Yves Saint Laurent L'homme Libre review

Fragrance House: Yves Saint Laurent (YSL)
Year of Release: 2011
Perfumer: Olivier Polge & Carlos Benaim
Class: Aquatic, floral
Notes: top notes of Calabria Bergamot, Nutmeg, Pink Pepper mid notes of Violet Leaf Accord, Grand Vert Basil, Star Anise and base notes of Indonesia Patchouli, Haiti Vetiver, Leather 
Sizes: 50-100ml edt
Price range: $40-$70

Description: I decided to buy this fragrance having both L'Homme and La Nuit de L'Homme from the YSL house, in my collection, I have to say their is a lot of love and hate towards this fragrance my own thought is this is a good fragrance, and has by miles the best opening out of all the L'Homme line the bottle looks great and probably in my opinion is the best looking,  even the spritzer tube is stylish and adds to the feel of the bottle.
Opening: the opening like I mentioned is by far the best, I've heard people say it reminds them of the original L'Homme, I really don't see that, nor do I see the cotton candy vibe, yes this is sweet, but its way to floral, and nothing edible/gourment to give that vibe, it also has a aquatic feel , you get the bergamont and pink pepper and some of the basil but its very well blended, it has a straight out of the shower feel about the opening
dry down: the dry down is in two very different parts for me, anyone who has worn Libre will know where I'm going with this, the first part is that amazing opening, this lasts for about 2-3 hours on my skin, and will get you noticed, and compliments too, the second  part to me is were Libre takes a big nose dive! it just starts  to fall apart around the 3-4 hour mark, and become a very boring mix of patchouli and vetiver, which is barely noticeable becomes a lot more closer to the skin and very bland  nothing  of the exciting opening is there, and to me is a bit  of a disappointment I was hoping for more!
final thoughts: all in all not a bad fragrance, but I cant help but think if YSL had spent an extra bit of their time on this they could have made a remarkable fragrance like La Nuit, this is a great smell for the first few hours, just make sure, that if your out to make an impression or maybe for a date, that you spray it on just before you leave, or you may be left with a dud that's very unremarkable, but I'll keep this in my collection just for the opening!, if I need something for a few hours that will get  me noticed, ill reach for this any day of the week!


season: anytime of year, best suited spring/fall
longevity: good 2-4 hours
occasion: casual, date, work, signature
age range: 18+
over all rating: 7 out of 10

Le Male by Jean Paul Gaultier cologne review

Fragrance House: Jean Paul Gaultier
Year of Release: 1995
Perfumer: Francis Kurkdjian
Class: Oriental Fougere
Notes: top notes of mint, lavender and bergamot mid notes of cinnamon, cumin, and orange blossom and base notes of  vanilla, tonka bean, sandalwood and cedarwood
Sizes: 50-100ml edt
Price range: $40-$80





Desciption: Ok guys so here we go, a big heavy hitter here, a legend and a game changer, am I bigging this up to much? who cares! this to me is amazing juice, I owned a bottle way back when I lived in the UK, I loved it then and I love it now, the amazing thing about fragrance is the fact it hasn't aged a day since 1995, some guys have said they feel uncomfortable with the male torso shaped bottle, really? get over it! this fragrance is priceless and whilst were on the subject of cost, this is also a great buy, I can honestly say if they jacked the price up to $100 people would still happily buy it
opening: the opening for me, is a mint lavender bomb, that's petty  much it, there's a hint of vanilla in the background and I can barely smell the cinnamon but it is there lurking
the opening is very strong! some have said it can be a bit over powering and obnoxious, and yes I have to agree it can be, just go easy on the trigger and keep it below the neck and you should be fine, 1-2 sprays on the mid torso and your good to go! 
dry down: the dry down is the best part of this fragrance, its got an almost mysterious aphrodisiacal quality to it with the vanilla, mint and lavender blending so well and the Tonka bean giving the whole scent a baby powder vibe, but think rich luxurious baby powder! the dry down last 8-12 hours on my skin, so if I spray this on in the morning and I know I'm going out in the evening I know to shower at some point if I'm going to put something a little more suitable on, since it will still be on my skin if I don't!
final thoughts: this is an amazing fragrance like I said, but it does have its draw backs for one, this is a scent that s been very saturated in the market so whilst you may get a lot of compliments, chances are strong the woman who gives you it, will have smelt it on someone she knows before and if that's an EX of hers, that might not be the greatest thing, also some people just don't like the powder vibe that it gives off,
This is in my opinion, not a high school scent, but college age and above, if your a collector of colognes you need to have this in your collection!! and if your not and  just looking for a very well made fragrance, that lasts a long time, will get you noticed, and could be a good signature scent, your looking right at it.



season: fall/winter
longevity: excellent 8-12+ hours
occasion: casual, work scent, clubbing
age range: 21+
over all rating: 9 out of 10

