I still have some more sample scents, to work my way through and give full reviews to. I’ve had some of these fragrances for months now. One of those being, Bad EDT by Diesel. This has spawned a few editions at this point, so I wanted to see what it was all about. What does this cologne smell like? How does it perform? Is it even worth a try?
What does Bad by Diesel Smell Like?
Notes include: tobacco, cardamom, lavender, caviar, tonka bean, patchouli, violet leaf, and wood
Click here to try: BAD by Diesel Eau de Toilette Spray | 125 mL / 4.2 fl oz
My Full Wear Review of Bad
Before I get into my own review, let’s see what Diesel says about Bad EDT: A rough woody fragrance, contrasted with an exciting spicy rush and a salty addictive bite.
Upon the initial spray, I immediately get a blast of bergamot, which provides the citrus energy for the composition. This is paired with a fairly strong lavender note, and these two, serve as the first level of the aroma.
Now, this opening gets compared to Invictus, and I totally get why. Though, I’d say it is closer to Invictus Legend. Beyond that, I also pick up on a 212 VIP vibe. Both of those fragrances contain citrus, caviar, and spice.
I will say, that Bad EDT, is definitely not as sweet as Invictus. It’s got more of a spicy and woody opening, than the Paco Rabanne scents.
So, the first level of this fragrance is the bergamot/lavender. Underneath that, is: caviar, cardamom, spices, wood, and tobacco (which will grow in strength later on). The cardamom gives a warm/spicy boost and the caviar brings in a delightful salty quality…but not in an oceanic or aquatic way.
Honestly, at this point, I’m not impressed with Diesel Bad when I smell it close to my skin. I sprayed it on my wrist 3 times, and up close it’s meh, but when my nose isn’t close by…I really like the aroma. The distance seems to really capture the essence of this fragrance.
I keep getting very pleasant whiffs of this stuff, each time I wear it. The more time that I spend with it, the more likable it becomes to my nose.
Once it transitions from its opening act, Bad, becomes much more about the lavender and tobacco. The bergamot note, stays strong throughout but, no longer has the number one spot. Tobacco, woods, and perhaps an amber accord of some sort make up the rest of the cologne.
It is smooth, with some rough edges, a very light patchouli is in there. Lavender gives Bad, a clean-ish feeling, that is offset somewhat by the more earthy ingredients in the composition. With a nice, bright, and juicy citrus note sitting squarely in the middle of it all.
Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility
The projecting abilities of this cologne are quite strong. Not the most powerful that I’ve come across, but it can absolutely take over a room, in many circumstances. 3 sprays can make that happen, so, expect a very solid scent bubble around you.
The longevity is also very good. It will hit the 8-9 hour range on my skin, easily. After that, it’s faint, but somewhat present still. The performance here, is exactly what I would want from this type of scent.
So, you could probably push this to 10-11 hours with enough sprays. But, for its use case, I don’t really see why you would exactly.
When should Diesel Bad be worn? Casually and for the nightlife. This isn’t a school or office sort of cologne. It has a somewhat youthful vibe, but this could work for men in their late 20s, as well.
Mostly, this will be a party/club/bar fragrance. It should get complements, as it does have a mass appeal, and fairly sexy quality to it. I’d stay away from wearing this in the heat, but moderate temperatures and below, Bad handles well.
Ideally, wear in cold weather when just hanging out or venturing to a bar or lounge.
Overall Impressions of Bad EDT
Do I like Bad EDT by Diesel? I actually do. It’s grown on me, a whole lot, while testing it out. Am I amazed by it? No, but for a younger man’s nightlife fragrance, or one in the Invictus mold…this is a really good wear.
This cologne never seemed to gain any popularity, which means, it should be hitting the discount bin. That’s great news, for guys who want a nightlife scent. It’s underrated and gives you awesome performance.
If you like the Invictus line or 212 VIP, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy wearing Bad EDT.
The dry down does get better than the opening act, which is just okay. It’s got a lot going on at that point and I don’t completely vibe with it. But, the lavender and tobacco in the latter stages, really gives this one a great upside.
The cardamom and caviar sound a lot more interesting in theory versus what you actually end up with.
It’s not the most incredible thing ever, but if you can get it for cheap, this will be a nice pickup. You get good performance and something that has an attractive quality to it. Nice, though, not spectacular.
Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.
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