Dior Sauvage vs 1 Million Cologne Comparison

In this edition of my head to head cologne comparisons, I’m going to pit Sauvage by Christian Dior versus 1 Million by Paco Rabanne. People seem to want to know which of these colognes is better, even though they are very different from one another. However, I’m going to try to make the comparison between the two to find out which one smells and performs better, and declare an ultimate winner.

Tale of the Tape: 1 Million vs. Sauvage EDT

Sauvage

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

1 Million

Notes include: grapefruit, blood orange, rose, mint, cinnamon, amber, leather, patchouli, and more

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne 1 Million Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

Read my original review: 1 Million Cologne Review

Opening

The opening of Sauvage gives off an aroma of amber, pepper, and the sharp bergamot note. There is a bit of spice to it but I do get a lot of the ambroxan. It’s nice and dries down to a clean/soapy scent with some slightly spice wood notes and the ever present bergamot.

Meanwhile, 1 Million starts off with an aroma that is similar to grape flavored bubblegum, which not everyone likes, but it does eventually settle down into something more leathery and slightly spicy than that candy-like sweetness.

Update: To my nose, the spiciness of cinnamon and mint come on more strongly, as well as the leather. Especially with newer bottles. 1 Million is still sweet, but don’t feel as much so as I remember.

The more time that has passed the less I actually like Sauvage EDT. It’s still got a sharp opening, which is alright, but it does get better than the initial start.

Edge: 1 Million

Projection

Sauvage is a pretty strong cologne and can be loud at times. However, it pales in comparison to the strength of 1 Million. 1 Million is a nightlife kind of scent and has pretty much reached a classic status in that space, based mostly off of its performance.

Update: The newer bottles of 1 Million don’t have the same power that they used to. This used to be an easy win, but now, I’d say this two are about equal in the sillage.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Again, Sauvage is very solid, I usually get 6-8 hours of wear. 1 Million is somewhere in the double digits in terms of the number of hours it will keep going for. The Dior is good, 1 Million is amazing in this regard.

Update: 1 Million still is good, but no longer insane with how long it lasts. For me, the latest batches still slightly outperform Sauvage.

Edge: 1 Million

Versatility

OK, so, this is where I think Sauvage can have an edge against 1 Million. Sauvage is mostly a spring/summer wear, in my opinion, but it can also work fairly well during the rest of the year. It is also probably more acceptable for office/school wear but can make the transition to the nightlife.

1 Million is mostly a cold weather scent for me.  If used lightly, it can be worn in formal or casual situations, but this fragrance really shines in the nightlife. This can give it a limited usability for a lot of guys.

Edge: Sauvage

Overall Scent

Bottom line, I like the way 1 Million smells more than I do Sauvage. I think that it is a much more interesting scent and has a complexity during its dry down that makes me want to wear it again. However, it’s not always appropriate to wear, while Sauvage has much more use as an everyday cologne.

Now, 1 Million’s scent isn’t far and away better than Sauvage, but I do give it the edge. Personally, I would take 1 Million Prive, over either of these scents…and there would be no hesitation.

If you’re dead set about choosing one of these two fragrances, consider whether you’d rather have a sweet fragrance or something that is bright and clean. Do you need a daily wear or are you looking for something to bring out for certain occasions?

These are two very different scents and have almost nothing in common aside from their immense popularity. I’d rather wear 1 Million, so I’d give it the slight edge, based on it’s scent and performance.

Update: So, with the performance, 1 Million isn’t quite what it once was. However, I still enjoy wearing it. Again, the more time with Sauvage, the less I enjoyed it. I know, it’s a bestseller, but the EDT is very overrated. Sauvage EDP is amazing, though. That or 1 Million Prive are great alternatives.

Winner: 1 Million 

Best Men's Colognes

Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.