Yellow Diamond Intense by Versace

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Today, I’m going to review another women’s perfume by Versace, Yellow Diamond Intense. I’ve had this sample for a while and have been giving it consideration today. Intense came out in 2014, as a flanker to the popular original. In this review, I will cover what’s in it, how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and if it is worth a purchase or not.

What does Yellow Diamond Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: pear, citron, neroli, bergamot, freesia, orange blossom, jasmine, bezoin, musk, amber wood

Click here to try: VERSACE Yellow Diamond Intense Eau De Parfum, 3 Fluid Ounce

My Full Wear Review

OK, so I reviewed the original Yellow Diamond perfume on the site a few days back, but I also have a sample vial of the Intense version so I thought that I should review it next.

The notes are the same, so how different could the fragrance actually be? Was it just going to be a ‘stronger’ version of the original?

Upon smelling the opening for the first time, I knew that it wouldn’t be the same. Versace definitely reformulated the potency of each note, as well as making it more intense.

Yellow Diamond Intense starts out with a bold presentation of the citrus notes, while the floral notes take a much more subservient role than they did in the original. I have to say, that I enjoy the opening of the Intense version much more than the original.

After about 5-10 minutes the pear note began to take hold and the citrus quieted down somewhat. The second phase is a citrus/pear/white floral combination that is quite cheery and upbeat.

Later on there are some woodsy notes but I don’t feel that this version gets ‘green’ or too plant-like as the original does with its mostly floral/wood disposition. This is a very clean scent and almost has a soapy vibe to it at times.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Yellow Diamond Intense actually lives up to its name. It does deliver some intensity after the soft-spoken original fragrance. It projects quite well and never felt weak to me. I sprayed it on an old t-shirt days ago and it seems to still be going strong on the fabric.

Is it going to fill up a room? Probably not, unless you go big with the sprays. It’ll be noticed and create a nice scent bubble around you for the day.

Longevity is also better than the original. On my skin, it lasted right around 8 hours, and I only used one spray on my wrist. That’s a great sign.

Update: With some more testing, it seems that 8 hours is about what to expect. Maybe an extra hour or so, on occasion. I did get about nine and a half hours once.

Yellow Diamond Intense is of course a spring/summer scent. It really has a naturalistic feeling of fruit and flowers that takes your mind to walking through a grove or garden. It seems like a versatile fragrance, as well, it would be fine for the office or casual situations.

Not really a club scent, but possible for dating. I do find it to be sexier than the original, but still wouldn’t classify it as a ‘sexy’ or ‘seductive’ perfume. Mostly a good daily wear for the warmer months of the year.

Overall Impressions of Yellow Diamond Intense

Overall, do I recommend Intense? I liked the original, but I like this one better. It’s bolder and I think the composition is more refined. Add to the fact that it has a higher level of performance and it’s a winner.

I really like the bright and upbeat citrus notes here, particularly in the opening few minutes. The jasmine and orange blossom, do a great job at supporting the citrus fruit. I’m not a huge fan of pear as a fragrance note, but it does a nice job in this perfume.

I’m not totally blown away by Yellow Diamond Intense, but I find no real faults with it either. This Versace is quite solid all around. It’s a very good choice and if you happen to like the notes as shown, you could do a lot worse than picking up a bottle of this stuff.

Burberry London vs Brit Men’s Cologne Comparison

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Here in yet another cologne comparison posts, I want to put two Burberry scents head to head, Brit and London. Now, I wear both of these colognes and enjoy both of them a lot. So, I do recommend both of them, but I want to break things down further to see what separates the two. Which one performs better? Which is sexier? What do they smell like? Which one is better overall?

Tale of the Tape: Brit vs. London

Burberry London

Notes include: bergamot, cinnamon, pepper, lavender, port, mimosa, moss, tobacco leaf, leather

london

My original London Review

Shop on Amazon: BURBERRY London for Men Eau de Toilette, 3.3 fl. oz

Burberry Brit

Notes include: wild roses, tonka bean, green mandarin, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, cedar

FullSizeRender (2)

Read my original review

Click here to try: BURBERRY Brit for Men Eau de Toilette, 1.0 fl. oz

Opening

London is a darker and much more masculine scent than is Brit. London features a sweet tobacco leaf note that blends with cinnamon, pepper, port wine, and leather for a spicy and smooth start. The leather comes on stronger a bit later and the port wine ultimately disappears.

The opening is when London is at its spiciest and when it has a boozy edge. The cinnamon and pepper can be quite sharp, but it’s held in check by that tobacco note.

