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.

Azzaro Wanted vs Wanted by Night

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Azzaro really struck upon a hit with its release of Wanted. It followed up in 2018, with its flanker scent, Wanted by Night. As such, a lot of people now have a dilemma about which of these fragrances they should buy, the original or the flanker? In this post, I’m going to break down each and compare them by category, before declaring an overall winner.

Tale of the Tape: Wanted vs. Wanted by Night

Wanted by Azzaro

Notes include: tonka bean, lemon, cardamom, vetiver, juniper, ginger, geranium, mint, amber wood

Click here to try: Azzaro Wanted Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce

Read my original Review: Wanted Review

Wanted by Night

Notes include: cumin, cinnamon, lavender, tobacco, lemon, orange, cedar, cypress, patchouli, fruits

Click here to try: Azzaro Wanted by Night Eau de Parfum for Men – Mens Cologne

Read my full review: Wanted by Night

Opening

The original Wanted starts things off with a prominent lemon note heading things up. It’s actually got a pretty similar smell to Invictus versus being a sharp and intense sort of lemon. Then, the next few minutes start to ramp up the warm and spicy cardamom, along with the creamy tonka bean note.

Meanwhile, Wanted by Night, plays down its own citrus and fruity notes. They are present, but take a back seat to the spices, particularly cinnamon and cumin. The start closely resembles Ultra Male by JPG, just stripped of the pear note, and the original Wanted.

Along with the cinnamon and cumin, is a nice tobacco note and some benzoin.

Which is better? I’ve always thought that Wanted was decent but not amazing at the start. Wanted by Night, is the better of the two in my opinion. It retains some sweetness, but the cinnamon spice and tobacco notes really set it apart.

Edge: Wanted by Night

Sillage

Which of these two is stronger? Both of these start out pretty powerful and can project themselves well. After that, each settles down to a more moderate scent, while still being above average when compared to other colognes.

I’ve worn both of these plenty and don’t really notice a clear cut winner, in this category, it’s about even.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Again, the performance for me is about the same. Both of these gives me 7-9 hours of wear, on my skin. Neither is elite, but they are quite good and can give you the full work day equivalent. They are similar scents, so, this is not to be unexpected.

Versatility

Seasonally, I think is where Wanted gets the edge. It can venture much more easily into the warmth of spring and when it’s not insanely hot out during the summer. Meanwhile, Wanted by Night is more confined to the autumn and winter months.

Both would be geared a bit more toward casual wear and nightlife. I don’t consider either to be formal or more of an office scent. Wanted by Night is a bit more mature, but still has a youthful vibe.

Edge: Wanted

Overall Scent

Wanted was always a pretty good cologne to me, but I never felt blown away by it. Its similarities to Invictus at the start, wasn’t a selling point to me. However, the dry down is much nicer with the apple and juniper notes.

However, Wanted by Night is just better to me. I like how it starts, I like the spiciness, and since it resembles much of what you get from Wanted in the latter stages…it makes more sense to pick up. I like the darker qualities while having enough sweetness to avoid being a spicy mess.

I like both, not in love with either, but I’d rather wear Wanted by Night. I mean, I have been wearing Night over the past few weeks, fairly regularly and that’s never been the case with Wanted.

Winner: Wanted by Night

Invictus Legend EDP by Paco Rabanne

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Popular fragrances today, get a seemingly endless line of flanker fragrances released, in their wake. Invictus by Paco Rabanne, is one such scent, that has spawned a bunch of follow-ups to the original formula.

Here in 2019, the brand has released, Invictus Legend eau de parfum. This is the latest entry into the Invictus lineup, but how does it actually fare? What does Legend smell like? How does it perform? Is it even worth a buy?

What Does Invictus Legend Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, amber, geranium, metal, mead accord, guaiac wood, laurel, sea salt, bay leaf

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne Invictus Legend eau de parfum for men 3.4 Fl Oz

My Full Wear Review

Before we get into my thoughts on this fragrance, let’s see how Paco Rabanne describes it: The ultimate hero, made for glory. Burning like desert heat, Invictus triumphs effortlessly and speeds towards glory. Invictus Legend: A blazing duel, two forces clash. Fresh adrenaline rides a whirlwind of hot woods: a fragrance with power. Thrilling like victory.

The fact that there are so many Invictus flankers, immediately made me want to compare Legend, to one of the others in this line. Yes, they all have commonalities, but Legend immediately brought to mind Invictus Intense.

I have a mini bottle of Intense and wear it on a fairly regular basis. Both of them really share the amber note, but Legend ultimately is both, more aquatic and fruity than Intense. Your personal taste, will determine, which one you should get.

Invictus Legend opens up with a fresh and sweet blend of grapefruit, marine notes, and amber. It’s a sweet citrus vibe, with a salty/warm oceanic aroma. It is quite bold, at the top, and has a solid dose of that famous Invictus citrus candy/bubblegum sort of smell.

A bit further into the wear, some spiciness is brought into the picture, but all of the notes have a fresh edge.

For a little while, I pick up a good deal of geranium, and a very light metallic note. It’s sort of like that metallic scent found in Azzaro Chrome, though, these are two very different fragrances.

Next, there is the bay leaf, which seems to gain in strength as the grapefruit subsides some. At this point, Legend is an ambery aquatic with spicy/woody undertones.

Finally, we get to the base, and the amber has fully taken over. It is joined by guaiac wood and it starts to feel more like the original Invictus. Not the same, mind you, but they are similar in the latter stage. Invictus Legend, is more of a salty aquatic, but the rest is strikingly similar.

Sillage, How Long Does Legend Last, and When Should it Be Worn?

Invictus Legend is a very strong cologne, especially, at the start. The sillage is huge and can easily fill a room. That can be a good thing, as you will only need a few sprays. However, it does calm down a bit, and isn’t as ‘in your face’ later on.

The longevity is great, as well, seems to hit that 8-10 range pretty consistently. It doesn’t seem to go beyond that, but it really doesn’t need to. Performance is definitely not an issue, with Legend.

I really liked this one in the summer heat. To me, this is a better summer option for Invictus fans, even more so than Aqua (which is decent), as it really highlights both the sweet and oceanic notes.

Though, this would be fine to wear, during the rest of the year, as well. I would say that this skews toward the under-30 demographic and it should become quite popular with that set.

I like Legend, more as a nightlife scent, as it is bold and very attractive. If you’re going to wear it during the day, just go easy on the sprays, because it can be a beast.

Overall Impressions

Do I enjoy Invictus Legend, overall? I do. As I said, Invictus Intense, is my favorite of the lineup and this one has a lot of similarities. Legend isn’t as spicy, but features a grapefruit and oceanic element, that mixes with that shared red amber note.

It’s like Invictus Intense for the summer months. Legend might be better, but I’m not sure yet, as I still need more time with it.

If you like the Invictus line already, you should definitely check this one out. If you also like Intense, you might not need this, depending on how much of a beach-vibe you want with your fragrance.

Also, if you’re a guy who wants a very versatile scent with a sweet/fresh profile, Legend could do the trick.

I’m not sure people who don’t like any of the Invictus’ colognes will enjoy this, as it shares plenty of similar DNA. I like it a lot and I think that this one is going to be a fragrance, with a pretty broad base of support.