Christian Audigier for men

Fragrance House: Christian Audigier
Year of Release: 2009
Perfumer: Caroline Sabas
Class: woody, spicy
Notes: top notes of blackberry, pomelo, Asian pear and rum; mid notes of cinnamon bark, saffron and iris root; and base notes of  vetiver, oak moss, suede and leather
Sizes: 50-100ml edt
Price range: $10-$25





Description: I had been hearing about this fragrance for quite some time, and when I found a great deal on fragrancenet.com I snapped it up straight away! When it arrived I opened the box - it was a gift set complete with hair & body wash, deodorant stick and a 7.5ml mini bottle, which all was impressive enough.  This scent is likable and pretty safe for anyone to wear. It won't offend too many noses but just be aware that yes, it is nice, but there's nothing amazing about it.  It's good, but it won't make anyone's top 10 list.  That said, I did enjoy wearing it, it's just not something I'd reach for everyday.  This is more on the youthful side so if you're in high school or college this is perfect, and yes you will get some attention from the ladies!
Opening: From the initial spray I get a fruity blackberry note with some spice underneath, but not enough to take over the fruit accords. There is also another note I pick up that for the longest time baffled me. It smelt familiar, and was slightly off putting to my nose, it lingered for 5 minutes then vanished.  It reminds me of the smell inside a dry cleaner's store - that chemical smell that is all around you from the second you walk in.  Thankfully it doesn't last long. It's at this point I start getting hints of vanilla. I will say this as a word of warning: please go easy on the sprayer! This fragrance lasts and gets overbearing if too much is applied. 2 maybe 3 sprays tops and you're set.
Dry down: For me the dry down starts very quickly. From around the 10 minute mark, until near the end of the scent life its just a mix of fruit with spice and vanilla, with the vanilla getting stronger and stronger, 'til it takes over the fruit, and after 4-5 hours all I'm left with is vanilla and spice. It is still pretty decent but nothing original about it.
Final thoughts: I just couldn't help thinking throughout the scent that they could have come up with something really amazing! Instead what they made is a nice smelling, safe scent, but nothing original - nothing out of this world. If you're at college or high school and looking for something cheap  that women do like and will get you some attention  then go for it! This could be your go to bottle.  If on the other hand you have a collection growing and you're looking for something different, maybe a bit more daring, then Id probably look for something else.  This fragrance is nothing you haven't already smelt before.



season: more suited for cooler months
longevity: good 5-6 hours
occasion: casual, but can be used for clubbing
age range: 15+
over all rating: 6 out of 10

Rochas man review

Fragrance house: Rochas
year of release: 1999
perfumer: Maurice Roucel
notes: top notes are Lavender, Green Leaves, Bergamot mid notes are Sensual & Lush and base notes are Amber, Mocha, Vanilla
class: gourmand, sweet
sizes: 50-100 ml
price range: $30-$55


Desciption: This fragrance I bought on fragrancenet.com and I haven't looked back since, before we begin I must say I'm a sucker for Gourmand fragrances ever since I got Angelmen and was very excited to add this to my collection.
picture a cold winters morning and you've just walked into a warm coffee shop, your their first customer of the day, someone's been cooking muffins and cookies for that past few hours, thats what this reminds  me of,  a warm mocha, coffee vibe with a sweetness in the background,
some people have said this smells like cotton candy I don't get that from this at all, but each to there own I guess.
this can be a tad over sweet at times so if your thinking of buying this be careful with the sprayer, to much and this will get cloying. it is interesting to note also that the perfumer behind this Maurice Roucel has also created bond no9 new haarlem another classic, and one that smells remarkably similar to rochas man
opening: the opening to me I get  a sweet toned down vanilla, but a  little bright with the green notes jumping up and down these being the lavender and leaves, the green notes linger around for 10-15 minutes on my skin and then they begin to die down, some people have said it lasts longer on their skin it really depends on your skin type
dry down: for me this is were the magic happens the green leaves starts to gradually take less
 and less of the centre stage, and here comes to coffee mocha vanilla party train!! this to me is sweet and smooth and does start to turn heads when you walk in crowded populated areas, the projection is ok but does go closer to the skin after 2 hours, however the sillage is pretty good, and will still get you noticed
final thoughts: I'm in love with this fragrance and the fact its been out since 1999 and is still getting attention is a testament to how good this scent is, its not for everyone cup of tea, some people just cant stand this fragrance interestingly more men than women.
I would say go try this fragrance, first, and let it sit on your skin for a few hours before you make a purchase but if you like Angelmen then this might be a more versatile fragrance for you to wear this is also a great going out scent, and could be used as a clubbing scent too 



season: cooler months
longevity:5-8 hour
occasion: clubbing, going out, causal
age range: 18+
over all rating: 7 out of 10

A*Men Pure Malt Thierry Mugler for men review

Fragrance house: Thierry Mugler
Year of release: 2009
Perfumer: Jacques Huclier
Class: Flanker
Notes: Top notes of malt and fruity notes, with the original Angelmen top notes of bergamot, lavender and peppermint; for mid notes we have woody notes and malt mixed in with coffee bean, tar and patchouli; base notes of peat mixed with some oriental notes, and of course tonka bean, vanilla, caramel, chocolate, and musk from the original.
sizes: 100ml edt
price range: $79+


