dolce and gabbana

The One Royal Night by D&G

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Royal Night is part of The One ‘Night’ series from Dolce & Gabbana. It was released in 2015. I was interested in trying this one out, seeing how it compared to the originals and Luminous Night. The wood notes sounded intriguing and like this could have some more power behind it. How does it actually smell? When should it be worn? Is it actually worth a try?

What does The One Royal Night Smell Like?

Notes include: basil, cardamom, pear wood, nutmeg, amber, cedar, sandalwood, labdanum

Click here to try: The One Royal Night

royal night review

My Full Review

Here’s how D&G describes it: Steeped in mystery, sophistication and masculinity, The One Royal Night takes us on an olfactory journey to the Middle East, echoing its scents and sensations. Part of the Oriental Woody scent family, it explores the multi-faceted world of spices and brings the richness of Amber to life in a refined novel way.

The opening of The One Royal Night is really strong with the cardamom note. Basil and nutmeg also provide a spicy blast from the outset. You can tell that this shares plenty of the overlap with The One EDP or EDT, with how it starts.

But, noticeably absent is the grapefruit and the tobacco. This doesn’t have that same sweet warm and instead goes for something that is fresher and strong with woods.

Dolce describes the pear wood note as having a leathery facet. I do pick up something like that underneath the main accord along with some resinous and a bit scratchy base note.

The opening spice is short-lived. Basil gets out of the way quickly and nutmeg isn’t far behind. But, that sticks around for more than an hour. Royal Night really is the cardamom show for most of its existence, before the amber and woods start to take their share.

At this stage, it’s more about cardamom and cedar with what I guess is that pear wood note, taking a back seat. Less of a punchy spice and more of a clean and somewhat sharp wood.

Finally, the dry down is well, really dry. But, it has a certain sweetness to it that is kind of thick. The cardamom, amber, and sandalwood are the standouts. The rest of the composition is just the other woods.

So, it goes from major cardamom fragrance to a really woody cologne with amber and cardamom.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, the opening has some pop to it. But, it’s never all that loud with the scent trail or projecting that far off of the skin.

Sure, that initial basil and nutmeg punch does give it a strong start. However, I don’t think this has that much more power than the EDP version of The One. Maybe slightly stronger, just not much.

The latter stage is particularly soft. Woods and amber. Pretty light. Present, but not overwhelming.

The longevity seems to be right around that 5.5-7 hour range. Maybe I could squeeze a few more hours with more sprays, if I had a full bottle. But, with the sample sprayer this is about what I got.

Those last few hours are basically skin scent level projection.

Seasonally, break this one out in the autumn and winter months. Better as a nighttime wear, in more formal than casual situations. Not really one to wear to work during the day.

Better for older guys than teenagers. Royal Night does have a level of attractiveness to it, being a The One scent, but not the same type of date night vibe as the EDP. Still, wouldn’t be out of place in that context, however.

Overall Impressions of Royal Night

Overall, do I like Royal Night? I like it, don’t love it. I don’t think that it smells as good as The One EDP and doesn’t even surpass Luminous Night…but that’s a closer contest.

I think other people like this one for its woody depth and that amber/labdanum combination during the latter stages.

For me, I like that spicy opening. Amped up cardamom and basil from the original, that’s not held back by grapefruit or tobacco? I like it. Again, not to the same extent I like that original formulation, but it’s got an interesting aroma.

The dry down is just another amber and woods combination. That’s nice, smells fine, just kind of boring to me. The sandalwood is a good one, but nothing that I get too excited about.

The performance is decent, pretty standard fare for The One line, especially with the eau de parfums.

If the cardamom and woody aspects of the EDP edition appealed to you. Then, Royal Night might be the scent for you. Outside of that, it’s worth giving a try, but probably not one that a lot of people will want to blind buy.

The One Gold for Men by D&G

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The One series from D&G continues on and on into the future. Not that it’s a bad thing, since I actually enjoy these colognes. In 2021, the brand came out with The One Gold for Men, whose bottle looks a lot like the women’s version…which can lead to confusion. Anyway, how does this one smell? Does it perform well? Is it even worth a try?

What does The One Gold for Men Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, blood orange, red ginger, geranium, clary sage, cardamom, patchouli, vetiver, amberwood

Click here to try: The One Gold for Men

My Full Review

Here’s how Dolce & Gabbana describes it: The One For Men Gold celebrates a man who has a natural but unmistakable magnetism. A true gentleman, he exudes confidence with his innate elegance and unique style. The One For Men Gold is the olfactory embodiment of this masculine charisma – a sophisticated Eau de Parfum Intense that is as powerfully alluring as the man who wears it.

The One Gold opens up with it citrus and aromatic spiciness coming in strong. Blood orange and a bright bergamot really makes this one pop. But, the red ginger and cardamom are full present at the start as well.

