By Designer

6 Fragrances Similar to La Nuit de L’Homme

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La Nuit remains a very popular scent and YSL has created a bunch of different flanker fragrances, using its name as a draw. However, some of the recent batches, don’t seem to have the same staying power as the older ones. Plus, La Nuit de L’Homme can be expensive to buy, especially when you don’t get the same value.

So, what are your options, if you’re a guy who wants a similar experience or cheaper alternative to this cologne? In this post, I want to present six options which may do the job for you.

Cologne Alternatives to La Nuit de L’Homme

 

Midnight Inspiration

Midnight Rendezvous by Dua Brand– So, updating this page, I have now found an inspired by alternative to, La Nuit. If you want a cheaper fragrance that tries to match the YSL version, this one from Dua is it.

Midnight Rendezvous is based on the vintage 2010 formula of La Nuit and is a more concentrated extrait de parfum. 

I haven’t tried this one in particular from Dua, but I’ve owned over 10 of their scents at this point. They really strike close to what you want from this designer colognes. There are a ton of reviews for this one and are overwhelming saying that Dua hit the mark with Midnight Rendezvous.

There is usually a slight maceration process, meaning it can be a few months, before it fully develops and really hits its best. But, even the initial uses are still very good, these scents just get better thereafter.

The Other La Nuit

Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit De L’homme Frozen Cologne Spray, 3.3 Ounce– I’m going to start with this flanker, just to give it a mention, but it has been discontinued. Frozen was a different take on La Nuit de L’homme, with more citrus, spiciness, and geranium.

If you can find a bottle, it is worth a try, because it has better performance than the newer bottles of La Nuit. If you can find a bottle, I doubt it will be cheap, but I’m putting it here anyway.

Best Cheaper Option

F by Ferragamo Black By Salvatore Ferragamo For Men Eau De Toilette Natural Spray, 3.4 Fl. oz./100 ml– Ferragamo Black is one of the most popular, if not the most popular men’s fragrance of this design house. This is probably because of its similarities to La Nuit by YSL. Yes, it does smell quite a bit like our target, but not exactly.

It features a very prominent lavender note, which is paired with crisp apple from the opening, this is a familiar aroma in a lot of men’s scents. Later, the smooth creamy tonka bean emerges with a sharp black pepper note, to give it a nice masculine edge.

It clean, fresh, and dry…but doesn’t have that cardamom note. Really, for the price, this is probably the best cheap option for a La Nuit ‘clone’. Even if, it isn’t exact. 

Geranium Fresh with Sweetness

Trussardi Riflesso Uomo Eau De Toilette Spray 100Ml– This one is an interesting fragrance, with a mid-tier price. It’s has plenty of similarities to La Nuit, but features a creamy tonka bean note and geranium, in lieu of the cardamom.

It’s got that fresh spicy feeling up top, but then, transitions into a very lovely sweetly floral fragrance, with a nice tonka/apple combo.

The apple and grapefruit are fresh and adds some sweetness to the top of this fragrance. Of course, with the violet leaf and those two fruit notes, there is a watery aroma here, that is more pronounced than what we get with the YSL.

The apple is really a separator between it and La Nuit, along with that lack of cardamom. It’s style is similar even if it’s not the same exact smell, and Riflesso also has elements of Mont Blanc Legen, but it leans closer to our target versus that cologne.

 

Close to La Nuit but Spicier

Ombré Noir 60ML (Alexandria Fragrances)– Ombre Noir isn’t a super cheap option, more middle of the pack, but does have a very similar overall profile to that of La Nuit. The opening act is different, however, this feels spicier and drier than the YSL.

Then, after a while, the two do become very close in terms of how they smell. You of course get the cardamom, hint of citrus, and lavender. All of this sits on top of fresh cedar.

The performance is pretty good, as well. If you can find a bottle for $40 or less, it’d be a good La Nuit substitute.

