9 Best Smelling Carolina Herrera Perfumes

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Carolina Herrera is known in the luxury fashion world for designing elegant clothing for women, including First Ladies of the United States. The fragrance line is no different in terms of its scope and accomplishments.

Herrera provides scents for all personality types, fashion tastes, and occasions. For this list, I have selected nine perfumes which I feel are the best of the bunch.

Favorite Carolina Herrera Perfumes for Her

Most Popular CH Perfume

Good Girl– Good Girl has been out for a few years now and has become a best seller for Carolina Herrera. Also, one of the bigger sellers in popular women’s fragrances.

Obviously, the high heel bottle grabs attention from the start, but its powdery aroma is also quite captivating. Is it wholly unique? Probably not, but it is distinct enough to carve out a niche for itself.

Good Girl is sexy and versatile, with a balance between a spicy opening and a sweeter later act. Floral notes of jasmine and tuberose, sits underneath sweeter notes of cacao, coffee, and tonka bean. This is a safe wear and one that will definitely spur further flanker releases. My Good Girl Review

Blushing Beauty

Good Girl Blush– This Good Girl flanker came out in 2023 and has already become a fan favorite and best-seller. 

Blush is more floral and doesn’t have the same cacao influence as the original. Though, there is a vanilla and tonka bean combination in the mix.

Yet, this one is clean and fresh rather than just being heavy and sweet. Although, it does have a sweetness to it. Early on, the peony and ylang-ylang are balanced, but the peony seems to get the upper hand later in the wear.

Bergamot, vanilla, and almond are the main support for the flowers. Each has its time to shine in the mix.

There is also an Elixir version of this scent. I haven’t tried it out, but it’s supposedly heavier on patchouli and vanilla. Possibly, even more ylang-ylang.

Top High End Perfume

Saffron Lazuli– This one can be tough to find in a retail environment it seems. But, I linked to the Herrera website, as they still carry it right now.

Saffron Lazuli is a part of the expensive Herrera Confidential Collection of unisex fragrances. A lot of them skew more masculine, but this one is the most interesting to me, that I’ve come across.

Saffron is obviously the main note. But, you get a fruity top, with smooth warmth and woody spicy touches (cardamom). Notes like iris, vanilla, tonka, and the namesake saffron are excellent. The black currant up top gives it a nice sweetness with some tart. Not too heavy, though.

It starts off bold, but it will settle into something more moderate. The performance is excellent, as it should be with this type of scent, at this price point (around $260).

best herrera perfume

Best Classic Floral Perfume

Carolina Herrera– A smart and versatile fragrance that can be worn on almost any occasion. This perfume is fresh, light, and clean. Plus, it tends to get a lady noticed.

The Carolina Herrera namesake scent kicks off with the light freshness of citrus and orange blossom. The other floral notes, quickly follow, and are led by: jasmine, ylang-ylang, and tuberose.

Later on, it really becomes about the tuberose, but I also have detected hyacinth in this. It’s got enough of that fruitiness, to keep it from becoming overly ‘green’ and plant like. Nonetheless, this is a great little pickup for those who want a throwback floral perfume.

carolina

Chic in the Warmth

Chic– Chic is a sophisticated and feminine fragrance that is probably best served in the warmer months of the year. However, this blend of floral and woodsy notes is a long-lasting and fashionable perfume to be worn with confidence.

Update: Unfortunately, it looks like Chic was changed from its original formula. It was a really nice clean floral. More of a pure rose and freesia scent, versus the option above. I think you can still find older bottles, so, I’ll leave it up here.

chic

Top Nightlife Pick

212 VIP– This one beckons the exclusivity of the NYC nightlife along with all of its excitement and energy. Rum, vanilla, passion fruit, and others combine to give the notes a unique spirit and beautifully youthful vibe. Great stuff.

The men’s version of this namesake is a vodka and gin mixed drink. It’s also bold and unique. 212 VIP for Her, is a great rum mixed drink with fruity undertones up top. Then, as it dries down, the perfume gets smoothed out by a mix of vanilla and tonka bean.

This is a nice boozy scent, with fantastic longevity, but not as much of a powerhouse as the men’s version. Still pretty strong sillage, just not a monster.

vip

Best Sexy Fragrance

212 Sexy– A sweet blend of seductive fruit notes and cotton candy, 212 Sexy is a playful and passionate formula bound to put one in the mood. An excellent choice for romantic evenings out.

