber accord. Carnal and charming. With a heart of orange blossom pulsating to white pepper. Flowers bloom and tumble into a salty-vanilla and white ethereal amber base. Unexpected. Illicit. Captivating.

So upon spraying, I immediately detect the salt and the vanilla notes. Olympea Intense really does have a saltwater toffee vibe to it, an aroma that hangs in the warm summer air. The orange blossom also comes out quite well from the start and indeed throughout the entire life cycle.

It’s a familiar floral and one of the floral notes that I enjoy most in fragrances. Orange blossom fits in perfectly to that salty vanilla mix and feels like it is soaked in the amber note.

The amber, of course, is the other highlight of this composition. It gives this Paco Rabanne perfume, a thick warmth, which envelopes the wearer and acts as the glue to keep everything together.

Olympea Intense is a fairly straightforward and simple fragrance. Vanilla is the main attraction and it is paired with the salt to create something that feels like it has a dash of sea air to it. All of this is coated with a very compelling amber note and an orange blossom to offset it from becoming strictly a vanilla perfume.

This one reminds me of some other fragrances such as BonBon and Black Opium and perhaps a few others (Prada Candy, maybe?).

It has that same vanilla, citrus sort of smell with a candy-like aroma (toffee in this case versus caramel in others). None are exactly the same, but they have a similar profile.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Olympea Intense actually lives up to the name and has a strong sillage. Trust me, you won’t have to spray very much of this stuff in order to get it to perform.

It is also an all-day wear and lasted over 10 hours on my skin, without any problem. So, you’re going to get your money’s worth. Paco Rabanne fragrances are usually great performers and this one is no exception.

Seasonally, it is built for colder weather and really shines there. However, it would be fine in moderate temperatures, as well. The high heat of summer? Maybe, but I have a feeling it’d fall apart.

Olympea Intense could be an everyday wear, but I think it’s best used casually, romantically, or for a night out. I think that it is quite attractive and sexy, it’s a perfume that draws people in. I probably wouldn’t go with this for more formal occasions.

Overall Impressions of Olympea Intense

Overall, do I like Olympea Intense by Paco Rabanne? Yes, I think that it is a great option for the colder months of the year. It isn’t a super complex perfume, but it has great performance, and bang for your buck.

If you’re a fan of vanilla and amber, this is definitely one to check out, and should be a crowd pleaser. It’s right along the same lines as several other popular fragrances, so, it’s not the most unique perfume out there.

Though, it separates itself enough to stand on its own merits. Olympea Intense can be a great little pick up, that not too many other people will have.