Christian Dior

Mont Blanc Legend vs. Dior Sauvage EDT Comparison

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In this edition of the head to head men’s fragrance match ups, we have two highly popular scents, that I’ve covered here many times: Sauvage EDT by Christian Dior vs. Mont Blanc Legend. When it comes down to it, which of these colognes is the better buy? I have worn and reviewed each individually, but will now compare and contrast them, in a variety of categories. Which will come out on top?

Tale of the Tape: Legend vs Sauvage

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

Mont Blanc Legend

Notes include: Bergamot, Pineapple Leaf, Sandalwood, Apple, rose, oak moss, lemon verbena, geranium, lavender,  And Tonka Bean

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Legend Eau de Toilette 3.3 fl.oz.

Read my review: Mont Blanc Legend

Opening

Sauvage starts out with a pretty sharp bergamot citrus note and a hit of Sichuan pepper. It is bold with a bright citrus note and a spicy disposition. Under that sits a calming and familiar lavender, along with, the famous ambroxan note that grows in strength throughout.

Legend also starts out with mainly citrus fruit notes. It has apple, bergamot, and pineapple leaf. Legend lacks the spice, but does have the lavender, is is much less intense and has a drier aroma.

Which is better? Even though, I’m not a huge fan of how Sauvage EDT starts out, I do enjoy it more than I do the simplicity of Mont Blanc Legend. It can be too sharp for my taste, but overall, the smell is really great and exciting.

Edge: Sauvage

Projection

Sauvage does have that large and bold sillage from the beginning. As it wears on, it is more of a moderate scent, probably toward the higher end of that spectrum. Legend is pretty middle of the road with its sillage throughout. Not too strong, but not weak, either.

Edge: Sauvage

Longevity

Sauvage has really good but not elite longevity, for me, while wearing it. I can get 6-9 hours from that cologne, which is useful for almost any purpose. Legend doesn’t hit that level, I get about 5-6 hours of wear, from it. Easy win for the Dior.

Legend is one of those Mont Blanc colognes that never performed all that well for me. It’s not absolutely terrible, but it should be better than it is.

Edge: Sauvage

Versatility

Both of these fragrances, excel at being versatile. They can work well in a wide variety or situations and climates. Legend is the more low key of the two and Sauvage can play the role of the night club ‘beast’, very well. No real advantage here.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

In my mind, this isn’t really a close call. I do like Mont Blanc Legend, somewhat. It is a pleasant enough cologne, with a clean scent, and is an easy grab on just about any occasion.

The citrus opening is nice, then, there is the more floral dry down period also with dried sandalwood and oak moss. I get the appeal, it just never blows your socks off.

Sauvage EDT is a good cologne, not amazing either to me, but I would reach for it over Mont Blanc Legend whenever. I would pick, Legend Night, over this Dior fragrance.

The intensity of the start, smooths out over time, and Sauvage gets a healthy dose of ambroxan and lavender to create a really nice scent. It also has better performance than does Legend. So, unless price is a huge factor to get Legend a lot cheaper, I’d go with Sauvage.

Winner: Sauvage

Higher Energy by Christian Dior

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I have already done some posts on this site about the top Christian Dior fragrances, along with a review of the companies’ latest offering, Sauvage. So, when I getting together my latest haul of cologne samples, I thought that I would revisit another Dior fragrance, Higher Energy.

How does this scent stack up to Dior’s other men’s colognes? Is it worth a purchase? Find out more by reading below. Note: This has been discontinued for over a decade, which is about the time frame of my initial review.

What does Higher Energy by Dior Smell Like?

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Notes include:  Cypress, rosemary, musk, melon, juniper, mint, grapefruit, cedar

Click here to try Higher Energy!

My initial reaction to Higher Energy is one of familiarity. I cannot quite think of what this scent’s opening smells like but I think it is a fragrance by either Hilfiger or Lacoste. Maybe a bit of Dior Homme Sport?

I get a definite summertime and sporty vibe from the fruit notes which come out smelling very smooth and wonderful.

However, it doesn’t take on an overly sweet or candy-like aroma, as it seems to be grounded by the woodsy and mint notes.