Beyond the sweetness of this scent, 212 Sexy also features a warm and slightly spicy pepper note. Vanilla and musk act as supports and help to give this its attractive aroma.

As it dries down, it falls more into that warm pink pepper aroma, with light floral notes and the remaining sweetness. Good performance overall and can be worn in plenty of situations outside the nightlife, too.

212

Smooth Fatale 

Very light fruit and spices from cinnamon and patchouli, dot the perimeter of this fragrance. Good Girl Velvet Fatale might still be a bit difficult to find, but it is a really pleasant example of a warm and gourmand blend of notes, done right.

For me, it is among the top of the Good Girl line. Better than the original and at least the Very Good Girl variants of this perfume. 

As of this update, it’s probably only available online, since I believe that it was a limited edition run a few years back.

 

Very Good Girl

I’m adding this to the list, as it is one of the better newer options. But, I will say it’s not my favorite of the Good Girl perfumes. Actually, a similar one to this that I prefer is from Mugler.

That being said, Very Good Girl has enough to recommend about it. The litchi note is powerful up front, when combined with the red currant, the fragrance is sweet and tart. Then, it will shift to a more powdery scent with the rose note.

It is a fresher fragrance, when it dries down. Not as tart, with a nice rose, and the vanilla note. The performance is solid, this lasted 7-8 hours on my skin with a quite noticeable sillage. Very Good Girl Review

9 Best Smelling Byredo Perfumes

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Byredo has become a fairly popular niche fragrance line over the past decade or so. It is on the higher end in terms of price, but has a whole line of perfumes that can suit both men and women.

In this post, I wanted to take a closer look at their top selling offerings, and select a group of what could be considered the best smelling.

In the end, I chose nine fragrances to review for both sexes, that can fit that bill and have enough differences between them to be distinct.

Favorite Byredo Perfumes

Byredo has so many releases, that it can be difficult to know where to start exactly. Not only that, they keep right on getting released.

So, I’ve tried to break down the perfumes here, and sort them by different styles or popularity. This should help to give you a place to start, before diving into the rest of the brand’s collection.

Top Overall Byredo Scent

Byredo Gypsy Water Eau De Parfum Spray 50ml/1.6oz– A woody blend of notes which includes vanilla and juniper at the top. Gypsy Water has plenty of sandalwood which is pretty strong within the unisex composition.

It starts off with a sweet mix of vanilla, lemon, and the juniper before getting quite dry with that woodsy profile. Simple, very nice to wear, and light. Though, unisex, it definitely leans feminine.

There is also an interesting pine note and smokiness from the incense. It sits wonderfully, underneath the vanilla, citrus, and sandalwood. The citrus and woody notes, really come through pretty powerfully, for much of the wear.

Notes include: pepper, bergamot, lemon, vanilla, orris root, sandalwood

Best Summer Perfume

Byredo Mojave Ghost Eau De Parfum Spray 50ml/1.6oz– A sweet floral fragrance that dries down into something that is more powdery and woody underneath, its magnolia-laden heart. It can seem lighter, than it actually is, on the skin.

Not a sillage powerhouse, but does have that ‘ghost’-like quality, to remind you that it’s definitely still around.

The opening has sapodilla as a note, which gives it a familiar yet unique fruity aroma for a bit of time, sort of smells like pear. This is another one that is light and fresh, and again, one more for the ladies. A good amount of sweetness, but not overly sugary, or anything like that.

As it moves along, Mojave Ghost feels like an airy floral, with the aforementioned magnolia and a nice violet touch. The sapodilla hangs around, though, it smells a bit watery. This all sits on top of a nice sandalwood base.

Notes include: sandalwood, sapodilla, magnolia, violet, cedar, ambergris

Most Popular Byredo Scent

Byredo Bal d’Afrique 1.6 oz Eau de Parfum Spray– Probably the most popular of the bunch, still. Bal d’Afrique starts off with some fantastic citrus notes, before turning more floral and vetiver-laced.

Much more of a citrus fruit fragrance, than the other more strictly floral scents on the list. It’s bright and clean with that great vetiver note, sitting right in the background. It has a lemon and berry-like aroma, with a decided tartness, up top.

The opening with the fruit can be somewhat intense, but it dries down with a softer sillage. In fact, it has a creamy fruit smell, for a good portion of its lifespan. Floral, vetiver, and woodsy ingredients which lay the base for the fruity notes above them.

