Dolce & Gabbana

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.

The One Gold for Men by D&G

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The One series from D&G continues on and on into the future. Not that it’s a bad thing, since I actually enjoy these colognes.

In 2021, the brand came out with The One Gold for Men, whose bottle looks a lot like the women’s version…which can lead to confusion. Anyway, how does this one smell? Does it perform well? Is it even worth a try?

Quick Overview

The One Gold for Men is a brighter, more citrus-driven departure from the usual Dolce & Gabbana The One style. It opens with blood orange, bergamot, red ginger, and cardamom, giving it a juicy but spicy freshness that feels noticeably different from the sweeter, darker fragrances in the rest of the line.

As the ginger fades, clary sage, geranium, cardamom, patchouli, and vetiver move forward, creating a fresher aromatic and slightly woody middle. The final dry down becomes sweeter and more synthetic, with amberwood taking over alongside lingering sage and geranium.

Overall, The One Gold is pleasant and different enough to be interesting, but the best part is the first 45 minutes or so; after that, it settles into a fairly ordinary fresh woody scent. It is worth trying at a discount, but I would still choose The One EDP Intense or the original EDT ahead of it.

✨ The One Gold for Men by Dolce & Gabbana — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Fresh Citrus Aromatic Woody
Key Notes Bergamot, Blood Orange, Red Ginger, Geranium, Clary Sage, Cardamom, Patchouli, Vetiver, Amberwood
Season Spring, Summer, Fall, Mild Weather
Occasion Casual Wear, Daytime, Nighttime, Around Town, Warm-Weather Social Events
Longevity Around 6–7 hours
Sillage Strong during the first hour, with roughly 6–8 feet of projection before settling down
Rating ★★★★☆ 7.3 / 10
Quick Verdict A fresh and citrus-heavy departure from the usual The One formula, opening with blood orange, bergamot, red ginger, and cardamom before becoming more aromatic and woody. The first 45 minutes are easily the highlight, while the amberwood-heavy dry down is less exciting. Projection is strong early and longevity is respectable at 6–7 hours. Good enough to try at a discount, but not one of the strongest fragrances in the line.

What does The One Gold for Men Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, blood orange, red ginger, geranium, clary sage, cardamom, patchouli, vetiver, amberwood

Click here to try: The One Gold for Men

My Full Review

Here’s how Dolce & Gabbana describes it: The One For Men Gold celebrates a man who has a natural but unmistakable magnetism. A true gentleman, he exudes confidence with his innate elegance and unique style. The One For Men Gold is the olfactory embodiment of this masculine charisma – a sophisticated Eau de Parfum Intense that is as powerfully alluring as the man who wears it.

The One Gold opens up with it citrus and aromatic spiciness coming in strong. Blood orange and a bright bergamot really makes this one pop. But, the red ginger and cardamom are full present at the start as well.

A couple things to note here. First, this is different scent than the other The One fragrances. Yes, some overlap with notes. However, here we’re going very much in a citrus direction.

Secondly, there is plenty of overlap with Legend Red by Montblanc. Blood orange, clary sage, and cardamom are shared notes. That one utilizes grapefruit instead of bergamot and is also smoother/woodier versus the spiciness here.

Nonetheless, I have samples of both, so I’ve experienced the connection over the past few days.

Once that ginger note fades, the clary sage will overtake that and the cardamom note. The juicy citrus takes a step back and this one becomes more fresh aromatic.

At this stage, the sort of minty aroma of the geranium will also peak up and The One Gold will have a woodsy earthiness about it. Like the patchouli and vetiver are there, but they never really make much of an impression.

The final dry down is a sweet and slightly citrus amberwood. Yes, that synthetic smelling amber aroma, with the sage, cardamom, and geranium. It’s not too exciting. Smells fine, mix of sweet wood and fresh notes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is actually really good for the first hour. It will absolutely tail you around and has the ability to project in the 6-8 foot range. Perhaps, a bit more.

For instance I sprayed it on my wrist and went for a walk outside. The fragrance was extremely noticeable and the most enjoyable that I’ve experienced while testing it out.

