Soleil Blanc by Tom Ford

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I still have about a dozen more Tom Ford fragrance reviews to post from my current batch of samples. I’m going to start making a dent in that number today, by reviewing 2016’s release Soleil Blanc. This perfumes has gotten fairly popular over the past few years, but is it actually worth it? How does it smell? What’s the performance like? When should it be worn?

What does Soleil Blanc Smell Like?

Notes include: coconut, bergamot, pink pepper, ylang ylang, cardamom, pistachio, jasmine, tonka bean, amber, benzoin, tuberose

Click here to try: Tom Ford Private Blend Soleil Blanc Eau De Parfum Spray for Unisex 3.4 Oz / 100ml

My Full Review

Soleil Blanc opens with coconut infused with bergamot juice and flanked by floral notes, though, mainly tuberose at this stage. It feels quite tropical and I particularly like the beginning, when the bergamot is in full swing, before it fades from the picture.

Beyond the initial offering, I start to get a bit of cardamom (with a slight hint of pink pepper), and the jasmine begins to emerge more on my skin. It’s sweet with a fresh spice, in there, but the fragrance as a whole takes on a suntan oil or lotion fragrance.

Yes, it gets compared to Virgin Island Water a lot, but Soleil Blanc is more feminine and pleasing to my nose. I honestly don’t think that they are as similar as folks want to make them out to be.

The further along I get, the more the floral notes emerge, and create a smooth and creamy effect on the composition. Lots of ylang-ylang, tuberose, and jasmine with the sweet coconut still sitting in the heart of things.

It’s wrapped up in a slight amber warmth and a benzoin, that reminds me of men’s fragrance, Kouros Body. Soleil Blanc is pretty simple from there on out.

I put some on a t-shirt also, and the next day, it had dried down into a semi-sweet floral with cardamom being the other main note.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage is solid, but not super heavy by any means. It is exactly what it needs to be, noticeable, but not room suffocating. It is also pretty consistent in intensity throughout the wear.

The longevity is great and Soleil Blanc lasts for over 10 hours on my skin. So, no worries about it quitting in the middle of the day. For a summertime fragrance, that’s actually really could compared to most others.

Seasonally, this bright fragrance begs to be worn in the warmer weather. Spring is just fine, but really summer is where it’s at.  I find it to be quite an attractive fragrance, but yes, it does have that suntan lotion element.

As such, maybe it isn’t a ‘sexy’ perfume, but is pretty and upbeat. It can be worn casually, semi-formal, or at the office.

Soleil isn’t really going to offend anybody, so it is safe for close quarters. Sweet, creamy, floral, with some underlying spice.

Overall Impressions of Soleil Blanc

Overall, do I like Soleil Blanc? Yes, I think that it is a great addition to the Tom Ford line of women’s fragrances. It’s really among the best of the bunch that have been released over the years.

The coconut is great and blends very well with the floral notes. It’s all creamy and smooth, with some nice warm and spicy notes thrown in.

It does have somewhat of a summertime beachy vibe, but not the same kind of saltiness that other scents in this category have. In the end, it smells nice and lasts all day, and is an awesome option for women.

Prada L’Homme vs Acqua di Gio

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For this cologne comparison entry, I want to take a closer look at two different Italian designer fragrances, Prada L’Homme vs. Acqua di Gio by Giorgio Armani. Which one of these popular men’s scents, smells the best? Has the better performance? Is more versatile? And is the top buy?

Tale of the Tape: AdG vs. Prada L’Homme

Acqua di Gio

Notes include: bergamot, tangerine, neroli, jasmine, rosemary, patchouli, rock rose, hyacinth, persimmon, marine notes

Click here to try: Acqua Di Gio By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces

Read my review: Acqua di Gio 

Prada L’Homme

Notes include: iris, amber, geranium, patchouli, neroli, violet, pepper, cedar

Click here to try: Prada L’Homme Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

My review: Prada L’Homme

Opening

Prada L’Homme opens up with a fresh and powdery blend of floral notes, led by iris. Violet and neroli play a fairly big part and this clean aroma is surrounded by warm amber. It is fairly sweet with a woody cedar and slight peppery base.

Acqua di Gio opens with citrus and sea breeze. Tangerine and bergamot lead the way and they are joined by jasmine floral aromas and marine notes.

Which is better? I like how Acqua di Gio opens, but L’Homme has a really great, and refined smell. It is really simple, but the execution is near perfect.