Notes include: vetiver, lemon, neroli, marigold, jasmine, cedar, cyclamen 

Rouge Monster

Rouge Chaotique– The first thing I noticed about Rouge Chaotique was just how powerful of a fragrances it is. This Byredo projects like nobody’s business.

Beyond that, it is also an attractive and interesting perfume to wear around. Cassis, plum, and citrus give this one a pretty tart opening act, but there’s enough sweetness here to make it more balanced.

Praline and oak, which feature heavily in the Kilian scent, Angels’ Share, are in the heart. While these two scents aren’t the same, I get that familiar combination at times.

The dry down is where this gets really interesting. Earthy, spicy, dry woods, some smokiness, and that plum still hanging around.

Rouge Chaotique is dense, heavy, and projects like a beast. Not for everyone and probably not going to be a daily wear, but this deserves a spot on the list.

La Tulipe

Byredo La Tulipe Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 1.6 Ounce– From the name alone, you should get the idea that, this is going to be a tulip based fragrance. So, right away, if you don’t like that note you probably won’t like La Tulipe.

However, for women who dig floral perfumes, this is a very good one with pink tulip as the main attraction. It has a scent at the opening, that is quite dewy, green, and full bodied flowers.

That watery green smell, later turns into a soapy fresh sort of perfume. Just an easy fragrance to reach for, when you don’t need to stand out, but want to smell good.

Notes include: tulip, freesia, vetiver, woods

Great Clean and Warm Weather Fragrance

Byredo Byredo Blanche by byredo for women – 3.3 Ounce edp spray– Blanche is a perfume that is both super clean and super upbeat. Fresh with a lighter detergent soapy sort of aroma, that fits in well during the spring and summer months.

Overall it’s a simple scent, that is easy to wear for any occasion. Blanche takes a number of floral notes (rose, violet, peony), and blends them with a light musk and aldehydes.

It also features a bit of light woods and hint of spice, but Blanche is mostly, an utterly fresh floral perfume.

Notes include: musk, aldehydes, rose, peony, and violet

A Wintertime Pick

Byredo 1996 Inez And Vinoodh Eau de Parfum Spray, 50 Ml, 1.6 Ounce– This one is a true unisex with amber, vanilla, and patchouli leading the way in terms of strength. It opens with the juniper and leather notes, creating something that is rich, yet juicy.

The opening is sweeter, then it becomes warmer, with both a powdery smell and some refreshing spices peaking through. With the iris and leather, yes, it brings to mind Dior Homme but this one is somewhat different and more unisex.

The juniper is fresh from the jump, and can bring the power early on, the iris and violet are light but you do get a nice floral touch which hangs around.

The real fun kicks in, with the amber note, and the others which surround it. It’s a journey through differing types of aromas, but very interesting, and unique.

Notes include: violet, iris, juniper berries, vanilla, leather, and patchouli

Niche Tobacco

Tobacco Mandarin– This is a relatively newer release from Byredo and is a part of their Night Veils collection, with an extract level of fragrance concentration.

Right off the bat, this won’t be one for most people. It’s very expensive and definitely has more of a niche profile. The tobacco here is very nice and has an interesting paring with mandarin orange.

While the opening act with the cumin note, can be a bit intense, Tobacco Mandarin does settle down into a very rich blend of leather, tobacco, and woods. Not as spicy, sitting in a sea of warm amber, with that sweet mandarin note still hanging around.

Nice performance, not overpowering, but Tobacco Mandarin will stick around. If you’re sensitive to coriander or cumin, this probably won’t be for you.

Summer Cotton Candy

Byredo Sundazed by Byredo Eau De Parfum Spray (Unisex) 1.7 oz / 50ml– The citrus notes here open up with the usual combination of neroli. The opening is bright and has a definite sharpness to it.

The neroli is joined by jasmine and the citrus sharpness tones down some. But, what makes Sundazed an interesting fragrance is its used of cotton candy. The fluffy pink candy has a great contrast against the lemon and orange note.

Sweet with more jasmine coming in during the dry down. An orange and lemony fragrance, with our sugary note,  adding a wonderful scent to this familiar structure. Smells like summer, very clean perfume, less of a warm gourmand than others here.

8 Best Smelling Lacoste Colognes for Men

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Lacoste is a sporty brand which has its roots in the tennis world from its very foundation. It is famous for its alligator logo which is often emblazoned onto polo shirts.

