Dolce & Gabbana

Versace Man Eau Fraiche vs. D&G Light Blue

by

For this entry into the head to head men’s cologne match ups, I am going to be comparing two of the most popular fragrances on the market, D&G Light Blue vs. Versace Man Eau Fraiche. These two citrus based scents have become staples in the rotation of many guys around the world, but which one actually smells the best? Which lasts longer? Which is ultimately the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Light Blue vs. Eau Fraiche

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

Versace Man Eau Fraiche

Notes include: Lemon, Rosewood, Carambola, Cedar leaves, Tarragon, Sage, Musk, Amber, Sycamore

Click here to try: Versace Man Eau Fraiche By Gianni Versace For Men Edt Spray 3.4 Oz

Read my review: Man Eau Fraiche

Opening

Light Blue starts off with a blend of citrus notes from bergamot to grapefruit to mandarin orange. These notes are then joined black pepper and rosemary. It is bright and spicy. A clean and fresh blend.

After about 10 minutes of wear with Light Blue, I do get the incense note coming through more, a touch of smokiness.

Eau Fraiche kicks things off with lemon and bergamot, but adds starfruit, which gives it a very nice and distinct juicy aroma.

It’s a very refreshing and juicy citrus smell without the same level of spiciness of Light Blue. It has some herbal elements, but not the pepper, found in the competitor.

As it moves along, the cardamom and tarragon will become more apparent, before moving into a woodier phase.

Which is better? I really like the great lemon citrus of Versace Man Eau Fraiche, when combined with the starfruit, the opening is super clean and pleasant. I prefer it to the spiciness found in the D&G.

Light Blue has more going on up front, but the Versace just has a better presentation in that opening act.

Edge: Eau Fraiche

Projection

Neither one of these scents have giant silage. They aren’t going to fill up a room and are pretty moderate.

That being said, while they start off pretty much the same, Light Blue is more consistent for longer. Fraiche has a lighter sillage, hours into the wear, versus Light Blue.

Fraiche is just not as heavy of a fragrance, even if Light Blue isn’t all that heavy either.

Edge: Light Blue

Longevity

Light Blue always gets me in the 6-8 hour range of wear, and as I said, it is consistent during that time. It’s really one of its best strengths. That performance is like clockwork.

Eau Fraiche is a 6-7 hour wear, but not more than that, and the sillage is lighter towards the end of the 3-4 hour mark.

Eau Fraiche isn’t a powerhouse or a crazy performer. Either way you measure it, I’ve always gotten better performance out of Light Blue. Not an insane gap between them, though.

Edge: Light Blue

Versatility

These are two very versatile fragrances, as they can hold up well in the heat, are pleasant, and can go casual  or to the office.

They’re both best sellers because they are non-offensive and are great starter fragrances. Neither is a club beast and are more ‘nice smelling’ than sexy. No real separation here.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

This can be a tough match up to decide on, as these have a similar profile, and are pretty simple colognes. Light Blue is very good. You can’t really go wrong with buying this fragrance, as it is well liked, and brings a good performance for a citrus based scent.

I like the citrus and spice mix, with the herbal and woody notes in the dry down. It’s fairly linear, but gets the job done.

Versace Man Eau Fraiche has a very enjoyable opening act. The dry down is more full of rosewood and amber, but the citrus hangs around throughout. There is plenty of overlap between these two, but Eau Fraiche feels like a woodier aroma to me.

Personally, I enjoy the overall smell of Eau Fraiche versus Light Blue. Yes, it is also very linear, but I feel that it hits a higher peak than does the D&G.

Light Blue has a bit better performance, but I think Eau Fraiche smells better. I’m going to give the latter, the nod in this match up, but it is really close.

I actually like Light Blue Eau Intense more than either, but between these two, I’d go Versace.

Winner: Eau Fraiche

Light Blue Pour Homme by D&G

by

After writing hundreds and hundreds of reviews on this site, I’ve noticed that I skipped over or forgot about doing reviews on plenty of men’s colognes, that have been really popular. One of these scents, is Light Blue Pour Homme by Dolce & Gabbana, which I haven’t tried out in more than a few years by now.

As such, I got a hold of a new vial of the stuff, to try out the latest formulation and give it a proper review. Please continue reading below for my updated thoughts, on this best selling summertime scent.

What does Light Blue Pour Homme Smell Like?

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 Full Wear Review

Light Blue opens up with a blast of fresh citrus, mostly the bergamot and grapefruit, with a hint of the mandarin orange rounding things out. From the start, this one is bright and upbeat, and immediately brings to mind summer days.

Beyond the citrus notes, there’s is some spice provided by the pepper and an herbal element of rosemary. Very similar style to the Acqua di Gio line, but they are still distinct from one another.