The longevity seems to be in the 6-7 hour range, on my skin. Not amazing, but it certainly equal to or better than many of the colognes in this line.

Seasonally, best in the spring and summertime. I really liked wearing this outside on a warm summer day. It wasn’t too hot outside and The One Gold was great in that environment. I’d say outside of winter, this would be fine.

It’s not much of a formal cologne. Daytime into nighttime casual. Certainly has an attractiveness, but not sexy like other The One fragrances. Easy to wear, but certainly not something I’d necessarily want to spray on to go to an office environment.

Overall Impressions of The One Gold

Overall, do I like The One Gold? I like the opening citrus and red ginger. Plus, the next phase. So, call it the first 45 minutes or thereabouts. After that, I don’t hate it, but it’s certainly nothing that I must own.

On the whole, it’s fine. Certainly doesn’t smell even as good as The One EDP Intense or the original EDT. Gold is really just an across the board ‘fine’ fragrance. It doesn’t do anything extremely well or really terribly either.

It is at least different from the other offerings in this line. It’s the least like the other The One colognes in the series. That may or may not be a good thing for you. Personally, I just enjoy the way the others smell more.

The One as a line is one where the eau de parfum is head and shoulders above the others in the series and the flanker scents can be pretty hit or miss. Mostly, they miss.

Gold is good enough, that you might pick it up in certain circumstances, but don’t expect it to be amazing.

The performance is actually pretty good and this can actually project well with a good amount of sprays. So, if you like it, I’d expect you’ll be able to find some cheaper bottles soon and get a great deal out of The One Gold.

I’m not buying a full bottle. It’s good enough to try out, but it’s not really even a cologne that you need to seek and give it a go.

K EDT vs. EDP by Dolce & Gabbana

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Dolce & Gabbana have released two fragrances under the K banner over the past two years. They have gained some popularity, despite getting mixed reviews from the fragrance community as a whole.

But for those who are into this sort of cologne, you are still faced with choosing between the original K eau de toilette and the newer eau de parfum. Which smells better? Lasts longer? Is the better buy?

Quick Overview

K Eau de Parfum is the overall winner because it offers the more complete scent from opening through dry down.

It begins with a warm, spicy blend of pimento, cardamom, fig, and patchouli, while K EDT is fresher and more citrus-driven with blood orange, juniper, and a slightly gin-like character.

The EDT has the better opening and is slightly more versatile in hot weather. However, its dry down is less enjoyable, while the EDP maintains a richer and more distinctive woody-spicy profile.

Overall, choose the EDT for freshness and summer daytime wear, but choose the EDP for the better scent and stronger performance. You can get also try the cheaper ‘inspired by’ Aromatic King from the Dua Brand, for the EDT style scent.

Category K EDT K EDP Winner
Opening Opens fresh and clean with blood orange, citrus, juniper, pimento, and aromatic herbs. The juniper gives it a slightly green, gin-like quality. Starts warmer and spicier with pimento, cardamom, fig, and earthy patchouli. The citrus is much less noticeable than in the EDT. K EDT
Projection Projects above average and remains noticeable with only a few sprays. It performs well without taking over the room. Also delivers above-average projection, but comes across as slightly more powerful and maintains its presence a little better. K EDP
Longevity Usually lasts around seven hours. Solid enough for regular wear, though it rarely pushes much beyond that point. Generally lasts between seven and 8.5 hours. It is not an extreme performer, but it has a noticeable advantage over the EDT. K EDP
Versatility Works from casual through semi-formal situations and can be worn during the day or at night. Its fresher profile makes it better for hot summer days. Fills a similar casual-to-semi-formal role, but its warmer and spicier character is better suited to evenings when the weather becomes very hot. K EDT
Overall Scent Has the better opening, with fresh blood orange, juniper, lavender, pimento, and geranium. However, the later dry down is less enjoyable. Its opening is less immediately appealing, but the fig, spice, patchouli, and stronger woody qualities create a better and more distinctive fragrance overall. K EDP