Today, I’d like to take a closer look at their men’s fragrance line and present the best cologne options for guys by Lacoste. Also see: Best Lacoste Perfumes for Women

What are the Best Perfumes for Men by Lacoste?

Top Lacoste for Summer

Lacoste Essential Eau de Toilette for Men, 4.2 fl. oz.
A fresh and fun scent that is a great casual wear during the warmer months of the year. Essential blends citrus and more woodsy/earthy notes to create a real memorable fragrance for men.

The citrus notes are most noticeable at the top, but the notes are none too sharp. Bergamot and tangerine give it that sparkling personality.

As it moves forward, Lacoste Essential takes on its super fresh and sort of soapy aroma. It features green leafy notes with a hint of peppery spice and patchouli. This is a lighter wear with a zesty citrus and an interesting tomato leaf.

The whole thing is pretty blended, so it can be difficult to distinguish notes at times. The projection is just okay, but the smell is great. Spring and summertime wear for casual or work days.  Lacoste Essential Review

lacoste essential

Great New Lacoste Cologne

L.12.12 Blanc Eau Fraiche– While this does have the Blanc name, Eau Fraiche is pretty different from the original. They share the grapefruit note, but this one also has lemon, ginger, apple, and lavender rounding things out.

It’s a very fresh citrus scent with some additional spice and dry woods in the base. Much less floral than Blanc. This is a great under the radar fragrance for the spring and summer months..

The dry down is mostly made up of the remaining citrus, cedar, vetiver, and the juniper note that still hangs around. Oh and the ambroxan, that isn’t too massive in this composition. Pretty good performance for this sort of grapefruit/lemon based cologne.

Fresh Citrus and Woods

Lacoste L’homme Intense Eau De Toilette, 3.3 oz– Citrus and rhubarb open up L’Homme Intense by Lacoste, which sort of reminds me of Hugo Red, but this one is much sweeter than that Boss cologne.

I liked this one upon first trying, but it eventually grew into a fragrance that I enjoyed quite a lot. Lacoste calls it a woody spicy fragrance, but to me, it’s sweet/fresh spice/woods. Ginger and black pepper come through early on, but the spice isn’t overly loud.

As it dries down, it does become woodier, but the orange and rhubarb add a unique vibe to this one. Performance is better than L’Homme Lacoste, but still not amazing, and it’s sillage isn’t super ‘intense’. But for an all around wear for spring and summer Intense does a lot very well.

Match Point

Match Point EDT– This one has the same rhubarb as Intense (above), but the note is much more toned down in this mix, in favor of orange.

Though, it’s not a complete citrus bomb either. It’s somewhat sweet at times, floral at others, balanced, and fresh.

Good for the warmer months of the year, Match Point EDT will become woodier as you mover further along into the wear. Just some ambroxan, but again nothing dominates. It’s not as punchy as Intense and leans sweeter.

The sage and vetiver really keep this one feeling clean when paired with the floral notes in the heart.

Best Pick for Winter

Lacoste Pour Homme Eau de Toilette for Men, 3.3 fl. oz.
A wonderful masculine blend of fruity and woodsy notes by Lacoste. It’s a light scent that will work great for guys in the springtime. Notes include: cinnamom, apple, juniper, rum, vanilla and plum. 

Lacoste Pour Homme kicks off with an awesome plum note, which is paired with citrus and crisp apple. The latter notes, aren’t particularly strong, but do complement the tartness of the plum very nicely.

It becomes warmer and sweeter, with rum and vanilla, peaking through a few minutes in. No worries about the rum note, it’s not powerful enough to turn this one into a boozy cologne.

The sillage is a lighter moderate, which makes it safe for office wear, and does have a fresher profile. Plum and vanilla, with some light spices, and a nice woody base.

lacoste

Most Unique Fragrance

Lacoste Style in Play Eau de Toilette for Men, 2.5 fl. oz.
A light, long-lasting, and refreshing smell that is a real crowd pleaser. It is inviting and and can strike a chord in a variety of situations. Notes include: patchouli, jasmine, green apple, cedar leaves, white musk, vetiver, and woods. 

Style in Play changes things up, from the rest of the pack, with its woodsy aroma blended with a similar apple note to Lacoste Pour Homme. However, that apple is amped up to give Style in Play a fruity balance to the greenish and fresh woods found in its heart.