Edge: Prada L’Homme

Projection

Neither of these fragrances is a beast in terms of how it projects. They are both solidly in the moderate camp. You’ll know that they’re there, but won’t dominate a room with them. Pretty equal in my experience.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Again, both scents are pretty good, but not spectacular. I get 6-7 hours of wear with both of them, on my skin. Their performance is near identical. AdG has slipped a bit in the last few years and doesn’t have the same power as the older formulation. L’Homme, on the other hand, just never has been that powerhouse fragrance.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Both of these scents can cover a lot of the same ground. You can wear either of them year round, AdG, may be slightly better in heat but not significantly. They are solid daily wears, that can also venture into the evening.

However, the Prada cologne, is more of a mature scent. Younger guys can wear it, but it will fit better with those in their late 20s and up, than will Acqua di Gio.

Edge: L’Homme

Overall Scent

Acqua di Gio is a really nice fragrance and probably one of the better starter fragrances for younger guys. It’s got a classic citrus aquatic smell with nice woody undertones. The performance is solid and it is a well-known commodity, having been a best seller for two decades.

However, Prada L’Homme is a better smelling fragrance. It is a straightforward cologne, that could probably be a unisex scent, with a classy powdery aroma that is super fresh. L’Homme is a clean daily wear, that will fit in much more in a business environment, than will AdG.

Most younger guys, will want to go with the Armani scent. Honestly, if I were in my early 20s, I’d probably pick that one as well. Though, if you like a floral with masculine qualities, then go with Prada. The performance of both is about the same, but L’Homme just has a better quality and fragrance.

Winner: Prada L’Homme

Bleecker Street by Bond No. 9

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This is a review that I’ve been meaning to get around to doing for a long while. In fact, I grabbed another sample vial just for this very purpose, and promptly forgot about it for months. But, Bleecker Street, is a scent that needed a write up on this site and I wasn’t going to let the sample Bond No. 9 perfume, lie unused for too long.

So, in this post, I am going to cover the usual ingredients, how it smells, develops, performs, when it should be worn, and if it’s actually worth a purchase.

What does Bleecker Street Smell Like?

Notes include: violet leaf, vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, jasmine, cassis, patchouli, oakmoss

Click here to try: Bond No.9 Bleecker Street Women Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Review

Before we get into my review, let’s see how Bond No. 9 describes, Bleecker Street: Art, fashion, seduction, and dessert in liquid form. A warm and sensual aphrodisiac that glides from day into evening. 

The opening of Bleecker Street gives you that initial blast of violet leaf. Violet leaf always reminds me of Fahrenheit by Christian Dior, and yep, that’s a what I experience with this Bond No. 9 fragrance. That outdoorsy almost gasoline kind of aroma, just toned way down, in Bleecker Street and not nearly as aggressive as the Dior.

Nonetheless, it quickly moves off of that beginning and is joined by other notes like cinnamon, patchouli, and oakmoss. It’s a green ‘natural’ kind of scent, sort of sporty, but always clean and fresh.

Looking at the notes, which include vanilla and caramel, I would expect this to be sweeter than it actually is.

However, Bleecker Street never reaches that expected sweetness, as it is controlled by the stronger notes like cassis, which while derived from black currant doesn’t have that sugary quality. It is the same type of thing you find in Aventus.

So, it’s not sugary and the fruit isn’t ‘juicy’, as it is surrounded by dry ingredients.

The whole profile and experience of wearing Bleecker Street brings me to the outdoors, out in the wilderness, and taking in the landscape. At times, it’s completely woody with the overlying natural sharpness of the cassis. Then, a layer of faint sweetness of caramel.

The violet leaf is always present and a bit of warm spice from the cinnamon and patchouli. To my nose, it gets sweeter as it dries down, and moves away from the woodiness.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, its of pretty moderate sillage. People will notice it, but there’s no need to go heavy on the sprays, nor is it going to be crazy intense with a normal application. There’s really no need to coat yourself in it, though.

The performance with Bleecker Street’s longevity is very good and while around 8 hours is the norm, it can hit double digits on occasion. It’s not one to die out in the middle of the day and will be just right for almost any time one wears it.

Now, this is listed as a unisex fragrance by Bond No. 9 and I tend to agree. Though, it does lean more towards the masculine side of things.

I’ve said that it has elements of both Fahrenheit and Aventus for men, but this Bond scent, never has that same intensity or overt masculinity.

So, yes, it is safe for women but it does have more of what would usually be considered masculine elements.

Seasonally, I would like to wear this best in the autumn or spring. It just feels right with more moderate temperatures and there’s all of the usual changes in nature taking place. Just the whole clean outdoorsy profile fits these time periods to a tee.

