Carolina Herrera Bad Boy Cobalt Elixir 100ml EDP

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from Influenster and Paco Rabanne in exchange for my honest review. This new 2024 release from Carolina Herrera is another somewhat average designer fragrance, but it does have some redeeming qualities. The brand’s website lists the three main notes as sage, black truffle and woods, while other sites also mention the addition of black pepper, vanilla and frankincense. There aren’t major differences in the overall scent as the fragrance reaches the dry down, but the sweet, aromatic and slightly zesty opening definitely tones down to a more earthy and woody base, with a bit of a balsamic vibe. It smells like a more grown up version of the original Cobalt, and even though I liked the original, I personally prefer the darker ... MoreDisclaimer: I received this product for free from Influenster and Paco Rabanne in exchange for my honest review. This new 2024 release from Carolina Herrera is another somewhat average designer fragrance, but it does have some redeeming qualities. The brand’s website lists the three main notes as sage, black truffle and woods, while other sites also mention the addition of black pepper, vanilla and frankincense. There aren’t major differences in the overall scent as the fragrance reaches the dry down, but the sweet, aromatic and slightly zesty opening definitely tones down to a more earthy and woody base, with a bit of a balsamic vibe. It smells like a more grown up version of the original Cobalt, and even though I liked the original, I personally prefer the darker aspects of this new Elixir. The fresher Bad Boy Cobalt EDP is geared more for warmer weather and works great in the heat, whereas this new Elixir version is much better suited for colder weather and evening wear. It seems like it could work all year, but it may be overwhelming for some people in the high heat. Those familiar with the Bad Boy series will recognize a change in this release. While the majority of Bad Boy fragrances seem to be targeted for teen boys and young guys, Cobalt Elixir almost bridges the gap between Carolina Herrera’s Bad Boy line and the more classically masculine CH Men line. The name itself is not only a bit misleading, but also quite disappointing from recent designer brands. The oil concentration is not a true Elixir, but as stated on the box and on the base of the bottle, it’s an EDP. Although subjective, the performance seems average for an EDP, but is at least slightly better than the original Cobalt. As other reviewers have also stated, the smell will be familiar to most people that keep up with designer releases. It smells like a bit of a mix of Paco Rabanne Invictus Victory Elixir and the OG Cobalt, but with some added earthiness to set it apart. The challenge, as usual, is that most people will question whether it’s worth paying full retail for something that simply smells like so many other fragrances, especially when you can get similar scents for half the price. Cobalt Elixir does have a slightly unique edge over a few other new designer fragrances, but aside from testing it, I would wait until it hits a reliable discount store or website to purchase a bottle. On its own, I still give it a 4/5 stars, but stacking it up against other designers and true Elixir fragrances, I wouldn’t give it more than a 3.5/5.

