Perry Ellis Cologne Guide: Fun Scents for Men

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Caroline Lambert

Are you looking for someone that’s going to be open and honest with you about the scents that are and aren’t going to work for you? Caroline isn’t here to play games when it comes to the world of perfumes. She loves breaking down every note of perfume and explaining how a perfume will work with your personal preferences. Plus, she loves learning about new scents, so she’s always on the hunt to find the best and latest perfumes on the market.

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Finding your new signature scent can be fun and exciting, as you’ll learn in this Perry Ellis Cologne Guide. Sure, I’ll take each cologne down to its notes and accords, and I’ll even tell you what’s wrong with each one, but I’m going to make it amusing and insightful.

Why must you be serious when choosing your new cologne? Life is serious enough, and you need some excitement as much as anyone. My partner and I have loads of fun when we look for a new cologne. Perhaps due to my extensive collection, I’m a bit of a perfume expert, so it’s easier.

I enjoy sharing the notes and how they smell when they unfold, which I’ll do, but I’ll also help you understand each cologne on an intimate level. What makes it tick? How can you make it work for you? Perry Ellis M stole my partner’s nose, and now it’s time to help you find yours.

Who Was Perry Ellis?

Perry Edwin Ellis was an All-American fashion designer from Portsmouth, Virginia. He started as a retail guru when he graduated from New York University. Still, he used his retail experience to gain valuable knowledge about the other side of his passion: consumer approvals.

Before he co-founded a retail store called A Sunny Day, Perry was a merchandiser at Miller & Rhoads department store, a trending fashion outlet. By the 1970s, Perry worked for The Vera Companies who created double-knitted pantsuits, but he would design something new.

He was the worst fashion sketching artist, but he had passion, determination, and experience in the industry, and that’s how he created his first women’s sportswear range called Portfolio. Perry finally found Perry Ellis International in 1978 and opened a shop on Manhattan’s Seventh Ave.

Among the fashion giants, Perry began his expansion, designing a men’s collection of contemporary classics, and he soon designed shoes, furs, accessories, and his famous perfume range. Perry Ellis for Women and Men debuted in 1985, and they set the bar high!

Perry’s mind was creative, fashionable, and luxurious enough to make it to Manhattan, but his motto was unexpected. He believed fashion, whether perfumes or clothing, would fail if it was taken too seriously. He believed in having fun, and that’s what made his creations amazing.

Perry Ellis Qualities

Perry was indeed an eclectic man who knew fun had to be part of building a fashion and perfume empire, and it happened, meaning we can all take some advice from his motto. I know that adding a bit of fun to my work can kick my creativity up by about 100 notches.

However, Perry was also an admirable man for creating a brand so well-recognized by the industry. Some achievements and facts that make you see the value of his colognes include:

• Winning eight Coty American Fashion Critics’ Awards between 1979 and 1984
• Acquiring a designer like Marc Jacobs, who worked for Bloomingdales and Louis Vuitton
• Manhattan’s Seventh Ave. honored Perry by adding a bronze plaque to the Fashion Walk of Fame sidewalk in 2002
• Perry Ellis International owns numerous known brands like Nike Swim, Callaway, and Munsingwear, showing how strong the brand still competes in the beauty and fashion industries
• Perry Ellis won the Fragrance of the Year: Men’s Prestige and the Packaging of the Year Awards for his original cologne in 1986 from the Fragrance Foundation

Having fun was Perry’s secret, and look where it got him, so shall we have some fun and help you find your signature fragrance now?

Perry Ellis Cologne Guide: 20 Exciting Smells

Perry Ellis has a wide range of colognes available in 2021, meaning I’ll focus on what matters the most with each one. The notes, intensity, smell, and character will help you experience them, and I’ll add an alternative that smells a lot like each one. Fun also means simple.

Perry Ellis Midnight

Perry Ellis Midnight is a sensually pleasant Oriental Fougére fragrance that smells masculine and elegant. It starts with an intoxicating aromatic blend refined by apple before the heart opens to florals warmed with soft spicy touches. The warm finale comes with amber and vanilla.

