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11 Best Smelling by Kilian Fragrances
By Kilian is a niche fragrance designer, which has actually become very popular over the past decade. ‘Niche’ perfumes, are pretty much synonymous with the word expensive, and By Kilian is definitely that.
However, while there are a lot of these upscale designers, which produce pretty foul smelling scents, By Kilian actually does have some absolute gems under their belts.
In this post, I want to highlight 11 such perfumes, for both men and women; that could be considered the best from this brand. It’s by no means, exhaustive, but there should be something worthwhile for anyone looking to try out a By Kilian fragrance.
Favorite Perfumes by Kilian for Men and Women
Amazing Release
Angels’ Share by Kilian– This unisex perfume was released in 2020 and has become one of my favorite scents to wear, as of late.
Angels’ Share starts off sweet and boozy with cognac, tonka bean, and a solid oak base note. The cognac does come off similar to apple brandy, much like the fragrance with the same name further down this list.
It add a light cinnamon, praline, and vanilla to give it further sweetness and warmth. Then, the dry down is a delicious smelling woody fragrance with all of the boozy/sweet notes sitting just underneath.
Not too heavy of a fragrance, with a decent projection, and over 10 hours of wear. I’ve really loved wearing this stuff and will probably get a full bottle for my personal collection. Angels’ Share Review
Narcotics Floral Vanilla
Woman in Gold– To me, the Narcotics line from Kilian has the most winners, particularly for the ladies. Woman in Gold is one of the better options and gives you a great blend of floral notes, citrus, and vanilla.
Woman and Gold opens up with fresh and bright aldehydes paired with a lovely bergamot citrus and geranium. Under that, is the rose note and the tonka bean/vanilla combo that will be more prevalent in the dry down.
The rose is joined by a light freesia, both of which will become a generalized floral aroma, with patchouli and woody undertones. The vanilla will take over versus the tonka bean and that along with the woods and floral will be what’s left.
It’s a little sweet, the aldehydes are great up top with the citrus, and just enough vanilla to tie it all together. Woman in Gold Review
Sweet and Boozy Gourmand
Kilian Black Phantom- Memento Mori Perfume Refillable Spray 1.7 fl. oz– Black Phantom is a sweet gourmand, which really shines when its cold out. You get boozy slightly spiced rum, chocolate, caramel, and coffee. Yep, it’s going to be warm and delicious.
It’s like a nice coffee drink, with a bit of rum tossed in to liven the mood. The longevity is great and the sillage isn’t too heavy. Still, I’d keep this one out of the heat, and save it for cozier days. Black Phantom is a unisex, that leans masculine.
Warm Fruity Tobacco Smoke
Smoking Hot– This also starts off with apple and cinnamon notes, like Angels’ Share. The two, aren’t the same, however beyond that share similarity.
Here, you get a fruitier opening with a great apple note, some spiciness, and a smoky backing. The smoke isn’t overwhelming to me. Actually, the tobacco note itself is more prominent in the back half of the wear.
Opening act, plenty of smoke. Very sweet hookah with some spiciness/freshness, keeping it from being domineering.
Tobacco and vanilla are going to take up lots of the tail end, supported by the fruitier notes. However, you also get a bit of freshness from sage and moss notes.
Nice performance and something different that does perform as a unisex tobacco fragrance.
Floral with some Fruitiness
By Kilian – Good Girl Gone Bad Eau de Parfum – Travel Spray– The first entry for ladies, on the list, is an absolute floral affair. Osmanthus and rose, lead the pack, before it moves into become more of a bouquet with some nice amber touches.
The fruitiness here comes from the apricot note, with a very light apple. With the white floral notes, it does have a soapy/shampoo-like cleanliness to it.
The name on this one, totally doesn’t fit, but the scent itself is actually really nice. It’s much more of a ‘good girl’ and I’m not sure when that ‘bad’ side ever kicked in. So, if that’s what you’re expecting, it won’t be happening.
Tuberose and orange blossom have their moments, while the strongest of the floral notes towards the end will be the jasmine. The apricot note hangs around for the duration. You get a sweet, easy to wear floral, that’s actually appropriate for younger women also. Good Girl Gone Bad Review
The Better Straight to Heaven
Straight To Heaven Extreme by Kilian/1.6 oz.– Yes, the original is one of the most popular Kilian scents. However, let’s kick things up, with Straight to Heaven Extreme which is even better than its predecessor.
Like, Black Phantom above, Straight to Heaven Extreme utilizes rum. It’s a really powerful start.
However, this one doesn’t go into full sweetness mode, and is much boozier overall. There is still some sweetness, with dried fruits and some vanilla, but it has a much earthier base with a nice patchouli note.