Warmer, Sweeter, and Vanilla 

Halloween Perfumes Shot Men’s Edt Spray, 4.2 Ounce– I like this one. However, it isn’t an exact copy of La Nuit. Halloween Man Shot is more of a mix between the YSL fragrance and Legend Night from Mont Blanc.

Man Shot actually has the cardamom note, like La Nuit, but features a strong vanilla, powdery iris, and boozy undertones.

Halloween Man Shot is warmer, sweeter, and more enveloping than is La Nuit. I don’t think it’s nearly as good, but it is much cheaper. It’s sort of like how the original Halloween Man is like 1 Million by Paco Rabanne.

Although, this is probably a better example of a cheaper alternative cologne. Again, this isn’t a clone, but provides a similar foundation while giving the wearer a new experience.

Dior Homme vs Sauvage EDT Comparison

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The House of Dior has produced a lot of amazing fragrances over the years for both men and women. Sauvage, has over the past decade, become the best selling fragrance on the market. The first men’s cologne to do so.

It has certainly been a best-seller for the company, but how does it stack up against other colognes from this brand? Today, I am going to do a comparison post of Sauvage EDT vs Dior Homme.

Which one smells better head to head? Which one is worth a purchase? Note: I am updating this post, for the newer edition of Dior Homme instead of the 2011 edition, which had been previously compared. They are quite different from one another.

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

Dior Homme

Notes include: bergamot, elemi, pink pepper, Haitian vetiver, Atlas cedar, musk, patchouli, cashmere, Iso E Super

Click here to try: Dior Homme By Christian Dior For Men

Read my Full Review: Dior Homme (2020) Review

Opening

Sauvage starts off with a really sharp kick of bergamot, pepper, and the ambroxan note. It’s bright, upbeat, and clean.

The Sichuan pepper is pretty strong early one as is the bergamot. The citrus here is much more noticeable and in your face versus what you’ll get with its competitor here.

The lavender will take on more of a role later on, but it’s presence is felt throughout.

Meanwhile, Dior Homme,  begins with a light citrus top note of bergamot. That’s a continuation from the previous entries in the series, but that’s most of what the overlap is.

Along with that, some fresh pink pepper spice, Hatian vetiver, and a bit of a resinous quality from the elemi note.

Dior Homme is very balanced. Not too spicy, not too citrusy, just enough sweetness to prevent it from being straight up woods throughout.

Which one is better? Homme (though, I’d say Homme Intense has the best opening of the three).

Edge: Dior Homme

Projection

Dior Homme is a softer scent than is Sauvage. Though, I don’t think Sauvage is some kind of monstrous fragrance.

Homme is much more moderate and Sauvage leans more towards the strong end of the spectrum. Other editions of Sauvage really do amp up the power.

Dior Homme isn’t weak by any means. You’ll notice it throughout and get a nice scent trail going. Though, it never reaches the same level as Sauvage.

Edge: Sauvage

Longevity

Again, if you’re talking single sprays, Sauvage wins. It’s not a crazy long-lasting fragrance but it will get you a solid 7-8 hours.

Dior Homme is usually around 6.5-8 hours with single sprays. It’s actually about the same as the 2011 edition, and sometimes, even better than I got with that.

Some other people seem to get more out of Sauvage EDT than I ever have. So, I think on balance Sauvage has the upper limit for the majority of wearers. Otherwise, it’s almost even.

Edge: Sauvage

Versatility

As far as the seasonal wear of each scent, Sauvage does have this ability to fit in during any season really. This newer edition of Dior Homme actually comes close to replicating that.

Dior Homme isn’t at its best in the depths of winter or height of summer. Though, it  wouldn’t be out of place entirely in either season. Mostly, autumn and spring.

Sauvage is good for casual wear, school, maybe some office wear depending on where you work. It’s good for a night out, but wouldn’t be my first pick. Although, I know I’ve smelled this on other people while walking through crowds.

Dior Homme is an awesome daily wear. It can fit in well for work, casual situations, school, dates, etc. It’s not a nightlife beast, but if you want to be low key, it’d work for that as well.

Dior Homme has the slight edge for me here, since it’s more of a well put together fragrance that can do it all.