After 10 or so minutes, the base notes begin to come out more. Incense is quite noticeable, it doesn’t create a giant cloud of smokiness, but does create a light envelopment of the citrus notes.

The Brazilian rosewood is not overly prominent, but instead holds steady in the background, giving Light Blue a solid grounding to base itself from. There is some dried oak moss and musk, though, neither are all that strong.

More of just a light essence in the background. It all comes together as a very crisp and light fragrance. There isn’t too much development from this cologne, it’s pretty linear, and gets right to the point of what you’re going to get from the wear.

Citrus, pepper/rosemary, with a dry and woody base. Simple, is a good thing here, you don’t really want a heavy and complicated summer scent.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Pour Homme is a light to moderate scent. It’s not weak in my opinion, at least with this current formulation, and projects pretty darn well for around five hours before it winds down. The sillage on these current bottles is definitely passable and not at all ‘bad’.

Has it lost a step? Maybe. Though, I’m not sure if it’s my memory thinking that it used to be more powerful or an actual reformulation.

The longevity is also decent, it’ll carry along for 6-8 hours, depending on what the day is like. That’s actually good for a summertime citrus fragrance like this. It’s not elite, by any means, but this D&G will get the job done.

Seasonally, I like it best in the summer or the warmer months of spring. However, I’ve been testing it out so far in the winter, and it actually feels quite nice. Mostly, I’ll use it as a change of pace from the heavier and more wintertime only fragrances in my collection.

Light Blue has very good versatility, because it is super safe and inoffensive. You can wear it to work, casually, or out at night during the summer months.

Personally, I would wear something else for the nightlife, when its cold outside, but this could do the job when it’s simply too humid for a heavier scent. Light Blue Pour Homme is an attractive fragrance, so, you can’t really go wrong with it. Especially, if you are a younger guy.

It’s pretty close to being a jack of all trades. If you don’t need more formal or very ‘serious’ sorts of fragrances.

Overall Impressions of D&G Light Blue

Overall, do I like Light Blue Pour Homme? I do. It’s a simple fragrance that enjoys a mass appeal and women seem to enjoy it. It’s kind of an entry level cologne for guys just getting into fragrance and want a versatile value fragrance.

It’s not amazing to me, but I still do get enjoyment from this Dolce fragrance. And really, the entire Light Blue line.

The citrus notes are fresh and have a bit of sour lemonade quality, while the background notes add bits of themselves to the composition without being distracting.

This one has been so wildly popular for so long that it has become commonplace. You’re not going to stand out as unique with Light Blue on, but you aren’t going to choke out a room with it either. It really is a no brainer, easy reach, and mass appeal cologne.

I’m not big on the pepper and herbal aspects, which isn’t terrible here, but I prefer the citrus. Especially, on a warm day.

Personally, I prefer Light Blue Eau Intense to this one. I like the extra power and clean aquatic vibe that it puts off. It seems to be a toss up whether or not guys prefer the original or the intense version. Here’s my comparison: Light Blue vs. Eau Intense

Also, you could go with Light Blue Sun, which has overlaps with this original version; though, with a different overall profile.

Light Blue Pour Homme vs. Forever

by

Light Blue has spawned a ton of different flankers, seemingly every year for a long time now. The latest, is the blue-bottled Light Blue Forever, that gained a lot of popularity since its release. Though, how does it compare to the original? Which lasts longer? Smells better? Should you buy?

Tale of The Tape: Light Blue Pour Homme vs. Forever

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 Forever

Notes include: grapefruit, violet leaf, white musk, vetiver, ozonic accord

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Forever for Men by Dolce & Gabbana Eau De Parfum,3.3 Fl Oz

My Full Review: Light Blue Forever

Opening

Light Blue starts off with its citrus fruits led by bergamot and grapefruit, with a bit of mandarin orange. It is super bright and summery, with a spicy pepper note, and an herbal aroma of rosemary.

After 10 minutes, the citrus is bolstered by some base notes, of incense and rosewood. This gives the scent a touch of smoky wood, lingering in the background.

Light Blue Forever also starts with a grapefruit note. But, it is the sole focus of this scent, and isn’t splitting duties between citrus fruits as the original does. It also smells more realistic and has a very fresh crispness to it.

Beneath that, is a blue-green ozonic accord that adds a watery freshness, and the ever-increasing violet leaf.

Which is better? Forever. If you’re going to make one note the focus, you’d better do it well. D&G definitely nailed the grapefruit experience and it is just more enjoyable early on.

