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Stronger with You Oud by Emporio Armani

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Stronger with You Oud is one of the latest samples that I received, from this long running series of men’s fragrances by Emporio Armani. This one was released in 2022, following two years after the release of the Leather edition. How does SWY Oud smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Stronger with You Oud Smell Like?

Notes include: vanilla, oud, lavender

Click here to try: Stronger with You Oud

My Full Review

Stronger with You Oud actually reminds me a fair bit of The One Luminous Night in the opening act. It’s a sweetish, smoky, and woody blend that is very reminiscent of that D&G release.

Now, not the same, as the sage and date notes in Luminous are a lot stronger. Another aspect here, is there is a slight rubbery smell from the oud that I get early on. Much like what I got from A Midnight Stroll by Gucci.

I was expecting a stronger and perhaps dirtier oud note. But it’s more like a blend of those two aforementioned scents and SWY Leather, which also had an oud note. It’s sweet with some lavender and vanilla influence and a oud note that isn’t grabbing for attention.

This one is smooth and the leather note is definitely still here too. I really think they just swapped the strength of the oud and leather notes in SWY Leather, added some touches, and called it SWY Oud.

The dry down is a slightly powdery aroma with less sweetness, but a greater focus on lavender and the general woody notes (along with the light oud). You still get a of that Stronger with You DNA coming through, the chestnut, and it feels ambery.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

For me, this one seems to match the projection power of the leather edition, which was good. It’s not too heavy of a fragrance either, but Oud does have some density to its aroma.

Sprayed on clothes, I can detect this from like 6-7 feet away, at its peak. Thereafter, it will gradually draw closer to where you sprayed. However, the decline is pretty slow, and I never felt like I couldn’t detect it on myself.

The longevity is better, I can get up to 11 hours with this one. It seems to fall in that 9 to 11 hour range, each time that I have tested Oud out. So, it certainly delivers the performance if this is a cologne that you’re interested in.

Seasonally, I’d stick to autumn and winter with this. Colder weather is better here. Though, it can function well in moderate temperatures as well.

I’d keep this more as a nighttime wear. I don’t think that it is particularly sexy, but it can be used for more than a casual cologne, while still not being entirely formal. That rubbery aspect, early on, might not have the widest mass appeal of this SWY series. But, it will settle into something palatable for a larger audience.

Overall Impressions of SWY Oud

Overall, do I like Stronger with You Oud? Sort of. It’s not my favorite from the series, but it’s better than releases like, Only or Freeze. Personally, I’d go with Leather before this one, Absolutely, and Intensely too.

It’s fine, but it does begin to grate on my nerves after a period of wear. I’m not a massive oud fan and this, while not being a heavy oud fragrance (despite the name), just isn’t that great of an example.

That’s also a reason that I’d go with Leather versus this, as they do have a whole lot in common, but this has a slightly heavier weighting towards oud (while still not being dominant). Plus, that blend just smells much better overall.

It’s all nice enough, performance is really good, and this will for sure have plenty of fans. Me? It’s not something that I want to grab and spray on. If you’re a fan of the series, you should give it a try if you can, but might not want to blind buy.

Nautica Voyage vs Nautica Voyage Sport Comparison

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In this edition of a head to head men’s fragrance match up, we have the ever popular Nautica Voyage vs. Voyage Sport, it’s later released flanker fragrance. Does Sport carry on the Voyage name and surpass the original or does it flop completely?

Which smells better? Does Voyage Sport have good performance? Read below for my full take on these two inexpensive colognes.

Tale of the Tape

Nautica Voyage

Notes include: apple, musk, cedar, lotus, amber, mimosa, and oak moss

Click here to try: Nautica Voyage Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 oz

Read my original review: Nautica Voyage Review

Nautica Voyage Sport

Notes include: sea spray accord, citrus zest, coriander, palm leaves, green peppercorn, apple, Brazil wood, vetiver

Click here to try: NAUTICA Voyage Sport Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

Read my review: Voyage Sport

Opening

The original Voyage has a rather cold, crisp aroma that you would usually associated with a chilled cucumber. The composition opens with apple, mimosa, and musk notes.

The musk is pretty prominent and Voyage has a green/floral undertone of dewy oak moss, lotus, and that mimosa. The opening is actually my least favorite part of the fragrance, but it does get better.

Voyage Sport, doesn’t do itself any favors in the head to head, with its own opening. It’s kind of messy and runs together. What I get is citrus notes, musk, and some of that familiar alcohol smell from cheaper colognes.

It settles down after a few minutes and the citrus is joined by spice of coriander and green peppercorn. It has some salt water oceanic elements, spice, and that citrus zest.

Which is better? Even if it isn’t my favorite, I’ll take the original Voyage over sport in the one. It’s just much more pleasant and well done, than Sport, which takes a while to work itself out.