Tale of the Tape: K EDP vs EDT

K EDP

Notes include: pimento, fig, juniper, blood orange, lemon, cardamom, lavender, sage, patchouli, and more

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana K for Men Eau de Parfum Spray, 5 Ounce/150ml

Read my Review: K Eau de Parfum

K EDT

Notes include: juniper, blood orange, citrus, sage, pimento, cedar, patchouli, and more

Click here to try: Dolce and Gabbana K Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.3 Fl Oz for Men

Read my review: K EDT

Opening

K Eau de Parfum really opens up with the pimento note going full blast. It is partnered with cardamom and a nice fig note. It is spicy, warm, and earthy with the patchouli coming up from the base. The citrus notes aren’t too prevalent, I get a bit of blood orange, but not much beyond that.

The original K is pretty darn similar to the EDP version. However, the citrus here is stronger and it feels less spicy/warm and more fresh. The juniper note pairs with the citrus notes to give it somewhat of a gin effect, the pimento is still there, but no fig.

Which opening is better? It’s a close call for me, because I enjoy different aspects of each, and they still overlap with one another. The fig note in EDP is great. The fresh/greenish start to the EDT is also very nice…and I think I prefer it slightly.

Edge: EDT

Projection

Neither of these fragrances are monsters on my skin. They each project well, I’d say above average, and you will notice them with only a few sprays. Nice ability to project with each, just doesn’t take over a room.

Between the two, the eau de parfum seems to be a bit more powerful. Though, it isn’t by very much.

Edge: EDP

Longevity

Testing out K EDT, it lasted for about 7 hours on my skin. It’s solid, just not amazing. It doesn’t seem to want to go beyond that for me.

K EDP can range from that same 7 hours, all the way to about 8.5. It does have a slight boost here, but it isn’t a marathon runner, but it’s enough for the edge.

Edge: EDP

Versatility

To me, both of these fragrances are best for casual wear to semi-formal. You can wear them during the day or venture out at night.

The only real difference to me, is that the EDT version is a bit better in the heat. Both are great in spring or summer, but the EDT is better in the daytime of summer. While, I’d save the EDP for nights only when it gets really hot.

Edge: EDT (slightly)

Overall Scent

I must admit, that I’m not loving either of these fragrances, but I do enjoy them each somewhat. I don’t know why they have gotten such seemingly bad reviews from people.

K EDT has a very enjoyable opening act. It’s fresh, clean, and the blood orange note is really given time to shine, unlike in the EDP. Plus, that juniper note is almost always a nice addition to the fragrance. The lavender, pimento, and geranium all further develop that freshness.

You can get also try the inspired by Aromatic King from the Dua Brand, which is their take on the EDT style.

However, the dry down isn’t as enjoyable to me. I’m not even sure what it is exactly, but it’s just not nearly as good as the start.

I think K EDP smells betters in its totality, even with a weaker start. Some might not like the woodiness and spice that is stronger here versus the EDT, but I think Dolce & Gabbana did a nice job developing a rather unique men’s fragrance.

It’s not a huge margin, but I’d go with the EDP. If you want a fresher and more citrus laden version, go with the EDT.

Winner: K EDP

Light Blue Eau Intense vs. Dylan Blue

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For this entry, I want to do a comparison post between two men’s colognes, with fairly aquatic compositions: Dylan Blue by Versace vs. Light Blue Eau Intense by D&G. Which of these two popular fragrances, smells better? Which has the better longevity and strength?

I have worn and reviewed each, over the past few years, and will now breakdown which one is the better buy.

Quick Overview

My Verdict

Light Blue Eau Intense is the better fragrance. Dylan Blue has the stronger projection, but Light Blue Eau Intense smells fresher, opens better, lasts longer, and is more enjoyable overall.

Dylan Blue is still a good citrus-aquatic fragrance, but the ambroxan, pepper, and violet leaf dry down is not as strong as its opening. Light Blue Eau Intense is colder, cleaner, and better for hot weather.