I’m not really sure where to start with this one. I don’t enjoy it, but I didn’t expect it to be something I would absolutely fall in love with. It’s very much a department store style blue scent. My lack of enjoyment isn’t so much a lack of it being good, because it isn’t a bad scent, but it isn’t creative or different enough to justify being added to the product stack. There seems to be an industry trend, especially in men’s designer, or releasing a modified exilir variation of popular lines, or lines in need of revitalization after Dior had tremendous success with Savage Elixir. I will say, the opening is horrible, for the first 30 mins or so, the artificial and chemical nature of this is overpowering, almost giving it the scent of a sun tan lotion for lack of a ... MoreI’m not really sure where to start with this one. I don’t enjoy it, but I didn’t expect it to be something I would absolutely fall in love with. It’s very much a department store style blue scent. My lack of enjoyment isn’t so much a lack of it being good, because it isn’t a bad scent, but it isn’t creative or different enough to justify being added to the product stack. There seems to be an industry trend, especially in men’s designer, or releasing a modified exilir variation of popular lines, or lines in need of revitalization after Dior had tremendous success with Savage Elixir. I will say, the opening is horrible, for the first 30 mins or so, the artificial and chemical nature of this is overpowering, almost giving it the scent of a sun tan lotion for lack of a better way to describe it. Between that and an incredible overdose of ambroxian (or similar aroma-chemical) smother any nuance for the first hour. Once things dry down a bit, it does get better, but it’s still a basically just a more potent representation of a blue scent. The note of truffle is nice as it does add a bit of dimension to the overly sweet vanilla in the core. The sweetness does dissipate with wear, but that sweet and blue cliche is really the main thing going on here. This isn’t where the cliches end, as the introduction of thick wood resins hold the structure here… just like almost every other exilir or intense parfam from a design’s men’s line. This is something that is directly pulling inspiration from the rest of the market here, and making most of the newer exilirs feel very much the same, as the dry downs are getting to be so similar. What I think is being done a bit differently here is focusing on the original target audience for the Bad Boy line, as opposed to bringing in a customer looking for a more mature and refined version a la Dior. What I mean here is that Savage Elixir stands out as an outlier in the product stack. While the thick ambroxiany blue scent is still there, it’s covered in rich woods and a licorice without being as intensely sweet like the remainder of the line. It leans more mature, more dirty, more refined. The rest of to savage line, EdT, EdP, and Parfam, all share a similar construction with a growing level of intensity. They are all very much Savage. What Carolina Herrera has done is create something that offers the intensity and richness of an elixir, to a person who already enjoys the standard offerings. It’s still very sweet with that vanilla and resin dancing together through dry down, and it has the wildly enjoyed blue smell, but with a bit more of a darker twist. It doesn’t stray too far from the base, and that might be a good thing, but I think there’s a place for more youthful, playful, yet intense and rich scents. I don’t know if that alone justifies its existence, as I feel it isn’t offering anything revolutionary to the market. I can see what the target is here, and I just happen not to be it, and that’s okay. I think there will be people who absolutely love what this offers, and it’ll become a go to, especially for cooler months or days where things don’t have to be so serious to be intense.

Best CH Bad Boy flanker so far!

This is a sweet-woody and spicy fragrance nicely wrapped up in the well known thunderbolt, which I think is a pretty cool bottle. It opens with fresh-sweet and peppery (black pepper) notes, at first I thought the sweetness was violet leaf but according to note breakdown is Sage. The sweet and spicy from the top notes remind me of other popular fragrances, but not as cloying, then the scent gives way to woody notes which I enjoyed and according to the note breakdown the heart notes include black truffle which I couldn't perceive but I'm assuming that it gives that earthy spiciness aspect to the fragrance. And at the base they have replaced the cocoa with vanilla which has become very popular in perfumery lately and frankincense that adds some resinous notes rather ... MoreThis is a sweet-woody and spicy fragrance nicely wrapped up in the well known thunderbolt, which I think is a pretty cool bottle. It opens with fresh-sweet and peppery (black pepper) notes, at first I thought the sweetness was violet leaf but according to note breakdown is Sage. The sweet and spicy from the top notes remind me of other popular fragrances, but not as cloying, then the scent gives way to woody notes which I enjoyed and according to the note breakdown the heart notes include black truffle which I couldn't perceive but I'm assuming that it gives that earthy spiciness aspect to the fragrance. And at the base they have replaced the cocoa with vanilla which has become very popular in perfumery lately and frankincense that adds some resinous notes rather than incense balancing the sweetness from the vanilla. The performance is good, it projects well for the first 2-4 hrs, then it becomes more of an arm's reach scent, it lasts 8-10 hrs on my skin and easily 12+ on my clothes. This would be better suited for evening or date night during fall, winter and spring, but it is more versatile than the other CH Bad Boys and you can definitely pull it off during different time/season.