Edge: Dior Homme

Overall Scent

Dior Homme smells better to me, hands down. I think Sauvage is pleasant to wear but it’s always struck me as a little bit boring and now there are so many clones of it coming out.

I don’t like this 2020 update as much as I enjoyed the 2011 version. Yet, I still think that it takes the cake versus Dior Sauvage. It’s simple and understated. Plus, more mature than is Sauvage.

The performance goes to Sauvage EDT. I like aspects of the aroma as well. I’ve never been too big on the opening act or the dry down, but there are moments in the heart of Sauvage that are really nice.

It’s really not a question to me, as to which one I would rather wear on a daily basis. If you’re younger, you might want to go with the more youthful Sauvage. Or, if you just want something that is energetic and stands out more.

Winner: Dior Homme

10 Best Smelling Hugo Boss Colognes

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Hugo Boss has a long history in the fashion world. Their fragrance line has been popular for many years and produces good fragrances that can be had in the lower to moderate price ranges.

This isn’t a Creed or Bond No. 9, where you are going to be spending a few hundred dollars for a larger bottle of the stuff. Rather, Hugo Boss makes designer fragrances that are both stylish and can be worn for any situation a man may face.

There are also a ton of variants and flankers from Boss. As such, it can get confusing with the names. I’d recommend double checking as to what you’re specifically ordering, to make sure it’s the cologne that you want.

Also check out: Best Smelling Hugo Boss Perfumes for Women

My Favorite Hugo Boss Perfumes for Him

Most Popular Scent

Hugo Boss Men’s Boss No. 6 Eau de Toilette Natural Spray, 3.3 fl. oz.
No.6 is the most popular Hugo Boss fragrance of the bunch and for very good reason. This cologne is just all around pleasant, moderately priced, and delivers a solid performance.

The apple and cinnamon notes provide a familiar sweetness and warmth from the start of the wear. If feels super clean and gourmand. Then, the vanilla note adds a layer of smoothness over the whole composition.

The dry down, adds wood notes such as sandalwood and cedar, that prevent it from going too far into the sweetness end of things and straying into a women’s fragrance.

Yes, it does have that sort of apple pie aroma, but Boss Bottled No. 6 never feels like a teenage girl’s perfume. This is a very safe to wear fragrance, that has a versatility for most every occasion.  Hugo Bottled Boss Review

The First Elixir

Boss Bottle Elixir– Every brand has had to jump on the bandwagon of naming every new release ‘Elixir’, with a supposed higher fragrance concentration than others. I will say, Boss Bottled Elixir actually delivers something worth checking out.

It’s a smoky one. Incense is the main draw, but this fragrance will also balance things out with some sweetness early on, and a great spicy accord in the heart. Vetiver, patchouli, and amber in the base.

The sillage is great, Elixir has a darker and heavier feeling than others in the Bottled series. Performance closes in on 10 hours and may surpass that mark for some people.

Better for colder weather. It also may not appeal to everyone. I personally like it, but I don’t think it fits my style very well. Still, a very interesting release from Hugo Boss nonetheless.

It is pricier than most of their other colognes, so Elixir might be one that you want to test out before grabbing a full bottle.

Best Boss The Scent Fragrance

Hugo Boss The Scent Absolute for Him Eau De Parfum, 1.6 Fl Oz– The series of fragrances under the ‘Boss The Scent’ banner have all been at least pretty good, even with each having their weaknesses.

Also, their strengths, even if most of ‘The Scent’ colognes weren’t amazing.

To me, The Scent Absolute is the best from the series overall. It gives you a closer approximation to the original, but with a spicier profile, and much better performance. It’s fresher and more linear than Private accord, which is also nice, Absolute is just a notch above.

It kicks off with the fresh spiciness of ginger, with a rich use of the signature maninka fruit. It’s fruity and warm, with a nice kick to it. Very masculine, attractive, and fairly unique even against the others in the line. Great and easy to wear. Read my Full Review

The Next The Scent

The Scent Elixir– This is a newer ‘The Scent’ release that came out in 2024. It’s as of now, my second favorite in the series. Closest to Absolute in terms of smell, also.