Category Versace Dylan Blue D&G Light Blue Eau Intense Winner
Opening Starts with bergamot, grapefruit, aquatic notes, ambroxan, and fig. The citrus aquatic opening is one of its best parts. Opens with frozen grapefruit, mandarin, juniper, and aquatic notes. It is colder, fresher, and more refreshing. Light Blue Eau Intense
Projection Starts stronger and reaches a higher projection level early in the wear. Can also be strong at first, but does not hit quite the same projection level as Dylan Blue. Dylan Blue
Longevity Lasts around 6-7 hours, which is decent and serviceable. Can last around 9 hours, giving it the clear advantage in staying power. Light Blue Eau Intense
Versatility Great for spring and summer, but can work year round. Useful for casual wear, dates, and dressed-up situations. Also great for spring and summer, but can work year round. Easy to wear casually, dressed up, or on dates. Tie
Overall Scent A good citrus aquatic scent, but the dry down leans more into ambroxan, pepper, and violet leaf. Fresher, colder, more aquatic, longer lasting, and better overall. The chilled fruit, aquatic accord, juniper, and woody base make it more enjoyable. Light Blue Eau Intense

Tale of the Tape

Dylan Blue

Notes include: black pepper, violet leaf, grapefruit, bergamot, tonka bean, ambrox, fig leaf

Click here to try: VERSACE Pour Homme Sealed Dylan Blue Eau de Toilette, 3.4 Ounce

Read my full review: Dylan Blue

Light Blue Eau Intense

Notes include: mandarin, frozen grapefruit, juniper, aquatic accord, amber woods, musk

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Intense Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 1.6 Ounce

My review: Light Blue Eau Intense

Opening

Bergamot and grapefruit are the top notes of Dylan Blue. These two notes sit on top of a somewhat aquatic accord, surrounded by ambroxan, and a fig note which gives it some distinction versus other fragrances in this style. The opening is one of my favorite parts of Dylan Blue.

Light Blue Eau Intense also opens up with grapefruit, but is instead joined by mandarin orange, and the grapefruit has a frozen coolness added. It doesn’t have that same peppery intensity as the original, but I instead get plenty of juinper, and the aquatic accord in the beginning.

Which is better? I really enjoy how both of them start off, but I would say that I like Eau Intense more than Dylan Blue. It is refreshing and aquatic and doesn’t bring about similar thoughts of Sauvage, like Dylan Blue can.

Edge: Eau Intense

Projection

The sillage of both can be strong at first, but I think Dylan Blue hits a higher level. An hour or two into the wear, both of these colognes move more into the moderate end of things.

Edge: Dylan Blue

Longevity

Dylan Blue lasts for 6-7 hours on my skin and I never get any more than that. It’s decent and serviceable. Light Blue Eau Intense will last or 9 hours, in my experiences with it.

Edge: Eau Intense

Versatility

Both are great in the spring/summer, but can work year round. Both can go casual, more dressed, up and out on a date, if need be. I don’t really see much of a distinction between these fragrances, here.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Dylan Blue grew to me having a higher esteem for the fragrance, the more I tested it out. I still don’t love it, but I do like the citrus aquatic opening, a whole lot.

The rest of the wear, becomes laden with ambroxan, pepper, and violet leaf. That part of it isn’t as good, but again, not terrible either. I never came around to thinking that the dry down, was more than decent.

Light Blue Eau Intense is better, in my opinion. The opening is even better than Dylan Blue’s which is the highlight of its life, and it also lasts longer.

It’s super fresh and the aquatic/fruit elements are chilled, which is really awesome on a hot day. Plus, the woody base with juniper floating around, only adds to its pleasant smell.

It’s a pretty close match up, but I’m going with the Dolce, in this one.

Winner: Eau Intense

Who Should Buy Versace Dylan Blue?

Buy Dylan Blue if you want the stronger projecting fragrance. It is best if you like grapefruit, bergamot, ambroxan, fig leaf, violet leaf, and pepper. It works well for casual wear, spring, summer, dates, and year-round use. It also makes sense if you want something more in the blue fragrance style.