Brit on the other hand, is fresh and powdery with a hint of spice provided by the ginger note. The opening isn’t quite as smooth, as it will ultimately be. In fact, the opening feels quite green with the wild rose note, nutmeg, and a green mandarin orange. Not when Brit is at its best.

Brit is eventually much cleaner but I think that London is way more interesting and attention grabbing, at the start. The opening isn’t a strength for either, but London has a better go of it.

Edge: London

Projection

London is the heavier of the two scents. However, neither is really overpowering by any stretch. I’d say London is on the upper edge of moderate and Brit is a softer moderate.

Both do their job and do it well, just because it’s softer doesn’t mean Brit is weak BUT I’d say London gets the edge. I never have any issue with either being detected, either by my nose, or by those around me.

Edge: London

Longevity

Both sit in the 6-8 hour range for wear. There really isn’t an advantage between either to me in this category. I’d say both tend more toward 8 hours versus 6. I’ve tried recent bottles of each and the performance is still the same.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Both of these colognes are in the autumn/winter wear category of men’s fragrances. I have worn both casually and on dates. I’d say that London is definitely sexier and more of a romantic cologne than is Brit.

I’ll give London the edge because I think it is a better evening wear fragrance but again Brit isn’t bad by any means. Neither is going to be one you’ll want to wear in the summer months.

Edge: London

Overall

I honestly do love wearing both of these scents. As I said in the Burberry for Men vs Brit cologne comparison, I often will switch between these colognes depending on my mood.  Brit is a very good scent, I love its freshness and powdery/green aroma on cold winter days.

London is just an interesting fragrance. It is spicy, woodsy, dark, and kind of boozy. London is the most masculine of the three while Brit is the softest.

London won’t be for everybody and plenty of guys will enjoy the rose, tonka, and ginger notes of Brit; but I’m going to give the edge to London. Conversely, there are plenty of guys who won’t like the powdery quality of Brit, even though it is a dynamic example.

Updating here, I’d rank them: 1. London, 2. Brit, 3. Burberry for Men. I have been loving wearing Burberry Brit, lately, as I more recently purchase a new full bottle.

Winner: London

Best Smelling Colognes at Kohl’s Department Stores

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Kohl’s is a highly popular department store here in the United States, which usually has some great deals and discount opportunities associated with its merchandise. They also seem to have quite a wide selection of colognes available for a department store.

For this post, I wanted to present to you what I consider the top fragrances offered by Kohl’s and I have linked each one out to its page on the company’s website and have included a link to any review I have done for each cologne.

Top Men’s Fragrances at Kohl’s

Polo Black– Polo Black features top notes of mango, tangerine, and lemon giving it a tropical feel from the start. The mango note is fantastic here and a real selling point. Sage and patchouli come in to give it a woody/earthy/spicy finish.

The sillage and longevity are pretty moderate but Polo Black smells fantastic and has been a best seller for many years now. It’s not really a heavy or ‘dark’ sort of fragrance, despite what the name would suggest. My Full Review

Light Blue Eau Intense– Some people prefer the original Light Blue and if you want a spicier citrus, it’s also available at Kohl’s. However, I think that Eau Intense is the better of the two, both in terms of smell and performance.

It kicks off with a frozen grapefruit note and mandarin orange. It gives a smooth and chilled feeling, that is great in the summer months. It has an aquatic feeling, but isn’t oceanic, from its mix of juniper and amberwood. Feels more like a dive in the pool, rather than the sea. My Eau Intense Review

Diesel Bad– Diesel Bad has more of a niche use than the others on the list, but it is still a really nice cologne. It’s geared more towards casual wear and nightlife, mainly for younger men (think college age to mid-20s).

It opens up with lavender and bergamot, this is the weakest part of the wear. Then, the tobacco, amber, and woods come in to give a more well-rounded aroma. Add to that, some underlying spice and you have a bold and enjoyable cologne. I get about 8-9 hours of wear out of this one. Diesel Bad Review

diesel bad edt review

Burberry Brit– Burberry Brit takes on a really fresh and powdery sort of aroma. It starts things off greenish with some spice from ginger and a rose note. Then, it softens up with a lovely finish that is perfect for moderate to colder weather.

This is one that I have been a fan of for a long time. It’s one that I like to spray on during the autumn months. Again, it has that fine powder smell, so if that’s not your thing…go with another. Burberry Brit Review

Versace Man Eau Fraiche– Very crisp and bright, Man Eau Fraiche starts off with a cold blend of lemon and starfruit. It’s pretty straightforward, as a summertime scent, but you do get sage and tarragon to add a bit of spice. Plus, the base notes of wood help to give this one some more body.

