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!

Un Jardin Sur Le Nil by Hermes

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Hermes’ Jardin series of fragrances has been pretty popular and one which I have enjoyed from time to time. I’m coming back to them, in order to give these perfumes proper full reviews.

Today’s entry is Un Jardin Sur Le Nil, one of the favorites of the line. How does it smell? Does it last? Is it actually worth a try?

Quick Overview

Un Jardin Sur Le Nil is a hyper-fresh, green fragrance that opens with green mango, grapefruit, tomato leaf, and lotus. The first stage has a sharp tropical-citrus quality mixed with watery and vegetal notes, giving it a distinctive naturalistic feel.

As it develops, the mango and tomato leaf fade while hyacinth, iris, musk, sycamore, and citrus become more noticeable. The dry down is cleaner, more floral, and slightly powdery, while still keeping some of the airy aquatic character from the opening.

Overall, Un Jardin Sur Le Nil is one of the more interesting fragrances in the Hermès Jardin line, with plenty of movement between fruity, vegetal, floral, musky, and powdery stages.

You might also try the ‘inspired by’ alternative fragrance: Complexity of Citrus by Dua

🌿 Un Jardin Sur Le Nil by Hermès — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Fresh Green Floral Aquatic
Key Notes Green Mango, Grapefruit, Tomato Leaf, Lotus, Hyacinth, Iris, Sycamore, Musk, Incense
Season Spring, Summer, Warm Weather
Occasion Daytime, Casual Wear, Outdoor Wear, Work, Semi-Formal Occasions
Longevity Around 6–7.5 hours
Sillage Strong early projection reaching about 7 feet, then settles to a moderate level
Rating ★★★★☆ 8.0 / 10
Quick Verdict A hyper-fresh green fragrance that moves from mango, grapefruit, tomato leaf, and lotus into a cleaner floral-musky dry down with hyacinth, iris, and sycamore. It is bright, naturalistic, and more complex than a typical fresh scent. Performance is solid rather than exceptional, with strong early projection and 6–7.5 hours of longevity. Best for spring and summer daytime wear, especially for anyone who enjoys sharp citrus and vegetal notes.

What does Un Jardin Sur Le Nil Smell Like?

Notes include: green mango, lotus, sycamore, tomato leaf, incense, hyacinth, musk, grapefruit, calamus, and more

Click here to try: Un Jardin Sur Le Nil

sur le nil review

My Full Review

Here’s how Hermes describes it: A perfume of life and light, sparkling and generous, where the scents of green mango, lotus, flowers and aromatic rushes mingle with incense and sycamore wood. For Men and women alike.

Un Jardin Sur Le Nil starts off sharp, fresh, yet with a greenish/vegetal aroma. The mango and grapefruit are dominant on first contact with the skin. Tropical and then a layer of citrus, which will reverse when the grapefruit takes over for the fading mango.

It’s interesting to have those fruit notes blended with a mix of earthy and aquatic smelling notes wafting from the heart and base. Tomato leaf is a big player here, along with the lotus, which is the strongest floral note at first.

‘A garden on the Nile’ is what the name translates to and like the others in this Hermes series, it does indeed capture what that might smell like.

As the mango takes a step back, this one gets earthier and more floral. It’s more of a cycle of the floral notes. Early lotus, then hyacinth giving it a slightly sweet green feeling, and then its a bit powdery in the dry down with iris.

It’s still clean and somewhat aquatic, but a lot of the green vegetal aroma will pass. Less tomato leaf, lotus, and the mango.

More of a citrus floral, musk, sycamore, and maybe a touch of incense. Not really something that I pick up a lot of.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This one actually has some nice strength early on. The projection off of the skin will extend to maybe 7 feet after spraying. It has a good scent trail with its super fresh cleanliness.

After that, it moderates quite a bit. For much of the wear, I would expect about half of the distance of the peak.

On the skin, it will go for 6-7.5 hours. It’s pretty decent for me, just not amazing or anything that’s going to really shock you with the performance. Not terrible, though.

