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Bad Boy has become a highly successful series for the Carolina Herrera brand. The original EDT has now led to the creation of a host of other scents, which will probably lead to many more beyond the current crop.
Bad Boy Extreme is one of the offerings that has stemmed from the original and become a new popular cologne, in its own right. But, how does Extreme compare to EDT? Which one smells better? Lasts longer? Is the better buy?
Tale of the Tape: Bad Boy vs. Extreme
Bad Boy
Notes include: white pepper, cocoa, sage, tonka bean, vetiver, pink pepper, grapefruit, and amber
Click here to try: Carolina Herrera Bad Boy EDT Eau de Toilette 3.4oz / 100ml For Men, Black
Read my review: Bad Boy EDT
Bad Boy Extreme
Notes include: cacao, bergamot, patchouli, tonka bean, clary sage, plum, vetiver, incense, davana, labdanum
Click here to try: Bad Boy Extreme
Opening
The opening of Bad Boy EDT, can hit differently, depending on how far away I am from where I sprayed the cologne.
Up close, it smells like honeycomb that is dripping in amber and combined with a few pepper notes.
From afar, I really pick up the sweeter and creamier aspects of this scent. Namely, the cocoa and tonka bean.
Bad Boy Extreme starts off with sweet and warm spicy mix, also. The ginger is particularly present on my skin, as is the cacao early. Along with these two, the sage is the next most noticeable and some tart aroma coming from a light plum note.
It’s at its most aromatic, in the early stages. Later, it will still be spicy and sweet, but the profile will have changed. Namely, the ginger evaporates and the sweetness is more about the cacao and tonka bean, much like the original.
Which is better?
I like how both of these start off. To me, Extreme brings a bit more dynamism to the table, and I enjoy how the ginger note helps to kick things off.
Edge: Extreme
Projection
Bad Boy EDT is moderate with its projection, but it feels substantial and can leave a nice scent trail in one’s wake. Nothing amazing, but I think it does a fair job.
With Extreme, it’s not a completely massive scent. However, it does essentially live up to its name. The projection is really good and it pretty easily surpasses the original Bad Boy with its performance.
Edge: Extreme
Longevity
The original Bad Boy from Carolina Herrera will usually last for about seven hours on my skin before it gives out. Again, this isn’t a complete powerhouse of a scent. Bad Boy EDT has moderate strength and ability to stick around.
Extreme blows the original Bad Boy out of the water.
On my skin, it will last for over 10 hours without issue. I don’t think it goes too much beyond that, but Bad Boy Extreme comfortably hits the double digit mark.
Edge: Extreme
Versatility
There is still a lot of overlap with both of these fragrances. So, for this category, I don’t think there’s too much distinction.
Each of them, is good in the autumn and winter months. Can venture into springtime, but I’d avoid the heat.
Extreme strikes me as a better choice for the nightlife, with its boldness, but the original is also a fine choice for that.
Not really seeing an edge here for either.
Edge: Push
Overall Scent
Overall, which of these two Herrera fragrances do I prefer?
I’m not too big of a fan of the Bad Boy line. However, these are two of the better releases, in my opinion.
Bad Boy EDT is a nice enough wear. I like the honeycomb, the creaminess, and mix of sweet and spice that it provides.
Though, I think Bad Boy Extreme does a lot of the same things but better. While also, having some differences in terms of its notes and the performance that it provides.
Having worn both of them plenty of times, Bad Boy Extreme seems to separate itself from the pack. I think it’s better than both EDT and Cobalt (which are pretty interchangeable to me).
Cacao, tonka bean, labdanum along with periods where vetiver, sage, and ginger get there time to shine. It’s sweet, woody, spicy, with an amber dry down. It is powerful and will also last a long time.
EDT is decent with the performance, but doesn’t come close to the power of Extreme.
If I had to get one of these colognes from Carolina Herrera, I’d go with Extreme. I’m not in love with wearing it, but it is the best that they’ve come out with thus far.
Winner: Bad Boy Extreme
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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.