• Accords: Aromatic, citrus, fruity, soft spicy, warm spicy, woody, floral, sweet, and amber
• Descending Notes: Mandarin zest, crisp apple, cinnamon, orange flower, geranium, rosemary, Tonka bean, vanilla, and amber
• Intensity: Medium (lasting about 6 hours)
• Character: Sophisticated, humble, and slightly exotic
• Recommended Alternative: Scuderia Ferrari Black by Ferrari

Setback

• It only suits mature men and doesn’t last long

Perry Ellis Aqua

Perry Ellis Aqua is an aquatic, aromatic fragrance that smells like a refreshing drive along the coast. It begins with marine and aromatic notes dancing before the heart opens to soft florals and fresh citrus. It then dries down to slightly beastly woody and spicy undertones.

• Accords: Aromatic, marine, citrus, lavender, fresh spicy, woody, musky, salty, amber, and animalistic
• Descending Notes: Lime, bergamot, seawater, coriander, lavender, woodsy notes, ambergris, and musk
• Intensity: Intimate (lasting about 6 hours)
• Character: Vibrant, energetic, and tenacious
• Recommended Alternative: Vintage Black by Kenneth Cole

Setback

• It smells youthful and doesn’t last long

Perry Ellis Aqua Extreme

Perry Ellis Aqua Extreme is a spicy aquatic fragrance that smells zesty and refreshing. It’s a more robust cologne than the previous one, with tangy citrus contrasting dark wood and rich undertones. A gentle floral heart comes in the journey, and it ends in a subtly sweet finale.

• Accords: Aromatic, fresh spicy, woody, citrus, tobacco, lavender, amber, herbal, and sweet
• Descending Notes: Blue lavender, juniper, geranium, lemon verbena, tobacco leaf, bergamot, labdanum, and woody notes
• Intensity: Medium (lasting about 6 hours)
• Character: Smooth, sensual, and sexy
• Recommended Alternative: Bleu de Chanel by Chanel

Setback

• It’s also not the longest-lasting cologne

Perry Ellis 360 for Men

Perry Ellis 360 for Men is an aquatic fragrance with a fruity twist that smells like a distant tropical venture. You get an initial aromatic evolution that slowly dries into a heart with sweet juniper berries and soft florals before you end in a warmer, woody, and musky finale.

• Accords: Aromatic, fresh spicy, woody, lavender, and citrus
• Descending Notes: Bergamot, lemon, juniper berries, sage, lavender, freesia, cardamom, vetiver, musk, and sandalwood
• Intensity: Strong (lasting about 6 hours)
• Character: Sexy, confident, and modern
• Recommended Alternative: Acqua Di Gio by Giorgio Armani

Setback

• It’s another Eau de Toilette with a short life span

Perry Ellis 360 Black

Perry Ellis 360 Black is a spicy amber fragrance that smells a little exotic and mysterious. I love the way mysterious notes intertwine when tobacco and aromatics blend into leather and warm amber before you get a gentle sweetness surrounded by a powdery and musky element.

• Accords: Warm spicy, tobacco, fresh spicy, aromatic, amber, leather, sweet, powdery, and musky
• Descending Notes: Barbados ginger lily, sambuca anise, cardamom, basil, nutmeg, tamarind vine, liquid amber, tobacco leaf, and suede
• Intensity: Medium (lasting about 6 hours)
• Character: Exotic, mysterious, and desirable
• Recommended Alternative: Vintage by John Varvatos

Setback

• The smell is strong, mature, and too exotic for some men, and it only lasts six hours

Perry Ellis 360 Red

Perry Ellis 360 Red is a spicy, amber fragrance that smells cheeky, sexy, and downright naughty. It’s a layered scent that unfolds through zesty citrus and potent aromatic notes before the heart opens to a warmer, woody sweetness wrapped in cinnamon.