Seasonally, this is spring and summer all the way. This is one that begs to be worn in the daytime, particularly outdoors in the sunshine. The naturalistic notes ae a joy in the light breeze, which I got to experience coming back and testing this one.

This is a fresh and casual wear. Maybe semi-formal. Not a nightlife or sexy wear. It just smells good and may gather some complements, but won’t be a total attention grabber.

This is technically unisex, but this is definitely more feminine leaning with how it comes across. Though, not entirely so.

Overall Impressions of Un Jardin Sur Le Nil

Overall, do I like Un Jardin Sur Le Nil? Yes, it is one of my favorites from the series, and one of the better Hermes fragrances for women (even if it’s listed unisex).

I do like the green mango note. The complexity and how many different smells that you encounter throughout the duration. Hyper-fresh, yes. Powdery, sure. Vegetal, you bet. And on  it goes.

Personally, though, I prefer Le Jardin de Monsieur Li versus this one…but that just may be only me who’s in that camp.

This one can come across as quite sharp, clean, musky, and a lot of citrus (especially early on). For some, that may be something that turns them off completely from Sur Le Nil. For others, it will scream springtime and be something that they cannot do without. (Complexity of Citrus is a good cheaper alternative perfume to this one)

It is an interesting fragrance for sure, with plenty going for it. I wouldn’t say that it is a must have for everyone, but it is a perfume that you should check out if the Jardin series is of interest to you.

Burberry Brit vs Burberry for Men Cologne Comparison

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I really do enjoy Burberry’s lineup of men’s fragrances for casual wear (not Weekend, though). I’ve owned bottles of both Brit and Burberry for Men throughout the years and I always find myself going back and forth between them and Burberry London on autumn and winter days.

So, in today’s cologne comparison I thought that I’d put two of these scents head to head and give my take on which one is the better buy. Which one lasts longer? Which one projects better? Which one is better smelling?

Quick Overview

Burberry Brit is the narrow overall winner because it offers the softer, cleaner, and more versatile scent of the two. Its combination of ginger, rose, tonka bean, cardamom, and cedar creates a fresh spicy opening before settling into a smooth green and powdery dry down.

Burberry for Men is the better choice for someone who prefers a bolder, woodier, and more traditionally masculine fragrance. Its mint, amber, cedar, lavender, and sandalwood profile projects slightly more strongly and also feels a little sexier for dates.

Both work best during fall and winter for casual everyday use, but Brit wins by a small margin because it is the fragrance I find myself reaching for more often.

Category Burberry Brit Burberry for Men Winner
Opening Opens fresh and slightly spicy with ginger, rose, tonka bean, and cardamom. It quickly begins developing its softer, cleaner, and powdery character. Starts with cool mint, warm amber, and prominent cedar. It feels smooth, woodier, and more traditionally masculine from the beginning. Push
Projection Moderate and fairly soft. It stays noticeable without becoming loud and has the cleaner presence of the two fragrances. Also moderate, but the mint and woods give it a slightly bolder presence. The difference is noticeable, though not especially large. Burberry for Men
Longevity Usually lasts around eight hours despite its softer projection, giving it the better overall staying power. Generally lasts around 6–7 hours. Performance is still solid, but it fades somewhat sooner than Brit. Burberry Brit
Versatility A safe casual and everyday fragrance that works especially well during winter. Its softer style fits a wide range of relaxed situations. Also excellent for casual everyday wear and slightly better for dates. It works best during fall and has the sexier character of the two. Push
Overall Scent A soft green and powdery fragrance with ginger, rose, tonka bean, spice, and cedar. Easy to wear and the bottle I tend to reach for more often. A minty, woody, and masculine fragrance positioned between the softer Brit and the darker Burberry London. Better for those who dislike powdery scents. Burberry Brit

Burberry for Men vs. Brit

Brit Tale of the Tape

Notes include: wild roses, tonka bean, green mandarin, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, cedar

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Read my original review

Click here to try: BURBERRY Brit for Men Eau de Toilette, 1.0 fl. oz

Burberry for Men Tale of the Tape

Notes include: mint, lavender, sandalwood, cedar, and  amber.

