5 Best Smelling Curve Colognes

by

The Curve line from Liz Claiborne has over 20 years at this point, of being a affordable best seller. There are many variations which use the Curve title, each of them are distinct and separate from the other.

However, which of these men’s fragrances are the best of the bunch? What are the top Curve colognes that guys should try out?

What are the Best Smelling Curve Fragrances?

The Best

Curve by Liz Claiborne for Men – 4.2 Ounce Cologne Spray
Curve is a wildly popular fragrance for men because it smells so great, even after a few decades of being for sale. To me, this is still the best offering from the entire Curve line.

People always react positively to this one it seems, as Curve’s unique blend of notes, just draws people in. For an inexpensive cologne, this is a complement machine.

There are fruity elements such as pineapple, citrus, and juniper berries which play off a calm and clean lavender note. It is super fresh with a slight spice provided by pepper and ginger.

However, the outdoorsy elements really set this Liz Claiborne creation apart. It’s got a floral charm while being masculine and uses mahogany and cactus as a part of its base. An almost perfect choice for the younger guy.

curve

The Next Best Thing

Curve Soul– A deep and darker men’s fragrance then the rest. This is a very unique cologne, with a strong bamboo note, sandalwood, some sweet/spice blend, and a touch of amber and leather.

I’m not sure they produce this one anymore. All of the bottles on the market, that I can find, seem really expensive. Obviously, none of these are worth paying an extraordinary amount for, as they are still just good cheapies.

Curve Soul is probably the second best smelling, in my opinion, and is worth a try if you can find a good price. 

Clean Option for Young Guys

Curve Crush– Curve Crush isn’t an amazing scent to me, but it’s a simple formula, with a clean formula with light fruits and woods. The main notes are mandarin orange, with some crisp apple, and fresh cedar wood. 

For a cheap fragrance, the longevity is actually pretty good. It’s not a super power scent with its sillage, though, you do get 6-7 hours of wear from it. I would say, that Crush, is one that is much suitable for younger guys.

The longer it gets on in the wear, it becomes more of a fresh woody scent, versus the citrus top. Curve Crush Review

Best Aquatic

Curve Appeal– Appeal is an aquatic scent from the Curve line, highlighted by watermelon and pear. Obviously, those notes give it that juicy/watery feeling, but it doesn’t have that salty marine-like aroma. 

The cologne is light with a bit of warm spice from cardamom, and then, a slight woody base. In the end, it is an aquatic watermelon with lavender, woods, and some spice. Yet, it’s more of a sweet scent. Curve Appeal Review

Honorable Mention

Curve Connect- Connect has one of the best aromas, out of the bunch, but its performance is kind of lacking. The others, usually last longer, which is great for this price point.

However, Connect does have an interesting and attractive smell. It’s actually kind of unique with a nice tea note, cinnamon, woods, saffron, and vanilla. 

It’s woody, with some spice, and a light touch of fruit. Not the absolute best of the Curve colognes, but deserves a mention. 

6 Best Cheap Men’s Fragrances for Summer 2020

by

I want to continue on with the summertime posts, on the site. We’re about to enter the full swing of things soon, as such, I figured I should post a list of some great budget colognes for men. I ended up picking six options for guys who want something cheap and that actually smells great.

I have linked my full reviews of each choice, as well as, linking them out to Amazon for further info and purchase. By no means is the a complete list, but it definitely has enough to get someone through the heat this summer.

What are the Top Inexpensive Pour Homme Perfumes for Summertime?

Fresh Citrus Fragrance for Summer

Zegna Uomo By Ermenegildo Zegna 3.4 Oz/100ml Eau De Toilette Spray– For whatever reason, this one has come way down in price, over the past few years. You can, as of writing, pick up a bottle for between $15-30 depending on the size. This is a really great deal, at that price point, as this is a legitimately good designer cologne.

Uomo starts off with a fresh and slightly aquatic blend of citrus notes and violet leaf. The violet leaf, will become the main ingredient, as things move along. It also has a cedar base which lends to the super fresh aroma.

Uomo has excellent performance and a nice overall scent. I thought that it was a good option, at its old price, but heavily discounted…this is a steal. Uomo Full Review

Inexpensive Designer Pick

Fendi Fan Di Acqua Pour Homme EDT Spray for Men, 1.7 Ounce– Fan di Fendi Acqua is another designer scent, that has been heavily discounted. I think this will be cheap, until the current overstock gets scarce, and then might go back up.

In the mean time, guys have a chance to pick a bottle of this summertime aquatic, for super cheap. I bought a full bottle for $20, a few months ago.