A couple things to note here. First, this is different scent than the other The One fragrances. Yes, some overlap with notes. However, here we’re going very much in a citrus direction.

Secondly, there is plenty of overlap with Legend Red by Montblanc. Blood orange, clary sage, and cardamom are shared notes. That one utilizes grapefruit instead of bergamot and is also smoother/woodier versus the spiciness here.

Nonetheless, I have samples of both, so I’ve experienced the connection over the past few days.

Once that ginger note fades, the clary sage will overtake that and the cardamom note. The juicy citrus takes a step back and this one becomes more fresh aromatic.

At this stage, the sort of minty aroma of the geranium will also peak up and The One Gold will have a woodsy earthiness about it. Like the patchouli and vetiver are there, but they never really make much of an impression.

The final dry down is a sweet and slightly citrus amberwood. Yes, that synthetic smelling amber aroma, with the sage, cardamom, and geranium. It’s not too exciting. Smells fine, mix of sweet wood and fresh notes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is actually really good for the first hour. It will absolutely tail you around and has the ability to project in the 6-8 foot range. Perhaps, a bit more.

For instance I sprayed it on my wrist and went for a walk outside. The fragrance was extremely noticeable and the most enjoyable that I’ve experienced while testing it out.

The longevity seems to be in the 6-7 hour range, on my skin. Not amazing, but it certainly equal to or better than many of the colognes in this line.

Seasonally, best in the spring and summertime. I really liked wearing this outside on a warm summer day. It wasn’t too hot outside and The One Gold was great in that environment. I’d say outside of winter, this would be fine.

It’s not much of a formal cologne. Daytime into nighttime casual. Certainly has an attractiveness, but not sexy like other The One fragrances. Easy to wear, but certainly not something I’d necessarily want to spray on to go to an office environment.

Overall Impressions of The One Gold

Overall, do I like The One Gold? I like the opening citrus and red ginger. Plus, the next phase. So, call it the first 45 minutes or thereabouts. After that, I don’t hate it, but it’s certainly nothing that I must own.

On the whole, it’s fine. Certainly doesn’t smell even as good as The One EDP Intense or the original EDT. Gold is really just an across the board ‘fine’ fragrance. It doesn’t do anything extremely well or really terribly either.

It is at least different from the other offerings in this line. It’s the least like the other The One colognes in the series. That may or may not be a good thing for you. Personally, I just enjoy the way the others smell more.

The One as a line is one where the eau de parfum is head and shoulders above the others in the series and the flanker scents can be pretty hit or miss. Mostly, they miss.

Gold is good enough, that you might pick it up in certain circumstances, but don’t expect it to be amazing.

The performance is actually pretty good and this can actually project well with a good amount of sprays. So, if you like it, I’d expect you’ll be able to find some cheaper bottles soon and get a great deal out of The One Gold.

I’m not buying a full bottle. It’s good enough to try out, but it’s not really even a cologne that you need to seek and give it a go.

The One for Men by Dolce & Gabbana

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The One EDT was literally one of the first fragrances I bought to review when I started this site back in 2013. If I actually ever posted my review, it has since been deleted, as the performance of this cologne was so bad that I felt it to be useless to post.

Well, fast forward to today, I wanted to dive into this whole D&G collection and start off by revisiting this 2008 release that has been mega-popular ever since. I always loved the smell, it just lasted for less than an hour on my skin, at the time. Has that changed? What are my thoughts now after nearly a decade of avoidance? Please continue below for my full take.

What does The One for Men Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, basil, coriander, amber, tobacco, ginger, cardamom, orange blossom, and cedar

Click here to try: The One EDT

the one for men review

My Full Review

Before we get into my review, here’s how D&G describes it: Dolce & Gabbana The One for Men is an elegant, sensual perfume that is decidedly modern but also a unique, timeless classic. It is the natural, masculine version of Dolce & Gabbana The One. An Oriental Spicy perfume which is developed from the harmony of Tobacco notes and refined spices.

The One EDT opens up fresh with its grapefruit and array of spices taking center stage.  The grapefruit here is more along the lines of the older versions of the brand’s Light Blue fragrances, instead of the realistic one used in Light Blue Forever.

The spices early on are a mix, but you can pick out a few. The coriander is stronger than that basil note, but even that has its run during the initial spray.

It’s a warm oriental sort of spice, sitting on that base sea of amber, and given a pop by the fairly short-lived citrus note. Basil and ginger are two of my favorite and underutilized spices in fragrances…and both are the first to fade away.

Coriander and cardamom are really the one’s which show up on my skin. With the latter, adding a bit more of a citrus like impression with grapefruit and the white floral orange blossom heart.