Here, we get a pimento spice. It’s warmer and more substantial than the ginger note found in Absolute. In terms of style, it’s very much akin to The Most Wanted. Not the same smell, but Elixir is like taking The Scent Absolute and giving it an infusion of that Azzaro vibe.

After that, it’s a sweetish blend that will become lavender dominant, with some fairly generic sandalwood in the base. What’s good here is the spice and resinous quality that comes through.

Very nice performance, but I don’t think we’re breaking very much new ground here. Again, the higher Elixir prices, may not be worth it for everyone. I still prefer The Scent Absolute to this.

Another Great Bottled

Boss Bottled Eau de Parfum– This one came out in 2020, so it’s not brand new, but it’s one that I think is enjoyable and worth a shot.

Bottled EDP features apple, bergamot, and a mix of spices up top. Now, it is pepper, cardamom, and cinnamon…but, mostly cardamom paired with the apple now. Cinnamon and pepper flanking those.

Sweet and fresh warmth, the apple note is going to be the star of this one throughout the wear. The spice will settle down and this will have a drier and muskier finish. Masculine sweet/candied kind of apple, while feeling well put together and not cheap.

The sillage isn’t all that powerful, pretty moderate, but it does seem to last pretty long on the skin. Probably best for younger guys through their 20s.

top hugo perfumes men

Nice Summer Fragrance

Hugo Boss Eau de Toilette Spray, Red, 1.3 Ounce– Hugo Red seems to be an under appreciated fragrance. Its notes include pineapple, cedar, grape fruit, amber, tonka bean, and others.

Update: This one got discontinued. Bottles are pretty scarce nowadays. Still worthwhile, if you can find it for cheap.

It also has the distinct notion of being on the lower end of the price range while simultaneously being a well performing and great smelling cologne.

Hugo Red is clean and fruity, though not overpowering, and a perfect option for casual wear.

It opens with that sparkling grapefruit note along with a juicy pineapple.  Red is interesting in that it has this cold metallic note, which while low key, helps to set it apart from many other fragrances.

It has a slightly warm spice from the pink pepper note, but this allows it to have versatility in a wide variety of climates.

Since Hugo Red does have that blanketing spice and warmth, it really shines in the spring and summer months. The performance for me, has always been good. It doesn’t last a crazy long time, but it does last plenty long for almost any purpose. My Hugo Red Review

Another Bottled Boss

BOSS Bottled Infinite Eau de Parfum – Fragrance for Men, 3.3 FL. OZ.–  Boss Bottled Infinite is a flanker fragrance to the Boss Bottled name, but takes things in a different direction.

It opens up with a fruity blend of apple and mandarin. It has a clean freshness coming from the two spices, being, cinnamon and rosemary. The spice isn’t too intense and is actually pretty well kept in check.

During its dry down Bottled Infinite, becomes woodier, has a nice dose of lavender, and the remaining mandarin orange.

Olive wood is the main wood note, with additional sandalwood. Overall, a moderate sillage, with about 7 hours of wear in my testing of it. Update: May be discontinued now. Bottled Infinite Review

Best Classic Daily Wear Boss Cologne

Hugo Boss MAN Eau de Toilette, 2.5 Fl Oz– This fragrance was released in the mid 1990s and has been chugging along in stores ever since. It starts out with a very ‘green’ freshness with a crisp mint note that is joined by a calming lavender.

The apple note is cold and juicy to go along with a nice, sharp, citric grapefruit. Hugo has a woody heart, with pine, and a spicy profile that is complemented by the aforementioned sweeter notes.

A very nice casual or everyday wear scent by Hugo Boss. It gives a solid performance and is highly versatile, being able to fit in while wearing a suit on the right day, or simply sporting the fragrance around town casually. It’s got a great balance and interesting composition.  Hugo Full Review

Boss for Cold Weather with a Floral Blend

Boss Bottled Night by Hugo Boss for Men – 3.3 Ounce EDT Spray
A very nice and seductive cologne, which is probably best served for guys in their 20s to early 30s.