Definitely worth a smell and a purchase

Given the opportunity a fragrance I jumped on board in exchange for my honest opinion. Fragrances are big part of my daily routine so when offered the opportunity to trial and review Carolina Hererra's Bad Boy Cobalt Elixer I jumped at the opportunity.Upon first impressions the packaging is very well done and presents an experience that you are about to open something with great quality inside. The bottle is a unique shape which definitely stands out in comparison to the rest of my collection. To my nose I get a signature blue scent that fits the genera but does it in its own unique way. Scent notes include black pepper, sage, truffle, woods, vanilla and incense. As a whole they are very well blended and the scent remains very linear throughout the day. You ... MoreGiven the opportunity a fragrance I jumped on board in exchange for my honest opinion. Fragrances are big part of my daily routine so when offered the opportunity to trial and review Carolina Hererra's Bad Boy Cobalt Elixer I jumped at the opportunity.Upon first impressions the packaging is very well done and presents an experience that you are about to open something with great quality inside. The bottle is a unique shape which definitely stands out in comparison to the rest of my collection. To my nose I get a signature blue scent that fits the genera but does it in its own unique way. Scent notes include black pepper, sage, truffle, woods, vanilla and incense. As a whole they are very well blended and the scent remains very linear throughout the day. You definitely get a bit of the nose tickle from the pepper which adds another dimension to the experience. It's sweet and rich because of the vanilla addition and defined and grounded with elegance from the truffles. The woody notes make for a good base and add the male essence to the experience.Scent strength is about a 8 with the black pepper punching way above its weight. I find that this is an all day scent with about 7-8 hours of wear. Sillage is kinda hard to tell now in summer but it definitely will slice through the cold in winter. Over all I like it and will keep it in my rotation as I like to pair my shave with my fragrance.Thanks for reading!

Designer With A Twist

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from Influenster and Paco Rabanne in exchange for my honest reviewThis new 2024 release from Carolina Herrera is another somewhat average designer fragrance. The three main notes are sage, black truffle and woods, but some websites mention the addition of black pepper, vanilla and frankincense. There aren’t major changes as the fragrance reaches the dry down, but the sweet, aromatic and slightly zesty opening tones down to a more earthy and woody base, with a bit of a balsamic vibe. I personally prefer this darker and more grown up version compared to the original Cobalt.It is much better suited for colder weather and evening wear, and seems like it could work all year, but it may be overwhelming for some people in ... MoreDisclaimer: I received this product for free from Influenster and Paco Rabanne in exchange for my honest reviewThis new 2024 release from Carolina Herrera is another somewhat average designer fragrance. The three main notes are sage, black truffle and woods, but some websites mention the addition of black pepper, vanilla and frankincense. There aren’t major changes as the fragrance reaches the dry down, but the sweet, aromatic and slightly zesty opening tones down to a more earthy and woody base, with a bit of a balsamic vibe. I personally prefer this darker and more grown up version compared to the original Cobalt.It is much better suited for colder weather and evening wear, and seems like it could work all year, but it may be overwhelming for some people in the high heat. While the majority of Bad Boy fragrances seem to be targeted for teen boys and young guys, Cobalt Elixir almost bridges the gap between Herrera’s Bad Boy line and the more classically masculine CH Men line.Don’t be mislead because the oil concentration is not a true Elixir, but as stated on the box and on the base of the bottle, it’s an EDP. Although subjective, the performance seems average for an EDP, but is slightly better than the original Cobalt. For those that keep up with designer releases, it smells like a mix of Paco Rabanne Invictus Victory Elixir and the OG Cobalt, but with some added earthiness to set it apart.The challenge, as usual, is whether it’s worth paying full retail for something that smells like so many other fragrances, when you can get similar scents for half the price. Cobalt Elixir does have a slight edge over a few other new designer fragrances, but I would wait until it hits a reliable discount store or website to purchase a bottle. On its own, I still give it a 4/5 stars, but stacking it up against other designers and true Elixir fragrances, I wouldn’t give it more than a 3.5/5.