It lives up to the extreme title, as the projection and longevity, are awesome. Update: This one is discontinued. The original is still around, but you’ll have to buy Extreme on the secondary market, if you want it.
Warm, Spicy, and Delicious
Intoxicated Refill by Kilian/1.7 oz.– Intoxicated is a simple, but wonderful blend, of mostly cardamom and coffee. Underneath that, is further spices, of cinnamon and nutmeg. This one is super fresh and warm with a spice that never gets out of hand.
It’s got a very attractive smell, with a moderate sillage, overall. There’s not much depth to this one, just a great aroma, for those who want a blend of sweet and spice.
They’ve had a few of these simpler scents that were kind of mid. This one, is a perfume that actually hits the mark.
Best Winter Fragrance
Kilian Back To Black Travel Set– This is probably the most popular of the Kilian fragrances, it also happens to be, one of the best. Honey and tobacco, are major players here, with a cherry note that is quite present at the top.
It’s unique, with a dark sweetness, about it. Back to Black is mostly a sweet fruity tobacco fragrance, with notes like saffron and almond, peaking through at times during the wear. Really great performance, not too loud, but an all day wear.
A Different Take on Boozy
Kilian Apple Brandy 17 ml / 0.57 fl– Apple Brandy is exactly as boozy as you’d expect it to be. Like a liquor soaked cask, with an apple aroma at the top, and vanilla sweetness in its heart. A sweet, warming cologne, for those colder days and nights of wintertime.
The opening is pretty juicy, then it’s a boozy sweetness, and finally it’s a liquored woody base. Very delicious, probably not one for everybody, but great nonetheless.
Update: This one also seems to be discontinued. They do have Apple Brandy on the Rocks, still. Not the same exactly, not as good in my mind, but might be something you’d like.
Sweet Floral Perfume
By Kilian – Love Travel Spray with Refills– Love is a perfume with a sugary sweet marshmallow, caramel and vanilla blend, sitting on top of floral notes such as iris, orange blossom, honeysuckle, and neroli.
The orange blossom/neroli pairing, really plays well off of the candy-like top notes. Early on, the orange blossom and marshmallow are the dominant notes, to my nose. The rose and iris her are light and give a slight powdery aroma to the warm gourmand sweetness.
As it dries down, jasmine starts to make itself known more, in the floral arrangement. Vanilla, marshmallow, and musk when the caramel fades and the floral notes are just a general impression instead of being distinct.
This is a very pretty perfume, that is good for daily wear, but can have a bold character when over-applied. Best worn in autumn through the early springtime, as it can be too thick for summer. Read my full Review
Fruity with Rose
By Kilian – Liaisons Dangereuses, Eau de Parfum Perfume 50 ml– Liaisons Dangereuses is much more of a women’s fragrance, but a man could definitely pull it off. You get a lot of peach and plum (not a lot), throughout, with a tart black currant in the opening.
Beyond that, a light rose, and a touch of spice. It’s a ‘jammy’ rose, so, the fruits create a jam like aroma around that nice rose.
It’s mostly about the fruit notes here, but the dry down does become much woodier/floral, than it had been. Quite clean and juicy, with a creamy peach note. Simply great. Not a heavy fragrance, lighter and fresher aroma versus something like Love don’t be shy. My Full Review
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.
12 Best Smelling YSL Colognes for Men
Yves Saint Laurent is a French fashion company which produces among other things, fantastic scents. YSL is honestly one of my favorite fragrance designers, as I know I’ll always get both unique and masculine scents to wear.
YSL has produced fantastic colognes since the 1970s and many of them are not even included on this list as they are either no longer produced or just really hard to find (scents such as: YSL Pour Homme, Live Jazz, M7, and Kouros Tattoo). All worthy of a spot, just too far in the past.
For this list, I have chosen what I consider to be the twelve best smelling Yves Saint Laurent colognes for men currently available (at least online). Each of them represents a different style and situation to which to wear them in.
Note: I have updated this page from the original, to expand further, and make necessary edits. Mainly, add new one’s to the list and move discontinued fragrances towards the bottom. Also See: Best YSL Perfumes for Ladies
Favorite Men’s Fragrances from Saint Laurent
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Classy Event
Tuxedo by YSL– I was late to the party with this one, but man, is this a great juice. Tuxedo is one of their more expensive offerings, but is an absolute gem.
It opens up with its spicy kick of cardamom and black pepper. It’s not super massive with that spice, as it is subdued by the sweeter notes and the fact that they are swimming in a sea of warm amber.
The other layer up top is greenish, a little earthy, watery, and smoky. Mostly, patchouli and violet leaf. After that, we will transition away from the spice to a sweeter floral with notes of vanilla and rose.