The initial fresh spiciness will begin to take a back seat. The One becomes smoother and smokier with how it presents itself. Just a light smokiness, rather than heavy incense or anything like that.

The spices also become more of a combination versus anything distinct in how they present. At this point, it’s a amber and tobacco show with a noticeable cedar, and hints of: spices, smokiness, orange blossom, and a very light citrus.

The final dry down is basically a faint amber and tobacco without much else. Still smells nice, you just need to press your nose to it. Spicy and fresh gives way to a still warm and somewhat sweet scent.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, that initial 30-45 minutes or so is pretty solid. Even with 4-5 sprays from sample vials, I still got a good trail going from either skin or clothing.

It probably peaks at the 5-6 foot range off of the skin. After that, you’re going to be looking at something that sits within 1-2 feet. That draw down is really fast from being noticeable to if not a skin scent, close to it.

So, I also tested The One out side by side with a fragrance of a similar style, Noir Extreme by Tom Ford. 5 sprays on the one sample vial versus 2 sprays of a Noir Extreme vial. An hour or so in, the Tom Ford has a much more noticeable presence.

Seasonally, the warmth and spices is built for the autumn and winter months. I would avoid the hotter weather and humidity. Cold to moderate temperatures is where The One for Men smells absolutely divine.

It is a versatile fragrance. It is a sexy and attractive date night or nightlife wear. Though, it’s not offensive or completely out of place during the day. The tobacco note, might not always be appropriate, but it also might not be strong enough to really matter.

It is an interesting fragrance, as it does have a level of maturity to it. While also being dynamic and not at all stuffy. Younger guys and a lot of teenagers, really wouldn’t have an issue using this cologne.

Overall Impressions of The One EDT

Overall, do I like The One for Men? The smell, I still adore. The performance…still pretty bad. Though, not as terrible as I remember.

I mean 3-4 hours is absolutely not great. Especially when the projection is so light a few hours in. This is in contrast to my memory of it not lasting an hour previously.

The One features some of my favorite notes and a style, which I really enjoy. Ginger, basil, cardamom. Orange blossom is among my favorite floral notes. Amber is great. Plus, a very nice rich tobacco note for this sort of mainstream cologne.

The problem is, when all combined together…these notes don’t hold up in an EDT concentration.

As such, is it a buy? I mean, maybe. I would try to get a huge discount. Probably putting on some unscented lotion on my skin before spraying, to aid longevity. Also, I’d spray it heavily each time using.

The One EDT is an amazing smelling and mass appealing fragrance. Performance for most folks, just isn’t great. Really, among the best sellers in this category, it smells better than the vast majority.

Dolce Rose by Dolce & Gabbana

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Dolce Rose is another release from this series by Dolce & Gabbana and was released in 2021. I received a sample of this, when I purchased a lot of fragrances, and it’s been sitting in a box for months. I recently broke it out to give it a test, so that I could post my review. How does it smell? Does it last? Is it actually worth a try?

What does Dolce Rose Smell Like?

Notes include: rose, musk, red currant, apple, mandarin orange, peach, magnolia, and sandalwood

Click here to try: Dolce Rose EDT

dolce rose review

My Full Review

Dolce Rose definitely starts out juicy and sharp. This is a fruity floral fragrance and that’s completely apparent from the jump.

Red currant is the lead fruit, but its supported by that same green apple found in Light Blue. Under that, some orange and peach. I’d say peach is number three in terms of the strength of the fruits, but as it dries down, it takes over for the apple.

Beyond that fruitiness, there is of course the rose note. With the musk coming up from the base, the fruits and rose together do seem to give off a body wash kind of clean and sharpness.

Once the initial fruit explosion wears off, this does become more floral. The fruits at this point are basically peach and a general mass of the other three.

Rose, magnolia, musk, and some woods come into play. It’s a nice peachy rose aroma with musk and a hint of the others. Still sweet and playful, but much more toned down versus how this one starts.

Finally, in the end it’s rose, fruitiness, and musk. It’s an aroma that you’ve probably come across a whole lot. Yet, it is till pretty nice.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, Dolce Rose starts off fairly strong on my skin. It projects far and leaves a scent trail for about the first hour or so. Seriously, those sharp fruit notes can make this one seem pretty beastly.

But, it’s still a lighter and not a heavy fragrance. The latter act is a moderated sillage. Still noticeable, but not dominating the room.

The longevity seems to be in the 7-8 hour range for me. Not an all-day marathon, but should be able to hit a full workday for most people.

d&g perfume

Seasonally, keep this one for the spring and summer months. In the cold air, this D&G seems like it would cut like a knife.

This does have a more youthful or girly kind of vibe. More of a casual fragrance, that skews younger, while not necessarily being just for teenagers.

Stick to the daytime, but probably avoid the office or anything formal with Dolce Rose.