Description: I have to say guys, before we go any further lets take a step back in awe at how Thierry Muglers Angelmen line has had us running around like headless chickens trying to get hold of this and other flankers in the series. Their technique? Simple! Release in limited batches, then discontinue, then repeat process, until every guy out there worth his salt regarding fragrances scours the deep voids of the internet, and his wallet, to find this stuff. And with good reason! It smells.................... AMAZING!
I bought this fragrance at fragrancenet.com and couldn't wait to open the box. My wife looked on in bemusement as her husband - reduced to an excited giggled mess - ran with his box around the house like the fat kid that he is. I looked more like I was unboxing a tub of ice cream than a fragrance!
I sprayed it on my skin and as soon as the juice hit my wrists I lit up. The first thing that caught my attention was just how similar pure malt is to the original Angelmen, BUT  with this smooth whiskey, boozey, vibe along with an under current of fresh berries just picked that day.
Opening:  The opening is just as people describe it, nothing original I'm adding here, a whiskey, boozey vibe along with an under current of fresh berries.
Take a frying pan, add some berries, then when brought to heat, pour a bottle of your finest whiskey over the top, and there you have it. Well not quite, this is more complex than that. The original isn't too over powering to make one think this was a complete waste of money, but more like it adds body and depth and complements the whiskey note beautifully. The opening whiskey and berries linger on my skin for about 30-40 minutes.
Dry down: The dry down for me is the original Anglemen with the whiskey note hovering over the top of it. The smooth coffee and chocolate from the original complement this fragrance so well!  After 6-7 hours I'm left with the original Angelmen.
Final thoughts: I have to say this is one of my favourites, and while there is hype  over this fragrance it is important to point out that this isn't the projection/longevity mothership that the original still lays claim to, BUT this does last!  I've heard people complain they only get 7-8 hours life out of this. I'm like and??? That's still pretty good in my book. Maybe Thierry Mugler cursed themselves with the original by making it so groundbreaking and out there for its time, that a flanker that gets more longevity than most other fragrances released that year is a bit of a doozey. This scent does last a long time, just not as long as the original. Also, this can be a hard fragrance to wear, very limited in occasion and time of year, so bear that in mind.  My advise is if you can get your hands on this gem go get it! If you don't like it you can easily sell this for what you paid for it, or wait til its off the shelves, and double your money!

season: winter/cooler months
longevity: Excellent 7-8 hours
occasion:  romantic,date, intimate
age range: 25+
over all rating: 8 out of 10

Armani code ultimate review

 

 

 

Fragrance house: Giorgio Armani
Year of release: 2012
Perfumer: Antoine Maisondieu
Notes: Top notes of grapefruit, mandarin and star anise; Mid notes of cedar, cypress and olive blossom; Base notes of woods, tonka bean and vanilla
sizes: 50-75ml
price: $50 + (US dollars)

Description:
I bought this fragrance having walked into a department store not really knowing what I wanted, but knew something for the winter would be a wise buy since October was rolling in. From the moment the sales associate sprayed it on my wrist I liked it. I decided to take a walk around the other stores for 30 minutes to an hour, thinking that whilst this smelled good like most Armani fragrances, at least on my skin, it would be gone long before I returned back. Well, to my surprise it was still there jumping out at me, almost pestering me to buy it!  I bought a bottle and this fits fall/winter beautifully!
Opening: As soon as I spray this on my skin I get a mixture of dark fruity notes.  This is where anyone who has the original Armani Code will be able to spot the difference.  Gone is the lemon to be replaced with grapefruit, which has more depth than the citrus of the original and, along with the woods, adds much  more of a spicy warmth to this fragrance.  Oh and yes, there is a hint of vanilla and tonka bean in the beginning which lasts for around 5-15 minutes.
Dry down: After 15 minutes or so the woods really kick in, but keeping a lid on the wood scents, the vanilla is starting to push up and make itself more pronounced. I don't really get the Tonka bean. For a few hours the grapefruit hoovers right on the fringes.  Like most dark fragrances the woods really dominate, but not in a obnoxious "in your face" kind of way.  It's more of a mysterious, yet inviting scent.  This lasts for around 4 to 5 hours on my skin before the vanilla and Tonka bean are left, and a tiny hint of woods are all that you smell for the last hours of the frangrance's life.
Final thoughts. For the time of year this is for me a definite fall/winter fragrance and captures the season beautifully, I highly recommend that you at least test this at your local department store, and see what you think. I don't think you'll be disappointed and you may be a little surprised! Who knows,  maybe Armani has found its winter Aqua Di Gio

Season: fall/winter
Longevity: Excellent 7-12 hours  
Occasion: date, romantic, work scent, suite & tie
Age range: 25+
Overall rating: 8 OUT  OF 10