Vert de Fleur by Tom Ford

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I’ve gone through plenty of Tom Ford fragrance this year, testing them out, and reviewing each for the site. I still have a way’s to go from my current batch and what I’ll have to get a hold of. Nonetheless, let’s continue the progress today by reviewing, Vert de Fleur. This was a 2016 release, from the Private Blend line. How does it smell? How does it perform? Is it even worth a try?

What does Vert de Fleur Smell Like?

Notes include: hyacinth, iris, vetiver, galbanum

Click here to try: Tom Ford Private Blend “Vert de Fleur” Eau de Parfum 50 ml/1.7 oz

My Full Wear Review

Vert de Fleur really does start with a bitter green semi-woody aroma. A lot of that, has to do with the surrounding notes, but the hyacinth is the main star up top.

Along with, galbanum, which will grown stronger during the wear. That opening blast, isn’t my favorite, but luckily the bitterness does subside shortly thereafter.

As it moves forward, the galbanum comes forward more, along with iris. The iris at times, is quite prominent, and then I can barely detect it before it once again comes roaring back.

This is the epitome of a green/floral perfume, as the name would suggest. It has such an earthy and mossy damp quality to it.

Later, the vetiver and some moss, do seem to poke through. Along with some other potentially unidentifiable notes, which gives Vert de Fleur a solid woodsy base. This helps to tow the line between women’s perfume and totally unisex.

While it is a unisex fragrance technically, as a man, this isn’t something that I’d personally want to wear. It leans top feminine on my skin, plus, I’m not a huge fan of this style of fragrance.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

I find this to have a fairly large sillage and good projection, but it isn’t the type to fill the room. It’s strong enough to be, greater than a skin scent, and be noticed throughout the day.

The perfume lasted in the 6-8 hour range, both times that I tried it out. Nothing crazy, but still very useable. For the price, it is just decent. With fragrances as a whole, it’s a bit more than above average.

In terms of when it should be worn. I’d say anytime the temperatures and humidity is moderate. It’d feel out of place in the extreme cold and probably not hold up all that well in the extreme heat.

Who should wear it? Women or men, who want a niche greenish floral fragrance. It smells perfectly nice, but it isn’t going to be a crowd pleaser, nightlife star, nor is it particularly sexy.

This is the type of fragrance, that is mostly going to be appreciated by the wearer themselves, and not people around them.

Overall Impression of Vert de Fleur

Do I like Vert de Fleur? It’s okay. Again, I’m saying this as someone, who doesn’t really enjoy this category of perfume. I think that the iris note is nice and actually enjoyed the vetiver dry down. The rest of it, I was pretty indifferent to.

However, this is absolutely going to have an appeal to a certain percentage of the population. If you do enjoy these kinds of ingredients in your perfume, this is a darn good example of it. The performance and quality is right up there. So, it is one that you may want to try out.

La Vie Est Belle by Lancôme

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I could’ve sworn I had already posted a review of La Vie Est Belle, years ago, on the site. Turns out, that I was wrong. So today, I will correct that mistake, and revisit this best selling EDP from Lancôme. What does it smell like? When should it be worn? Is it even worth the hype?

What does La Vie Est Belle Smell Like?

Notes include: patchouli, vanilla, blackberry, iris, pear, tonka bean, praline, and more

Click here to try: Lancome La Vie Est Belle Eau de Parfum Spray, 1.7 Ounce

My Full Review

Before we get into my personal review, let’s see what Lancôme has to say about the perfume: “La vie est belle”, a French expression meaning “Life is beautiful”; the manifesto of a new era. Universal yet personal, Lancôme’s femininity is a choice embraced by women, not an imposed standard. The choice to live one’s life and fill it with beauty. Your own way. It introduces a new olfactory story, the first ever iris gourmand. The juice is made with the most precious natural ingredients, a modern interpretation of an oriental fragrance with a twist of gourmand.

La Vie Est Belle opens up with its fruity notes, taking center stage. Mainly, I pick up on the tart and somewhat sour blackberry note, which is joined by pear. When paired together (along with the other notes), it puts on a sweet, somewhat grape-like smell at first.

Like, a candied grape scent, just more tart in the opening.

A few minutes after the initial spray, the patchouli begins to draw away some of the energy of the fruity ingredients. With the iris note (plus a touch of jasmine), you do get a more classic floral aroma in there.

Yet, it still remains a fruity gourmand, at this stage. This perfume gets compared to Flowerbomb a lot, and I can smell the similarities, but there’s less patchouli in La Vie.

This is really when the shift begins to occur, in this fragrance. The praline/vanilla/patchouli triumvirate, gains a strong foothold, and the blackberry note is just floating along the periphery of the aroma.