Acqua opens up with bergamot, cedar and aquatic notes which are surrounded by a warm spiciness of peppercorn and pink pepper. While it starts off fairly spicy, it settles down into a uniquely smooth aquatic, with a great leather note.

Is this the most amazing fragrance? No, but it is quite underrated. When compared with the usual scents at this price, the quality and overall experience is much better. Fan di Fendi Acqua Review

Sporty Aquatic

Calvin Klein ETERNITY AQUA Eau de Parfum– Eternity Aqua is one that you may need to shop around for, in order to find a more affordable price. At some places, it is still selling for full retail, while others have stock that is way discounted.

This one has a striking resemblance to Polo Blue, but a bit different, and I find it more enjoyable. It’s a very nice and crisp aquatic scent with decent but not great longevity.

I wouldn’t pay full retail for it, but I did pick up a small travel sprayer for around $10, to use during the summer. I have actually been spraying it a lot, since Aqua is an attractive daytime wear, for that crazy low price. Eternity Aqua Review

Most Popular Cheap Cologne

Nautica Voyage Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 oz– Still one of the most popular fragrances on the market and an ideal cheapie for the summer months. Voyage starts off with apple and mimosa.

It is crisp and watery, Voyage has a much more green/floral profile than many other scents, in this category. This is routinely a best seller, as people seem to really go for that musky and green aroma, with a vague notion of being aquatic. It actually doesn’t have any oceanic notes, but the crisp apple and dewy ingredients, makes it seem like it does.

The price will be somewhere in the $12-20 range, the performance is quite good, and it has been a well-regarded cologne for over a decade now. Nautica Voyage Review

The Cheap Designer Smell Alike

Perry Ellis 360 Red for Men, 3.4 fl oz EDT– 360 Red is pretty famous for being a very similar fragrance to the best-selling Acqua di Gio. Red features a blend of lemon, lime, and orange that is flanked by cinnamon and other spices.

Also, it has the floral undertones of jasmine, like AdG. It’s not an exact copy, but close, enough, and has its own distinct personality. Beyond that, this Perry Ellis fragrance, gives a very good performance at a great price. 360 Red Review

Throwback for High School Guys

Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger for Men – 3.4 oz EDC Spray– A very popular cologne for younger men back in the 1990s, Tommy, retains its classic status at an affordable price. Tommy starts off with a crisp and tart blend of fruits: apple, cranberry, and grapefruit. It is bright and upbeat.

The fragrance is fresh, later warms up with some sweetness and cinnamon spice, similar to an apple pie’s aroma. Tommy cologne is such a delicious scent, a great pick for the high school set, and is unique versus most of today’s market.

Its sillage starts off with a strong projecting ability, before settling into a moderate, that will last a full work day. Tommy Hilfiger Review

Best Vanilla Scented Colognes for Men

by

Vanilla is a popular note used in fragrances for both men and women. Frankly, I love the way it can add a sweet smoothness when used correctly in scents. Vanilla can be a very seasonal type of note when it is predominately featured in a fragrance and I think you’ll find most of the colognes on this list would probably best serve you during the cooler months of the year.  I have included 8 selections on this list and of course there are more out there but I feel that these are the best of the bunch.

Vanilla Colognes: What are the Best Perfumes for Men?

Top Luxury Vanilla Fragrance

Creed Sublime Vanille Cologne for Men 8.4 oz Eau De Parfum– So, let’s start out with this hyper-expensive entry from Creed. Sublime Vanille has one of, if not, the best vanilla notes that I have ever smelled in a fragrance. It’s fantastic.

It’s sweet and creamy, mixed with tonka bean during the dry down period. Sublime Vanille opens with citrus notes, which gives it a nice orange creamsicle vibe.

The citrus note fades a bit as it moves on and there is an emergence of a soft musk note which adds depth to the composition. Sublime Vanille is more of a unisex scent and once it gets going, it’s pretty linear in its aroma throughout the rest of the wear.

This Creed is soft and airy, good for casual or dressed up styles. Again, this one is a high end scent, but the vanilla doesn’t get much better (if at all) than what’s in here. Here is my full wear review.

Best Overall Cologne with a Vanilla Led Blend

Giorgio Armani Code Absolu EDP Eau de Parfum For Men 3.7oz– Code Absolu has become my favorite issuance from this Armani line. The vanilla, comes along heavier later in the wear, and is joined by a host of smooth and spicy ingredients. 

Code Absolu opens up with nutmeg, rum, suede, and tonka bean. There is also a hint of citrus and crisp apple, in the background. The spice of the nutmeg is dominant for a few minutes, before the suede and tonka bean really take over.

The fresh spice here is great, nutmeg and rum, are surprisingly great together. The fruit notes, are also just strong enough, to prevent it being a completely dark fragrance.