The dry down, becomes muskier, but the pine and cedar notes remain to keep this one clean and attractive. This is actually a pretty unique cologne, for a mainstream brand, but doesn’t ever become unlikable.

in play red

Most Popular Lacoste

Lacoste Eau De Lacoste Blanc for Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.3 Ounce
Blanc is not an overpowering scent by any means but one with a great deal of mystery and seductive allure to it. Blanc is a fantastic mixture of citrus and woodsy notes, that is wholly masculine.

The grapefruit note leads the opening and does so with a lot of energy. I love how positive and upbeat, wearing this one, makes me feel. It is joined by a cedar/suede combination and some light floral aroma, provided by tuberose and ylang-ylang.

Those florals aren’t too heavy, but it is nice to see them being used in a men’s fragrance.

I think that this is my favorite cologne from the L.12.12. line of scents. It has a bright grapefruit note, enough sweetness, and some earthy qualities to give it more substance.

It really utilizes ylang-ylang and tuberose well, but keeps its smooth masculine bonafides, with leather and suede.  Lacoste Blanc Review

eau blanc

Best Spicy/Herbal Fragrance

Lacoste Eau de Lacoste L.12.12 Rouge Eau de Toilette for Men, 3.3 fl. oz.
Rouge is a really great cologne for men that has a spicier profile than the other Lacoste fragrances on this list. It has notes from across the spectrum from citrus to woodsy to that spice. Not overpowering.

Update: This has been discontinued it seems. There are still bottles as of now, but Dua has their release, called: Rouge Croc. If you need an alternative.

L.12.12. Rouge, opens up with a very unique use of fruity notes, that is paired with tea. Mango is a delicious note, it is joined by a syrupy orange liqueur, and an herbal tea note. This one feels quite clean and warm, cardamom is very present at times, with a spiciness from pepper and a bit of ginger.

My favorite part of this fragrance is the dry down. It becomes woodsy, earthy, and spicy. Still, the fruit notes hang around, but it all just works much better.

I wish this one had a bit more power, because it would be an excellent wear for the summertime. Though, if you can get it cheap, Rouge is worth a try.

It is interesting in that is uses mango along with orange liqueur and tea. This creates a unique vibe and summery opening, before being joined by spicy pepper and cardamom.  Notes include: Rooibos Tea, Mandarin Orange, Mango, Pepper, Cardamom, And Woodsy Notes. Lacoste Rouge Full Review

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11 Best Smelling Creed Colognes for Men

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Creed is a boutique fragrance designer that caters to the luxury crowd. Since it’s inception in the 18th century, Creed has been a renowned designer for those who seek unique and painstakingly crafted scents.

Much of it’s clientele throughout its history has been European royalty and other families residing on the upper crust of society. At least, that’s the story they tell.

Maybe much of that is marketing or legend, but the brand does provide some amazing colognes. I am going to list 11 Creed fragrances for men, which I feel are the best, after testing them out over the years.

Favorite Creed Fragrances for Him

I have now updated this page for 2024. In this iteration, I have added another cologne to the list, after spending more time with it, and really beginning to appreciate the aroma.

Secondly, I have added more info on each Creed scent, and linked to my personal review of these individual fragrances.

Since I wrote the original version of this page about 6 years ago, I have also reviewed many other fragrances by Creed, which can be found on this page: Best Men’s Cologne Reviews Page  Also, check out: Top Creed Scents for Ladies

Most Popular Creed Scent

Creed Aventus by Creed Eau De Parfum Spray for Men, 2.50-Ounce– I never really liked the opening act of Aventus, as it comes across as too harsh on my skin. The bergamot and citrus, really hits hard, but when it begins to dry down Aventus develops into something great.

The pineapple is sharp, it has a dry woody/smokiness provided by birch, and ambergris/vanilla bringing up the rear in the latter stages.  The pineapple tones down after the opening, and the dry birch and oak moss, really come into their own here.

Creed Aventus is at times sweet with vanilla undertones, then, dry and smoky. This one has a complexity, that you can fully appreciate, the more times that you wear it. All in all, Aventus is one the most balanced and enjoyed scents out on the market.

Maybe it’s over hyped, at this point, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a great cologne. It had to become a best-seller for a reason, it wasn’t all ‘just hype’. Here is my review on Aventus

aventus

For Men and Women

Delphinus by Creed– This is a newer release to make the list. It’s better than Absolu Aventus and edges out Centarus for me. Even though, I like both of them.

I have to say, if you want a masculine fragrance, don’t go for this one. It’s powdery, floral, and definitely falls in the unisex category.