Initially, the patchouli is the strongest, then it is the praline/vanilla mix. They become slightly stronger than the patchouli, the rest of the wear.

La Vie Est Belle isn’t a super complicated fragrance, but it does have a nice little lifecycle of development.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage isn’t huge, but it can fill a room, if over sprayed. You don’t need to go heavy on the trigger, for the scent to project itself. In fact, it’ll probably make for an unpleasant wear.

The performance is great, in terms of how long it’ll go for, on the skin. You will definitely get a full workday, at least, possibly into the double digit hours depending on the climate. 7.5 or 8 hours mostly, with some extra time, sometimes.

Is this a versatile fragrance? Yes. There’s a reason it is a best seller, La Vie Est Belle is a daily wear for a ton of women, out there. It is pretty and pleasant. Appropriate for the office, school, casual functions, formal wear, etc.

This is more of a cold to moderate temperature wear. Mostly, autumn through mid-spring. When it gets hot, go with another option.

Is this a sexy perfume? Ehh, I don’t know that I’d call it ‘sexy’, it’s appealing. It’s attractive, but it doesn’t drive me wild. Though, I do enjoy smelling this fragrance on a woman.

Overall Impression of La Vie Est Belle

Do I like La Vie Est Belle? I do. I still think that this is a very good option for women looking for an all around daily wear. Yes, it is pretty commonplace. But, so what? It works.

The blackberry opening, while tart, is quite awesome. Some people don’t care for it, but it is a highlight for me. The dry down gets warmer and sweeter, with enough patchouli, to keep it all in balance.

Add to that, the performance is worth the price of admission. It is strong and lasts for a long time, so, it’s actually not a bad value proposition for what you actually get.

La Vie Est Belle has been a massive hit and will continue to be so. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but seems to attract a lot of women to wear it. I would recommend giving it a shot.

Jimmy Choo Man Intense

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I’m trying to get through a backlog of review posts here, over the next month or two. So many scents that I’ve tried out, that I need to organize my notes on, and turn them into proper posts. Anyway, today’s entry is one of the more popular scents on the list, Jimmy Choo Man Intense.

Is this fragrance an improvement on the original? What does it smell like? Does it perform well? Is it worth a try?

What does Jimmy Choo Man Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: patchouli, tonka bean, lavender, melon, mandarin orange, amber, black pepper, davana oil

Click here to try: JIMMY CHOO Man Intense Eau De Toilette, Fougere Oriental Woody, 3.3 fl. oz.

My Full Review

Intense starts off with a crisp blend of melon and orange, which is a change of pace from the original Jimmy Choo Man, but only slightly. That one, had the pineapple/melon up top, and I think I enjoyed that combo more.

However, this kicks off things with a very attractive and clean aroma, laden with further lavender. Within a few minutes, the pepper gives Intense a nice spiciness, underneath that bright fruity aroma. Really, at this stage this fragrance does bear a resemblance to Invictus, along with the original Jimmy Choo Man. Sort of a hybrid scenario.

Where it begins to take things in its own direction, is after the opening, when some of the citrus falls away. Tonka bean, some of the pepper, and patchouli really move in.

When the tonka bean, gains strength, the Invictus vibe begins to fall away for my nose. The tonka bean and lavender, give this scent some structure, and make it what it’s going to be for much of the rest of the wear.

In some ways, it reminds me of a fruity-sweet Luna Rossa Sport, at this stage. Which is great, as I wear that fragrance quite a lot.

Finally, what I’m left with is an aromatic melon fragrance, with some spiced edge provided by some remnant pepper, and lingering patchouli. It’s dark and fairly sweet, but very appealing, to smell. There is a bit of amber, in the base, but wasn’t too heavy.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Well, this one is called Intense, because it is an ‘intense’ version of the original Jimmy Choo Man…which had pretty weak sillage.

Is this one beefed up? Yes, but it’s still not a powerful scent. Man Intense will project decently, but isn’t going to ever be a powerhouse, so don’t expect a true intense.

The longevity is much improved. How long does Man Intense last? This one can seem to go for 6-7 hours, on my skin, which is respectable. I certainly do wish they had found a way to pump up the power some more, but the performance here isn’t bad, by any means.

Seasonally, this Jimmy Choo cologne, is very versatile. It does feel out of place in the cold, but outside of that, it can handle whatever’s thrown at it.

Where can you wear it? Anywhere. Versatility is absolutely a strength of this fragrance, from the office to casual to a date. It’s light enough to be office friendly, but will grab complements from the ladies, in nightlife. It’s just one of those scents, that women really seem to go for.