This one is fresh, warm, with a nice sweetness from vanilla and tonka bean. The projection is strong, but not absurdly so, and the longevity consistently hits 10+ hours, on my skin. Code Absolu Full Review

Top Nightlife/Youthful Vanilla Blend

Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male Eau de Toilette Intense 40ml Spray– Originally, I had Le Male, on this list. However, that was before the release of Ultra Male by Jean Paul Gaultier. This flanker fragrance to the original, takes what was great about it, and does it even better.

A warm and spicy aroma highlighted by vanilla and pear notes, which gives it a sweet and candy-like edge. I have a full bottle of Ultra Male and it is a fragrance that I wore pretty much all winter in 2018.

The mint and cinnamon combination adds a very nice spice to the uber sweet arrangement. This JPG scent delivers very good sillage and I’ve always gotten around 9 hours of solid wear from it. This is a colder weather scent, that is sexy, and built for the nightlife. Ultra Male is great, upbeat, and a worthy successor to the original Le Male. Ultra Male Full Review

Best Vanilla and Tobacco Blend

TOM FORD Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum 50 ML(1.7 OZ)– A high performing giant in the world of fragrance. Tobacco Vanille is obviously highlighted by those two notes, but it’s excellent blend of sweetness and spiciness is what really sets it apart.

Expensive? Yes, but it delivers an experience that is all its own. This is masculine, refined, and a fragrance that really shines in the winter time.

This is another one, like Sublime Vanille, that features an absolutely divine vanilla note. It’s very realistic and smells utterly perfect to my nose. Add to the two main notes, you get a lovely cacao, fruits, and creamy tonka bean.

The scent is also quite dry and doesn’t have a ‘juicy’ fruit sensation. Overall, it is super sweet and spicy, while being a performance scent that will last and project for ages. Tobacco Vanille Review

Best Daily Wear Designer Vanilla

Pi By Givenchy For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Ounces– A sweet yet woody fragrance with vanilla and almond notes. It has a fresh and somewhat powdery dry down with the tonka bean note and a resinous benzoin.

Pi can be a great go to fragrance for a guy who wants something affordable that can be worn every day (outside of the hottest months). What I really like about this Givenchy cologne, is it’s subtle earthiness and herbal qualities that lie just underneath the vanilla sweetness.

Pi is a rich and very cozy scent to wear on the coldest days. It’s sensual powdered dry down and that great little almond addition, always seem to draw complements. It has been around for a few decades at this point and still has legions of fans, who swear by the power of Pi.

pi

Great Exotic Use of Vanilla

Opium By Yves Saint Laurent For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Ounces
A spicy and oriental type of fragrance which is soothed by the vanilla note that plays a supporting role to the anise and peppery elements. Solid performer and one of the first colognes I ever bought.

There are those warm sort of smoky elements that create an interesting take on the usual, sugary kind of vanilla colognes.

It’s profile overall, is that of the orient. Opium is mysterious and has a sort of ancient charm to the aroma, its resinous and spicy. The whole thing envelopes you skin and the vanilla note is in the heart of it all. I wish that I had more of my vintage bottle of this Yves Saint Laurent classic. My Opium Pour Homme Review

opium

The Easy to Wear, Crowd Pleaser

Hugo Boss Men’s Boss No. 6 Eau de Toilette Natural Spray, 3.3 fl. oz.

A moderate fragrance with woodsy notes that is great for casual wear. The apple, cinnamon, and vanilla give Boss No. 6 a sweet yet crisp aroma. This is a good one for those who want a vanilla based scent that is blended with other notes and can be worn as an everyday sort of cologne.

Boss No. 6 is a fairly inexpensive choice and has a gourmand sensability. Its sweetness is like that of baked goods: warm and tasty. The wood notes emerge led by sandalwood and mahogany to give this Hugo Boss scent, more masculine depth.

It all comes together as light, a bit powdery, and spicy cologne with that lovable vanilla note sitting in the thick of it. Boss No. 6 Review

Awesome Sweet Smelling Vanilla Perfume

Acqua Di Parma Blue Mediterraneo Mandorlo Di Sicilia Eau de Toilette Spray, 5 Ounce–  Almond and vanilla are paired to create a warm and lightly enveloping aroma, that has a sweet candy-like quality. Mandorlo di Sicilia is a unisex scent, but can be a great colder weather wear for men.

This one reminds me of these little root beer candies, that I ate sometimes, as a child. Orange, almond, and the vanilla come together to give it a sweet, somewhat nutty, fizziness.

