Men’s Fashion

Un Jardin Apres la Mousson by Hermes

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Hermes’ Jardin line is one that I’m currently doing my write-ups on, after having tested them out. Today’s perfume is the release, Un Jardin Apres la Mousson (A Garden After the Monsoon). How does this one smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

Quick Overview

Un Jardin Après la Mousson is a light, airy fragrance built around ginger, cardamom, coriander, pepper, watery notes, and vetiver.

The opening is the most interesting stage, combining warm spices with a cool rainy freshness and light citrus that gives it the impression of a humid garden after a storm.

As it develops, the sharper spice settles down and ginger, soft florals, green vegetal notes, and the aquatic base become more prominent. Later, the fragrance gets drier and earthier as vetiver strengthens, though the overall development stays fairly simple.

You can also try the ‘inspired by’ fragrance Anticipation by Dua, if you want something inexpensive.

What does Un Jardin Apres la Mousson Smell Like?

Notes include: ginger, ginger flower, cardamom, coriander, vetiver, pepper, citrus, water

Click here to try: Un Jardin Apres la Mousson

jardin mousson review

My Full Review

Here’s how Hermes describes it: Un Jardin après la Mousson explores unexpected aspects of India, when the monsoon gives back what the sun has taken from the earth, and drives away the scorching breath of drought.

The opening of Mousson is an interesting blend of warmth and aquatic coolness. It does really capture that rainy aftermath, where the sun is out, but you have somewhat of a break from the heat…but not necessarily to humidity.

The citrus top is light, much like a flavored water than a distinct solo lemon or orange note. This is joined by the suite of spicy notes: pepper, cardamom, coriander, and the headlining ginger.

The pepper and coriander do give it an initial sharp spiciness, that will become more subtle and really a fresh aromatic.

Once this stage has cleared, the heart is where you get much of the garden aspect of this scent. Ginger, floral notes, and a greenish quality with that rainy aquatic base.

The only real change is that it becomes less watery and get a drier aroma, with some added vetiver strength. This Hermes scent is pretty simple in its development.

Spices, watery notes, earthiness/floral, with an underlying sweetness throughout.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, Mousson definitely leans more towards the lighter side of things. With a decent amount of sprays, you’ll get an airy scent trail for about 2 hours or so.

The projection is like 4-6 feet, at its peak. Don’t go into this thinking that you’re going to get a powerhouse, that’s not this scent.

The longevity is about 5-6.5 hours, also. The back half of that is going to be a skin scent, that you’ll catch whiffs of throughout that 3 hour or so span. Then, it’ll fade away.

Seasonally, this is a spring and summer fragrance. I would want moderate temperatures at least to wear Mousson, but more of a warm weather fragrance for me.

This is indeed unisex. I don’t think that it strays too feminine, but it’d lean more that way than something traditionally masculine, in my opinion. But, it’s a safe one for anybody to use.

Casual to semi-formal wear during the daytime. It’s a fresh and invigorating sort of aroma. Not sexy. Not something built for the nightlife or romantic occasions. Just something that can be pleasant to put on for the right person.

Overall Impressions of Un Jardin Apres la Mousson

Overall, do I like Apres la Mousson? It’s fairly enjoyable, but not something I really want to wear often, nor is it my favorite from this series. I’m partial to the Monsieur Li fragrance, myself.

While I like ginger a lot as a note, it’s usually in more of a support role versus the main attraction.

I like the concept and like the other Jardin perfumes, I think that it nails a fairly naturalistic smelling impression of an Indian garden after a monsoon has ripped through. Not that I’ve encountered that personally, but on the level of imagination…this gives that impression.

The mix of water, spices, and vegetal aromas is intriguing. I think that it is worth a try. Personally, I like the opening act where the spices and watery aspect are most pronounced.

The performance is okay, in terms of longevity. However, this is more of a lighter and airy fragrance, so don’t expect much of a long lasting sillage.

If you like these Hermes scent, check Apres La Mousson out. It’s a good perfume, that may speak to you more than it did for me. As an alternative to this, try the ‘inspired by’ fragrance: Anticipation by Dua,

The One for Men Grey by D&G

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Dolce & Gabbana keeps right on using The One name to introduce new fragrances, some of which actually have a relation to the original formulation.