Edge: Forever

Projection

I’d call both of these fragrances moderate, at their peak. With Forever, you get that bold grapefruit burst initially, which does project itself quite well. But, after that it will become lighter, and will be very light for much of the wear.

With Light Blue, it’s moderate also, but I’d call it more consistent with its sillage. It does also get lighter, but holds on to the middle for a few more hours.

Edge: Light Blue

Longevity

With longevity, I have gotten 6-8 hours with the original Light Blue in the past. Newer bottles seem to be on the lower end of the spectrum. Not too bad considering what you get with many long-running popular colognes.

With Light Blue Forever, it gets me just over 7 hours of wear, even with that lighter kind of strength level. Again, pretty good for a super citrusy fragrance.

I might have given the edge, to the original with older bottles. But, I’ll call it a tie with today’s offerings.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Both of these fragrances are at their peak in the summertime. Also, can venture into the spring, but really great on the warmer days. I think that Forever actually has more refinement, than the original, and that’s really the separation between them.

Not that it’s a formal cologne, by any means, but it can go better into semi-formal situations. It isn’t a massive difference, with when they can be worn, but a slight edge to Forever.

Edge: Forever

Overall Scent

I do enjoy Light Blue quite a bit. It isn’t my favorite, by any means, but it is so easy to wear and has plenty going for it. It’s clean, fresh, and a great first buy for many guys just starting out with fragrances. It gives you a decent performance for the price.

It’s got a drier, spicier aroma than the more green/ozonic qualities of Forever, that some men may prefer.

With Forever, I really do like that opening act with the grapefruit note. After that, it becomes a greener and woodsier scent and the grapefruit becomes just another part of the composition.

Violet leaf and vetiver with some musk…once you get past the grapefruit, I don’t really lover it.

It smells fine, at that point, but is pretty weak with its sillage. I don’t hate it, but once the opening fades, the appeal is gone for me.

The opening alone might have me recommend it over the original. As a whole, I’m kind of torn between the two. I think the original is still more enjoyable overall. It feels more dynamic and has a better ability to stick around with some power.

So, I guess the nod goes to Light Blue, over the newer Forever. But, it’s pretty equal. Forever has a higher high, but it’s short-lived.

Winner: Light Blue

Light Blue Pour Homme Eau Intense vs. Forever

by

Light Blue is a seemingly endless line of fragrances from Dolce & Gabbana. I mean, why quit when you’re so successful with the formula? The latest edition is Light Blue Forever Pour Homme, which made waves in the summer of 2021.

It’s a well-liked cologne, but how does it compare to another popular option from the line, Eau Intense? In this post, I will compare the two and declare the best option.

Tale of the Tape: Light Blue Eau Intense vs. Forever Pour Homme

Light Blue Forever

Notes include: grapefruit, violet leaf, white musk, vetiver, ozonic accord

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Forever for Men by Dolce & Gabbana Eau De Parfum,3.3 Fl Oz

My Full Review: Light Blue Forever

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

Eau Intense has similarities to the original Light Blue, much more so than Forever. It kicks things off as a citrus scent with its mix of grapefruit and mandarin orange.

The scent has a chilly aroma, as the grapefruit note is ‘frozen’. It doesn’t have the peppery accord of the original.

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.

The juniper and amberwood in Eau Intense give it very fresh profile, that is great to spray on during the summer.

Light Blue Forever also starts with a grapefruit note. That’s it’s main attraction and it smells much more realistic and fresh versus the one found in the rest of the series.

Beneath that, is a blue-green ozonic accord that adds a watery freshness, and the ever-increasing violet leaf.

Which is better? I enjoy both, but I think that Forever has the better start to things. That grapefruit note, while not my favorite aroma in the world, is absolutely great in just how much like the real thing it smells like.

This first category goes to Forever.

Edge: Forever

Projection

Light Blue Eau Intense starts off pretty powerfully and it has the ability to project itself pretty far from the skin.

That first hour or so, it is certainly possible to overspray and take over a room. Though, it does settle and become much more of a moderate fragrance for the rest of the wear.

Forever opens up with that nice grapefruit burst, though it’s pretty moderate as a whole. It never hits the same heights as Eau Intense and much of the wear will be spent near skin scent level.

You get a few hours of solid performance, then it will be a lighter cologne.

Eau Intense has the better sillage.

Edge: Eau Intense

Longevity

While, Forever isn’t the best with how it projects, it actually does stick to the skin for quite a while in this lighter state. It gets me just over 7 hours of wear, with the first couple being in its moderate strength.

However, Light Blue Eau Intense gets me around 9 hours of wear, with a better ability to project. Between these two, Eau Intense clearly has the better performance.

 

Edge: Eau Intense

Versatility

Both of these fragrances are best in the summertime. They can both go casual and can fit in, for an office environment.

