Bad Boy vs. Bad Boy Cobalt

Bad Boy is a popular ongoing line of men’s fragrances from Carolina Herrera. Each new year seems to bring about a new flanker in the series. The original EDT is still going strong itself, but how does it compare to one of the later additions, Bad Boy Cobalt.

I have tested out and reviewed both of them. On this page, I will compare how each smells, how they perform, and which cologne I think is the better buy between them.

---

Tale of the Tape: Bad Boy vs. Bad Boy Cobalt

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

---

Cobalt

Notes include: pink pepper, geranium, lavender, black plum, truffle accord, vetiver

Click here to try: Bad Boy Cobalt

Read my review: Cobalt

---

Opening

The opening of Bad Boy EDT, smells differently to my nose, depending on whether it is closer to the skin or just wafting in the air.

Up close, it smells like honeycomb that is dipped in amber and infused with different pepper notes.

From afar, I really pick up the sweeter and creamier aspects of this scent. Namely, the cocoa and tonka bean.

Cobalt starts off with a fresh spice and tart sweetness. Plum provides the latter, but pink pepper and a crisp geranium note give Bad Boy Cobalt a cold and clean feeling.

That will, however, be ‘dirtied’ up somewhat by the emergence of the truffle note. To me, it’s always been an earthier example of that note, but it pairs well with an increasingly sweet and less tart plum.

Which is better?

I like both and they’re both interesting, but I prefer what I get from the original versus Cobalt. I like the mix of sweet and spicier here, more than the tart and freshness that I get with the flanker.

Edge: Bad Boy

---

Projection

Both of these are pretty moderate fragrances. When I compare them, there isn’t too much of a difference in how they project off of the skin.

However, Bad Boy EDT seems like it has a slightly heavier sillage and hits a higher level of projection than I get with Cobalt.

Not much more, but it’s noticeable to me.

Edge: Bad Boy (slightly)

---

Longevity

With both of these fragrances, I get 6-7 hours of wear out of them, on my skin. Bad Boy Le Parfum gives me a few hours more, but that’s a better performer in this series.

Between Bad Boy and Cobalt, they’re equal. No real advantage to be had in this category.

Edge: Push

---

Versatility

Seasonally, both work well in autumn and wintertime. I wouldn’t use either in the depths of summer, but I think Cobalt can hold up better in the warmer weather than can Bad Boy EDT. That’s one advantage that it has.

Otherwise, both of these colognes are for a younger crowd. More of nightlife fragrances than being a daily wear or something more formal.  Can be worn casually or out on a date. They cover the same ground, basically.

Edge: Cobalt (slightly)

---

Overall Scent

These two are quite close in terms of my overall enjoyment wearing them and in terms of how they both perform. Nearly interchangeable, but I do have a preference for one against the other.

Cobalt is a solid fragrance. I like it, but don’t really love any aspect of it. The plum and truffle is a good combination, though. To me, that’s the highlight of the entire wear. A lot of the wear will be lavender dominant and isn’t as good to my nose. Still fine, just doesn’t hit the same.

In the end, I like the way that Bad Boy EDT smells more so than what I get out of Cobalt. Cobalt is really close, so, if you happen to really enjoy that plum or the later lavender note more than the original formula, you can probably go with it.

Not a big difference in these two, just a slight edge for one of them.

Winner: Bad Boy