Angels’ Share vs Grand Soir

Angels’ Share by Kilian and Kurkdjian’s Grand Soir are two of the more popular high end perfumes. Both of them are unisex, which only serves to heighten their appeal. Since there is some overlap in style and purpose, these fragrances will often be compared. But, which one actually smells better? Lasts longer? Is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Grand Soir vs Angels’ Share

Grand Soir

Notes include: amber, vanilla, tonka bean, benzoin, labdanum

Click here to try: Grand Soir from Saks

Read my full review: Grand Soir Review

Angels’ Share

Notes include: cognac, tonka bean, oak wood, cinnamon, praline, vanilla, sandalwood

Click here to try: Angels’ Share at Sephora

Read my review: Angels’ Share by Kilian

Opening

Grand Soir starts off with it’s amber already on full display. Yes, the amber with the labdanum and some benzoin are going to be contributing heavily early on.

When pulled together, there is a light spice to the warmth and even some smokiness. The vanilla isn’t too strong at the beginning of the wear. However, that and the tonka bean will increase in strength into the middle of the act giving Soir some creaminess and powdery hints.

Meanwhile, Angels’ Share starts of with its signature cognac, oak, and its tonka bean note. The cognac has an apple-like sweetness to it, which is fantastic.

The sweetness is enhanced by the inclusion of vanilla and praline. Which all plays well off of the spicy punch of the cinnamon note.

Which is better? The Kilian has more going on. Grand Soir has some spice and smoke, but Angels’ Share is boozy, warm, sweet, and spicy with an array of notes coming on board early for the ride.

I’ll go with Angels’ Share.

Edge: Angels’

Projection

With my use of Grand Soir, I get a fairly strong opening and then it’ll hang 2-3 feet from the skin, for most of the way.

Angels’ Share starts off with about the same strength initially. However, I think it stays in what could be considered an upper moderate zone for much of the wear. It has a slower decline with its strength versus what I got from Soir.

Edge: Angels’ 

Longevity

Both of these fragrances last a very long time. With Angels’ Share, I get 9-13 hours of wear on my skin.

You’d think that’d be enough to overcome Grand Soir, but nope. Grand Soir will also hit the double digit hour mark easily.

Really, there’s no real separation here. It’s just a tie between them in this category.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Seasonally, Grand Soir’s amber and vanilla richness is suited for the autumn and winter months. With Angels’ Share, it’s the same. I’d avoid both when it’s too warm out.

Both are mostly for casual to semi-formal wears, but I think Soir fits better at the office or dressier functions, since it doesn’t have a cognac note like the Kilian.

While each is more for daytime use, I have worn Angels’ Share in nightlife situations and got plenty of attention from it. Not a club beast, but it’s got the boldness to stand out.

Overall, it’s pretty split. I think the edge goes to Grand Soir, however. It fits in more environments and is probably more of a true unisex versus Angels’ Share.

Edge: Grand Soir

Overall Scent

So, overall, which of these is the better fragrance? Despite the splitting of most of these categories, this is an easy call for me personally. I am a massive Angels’ Share fan. I bought a full bottle almost immediately after first testing a sample.

Grand Soir is also a very good scent. It’s one I thought that I’d love wearing, but it was more of a like. Mostly, I just get bored of the amber and vanilla combination after a while. It’s not a very dynamic perfume beyond that opening act.

Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. I do like that Maison Kurkdjian and it’ll be a good fit for those who don’t want the sweet, boozy, and spicy mix of Angels’ Share. Some people will prefer the low key warmth of Grand Soir.

For me, the winner is Angels’ Share. It smells better to me, has a bolder profile, and a more unique aroma than its competitor.

Winner: Angels’ Share

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.