FullSizeRender (49)

Read my Burberry Review

Click here to try: BURBERRY for Men Eau de Toilette, 1.0 fl. oz

Opening

The opening of Burberry for Men is a smooth blast of cool mint blended with warm amber and a prominent cedar note.

There is a hint of a bright bergamot note early on, which plays well off of the mint. Clean and refreshing before moving into its woodsier phase.

Meanwhile, Brit provides a slightly spicy ginger not combined with rose and tonka bean. You get some greenish elements poking through and the powder isn’t fully developed yet, but you get some semblance of what this cologne is going to be.

The citrus notes are also present in Brit. Mandarin and bergamot give this that same sort of brightness and a little sweetness too.

Brit is fresh and already begins to develop its powdery air. To me, there really isn’t any separation during the opening sequence for each scent. They both start out very nicely and it mostly depends what mood I’m in when selecting between them.

Edge: Push

Projection

Both of these scents are rather moderate in how they project. I think Burberry for Men feels a little bit bolder based on the mint note.

I would call both of them above average in this respect. Neither of them is a powerhouse, but for the style of scent that they are, both of these have a decent ability to project themselves. Not a huge scent trail, but it’s there and more intimate a few hours into the wear.

Brit is a softer and perhaps cleaner type of an experience. For that reason, I’ll give the nod to Burberry for Men but it isn’t a huge gap.

Edge: Burberry

Longevity

Both have good performance in this category. However, I usually get better wear out of Brit despite it being a softer cologne.

Burberry for men usually gets 6-7 hours while Brit is hovering around 8. Again, not a big difference but a bit of an edge.

Brit does have the ability to be there even beyond the 8 hour mark. But, hours 9 and 10 are complete skin scent territory. However, I can still detect it, if I try.

Edge: Brit

Versatility

Burberry for Men and Brit are both great and safe for casual everyday wear. I’ve worn both on dates but I’d say Burberry for Men is the sexier one between the two.

Though, neither are really nightlife colognes. These are autumn/winter fragrances, so, don’t expect to wear either in the heat. I’d say Burberry for Men is best in fall and Brit is better in winter.

Edge: Push (maybe slight Burberry)

Overall Scent

Gahhhh, I really like both of these scents (as well as London). Burberry makes some very good everyday wear colognes for men. So, to me, it comes down to my particular mood that day.

Update: I’m changing my pick to Brit. I picked up another bottle of both of these and Brit was what I wanted to use a lot more often.

On the other hand, Brit is a great all around buy and it will work for most guys. If you like something more woodsy/masculine Burberry for Men is right in the middle between London (more masculine and woodsy) and Brit.

Brit definitely has a softer green/powdery kind of scent, so if that’s not your thing go with Burberry for Men.

Winner: Brit (barely)

6 Perfumes Similar to Jimmy Choo Fever

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Jimmy Choo Fever is a poplar fragrance for women. It came out back in 2018 and has garnered many ardent fans ever since. However, you can get tired of smelling the same exact thing or want something cheaper, that can fit the same bill. In this post, I want to put forth 6 perfume options that can provide a similar smell to Fever by Jimmy Choo.

Quick Overview 

Black Opium by YSL is the strongest overall alternative for anyone who wants a similar warm, sweet coffee-and-floral style. Not exactly the same. It shares coffee, vanilla, orange blossom, and jasmine with Jimmy Choo Fever, but adds almond, pink pepper, patchouli, and benzoin for a slightly different character.

Love by Sofia Vergara is the best inexpensive option. Its passionfruit and apple opening is fruitier and sweeter, while coffee, vanilla, orange blossom, and other florals place it somewhere between Fever and Black Opium.

