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 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!

Sauvage EDT vs. Eau Forte

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Sauvage has become such a popular line, that it doesn’t appear that Dior will stop coming out with flankers of this fragrance any time soon. The latest one for 2024 is Sauvage Eau Forte. It’s a new scent, but how does it compare to the original Sauvage eau de toilette release?

Which of these colognes lasts longer? Smells better? Is the one to buy?

Tale of the Tape: Sauvage vs. Eau Forte

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

Sauvage Eau Forte

Notes include: elemi, spice, blanched lavender, wood, musk

Click here to try: Eau Forte from Sephora

Read my full review: Sauvage Eau Forte

Opening

Sauvage starts off with a strong kick of bergamot, pepper, and the ever-present ambroxan note. It’s super bright, energetic, and clean.

The Sichuan pepper is definitely strong early on, as is the bergamot note. The citrus here is much more noticeable and in your face when compared to the cool spicy freshness of Eau Forte.

The lavender will take on more of a role later on, but it’s presence is felt throughout.

Eau Forte starts things off with a cold and fresh aroma. The elemi note is a mix of waxy and resinous up top. There are spices, woods, and the impression of water from this alcohol free formula.

The Sauvage lavender note is present and there is a good balance of the ingredients early on. The musk isn’t too much, the spice and cold are wonderful.

I prefer how Eau Forte starts when compared to the original EDT. To me, it’s the best part of this newer Sauvage release. Not amazing. Though, it’s a really nice introduction to what they were going for.

Edge: Eau Forte

Projection

Sauvage EDT is a strong scent in terms of how it projects and can leave a scent trail. It’s not a massive beast or anything, but it is extremely noticeable and settles down into something that’s still above average.

Meanwhile, Eau Forte is in the lighter to moderate camp. Initially, it’s got some nice pop to it, but this Sauvage is going to be more intimate than other editions in the line.

Now, I don’t think it’s a weak fragrance and it does stick around. But, the EDT is for sure the stronger of the two.

Edge: Sauvage EDT

Longevity

Sauvage EDT has always lasted 7-8 hours for me, like clockwork. Other people seem to get a bit more from it, but I’ve never personally experienced it.

Eau Forte might not seem like it’s sticking around, when it enters its lighter phase. However, the fragrance is still there. I get somewhere around 8 hours during testing of this new Sauvage.

Not amazing, but still quite serviceable.

They’re about the same in terms of how long they last. Sauvage is stronger, but it doesn’t go any further than Eau Forte.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Seasonally, both EDT and Eau Forte can fit in during any season, but it’s probably best to not use them in either the extreme heat or cold. So, no real separation there.

Sauvage is good for casual wear, school, maybe some office wear depending on where you work. It’s good for a night out, but wouldn’t be my first pick. Although, I know I’ve smelled this on other people while walking through crowds.

I think Eau Forte has a slightly more mature profile and more of a low key vibe that can fit in better for more formalized occasions. Even if it’s not a powerhouse, it’s not out of place in most situations.

Not a massive difference here, but I lean more towards Forte taking it.

Edge: Eau Forte

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these Dior fragrances do I prefer versus the other?

It’s tough, because they are so close in terms of rating them for each category, not to mention that I don’t think either is a great fragrance.

With Sauvage EDT, I’m somewhat biased against it. I was never a huge fan and I frankly sick of it and every other scent smelling like it. The opening was always harsh and sort of off putting, though, I do like it better during the dry down.

With Eau Forte, the opening is more enjoyable for me than anything that the initial EDT throws my way. The dry down is also pretty good.

In terms of smell? I’d pick Eau Forte.

In terms of performance? Sauvage EDT takes it.

Everything being equal, I’m picking Eau Forte in this matchup and just spraying more of it to get some better performance.

The only other factor is price. Eau Forte is overpriced, in my opinion. Sauvage EDT can be found from discounters at something much more reasonable. That significant difference could really sway your own choice.

Otherwise, I’m going with the newer scent.

Winner: Eau Forte

Luna Rossa Ocean EDP vs. Le Parfum

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Luna Rossa Ocean has been a popular line of fragrances for Prada. The initial eau de toilette release has spawned two other flanker scents thus far. One, Ocean EDP. The other, a Le Parfum version.

Stemming from the same lineup, there can obviously be similarities between colognes. What are those similarities? What are the differences? And just which one of these Ocean releases is the better one?

