Best Men's Colognes

Best Men's Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with the different fragrances that I've owned, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, that new hobby grew into a consistent passion, helping millions of readers along the way. I have personally test out and written reviews for well over 800 perfumes and colognes for both men and women. This is along with writing hundreds of other in-depth fragrance guides. You can also follow me on: YouTube, Instagram, and Tiktok!

Le Male Elixir vs Ultra Male Comparison

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Le Male is a series from Jean Paul Gaultier that has been going on strong for nearly 30 years, at this point. Every year or so, we get ourselves a new take on the name.

In 2023, that new edition is Le Male Elixir. But, how does it compare to another classic from the series, Ultra Male. Both are two of the bolder, warmer, and sweeter colognes…but which is actually better?

Quick Overview

Le Male Elixir is the overall winner because it has the more interesting scent development and a little more versatility. It opens with cool mint and lavender before becoming warmer and sweeter with honey, tonka bean, vanilla, benzoin, and light tobacco, giving it more depth than Ultra Male.

Ultra Male is still the stronger performer. Its pear, vanilla, cinnamon, amber, and woods create a sweeter, bubblegum-like profile, while projection is slightly louder and longevity can regularly reach 9–10 hours or more.

Both are bold, youthful fragrances built mainly for cooler weather and nightlife, so neither is especially versatile. Elixir gets the slight edge for casual daily wear and overall aroma, while Ultra Male remains the better choice if maximum projection and longevity are the priority.

Category Le Male Elixir Ultra Male Winner
Opening Opens with cool mint and lavender before tonka bean, honey, benzoin, and vanilla begin adding a warm syrupy sweetness. Fresh and sweet at the same time. Starts with pear, vanilla, cinnamon, and light citrus. Sweet, spicy, and almost bubblegum-like, with less of the powdery quality found in the original Le Male. Le Male Elixir
Projection Projects very strongly and leaves a noticeable scent trail. It starts bold and gradually settles rather than dropping off suddenly. Even more powerful at first, with a large projection radius before settling into the upper-moderate range. Ultra Male
Longevity Usually lasts around 8–10.5 hours, with about 9 hours being a common result. Regularly lasts at least 8 hours and often reaches 9–10 hours, with 12-hour wear possible. Ultra Male
Versatility Best in colder or moderate weather for nightlife and casual wear. Its warm, cozy sweetness makes it slightly easier to use during the day if sprayed lightly. Also best for colder weather and nightlife. Its louder and sweeter character makes it less subtle for school, work, or ordinary daytime use. Le Male Elixir
Overall Scent A rich blend of mint, lavender, honey, vanilla, tonka bean, benzoin, and light tobacco. Sweeter, deeper, and more interesting across the full wear. A powerful pear, cinnamon, vanilla, amber, and woody fragrance with a playful sweet-spicy character. Excellent, but slightly less nuanced overall. Le Male Elixir

Tale of the Tape: Ultra Male vs Le Male Elixir

Ultra Male

Notes include: vanilla, pear, amber, woods, cinnamon, cumin, sage, lavender, mint

Click here to try: Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male for Men Intense Spray, Eau de Toilette, 4.2 Ounce

Read my original review: Ultra Male Review

Le Male Elixir

Notes include: mint, honey, lavender, tonka bean, benzoin, tobacco, vanilla

Click here to try: Le Male Elixir at Macy’s

Read my review: Elixir

Opening

Elixir actually kicks things off with its mint note out in full force, giving it a cooling fresh spiciness. This is joined by the usual Le Male lavender note.

The other major factor early is going to be from the tonka bean. Elixir also has a vanilla note, it just gets stronger as the wear moves forward. Tonka is sweet and syrupy when paired with the honey note and the fuzziness of the benzoin.

Ultra Male is noticeably absent of the same powdery quality of the original Le Male and has a sugary sweetness like Elixir. But, with an added pear note.

What it does have is a burst of initial spice, mainly from the cinnamon note.  Pear, vanilla, and light citrus round it out and give it an aroma akin to bubble gum.

Which is better? I do like Ultra Male’s start a lot, I feel that it’s been overtaken by what I get with Le Male Elixir. Elixir has an initial coolness, that gets warmer, has great sweetness while being fresh, and you get the early hints of that honey.

Edge: Elixir

Projection

Elixir is definitely a powerfully projecting cologne that will leave a scent trail behind you and a warm sweet embrace around you.