Edge: Voyage

Projection

Nautica Voyage isn’t a beast in terms of sillage, it’s moderate, but performs well overall for a scent of this category and price. Meanwhile, Sport is just mediocre.

On me, it’s pretty much just a skin scent, and doesn’t project at all. Shame. This has happened with a lot of the Voyage flankers, I wish that they could have some kind of close to equal performance.

Edge: Voyage

Longevity

At its absolute best the original Voyage nets me about 7 hours of wear. Usually it’ll be between 5-7 hours. Sport, goes 3-4 hours on my skin and doesn’t project.

Again, that disparity in performance. This is why the original Voyage is such a good value play.

Edge: Voyage

Versatility

Nautica Voyage is a daytime casual or school wear cologne for spring/summer. It’s a light daily wear, that you don’t have to put much thought into, as it is safe a non-offensive.

Voyage Sport aims to hit the same notes as its predecessor. No real advantage as to when either should be worn.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

To me, this isn’t even really much of a contest at all. Voyage is much better than Sport is, on every level. I actually kind of like how Voyage Sport smells when it dries down, but its performance was just lacking.

It could have been a nice aquatic variant of the original, but just couldn’t get its act together.

Voyage still has its unique blend versus most anything else out in the market. Particularly, at this price point.

I like Voyage’s freshness, slightly aquatic vibe, and use of floral notes. Even if, that opening act isn’t great. For what it costs, Nautica Voyage has always been a steal. It’s one of the top cheap scents for guys. Most of its flanker follow-ups, really fail to deliver on the standard it set.

If Voyage Sport, had better performance, it would honestly be a solid cheapie. I really liked what they were going for, but it’s just poor execution. There were some interesting things going on there.

Even if that were the case, I still think that Voyage smells better, and since it does have good performance it is the clear winner.

Winner: Nautica Voyage

Luna Rossa Ocean EDT vs EDP

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Luna Rossa Ocean has been a fairly successful flanker for Prada. Enough so, that they have released an eau de parfum version of it. Ocean EDT, while it smelled very nice, was not without its faults in the performance department. Has the EDP solved the issues? Which cologne smells better? Which is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Ocean EDT vs. EDP

Luna Rossa Ocean EDT

Notes include: bergamot, iris, pink pepper, artemisia, lavender, sage, suede, saffron, musk, vetiver, caramel, patchouli

Click here to try:  Luna Rossa Ocean at Macy’s

My Full Review: Ocean EDT

Ocean EDP

Notes include: grapefruit, wood, incense, vanilla bean accord, amber extreme

Click here to try: Ocean EDP

My Review: Luna Rossa Ocean EDP

Opening

Ocean EDT uses bergamot and some other light citrus notes, in the opening. It’s fresh and juicy.

The usual Luna Rossa lavender note, is actually lighter in this composition. You get a smooth sweetness of suede, caramel and tonka bean. I don’t think those notes are officially listed, but their aroma is definitely in there. Perhaps, as a part of the ‘saffron accord’.

The main floral note here is the iris. Along with that suede quality and juicy citrus, you will get a fresh and aromatic aroma, with a touch of the lavender.

Smooth, sweet, spicy, but actually not an aquatic, just a ‘blue’ impression.

Ocean EDP begins somewhat like the original. This time, this citrus is a grapefruit note, but for a few minutes I still get a very similar blue-ish vibe out of this newer release.

Still smooth and a bit powdery, though the tonka bean and iris aren’t listed as notes here.

But, that opening is short-lived, after a few minutes it really shifts into a slightly smoky vanilla and amber fragrance.

Which is better? I was excited upon initially spraying the eau de parfum. I thought that I’d get a similar and hopefully longer lasting start than the EDT. That’s not how it worked out, however.

I think that the original Ocean is still better, as it gives me more time with it’s awesome opening act versus EDP.

Edge: Ocean EDT

Projection

Both of these start out with a sillage in the upper moderate end of the range. Nice projection and very noticeable for those around you. Yet, each will also collapse much closer to the skin within an hour or two.

Very light with how they project thereafter. Sure, you can still detect them, but both Luna Rossa Ocean’s are more intimate wears. EDP did not improve upon this.

Edge: Push

Longevity

With the original Ocean, I get a total of 4-6 hours of wear on skin. Now, it gives me 2-3 hours wear it is noticeable, the last few are purely a skin scent.

Is the EDP an improvement? Not during my testing. If anything, it matches what you get with the EDT at best. But, it might even undershoot it. Though, I’m not entirely sure that I’m not just going ‘nose blind’ with EDP. I don’t think so, as it does project much off clothes I’ve sprayed it on either.