I’ve tested and worn both of them and this page is my full comparison between these men’s fragrances by Prada.

Tale of the Tape Ocean EDP vs. Le Parfum

Ocean EDP

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

Click here to try: Ocean EDP

My Review: Luna Rossa Ocean EDP

Le Parfum

Notes include: lemon, saffron, amber, oak

My review: Ocean le Parfum

Opening

Ocean Le Parfum starts off as a saffron bomb. That’s the main note, but it actually does take on a bit of a tobacco-like aroma, with the way it blends with the other notes. It’s rich, spicy, somewhat sweet, and smooth.

Now, the base note here is oak, which even the sample card calls a ‘leathery oakwood’. For sure, a bit smokier in the dry down, but in the opening it comes across like a woody leather paired with that saffron note.

Lemon essence? Yes, the same way there’s a citrus not in the opening of Spicebomb, except even more subdued. Has some overlap with Infrared, too. That amber extreme note is present throughout and this one will dry down into a woody/amber mix.

Ocean EDP begins somewhat like the original EDT. This time, this citrus is a grapefruit note, but for a few minutes I still get a very similar blue-ish vibe from the eau de parfum.

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? They are actually pretty similar in the opening, after like 10 minutes. Le Parfum comes across as warmer and woodier, while EDP is a cooler amber and vanilla scent.

If I have to pick one, I’ll go with Ocean EDP’s opening. It’s smoother. Actually, I found my travel sprayer in a bag a few weeks ago, and wore this Prada for days in a row. It still doesn’t hit the same as the EDT’s opening act (the best of the trio), but it grew on me.

Edge: Ocean EDP

Projection

I’ve said that Ocean EDP starts out in the upper moderate range in terms of how it projects, ;leaves a scent trail, and how heavy it feels to have on.

But, that will quickly turn into something much lighter and intimate after not much time.

Luna Rossa Ocean Le Parfum is the bolder, stronger, and denser of the two perfumes. I don’t think it’s a powerhouse. Though, I do think it is a strong fragrance for the first hour or so.

After that, it too will moderate greatly. The performance is without a doubt better than either of the other Ocean scents released, as of this posting.

Edge: Le Parfum

Longevity

Ocean EDP always gives me between 4-6 hours of wear. This was a massive disappointment to me, back when I was hoping it’d be an improvement over the EDT. Nope, they’re the same.

Is Le Parfum better? Yes, it outpaces both of them. It seems to be in the 7-9 hour range. Ocean Le Parfum at least gives you something to work with, beyond just being a faded amber note (although that’s a big part of it too).

Still, it’s not a great performer, especially at the price. A good one, though, and an improvement beyond its predecessors.

Edge: Le Parfum

Versatility

Neither of these fragrances is a warmer weather scent. Both best in colder to moderate temperatures. But, EDP might have a slight edge in how it works in warmer temperatures.

They are very similar. Neither is a formal fragrance, both can work in the nightlife, both can be more casual wears, and they aren’t really going to offend anyone.

Don’t really see a clear cut winner in this category.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these Luna Rossa Ocean fragrances is better? It’s tough to call.

The first part, belongs to EDP. But, the back half of Le Parfum is better. Plus, Le Parfum lasts longer.

So, I’m inclined to to go with Le Parfum. If we’re assuming, that price is not a factor, it’s probably slightly better overall. A mid start, with a very nice finish.

The entire Ocean line sits around the same rating for me. Likeable, just nothing special enough.

The EDT still might be my favorite. I did love the opening act of that one, it’s just not one that has much performance or anything beyond that initial captivation.

Le Parfum is the most different of the lot. Warmer, spicier, dry, with a leathery finish. It’s interesting, as I always got a decent amount of the suede note in the EDT, but this is of a different character.

In a sense, it’s the least ‘ocean-like’ in a series, that doesn’t always feel like it represents the name anyhow. The first two entries are certainly fresher and feel ‘blue’ versus this newer fragrance.

The oak and amber extreme in the dry down is actually a nice combination. Plus, I am a fan of saffron, generally.

If I do include price as a factor, I don’t think Ocean Le Parfum is really worth the price of entry. $175 seems kind of crazy to me for this. At least I’ve seen the other two Ocean scents discounted online, not so far for Le Parfum, though.