Bleecker is a versatile scent, it can be worn casually, as well as on more formal occasions. It smells really good, but isn’t what I’d call sexy, and isn’t a nightclub beast.

Overall Impressions of Bleecker Street

Overall, do I like Bleecker Street? Yes, this is one of the better fragrances by Bond No. 9. It’s got a pretty unique style and aroma. It is interesting throughout and the notes aren’t what you’d find in a lot of the more common fragrances on the market.

The performance is also great. Is this a fragrance for everybody? Almost certainly not. Some women will find it too masculine and some guys won’t find it bold enough. Though, it is a quality perfume, and one which has found a niche in a lot of people’s rotations.

It’s definitely one of my favorite fragrances from this expensive brand, which can honestly be pretty hit or miss. This one is among the best that they’ve ever put out.

Bright Crystal vs D&G Light Blue Comparison

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It’s been a long while since I’ve written up a ladies’ perfume comparison post. This one is a close matchup between two of the more popular everyday wear fragrances for women: Bright Crystal by Versace and Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana. Which smells better? Which lasts longer? Which is the better scent overall? Continue below for my full take.

Tale of the Tape: Light Blue vs. Bright Crystal

Bright Crystal

Notes include: yuzo, peony, pomegranate, musk, magnolia, iced accord, lotus, amber

Click Here to try Bright Crystal: Versace Bright Crystal Eau de Toilette Spray for Women, 3 Ounce

Read my original review: Bright Crystal Review

Light Blue

Notes include: rose, apple, musk, lemon, jasmine, and more

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue By Dolce & Gabbana For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Oz

Read my original review: D&G Light Blue Review

Opening

Light Blue opens with a blast of citrus notes and apple. It is very upbeat, sunny, and held together by a rose note. Ths D&G scent is very crisp, watery, and refreshing. The rose is a nice floral touch to an otherwise, fruity start.

Meanwhile, Bright Crystal has a really great and juicy pomegranate note on top. Like, Light Blue, it also has a citrus note to start with the yuzo and a prominent floral; in this case, it is peony.

Between the two, I think I prefer the opening act of Bright Crystal. I feel that it is more balanced, unique, and not as sharp as Light Blue. They both share very similar traits, but just on preference, I’d lean Bright Crystal.

Edge: Bright Crystal

Projection

Neither one of these scents is a monster fragrance in terms of sillage. Both are on the light to moderate side of things. Though, I’d say that Light Blue actually strikes me as the stronger of the two. It’s not by very much, but it is still and edge.

I think that the opening sharpness of Light Blue can make it seem like the perfume is projecting itself, more than it actually is.

Edge: Light Blue

Longevity

Again, this is another category where it is a close contest. Bright Crystal usually will give out about 8 hours of solid wear and occasionally more. Light Blue is again, slightly better. It will usually hit double digit hours with no problem.

Both of them, actually work well for just about any purpose, but if you really needed to squeeze out extra time, Light Blue would likely be able to do it more often. Bright Crystal is capable, just sometimes, it doesn’t have that extra gear.

Edge: Light Blue

Versatility

For casual or office wear, both of these perfumes check that box. Ditto, for being able to be worn in the warmer months of the year, and not being entirely out of place in the cold.

However, I think that Bright Crystal, has an edge in terms of its elegance and something that is pretty and sophisticated enough for evening wear.

It is one of those all around scents that can work well across age groups and occasions. Light Blue does a good job of that as well, just not to the same degree. Light Blue is a really great daily wear, but not necessarily one that can venture into formal or evening wear.

Edge: Bright Crystal

Overall Scent

This is a difficult comparison to do because both of these scents are very close with their performance, aroma, and versatility. There is a reason the Light Blue has been a top seller for Dolce & Gabbana for all of these years.

That being said, Bright Crystal has been a winner for Versace, as well.

What’s the better perfume overall? I think I’ll give the nod to Bright Crystal. It’s crisp and pretty. It has a unique composition, while maintaining a complete universal appeal. It’s non-offensive and can be worn in a variety of situations.

Light Blue is another great everyday wear. In fact, if you like the sound of citrus, apple, and rose with an upbeat summery vibe…this is the better selection for you.

This is such a tight competition that it comes down to personal preference and not one scent just outperforming the other in every respect.

Winner: Bright Crystal

7 Best Smelling Wood Scented Colognes

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Often times, in men’s fragrances, the wood notes will sit at the base and play more of a supporting role. However, there are some guys who want these notes to be the stars of the show. They want a clean wood based cologne or something a little more earthy and woodsy. In this post, I want to explore some of the best smelling options for men who want a wood scented fragrance. 