Who Should Buy D&G Light Blue Eau Intense?

Buy Light Blue Eau Intense if you want the better summer fragrance. It is fresher, colder, longer lasting, and more aquatic than Dylan Blue. It is best if you like frozen grapefruit, mandarin, juniper, aquatic notes, musk, and amber woods. This is the better choice for hot days, vacations, casual wear, and warm-weather daily use.

FAQ: Light Blue Eau Intense vs Dylan Blue

Which is better, Light Blue Eau Intense or Dylan Blue?

Light Blue Eau Intense is better overall. It has the better opening, better longevity, and better overall scent, while Dylan Blue only wins projection.

Does Light Blue Eau Intense last longer than Dylan Blue?

Yes. Light Blue Eau Intense can last around 9 hours, while Dylan Blue usually lasts around 6-7 hours.

Does Dylan Blue project better than Light Blue Eau Intense?

Yes. Dylan Blue has the edge in projection, especially during the first part of the wear.

Which one smells fresher?

Light Blue Eau Intense smells fresher. It has a colder aquatic style with frozen grapefruit, mandarin, juniper, musk, and amber woods.

Which one is better for summer?

Light Blue Eau Intense is better for summer. It is colder, more refreshing, more aquatic, and performs well in hot weather.

Light Blue vs Eau Intense: Which Should You Buy? (2026)

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For this head to head match up, we have two Dolce & Gabbana fragrances for men, Light Blue vs. Light Blue Eau Intense. Light Blue has been a long time best seller and Eau Intense has also kept nice pace with it for many years.

Which smells better, the original or its flanker? Which gives better performance? Does the later release actually surpass its predecessor or fall flat? Please continue below for my full take comparison.

Quick Overview

🏆 My Verdict: Light Blue Eau Intense wins on opening, projection, longevity, and overall scent, while versatility is basically a tie. Buy Eau Intense if you want the cooler, smoother, more aquatic version with better performance. Buy Light Blue if you prefer the original’s brighter, drier, spicier citrus style and want the classic version.

 

Category Light Blue Light Blue Eau Intense Winner
Opening Bright citrus with bergamot, grapefruit, mandarin, pepper, and rosemary Frozen grapefruit, mandarin, juniper, and a cool aquatic accord Eau Intense
Projection Moderate, noticeable but not especially powerful Stronger up top, then settles into moderate projection Eau Intense
Longevity Usually 6–7 hours on newer bottles Around 9 hours Eau Intense
Versatility Spring/summer focused, but wearable year-round for casual, office, and dates Same general use cases: casual, office, warm weather, and attractive daily wear Push
Overall Scent Fresh, clean, drier, spicier, and simple with a great citrus top Smoother, colder, more aquatic, and fresher with juniper and woody notes Eau Intense
Best For Fans of the original fresh citrus style Those who want a stronger, cooler, more aquatic version —

Tale of the Tape

Light Blue

Notes include: bergamot, grapefruit, mandarin orange, pepper, oak moss, juniper, musk, rosemary, rosewood, incense

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 6.7 Ounce

My review: Light Blue

Light Blue Eau Intense

Notes include: mandarin, frozen grapefruit, juniper, aquatic accord, amber woods, musk

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Intense Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 1.6 Ounce

My review: Light Blue Eau Intense

Opening

Light Blue opens up with a trio of citrus fruits led by bergamot and grapefruit, with a bit of mandarin orange. It is super bright and summery, with added spice provided by pepper, and an herbal aroma of rosemary.

After 10 minutes, the citrus is bolstered by some base notes, of incense and rosewood. This provides a smoked wood scent, that gently sits in the background.

Eau Intense, is similar to the original in that it starts with grapefruit and mandarin orange, to give that citrus scent. The grapefruit is a ‘frozen’ one, so, there is a great chilled vibe coming from the cologne and the pepper is absent from this version.

In its place, I pick up a light juniper note. The main difference from the original is the inclusion of an aquatic accord. It is slightly salty but not really oceanic, more like sitting by a hotel pool, while on an island. You pick up aquatic elements of sea and pool water.