Winner: Le Parfum

Sauvage Eau Forte by Dior

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Sauvage Eau Forte is the 2024 release under the popular banner from Dior. I wanted to get a sample of this one as soon as I could t see what this different formulation could provide (if anything) versus the rest of the lineup.

Sauvage Eau Forte Overview

Notes include: elemi, spice, blanched lavender, wood, musk

Click here to try: Eau Forte from Sephora

My Full Review

Apparently the innovation here is that this is a water based formula. Dior even says that it has a ‘unique milky composition’. I think that’s what it looks like in the full bottle.

I must say, it does sit on the skin a bit differently. It’s like a light stickiness when sprayed on and it does hang around.

Anyway, Sauvage Eau Forte starts off with cold feeling. A fresh and cold fougere, with a distinct elemi early on, and more of a generic spice. I wouldn’t be surprised if they blended some of the pepper used from other Sauvage entries.

The elemi note here is also found in Dior Homme Sport (2021). To me, the Dior elemi always seems to be more waxy than resinous, different from the one that Chanel has used in some fragrances. I do like it here, much more than in Sport.

Eau Forte does do a great job early on to capture the vibe of sitting by a waterfall in a forest. It’s more of an emotional impression to me, rather than the smell.

Although, the freshness with the woods and elemi, and emergent lavender to give you a naturalistic influence. There’s an earthiness here to the smell, the woodiness isn’t like a pine tree or anything just a resinous woody aroma.

I actually quite enjoy the opening act. It’s not too musky, you get a fresh and aromatic fougere, and there’s a good balance between the lavender and spices.

The next phase after the first 10-15 minutes is more influence from the lavender, musk, and the spices do hang around too. I get periods throughout the wear, when it seems the elemi is more heavily weighted than the musk.

But, ultimately the musk not is stronger. Lavender, musk, and spices. A bit of a different feeling than that waterfall impression, that I got immediately, still something enjoyable.

It’s clean with less of an intense freshness. It’ll shift into more of a laundry-like clean, as we move along, but it doesn’t fully stray into that territory as some others on the market.

The back half is where Eau Forte loses me. I get the first half, I like it. The back half is kind of a boring blend of musk and lavender. Elemi is still around some, a touch of wood maybe, no spice left on my skin.

Not a terrible smell. Just nothing really interesting.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, it’s not a powerhouse. It’s got a bit of a reach in the opening, but this is going to be more of a light to moderate fragrance. You can probably get a decent scent trail with some substantial sprays, but it’ll take more work than the other Sauvage perfumes.

That being said, the longevity is actually pretty good. It stuck around for just over 8 hours for me, on skin, despite this middle of the pack power.

Seasonally, I could wear this pretty much whenever. I might avoid the extreme cold or heat, but for the rest of the time, it’d be fine.

It’s not going to offend and probably won’t even stand out very much. Which, makes it safe enough to wear whenever, and basically fit in without problem.

Though, I would think of this much more as a casual or daily wear rather than something that is sexy or going to grab complements left and right. Although, I could see myself wearing this at night, if I wanted to.

Eau Forte isn’t too limited, for the most part. It’s not the sexiest scent nor the most formal. It’s good to go otherwise.

Overall Impressions of Sauvage Eau Forte

Overall, do I like Eau Forte? It’s pretty good, but nothing too spectacular. I do appreciate Dior actually taking the Sauvage line in a different direction and not just remixing the formula for another time.

Is that difference worth it? For me, not at this price point. It’s a fragrance that is worth trying out to see if you’re somebody it clicks with, but there’s no need to rush out and buy it.

Style-wise (not necessarily how they exactly smell),  Eau Forte reminds me of Rain Essence, H24, and a Narcisco Rodriguez fragrance (don’t remember exactly which one) in different ways.

Outside of Bvlgari Rain Essence, the other two are better fragrances than Eau Forte. Also, much cheaper than the $160 this one retails at as of now.

The opening 30-60 minutes of the wear is pretty nice. I like the coldness, the spice, and the balance of the notes. After that, it’s whatever.

It’s fine, on the whole. The performance is solid in terms of longevity, even if it isn’t a heavy sort of bomb that you may have come to expect from the series.

I would choose others in the line, if I wanted a Sauvage. I might pick this over Sauvage EDT, because that gets on my nerves now.

Eau Forte will probably get more hate for a while because it’s a Sauvage release. But, it’d be pretty mid-tier, if someone else had released it. A few years from now, people will probably be loving this edition.