Mostly, this will be a good pick for the warmer weather. Although, if you live in a place with a hotter climate year round, it could absolutely be a daily wear. Not super powerful, though, it has solid performance. Man Eau Fraiche Review

 

 

Reaction by Kenneth Cole– Apple, melon, and citrus lead the notes of the always popular Reaction by Kenneth Cole. This has been around for a few decades now and still has its loyal followers.

Quite youthful and easy to wear. The juicy fruits give this an almost aquatic sort of presentation and it is held together by a sandalwood note, in the base. A good option for teens and college age men. Not too complicated, just clean and pleasant. 

Mont Blanc Legend Night– Legend Night has gotten somewhat more popular since its release, but still seems to fly under the radar. It’s another one that I love to wear. It starts with bergamot citrus and candied apple. Yes, it does have a sweet profile, but it’s more complex than that.

Mint, sage, and cardamom come in for that added depth. At first, the mint and candied apple create a nice duo, before the cardamom grows heavier and warms things up. Sometimes, it reacts differently on my skin and I get more sage and cardamom, at first. 

Either way, Legend Night shifts from cool and fresh to warm with a kick. Not overly heavy, but I can get 7-9 hours of wear. This is more geared toward the nightlife, but I’ve also worn it during the day in autumn and winter. Mont Blanc Legend Night Review

Black Opium vs Poison Girl Perfume Comparison

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For this fragrance comparison, we are going to take a closer look at to women’s eau de parfums, Black Opium by YSL vs. Poison Girl by Christian Dior. Which of these perfumes smells the best? They share a lot of similarities, have lots of sweetness, are gourmand, but which one is a better buy? As usual, I’m going to break down each by different metrics, and then declare a winner. I’ve also linked my original reviews of each scent below.

Tale of the Tape: Black Opium vs. Poison Girl

Black Opium

black opium perfume review

Notes include: coffee, vanilla, patchouli, pink pepper, orange blossom, cedar

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, Black Opium, 3 Ounce

Read my original review: Black Opium

Poison Girl

Notes include: Damascus rose, tonka bean, bitter orange, vanilla, almond, sandalwood

Click here to try: Christian Dior Poison Girl Women’s Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce

Read my original review: Poison Girl

Opening

I’m not too much of a fan with the way that Black Opium opens up. The first ten minutes or so are pretty jumbled, and honestly not that great, but it gets better. It’s a lot of orange blossom, cedar, and vanilla at the top. It’s loud and not very cohesive yet.

It’s strange, because I do really love orange blossom and vanilla. But for some reason, it just doesn’t click in the beginning.

Poison Girl, hits first with the Damascus rose note, tonka bean, and bitter orange. It’s creamy and smooth and actually feels quite close to how Black Opium ultimately smells.

At the start, the Dior fragrance, takes the edge.

Edge: Poison Girl 

Projection

Ok, Black Opium is a bold fragrance. The sillage is quite loud and it has the ability to project far and wide. Really, that’s one of the perfume’s major strengths. As such, Poison Girl is going to have to match that at least, does it? It doesn’t.

The Dior starts off strong but never reaches the same level as does the YSL. Later, it fades more into a moderate perfume while Black Opium keeps going strong. Poison Girl isn’t bad at all, it just doesn’t meet the pure power that Black Opium displays.

Edge: Black Opium

Longevity

Actually, this category might be a tie. Black Opium goes on and on, but I also got double digit hours out of Poison Girl. I mean, if you want to keep going into the deep hours, maybe there is a clear winner but not in normal situations.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Two cold weather fragrances. Poison Girl can be worn at the office, casually, or out on a date. Black Opium can do the same, although, in confined spaces its best to go lighter.

I’d say Poison Girl is a tad bit sexier to my nose and is subtle enough to wear anywhere. So, I’ll give the Dior the slight edge here.

Edge: Poison Girl

Overall Scent

So, these two perfumes are very close in how they stack up against one another. They share many elements and this close competition is to be expected.

Black Opium EDP turns into a vanilla and coffee mix as it moves along to go with an orange blossom note playing the support role. It’s very warm and super sweet. The pink pepper note and the patchouli, give it a cozy spice to sit underneath the sweetness, and create that enveloping feel.

Poison Girl is also quite sweet but has a creamier aroma, thanks to tonka bean and the almond note. The rose, vanilla, and tonka bean notes make for a formidable trio that lead the way. The bitter orange note supplies the citrus and sort of gives a similar vibe to Black Opium.

Ultimately, though, I think that I prefer Poison Girl. It’s smoother. Almond, sandalwood, and tonka make sure of that. It’s sweet, creamy, and smooth. It’s not as bold as Black Opium, but performs just as well. It’s difficult to pick a winner in this contest, but Poison Girl just strikes me as a tad more interesting.