Bottled Night has good sillage, draws complements, but has average to slightly above average longevity.

Boss Bottled Night isn’t a dark fragrance, as its name would suggest, instead you get a masculine floral. The composition is led by lavender and violet that is held together by a woody base.

It is on the softer airy side of the spectrum, but it has a definite warmth and unique aroma for a men’s cologne. Boss Bottled Night isn’t one for everybody, although it isn’t one that enjoys a dedicated following.  Bottled Night Review

Underrated Boss Fragrance for Men

Boss In Motion By Hugo Boss For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3 Ounces– A very interesting cologne from Hugo Boss and one that I think has gone somewhat unappreciated. Boss in Motion is a citrus laden scent and orange is the main attraction.

This juicy citrus note is countered by a series of light and warm spices including from nutmeg, pink pepper, and cinnamon. It’s also got a woody base.

Boss in Motion was released over 15 years ago, at this point in time, but it is still a solid cologne and has its own unique style.

The spice notes are never too heavy or intense but do provide a mixture of aromatic pairings which play off of that orange top note. This is a good casual scent for everyday wear, especially during a mild fall day, or at times in the early spring. Boss in Motion Review

Well, there you have it. These are the six absolute best men’s fragrances from Hugo Boss that have been released up to this point in time. The have a ton of scents and they don’t always stack up or perform well, but these cream of the crop colognes are a great place to start with the brand.

9 Fragrances Similar to Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male

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Le Male by Jean Paul Gaultier has been a best seller since the mid-1990s. As such, it has spawned many imitators. As such, guys who enjoy this fragrance, want to seek out a cheaper or even better alternative perfume to wear.

In this post, I want to present the nine best smelling options for those who want a similar fragrance to Le Male. I have included cheaper scents, those of roughly the same price, and even one that is more expensive (but better quality, in my opinion).

Also, I have added some that have similarities to the vast number of Le Male flanker fragrances out there and will continue to do so in the future.

Colognes that are Like Le Male by JPG

gaultier le male

Similar JPG Option

Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Terrible Eau De Toilette Extreme Spray for Men, 4.2 Ounce– The opening of Terrible and the original are very similar. However, this one doesn’t have the mint note, and gets its spice instead from pink pepper.

Also, Le Male Terrible features a prominent grapefruit note, which gives it a different feel. You still get the lavender and vanilla notes, however, Terrible isn’t as spicy as its predecessor. It is warmer and features a fresh dryness in the latter stages, supplied by the vetiver.

This version is probably the closest flanker to the original, but brings some different aspects to the table. Le Male Terrible Review

Best Cheaper Play

Cuba Gold By Cuba For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Ounces– Smooth vanilla, vetiver, jasmine, and lavender. This one does have that famous Le Male scent, though, this actually precedes it. You can definitely smell the similarities, though, this has more jasmine and is less spicy/smoky.

Although, that is still around in the dry down period, thanks to the vetiver. It turns warm, sweet, and powdery with a great amber note. This one is quite close and a lot cheaper. Again, the fresh spiciness, isn’t as strong in Cuba Gold…but it has the other elements.

For the cheapies in this group, I’d say this is the closest to being what we want, while being of solid quality. Great bang for your buck.

Similar Designer Wear

212 Sexy by Carolina Herrera For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4-Ounces– A smooth and seductive scent from Carolina Herrera. 212 Sexy is a cologne that has a fantastic vanilla note, that is fresh and sweet, and somewhat similar to Le Male by Jean Paul Gaultier.

212 Sexy has a stronger wood base, than does the JPG, and a bit of citrus at the top. Plus, the vanilla is more involved.  It’s a softer cologne, with a nice powdered sandalwood dry down, which sits underneath that vanilla lead.

Very easy to wear and attractive. You can sometimes find this for cheaper than Le Male, but they will often be around the same price.