I do think that Forever, is the better of the two with how it can fit into those sorts of semi-formal circumstances in comparison to Eau Intense.

It’s a pretty close race and there is plenty of overlap. Forever does have a slight edge in when and where it can be worn.

Edge: Forever

Overall Scent

This is a close call to which of these two fragrances I prefer. Both of them have their strengths and are enjoyable in their own right.

Light Blue Forever is the new kid on the block and has already made a name for itself. I really do enjoy that opening act with the grapefruit note.

After that, it becomes a greener and woodsier scent and the grapefruit becomes just another part of the composition. Violet leaf and vetiver with some musk to boot. Once it has dried down, I’m not that enthralled with Forever.

Update: Forever has since been discontinued. It is still available online at some places. D&G came out with Italian Love the next year, which was a slightly different take on the formula (which I preferred), and can also serve as an alternative to Light Blue Forever.

Either way, you’ll now have to find both from 3rd party online stores, that may still have stock of each.

It smells fine, at that point, but is pretty weak with its sillage. I don’t hate it, but once the opening fades, the appeal is gone for me.

Eau Intense is a summertime workhorse. It starts off slower, but I think has a better smell overall. Not a huge margin, but I do like it better. Plus, I get 9 hours of solid performance.

I love the aquatic nature and freshness from the juniper note. Eau Intense is cold and clean reminding me more of sitting by the pool versus the ocean.

Between these two, I still give the edge to Eau Intense.

Winner: Eau Intense

Invictus Aqua vs. Light Blue Eau Intense

by

For this head to head comparison post, we are going to take a closer look at two popular citrus aquatic fragrances, for the summertime. In one corner, we have Invictus Aqua. Versus, Light Blue Eau Intense, in the other. Which of these marine accord-laden scents, smells the best? Has the better sillage? Longevity? Which is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Invictus Aqua vs Eau Intense

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

Invictus Aqua EDT

Notes include: yuzu, pink pepper, guaiac wood, marine notes, violet leaf, ambergris, grapefruit

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne Invictus Aqua Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce

Read my review: Invictus Aqua

Opening

Invictus Aqua starts off with its salty marine notes, with a strong blend of yuzu and grapefruit. It’s fresh, clean with that saltiness, and has a bit of pink pepper in it as well. I like the way that Aqua begins, the yuzu is awesome, when combined with the aquatic notes.

Light Blue Eau Intense also starts with grapefruit, but it’s ‘frozen’, and paired with mandarin orange. I think that it’s got a colder quality, less saltiness in the aquatic accord, and the juniper note comes in and adds a nice touch.

Which is better? It’s a pretty close call for me, but I like Eau Intense more here. The crispness, the freshness, and the aquatic accord is all slightly better than in Invictus Aqua.

Edge: Eau Intense

Projection

Both of these colognes are pretty moderate in the sillage. They both start off with a somewhat strong ability to project themselves to the surrounding area. Then, they taper off within a few hours, to something much more subdued…but not weak.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Light Blue Eau Intense lasts about 9 hours on my skin. Invictus Aqua will usually do about 8. However, Aqua has the ability to hit over 10 hours, on occasion. It kind of depends on the climate and my skin, that day.  The Paco Rabanne is a bit better or at least has that ability.

Edge: Aqua (slightly)

Versatility

Both of these fragrances are quite versatile. They really both shine in the warmer months of the year, as the aquatic aroma, truly works in the heat. However, you could wear either year round, if you wanted.

They can be worn casual or at work or for an evening out. I wouldn’t classify either as a nightlife scent, though. There’s no real separation in this category.

Edge: Push

 

 

Overall Scent

Invictus Aqua is a really nice scent, which I enjoy wearing, for the first few hours. Then, the dry down gets worse and worse to my nose, until I end up not liking it. That citrus and marine combination is great.

It gives Eau Intense a run for its money. But then, it gets an infusion of wood (which is decent). Finally, it dries down to pretty much just to the sea water note…which isn’t too attractive, when it is by itself.

The opening act is great, the performance is great, but a lot of the wear isn’t.

Light Blue Eau Intense, to me, has a slightly better opening. It also has about equal performance to Invictus Aqua. Most importantly, it stays great throughout.

It has quickly become one of my favorite aquatic fragrances, out on the market. Eau Intense is smooth, clean, and its drydown with juniper and amberwood holds the thing together.

For the first few hours, it’s a close call. After that, the D&G owns this contest. Another option, may be to try Light Blue Sun. It’s kind of a midway point between Eau Intense and the original Light Blue. Good for those who think Eau Intense comes on too strong.

Winner: Eau Intense