It has that bold start, that will moderate as it dries down. Though, it is a steady decline rather than a sharp drop off.

Ultra Male also comes out with more of a bang before settling down into that upper moderate range. Ultra Male actually has a rather large projection radius at first, but quiets into a moderate.

Between the two, Ultra Male still has an edge. It has been the boldest release from Le Male for years now and that remains the case. I will say, I do have a bottle of Ultra Male from its initial release, so that what I am basing it off of. I haven’t heard anything about it being weakened, however.

Edge: Ultra Male

Longevity

Ultra Male always has gotten me at least 8 hours of wear. That’s baseline and it routinely goes over 10 hours, with 12 not being unheard of.  But, more likely in that 9-10 hour range.

Elixir is pretty close, but a notch below. 8-10.5 hours seems to be its range, thus far, while often falling right at 9 hours in total.

Both are long lasting designers scents. Though, Ultra Male still holds the crown as the boldest and best performing of this JPG line.

Edge: Ultra Male

Versatility

The versatility isn’t the strength of either scent. Being bold, sweet, and built for colder weather doesn’t lend itself particularly well for daily wear. At least for most guys.

Both of these skew towards the younger crowd. Playful and attention grabbing nightlife fragrances, without much subtlety or formality.

They’re about equal in terms of climate. Colder to moderate temperatures. In the heat, they melt.

I think that Elixir could be used better in casual daily situations and has a sweet/warm cozy vibe, that can lend itself to a couple of sprays, and not stick out like crazy. So, not a bad option for school, if you go light.

Not much difference, but Elixir has some more usability in more situations.

Edge: Elixir

Overall Scent

Overall, which fragrance do I prefer? It’s a close call either way. Ultra Male has the edge performance wise, but Elixir has depth and a bit more versatility.

Ultra Male gives you a nice sweet and spicy mix. The pear and cinnamon pairing together, with some of the familiar Le Male DNA, was something that really grabbed my attention back when it was released.

What really grabbed my attention, was how powerful it was. I can often spray it in one room of my house and smell the cologne hours later, in another. Not faintly, either, mind you.

For years, I considered Ultra Male to be the best smelling from the series. Though, as the years moved on, I started liking the original and even Le Parfum, slightly more.

Now, Elixir has taken a higher spot on the list. Based on the aroma alone, it might be my favorite, but I still think the original is the most wearable on a regular basis. Update: Elixir Absolu is better to me.

Elixir just has a great sweetness. I like the honey and light tobacco notes that come through. The vanilla and tonka bean only add to the sweet, sometimes syrupy glaze. Yes, it can be cloying at times, but so can Ultra Male.

To me, Elixir has the edge versus Ultra Male nowadays. Not by a wide margin, but it wins.

Winner: Le Male Elixir

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.

Quick Overview

Mont Blanc Explorer is the overall winner because it delivers a smoother, more enjoyable version of the same general citrus-ambroxan-woods style. Its bergamot, sage, pink pepper, leather, ambroxan, vetiver, and cacao create a bright opening that is noticeably less harsh than Sauvage EDT.

Explorer gets a slight versatility edge because it is easier to wear in low-key settings like the office, while still working for dates, daily wear, evenings, and a wide range of climates.

Overall, Sauvage is stronger, but Explorer wins because it smells smoother, costs less in many cases, and does not give up much in performance.

Category Mont Blanc Explorer Dior Sauvage EDT Winner
Opening Opens brightly with bergamot, sage, and pink pepper over leather, ambroxan, and woods. Sharp enough to feel fresh, but smoother and less aggressive. Starts with bergamot, heavy ambroxan, and Sichuan pepper. Much sharper and more intense, with the pepper hitting harder than Explorer’s spice. Explorer
Projection Above-average projection and definitely noticeable, but it does not maintain its strongest sillage as long. Reaches a higher peak and stays stronger for longer. Clearly the more powerful of the two. Sauvage
Longevity Usually lasts around 6–8 hours, most often closer to 7–8 hours but occasionally falling short. Regularly lasts around 7–8 hours and can sometimes reach about 9 hours, giving it the more consistent edge. Sauvage
Versatility Excellent for daily wear, dates, evenings, and different climates. Slightly easier to use in the office or other low-key environments. Also highly versatile and works across a wide age range, climates, dates, daily wear, and evening situations. Explorer
Overall Scent A smoother bergamot, leather, cacao, ambroxan, and woody fragrance. Not especially original, but easier and more enjoyable to wear overall. A stronger pepper, bergamot, ambroxan, lavender, and woody fragrance. It improves after the opening, but the initial pepper-heavy sharpness is a drawback. Explorer

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

Light Blue for Women vs. Eau Intense Comparison

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Light Blue continues to be a top seller in the ladies’ fragrance space, well over a decade after its release. Obviously, it is going to spin off some flanker scents, most notably Light Blue Eau Intense. Is this ‘beefed up’ version, a better one? Does it actually outperform the original? Which one is a better buy?