It all comes together with a great balance and stylish feeling that begs to be worn while dressed up. It may not be for everyone or one specifically for daily wear, but Tuxedo is one to try and one of YSL’s best. Tuxedo Review
Vestiaire Des Parfums Pick
6 Place Saint Sulpice by YSL– So, like the other major designers, YSL has its own higher end unisex blends available under the Vestiaire des Parfums banner. 6 Place Saint Sulpice is one such offering and it is really darn good.
This one is deep and rich, more niche than the best sellers on this list. Leather, saffron, lavender, labdanum, and tonka bean.
At times it’s creamy. Then, it’ll be smoky and very woody while sitting on top of the ever-present leather note. I’ve only come across this scent once, the leather almost felt more of a suede to me. But, I’d need to spend more time with Sulpice.
This isn’t going to one for most folks. It’s warm, spice, nutty, woody, smoky. and has a lot of depth. But, for the right person, this is gold.
Now, this is going to run you in the $250 per bottle range. Also, while there are still bottles available as of posting, I’m not sure how long that is going to be the case. I believe it is now discontinued.
Best New Cologne Release and Daily Wear Pick
Yves Saint Laurent Y Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce– The newest release from YSL, that makes the list of its best. Y EDP, was released after the very nice Y EDT, but surpassed it in every way. Not only that, it was one of the best releases of 2018, and a top offering from Yves Saint Laurent.
Y EDP opens up with a crisp freshness provided by a blend of: bergamot, apple, and ginger. It is blended perfectly and grabs one’s attention, from the start. After that, comes the warmth and creaminess of tonka bean and amberwood, which is further freshened by juniper.
This one has outstanding longevity of over 10 hours, on my skin, and a solid but not overly loud sillage. It is clean, with moments of sweetness, herbal aromas, and underlying woodiness. I had to update this list, to include Y EDP. It seems like it’s catching on now and getting its just due.
Y EDP is their best current release, in my opinion (vintage bottles of other entries notwithstanding). I also like Le Parfum and Elixir from this series, Y EDP Review
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Flanker L’Homme
L’Homme EDP– There’s been a long list of flankers stemming from the original L’homme release by YSL. Some, were really good and sadly long gone. Others, not so much.
Eau de Parfum was released from the brand in 2022 and is one of the better colognes to be under the L’Homme banner.
Bergamot and bitter orange open things up. It’s sweet, juicy, feels ambery, and you get the oak and cognac combination also coming through. It’ll dry down into something that is more woody, earthy, with notes of geranium and lavender also making an appearance.
The performance is just okay. I wish it was beefed up more and I got more time with the opening act. Still, this is a release from the line worth trying. L’Homme EDP Review
Most Popular Cologne
Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit De L’homme Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.3-Ounce
A soft, casual, long-lasting, and fantastic smelling cologne from Yves Saint Laurent. This is another one that turns the heads of the ladies and it is masculine without being in your face about it. Cardamom provides a warm spice, which is then met with a calming lavender note.
The composition is also quite woody with a dry freshness from the combo of cedar and vetiver. This has been a best seller for a decade, at this point.
Simple, straight to the point. I will say, that recent bottles, have seemed weaker than in the past. Yet, La Nuit is still among YSL’s best men’s perfumes.
Update: I’ve got a full bottle of this and L’Homme from 2021 and the longevity has gotten really bad for both. Like, 2-3 hours. They can be had for a lower price usually, but just be prepared to reapply, if you decide to go this route. Still smells great, just weak.
Notes include: Vetiver, Cedar, Coumarin, Floral notes, Bergamot, Lavender, Cardamom. Review
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Best La Nuit Flanker
La Nuit de L’Homme Bleu Ãlectrique–Â This is a newer release for 2021, that I only tried once, but it’s a worthwhile addition to the list. I still do need to spend more time with Bleu and give it a full and proper review.
It is pretty close to the one above, but with a noticeably fresher opening act with the ginger note and a greater use of the lavender note versus the very cardamom focused original La Nuit.
The citrus up top also seemed stronger to me, but it’s been a while since I’ve had a bottle of the old stuff.
Performance was much better, but again I need to test it out more. One noticeable difference is the tonka bean in the base, similar to that found in Eau Electrique (listed below).
Top Herbal/Woods Fragrance Pick
Jazz By Yves Saint Laurent For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Ounces
A harder to find classic from the late 1980s. Jazz is a spicy floral based cologne that has a knack for attracting women. Jazz is a throwback fragrance, to a time before you had a bunch of aquatics, and the same ambroxan-laden colognes that you have today.
Update: Not sure if this has been completely discontinued or if Jazz is still available in some markets.
