Burberry is a brand that has made a big name for itself worldwide. The sleek and sophisticated fashion that Burberry creates carries over to its cologne line to offer the perfect combination of professionalism and masculinity.
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Burberry London Cologne is no different and has become a staple in the workplace for businessmen looking to add a high-quality scent to their everyday appeal.
Let’s take a look at what makes this cologne a hit and whether or not it’s worth the hype in our Burberry London Cologne review.
Who Makes It?
The Burberry London cologne has been on the market for a while, 17 years to be exact. That’s right, this scent produced in France first launched in 2006 and has been the go-to option for many men in the years since. The cologne is now a part of Burberry’s classics collection.
Currently distributed under parent company Coty, this signature scent is packaged in a brown glass bottle that has been enveloped by a cloth cover depicting the classic Burberry Signature Check pattern.
World-renowned expert perfumer Antoine Maisondieu created the Burberry London cologne. Maisondieu is a well-known figure in the perfume industry, credited with creating scents at Armani, Gucci, and Valentino. He has a special affinity for creating Amber Spicy colognes like Burberry London, Armani Code Profumo and Armani Code Absolute.
He is responsible for our first choice of Bottega Veneta perfumes for men. Maisondieu once said, “There is so much to love about perfume: creativity, poetry, elegance”. Maisondieu’s passion for cologne is evident in this warm and inviting scent.
Scent Notes
This classic scent sends one distinct message: sophistication. Burberry credits the top notes to bergamot, lavender, and warm cinnamon.
Heart notes are a combination of mimosa flowers and rich leather. Finally, lower tones consist of tobacco leaves and oakmoss.
The sharp cinnamon scent comes through strongly, with many consumers reporting an initial scent of strong spice. Burberry London cologne conjures images of a romantic evening in the twilight woods. This comforting, warm scent communicates confidence and masculinity.
- PROS:
- A comforting, universally loved scent style
- Has an elegant, classic, and well-constructed character
- Scent notes evolve beautifully throughout the drydown
- Soft projection creates an intimate scent bubble
- The warm festive scent that’s perfect for autumn and winter
- CONS:
- There may be better options for the warmer months
- The modest projection will not leave a significant scent trail
- May not appeal to someone with an aversion to spicy cinnamon notes
SCENT PROFILE:
- Sillage: Excellent for the first hour and then soft for the next 2 to 4 hours
- Longevity: Good – 2 to 3 Hours on skin / 6 to 12 hours on clothes
- Scent Potency / Appropriate for: Modest potency / best for fall and winter, the office, festive occasions, holiday parties, and intimate settings
- Price: $ (Under $40)
Who Wears This Perfume?
Traditionally, Burberry has organized cologne by where one would wear it. Burberry London has typically been marketed as a professional cologne to be worn in the workplace. Burberry’s Brit line, on the other hand, has been marketing for more casual use.
Because this scent is often described as sophisticated and mature, most buyers are typically men over 30. The typical Burberry London cologne patron has reached a comfortable place in his career and enjoys luxury items such as high-quality Burberry cologne.
When to Wear Burberry London Cologne
This scent conjures images of crisp, cool air, so it is a popular choice to be worn in the fall and winter. Woodsy scents paired with the sharpness of cinnamon make it a perfect addition to any gentleman’s holiday ensemble.
With strong leather and spice notes, these scents may not feel as natural in the hot summertime months. For this reason, the Burberry London cologne makes an excellent gift during the holiday season, but its versatility in cooler weather is what makes this a special scent.
Burberry London retains a clean, aerial lift that is not often found in Amber Spicy colognes. The presence of lavender in the opening lends a clean freshness to the spices, as it opens to the mimosa and leather heart.
These ever-so-slight floral notes never overtly appear in the construction, but their presence lifts the spicy, leathery, and fresh dried tobacco leaf notes – keeping them bright and polished throughout the scent’s evolution. As such, the Burberry London can be worn daytime or nighttime, throughout autumn and winter, especially as the temperatures dip.
Where to Wear Burberry London Cologne
As stated before in our Burberry London cologne review, this cologne has traditionally been marketed as a working professional’s cologne.