What are the Best Smelling Wood  Fragrances for Men?

Oud Scent

Tom Ford Private Blend Oud Wood Eau De Parfum Spray – 50ml/1.7oz– Oud Wood is a somewhat niche fragrance with lots of fans. While I’m personally not a huge fan of the oud note, some people swear by it, and this is a great example.

This Tom Ford scent opens up with the oud, spice, and warm cardamom. The next wave, is solidified with other wood notes like, rosewood and sandalwood. There is warmth, wood, spice, and some sweetness from vanilla and amber.

The performance wasn’t that great on my skin, but the smell is what a fan of oud would want. But, you may also want to look at Oud Wood Intense, for more power. Oud Wood Review

Sandalwood Cologne

Serge Lutens Santal Majuscule Eau De Parfum Spray For Men 50Ml/1.6Oz– A great sandalwood offering from Serge Lutens. It of course has that great woody note as a base, but it is joined by raw cacao and rose, to give Santal Majuscule an underlying powdered sweetness. It’s very smooth and has a creamy element while maintaining a familiar dry warmth.

This is absolutely one of the best options on the market, for someone who wants a dominate sandalwood note. It is pretty simple and straightforward, with its list of ingredients, but takes those and creates something that it beautiful. It has elements of spice and sweetness and bitterness, at times. Simplicity with depth and is just plain enjoyable.

Light with Sweetness

Bvlgari Man Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 5 Ounce– Bvlgari Man is a woody fragrance that is soft, smooth, and sweet with that bit of honey at its heart. Man is not at all an overpowering fragrance, it is more of one that demands others get closer for a better aroma.

That is not to say that Bvlgari Man is completely weak, it isn’t, it is more subtle, refined, and masculine but use more sprays. I do wish that it was bolder and had top notch sillage, because it is a pretty unique and fine smelling scent.

For a more mass appealing daily wear, I really do enjoy throwing this one on. The smell is great, so, I’ll just spray more than usual when wearing this to get decent performance.  Full Bvlgari Man Review

bvlgari man

Unisex Pine Parfum

Serge Lutens Fille En Aiguilles Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 1.6 Ounce– Wow. What a unique scent it’s full bodied and woodsy with pine note being the main player. It has a dry sort of aroma to it but don’t think, ‘pine car freshener’, as the sweetness of the non-juicy fruits brings an added layer of depth and intrigue.

I really don’t know what to compare this to, but it’s awesome. Fille En Aiguilles gives you a woody blend of fir and pine, with a nice warm smokiness, among some other light spices/fruits. Not too heavy, but something that can change the pace in the autumn/winter months.

Inexpensive Wood Cologne

Lalique Encre Noire Pour Homme EDT Spray, 3.3 oz– A very popular scent that is inexpensive but provides a lot of bang for your buck. Encre Noire is a wood based cologne with cypress, vetiver, and cashmere being the main attractions here.

Of course as the name suggests, it is a dark scent with an air of mystery, and a nice dash of smokiness. It is dry and features a vetiver note that feels a bit unique than some of the others on the market. This doesn’t just give you a ‘woody’ aroma, but provides, a green forest type of vibe as well. Encre still has a cleanliness about it, but its a rugged cleanliness. 

Cedar Fragrance for Him

Dior Homme Eau For Men by Christian Dior for Men – 1.7 oz EDT Spray– I personally wear, the original Dior Homme, but Eau is the choice if you want something woodier. It actually starts off much closer to the original fragrance, then Eau, takes on more of the cedar note than the signature iris.

You get lots of fresh cedar, coriander, some grapefruit, and iris. It has some spice, earthiness, and herbal elements. Not a bomb in terms of its sillage, however, the performance was nice at about 6-8 hours of wear. It’s classy, with a nice powdery iris, blended with the cedar. Dior Homme Eau Review

A Blended Woody Fragrance

Zino Davidoff by Zino Davidoff for Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 4.2 Ounce– Zino Davidoff does it’s own thing with notes of sandalwood, rosewood and patchouli as the main attractions. Masculine. with enough sweetness in its vanilla and floral notes. Very well done. This one dates back to the late 1980s and as an affordable wood based cologne, it is top notch. 

Zino has a slightly spicy opening with sage, that is paired with calming lavender. The wood notes are ubiquitous throughout, but cedar and rosewood are prevalent in the early stages. Then, it becomes more of a sandalwood and rosewood scent. However, it isn’t just that, as the patchouli does play a large role in the latter part of the wear. Mature barbershop sort of smell.