It is green, herbal, spicy, fresh, and captivating. Masculine and mature, not overpowering, but subtle in its confidence. Jazz has a slightly soapy aroma, but with more woods and spice. There are still bottles floating around of Jazz.
Live Jazz was also another awesome scent, but I haven’t seen that one in quite a while, and they never re-released it. Notes include: sandalwood, rose, spices, and amber. Jazz EDT Full Review
Top Classic Masculine Laurent Scent
Kouros by Yves Saint Laurent for Men – 3.3 Ounce EDT Spray
Another very attractive scent from YSL. Like Jazz, it has a blend of floral notes and spicy one too but Kouros adds undertones of woods to give it that extra depth. This one is intense. This dates back to the early 1980s, and as such, has been reformulated and changed with time.
I can’t say what it originally was like, but from all accounts, it was an absolute bomb. I know it from mid-2000s onward. Kouros is not one for everybody, some will love it, while others will detest it. At times it is clean and bright, at others, dirty and rough.
Today, it really doesn’t strike me as being all that dirty. Early stages of spice, aldehydes giving it a fresh brightness, and an ever-present musk. Later, it’s sweeter, has leather, and a classic floral finish.
This is going to come across as completely different from other parfums pour homme, that are usually released nowadays. The 80s, was a time of lots of super bold and masculine scents. and Kouros was absolutely one of them. Kouros Full Review
Honorable Mentions
Best YSL Winter Perfume Pour Homme
Yves Saint Laurent Body Kouros for Men, Eau De Toilette, 3.3 Fluid Ounce
Great casual cologne which is a favorite of mine in the winter months. It blends eucalyptus, incense, and woods for a candy sweet fragrance with a bit of spice.
Kouros Body, is a very unique fragrance, that was released by YSL back in 2000.
Really, there’s nothing else that smells quite like it, due to the ingredients it used. It’s actually one of my favorites from YSL, but it’s not really produced anymore, so it’ll go in this section.
The main note is bezoin that is paired with a smokey incense note and a somewhat medicinal eucalyptus. It is very smooth, with an enveloping warmth, and a light spice within the sweetness powered by sage. It is very simple and super fresh.
The sillage was always pretty moderate, but it has a solid wear time. However, when women got close to me while I was wearing this, it usually got me complements. Not too many guys wear this and I was glad to stand out. I reviewed Kouros Body here
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Most Unique YSL
Opium By Yves Saint Laurent For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Ounces– This gets moved to the honorable mentions now, since it’s been discontinued for a long time and those last bottles that YSL did produce, kind of lost a step with the quality/performance.
A rather warm and soft cologne that is great for fall and winter. Opium is an exotic and spicy scent with notes of vanilla which help to mellow it out. It opens up with that warm spice and a black currant note, that can be quite tart/sharp, however it is subdued in this one.
Balsam is highly present within the composition and creates a warm cloud, and to me, gives Opium its exotic and dream-like quality.
As the black currant settles, the spice from the anise and pepper take center stage, and boost the freshness of this cologne. Next, it turns sweeter, due to the familiar scent of vanilla which is sitting on top of a cedar base.
My bottle of Opium EDT, always gave me awesome performance, with a bold sillage and over 10 hours of wear. It is another cold weather fragrance and one that has always gone underappreciated.
Update: I still see bottles of this around. But, I bought a bottle of the EDT (and vintage EDP original), and the latest EDT they put out really doesn’t have the same vibe or performance.
Notes include:Â vanilla, ginger, pepper, Â cedar, Â balsam. I reviewed Opium here
Most Underrated YSL Fragrance for Men
Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit De L’Homme Eau Electrique Eau De Toilette Spray 100ml/3.3 Fl Oz– Eau Electrique was released a few years ago, to little fanfare, and is still quite underrated. I think that it is completely unfair, because this fragrance, is sneaky good. It is a flanker of La Nuit, but doesn’t really resemble its predecessor.
Electrique is creamy and smooth, with a powdery finish. Lots of tonka bean, geranium, crisp apple, vanilla and a fresh woody base featuring cedar. The performance is good, not overpowering, but quite a great wear in the autumn and winter months.
Not a ground breaking cologne, but this is really a pleasant fragrance to wear, and one which gets noticed. I’ve been hoping that this one would get cheap, so I could scoop up a really inexpensive bottle, but that hasn’t come to pass as of yet. Nevertheless, I think it’s a very worth perfume for men. Eau Electrique Review.
Myslf
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Myslf Le Parfum by YSL–Â I’m listing Le Parfum as the one that I personally prefer out of the two of these. However, it’s not a cologne for everyone, as it is much more floral-centric versus Myslf EDP.