Quick Overview

Light Blue Eau Intense is the overall winner because it keeps the fresh citrus-apple character of the original while making the opening smoother, bolder, and slightly more distinctive. Granny Smith apple leads over the lemon, while marigold replaces the original’s rose and amberwood takes the place of cedar, giving Eau Intense a cleaner but more synthetic freshness.

The original Light Blue is sharper and more citrus-forward, opening with lemon, apple, and rose before settling into a floral, musky, cedar-based dry down. It remains a very good performer and is still the more classic, familiar option.

Eau Intense projects more strongly, but longevity is essentially identical at around 9–10 hours for both. Versatility is also a push, since each works best during spring and summer as a fresh daily or casual fragrance; Eau Intense wins mainly because its boosted apple note and bolder composition smell better overall.

Category Light Blue Light Blue Eau Intense Winner
Opening Opens sharply with lemon, apple, and rose. Crisp, slightly aquatic, and lightly sugary, with an almost lemonade-like quality. Starts with Granny Smith apple leading over lemon, while marigold and amberwood replace the original’s rose and cedar. Smoother and less sharp overall. Eau Intense
Projection Light to moderate projection. Fresh and noticeable, but generally stays fairly controlled. Clearly stronger and bolder, with more noticeable sillage while still keeping the same basic fresh style. Eau Intense
Longevity Usually lasts around 9–10 hours, making it an unusually strong performer for a mainstream fresh EDT. Also lasts around 9–10 hours. Despite the Intense name, it does not significantly outlast the original. Push
Versatility Best for spring and summer as a fresh daily fragrance. Works well for casual wear and similar daytime situations. Fills essentially the same role, working best in spring and summer for daily wear, casual settings, and other fresh-weather situations. Push
Overall Scent A classic lemon, apple, rose, jasmine, musk, and cedar fragrance. Clean and easy to wear, though the citrus-cedar combination can feel sharp. Keeps the familiar Light Blue DNA but boosts the apple and uses marigold and amberwood for a bolder, more modern freshness. Slightly more enjoyable overall. Eau Intense

Tale of the Tape

Light Blue

Notes include: rose, apple, musk, lemon, jasmine, and more

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue By Dolce & Gabbana For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Oz

Read my original review: D&G Light Blue Review

Light Blue Eau Intense

Notes include: lemon, granny smith apple, amberwood, marigold, and jasmine

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau Intense For Women Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3 oz

Read my review: Light Blue Eau Intense

Opening

The original Light Blue starts off with lemon, a nice apple note, and some rose. It’s sharp, somewhat aquatic, crisp, with a decent amount of rose aroma, to give it some depth.

The lemon and the apple create a slight lemonade aroma to it. Slightly sugary, but not ever overwhelming with it, more like an undercurrent. 

Later, it will shift more floral and musky with less of the in your face impact of the fruit notes. But, they do start with a bang.

Eau Intense also begins with lemon and apple. It’s a Granny Smith apple and is actually stronger than the lemon, at first, reversing the original. Also, the rose is replaced with marigold, here.

This gives it a different feeling, while still being fairly familiar. The absence of the rose helps, as does the toned down lemon note. The amberwood note does appear too, early on, in place of the cedar from the original. It’s not massive, but the freshness is already peaking through.

Which is better? I actually prefer the start to Eau Intense. I like the apple note more, it doesn’t feel as sharp, and the marigold is a nice change of pace from the usual rose.

Edge: Eau Intense

Projection

Obviously, with the name Eau Intense, the sillage should be stronger than the original. It is. The original is pretty light to moderate, anyway, but Eau Intense does indeed have a bolder character to it.

Edge: Eau Intense

Longevity

While Eau Intense is certainly stronger, I don’t know if it actually lasts any longer on the skin. For both of them, I get somewhere in the 9-10 hour range, which is great.

Though, I really don’t notice Eau Intense going on beyond what I get from Light Blue. The original EDT has always been one of the better performers, as far as mainstream perfumes go.