• Accords: Citrus, warm spicy, fresh spicy, woody, sweet, aromatic, and cinnamon
• Descending Notes: Lime, red cinnamon, bergamot, nutmeg clove bud, Mandarin orange, coriander, lavender, vetiver, sandalwood, musk, red cedarwood, oakmoss, and patchouli
• Intensity: Medium (lasting 6 to 8 hours)
• Character: Sexy, youthful, and ambitious
• Recommended Alternative: Jordan 23 by Michael Jordan

Setback

• It’s an unusual fragrance best suited to young men

Perry Ellis 360 White

Perry Ellis 360 White is a sweet, citrus fragrance that smells like a modern man in the urban jungle. The scent opens with wild evolutions of citrus and sweet notes before the heart opens to a gentler floral and powdery accent that slowly warms into an aromatic and woody undertone.

• Accords: Citrus, vanilla, white floral, sweet, powdery, aromatic, woody, warm spicy, iris, and musky
• Descending Notes: Lime, cardamom, bergamot, orris root, orange blossom, lily of the valley, Tonka bean, vanilla, cedarwood, and white musk
• Intensity: Medium (lasting about 6 hours)
• Character: Urbane, untamed, and contemporary
• Recommended Alternative: Le Male by Jean-Paul Gaultier

Setback

• It smells like an adventure for younger men up to Millennials but not older, and it falls short with longevity

Perry Ellis 360 Very Blue

Perry Ellis 360 Very Blue is a woody, aromatic fragrance that smells like manly zest and earthy attitudes. Your nose begins on a spicy, irresistible, and aromatic journey before you venture into the heart, where woody undertones warm the iconic lavender note, and you end in a fresh accent.

• Accords: Aromatic, fresh spicy, woody, lavender, citrus, and earthy
• Descending Notes: Lemon, cypress, bergamot, rosemary, balsam fir, tarragon, rosemary, geranium, lavender, patchouli, vetiver, sandalwood, and oakmoss
• Intensity: Strong (lasting about 6 hours – seems to be the 360 trends)
• Character: Level-headed, masculine, and slightly traditional
• Recommended Alternative: Drakkar Noir by Guy Laroche

Setback

• It won’t smell great on younger men, and it falls short of longevity

Perry Ellis Bold Red

Perry Ellis Bold Red is an Aromatic Fougére fragrance that smells confident, intriguing, appealing, and passionate. It has a beautiful start with modern green notes blended into citrus accents before it opens to a heart of sweet and fruity elements, and it ends in a gorgeously woody finale.

• Accords: Citrus, green, warm spicy, musky, fruity, sweet, fresh spicy, fresh, powdery, and woody
• Descending Notes: Finger lime, red apple, ginger flower, black pepper, green leaves, mahogany, Tonka bean, and musk
• Intensity: Medium (lasting 4 to 6 hours)
• Character: Mysterious, passionate, and seductive
• Recommended Alternative: Hot Water by Zino Davidoff

Setback

• It sometimes lasts four hours, which is hugely disappointing

Perry Ellis America

Perry Ellis America is a unisex Chypre fruity fragrance that smells empowering, energetic, active, and nostalgic. It begins with a soft appeal of fruity and aromatic notes before the heart opens to a seductively floral and bittersweet accent, and the finale comes with a rich woody trail.

• Accords: Fruity, sweet, amber, rose, lavender, fresh spicy, citrus, tropical, aromatic, and warm spicy
• Descending Notes: White pepper, pineapple, bergamot, bittersweet Myrrh, rose, lavender, birchwood, patchouli, and amber
• Intensity: Strong (lasting 6 to 8 hours)
• Character: Adventurous, wild, and sporty
• Recommended Alternative: Explorer by Mont Blanc

Setback

• Some men don’t love wearing unisex colognes

Bonus: Buying this cologne from the official retailer will come with a gift, a free duffle bag! Who doesn’t love a gift here and there? The brand shows how it appreciates its customers with little surprises like this.