Overall Impression of Jimmy Choo Man Intense

Do I like Man Intense? Yes. To me, this is the best overall Jimmy Choo cologne, to date. I like the opening of the original more, but this is better in totality. The performance is better and it can actually lasts a solid amount of time.

Lavender and tonka bean pairing together, is something I usually enjoy a lot, and it’s no different here. I think the pairing with the melon is really fresh and drew my interest from the beginning.

It does bare a resemblance, to a variety of other popular fragrances, but I think it distinguishes itself enough to stand on its own merits. I do wish, it were even more intense, but it’s passable. This is one to try out and can definitely serve as a safe daily wear, for a wide range of men.

Tabarome by Creed

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During a recent trip to Las Vegas, I got to visit (a few times) the Creed boutique store. There are only two of these boutiques from Creed in North America (other one is in NYC). As such, I got to experience and revisit some of this brand’s scents for men and one of those happened to be Tabarome.

It had been such a long time since I had smelled this fragrance and thought that I would now post a review of it since it was fresh in my mind.

Now, this is going to be my experience with wearing it on one particular day and not over several days like in my other reviews, so, the performance aspect of this review will be much more limited. However, I’d still like to share my thoughts on Tabarome and whether or not it is worth a purchase.

What does Tabarome by Creed Smell Like?

Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace where the Creed boutique is located
Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace where the Creed boutique is located.

Notes include: ginger, vetiver, musk, tobacco, jasmine, bergamot, tangerine, sandalwood, ambergris, leather

Click here to try: Tabarome By Creed For Men. Eau De Parfum Spray 4.0 Oz

My Full Wear Review

It was cool to have a Creed shop so close by while staying at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas and quite impressive to see their entire line being offered in one place. Tabarome opens with a very fresh and moderately spicy blast of the ginger note.

To me, the opening is when the ginger really dominates and while it is the most prominent note in Tabarome, it seems to settle down quite a bit after a bit of wear.

I think that the ginger could turn some people off of this scent but that’s a mistake in my opinion, as I feel that it can be a very good note when used properly (it just isn’t utilized often enough) and that Tabarome takes a little while to truly reveal itself.

Outside of that ginger, you do get a beautiful citrus blend, at the top. Paired with ginger, the opening act reminds me somewhat of, Dior Sport 2012. Not the same, mind you, but that sort of combination is quite reminiscent.

By the name, one would probably expect a tobacco dominated cologne. There is a tobacco element within Tabarome but it isn’t the usual smokey, already cured tobacco. It is more of the ‘green’ smell of a growing tobacco plant (if you’ve ever experienced that scent).

The bergamot gives it a slightly citrus aroma much like the same note in Aventus, although, in Tabarome the citrus is a background player and not the main event.

Tabarome is a beautiful blend of sweet and spiciness and never seems to allow any one ingredient take over entirely. The musk and the standard Creed ambergris give this cologne a definite warmth and the leather brings on a masculine smoothness. The dry down is full of wood, leather, tobacco, ginger, and some of the remaining citrus notes.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

It was probably 85 degrees on the day I wore Tabarome in Las Vegas. It held up pretty nicely in that weather, but I think it would be bettered severed. in the spring or a cooler fall day.

I did get a solid 5-6 hours out of this scent, again though, it wasn’t a usual day and I was running around town doing a lot of stuff outside…so maybe it isn’t a fair reflection on its usual performance.

Actually, it’s  pretty good about what climate it will work in, and outside of the insanely hot and humid days it wouldn’t be too out of place.

Update: Yeah, in a cooler climate it’s around 7-8 hours of wear.

Tabarome is a classic masculine type of scent, it isn’t heavy handed, and feels much more reserved than some of the other Creed scents. It isn’t weak in my opinion, pretty moderate across the board in how it projects.

This is an everyday wear, it could work on a date but I wouldn’t call it a ‘sexy’ fragrance. Tabarome is another from their collection, which would suit an older or professional man, the best. It’s not an ‘old mannish’ smell, meaning stuffy, just subtle and refined.

Overall Impressions of Tabarome

Overall, is Tabarome worth a buy? I think that it is one of Creed’s best scents, definitely underrated and overshadowed by some of its peers. Not every guy will enjoy it and it for sure has a much more limited appeal in who would wear it.

If you like slightly sweet and spicy fragrances, that are warm and have a citrus/woodsy element to them, then Tabarome might be worth a look. It is quite a fresh and classic type of scent which calls back to yesteryear and is well suited for the mature man.