That one is a blast of bergamot citrus, before the emergence of a lighter orange blossom note. Le Parfum is a heavier use of orange blossom, with a spicy kick, woods, patchouli, and vanilla coming through.
Le Parfum has the better performance and I think that it is better put together overall. But, EDP is a crowd pleaser and something that probably easier to wear and more approachable for most guys. Myslf EDP review
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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.
6 Best Smelling Frederic Malle Fragrances for Men
Frederic Malle fragrances are both quite niche and also quite expensive. It is pretty cool how each one is designed by a particular perfumer, who gets credit on the bottle itself, in italic letters. Anyway, there are a lot of options from this line now, and many of them are unisex.
So, I wanted to create a list of the best options for men to consider, and it’s going to be composed of both unisex and some specifically male colognes.
Each of these, I think, brings something different to the table and was crafted by some fantastic perfumers. As such, there should be at least one option for everybody.
Favorite Frederic Malle Colognes for Him
Top Overall Malle Scent
Frederic Malle – Bruno Jovanovic – Monsieur for men 1.7 ounce 50ml NIB 2015 year– Not usually a huge fan of patchouli, but I’ll admit when it is done right, it can be an amazing note. That’s the case with Monsieur.
This fragrance done by Bruno Jovanovic utilizes patchouli in a way that is blended with cedar woods and rum. Monsieur has a smoky and warm quality, with enough spice, and a slight citrus undertone. It all feels dry, bold, and rather comforting.
Monsieur is a massive fragrance. The sillage does settle down, but it can be quite powerful upon opening. It also has a really dark quality to it, sort of like Man in Black by Bvlgari, but it goes in a different direction from that cologne.
The booze and the earthy combination is really great. What an interesting fragrance.
Green/Herbal Fragrance
Frederic Malle French Lover Eau de Parfum 3.4 Oz/100 ml New In Box.– Woodsy, earthy, with incense spices. French Lover is a rather unique experience, with familiar notes such as vetiver and cedar.
Plus, lesser known ingredients like the dominant angelica. This is a super green and earthy scent, quite mossy, with a dash of early morning dew. Mature and refined. As it dries down, French Lover shows more of its woodsy side, with some slight smokiness provided by incense.
It finishes off as a mossy green scent, with a dry freshness headed up by the cedar note. Rather unique scent, but, has a familiarity to it due to its note selection. Lots of depth and character.
It’s a Jungle Out There
Synthetic Jungle-Â Synthetic Jungle is another one with a greenish aroma. However, in this case it is a much more floral focused scent than is French Lover.
Lily of the valley, jasmine, hyacinth, and ylang-ylang inhabit the heart of this Anne Flipo creation. A good kick of basil up top, but it doesn’t have that earthy feeling. This is a fresh and aromatic floral.
The galbanum seems heavier in the mix in the opening stages, supported by the basil. Then, it will move on to being more of the lily of the valley. Touches of jasmine and moments where the ylang-ylang really comes through.
An interesting one, nice depth and performance. Not my personal style, but this is a great unisex example of this kind of floral fragrance.
Best Seller by Malle
Musc Ravageur by Frederic Malle 100ml– Musc Ravageur is one built for the colder days of the year. It’s a warm embrace of sweet notes and musk. Vanilla and tonka bean are of course here, as well as the cinnamon note.
It’s fresh and somewhat gourmand, but with a musk note infused into all of it. Furthermore, there is a spicy element with the aforementioned cinnamon, amber, and cloves. Such an interesting fragrance and quite sensual.
There are so many fragrances with a lot of the same notes, but the musk, and the composition sets this apart.
Underrated Frederic Malle
NOIR EPICES by FREDERIC MALLE 3.4oz/100ml-A warm and spicy unisex fragrance with a juicy orange note giving Noir Epices a citrus edge. Then, there is rose and geranium.
Plus, a plethora of different spices from pepper to cinnamon to cloves and more, which creates a completely unique aroma. With all of those spicy ingredients, it can of course be loud, but for those who love that sort of thing this fragrance offers a fantastic experience.
The orange note opens and is blended with the spicier notes, mainly cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
While it does pack a punch in the beginning, it actually isn’t a ‘heavy’ sort of scent. In fact, it can be worn in warmer weather and hold up just fine. The spice is clean and not an overwhelming cloud.
Unique Vetiver
Frederic Malle ‘Vetiver Extraordinaire 50ml/1.7 Fl Oz’– Dry, earthy, and very woody. Vetiver of course, leads the way, and is joined by cedar and sandalwood. Smooth outdoorsy smell, that manages to not feel too ‘dirty’, thanks to orange and bergamot notes.