Perry Ellis Night

Perry Ellis Night is a simple Chypre fragrance for men that smells captivating, enchanting, refined, and bold. The scent begins with a refreshing citrus note that feels warm from the woody undertones pushing through, and the heart makes way for spicy sweetness, a woman’s dream.

• Accords: Citrus, woody, fresh spicy, and sweet
• Descending Notes: Pomelo, blood orange, citron leaves, yuzu, geranium, verbena, Virginia cedarwood, amber, woodsy notes, black musk, lemon cypress, and oakmoss
• Intensity: Medium (lasting about 6 to 8 hours)
• Character: Enchanting, alluring, and prominent
• Recommended Alternative: Pleasures for Men by Estee Lauder

Setback

• It’s undoubtedly a mature fragrance that won’t suit young men

Perry Ellis Reserve

Perry Ellis Reserve is an Aromatic Fougére fragrance that smells a little secretive, kind, and somewhat innocent. The top notes unfold a gorgeous aromatic blend with subtle woody notes before the heart brings a gentle floral tone combined with citrus as the finale is a rosy glory.

• Accords: Aromatic, woody, fresh spicy, lavender, citrus, herbal, floral, and rose
• Descending Notes: Geranium, juniper berries, lavender, grapefruit, bergamot, white carnation, black rose, sage, caraway, tarragon, sandalwood, tree moss, musk, exotic woods, and amber
• Intensity: Medium (lasting about 6 hours)
• Character: Soft-spoken, compassionate, and romantic
• Recommended Alternative: Aqua Rush by Nautica

Setback

• It has a subtle feminine tone and doesn’t last too long

Perry Ellis Pure Blue

Perry Ellis Pure Blue is an aquatic, fresh Fougére fragrance that smells sensual, enigmatic, daring, passionate, and unparalleled. It’s an unusual evolution of citrus and sweet notes before the heart note open to green, fresh, and oceanic undertones. It ends with a modern, spicy wooden accent.

• Accords: Citrus, sweet, aquatic, fresh, green, oceanic, ozonic, soft spicy, amber, and woody
• Descending Notes: Grapefruit, apple, bergamot, aquatic notes, microgreens, tidal wave essence, crushed cardamom, musk, white moss, dark amber, and sandalwood
• Intensity: Strong (lasting 6 to 8 hours)
• Character: Highly ambitious, passionate, and daring
• Recommended Alternative: Blue Seduction by Antonio Banderas

Setback

• The cologne is strong, bold, and fearless and won’t suit soft-spoken men

Perry Ellis 18

Perry Ellis 18 is another Aromatic Fougére fragrance that smells modern, refreshing, confident, and adventurous. The initial burst of citrus is relatively robust, but it calms down to meet an aromatic heart with marine notes before you end with a gentle woody undertone that feels warm.

• Accords: Citrus, fresh spicy, aromatic, fresh, marine, and warm spicy
• Descending Notes: Lemon, citruses, bergamot, seawater, spicy notes, jasmine, birch, geranium, and sandalwood
• Intensity: Intimately medium (lasting only 4 to 6 hours)
• Character: Contemporary-masculine, explorative, and care-free
• Recommended Alternative: Pour Homme by Versace

Setback

• It has a wild citrus beginning, and it falls short of longevity

Perry Ellis 18 Intense

Perry Ellis 18 Intense is one more Aromatic Fougére fragrance that smells sexy, romantic, and stimulating. It begins with a spicy aquatic blend that leads to the heart, where you find fresh, citrus, and gentle woody accents before the scent travels to a soft floral and amber finale.