At first, it’s a combination of mint and grapefruit to my nose. Some other fruity notes and juniper. There’s a slight clean spiciness, but nothing overpowering.

Higher Energy is a very clean and fresh cologne which isn’t too loud or overbearing. Like I said, I get a sport type of vibe from it and it projects decently when outdoors in the warmth of the sun.

I definitely get more emergence of the grapefruit note as the time went on and it took on a less sweet and more woodsy aroma. Cedar, juniper, grapefruit, and musk is what I’m left with, once Higher Energy has fully developed.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Now, while I think this scent smells good and I would have no problem wearing it during the late spring or summer, it does have some issues. It’s not a long-lasting scent, after about 3 hours of wear, I had to press my nose against my skin to smell it.

Maybe you can get 4-6 hours out of it but it didn’t seem to hold well on my skin.

The projection starts out moderate and obviously fades, people won’t smell you from across the room, which is great but after a certain period of time, they may not be able to detect it unless they’re right up on you.

Also, this is definitely a seasonal fragrance which limits its appeal even further. Again, spring or summer. It is attractive enough and would probably draw some complements, it’s performance is just such a hinderance.

Overall Impressions of Higher Energy

Overall, I like Higher Energy. It’s a really nice and fresh cologne. It’s just not a big time performer for the price, lacks some versatility, and isn’t all that unique.

It has been discontinued, so, even trying to find a bottle nowadays is getting more difficult. Update: The Dua Brand has their own inspired take on Higher Energy, called #Energetic

The smell itself, is actually quite nice. Though, the performance isn’t really good at all.

Also, they’re quite expensive and aren’t a real good value proposition. Unless you really need a bottle to round out your collection, it’s not particularly worth a try, for a full bottle. If you can still find a sample vial or mini, it may be a decent experience.

Not a bad fragrance, though, not one of Dior’s best. The Higher line didn’t hang around too long before Dior came out with the Dior Homme series, which is still going on to this day. I’ve also reviewed the original Higher, if you’re interested.

Mr. Burberry vs Dior Sauvage Cologne Comparison

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For this comparison, I want to breakdown two very popular eau de toilette scents for men: Sauvage by Christian Dior vs. Mr. Burberry. Which one of these colognes is the better bet for most guys to try out? I am only comparing the EDT versions of these fragrances (which are the best sellers) and not the EDP’s, so keep that in mind. As usual, I will cover what’s inside, how each smells, performs, which is more versatile, and which is ultimately the winner.

Tale of the Tape

Sauvage

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

Mr. Burberry

Notes include: tarragon, cedar, birch leaf, grapefruit, cardamom, sandalwood, vetiver

Click here to try: BURBERRY Mr Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 1.6 Ounce

Read my original review: Mr. Burberry EDT

Opening

Sauvage opens up with a bold and rather sharp bergamot note that is joined by calming lavender and a peppery kick. Within about 20 minutes, the warm smoothness of the ambroxan, takes the edge off of the pepper and the citrus notes settles down as well.

Mr. Burberry also opens up with a citrus note, this time, it is grapefruit. That is blended with woody notes, sandalwood and cedar, to create a subtle and super smooth aroma. There is also a cooling sensation from mint, that is brought in but isn’t too heavy. It’s quite clean and crisp. Plus, has an herbal undertone that emerges more later in the wear.

Which is better? Well, I’m not in love with either. Sauvage seems somewhat harsh to my nose at first but it settles down. Meanwhile, Mr. Burberry is pleasant, but isn’t all that interesting. Sauvage definitely captures my attention more and just has a better smell.

Edge: Sauvage 

Projection

I’ve always felt that the Dior fragrance was on the upper end of the moderate scale in terms of sillage and at times it can definitely be quite strong. With Sauvage, if you spray too much, it does have the ability to consume a room.

Mr. Burberry doesn’t do that. It is moderate and really completely average in how it projects off of my skin, definitely not as strong as Sauvage. I actually wish that the Mr. Burberry fragrances had more power, I don’t find either of them to be great.