They really didn’t need to do much and it doesn’t seem like they did anything to improve the longevity with Eau Intense.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Being two versions of the same basic scent, they’re really not going to be different, in terms of usage. Both are best in the spring and summer months. Both are suited to being a fresh daily wear, casual fragrance, or other events along those lines. No real distinction.

Edge: Push

 

Overall Scent

I do like Light Blue. I think it has some really strong positives about it, which is why it has become a classic. The lemon and cedar combination can be sharp, but it is ultimately fresh, and clean.

I enjoy the floral notes like rose and jasmine, and it provides really good performance. It’s a simple reach for daily wear.

That being said, I prefer Light Blue Eau Intense. I will say, it won’t be for everyone. It can be a bit too bold, and amberwood is an ingredient which can bother folks. It’s got a synthetic freshness, that I think can give it a unique freshness versus cedar, but some may not like it. 

Personally, I like the boldness of Eau Intense. I also really like the apple note getting a boost in this version. Yes, the lemon is stronger later on in the wear, but I enjoy that opening apple. 

It’s a close battle, but I’d take Eau Intense. There’s obviously a lot of overlap, but the composition just smells nicer in this version, versus the original. Plus, there are a lot more perfumes that are similar to Light Blue versus the Intense version.

Winner: Eau Intense

Versace Eros vs Invictus Cologne Comparison

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It’s been a little bit since I’ve done a cologne comparison on the site and I really don’t know how I haven’t weighed in on today’s two competitors, head to head: Versace Eros vs Invictus by Paco Rabanne. These are two of the most popular fragrances out on the market today, especially with younger men.

In this post, I will cover which one smells better, performs better, has more versatility, and which is the best buy. I have linked my original reviews of each cologne below, so check those out too.

Quick Overview

Versace Eros is the overall winner because it has more depth, stronger performance, and the more interesting scent profile. It opens with lemon, green apple, and crisp mint before warming into tonka bean, vanilla, vetiver, and woods, giving it more character than Invictus.

Invictus is still a solid choice, especially for younger wearers who want something sweeter, fruitier, and more aquatic. Its grapefruit, mandarin, and sea-note opening has an upbeat, candy-like freshness, and it becomes easier to wear in close quarters once the initial projection settles down.

Eros projects more strongly and lasts longer, with newer bottles reaching around 7–8 hours compared with roughly 6–7 hours for Invictus. Invictus gets the edge in versatility because it works better across different climates, but Eros wins the head-to-head for scent and overall performance.

Category Versace Eros Invictus Winner
Opening Opens boldly with Italian lemon, green apple, and crisp mint. Fresh and intense at first, before the warmer vanilla and tonka character starts to emerge. Starts with sweet grapefruit and mandarin mixed with marine notes. Youthful, upbeat, and candy-like rather than naturally juicy. Versace Eros
Projection Still projects strongly, even though newer bottles are not quite as powerful as older versions. It maintains its scent trail for longer. Has a big opening hour, but settles to moderate projection fairly quickly and does not maintain the same level of sillage. Versace Eros
Longevity Newer bottles generally last around 7–8 hours. Older versions could reach roughly 10 hours, but current performance is still solid. Usually lasts around 6–7 hours, which is enough for most situations but still falls short of Eros. Versace Eros
Versatility Best suited to cooler weather, nightlife, and younger wearers. It can work in closer settings, but requires a lighter application. Works across a wider range of climates and becomes easier to wear around other people once the opening settles. Also very good for nightlife. Invictus
Overall Scent A sweet minty-citrus fragrance with vanilla, tonka bean, vetiver, and woods. More depth and character make it the more interesting scent overall. A very sweet aquatic-citrus fragrance with an upbeat and fun personality. Attractive and easy to like, but simpler and less distinctive. Versace Eros

Tale of the Tape: Invictus vs. Eros

Versace Eros

Notes of Eros: mint, green apple, tonka bean, madagascar vanilla, vetiver, Italian lemon

Click here to try: Versace Eros Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 6.7 Fluid Ounce

My original Versace Eros Review

Invictus

Notes include: grapefruit, sea notes, mandarin orange, bay leaf, jasmine

Read my review

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

Opening

Invictus has a very nice and youthful citrus opening that is highly sweet and pretty candy-like in its aroma. Less of a natural juicy fruit and more of synthetic candied one.