2018’s The One Grey, is one of those cologne offerings which has a lot of overlap with the popular EDT and EDP versions of this D&G scent. But, how does it smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

Quick Overview

The One Grey is a fresher, lighter remix of the familiar Dolce & Gabbana The One DNA, with grapefruit pushed forward over cardamom, basil, sage, coriander, and a quieter tobacco note.

After the initial spicy citrus burst, it settles into a cleaner aromatic style built around vetiver, lavender, geranium, tobacco, and cardamom.

Overall, The One Grey is one of the better under-the-radar flankers in the line. It is not as good as the strongest versions of The One, but the clean grapefruit-vetiver profile, familiar tobacco undertone, and warm-weather usability make it worth trying if you already enjoy the series.

This has been since discontinued.

🌫️ The One Grey by Dolce & Gabbana — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Fresh Spicy Aromatic Woody
Key Notes Grapefruit, Cardamom, Basil, Sage, Coriander, Vetiver, Lavender, Geranium, Tobacco, Patchouli, Labdanum
Season Spring, Summer, Early Fall, Mild Weather
Occasion Office, Casual Wear, Daytime, Daily Wear, Semi-Formal Events
Longevity Around 6–7 hours
Sillage Moderate to slightly above average early, then settles into a closer scent bubble
Rating ★★★★☆ 7.3 / 10
Quick Verdict A fresher and more aromatic version of The One built around grapefruit, cardamom, vetiver, lavender, and a lighter tobacco accord. It keeps some of the familiar DNA while shifting the emphasis toward clean citrus, herbs, and woods. Performance is solid at roughly 6–7 hours, and the lighter composition makes it much more useful in spring and summer. Not the sexiest or richest release in the line, but one of the better choices for versatile daytime wear.

What does The One Grey Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, coriander, cardamom, vetiver, basil, lavender, geranium, sage, patchouli, tobacco, labdanum

Click here to try: The One for Men Grey

My Full Review

The One Grey is very much a flanker of The One and I can tell that from the opening spray. The difference with Grey is, that the strength of each of the notes has been changed in order to make a lighter fragrance more friendly to warmer temperatures than The One EDP.

Grapefruit leads the way, just like the original versions. Except that it is amped up in this formulation. Spicier, fresher, with less tobacco and amber.

It is joined by cardamom, sage, basil, and coriander as the main spices. Basil is actually strong to my nose and the equal to the cardamom early on. That will change and cardamom will be the one which sticks around the longest.

The basil will fade and sage, takes its place, but doesn’t muscle out that cardamom. Coriander is a distant fourth, with a minor influence. Patchouli very briefly gives Grey an earthiness, that will pass too.

It is interesting that after the initial blast, I can pick up on that tobacco note, from the others in the series. It sits underneath almost everything, but it is there reminding you of The One EDP.

After 20 minutes or so, this is less of an intense spice and more of a lightly spiced clean freshness. Vetiver, lavender, geranium and that tobacco really help to moderate this one.

Bright citrus with a cold aromatic aroma.

The final dry down will be a balanced mix of vetiver, lavender, tobacco, and cardamom. Still a bit of a spice, but not much, and there is a smokiness that emerges. Not heavy, but I guess it’s the labdanum mixing with vetiver and some other notes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The One Grey actually has some decent power, at least for a while. It’s not a massive fragrance, but for the first few hours you will get nice projection off of the skin.

This Dolce & Gabbana is not going to leave a scent trail behind you for all that long. However, I get a nice intimate bubble of the fragrance for most of the wear. It’s pretty average, but towards the above average end of things.

This one lasts on my skin, somewhere in the 6-7 hour range. Not one that’s going to seriously outperform (like its predecessors), but it also doesn’t just quit like EDT, either.

Seasonally, this one takes the formula of The One and makes it acceptable for the spring and summer months. I love The One EDP, but the heat is not friendly towards it. With Grey, the clean style and lightness of the notes makes it one that can take the heat.

It’s fine in more moderate early autumn weather, also. I’d skip the winter application and go with EDP, instead.