Poison Girl by Dior is the better pick for strong performance and a smoother dry down. It replaces Fever’s hazelnut-and-coffee combination with almond, rose, bitter orange, tonka bean, and vanilla, while lasting around 8–11 hours. Harder to find these days, try the ‘inspired by’ alternative: Venemous Rose

Fragrance Key Shared Notes or Style Main Difference Best For
Black Opium by YSL Coffee, vanilla, orange blossom, jasmine, and a warm, sweet, slightly powdery profile Uses almond instead of hazelnut and adds pink pepper, patchouli, and benzoin The closest familiar designer alternative with good overall performance
Amor Amor Forbidden Kiss Coffee, pink pepper, sweet fruit, warm florals, and a closely related overall style Fruitier than Fever, with peony playing a larger role in the floral accord Those seeking a close parallel and who do not mind hunting for a discontinued fragrance
Love by Sofia Vergara Coffee, vanilla, orange blossom, florals, and a warm gourmand sweetness Sweeter and fruitier, with passionfruit and apple in the opening and weaker performance Budget shoppers who want an inexpensive fragrance in the same general style
Bonbon by Viktor & Rolf Warm sweetness, citrus, amber, fruit, and a creamy gourmand structure Centers on caramel, orange, and peach rather than Fever’s coffee and vanilla combination Those who want a richer caramel fragrance with a related warm and sweet structure
Prerogative by Britney Spears Coffee, floral notes, warm sweetness, spice, and a fruity opening Woodier and spicier, without the same creamy vanilla or powdery quality as Fever Anyone seeking another affordable option with a darker woody-spicy dry down
Poison Girl by Dior Vanilla, warm sweetness, citrus, nuttiness, and a smooth gourmand-floral structure Uses almond, rose, bitter orange, and tonka bean instead of hazelnut and coffee Those who want a smoother, drier alternative with strong 8–11-hour longevity

What Fragrances Smell Similar to Fever by Jimmy Choo?

I have yet to come across an exact match for Fever. However, there are plenty out there that have a similar style and/or an overlap in notes, to produce something that smells quite alike.

Similar Smelling Scent

Black Opıum By Yvеs Sαınt Lαurent for Women Eau De Parfum Spray 3 OZ. / 90 ml.– Again, Fever and Black Opium aren’t going to be the same note for note, but they do have a ton of overlap.

The notes they share? Coffee, vanilla, orange blossom, and jasmine. The YSL fragrance has almond instead of hazelnut.

The main differences are going to be between the top fruit notes and the warmer heart/base. Black Opium has plenty of patchouli, a nice pink pepper, and benzoin.

You’ve probably smelled this before, as it is a popular perfume. Warm, sweet, with a bit of a powdery quality and overall good performance. Read my full Black Opium Review

Discontinued, but a Close Parallel

Amor Amor Forbidden Kiss– This one is a bit harder to find nowadays, but it would be a nice alternative fragrance to our Jimmy Choo target.

Amor Amor Forbidden Kiss was a nice sweet blend, a bit fruitier than Fever, but still had that solid coffee and pink pepper warmth. Somewhat different but a close style to what we’re looking for, this had a solid amount of peony as part of the floral accord.

Best Cheapie Alternative

Sofia Vergara Love Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4 Fluid Ounce, multi color– If you want a cheaper Fever, it might not actually exist, but Love by Sofia Vergara can step into a similar role.

It’s actually quite a bit like Black Opium, but not exactly that either. Sort of in between the YSL and Jimmy Choo. The opening act features a sweeter and fruitier profile, with passionfruit and apple notes peaking through.

Orange blossom, floral notes, and coffee with a dose of vanilla are the similarities. Performance isn’t amazing and it is definitely the sweetest of the bunch, but it’s an option.

Caramel Sweetness

Bon Bon by Viktor & Rolf Eau De Parfum Spray 3.04 oz– Bonbon by Viktor & Rolf is an interesting alternative, because you do get some overlap, but it is a distinct experience.

Bonbon features a prominent caramel note, with a nice squeeze of citrus, and warm amber permeating. It’s not the same with the coffee and vanilla. This one is warm and slightly salty with a creaminess at the base. The start is juicy with orange and peach.

Structurally and style wise, this is a close relative to Jimmy Choo Fever, just not the same. Bon Bon Review

Another Inexpensive Choice

Britney Spears Prerogative by Britney Spears Eau De Parfum Spray (Tester) 3.4 oz (Women)– This is another inexpensive option and I will say that it lands closer to being like Black Opium.

Though, it is warm and sweet with the coffee and floral notes. Though, it is a spicier take with a more pronounced woody base.