Tabarome is well put together, smooth, but not super complex. That’s a good thing, in my mind. I think the performance, is a bit better than I experienced, under normal circumstances. However, I don’t think it’ll be an extremely high end performer, just solid.

1 Million Prive by Paco Rabanne

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Today, I want to cover another entry from Paco Rabanne. This time it is a new take on the 1 Million name, entitled, Prive. Prive was released last year and as a flanker, retains some of the original elements of One Million, just taken in a slightly different direction.

As usual, I’ll cover how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not I think it is worth a purchase. Update: I have come back to this fragrance, to add to the review, after a few years of use. Also, Prive is now discontinued.

What Does 1 Million Prive Smell Like?

Notes include: tonka bean, apple, cinnamon, myrrh, mandarin orange, tobacco

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne 1 Million Prive Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

Prive is a flanker fragrance to the wildly popular original, 1 Million cologne. I actually really like 1 Million, so I was excited to see how they changed things up with Prive. Immediately, I enjoyed the smell of this stuff.

The cinnamon note is stronger than the original, and blends with the apple, to give it a sweetness that isn’t as candy-like as 1 Million.

1 Million tends to have that grape bubble gum opening and Prive is cinnamon applesauce at the start, in my mind.

Prive is darker and feels more mature than the original, though. Then, there is that lingering bit of citrus provided by the Mandarin.

Prive feels like Paco Rabanne took elements of the original and then bolted on other ingredients from Armani Code Profumo and added some myrrh and tobacco to round things out.

The tonka, apple, and mandarin are all notes that Prive has in common with Code Profumo, which makes these two scents seem related.

I love Code Profumo and really enjoy 1 Million, so Prive was right up my alley. The tonka give it that similar ‘creamy vanilla’ aroma that is present with Code Profumo.

As it dries down, Prive becomes much more of a cinnamon spice and sweet tobacco blend that is really quite lovely. 1 Million Prive is the type of fragrance, which envelops you, as you wear it.

It is very cozy, at its base, with the cinnamon and patchouli spice giving the composition a greater edge. This is a pretty straightforward scent, for the most part.

The final dry down, gives me: tobacco, tonka bean, cinnamon, myrrh, and whatever is left of the fruit notes.

The myrrh is an unsung hero in this fragrance. It adds a layer of depth and just a hint of exotic smokiness, that really sets Prive apart, from the rest of the 1 Million lineup. It’s odd that they went from this, back to a super sweet composition with 1 Million Lucky.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

Projection wise, Prive does a great job. I will say, that it isn’t as heavy and intense as the original 1 Million, but it is well above average in this regard. It’s not a scent that requires much in the way of spraying to be effective.

Longevity, it is very long lasting, 9-10 hours appears to be the norm. Prive isn’t as good of a performer as the original, but it is damn good.

After using this cologne many times, I’d call its sillage strong for 3-4 hours, and then moderate thereafter. I consistently get that 9-10 hour range of wear from this cologne. Doesn’t seem to want to go beyond that on my skin, not that it’d need to in most scenarios.

I like this scent for colder weather, not sure how it’ll hold up in the heat, but I think it’d be out of place.

Update: Coming back to this fragrance, it’s not great in the heat. Stick to the cold to moderate temperatures.

I could see wearing this scent casually, at the office, or school…BUT I think it’s made mainly for the night life.

Prive is a excellent selection for dates or just hitting up the bar scene. I have worn it out on the town, a good number of times, and have gotten lots of complements from different people. It’ll get noticed, but won’t be overwhelming those around you.

Personally, I can spray it on almost anytime during the winter and be fine with it. The versatility is probably its weakest point, though.

Overall Impressions of Prive

Overall, would I recommend 1 Million Prive? Yes, I like it a whole lot. Code Profumo and 1 Million were two of my most used scents over the winter, along with Man in Black. Seeing how much similarities it shares with the first two, it’s hard for me not to like it.

If you don’t like warm, sweet, cold weather fragrances…then you might want to skip this cologne. However, I think this is another hit from Paco Rabanne, and might actually become my favorite from this designer.

Update: 1 Million Prive, is the best 1 Million fragrance, in my opinion. It beats out the original and even the newer release, Lucky.

Update (Again): It’s no longer available. None of the others in the series, is quite like it. However, Elixir and Royal are two of the better editions of the 1 Million line. I did grab another sample of this, that I found on eBay. The myrrh note isn’t as good as I remembered and can get on my nerves at times. Still, this is probably the top pick from this Rabanne series.

Actually, it’s among the best designer colognes, available right now. It takes what was great about the original and adds a level of maturity.

The sweetness is there, but it isn’t overwhelming, nor is the sillage. It’s delicious, comforting, spicy, and stylish.