The citrus isn’t too strong, but it’s there and noticeably flanking the vetiver, and competes with a layer of pepper. It makes the vetiver note stand out, as extra bright and uplifting. The opening act has a spicy edge to it, but that gets smoothed out over time.
It’s a vetiver scent, but not a ‘pure’ vetiver and Extraordinaire, gives you enough other notes to make it a unique option. Really nice performance and can be worn in a wide variety of situations.
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.
11 Best Smelling Chocolate Scented Colognes for Men
I’ve had this post in the queue for a few years, at this point, and never got around to finishing writing up my selections. So, I figured now was a good time to jump into the best smelling chocolate fragrances for men. I ended up picking eleven colognes or unisex perfumes, which feature either raw cacao or a more refined chocolate note as a main ingredient.
Note: I’ll come back and updated as needed. Some on the list might be older and now discontinued, but I’ve added newer releases that are still widely available and not insanely expensive.
What are the Best Chocolate Scented Fragrances for Men?
Unique Designer Cocoa
Jean Paul Gaultier Kokorico Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 1.6 Ounce– Cocoa mixed with an earthy and spicy patchouli note.
It calms down later, in the wear, but the opening can hit quite hard with an abundance of fig.
Some folks don’t care for fig at all. Personally, I love it, and think it fits in very well with the rest of the blend.
Kokorico then turns into a cacao and woody scent, smooth, and really quite distinct. There was a sweeter flanker version of this called Kokrico by Night, but it is really tough to find a bottle, after it was discontinued.
Update: This one can be difficult to find now, also.
Not Pure Chocolate, But Fantastic Fragrance
Christian Dior Dior Homme Intense Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 1.7 Ounce– To me, the cacao is more noticeable in Dior Homme Intense rather than, the original. It takes on a powdered chocolate aroma, with dry cedar, vetiver, and of course iris surrounding the cacao note.
This isn’t a pure chocolate scent, by itself, but it does play a major role in this fragrance which is one of the best on the market. The opening act of this fragrance, is one of my favorites of all-time, and it also provides good performance. My Full Review
A Valentino Blend
Valentino Uomo FOR MEN by Valentino – 3.4 oz EDT Spray– Uomo isn’t a totally chocolate-led fragrance, but the note is there. However, it is going to be paired with bergamot, hazelnut and coffee notes, which further its gourmand stylings.
It does share a lot of similarities with Dior Intense and the old Dior Homme. Yet, it also does its own thing, and was enjoyable enough for me to grab a full bottle of.
The sweet creaminess and the juicy bergamot citrus is most apparent in the opening act. The later dry down will reveal more leather, coffee, and that nice chocolate facet. Don’t expect a complete chocolate takeover, but you will get plenty of it with this one, just blended.
Extreme Sweet
Bad Boy Extreme–Â I’ll put Bad Boy Extreme on the list, as I think that this is the best of the series. It does have a significant cacao note, but apparently Bad Boy Dazzling Garden, is more focused on that from what I understand. Haven’t yet tried that flanker, however.
This one is a blend of notes like cacao, plum, tonka bean, and ginger. It’s sweet, spicy, and fresh early on. But, once it hits the dry down I personally get a lot of the cacao and tonka bean working together.
Not a straight up chocolate fragrance, but one that should work well, if that’s what you’re looking for. Great performance and a cologne that could pretty easily find a spot in one’s scent rotation.
Nutty, Spiced, Cacao
Chelsea Nights by Bond No. 9– This perfume starts out with cacao and hazelnut coming on powerfully.Â
The cacao note is the more noticeable of the two but the hazelnut is also present and adds a great nuttiness to the mix.
Chelsea Nights isn’t a a sweet and sugary fragrance. It’s got saffron, oud, a light rose, and myrrh. Yes, it’s sweet but it has a cinnamon sort of kick that comes through, warmth, a bit of smokiness floating underneath.
The end has a good deal of rich suede and vanilla. But, this comes across a leathery with the saffron note still being in the mix. It has settled down in terms of both spiciness and sweetness.
Smoother and creamy. Chelsea Nights hits so many different levels with its depth and is well worth checking out. Not a stand alone chocolate scent, but one with a good mix of other notes, to what we’re looking for.
Woods and Cocoa Bean
Giorgio Armani Emporio Armani Diamonds Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 1 Ounce– Cocoa bean, bergamot, and amber lead Emporio Armani Diamonds out of the gate. It is a brilliant trio, that isn’t to heavy but has a nice dynamic sweetness.
This then dries down with a woody base, but the chocolate remains freshly sweet. Nice performance and just a great scent. The citrus and cocoa bean opening is an amazing start, the warm amber note fills the heart of this scent.