Winner: Poison Girl

Noir Anthracite by Tom Ford

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I haven’t posted anything on the site for over a week now,as I took a trip to Las Vegas and then got stuck there for a number of days more due to all of the weather-related travel cancellations. I did however, get a chance to sample some new fragrances, during my time there to write up some one-time wear reviews.

One of these scents is the new tom Ford launch, Noir Anthracite, which is a flanker fragrance to the original Tom Ford Noir. So, I’m going to delve into my initial impressions after wearing a few sprays around for the day.

I would’ve liked to spend some more time with it, to truly get a full picture of this scent, but this will have to suffice. Note: I have updated the post, after more testing.

What Does Noir Anthracite Smell Like?

Notes include: Sichuan pepper, bergamot, tuberose, ginger, cedarwood, santal, and galbanum

Click here to try: TOM FORD NOIR ANTHRACITE EAU DE PARFUM 3.4 OZ/100 ML SEALED (3.4)

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Noir Anthracite starts out with a bang. It’s spicy, intense, and the bergamot was most prevalent to my nose at this point in time.

Some of it seemed vaguely familiar, which now that I’m home, I realize it’s the Sichuan pepper note that is also found in my sample sprayer of Amouage Journey.

There is a definite overlap between these two scents, though Journey Man is smokier in my opinion. However, Noir Anthracite does kind of seem like it could have been an Amouage release, as it fits right in with that line.

I cannot think of the other cologne that Noir Anthracite sets off memories of but it does feel like deja vu.

The cedarwood and santal gives Anthractie its woodsy/smoky aroma which complements the spiciness provided by the Sichuan pepper and ginger notes. It’s actually quite a masculine scent but doesn’t overdo it in my opinion.

What’s interesting about this cologne is that it doesn’t take the route of so many others and use its spiciness to create an enveloping cloud of warmth around the wearer…maybe it’s supposed to be ‘warm’ but it never seemed like it.

Perhaps, it was due to wearing it in a desert climate. It’s a pretty strong scent but it doesn’t feel all that heavy to me, more like a dark, rich, and deep aroma.

Noir Anthracite also eschews sweetness of any kind, which is a nice change of pace versus other popular scents of this era. Yes, there is a bergamot note, but it was mostly confined to the very start of the scent’s life cycle.

After that, it’s spicy/woodsy with a smokiness that is fairly mesquite. When you get right down to it, this cologne isn’t all that complicated and stays along the same line, for the rest of the wear.

Sillage, How Long it Lasts, and Versatility

Projection on Noir Anthracite is pretty darn good. It’s strong, but not overly powerful, to the point of annoyance. The sillage also sustains itself fairly well, over the life of the wear. It doesn’t just quit a few hours after spraying.

The longevity during my wear was around 7 hours. I also spent some time outside in the heat, so that probably effected it somewhat. I’d say this is best for fall/winter and I’d need another few rounds with it to properly gauge its longevity.

Update: Yeah, it’s about 7-8 hours of wear, in the colder weather too. It’s nicer when the air is crisp, but still didn’t wow me.

It strikes me as a versatile scent, that could be worn in a business or business casual situation but also work well for nightlife at a restaurant or lounge-type of atmosphere.

It is a mature masculine kind of cologne, so I’d say skip it, if you’re still in school…at least while in the classroom.

I know a lot of Tom Ford scents are pretty unisex but this is one that leans heavily toward the more traditional masculine kind of cologne.

Again, fall/winter seems like the perfect time to wear and I’d lean more towards saving it for the nighttime. It’s not really a sexy fragrance and I don’t know how most women would react to it.

Noir Anthracite seems to be stuck somewhere between niche fragrance and mass appeal. Dark, spicy, woody, and warmth has its appeal…just not one everybody would go crazy for.

Overall Impressions of Noir Anthracite

Overall, would I rate Noir Anthracite a buy? I sort of like it, but I’m not crazy about it. It doesn’t quite fit my personal style or tastes but I know a lot of men would really enjoy it. If you’re into spicy woods fragrances, you should check this one out.

If you like sweetness or aquatic types, then, this one probably isn’t for you. There is a lot that this scent does well and I honestly can’t say anything about it is ‘bad’, it all comes down to whether or not the composition fits your lifestyle.

Ultimately, there’s a lot of peppery spice, wood, and some smoky aromas. For most people, I don’t think that it’ll blow them away, and some might hate it entirely. There’s a whole lot of Tom Ford scents, that I’d rather wear, but this one is decent.