I actually sprayed some Luna Rossa Ocean Le Parfum on my other arm, at one point during testing, and that cologne grabbed my attention more than this Dior. And I don’t even think that’s an amazing scent.

The truth is, this is a middle of the road scent. One that is overpriced for what you get in return.

YSL Myslf vs. Dior Sauvage EDP

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Myslf has become a popular fragrance from YSL in the relatively short time since its release. This is of course a short time when compared to the massive decade-long success of Dior’s Sauvage lineup.

Now that they are competitors, these two colognes will often be the final two scents that guys are deciding between which to get for themselves. I want to compare the two and give my own opinion on the better options, after having tested and worn each of them.

Now, since Myslf was released as an eau de parfum, I’m going to be comparing it with Dior Sauvage EDP, instead of the original EDT formulation.

Tale of the tape: YSL Myslf vs. Dior Sauvage EDP

Myslf

Notes include: bergamot, orange blossom, woods, patchouli, ambrofix

Click here to try: Myslf by YSL

My Full Review: Myslf 

Dior Sauvage EDP

Notes include: nutmeg, bergamot, ambroxan, vanilla absolute, lavender, Sichuan pepper, anise

Click here to try: Sauvage by Dior Eau de Parfum Spray 100ml

Read my original review: Sauvage EDP

Opening

Sauvage EDP starts things off with its ambroxan note, a smoky vanilla, and lavender. It’s warm, clean, and has a lot less of the lavender than the original Sauvage.

The bergamot, up top is lighter, and then you get spicy pepper later on in the wear.

But, that Sichuan pepper will share duties with both anise and nutmeg, which allows it to come across less harsh and more balanced than EDT.

I never expected to be too much of a fan of this opening, with the ambroxan. But, this formula really nails the weighting of all of the ingredients extremely well.

Myslf begins with bergamot and orange blossom, as it’s main combination.. It’s fresh and it also has a bit of a creaminess to how it smells, mostly due to the orange blossom note.

But, the very opening stage is a bergamot centered fragrance. That will change later on, but for the start it’s a fresh citrusy cologne.

If I were comparing Myslf to the EDT version of Sauvage, I’d give the YSL a pretty easy victory in this category.

However, the EDP is better. It has more complexity than the original and really sets a great tone early on. It’s a pretty close match, I do like the bergamot in the YSL cologne, but I’m going to go with Sauvage.

Edge: Sauvage EDP

Projection

Myslf for the first hour is actually fairly strong. Not a heavy fragrance, but it will create a substantial enough scent trail in your wake.

After that, it’s more of an intimate scent surrounding you. I’d say it sticks in that 1-3 foot range off of the skin, but it’s still noticeable.

Sauvage EDP is a beast. It will project itself much further and has a heavier feeling than you’re going to get with the YSL. Now, that might not be a great thing, depending on your tastes. However, it will provide some power.

Plus, after a few hours it will moderate, while still maintaining a high level of performance. It’s an easy win for the Dior scent in this category.

Edge: Sauvage EDP

Longevity

Myslf is an okay performer in terms of how long it lasts, it’s just not great. Every time that I’ve tested out the YSL fragrance, I’ve gotten around 6-7 hours worth of wear out of it.

With Sauvage eau de parfum, it will go for over ten hours on my skin. I’m not sure exactly when it quits, but it’s a much better performer than is Myslf EDP. Actually, any of the Sauvage entries seem to have a better longevity than the YSL.

An easy win for Dior.

Edge: Sauvage

Versatility

I think that this is where Myslf EDP has a distinct edge versus Sauvage EDP. And that’s not taking away from the versatility of the Dior, which is still quite good.

Myslf is just such an inoffensive and easy to wear fragrance, that it can fit in pretty much anywhere during any time of year. It’s an easy on to just spray on as an everyday wear, but is attractive enough to hit the nightlife, even if that’s not it’s main function.

Sauvage is less of a formal wear and something that works better in the autumn and winter months, the eau de parfum formula at least.

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these fragrances is the better buy? Again, since I’m comparing the two eau de parfum releases, I have a fairly distinct winner for most guys.

It’s going to be Sauvage EDP. If this were between Sauvage EDT and Myslf, the YSL would win easily, since I’m not too big of a fan of the original Sauvage. The eau de parfum really improved things, in my mind.