Dry with a nice base of vetiver and guiac wood. Though, not too heavy and gives off a stylish and smooth aroma.
Cheapie Chocolate
Masaki Matsushima Chocolat Mat Eau de Parfum Spray, 2.7 Ounce– A really nice and inexpensive unisex chocolate perfume, which adds coconut, musk, and some creamy sandalwood to the dominant chocolate top note.
What’s great is that there is a bit of watermelon hidden in its depths, which emerges ever so gently, before folding back into the composition. Not great staying power, but one cheap enough to reapply.
High End Gourmand
Bond No. 9 So New York by Bond No. 9 Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3-Ounces– A pricier unisex fragrance from Bond No. 9, So New York, utilizes cocoa powder and espresso (with the former being dominant), to create a delicious and somewhat spicy scent.
It opens with a tart plum flanking those two notes and dries down with that role being played by patchouli. Rather simple, but quite nice.
Spiced Chocolate, but Discontinued
Polo Big Pony 2 By Ralph Lauren Edt .5 Oz-Â The whole Big Pony line from Ralph Lauren, were quite simple and straightforward colognes, and this is no different. Big Pony 2 takes cocoa and a spicy pepper/musk combo.
It’s quite a warm scent and the dry down is more of a chocolate and musk, with less of the initial pepper kick. You can still find some bottles around, but it is getting tougher.
Sweet Coffee and Chocolate
(Boticario Coffee (Man) Collection – Paradiso Eau De Toillete 3.38 Fl Oz)– A fresh and tropical blend of coffee and cacao, with amber and coconut. This one is sweet, with a cardamom spice, that isn’t too heavy but does give it a distinction away from being just a coffee cup smelling fragrance.
A great and masculine gourmand with a solid blend of chocolate aroma mixed with coffee beans.
Greed is Chocolate
MONTALE Chocolate Greedy Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 fl. oz.– Chocolate Greedy gives you a lovely chocolate aroma, that is supported by vanilla, and a hint of coffee.
The coffee is mostly around, at the start, but gets overtaken by a bitter orange.
Honestly, not personally a fan of the bitter orange note, but it ultimately isn’t too much of a distraction. As it dries down, it takes on more of a scent of chocolate baked goods, with its warmth.
Earlier it can smell more like a drier powdered dark chocolate. Which, this is a cacao note, but the vanilla and other notes add the creaminess.
Very good performance here. The aroma goes from baked goods to a creamier feel during the middle act. Not super sweet or sugary.
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.
10 Best Givenchy Colognes for Men
Givenchy is a French design house with plenty of history behind it and of course a great legacy of producing some fantastic scents for both men and women.
For this list, I have selected 10 of what I feel are the top smelling colognes by Givenchy, that they have produced. I have updated things to provide more options, as some have been discontinued, since I originally published this page.
Favorite Men’s Fragrances by Givenchy
Most Popular/Best Seller
Pi By Givenchy For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Ounces
A sweet blend of vanilla and almond with underlying notes of cedar, rosemary, and mandarin to give it a dash of woodsy and citrus flavor.
Pi is another very good option for those who enjoy vanilla (along with Le Male and Opium) and is best served for use in winter. Longevity is pretty hit or miss.
The newer bottles do feel quite a bit different, than the older ones, that I remember. It does still have that great vanilla and almond combination with some boozy flourishes. Though, it feels like its lost a step.
Privee Entry
Gentleman Reserve Privee-Â Other people seem to love this one much more than I do. I think it’s a good fragrance with an astonishingly good opening act. After that, it’s nice, but still worth checking out.
Reserve Privee kicks things off with bergamot citrus, whiskey, and chestnut. The iris note is also present, giving this Givenchy fragrance a classy floral touch. But, the whiskey with the nuttiness and the bergamot is so freaking good.
As it dries down, it becomes more about the iris, amber, and wood notes. The chestnut seems more like a chocolatey aroma than nutty. It’s all dry, warm, and that dynamic booziness that I liked it gone.
Nonetheless, this is a good cologne at the very least and might be some guys favorite signature fragrance. The performance is solid and this is one you should try. Reserve Privee full review
The Other Gentleman
Gentleman EDP– I’m kind of late to this one, but it’s definitely deserving of a spot on the list. Personally, I wasn’t too excited about trying EDP, since the EDT version wasn’t super impressive. This one is.
Gentleman EDP is thoroughly great and might be better for some guys versus Reserve Privee. The iris note gets it compared to Dior Homme Intense and Valentino Intense, but it is a distinct fragrance from both of them. Better than the Valentino, I think.