Overall Impressions of Dolce Rose

Overall, do I like Dolce Rose? Sort of. There are aspects that I enjoy, but also the scent sort of wears on me, after a while.

The apple, musk, red currant, and peach are nice. Though, it’s also a smell that I get tired of quickly, because it is so sharp and intense from the get go. I think the fragrance calms down, but that dry down is pretty basic.

If you want a super rose dominant scent, this isn’t it. It’s fruity/floral for much of the wear. Then, when the rose does take the top spot, it’s still sharing the stage.

As such, you should want a fruity clean fragrance with a rose note, if you’re going to go with this one. If that’s your thing, you’ll at least get your money’s worth, since the performance is solid all around.

From this series, I think that I prefer Dolce Shine, more than this one.

Dolce Rose isn’t a must have fragrance for most people. But, it’s probably not one that most people would find awful. Pretty girlish, with a body wash kind of scent. Nice enough, but nothing that special.

Light Blue Pour Homme vs. Forever

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Light Blue has spawned a ton of different flankers, seemingly every year for a long time now. The latest, is the blue-bottled Light Blue Forever, that gained a lot of popularity since its release. Though, how does it compare to the original? Which lasts longer? Smells better? Should you buy?

Tale of The Tape: Light Blue Pour Homme vs. Forever

Light Blue

Notes include: bergamot, grapefruit, mandarin orange, pepper, oak moss, juniper, musk, rosemary, rosewood, incense

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 6.7 Ounce

My review: Light Blue

Light Blue Forever

Notes include: grapefruit, violet leaf, white musk, vetiver, ozonic accord

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Forever for Men by Dolce & Gabbana Eau De Parfum,3.3 Fl Oz

My Full Review: Light Blue Forever

Opening

Light Blue starts off with its citrus fruits led by bergamot and grapefruit, with a bit of mandarin orange. It is super bright and summery, with a spicy pepper note, and an herbal aroma of rosemary.

After 10 minutes, the citrus is bolstered by some base notes, of incense and rosewood. This gives the scent a touch of smoky wood, lingering in the background.

Light Blue Forever also starts with a grapefruit note. But, it is the sole focus of this scent, and isn’t splitting duties between citrus fruits as the original does. It also smells more realistic and has a very fresh crispness to it.

Beneath that, is a blue-green ozonic accord that adds a watery freshness, and the ever-increasing violet leaf.

Which is better? Forever. If you’re going to make one note the focus, you’d better do it well. D&G definitely nailed the grapefruit experience and it is just more enjoyable early on.

Edge: Forever

Projection

I’d call both of these fragrances moderate, at their peak. With Forever, you get that bold grapefruit burst initially, which does project itself quite well. But, after that it will become lighter, and will be very light for much of the wear.

With Light Blue, it’s moderate also, but I’d call it more consistent with its sillage. It does also get lighter, but holds on to the middle for a few more hours.

Edge: Light Blue

Longevity

With longevity, I have gotten 6-8 hours with the original Light Blue in the past. Newer bottles seem to be on the lower end of the spectrum. Not too bad considering what you get with many long-running popular colognes.

With Light Blue Forever, it gets me just over 7 hours of wear, even with that lighter kind of strength level. Again, pretty good for a super citrusy fragrance.

I might have given the edge, to the original with older bottles. But, I’ll call it a tie with today’s offerings.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Both of these fragrances are at their peak in the summertime. Also, can venture into the spring, but really great on the warmer days. I think that Forever actually has more refinement, than the original, and that’s really the separation between them.

Not that it’s a formal cologne, by any means, but it can go better into semi-formal situations. It isn’t a massive difference, with when they can be worn, but a slight edge to Forever.

Edge: Forever

Overall Scent

I do enjoy Light Blue quite a bit. It isn’t my favorite, by any means, but it is so easy to wear and has plenty going for it. It’s clean, fresh, and a great first buy for many guys just starting out with fragrances. It gives you a decent performance for the price.

It’s got a drier, spicier aroma than the more green/ozonic qualities of Forever, that some men may prefer.

With Forever, I really do like that opening act with the grapefruit note. After that, it becomes a greener and woodsier scent and the grapefruit becomes just another part of the composition.

Violet leaf and vetiver with some musk…once you get past the grapefruit, I don’t really lover it.

It smells fine, at that point, but is pretty weak with its sillage. I don’t hate it, but once the opening fades, the appeal is gone for me.

The opening alone might have me recommend it over the original. As a whole, I’m kind of torn between the two. I think the original is still more enjoyable overall. It feels more dynamic and has a better ability to stick around with some power.

So, I guess the nod goes to Light Blue, over the newer Forever. But, it’s pretty equal. Forever has a higher high, but it’s short-lived.

Winner: Light Blue