Edge: Sauvage 

Longevity

For me, they are almost the same in terms how long they last, but Sauvage is just a little bit better. I get 5-7 hours from Mr. Burberry. Sauvage is usually 6-7. However, plenty of folks say they get all day wear from Sauvage, so it’s got the edge versus Mr. Burberry.

Sauvage EDT isn’t great but it’s a winner, in comparison. Sauvage Parfum and EDP are much better in this regard.

Edge: Sauvage

Versatility

There’s no real separation between these two fragrances in this category. Both of them are highly versatile and can be worn in a wide variety of situations and climates. That is one of the main selling points of each, is that, they aren’t limited to one specific time of year or situation.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Mr. Burberry is a pleasant scent to wear. It is low key and has a nice freshness from the grapefruit, woods, and herbal blend. It is a solid everyday wear and a totally non-offensive fragrance. I like it, but it never interested me, whenever I wore it. The whole thing felt rather flat and uninspired. I always wanted to wear something else before reaching for this.

I’m also no Sauvage fan boy, as I’ve made that clear in other posts. However, I do like it more than Mr. Burberry, and would prefer to wear it between the two of them. I think the overall fragrance smells better, has more energy, better performance, etc.

If it came solely down to price, I might pick Mr. Burberry, if I could get a better deal. But even that’s not a guarantee. Sauvage is the winner in this contest. If you want something that smells quite similar to Sauvage, that can usually be purchased for cheaper, try Luna Rossa Carbon.

I think Sauvage EDP is better than either. Mr. Burberry EDP smells good, but the performance is bad. So, I’d go with any of the Dior offerings before Mr. Burberry.

Winner: Dior Sauvage

Sauvage EDP by Christian Dior

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For this review, I am going to be taking a closer look at another Christian Dior cologne, this one from the insanely popular Sauvage line: Sauvage Eau de parfum. I was interested to see if this would be an improvement or a complete dud.

How does this fragrance stack up versus its competitors and even the EDT original, that has been a best seller since its release. How does it smell? Does it perform? How’s the sillage? Is EDP worth a buy?

What does Sauvage Eau de Parfum Smell Like?

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

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

My Full Wear Review

I’ve never been a huge fan of the EDT release of Sauvage. One of my biggest complaints about it, was the sharp bergamot/pepper opening, and the amount of lavender that was in the composition. So, I really wasn’t too excited to try the eau de parfum version, and have held out up until now.

I have to say, the EDP’s opening gets it right. It leads off with the famous ambroxan note at full strength, which subdues the harshness of the citrus and Sichuan pepper. The opening isn’t really all that spicy and definitely way smoother than its predecessor.

The added vanilla and a lower amount of lavender, team up with that ambroxan, and give the scent a fresh warmth. The vanilla is quite dark and smoky, which makes for an interesting aroma.

After the opening, Sauvage EDP really begins with the spices. Again, it’s still not as sharp as the original EDT fragrance from Dior, but it does have a well rounded spice. The Sichuan pepper, is joined by nutmeg, and star anise.

Both of those additional spices are a lot less in your face. The bergamot note, comes into its own during this time for me, as it isn’t overshadowed completely by that amber-laden opening. Very clean, somewhat sharp, and juicy.

The citrus is there at the start. But, on my skin, it doesn’t seem to really emerge on its own until later. That could just be how it reacts to my body chemistry.

Ultimately, from this EDP, I get the ambroxan, a host of spices, bergamot, and some lavender. It’s super fresh and smooth. The dry down is great. I like how chill and confident this cologne comes across. My opinion of the original has gotten lower, over the years, and I hated having it on the last time I tried it.

This, I don’t get that feeling. It is an enjoyable wear throughout. Fresh, crisp, with periods of absolute smoothness and depth.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage of Sauvage EDP is beastly. Seriously, this stuff can project itself like crazy, and doesn’t require you to spray it a lot in order to create that effect. This is what you’d expect from an eau de parfum, but I can tell you, that is definitely not always the case.

Sauvage EDP has the power that it should have, though.