That being said, this isn’t a complete iris bomb to me. This heliotrope sticks out more, Delphinus has an initial sweetness/spice, with a warm vanilla and slight amber in the dry down.

Rich orris with a nuttiness from the almond note, gives it similarities to some other scents out there, but Delphinus is a fairly unique one from Creed. Powdery with an underlying waxy sort of aroma for stretches.

I would try to sample this Creed fragrance, if possible. At least before you commit to a full bottle. Note: Alternatively, you could go with Dua’s ‘inspired by’ perfume: Cosmic Sky of Amber.

Best Pure Vanilla Fragrance

Sublime Vanille by Creed– This fragrance is very expensive, even by Creed standards. Also, its performance isn’t the best. However, Sublime Vanille might have the best vanilla note that I’ve ever come across. It’s delicious.

It is a pretty simple fragrance. Vanilla, is joined by lemon and orange, to give it a sweet citrus creamsicle vibe. Very syrupy with a light hint of musk coming through towards the end. Not much development, but the aroma is great.

Sublime Vanille is more of a niche pick from this brand. Though, if you love vanilla, this could be a great pick for men or women.

Top Fresh Fragrance by Creed

Creed Silver Mountain Eau De Parfum Spray for Men by Creed, 4 Ounce– Silver Mountain Water is a fragrance for those guys who want something super clean, with a cold and crisp bite. It opens up with a lush citrus accord of bergamot and mandarin orange. Sort of close to Imperial Millesime, in the beginning.

Later, it can become a bit more herbal, especially when the green tea note emerges fully. SMW is a great choice for the springtime, features the same black currant note found in Aventus, while going in its own direction.

This is a very refreshing wear, in my experience, but with fairly average longevity and moderate sillage. However, its aroma alone, gets Silver Mountain Water a spot on the list. Silver Mountain Water Review

silver mountain

Popular Clean Scent

Green Irish Tweed By Creed For Men- Green Irish Tweed is right up there with Aventus, as one of the most popular colognes by Creed. It starts off with lemon verbena, but dries down as a fresh woody scent.

Though, the wood is present throughout. Sandalwood, is the most noticeable of the woods.

Once past the opening stages, I think that this really comes into its own, and the citrus/wood balance becomes really nice.

GIT often gets compared with Cool Water by Davidoff, but to me, that similar smell is only for part of the wear. Cool Water is much more aquatic, also.  Plus, the Creed does it better.

Green Irish Tweed has a bit of a blend between soapy and powdery, during its dry down. This is probably my favorite part of the wear. The performance is really quite nice.

The sillage is strong enough to be noticeable, but not overwhelming. Plus, it will last long enough for a full work day.  Review of Green Irish Tweed

green irish tweed

The Oud Option

Royal Oud by Creed– Oud, as a note, can be hit or miss for people. This is a nice blended example of the note, where it isn’t too heavy or too dominant in the mix.

Royal Oud actually starts off with a burst of bergamot and lime, which is joined by a light and warm pink pepper note, to keep things interesting. Early on, it is citrusy and has that nice spicy kick too it, but not overwhelming.

As it dries down, it becomes woodier. The oud is the main attraction, but there is also a nice cedar freshness in there. Musk and sandalwood round things out. Though, the latter isn’t too heavy in the mix.

To me, it kind of splits between the oud, musk, and cedar during the late stages. The sillage itself isn’t too heavy, but Royal Oud does have a good performance, while not blowing out the room. 

Very nice classy fragrance, that is more suited for formal or special occasions. I like this one, but for a lot of people, they consider Royal Oud to be Creed’s best.

Great Vetiver Fragrance

Creed Original Vetiver Men Millesime Spray, 4 Ounce – Creed Original Vetiver is a scent I overlooked on the first iteration of this list…my mistake. This is a hyper clean and masculine use of vetiver and citrus with a classic soapy quality.

I always feel energized after applying Original Vetiver, as the fragrance just seems to strike an upbeat and positive chord.

It’s not a complex sort of cologne, rather, it is linear but everything that it needs to be. This vetiver is a modern style with an older soul. Solid choice for business or casual wear. It all comes together as very clean, with good performance that will last a full work day.

The opening citrus is bright and really a highlight of this fragrance. There is some iris and sandalwood, in here as well, but they definitely don’t hit the same heights as the citrus and vetiver. Original Vetiver Review

Top Woody Fragrance

CREED BOIS DU PORTUGAL by Creed EAU DE PARFUM SPRAY 4 OZ – Bois du Portugal gets lost in the shuffle of Creed offerings, I feel. It does air on the side of being mature, somewhat old school, with a spicy masculine finish.