This is paired with sea notes to give this Paco Rabanne fragrance, a summery and marine vibe. It’s all quite upbeat and sunny. The grapefruit and mandarin here are synthetic, but the aroma has grown on me over time.

Meanwhile, Eros is loud and bold, right from the start. Invictus can be that way too, but the Versace can be really strong.

Italian lemon is joined by green apple and a crisp and cool mint note. This is the intense period before Eros fully develops its masculine warmth and envelopes the wearer. In newer bottles of Eros, I get way more of the lemon note than I did with original batches.

Between the two, I like how Eros opens a bit more. Invictus is quite nice, but I like the mint note in Eros better than what its competitor can offer. Eros doesn’t seem as good to me as it used to, but I think it still takes this head to head.

Edge: Eros

Projection

Invictus really does put up a fight. It is a good clubbing scent and has quite a big opening hour or so. However, I don’t think it ever matches Eros in its level of projection, and certainly doesn’t maintain the sillage throughout.

Invictus moves more towards a moderate after an hour or so, while Eros stays beasty for much longer.

Update: Newer bottles of Eros, still seem to have better sillage than Invictus, it’s just not a complete monster anymore.

Edge: Eros

Longevity

Again, not only does Invictus fail to match the sillage output, and falls to a moderate in short order. Invictus also doesn’t last as long as Eros. I will say that, Invictus is quite solid, and actually lasts long enough for most all purposes or occasions. I’ve always gotten 6-7 hours from it on my skin.

Versace Eros, gets me 10 hours pretty easily. Do you always need that much? No, but it can do it.

Update: The last batch of Eros that I tried was around 7-8 hours. Still better than what I get from Invictus, just not nearly as much of a discrepancy. Eros used to be complete beast mode, but it gets the job done nowadays too.

Edge: Eros

Versatility

Both of these scents trend towards the younger set. Think teens through mid-20s. Not to say, an older guy couldn’t wear it, but that’s most of the age range. I do actually feel that this is one category, in which Invictus takes the edge.

Because it calms down and isn’t as loud, it can be worn in close quarters without dominating the room. Eros can do that sort of, as long as one doesn’t spray more than two times max.

Also, I think Invictus performs well in many different climates, while Eros is more of a cold weather scent. Both are great for the nightlife. Though, Invictus just seems to check more boxes in this category.

Edge: Invictus

 

 

Overall Scent

Without a doubt, I’m going to give the nod to Eros. The Versace is just the better scent all around for me. It has so much more depth and character. Both are sweet colognes, but Eros has further woods and vetiver, that makes it more interesting to me.

I actually do like Invictus, though, not nearly my favorite scent. It is super sweet and has an attractive profile, but doesn’t touch Eros’ level, in my opinion. The opening is the highlight of Invictus, but even then I still prefer Eros.

Invictus is a very nice choice for younger guys and women around that age seem to enjoy it. It has a nice aquatic vibe with the citrus notes, that is simply upbeat and fun to wear. But push come to shove, I’m riding with Eros almost every time. You can also try the cheaper ‘inspired by’ alternative: Greatness by Dua.

If you need one of them to be more of an all-around wear, in warmer climates, then it can make sense to go with Invictus instead.

Winner: Versace Eros

Dylan Turquoise vs Blue by Versace

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Versace released its Dylan Blue series for men and women more than a handful of years ago now. On the women’s side, they followed it up with Dylan Turquoise, which share similarities with the initial release. The question is, which perfume is better? Lasts longer? Is the better buy, between them?

Quick Overview

Dylan Blue Pour Femme is the very slight overall winner because, while its opening is sharper and less immediately enjoyable, it develops into the better fragrance over the course of the full wear.

Its black currant, apple, floral notes, musk, and woods settle into a clean, sweet floral profile that feels more approachable after the first stage.

Dylan Turquoise has the better opening. Black currant is joined by orange, lemon, guava, and an aquatic quality, giving it a fresher and slightly more tropical start than Dylan Blue.

Performance is fairly close. Dylan Blue projects a little more strongly and for slightly longer, while both usually last around 5–6 hours. Versatility is essentially equal, with both working best as clean, casual spring and summer fragrances rather than formal or nightlife scents.