Designer With A Twist

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from Influenster and Paco Rabanne in exchange for my honest reviewThis new 2024 release from Carolina Herrera is another somewhat average designer fragrance. The three main notes are sage, black truffle and woods, but some websites mention the addition of black pepper, vanilla and frankincense. There aren't major changes as the fragrance reaches the dry down, but the sweet, aromatic and slightly zesty opening tones down to a more earthy and woody base, with a bit of a balsamic vibe. I personally prefer this darker and more grown up version compared to the original Cobalt.It is much better suited for colder weather and evening wear, and seems like it could work all year, but it may be overwhelming for some people in ... MoreDisclaimer: I received this product for free from Influenster and Paco Rabanne in exchange for my honest reviewThis new 2024 release from Carolina Herrera is another somewhat average designer fragrance. The three main notes are sage, black truffle and woods, but some websites mention the addition of black pepper, vanilla and frankincense. There aren't major changes as the fragrance reaches the dry down, but the sweet, aromatic and slightly zesty opening tones down to a more earthy and woody base, with a bit of a balsamic vibe. I personally prefer this darker and more grown up version compared to the original Cobalt.It is much better suited for colder weather and evening wear, and seems like it could work all year, but it may be overwhelming for some people in the high heat. While the majority of Bad Boy fragrances seem to be targeted for teen boys and young guys, Cobalt Elixir almost bridges the gap between Herrera's Bad Boy line and the more classically masculine CH Men line.Don't be mislead because the oil concentration is not a true Elixir, but as stated on the box and on the base of the bottle, it's an EDP. Although subjective, the performance seems average for an EDP, but is slightly better than the original Cobalt. For those that keep up with designer releases, it smells like a mix of Paco Rabanne Invictus Victory Elixir and the OG Cobalt, but with some added earthiness to set it apart.The challenge, as usual, is whether it's worth paying full retail for something that smells like so many other fragrances, when you can get similar scents for half the price. Cobalt Elixir does have a slight edge over a few other new designer fragrances, but I would wait until it hits a reliable discount store or website to purchase a bottle. On its own, I still give it a 4/5 stars, but stacking it up against other designers and true Elixir fragrances, I wouldn't give it more than a 3.5/5.

Elixir of Earthiness

Bad Boy Cobalt Elixir on first spray blasts you with a punch of peppery earthiness. I do not like the opening of this fragrance, the earthy truffleI, sage, and black pepper mixture is off-putting to me. After a few minutes a nice nuttiness comes out, almost like hazelnut, and this fragrance changes for the good. I like the mid and dry-down more than the opening. That weird earthiness still lingers for a while through the mid. Longevity is good on it, it lasted 7-8 hours for me. For an “Elixir” it doesn’t project super far or last longer than most other Elixirs that I’ve tried. For projection you get 1-2 feet for maybe an hour. If you like darker fragrances that are earthy and vanillic by all means give this a try! But it’s not for me. I would recommend you test this ... MoreBad Boy Cobalt Elixir on first spray blasts you with a punch of peppery earthiness. I do not like the opening of this fragrance, the earthy truffleI, sage, and black pepper mixture is off-putting to me. After a few minutes a nice nuttiness comes out, almost like hazelnut, and this fragrance changes for the good. I like the mid and dry-down more than the opening. That weird earthiness still lingers for a while through the mid. Longevity is good on it, it lasted 7-8 hours for me. For an “Elixir” it doesn’t project super far or last longer than most other Elixirs that I’ve tried. For projection you get 1-2 feet for maybe an hour. If you like darker fragrances that are earthy and vanillic by all means give this a try! But it’s not for me. I would recommend you test this in store or purchase a sample I would not blind buy this. I personally prefer the original Bad Boy Cobalt over this, I highly recommend that one over the Elixir.