The scents present in this cologne meld together in a pleasant, non-overbearing way making it an appropriate choice for work. There are no wild, outlandish, or risky scents present that would make it unsuitable for the workplace.
Beyond work, many occasions would suit this cologne choice. The most obvious next choice would be on a date.
Perhaps you are planning a romantic evening holding hands while ice skating.
While you’re warming up next to a roaring fire, your date will want to snuggle in closer as they catch whiffs of woodsy moss and leather.
Packaging and Presentation
Perhaps nothing screams “Burberry” more than the iconic checked fabric cover on this cologne. Known for its signature plaids and heritage prints, Burberry takes an opportunity to invoke the brand’s image further.
This cologne is capped with an elegant black glass top. Everything about this packaging is simple and sophisticated. Marketing images capture this sleek glass-bottled cologne in outdoor settings with mountains in the foreground.
This imagery goes along well with the cologne’s masculine, outdoorsy vibe. Burberry London cologne 30ml is the smallest size available, but you can also choose the 50ml and the 100ml options as well.
Personal Impressions
Burberry London cologne is a classic time-tested favorite. This warm, spicy scent elevates any man’s game and is a must during the holiday season.
It is a sensuous cologne that opens with an exuberant, clean, spicy freshness that evolves into an elegant, warm masculine scent. This is an inviting and comforting fragrance that evokes memories of a cozy evening with friends and family, lounging by the fireplace while fresh gingerbread bakes are nearby.
Burberry London is a stunning creation by perfumer Antoine Maisondieu in that it uses powerful, robust notes like cinnamon, leather, tobacco, and oakmoss, yet never becomes overly heavy. The adept use of lavender and mimosa allows those deeper notes to remain buoyant and dignified, maintaining the cologne’s subtle balance.
Much like Burberry Brit, Maisondieu’s other cool weather fragrance for the Burberry house, the perfumer’s skillful blending of floral notes actually enhances the masculine nature of this scent, augmenting the experience by allowing those richer notes to slowly evolve.
Performance
Based on consumer reviews, it’s reported that Burberry London cologne lasts around 6–8 hours on average on the skin and longer on clothing.
If you look for reviews of Burberry London cologne on Reddit, users in the popular “r/Fragrance” frequently debate Burberry London cologne’s longevity. Remember to moisturize prior to applying cologne! Scents tend to dissipate quicker on dry skin.
The sillage is noted to be very modest, which is another plus for office wear. You don’t want to leave a smell trail when working, no matter how good your cologne is.
This cologne is ideal for making a subtle statement, although it does come on strong when first applied. Are you struggling to choose a perfume based on strength? Check out our recommendations here.
Pros and Cons
Let’s start out with the pros. This cologne comes from a well-respected brand and is crafted by a famous perfumer. This cologne is also made in France, arguably where the best perfumes and colognes originate. Most people like the Burberry London cologne notes. This cologne also receives very positive feedback on every platform it is sold.
Cons? Longevity is about average. So if you’re prone to dry skin or are spending a lot of time outdoors, this may not be the cologne for you.
Secondly, it is a bit pricey for the larger bottle sizes. However, you are paying for a cologne from a luxury brand. The last con is that it can come off a bit strong when first applied. If you are someone that is sensitive to strong smells, you may want to look for a more neutral scent.
Conclusion
Burberry London Cologne is an Eau de Toilette (EDT) concentration, so it will have a strong projection for the first hour or so and then settles into a comfortable, alluring amber spicy fragrance, which continues to evolve over the next few hours. I found that spraying my clothes allowed this fragrance to truly blossom.
The warm, spicy cinnamon and clean tobacco notes definitely suit the holiday season, so if you’re looking for another cool weather option from the house, Burberry Brit would also be an alternate autumn or winter choice.
With its spicy, peppery, powdery notes, Burberry Brit would fit well in almost any situation. In either case, the Burberry Classics Fragrance collection for men projects a dignified elegance for any man who chooses to wear them.
Ron Pitt is a winemaker who developed a passion for fragrance while studying the olfactory relationship between smell and taste. After producing and marketing wines that focus on complex aromatics along with flavor, Ron altered his attention from the tasting room to the perfume lab. In addition to his passion for both wine and fragrance, Ron and his wife have been rescuing beagles for over 20 years.