This doesn’t have that same level of sexiness or date night vibe as the EDP. This is more suited for daytime wear, good for the office, casual, or even semi-formal occasions.

It smells good. Is attractive and easy to like. You can wear it in a lot of different scenarios without issue. Very nice versatility here.

 

Overall Impressions of The One Grey

Overall, do I like The One Grey? I do. It’s actually one of the better flankers from this line, despite the lack of fanfare about it.

The originals, Luminous Night, and EDP Intense are all better than this. But, I like it more than Gentleman and Royal Night (slightly). It gives you a different weighting of the notes of the original, but in a more palatable form for day to day wear, in the warmer months.

Grapefruit and vetiver give it a nice and freshly clean feeling. There’s still some tobacco and the spicy notes create a dynamic aroma, without being too much to handle.

The performance is much like other entries in the series, not terrible like the original, just passable and useful for daily wear. I’ve read others say that this one is weak, that hasn’t been my experience with the travel sprayer, this one came in.

If you like the originals, this one is worth a try. You just have to know going in, that it’s not the same fragrance. Yes, the note’s are quite the same, but the style is different. A remixed version of the original, where the background players get shown more love.

Dior Sauvage EDT vs. Elixir

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Sauvage is a line that keeps printing money for Dior, and so, they’re obviously going to keep putting out new flankers for the foreseeable future. The latest, is Sauvage Elixir, an expensive and more concentrated take on the name.

It’s enjoying early success, but how does this new fragrance compare to the original EDT. In this post, I will compare each in a variety of categories, before declaring an ultimate winner.

Quick Overview

Sauvage Elixir is the clear overall winner because it smells more balanced, distinctive, and refined while also delivering far stronger performance.

Instead of the EDT’s sharp bergamot, Sichuan pepper, ambroxan, and lavender opening, Elixir uses cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, grapefruit, lavender, licorice, amber, and woods for a smoother but still intense start.

The EDT does win on versatility because it works across a wider age range and climate range, including warmer weather where Elixir can become overwhelming. But if scent quality and performance matter most, Elixir is the better fragrance by a comfortable margin. You can also try the inspired by fragrance: Savage Elixir by Dua

Category Dior Sauvage EDT Dior Sauvage Elixir Winner
Opening Opens sharply with bergamot, Sichuan pepper, lavender, and ambroxan. Intense and fresh, but the pepper-citrus combination can feel harsh before it settles down. Starts with cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, grapefruit, and lavender. Strong and spicy, but smoother and better balanced, with licorice and amber adding sweetness. Sauvage Elixir
Projection Strong at first and still above average after it settles. It creates a noticeable scent trail without being a light fragrance. Extremely powerful and one of the loudest mainstream designer fragrances. It projects strongly throughout much of the wear. Sauvage Elixir
Longevity Usually lasts around 6–8 hours, with cooler weather sometimes pushing it toward 8–9 hours. Easily lasts beyond 12 hours and can continue well past that point. A major step up in staying power. Sauvage Elixir
Versatility Works across a wider age range and more climates. It is easier to wear casually and handles warmer weather better. More mature and better suited to cooler weather. The heavier concentration and strong projection make it less flexible in heat or casual situations. Sauvage EDT
Overall Scent A bergamot, pepper, lavender, and ambroxan fragrance that becomes smoother after the opening. Still crowd-pleasing, but less interesting than later Sauvage releases. A richer blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, lavender, licorice, patchouli, vetiver, and woods. More distinctive, smoother, and better composed overall. Sauvage Elixir

Sauvage Elixir or EDT? Tale of the Tape

Sauvage EDT

Notes include: Bergamot, Ambroxan, Sichuan Pepper, lavender, pink pepper, and more

Click here to try: Sauvage by Chrisitan Dior Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

Read my review: Sauvage EDT Review

Sauvage Elixir

Notes include: grapefruit, wood, lavender, nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon, patchouli, vetiver

Click here to try: Sauvage Elixir at Macy’s

Read my review: Sauvage Elixir

Opening

Sauvage EDT starts off sharp with the citrus bergamot and Sichuan pepper notes out in full force. This is joined by that lavender note that is found across the Sauvage offerings. It’s intense and not all that great to my nose, especially when ambroxan gets thrown into the mix.