• Accords: Aromatic, aquatic, fresh spicy, citrus, ozonic, woody, marine, musky, lavender, and amber
• Descending Notes: Watermelon, melon, sea notes, lemon, bergamot, rosemary, lavender, aldehydes, ambergris, white musk, and white cedar extract
• Intensity: Moderately strong (lasting 6 to 8 hours)
• Character: Romantic, seductive, and vibrant
• Recommended Alternative: CK One by Calvin Klein

Setback

• It smells like something that belongs on young skin, especially guys in the dating world

Perry Ellis Platinum Label

Perry Ellis Platinum Label is a woody, aquatic fragrance that smells self-assuring, manly, fresh, and energetic. The woody undertone comes first before you dive into the deep end of marine notes and aromatic teasers. The cologne ends with a spicy, oceanic, and refreshing twist.

• Accords: Woody, aquatic, aromatic, fresh spicy, marine, citrus, and ozonic
• Descending Notes: Bamboo, mandarin orange, lavender, seaweed, violet leaf, balsam fir, white musk, rosemary, patchouli, and cedarwood
• Intensity: Intimately medium (lasting about 6 hours)
• Character: Confident, masculine, and active
• Recommended Alternative: Pour Homme by Dolce & Gabbana

Setback

• It smells like it suits young guys more than mature men, and it only lasts six hours if you’re lucky

Perry Ellis M

Perry Ellis M is a sweet, aromatic, woody fragrance that smells all-masculine and beastly. My partner loves sweet colognes, but this one touches solid woody and spicy notes as it dries through various gently sweet undertones made of cinnamon and vanilla. It’s a classic!

• Accords: Cinnamon, soft spicy, warm spicy, woody, aromatic, anis, sweet, powdery, and amber
• Descending Notes: Bergamot, star anise, sage balsam fir, cinnamon, white musk, Tonka bean, vetiver, vanilla, and cashmere wood
• Intensity: Medium (lasting 6 to 8 hours)
• Character: Empowering, beastly, and seductive
• Recommended Alternative: Very Irresistible Fresh Attitude by Givenchy

Setback

• It suits mature men better, especially guys from Millennial generations and older

Perry Ellis Cobalt

Perry Ellis Cobalt is an aromatic, woody fragrance that smells masculine but contemporary, fruity but strong. It begins in the woody undertones before it powers through citrus, fragrant, and fresh notes. The cologne dries down to a warm amber before expressing a sweet and fruity side.

• Accords: Woody, powdery, citrus, warm spicy, aromatic, fresh spicy, musky, amber, fruity, and sweet
• Descending Notes: Mandarin orange, ginger, bergamot, fig, clary sage, rosemary, white amber, rum, musk, sandalwood, cashmere wood, and woodsy notes
• Intensity: Moderately strong (lasting 6 to 8 hours)
• Character: Animalistic, untamed, and unpredictable
• Recommended Alternative: 212 Men by Carolina Herrera

Setback

• The final scent evolution might be too fruity or sweet for some men

Perry Ellis Portfolio Black

Perry Ellis Portfolio Black is an Aromatic Fougére fragrance with hints of aquatic elements that smells traditional, sleek, and majestic. It begins in a saltwater and aromatic tangle before the heart unfolds refreshing citrus and green notes that dry slowly into a warm and woody spiciness.

• Accords: Aquatic, aromatic, citrus, green, soft spicy, woody, amber, warm spicy, and earthy
• Descending Notes: Aquatic notes, citruses, green notes, limonene, coumarin, citronella, geranium, amber, musk, and sandalwood
• Intensity: Medium (lasting 6 to 8 hours)
• Character: Sophisticated, traditional, and self-assured
• Recommended Alternative: Legacy by Cristiano Ronaldo

Setback

• The cologne feels mature, much like something you’d smell on older business people, and it won’t work for younger men

Perry Ellis Portfolio Elite

Perry Ellis Portfolio Elite is another Aromatic Fougére fragrance that smells like youthful success, vibrancy, and innovation.