It opens up with bergamot and sandalwood, feels like a usual Creed fragrance, before it shifts into its own thing.

Bois du portugal is woody and warm, I love when the cedar and lavender come in to join the sandalwood. It’s clean while having an outdoorsy quality, to its aroma.

During the middle part of the wear, it can become difficult to distinguish between notes, as it has such a superior blend. Simple yet elegant.

Bois du Portugal goes from a citrus and sandalwood opening, to losing much of the citrus, and becoming a clean somewhat spicy woody fragrance. It definitely gives you something different, from most other popular scents, on the market. Bois du Portugal Full Review

bois du portugal

Best Classic Style Fragrance

Tabarome By Creed For Men. Millesime Spray 4.0 Oz.– Tabarome is another one that sort of sits under the radar. It opens up with ginger, which is one of my favorite light spices. Then, Tabarome further develops with jasmine, musk, and a greenish tobacco plant note.

The tobacco note actually is more like a growing tobacco plant, and less of what you would pack into a pipe before smoking. It’s a green note that is joined by the bergamot citrus, the ambergris, and a bit of sensuous leather.

The leather and tobacco finish is smooth, with a blend of spicy/sweet notes flanking everything. Ginger with tobacco and leather? Absolutely great. 

Ultimately, it’s all of that, some ambergris, on top of a sandalwood base. Read my full Tabarome Review

tabarome

Top Creed Cologne for Summer

Millesime Imperial By Creed For Men. Millesime Spray 4.0-Ounce Bottle– One of the more popular fragrances by Creed. Millesime Imperial is a blend of sea salt and melon-smelling (actually citrus) notes.

It’s an aquatic cologne that shines to life in the spring and summer months of the year.

It is juicy and luxurious. The melon aroma is produced by a lemon and mandarin orange combination and how they interact with the other notes within the composition.

It is very light and clean but grounded by the hint of musk and salty sea notes it unveils. If you enjoy a more oceanic type of fragrance, Imperial may be a great choice for your collection. This is one that I really like to wear on certain warmer days.

Imperial is a fruity marine fragrance, with a light musk, and some powdery undertones from an iris not. It’s not a sillage beast, but it will last for 7 or so hours, in the heat. That’s pretty impressive, when so many others, simply wilt.  My Review

imperial

Favorite Viking

Creed Viking Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.3 Ounce– Viking is the newest addition to this list. Why? I’ve always enjoyed the smell. However, it has grown on me more and more, since the first time that I tried it out in the Creed Boutique in Las Vegas.

It opens up, super crisp, with peppermint and sandalwood providing a cold woody infusion. There’s a very light bergamot note, briefly.

Creed Viking balances the warm and cold notes, as it introduces pink pepper, and then also vetiver. It’s woodsy and refreshing, with some earthiness and spice added in.

Lots of sandalwood, pink pepper, and peppermint. Blended well and the other notes, can be difficult to distinguish at times.

The longevity is good, I keep getting closer to 8 hours of wear from it. Again, this one is a cologne that I enjoyed, but didn’t love at first. It’s still not my favorite, but it has become much more favorable in my eyes, since I first tested it. Creed Viking Review

7 Best Smelling Issey Miyake Fragrances

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Issey Miyake is a Japanese designer, who has managed to achieve a lot of success in the world of fragrance, which is usually heavily dominated by giant European and American firms.

In this post, I want to take a closer look at his line of men’s colognes, and pick out what I feel are the best of the bunch. In the end, I selected seven fragrances, that I feel deserve more attention and a potential spot within a man’s perfume collection.

What are the Best Issey Miyake Perfumes for Him?

Most Popular Issey Miyake Cologne

L’eau De Issey By Issey Miyake For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 6.7 Oz– Let’s start it off with the original. This was one of the first designer fragrances that I bought for myself, when I first started working a job. It’s a classic at this point and has been popular since the 1990s.

It’s a fresh citrus fragrance with woody notes and spicy elements. L’eau D’Issey is led by the yuzu, lemon, and bergamot trio with dry elements such as vetiver and wood. Plus, add some spiced herbal notes and you have a great daily wear fragrance for men.

L’eau D’Issey absolutely shines in the warmer weather. So, if you live in a tropical climate or at least where you have hot summers, this can be an absolute go to cologne for a great price.