It does settle down and become more enjoyable and smooth. However, I’m not a fan of the pepper and bergamot combination. The lavender and ambroxan are nicer when they take the lead, as is the now faded citrus note.

Meanwhile, Elixir opens up with a lot of spice. Though, it doesn’t use the Sichuan pepper. Instead, you get cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom with a much lighter citrus note in grapefruit. This blend is wonderful and intense without the same sharpness.

The next phase will feature more of the lavender and some sweetness from licorice and amber. Sauvage Elixir is spicy, woody, with enough sweetness to keep it interesting. The licorice is a great addition to the composition, which helps this one stand out from the other Dior offerings. 

Which is better? Elixir. This newer concentration is just all around more balanced and pleasant to smell upon the initial spray. It is stronger while simultaneously being more tolerable. 

Edge: Elixir

Projection

The original Sauvage always had a strong sillage starting out and wasn’t ever weak at projecting. It does moderate after, but the EDT isn’t exactly a light cologne.

When compared to Elixir, the EDT is no match. Elixir has a very powerful ability to project and will be noticed throughout the entirety of the wear. Dior didn’t skimp out on the quality with this new release and it easily takes this category.

Elixir is one of the loudest mainstream fragrances out there and has a great ability to leave a scent trail in your wake. EDT definitely won’t be a disappointment, it can’t keep up with the heavier concentration of Elixir.

Edge: Elixir

Longevity

With Sauvage EDT, it lasts about 6-7 hours on my skin when it is warm and the humidity is higher. When it’s colder, I can get about 8-9 hours of wear from it. Some people get better performance than I do, but that’s been a consistent outcome for me.

Sauvage Elixir goes a lot longer than the EDT version. It really is a much more concentrated fragrance. I called it 12+ hours in my review, but it seems to go well beyond that 12 hour mark, during my testing of it.

Update: Even coming back to newer batches of EDT, it still hits that 6-8 hour range mostly. Elixir still goes heavy into the over 12 hour range without issue. It’s a beast as keeping things going.

Edge: Elixir

Versatility

Here’s where I think the EDT may have an edge over Elixir. For one, the EDT can venture into the summer months a lot better than Elixir can. Neither is a summertime fragrance, but the EDT won’t be overbearing in the heat, like Elixir.

Secondly, I think that the EDT can fit a wider spectrum of age range. Not many teens are going to be willing or able to rock the more mature Elixir, but they can and do wear the EDT version. 

Elixir is the more mature, but it’s not really a formal wear. Daily wear and more well put together, but I think the EDT could fit for a wider demographic.

So, the edge really comes down to a wider climate range, age range, and just overall versatility. Not to say Elixir is limited, it isn’t, just that Sauvage EDT fits a lot of situations.

Edge: Sauvage EDT

Overall Scent

Sauvage EDT is a perpetual best seller. To me, it’s become just a decent scent. Sure, it kicked off a whole trend in the industry, but fragrances like Luna Rossa Carbon have done the concept better. Also, the later Sauvage EDP and Parfum were also greater than the original.

That being said, I do like the middle and final acts of the EDT a lot better than how it opens. The performance is solid and it’s still an easy to wear crowd pleaser. For many guys, it’ll do just fine.

However, in this contest Sauvage Elixir is the clear winner. It smells better, outperforms, and presents a unique take on the DNA of this line.

The lavender, patchouli, and vetiver are the only commonalities in terms of notes versus the other Sauvage colognes. The structure of spice, citrus, and woods holds true…but they substitute newer ingredients.

Elixir has a great mix of spices. The cinnamon and nutmeg just work amazingly well within the composition. The lavender feels more natural, the amber smoother, and the licorice note adds a further distinct character.

Sauvage Elixir is easily better than the EDT. The price is where a lot of people will draw the line. It’s not cheap, but if that’s not a concern go with Elixir. If you can, you might consider buying Elixir and something else that tries to copy Dior Sauvage for cheaper. Like, Savage Elixir by Dua.

Winner: Sauvage Elixir

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

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