• Accords: Aromatic, fresh spicy, fruity, sweet, woody, herbal, musky, fresh, warm spicy, and green
• Descending Notes: White currant, artemisia, green apple, geranium, lily of the valley, caraway, cardamom, oakmoss, vetiver, Tonka bean, white musk, amber, and cedarwood
• Intensity: Moderately strong (lasting 6 to 8 hours)
• Character: Energetically elegant, determined, and successful
• Recommended Alternative: Polo Blue by Ralph Lauren

Setback

• This portfolio cologne is the opposite of the black version, and it suits young guns better than mature professionals

Choosing Your Favorite Cologne From Perry Ellis

Very few cologne brands have 20 options on the market at once, which already makes your choice a lot simpler. There’s a cologne available for every type of man. Maybe you love sweet notes intertwined with woody undertones for that contemporary element.

You might prefer a cologne with a mature and sophisticated edge instead. No matter what your taste might be, there’s one waiting for you from Perry’s exciting and enjoyable brand. The first consideration is to determine what kind of smell you desire.

The cologne notes are the ingredients, and the accords are how they dry down on your skin. The bottom notes don’t always come last, and the top notes don’t always evolve first. Each cologne has unique ingredient blends to make them develop uniquely.

Secondly, you might consider the intensity of your cologne. You’ll struggle with a six-hour cologne on an eight-hour workday. Finally, the fun part of choosing your new signature is determining what cologne character suits your attitude when you wear it.

Every fragrance note, accord, and evolution leads to unique personality traits that make the character. If you find a scent that meets all three criteria, you’ve got your new signature!

Tips to Preserve Your Cologne

Would you believe your cologne can turn bad? Even the most luxurious scents have expiry dates, and losing your signature cologne to the elements is a waste, and not to mention, it takes all the fun out of smelling like a well-groomed man. Factors that deteriorate your cologne faster include:

• Humidity (keeping it in the bathroom)
• Direct sunlight (storing it near a window)
• Shaking it (it changes the chemical structure)
• Harsh or sudden temperature changes (putting it in the fridge today and leaving it on the counter tomorrow)

The simplest method of keeping your cologne fun, like new, and smelling as good as when it arrived is to store it correctly or in an organizer. You can also keep the joy of your sensual journey safe by reserving your cologne in a dark, dry place like the back of your closet.

Recommended Alternatives

Perry Ellis colognes use a strong foundation of aromatic, woody, and fresh notes to create their signatures. Each cologne above has a recommended alternative, but should you wish to try another brand, some have similarities, including the aromatic foundation.

• Jean-Paul Gaultier colognes also use vast aromatic and oceanic notes
• Liz Claiborne’s Curve cologne range also has a few options for aromatics, aquatics, and modern twists that blend sweetness into the woody undertones for a fun finish
• Burberry colognes use a lot of woody, aromatic (oriental), and fresh notes
• Stetson colognes use many woody and aromatic blends
• Tommy Bahama colognes are a fresher take on things, using many citruses and marine notes with tropical accents thrown into the mix

FAQs

Perry Ellis Cologne Guide: Final Thoughts

Perry Ellis knew the secret to make the best fragrances that also spoke to his consumers. He wanted luxury, but he also knew that creating each one had to be fun. After all, the sensual journey should be one of adventure, spontaneity, and layered pathways (notes).

The brand also offers such a massive variety that any man can find a suitable cologne, whether you’re a businessman who wants to smell successful or a young gun hitting the beach to pick up chicks. Not everyone can devise the character of a scent, but it’s a skill I’ve always had.

Remember that perfumers make scents with live ingredients from oil extractions. Basil, lavender, and even cedarwood were once alive. Anything with life has a character. I love my partner’s usual sweet blends, but his adult signature from Perry Ellis is a beautiful tease for my senses.

It’s like the cologne brings the beast out of him, which happens because of the character. Choose your favorite character and determine which notes smell better on your skin without wasting more time. Then, it’s time to order your new personality, a sensual and fun one.

For more exceptional colognes:

• John Varvatos Cologne Guide: Which One Is Perfect To Try Next? – Scent Chasers
• Jimmy Choo Cologne Guide: All Our Top Favorite Scents For Men and Women – Scent Chasers
• Diesel Cologne Guide: How Intense Is This Cologne? – Scent Chasers