That iris note is joined by some spiciness, benzoin, woody notes in the dry down, and the creaminess of vanilla (with a nice helping of tonka bean, also). Not super heavy, with its light citrus top note, but one that’s going to be an autumn and winter wear.
The performance is good, doesn’t disappoint me, in that regard. Gentleman EDP is a crowd pleaser, that’s sure to get complements and is super easy to wear in most cold weather scenarios.
Extremely Good
Gentleman Society Extreme– This has quickly become a favorite for me in 2024. I wasn’t too enthralled with original Society issuance, but this Extreme version is awesome.
Peppermint, nutmeg, and iced coffee really help to separate this one and give it a better balance than the EDP.
It’s cold and fresh, joined by the sage note and vanilla. It’s for sure got an iced coffee vibe to it, but one that’s got some extra flavor mixed in.
More iris and less of the sage and daffodil, found in the original Society. Obviously, there are overlaps, but this is a better formula with even better performance. Society Extreme is a winner. Society Extreme review
BoiseeÂ
Gentleman EDP Boisee– Coriander and black pepper give Boisee a fresher start than might be expected from an iris based cologne. This flanker is a really great entry from Givenchy and is an option for those who want a woodier edition.
Cocoa bean and patchouli as further depth do Gentleman Boisee, but really this one is going to be about the iris, sandalwood, and cedar in the latter stages of the wear.
It has plenty of similarities with the original EDP listed above. However, I think that I prefer this one and the earlier freshness and later woods.
Performance is adequate, but Boisee smells great and is an easy one to wear in a variety of situations. Gentleman Boisee review
Sweet, Smooth, and Masculine (Discontinued)
Gentlemen Only Intense– Gentlemen Only Intense, is to me, the best release from the Gentlemen Only line that Givenchy released over the past 5-6 years. This one opens up with a smooth, warm, and sweet aroma.
Tonka bean, leather, and amber lead the way. This is an opening act which definitely draws me in, as these are some of my favorite notes, used in men’s fragrances. It is noticeably sweeter than the original Gentlemen Only, with less of the fresh spiciness, at least initially.
Though, you will get mint, pink pepper, and some mandarin orange like the original.
As it dries down, you will get more woody/smoky aromas coming through. But, the entire thing remains smooth with a masculine sweetness. The main downside here, is the longevity and overall sillage. It’s actually a moderate scent and not really ‘intense’.
This has been discontinued, but it is one that is worthwhile, if you can find a cheap bottle online. Gentlemen Only Intense Review
Classic Givenchy
Givenchy Gentlemen Only Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 100ml, 3.3 Ounce
A classic fragrance which dates back to the 1970s, Gentleman, is a spicy/woodsy scent with notes of patchouli and leather as its highlights.
It is mature and refined with a citrus note that adds some sweetness to the mix.
Gentlemen opens up with a big and bold punch. Spice with citrus and that underlying earthy woodiness, that will come to dominate later on. Oh, along with the usual leather note.
This is probably best served by being worn by a mature man or just a guy who’s style can compliment a blast from the past. Still a powerhouse.
Most Unique Givenchy Cologne
Xeryus Rouge for Men by Givenchy 3.3oz 100ml EDT Spray
Xeryus Rouge seems to be a different beast all together. To start with the notes include things like cactus, geranium, and pimento to go along with staples such as cedar and sandalwood.
Secondly, it has that exotic and oriental type of quality to it…it’s spicy yet fresh and slightly aquatic. Xeryus Rouge is just unique and is the type of special cologne that can set a man apart from the crowd.
It has sweetness, spice, and a total freshness. This has been around for decades now and is completely underrated, in my opinion. The red bottle really does fit the character of this one. It’s hot and smooth, with herbal highlights. Great stuff.
Balanced Daily Wear
Givenchy Pour Homme by Givenchy For Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.3 Ounce
Notes include cedar, tangerine, coriander, and grapefruit. A light citrus/woodsy smell that is very clean and crisp.
The cedar note leads things here and is paired mainly with the tangerine, with a bit of grapefruit.
Beyond that you get the dry woodsy aroma, with some spicy coriander, to give Givenchy Pour Homme an edge. Good daily wear option.
Fresh Summer Spice
Givenchy Pour Homme Cologne, Blue Label, 3.4 Ounce
Another citrus and woodsy effort, though, done better than the scent above. This is a scent built for the summertime with notes of grapefruit, bergamot, tangerine, pepper, cedar, and vetiver.
Obviously, these two have plenty of overlap between them, go with this one if you prefer more of the citrus air versus being led by cedar. That’s not to say, that Blue Label smells like Pour Homme, it doesn’t really.
Blue label has a sweet fruity top and then transitions into woodsy, with a pepper and cardamom blend, to give it some spiciness.
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.