Akin to carbonation. Mandorlo is fresh and dries down, mostly as vanilla, with a powdered sugar quality. The sillage is fairly light, but it can last for 6-7 hours, on my skin.  My Full Review is Here

5 Perfumes Similar to Ghost

by

Ghost has fairly quietly become a very popular fragrance over the past two decades. I mean, people know about it, but it doesn’t really get talked about all that much. However, it definitely has its fans, and those looking for a similar essence or a cheaper substitute. Is there one? In this post, I want to present some options to consider which smell like Ghost perfume.

What Perfumes Similar to Ghost?

Woman in Gold by Kilian– Does this smell exactly like Ghost? No, but I feel that it is in the same family, so to speak. Woman in Gold has that warm vanilla with a spicy edge and some rose.

The difference? The rose is less prominent and the peach is non-existent. It is instead replaced by mandarin orange, which is quite light here. Also, no musk.

This By Kilian scent is however, quite charming and classy. Not an inexpensive option, but one you might enjoy greatly, if you like Ghost.

Because It’s You by Emporio Armani– Another one which can strike a similar tone as Ghost, just as a fruitier version. With Because It’s You, you will get a delicious raspberry note, in lieu of peach.

It goes lighter on the musk and rose, but has a nice creamy vanilla note, that is just what we’re looking for. Sweet with a fantastic freshness and a feminine slightly powdery finish.

Spirit of Shadow– If you can find a bottle of Spirit of Shadow, this will be the closest thing to a smelling of Ghost, perhaps. Rose, vanilla, peach, and musk are the main components. When combined, it’s going to be a very close match. Also, Milton Lloyd scents are usually very inexpensive. Just not the easiest to get a hold of nowadays.

Camaheu by Gabriella Chieffo– Lemon is the main note here, sitting above the familiar vanilla and rose notes. Yes, this is different, but it feels like a brighter interpretation of Ghost at times.

Camaheu doesn’t give off that complete summertime citrus scent. You still get some warmth and musk to go along with the ingredients, we are looking for with our target.

Ghost Deep Night- While this fragrance from Ghost, is a flanker and not the same, it shares so many of the notes of the original. It just happens to take things in another direction; more like an inverse of Ghost, but still very good. So, I wanted to include it on the list.

Deep Night has much less rose than the original, but amps up the fruitiness, woodiness, and retains the powdery aspects. It has a great blend and enough sweetness to make it attractive, but not ever sickly sweet.

While not an exact scent that smells like the original, I think it’ll be one that many reading will enjoy giving a try.

3 Best Smelling Paloma Picasso Perfumes

by

Paloma Picasso is a designer that was fairly active in the 1980s through the 1990s. Since then, there hasn’t been any new releases, and there weren’t that many to begin with. However, despite the limited options, this brand still produced some well loved gems during its shorter run. Plus, you can still find bottles with plenty of availability. In this post, I want to present what I feel are the top 3 perfume options from Paloma Picasso. 

 

What are the Top Paloma Picasso Fragrances?

Best Overall Perfume

Tentations– The others on this list, were releases from the 1980s, while Tentations came about in during the mid-1990s. Nonetheless, it lived up to its predecessors and exceeded them, in my opinion.

For me, Tentations is the best smelling Paloma Picasso release, and I definitely prefer its scent to the other two. Nonetheless, it won’t be for everyone.

Tentations is a spicy and warm scent, with cinnamon and pepper, among other spiced ingredients. It has a layer of sweetness and a bit of a boozy kick, from the included vodka note. At times, it is smoky; then, it is sweet and spicy. Really unique and a very deep fragrance. Harder to find a bottle, nowadays, and may be priced really high.

 

Runner Up Fragrance

Mon Parfum– This is a honeyed sweet and dry wintertime fragrance, that smells quite a bit like its predecessor, found below. However, Mon Parfum does its own thing, including losing the civet note which can be quite polarizing. 

Lots of oakmoss here, along with ylang ylang, hyacinth, and angelica. It has a finish of the oak moss, sandalwood and other dry feeling ingredients. Mon Parfum is best used in the autumn and winter months, has a classic 1980s feel, and leaves you with a classy and elegant aroma.  

 

Most Popular

Paloma Picasso – The namesake fragrance is the best seller of the lot and shares a very similar scent to Knowing by Estee Lauder. So, if you’re familiar with that one, its about what you can expect This one is a bit warmer, has a deeper/darker feel to it, than the Estee Lauder perfume.

Nonetheless, it can lighten up somewhat, as it moves along. It gives you a carnation, coriander, and citrus opening act. Followed by a musky, and at times, rough middle act.

Later, it feels woodier, cleaner, and somewhat herbal. Very interesting scent, that can absolutely pack a punch. Mon Parfum and this are nearly the same, but different enough, to be distinct. If you want more musk and floral notes; this would be your go to.