I think that it is the more interesting of the two fragrances. It has more depth and a greater variety of aromas to enjoy throughout. Beyond that, the performance of the Dior is much better.

That being said, I do like Myslf as a daily wear scent. While it is popular, not everyone already wears it like they do with Sauvage (the best selling fragrance on the planet).

So, if you want something more unique or that’s a better low key kind of daily wear that still smells good, you will probably want to go with the YSL scent.

Otherwise, just going off which of the two I think is better, it’s Sauvage EDP. I could enjoy wearing either, but I do have a preference for it versus Myslf EDP.

Winner: Sauvage EDP

Pegasus Exclusif by Parfums de Marly

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Pegasus Exclusif is a follow up to the popular fragrance Pegasus by PdM. It was released back in 2020, but I recently received a sample of this stuff with another order, so I thought I’d test it out and post a full review on the site.

How does Exclusif smell? Does it hold up or exceed the original Pegasus? Is it worth a try?

Pegasus

Notes include: cardamom, heliotrope, almond, pink pepper, vanilla, bergamot, lavender, geranium, jasmine, guaiac wood, sandalwood, amber

Click here to try: Pegasus Exclusif on Amazon

My Full Review

I was never too much of a fan of the original Pegasus, so I wasn’t expecting much from this edition of the scent.

However, the opening of Exclusif, is a much better balance of notes than its predecessor. This one doesn’t feel like a bomb of almond and vanilla. Instead, there is a tad more of the bergamot citrus, a better spice from pink pepper, and the soft heliotrope.

I’m still getting some of that almond and vanilla, but I also don’t get the same sort of chemical overhang that I do with the original (maybe it’s just me who got that smell).

After 10 minutes or so, the pink pepper and bergamot have faded substantially. Cardamom steps up and I get more of the influence of the middle notes. Yes, almond and vanilla are here for the duration, still not completely dominating anything.

It’s softer with a dry freshness to it. On my skin, I pick up lavender and geranium jockeying for influence at different times during this wear. I do like when the geranium hits its heaviest, really adding a colder aromatic vibe to the blend.

The main difference between Pegasus Exclusif and the original, is the guaiac wood. The sandalwood probably also has a stronger influence here than in the original. However, the warmth and smokiness that is unleashed here by the guaiac is a really great addition.

The dry down is much the same. It’s woodier for sure, but we still get the vanilla and some almond that’s left. It’s an ambery wood finish with those two other notes adding support at the tail end.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

I don’t think Exclusif is that much more powerful than the original, if at all. It’s difficult to tell since I don’t have a vial of Pegasus currently. But, Exclusif also opens up with a pretty strong and far reaching blast.

Then, it will settle down into something that is noticeable, but fairly moderate in how it presents. On the whole, Pegasus Exclusif is above average with its sillage, and probably about equal with the original.

Also with this edition, I get double digit hours of wear from it. Again, I don’t think there’s much of a difference and those last handful of hours aren’t particularly strong. Though, Exclusif definitely is there.

Seasonally, Exclusif is still built for colder weather. Stick to autumn through early springtime with this one.

It’s more of a going out type of scent versus a daily wear. But, I’d still find a way to make this more of a daily wear type, if I had a bottle. It’s got an attractive aroma and the smokiness isn’t too powerful as to be useless at the office or something like that.

It can be worn casually or dressed up. The seasonality can limit it somewhat, but Pegasus Exclusif works well in a wide variety of situations you’d find yourself in.

Overall Impressions of Exclusif

Overall, do I like Pegasus Exclusif? Yes, I do think it’s better than the original. With that one, it was always a scent that I thought was ‘okay’. Exclusif isn’t a complete love for me, but I did enjoy wearing it.

The balance here is better. I’m not just blasted by a wall of almond and vanilla early on. The increase of the woodiness is a fantastic change of focus. This one feels more wearable and just more likeable than the first fragrance.

The longevity and performance don’t seem any different to me. Though, that wasn’t anything that I had a complaint about with Pegasus, since it’s a good performer already.

Basically, if you liked the original, you will get much of the same here. However, there is enough change presented with Exclusif to make it a better and more well-rounded cologne.

It’s not a fragrance that I’m personally going to run out and buy, but it’s one that I wouldn’t mind having a bottle of. Which, I couldn’t say about the first Pegasus. Exclusif is one of the better Parfums de Marly scents, just not among my absolute favorites.