Sweet, slightly different opening, good longevity

I received a sample of Carolina Herrera Bad Boy Cobalt Elixir in exchange for my honest review. The entire Bad Boy line by Carolina Herrera seem to lean into, and focus on the sweet, men’s, fragrance, trend that has seemingly become more and more popular the past couple of years. If you enjoy sweeter men’s fragrances then this will probably be right up your alley. To me, if you already have any of the Bad Boy fragrances, this isn’t different enough to warrant you going out of your way to purchase Cobalt Elixir as well. However, if your fragrance collection is missing a winter weather, date night, or night out fragrance, this will fit that bill perfectly. I live in Texas, and because we don’t have very many cold, winter, days/nights, the number of cool weather scents ... MoreI received a sample of Carolina Herrera Bad Boy Cobalt Elixir in exchange for my honest review. The entire Bad Boy line by Carolina Herrera seem to lean into, and focus on the sweet, men’s, fragrance, trend that has seemingly become more and more popular the past couple of years. If you enjoy sweeter men’s fragrances then this will probably be right up your alley. To me, if you already have any of the Bad Boy fragrances, this isn’t different enough to warrant you going out of your way to purchase Cobalt Elixir as well. However, if your fragrance collection is missing a winter weather, date night, or night out fragrance, this will fit that bill perfectly. I live in Texas, and because we don’t have very many cold, winter, days/nights, the number of cool weather scents I currently have in my collection is too many lol, so this isn’t the type of fragrance I am in the market for, but while it won’t overwhelm you with originality, it will most likely garner compliments, and shouldn’t offend anyone as long as you don’t bathe in it lol. It has pretty good longevity off of my skin, and projected a little further than arms length from what I gathered. The addition of black pepper and sage in the opening start the fragrance out with a little bit of a different flair instead of just in your face, over the top sweetness, from start to finish, but it is still largely a sweet fragrance for the life of the scent. I gave it a 3 out of 5 stars because it isn’t necessarily my cup of tea, but for what they are trying to do, it does it well, and isn’t offensive by any means.

Very Similar to other Scents

I’m not really sure where to start with this one.I don’t enjoy it, but I didn’t expect it to be something I would absolutely fall in love with. It’s very much a department store style blue scent. My lack of enjoyment isn’t so much a lack of it being good, because it isn’t a bad scent, but it isn’t creative or different enough to justify being added to the product stack.There seems to be an industry trend, especially in men’s designer, or releasing a modified exilir variation of popular lines, or lines in need of revitalization after Dior had tremendous success with Savage Elixir.I will say, the opening is horrible, for the first 30 mins or so, the artificial and chemical nature of this is overpowering, almost giving it the scent of a sun tan lotion for lack of ... MoreI’m not really sure where to start with this one.I don’t enjoy it, but I didn’t expect it to be something I would absolutely fall in love with. It’s very much a department store style blue scent. My lack of enjoyment isn’t so much a lack of it being good, because it isn’t a bad scent, but it isn’t creative or different enough to justify being added to the product stack.There seems to be an industry trend, especially in men’s designer, or releasing a modified exilir variation of popular lines, or lines in need of revitalization after Dior had tremendous success with Savage Elixir.I will say, the opening is horrible, for the first 30 mins or so, the artificial and chemical nature of this is overpowering, almost giving it the scent of a sun tan lotion for lack of a better way to describe it. Between that and an incredible overdose of ambroxian (or similar aroma-chemical) smother any nuance for the first hour.Once things dry down a bit, it does get better, but it’s still a basically just a more potent representation of a blue scent. The note of truffle is nice as it does add a bit of dimension to the overly sweet vanilla in the core. The sweetness does dissipate with wear, but that sweet and blue cliche is really the main thing going on here. This isn’t where the cliches end, as the introduction of thick wood resins hold the structure here… just like almost every other exilir or intense parfam from a design’s men’s line. This is something that is directly pulling inspiration from the rest of the market here, and making most of the newer exilirs feel very much the same, as the dry downs are getting to be so similar.