How long does it last? Well, the longevity is also fantastic. It hit double digit hours on my skin, with any hint of slowing down. Awesome value. Somewhere around 12 hours, seems to be the norm for this cologne.

Seasonally, I can’t quite pin it down. I think that it would work well year round and in a variety of climates. It is a solid blend of different notes, which can operate in so many different types of situations.

Sauvage EDP has wonderful versatility, as it can be worn casually, dressed up, at the office, and especially out for the evening. It is more mature than the original, but still retains a high energy, about it.

Is Sauvage EDP sexy? Yes, this is one that is going to draw the complements, particularly from the ladies. Toning down the sharpness was an important step for Dior, toward making the eau de parfum, a real crowd pleaser.

Overall Impressions of Sauvage EDP

Overall, is Christian Dior’s Sauvage EDP version worth a buy? Yes. I like it a lot, and again, I am someone who is pretty indifferent with regards to the EDT. I still have a sample vial of that and never choose to wear it (and would rather wear, Luna Rossa Carbon).

This, I almost certainly will. It took what was right about the original and improved upon it. Then, more importantly, fixed its short comings. EDP performs extremely well and is one of those highly versatile year round colognes. Bravo, Dior.

I like how much better the citrus is in this blend. Also, the Sichuan pepper, having to share the stage with anise and nutmeg makes it work perfectly.

Updating this initial review, having also tried the Parfum version of Sauvage, I can definitely say that the EDP is the best. I like that newer release also and would rank it second.

Best Vanilla Scented Colognes for Men

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Vanilla is a popular note used in fragrances for both men and women. Frankly, I love the way it can add a sweet smoothness when used correctly in scents. Vanilla can be a very seasonal type of note when it is predominately featured in a fragrance and I think you’ll find most of the colognes on this list would probably best serve you during the cooler months of the year.  I have included 8 selections on this list and of course there are more out there but I feel that these are the best of the bunch.

Vanilla Colognes: What are the Best Perfumes for Men?

Top Luxury Vanilla Fragrance

Creed Sublime Vanille Cologne for Men 8.4 oz Eau De Parfum– So, let’s start out with this hyper-expensive entry from Creed. Sublime Vanille has one of, if not, the best vanilla notes that I have ever smelled in a fragrance. It’s fantastic.

It’s sweet and creamy, mixed with tonka bean during the dry down period. Sublime Vanille opens with citrus notes, which gives it a nice orange creamsicle vibe.

The citrus note fades a bit as it moves on and there is an emergence of a soft musk note which adds depth to the composition. Sublime Vanille is more of a unisex scent and once it gets going, it’s pretty linear in its aroma throughout the rest of the wear.

This Creed is soft and airy, good for casual or dressed up styles. Again, this one is a high end scent, but the vanilla doesn’t get much better (if at all) than what’s in here. Here is my full wear review.

Best Overall Cologne with a Vanilla Led Blend

Giorgio Armani Code Absolu EDP Eau de Parfum For Men 3.7oz– Code Absolu has become my favorite issuance from this Armani line. The vanilla, comes along heavier later in the wear, and is joined by a host of smooth and spicy ingredients. 

Code Absolu opens up with nutmeg, rum, suede, and tonka bean. There is also a hint of citrus and crisp apple, in the background. The spice of the nutmeg is dominant for a few minutes, before the suede and tonka bean really take over.

The fresh spice here is great, nutmeg and rum, are surprisingly great together. The fruit notes, are also just strong enough, to prevent it being a completely dark fragrance.

This one is fresh, warm, with a nice sweetness from vanilla and tonka bean. The projection is strong, but not absurdly so, and the longevity consistently hits 10+ hours, on my skin. Code Absolu Full Review

Top Nightlife/Youthful Vanilla Blend

Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male Eau de Toilette Intense 40ml Spray– Originally, I had Le Male, on this list. However, that was before the release of Ultra Male by Jean Paul Gaultier. This flanker fragrance to the original, takes what was great about it, and does it even better.

A warm and spicy aroma highlighted by vanilla and pear notes, which gives it a sweet and candy-like edge. I have a full bottle of Ultra Male and it is a fragrance that I wore pretty much all winter in 2018.