Don’t worry, they aren’t heavy or overwhelming. But, it is one nice distinction that I get and really one of the things that sold me on this flanker when I first tried it.

I really like the juniper addition here, it gives Eau Intense an amazing level of freshness, that matches up well with the frozen grapefruit ingredient.

Which is better? I have to say that Eau Intense won me over with the great cool and refreshing aroma. Add to that, the nice aquatic scent and the lack of pepper, and I simply enjoy it more than the original. Although, I do like that one, also.

Edge: Eau Intense

Projection

Eau Intense is designed to be stronger and it is. The sillage is pretty powerful for a citrusy summertime cologne, which is really nice. The original isn’t weak, it’s more moderate, but obviously doesn’t hit the heights of an intense version.

Eau Intense starts off strong and then becomes more of a moderate, as it wears on. It can indeed be quite bold up top, so, you don’t need to spray all that much for it to be effective.

Though, Eau Intense doesn’t keep the power for the duration. Most of the wear, will be firmly in that moderate camp.

Edge: Eau Intense

Longevity

You’d think that Eau Intense really blows the original out of the water, in terms of how long it lasts. However, it’s not that much of an advantage. The original will last 6-8 hours on my skin, while Eau Intense, lasts about 9.

Update: Newer bottles of the original seem to be more in that 6-7 hour range for me. 8 is kind of a reach.

Yes, it’s better, but it isn’t an overwhelming advantage. Actually, for the price you can get these at and their style (citrus aquatics), the longevity is really good for either. Eau Intense just hangs around for another hour or so.

Edge: Eau Intense

Versatility

There really isn’t a difference between these two, as both D&G fragrances, check the same boxes. Both are built for spring/summer but can handle year round wear just fine.

Both can go casual, office wear, and are attractive enough to be worn on a date. Not really ‘sexy’ but attractive and pleasant.

The original does have a long-running popularity, so, maybe it has some advantage in terms of attractiveness (or perceived attractiveness, at least). To me, not really much separation here.

Edge: Push

 

 

Overall Scent

I have to say, that I do actually enjoy Light Blue quite a bit. It has a lot of great elements to it. It is very fresh, clean, versatile, and is a good starter fragrance for guys. A simple scent, that performs well.

Light Blue Pour Homme is a bit drier, has a spicier profile, but with that same great citrus top. Doesn’t have the same aquatic style as Eau Intense, though it evokes, those kind of summertime feelings.

However, I think they took what was good about the original, and amplified it for Eau Intense.

Dolce managed to surpass their creation with Eau Intense. It’s just better in pretty much every way. It’s still fresh, but smoother, and has a cold crispness to it, which the original just doesn’t.

The aquatic accord is a nice addition. Plus, there is juniper and woody notes, which just add to the overall freshness and appeal. I could wear either of these colognes, but I’d choose Light Blue Eau Intense first.

I’ve actually gone back and forth with Eau Intense, over the past year. I loved it, then couldn’t stand it for a while, and now it’s grown on me once again. I think the amber wood note, can turn some folks off from it, and is indeed bothersome at times.

Although, I still think it is the better option between them, even if I can easily wear both colognes.

Actually, I’ll also go with Light Blue Sun, since it’s sort of a middle ground between them or one of the other flankers. The inventory of each of them changes, since most of these flankers are a one year release, before being discontinued.

Winner: Eau Intense

Choose Light Blue if:

You want the original Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue DNA
You prefer a brighter, drier, spicier citrus scent
You like bergamot, grapefruit, pepper, rosemary, and light woods
You want a simple, fresh starter fragrance for casual daily wear
You do not need the stronger projection of Eau Intense

Choose Light Blue Eau Intense if:

You want the better performer between the two
You prefer a colder, smoother, more aquatic scent
You like frozen grapefruit, mandarin, juniper, and aquatic notes
You want something stronger for spring and summer wear
You want the version that improves on the original while keeping the same fresh DNA