Spraying on clothes, it will hold up better, much more in that six hour range. Nevertheless, it’s basically an even draw again between these two.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Both of these colognes are very versatile and can work in a multitude of seasons. Maybe EDT has a slight edge, as I think it’s somewhat better in the warmer weather than is the vanilla and ambermax combo found in Ocean EDP.

Otherwise, each is safe and can fit in to scenarios day or night. Neither is really going to offend anyone or come off as being inappropriate to a given situation.

Edge: EDT (slightly)

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these do I prefer? Honestly, I think the EDT is better than this newer release. Even if, there isn’t too much separation between them. Sure, different smelling fragrances, but the experience is similar.

The opening act of the EDT only lasts around an hour on my skin. The back half of the wear is quite weak and not very exciting. Iris, lavender, and a soapy clean musky aroma is what to expect. Not great and held me back from making a purchase of it.

The EDP doesn’t do much for me, beyond that opening 10 minutes or so. It goes really quickly into the vanilla, amber, and light woods blend. It’s not all that powerful and doesn’t seem to last any longer than its predecessor.

The amber and vanilla thing has been done a million times before…and much better. Coach Platinum, Invictus Victory, probably some of the Armani Code’s are all sort of like Ocean EDP’s dry down. Luna Rossa Black has a similar style, but way better.

Ocean EDP does smell nice. I again liked the opening, but there’s nothing here that keeps me interested.

For the price, I don’t really care for it. Ocean EDP doesn’t smell bad, it’s just not worthwhile, in my mind.

If you absolutely want to have one of these colognes, I’d go with Ocean EDT. At least you’ll get a nice smooth and sweet wear for an hour out of it. I really wanted each to be better than they actually are. Both are fine, just never can touch that elite level.

Winner: Ocean EDT

Mont Blanc Explorer vs Sauvage

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Explorer has started to become one of the most popular men’s fragrances on the market. Sauvage, is and has been at the top for a while. Each has a similar profile: citrus, ambroxan, and woods. Yet, each retains a distinct aroma from one another. Since they occupy a similar space, people often want to know, which is better? Which cologne lasts longer? Which has the better aroma? In this post, I offer my head to head comparison of these fragrances.

Tale of the Tape: Sauvage vs Explorer

Sauvage EDT

Notes of Sauvage: bergamot, ambroxan, lavender, pepper, wood notes

Click here to try: Christian Dior Sauvage for Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

My Original Sauvage Review

Explorer

Notes include: sage, bergamot, pink pepper, cocoa, vetiver, ambroxan, leather

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Explorer Eau de Parfum, 3.3 fl. oz.

Read my full review: Montblanc Explorer

Opening

Explorer opens up with its citrus note in full effect, this being bergamot. It also contains fresh spices of sage and pink pepper. These are the main notes, at the start. However, underneath these ingredients is mainly leather, some ambroxan and woodsy aromas.

If is a very bright beginning, somewhat sharp, but not too overwhelming. Explorer comes across very well.

It often gets compared to Aventus, which it certainly favors. Though, it doesn’t have the pineapple and birch wood notes that can be so heavy in that cologne.

Sauvage EDT has similar notes, but feels much sharper and intense when compared to Explorer. Ambroxan and pepper are heavier. Sauvage has the same bergamot as Explorer, as its citrus note.

The Sichuan pepper hits hard than does the sage and pink pepper in the Montblanc. The leather also helps to keep things from getting too spicy versus the bolder start of Sauvage.

Which is better? I prefer the start of Explorer. You get similar aromas, but Explorer isn’t as harsh, and is just smoother.

I think other editions of Sauvage have done a better job with the opening act. To me, EDT is the weakest in this regard.

Edge: Explorer

Projection

After the initial spray, both of these fragrances have above average strength and projection. But, Sauvage hits a higher peak and maintains that sillage for a longer period of time than Explorer. Explorer isn’t weak, just not nearly as strong as Sauvage EDT.

Edge: Sauvage

Longevity

In terms of how each of these lasts on my skin, it’s a fairly close race. With Explorer, I get 6-8 hours of wear generally. Most of the time, it is closer to 7-8 hours, but it can fall short.

Meanwhile, with the Dior, I get 7-8 hours regularly. The difference is, that with Sauvage it sometimes bumps up to 9 full hours.

Not usually a huge difference, but Sauvage is more consistent and it trends upward. In fact, other people report getting better results out of Sauvage than I do, so, I think that it pretty solidly takes this category.

Edge: Sauvage

Versatility

Both of these fragrance have very good versatility. It’s one of their strengths. However, I think that Explorer can fit in better in the office or some other environment, where you want to be low key. Other than that, they can be worn out on dates, in various climates, etc.

Each of these is a daily wear, that can pull double duty in the evenings. Plus, cover a full age range of men, who will appreciate wearing these colognes. This category is pretty close, but Explorer has a little bit of separation here.