The opening act is fruitier than Black Opium and strikes closer to Fever than that other scent. However, this one doesn’t have the creamy vanilla or powdery aroma that you’ll find in the Jimmy Choo. The dry down is all about the woods and spice.

Not an amazing fragrance, but can be solid, at this price point.

One from Dior

Dior Poison Girl Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 1.6 Fl. Oz-  A similar structure and style, not a one for one match. Poison Girl kicks things off with a Damascus rose, bitter orange, tonka bean, and vanilla.

Then, the almond note comes in to give this fragrance a nice nuttiness, instead of the hazelnut and coffee in Fever. As it moves along, Poison Girl becomes a drier and smoother type of wear, and a very good experience.

Performance here is great, lasting 8-11 hours, on my skin. Those who enjoy Fever, might consider giving this one a go. Poison Girl Review.

Bleu de Chanel EDT by Chanel

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Bleu de Chanel is a fragrance lineup that has been super popular for well over a decade now. The original EDT version kicked things off back in 2010, launching another mega successful product for Chanel.

Fast forward to today and I’ve gotten a few samples of the latest Bleu batches and realized that I’d never done a proper review of this original formula.

A scent that I’ve long been familiar with. Time to correct that oversight. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it still worth a buy?

Quick Overview

Bleu de Chanel EDT is a bright, clean citrus fragrance built around grapefruit, lemon, mint, pink pepper, ginger, and vetiver. The opening is the strongest part, with the grapefruit taking the lead while the mint and ginger add a cool, fresh spiciness.

As it develops, incense, vetiver, cedar, sandalwood, and light musk create a smoother, slightly smoky dry down. It is not especially complicated, but the balance between citrus, spice, woods, and incense keeps it polished and enjoyable.

Overall, Bleu de Chanel EDT remains an elegant and highly versatile fragrance that can work for nearly any season or occasion. It is not the strongest performer or the best version in the Bleu line, but its mass appeal and easy wearability still make it a very safe purchase.

If you want an affordable ‘inspired by’ cologne similar to this one, try: Bleu de Dua

🔵 Bleu de Chanel EDT — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Fresh Citrus Aromatic Woody
Key Notes Grapefruit, Lemon, Mint, Pink Pepper, Ginger, Vetiver, Incense, Cedar, Sandalwood, Musk
Season Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Occasion Work, Casual Wear, Daily Wear, Dates, Social Events, Semi-Formal Occasions
Longevity Usually around 5–7 hours, with heavier application pushing it toward the upper end
Sillage Moderate — initially reaches outward before settling into a roughly 3–5-foot scent bubble
Rating ★★★★☆ 7.9 / 10
Quick Verdict A refined and highly versatile citrus-aromatic fragrance with grapefruit, lemon, mint, ginger, vetiver, incense, and light woods. The bright opening is the highlight, while the dry down becomes smoother, smokier, and slightly musky. Performance is only moderate, but the balanced scent and broad appeal make it an easy everyday option for nearly any season or occasion.

What does Bleu de Chanel Smell Like?

Notes include: mint, pink pepper, lemon, grapefruit, nutmeg, jasmine, ginger, incense, vetiver, musk, sandalwood, patchouli, and more

Click here to try: Bleu de Chanel EDT from Chanel

bleu de chanel review

My Full Review

Here’s how Chanel describes it: A fragrance for the man who defies convention. A provocative blend of citrus and woody notes that liberates the senses. Fresh, clean and profoundly sensual.

Bleu de Chanel opens up with its extremely nice citrus blend. Grapefruit is the leader, but the opening gives you an added dose of the lemon. It’s pretty balanced overall, but that grapefruit will take a greater share of the attention as you move along.

With that, is the spice blend of mint, pink pepper, and ginger. It’s funny, many times that ginger note will stick out on my skin, but others the mint will really pop early on.

Colder and fresh spice. Though, the pink pepper and the labdanum from the base do have a slight warmth and resinous quality. Just not a huge amber influence in this EDT version.

The initial spice will begin to subside and the smokiness of incense will come to take over some of that space. No worries, the smoke isn’t overbearing at all.