Higher End and Close

Darley by PdM– This one really reminded me of Le Male when I tested it out. However, Darley and our JPG target fragrance aren’t exactly the same.

Mint, cinnamon, lavender, and lemon are overlapping notes between the two and right out of the gate you get plenty of them. It’s a warm freshness, more balanced than is Le Male with a better lavender note.

Le Male has more of a vanilla and mint aroma. The mint here, comes on later, and there’s also a further distinction with an added rose. No vanilla, just tonka bean. Lavender, mint, and rose with a sandalwood and amber base.

That back half is much more distinct from Le Male, but that opening act is pretty similar.  Darley review

Another Inexpensive Alternative

Perry Ellis 360 White By Perry Ellis for Men 3.4 Oz Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Oz– An interesting alternative, that can be had for a price, close to Cuba Gold. In fact, you might be able to grab this and Gold for cheaper than Le Male.

360 White, ends up close to the JPG, but has a persistent citrus aroma during the wear (think lime). It’s not a heavy citrus, but it is there, and makes the distinction from Le Male.

The spice here comes from cardamom and musk, which provide a different take on the freshness. It is warmer and spicier in the beginning, but becomes more vanilla based, as it dries down.

Super Cheap 

CATSUIT BY CREATION LAMIS COLOGNE FOR MEN 3.3 OZ / 100 ML EAU DE TOILETTE SPRAY– This one can be tough to find, but is pretty much a cheaper one with a very similar aroma to Le Male. Is it as good? No, the quality isn’t the same. Plus, this has more vanilla.

Catsuit can, however, only cost around $10 which is a good deal for what it is. I’d probably go with Cuba Gold, before this, though.

Same Style, Better Quality

Prada Luna Rossa Sport for Men 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette Spray– Generally, this is going to be more expensive than Le Male. However, Luna Rossa Sport is the more mature version, of this style of fragrance.

It opens up with a sweet and creamy tonka bean note, which is paired with juniper and ginger.

Those two notes give this Prada scent, a fresh spiciness, while the lavender and vanilla sit underneath. As it dries down, it becomes more like Le Male, because the lavender and vanilla combo really takes hold.

It has that sweet powdery finish and enough spice to keep it interesting. It’s a simple fragrance, but a damn good one. Luna Rossa Sport Review

CR Similar

CR7 by Cristiano Ronaldo– So, this would probably be the last of the group that I’d pick as a replacement or alternative to Le Male. But, CR7 has a very close style. Mind you, the smell isn’t exact, you just get a lot of overlap.

Fresh, powdery, spicy, but more sweetness. Sort of a 1 Million sweetness mixed with aspects of Le Male and Luna Rossa Sport.

It’s got tobacco, cinnamon, and iris as notes. Not a vanilla-centric as Le Male, warmer and sharper with the spice. The performance isn’t great, the quality is decent for the low price range, just not what you get with Gaultier.

For super cheap? It’s got its charm, but again, I’d go with one of the others first.

Airlines Overlap

1 Million Royal by Paco Rabanne– So, there is a flanker of the original Le Male, called Airlines. It’s usually not too expensive, at the moment. However, it can be tough to find.

1 Million Royal has a good deal of overlap with Le Male Airlines, while still being very much a 1 Millon fragrance.

Between these two, you have a noticeable use of the cardamom note, lavender, citrus, and cedar notes. Airlines is sweeter than the warmer and spicier Royal is. But, there is plenty of similarities between the (I own both).

If your someone who is looking for an alternative to Airlines, 1 Million Royal might fit the bill for you.

There it is, a list of alternative and similar smelling fragrances to Le Male by JPG. I will come back to this page and update it, as I find any other potential options, but for now this should suffice. There are a lot of scents that has a closely related profile to Le Male, because of the lavender and vanilla, but don’t really strike close enough to be included here.

le male jpg review

Y by YSL vs Dior Sauvage EDT Comparison

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In this comparison post, I want to take a close look at two men’s fragrances that have been released over the past four years, Y by Yves Saint Laurent vs. Sauvage by Christian Dior.