Nutmeg, vetiver, and floral notes really help to separate this from the usual citrus fare. L’eau D’Issey Review

Top New Release

Issey Miyake Fusion Dissey Eau De Toilette Spray by for Men 3.4 Ounces, clear– If you want a spicier or woodier version of this, go with the Extreme edition that they just released.

However, if you want a delightful fig, coconut, and citrus blend to bring on memories of the tropics, try out Fusion.

Fusion came out in 2020 and has a pretty unique profile versus many other colognes on the market. You get that creamy tropical top, some light rosemary spice, and a dry woody base that mixes well with the coconut, that comes to dominate.

Fusion d’Issey gives you a nice blue impression, with a lighter sillage, but a very engaging freshness for the warmer months. It’ll probably be one that you can pick up cheaply, in the coming years.

Best Woody Issey Miyake Perfume

Issey Miyake L’eau Bleue D’issey Pour Homme Eau De Toilette Spray, 4.2 Ounce– The name would suggest that this might be an aquatic version of the above fragrance on the list.

However, that’s not the case. It’s a pretty unique cologne, in terms of its composition, so don’t expect some super citrus marine juice.

It does open with citrus notes, but dries down into something that is much more woody, with herbal notes sprinkled in.

Bleue d’Issey is super fresh with notes such as rosemary, cedar, and cypress. Very green and herbal, kind of reminds me of Guilty Cologne, as they share many of the same notes.

This is probably the best Issey Miyake for guys who want a very woodsy aroma. Can be sharp at first, but it settles down into a delightful freshie fragrance.

If this one is harder to find, Dua has an inspired take on this called, His Blue Spirit.

Easy to Wear Fresh Fragrance

Nuit D’issey Bleu Astral By Issey Miyake For Men Edt Spray Vial– I found Bleu Astral to be a much more tolerable fragrance than its predecessor, Nuit. It starts off with a fresh and juicy bergamot, spicy coriander, all on top of a woody base.

The citrus bergamot aroma, is the lead note for much of the opening. Then, the leather and amber come in, to create a super smooth profile. Leathery wood, with warm amber, and coriander. Very nice. Becomes quite dry.

The sillage on this one is pretty moderate, lasts a nice amount of time, and is very versatile. Not the most amazing fragrance ever, but very solid all around. A simple cologne to spray on and go about your day. Bleu Astral Review

Woods, Citrus, Fresh

L’eau d’Issey Vetiver– This is a newer entry from this line, but it deserves a spot on the list. Vetiver, obviously is going to be a highlight here, but the opening hits with a great use of ginger.

Beyond that, there’s citrus here especially early, that feels more like a squeeze into a glass of water, to me. That’s because Vetiver is somewhat of an aquatic fragrance. Not entirely, but the vibe is there.

Later, you’ll get more of the vetiver as the main attraction. Yet, it’s balanced, even at its strongest. You still have the freshness and some remaining citrus.

A really nice entry from this line of colognes.

Best Sporty Issey Scent

Issey Miyake Eau de Toilette Spray, L’eau D’issey Pour Homme Sport, 3.3 Ounce– A refreshing and indeed sporty scent that really works well in the summertime.

L’eau d’Issey Sport, is led by different citrus notes than the original (grapefruit, mainly), but puts out a somewhat similar vibe to its predecessor.

Like, many sport colognes, this one is pretty straightforward. Citrus with dry vetiver and cedar. Then, some slight spice from notes like nutmeg with undertones of leather. Really good at what it does.

This could be a summertime alternative, to L’Eau D’Issey for guys who want something with less of a spicy kick. Obviously, nutmeg provides it but has more of a clean profile overall.

Top Fragrance for Winter

L’eau d’Issey Pour Homme Intense by Miyake 4.2oz 125ml EDT Spray– The intense version to the original L’eau D’Issey. It of course shares a lot of the same elements, however, this is a warmer and dark composition.

It’s wonderful and has added spice with less of the bright citrus, though, that is still present.

There is the smoky aroma of incense, plus, spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom creating a smooth enveloping warmth. It all comes together as very dry and very wearable for men in a wide number of potential occasions.

Warmer, the citrus is toned down, and you get a great smoky spice. Cinnamon is light but adds a delicious little aroma. Papyrus is a unique note, in fragrance, sort of rough and dry. This one is distinct from the original, with some overlap.