That, along with vetiver plus some cedar and sandalwood, will give it a fresh woodsy influence instead of just the spices.

Yet, this isn’t a hugely woody cologne. The cedar and sandalwood are very light. I get a lot of vetiver, sitting underneath the citrus/incense with the mint and ginger.

Bleu EDT isn’t super complicated. The grapefruit will stick around, along with the vetiver, incense and generic woodiness. Towards the second hour or so, this even has a slight muskiness to it. But, the other notes are much more prominent.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here has always been moderate. Actually, I don’t even notice a difference in projection off of the skin, between this and the Parfum version.

Bleu de Chanel is certainly noticeable and will venture pretty far, upon first spraying. Yet, on the whole, it is mostly going to create a scent bubble that sticks in that 3-5 foot range from the wearer.

In terms of how long it lasts, I’ve always gotten between 5-7 hours with Bleu EDT. It’s not a super long lasting fragrance, but that 7 hour mark is certainly doable with a good amount of spraying.

If I go lighter, it will fall more towards that five hour mark. You might have to do some testing, to see how much you’d personally need to apply. I’ve read other people say that they get this one to last over 9 hours, but it’s never been my own experience.

Seasonally, Bleu EDT can really be worn whenever. I prefer the spring and early summer with it. But, it’d work in winter as well. Though, there are a ton of more winter specific fragrances that I’d personally wear before this. On the other hand, if this is your only cologne, it’d be just fine.

Bleu is refined and classic, but isn’t a stuffy or serious scent. As such, younger men and older guys could wear this without any issue.

It’s safe for work, can go casual, or even be something worn on a date. Again, it’s not specifically built for nightlife or romantic wear, it’s just capable of filling that role if need be. It’s less of a sexy cologne though and more of an elegant scent.

Overall Impressions of Bleu de Chanel

Overall, do I like Bleu EDT? Yes, I really do still like the way that this one smells. But, it’s also my third favorite of the line, as the flanker fragrances surpassed the original.

Although, you may still decide to go with this version, if you want a fresh citrus without as much amber or woods.

Update: coming back to this post after a few years, Bleu EDP and L’Exclusif are my two favorites from this Chanel line.

But, this one is still a cologne that you can wear pretty much any time and is well-liked by the mass of people. It’s versatility is certainly one of its absolute strengths. Even if, the performance on the whole is just okay.

I have always enjoyed the bright citrus of lemon and grapefruit, being paired with the cool fresh notes like mint and vetiver. Plus, giving it a smoky incense to help liven things up, really was a masterstroke in perfumery.

The whole thing is balanced and delivers a great experience. Some find that to be boring, which I guess it can be, but not every fragrance needs to be some exotic aroma.

Is this my favorite scent ever? No, but it’s one that I always enjoy wearing. It’s a fragrance that can and does serve as the foundation for many men’s own collection. Whether it’s their only bottle or they have hundreds of others.

If you want an affordable inspired by fragrance like this one, try: Bleu de Dua

This is a completely safe blind buy. It might not completely wow everyone, but it is pretty hard not to like Bleu de Chanel on some level.

Light Blue by D&G vs Moschino Love Love Perfume Comparison

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With Light Blue’s massive popularity in the perfume space, it was only natural for people to start looking for similar scents. One option that has emerged is Cheap & Chic I Love Love by Moschino, which delivers a similar smell, at a lower price point.

However, which fragrance is actually better? Which has the better performance? Smell? Which should you buy?

Quick Overview

Moschino I Love Love is the overall winner because its citrus opening is brighter, sweeter, and more balanced. Orange leads the way over lemon, grapefruit, redcurrant, and a light sugary touch, creating a cheerful scent that stays simple and easy to enjoy.

Light Blue has the advantage in performance and depth. Its sharp lemon-and-apple opening develops into a more layered blend of rose, florals, cedar, and aquatic freshness.

Light Blue is the stronger performer, but I Love Love wins overall because its cleaner citrus profile is more enjoyable and it is usually available for less.