The mint and cinnamon combination adds a very nice spice to the uber sweet arrangement. This JPG scent delivers very good sillage and I’ve always gotten around 9 hours of solid wear from it. This is a colder weather scent, that is sexy, and built for the nightlife. Ultra Male is great, upbeat, and a worthy successor to the original Le Male. Ultra Male Full Review

Best Vanilla and Tobacco Blend

TOM FORD Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum 50 ML(1.7 OZ)– A high performing giant in the world of fragrance. Tobacco Vanille is obviously highlighted by those two notes, but it’s excellent blend of sweetness and spiciness is what really sets it apart.

Expensive? Yes, but it delivers an experience that is all its own. This is masculine, refined, and a fragrance that really shines in the winter time.

This is another one, like Sublime Vanille, that features an absolutely divine vanilla note. It’s very realistic and smells utterly perfect to my nose. Add to the two main notes, you get a lovely cacao, fruits, and creamy tonka bean.

The scent is also quite dry and doesn’t have a ‘juicy’ fruit sensation. Overall, it is super sweet and spicy, while being a performance scent that will last and project for ages. Tobacco Vanille Review

Best Daily Wear Designer Vanilla

Pi By Givenchy For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Ounces– A sweet yet woody fragrance with vanilla and almond notes. It has a fresh and somewhat powdery dry down with the tonka bean note and a resinous benzoin.

Pi can be a great go to fragrance for a guy who wants something affordable that can be worn every day (outside of the hottest months). What I really like about this Givenchy cologne, is it’s subtle earthiness and herbal qualities that lie just underneath the vanilla sweetness.

Pi is a rich and very cozy scent to wear on the coldest days. It’s sensual powdered dry down and that great little almond addition, always seem to draw complements. It has been around for a few decades at this point and still has legions of fans, who swear by the power of Pi.

pi

Great Exotic Use of Vanilla

Opium By Yves Saint Laurent For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Ounces
A spicy and oriental type of fragrance which is soothed by the vanilla note that plays a supporting role to the anise and peppery elements. Solid performer and one of the first colognes I ever bought.

There are those warm sort of smoky elements that create an interesting take on the usual, sugary kind of vanilla colognes.

It’s profile overall, is that of the orient. Opium is mysterious and has a sort of ancient charm to the aroma, its resinous and spicy. The whole thing envelopes you skin and the vanilla note is in the heart of it all. I wish that I had more of my vintage bottle of this Yves Saint Laurent classic. My Opium Pour Homme Review

opium

The Easy to Wear, Crowd Pleaser

Hugo Boss Men’s Boss No. 6 Eau de Toilette Natural Spray, 3.3 fl. oz.

A moderate fragrance with woodsy notes that is great for casual wear. The apple, cinnamon, and vanilla give Boss No. 6 a sweet yet crisp aroma. This is a good one for those who want a vanilla based scent that is blended with other notes and can be worn as an everyday sort of cologne.

Boss No. 6 is a fairly inexpensive choice and has a gourmand sensability. Its sweetness is like that of baked goods: warm and tasty. The wood notes emerge led by sandalwood and mahogany to give this Hugo Boss scent, more masculine depth.

It all comes together as light, a bit powdery, and spicy cologne with that lovable vanilla note sitting in the thick of it. Boss No. 6 Review

Awesome Sweet Smelling Vanilla Perfume

Acqua Di Parma Blue Mediterraneo Mandorlo Di Sicilia Eau de Toilette Spray, 5 Ounce–  Almond and vanilla are paired to create a warm and lightly enveloping aroma, that has a sweet candy-like quality. Mandorlo di Sicilia is a unisex scent, but can be a great colder weather wear for men.

This one reminds me of these little root beer candies, that I ate sometimes, as a child. Orange, almond, and the vanilla come together to give it a sweet, somewhat nutty, fizziness.

Akin to carbonation. Mandorlo is fresh and dries down, mostly as vanilla, with a powdered sugar quality. The sillage is fairly light, but it can last for 6-7 hours, on my skin.  My Full Review is Here