Now, this will be a comparison of the eau de toilette versions of both of these colognes. Obviously, over the years each brand has come out with countless flankers of these original formulations. I’ve written about those elsewhere on the site and have sprinkled in links to those articles within this page.

The ultimate question here is, which of these colognes smells better? I will come to this conclusion by comparing them in different categories before declaring a winner.

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

Y EDT

Notes include: bergamot, ginger, aldehydes, violet leaf, geranium, sage, cedar, musk, incense, ambergris, fir

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Y Eau De Toilette Spray 100ml/3.3oz

Review: Y EDT

Opening

Y opens with a very fresh aroma that is cool, crisp, and super clean. It has a nice top note of bergamot, which is light and juicy. The aldehydes provide a bright and sunshine-like feeling and that is met by a warm ambergris note. Later, ginger and violet leaf enter the picture.

Meanwhile, Sauvage EDT, also opens with a bergamot note but this one is really sharp and quite intense. Sichuan pepper and lavender are also there. It is strong and sometimes harsh to my nose at first, but ultimately settles down.

I’ve never particularly enjoyed that pepper note with Sauvage. It’s not a bad start, but it develops better than what it initially leads on.

Which is better? I think the opening of Y smells better than Sauvage. Sauvage can be overbearing at first, before really hitting its stride, but Y EDT is very pleasant right out of the gate.

Edge: Y

Projection

Sauvage starts off quite powerful and has a sillage that leaves a solid scent trail. Then, it becomes more moderate, as the wear moves along. Still, it is  well above average with its projecting ability for almost all of the time it’s on your skin.

At the start, the Dior is up there with almost any of the best-selling designer colognes, as far as how well it projects off of the skin.

Y, on the other hand, starts off as a moderate and then becomes a skin scent or thereabouts for much of the rest of the wear. Y EDT isn’t a strong scent, not awful, just not great.

Between the two, it’s a pretty obvious advantage for Sauvage EDT.

Edge: Sauvage

Longevity

Sauvage lasts anywhere from 6-9 hours on my skin. When the heat and humidity are low, it lasts longer, but during summer it’s much closer to 6 hours.

Maybe that’s just what happens on my skin. Some people seem to get better performance than me with this cologne, but it’s still a fairly good performer. Especially for an eau de toilette concentration. That upper bound of the range is higher than what I’ve gotten out of Y EDT.

Y is pretty consistent with close to 7 hours of wear. It doesn’t seem to go beyond that. Pretty good, but it never goes to an extreme extent. So, on the worst days of Sauvage these two are equal. Otherwise, it’s a pretty easy edge for the Dior.

Some of the other newer editions of Y, go beyond what you get with the EDT, but they’re different in terms of smell too.

Edge: Sauvage

Versatility

Both of these colognes are highly versatile. They can be worn casually, dressed up, at the office, or out for the evening. Sauvage is probably better for nightlife, with its greater sillage, and sexier nature.

At least when compared to the EDT version of Y. Nonetheless, I would give Sauvage a bit of an edge versus the YSL scent.

Edge: Sauvage (slightly)

Overall Scent

Y EDT from Yves Saint Laurent, smells really good, but it isn’t anything special. I really enjoy how fresh, clean, and simple it is. It also doesn’t have any of the harsh intensity that Sauvage does and is much more low key.

Also, while it doesn’t have great projection, the longevity is solid and doesn’t disappoint. It just isn’t a beast and it’s not designed to be. It is very balanced with light qualities of sweetness and spice from the ginger.

However, Sauvage EDT is better. Even if I’m personally not a huge fan of it. Once it settles down it can be quite nice and catches attention. It is highly popular for a reason, after all.

The performance is better than Y and it has the added dimension of being a nightlife wear, while Y EDT, is more of a simple daily wear.

Between the two? I’m picking Sauvage EDT. Though, I’d really prefer the Eau de Parfum version to either.

Updating this my ranking of the options would be (before either of these two): Sauvage EDP, Sauvage Elixir, Y EDP

Winner: Sauvage