Edge: Explorer (slightly)

Overall Scent

I’ve never been a huge fan of Sauvage EDT. Frankly, I think its the worst of the series, and I like it much less than when it came out about a decade ago. That being said, I don’t think it’s a bad fragrance. After all, it’s the best selling cologne in the world.

I’m not too big on the opening act of Sauvage, but I like it more when it settles down. The pepper can just be too much. The lavender really helps out when it emerges.

Still, I’d go with Sauvage EDP or Luna Rossa Carbon, if I wanted a better replication of this cologne’s style. Alternatively, you could try some other scents like Dior Sauvage.

Between these two scents? I’d go with Explorer. No, it’s not the most original scent, but I enjoy wearing it more so than Sauvage EDT. It’s performance isn’t too much of a downgrade and it smells better.

I like the bergamot, cacao, and leather. It will usually be cheaper than Sauvage, also. Not a massive advantage, though, Explorer is my clear winner.

Winner: Explorer

La Nuit De L’Homme L’Intense by Yves Saint Laurent

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I had never smelled this particular Yves Saint Laurent fragrance going into this review and I had high hopes since it shares the name of La Nuit De L’Homme. How does L’Intense stack up against some of the other offerings by YSL? In this post, I want to explore how it smells, what’s in it, how it performs, and whether or not I think that it is worth a buy?

What does La Nuit de L’Homme L’Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: violet, sage, iris, patchouli, vanilla, tonka bean

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit De L’homme L’intense Eau De Parfum Spray, 2.0 Ounce

My Full Review

I’m not always a huge fan of floral notes in my fragrances, in most cases and as the main attraction, anyways. I like iris a lot, but am not a fan of violet.

So, I was suspicious off the bat as to whether or not this cologne would be any good, but I usually really like Yves Saint Laurent fragrances.

The opening is a sweet and powdery floral experience, highlighted by the violet and iris notes. Actually, it wasn’t that bad and seemed pretty appealing to me, though,

I don’t really understand the connection with the original La Nuit De L’Homme. I guess it has a similar vibe, just not the actual smell.

I wish it were a more intense version of the original. Most of the same notes, just beefed up, because that is a pretty light sort of fragrance…especially the newer formulations.

L’Intense does smell quite feminine to me though, it’s sweet and soft, and while it does have some masculine elements…it reminds me of a ladies’ scent.

It really does just have this persistent powder-laden candy aroma for much of the first few hours of wear, that is at time appealing but also can feel like it’s too much at times.

Not too much because it’s an ‘intense’ fragrance, but because the sweetness and floral notes just get headache inducing, much like my experience with Lolita Lempicka. I think it’s pretty much due to violet, as I actually like the way iris smells.

So, at this point, it doesn’t smell like La Nuit De L’Homme in the slightest and it’s not really intense…I begin to wonder what the purpose of this EDP was. It does settle down into more of a patchouli and sage mixture after a while but the aroma is mostly the same throughout.

The early stages do give me plenty of the violet note, which isn’t great. Then, the iris will gain more control. Sage is the spice in Intense, in lieu of the cardamom of the original. But, it’s not too detectable past the opening 20 minutes or so.

After that, most of the wear is going to be heavier iris with a vanilla and tonka bean sweetness and the remaining violet swirling around.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s pretty moderate, not intense but I didn’t find it overly weak either. Probably on par with the original La Nuit, maybe a bit stronger than the newer bottles of that.

It’s longevity on the other hand, isn’t even moderate. I get about 3-4 hours out of this. Seriously, the performance is lousy. Since this one has many similarities with Dior Homme or Prada L’Homme, you’d think the performance could equal those. But, no.

It’d probably be best worn as a fall/winter cologne on casual occasions. The powdery feeling and underlying tonka bean are going to hold up best in the cold. This could be worn to work or casual to semi-formal occasions.

Overall Impressions

Overall, is L’Intense a buy? I don’t really see why. It’s not a terrible smell, but it’s also not as good as any of the other L’Homme fragrances that I’ve reviewed here.

I thought that I would like this one a lot more than I did. I’ve used full bottles of the original La Nuit off and on for years. This, was just disappointing. Even with the use of iris, vanilla, and tonka bean…all notes I enjoy.

Plus, it’s not really unique. Powdery floral fragrance led by iris? Go with Dior or Prada. Any of their releases along this line, are way better.

The original is better. Eau Electrique is better. L’Homme Parfum Intense, which I reviewed the other day, is much better than this one. The original Yves Saint Laurent L’Homme, is another option, but the longevity on that has gotten worse.

I don’t see where L’Intense even fits in or why anyone would choose it over anything else from YSL’s line, that has some amazing scents.

Update: I think this one has been discontinued, so, I guess a purchase won’t be a consideration for most out there.