Match #5 · Brotherhood Of Scent

Match #5

Match #5 in my 40-fragrance tournament featured two budget-friendly classics that both deliver excellent value: #31 seed Kenneth Cole Black versus #34 seed Davidoff Cool Water.

Kenneth Cole Black (2003, created by Harry Fremont and Sabine De Tscharner) combines mandarin, ginger, basil, incense, suede, cedar, and musk into a fragrance that's fresh with a darker, spicy edge. It has a bit more personality than you might expect at its price point.

Davidoff Cool Water (1988, created by Pierre Bourdon) is one of the defining aquatic fragrances, blending mint, lavender, coriander, jasmine, sandalwood, and musk into a clean, marine-inspired scent that's been a staple for decades.

I enjoy wearing both of these, but today the Kenneth Cole Black got the nod. I simply prefer its spicy citrus profile over the cooler marine and mint character of Cool Water. Both are great values, but Kenneth Cole Black advances to the next round, while Cool Water drops into the loser's bracket.

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Match #5