You might also try the ‘inspired by’ alternative: Her Bleu Welsh Sea by Dua

Category Dylan Turquoise Dylan Blue Pour Femme Winner
Opening Opens with black currant, orange, lemon, guava, and an aquatic freshness. The guava is short-lived, but gives it a slightly tropical and more enjoyable start. Starts sharply with black currant and apple, joined by fresh florals. It has a clean, shampoo-like quality and becomes sweeter as it settles. Dylan Turquoise
Projection Begins with moderate projection and a decent scent trail, but becomes much lighter after roughly the first hour. Follows a similar path, but reaches a slightly higher peak and maintains its stronger projection for a little longer. Dylan Blue
Longevity Usually lasts around 5–6 hours. Overall performance is acceptable, but fairly basic. Also reaches around the 6-hour mark and generally does not push much beyond that point. Push
Versatility Best for spring and summer as a clean, fresh daily fragrance. Works well for casual situations and easy everyday wear. Occupies essentially the same space, working best for casual spring and summer wear rather than formal events or nightlife. Push
Overall Scent Has the better opening, with aquatic citrus, guava, freesia, musk, spice, and cedar. The later dry down is pleasant but not especially exciting. Starts more sharply, but develops into a sweeter floral freshness with musk and a clean, soapy quality. More enjoyable across the entire wear. Dylan Blue

Tale of the Tape: Dylan Blue Femme vs. Turquoise

Dylan Blue

Notes include: blackcurrant, apple sorbet, styrax, wild blooms, musk, white woods, patchouli

Click here to try: Dylan Blue Pour Femme

Dylan Turquoise

Notes include: mandarin essence, lemon, pink pepper, blackcurrant, jasmine, freesia, guava, cedar, vibrant woods, and musk

Click here to try: Dylan Turquoise by Versace

My Full Review: Dylan Turquoise Review

Opening

Dylan Blue begins with its black currant and apple notes in full swing. It’s sharp, fruity, and already fresh from the accompanying notes. Very much a body wash or shampoo-like aroma.

Blue is joined by floral notes including forget me not, jasmine, and a mix of others. It becomes a slightly sweeter perfume after the initial spray.

Turquoise starts off with it’s own sharp blend, that also includes that black currant note. But, it also comes across as more aquatic and a bit tropical versus Dylan Blue.

Orange, lemon, and guava accompany the black currant. The apple note isn’t here and the black currant is reduced.

Which is better? I like the start of Turquoise a little more than Blue. The guava is short-lived but that and the watery aroma with the citrus gives this one a nice beginning.

Blue isn’t bad, but I don’t enjoy the opening to the same extent.

Edge: Turquoise

Projection

Turquoise starts off leaving a moderate scent trail with a decent projection off of the skin. After that first hour or so, it’s much lighter and will only project a few feet from where you sprayed it.

Dylan Blue follows a pretty similar path to Turquoise, except that it has a bit higher peak in its strength early on. So, with Blue you’ll have a higher level of projection for slightly longer.

It takes this category.

Edge: Blue

Longevity

The longevity of Turquoise only hits about 5-6 hours, on my skin. It’s not great in this department, but also not absolutely terrible. Performance on the whole, is just okay.

With Dylan Blue Femme, it is about the same. It will hit the same 6 hour mark, but doesn’t seem to go beyond that at all for me.

This category is a draw.

Edge: Push

Versatility

These two basically exist in the same space. Both are best served as spring and summer wears.

Neither is very formal or built for nightlife. More clean and fresh daily wears. Think casual or just an easy grab that you don’t need to put much thought into.

I don’t really see a clear winner here.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

So, this is a very close matchup between these two Versace perfumes. I have to say that, I’m not entirely in love with either, but they’re both pretty good fragrances.

With Turquoise, I like it’s opening act. It’s more tolerable to me and the guava and aquatic touches is something that I gravitate towards.

After that, there is some muskiness and spice. But, overall its a fresh citrus, floral, and woody combination. Freesia and just a general sharp/sweet fruitiness with a cedar base.

The dry down doesn’t particularly excite me and the performance is basic.

With Dylan Blue Pour Femme, I don’t like the opening as much, but I think that the latter stages are better than that of Turquoise.

Update: They have also since released Dylan Purple, which I like about equally to Blue.

Yes, it is sharper at first, but it will settle down into a more sweet floral freshness. The cleanliness is much more approachable after the opening act, with a good mix of the floral notes and a musky quality.

Sure, soapy clean, but it is an attractive fragrance. During the entire wear, it is better than Turquoise, even if that has a better opening.

All things considered, I’d give a very slight win to Dylan Blue. Also check out: the cheaper ‘inspired by’ alternative fragrance: Her Bleu Welsh Sea by Dua

Winner: Blue