Category D&G Light Blue Moschino I Love Love Winner
Opening Opens with sharp lemon, crisp apple, light rose, and a juicy aquatic freshness. Attractive and more layered, but also sharper at first. Starts with orange, lemon, grapefruit, redcurrant, and a light sugary sweetness. Brighter, softer, and more evenly balanced. I Love Love
Projection Moderate projection with a noticeable scent trail. It remains near its peak strength for slightly longer. Also projects moderately and stays noticeable without overwhelming a room. Peak strength fades somewhat sooner. Push
Longevity Can last around 10 hours and easily makes it through a normal workday. Clearly the stronger performer. Usually lasts around 6–8 hours. Solid for its price, but not as long-lasting as Light Blue. Light Blue
Versatility Well suited to warm-weather daily wear, casual situations, work, and semi-formal occasions. Not ideal for formal events or nightlife. Fills essentially the same role as Light Blue, working best for warm-weather daily wear and casual through semi-formal settings. Push
Overall Scent More complex and nuanced, with lemon, apple, rose, florals, and cedar. The later earthy floral-woody stage is less appealing than the opening. A simple, bright citrus fragrance with light cinnamon, musk, and restrained woods. Less complex, but cleaner and more enjoyable overall. I Love Love

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

I Love Love

Notes include: orange, lemon, grapefruit, redcurrant, rush, lily of the valley, tea rose, cinnamon leaves, tanaka wood, musk, cedar

Click here to try: I Love Love Cheap and Chic by Moschino for Women 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette Spray 

Read my original review: I Love Love

Opening

Light Blue opens up with a sharp lemon note, blended with a crisp apple. It is juicy and has a somewhat aquatic feeling to it. The rose note is lighter in the opening act, but it presents itself, and is noticeable to the overall composition.

I Love Love starts off with a juicy and upbeat citrus mix. At first the orange, is the strongest of the lot, followed by the lemon, and grapefruit. There is also a bit of redcurrant and a sugary pinch, to give this perfume some sweetness.

Which one is better? I actually prefer the Cheap and Chic beginning to the D&G’s. The citrus is more balanced, lighter, and has a sweeter finish to it.

Edge: I Love Love

Projection

Neither of these perfumes has a monster sillage. They will project themselves moderately away from the skin, but nothing that is going to overwhelm a room.

The scent trail will be noticeable and the peak strength of each will last for a few hours at least. I think Light Blue sticks to that higher level for a longer period of time and that may be where an advantage comes in.

To me, there was no real difference between them in this aspect, other than the time each spent there.

Edge: Push

Longevity

I Love Love has pretty good longevity on my skin. It lasts in the 6-8 hour range, pretty consistently. The longevity was never great with this Moschino perfume. Though, for the price, I think you generally get a good deal out of it.

Light Blue, on the other hand, would go for 10 hours. The Dolce is the better performer. It’s always been a really good performing mainstream designer fragrance. Nothing spectacular, but it gets through the workday easily.

Edge: Light Blue

Versatility

Since these two perfumes are pretty much the same type of fragrance, there really isn’t any difference in when they can be worn. Daily wears, that are suited for warmer weather. Good casual scent to semi-formal.

Neither is formal or a nightclub type of wear. Mass appealing fragrances that can find a spot in almost anyone’s rotation and get plenty of use in the process.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I like Light Blue. The opening of the lemon, rose, and apple is quite good and is attractive. The performance is definitely better than the Moschino, and it has more depth. The floral notes and the cedar, have a greater presence, and more nuance.

However, I’m not that much of a fan, of its latter stages. The cedar and floral notes, give it an earthy sort of freshness, that is paired with the lemon. I enjoy the citrus, but not so much the other stuff.

I do think it’s one of the better D&G fragrances for women, though. Not the best, but very useful to have on hand in your collection.

I Love Love is pretty straightforward. The citrus is light and beautiful. This is a very happy and bright scent. It doesn’t have the rose note, nor the apple, and the cedar is toned way down.

To me, that’s a plus. There is a light cinnamon and musk, but this perfume really keeps it simple.

The more I compare the two, the more I’d rather smell the Moschino. Plus, I Love Love is usually available for much cheaper. With all things considered, it’s my pick.

Winner: I Love Love