By Designer

YSL Comparison: Myslf vs L’Homme EDT

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Myslf and L’Homme EDT from YSL occupy a similar use case, as an easy to appreciate daily wear fragrance. L’Homme came outa few decades ago and so has established itself as a mainstay in the Saint Laurent universe. Myslf, is a more recent option, which has quickly become popular.

But, how do you decide between these colognes? Which of them is better? Lasts longer? Well, this is my page comparing and contrasting these fragrances, and break it down until we reach a decision.

Tale of the Tape: Myslf vs L’Homme by YSL

Myslf

Notes include: bergamot, orange blossom, woods, patchouli, ambrofix

Click here to try: Myslf by YSL

My Full Review: Myslf 


L’Homme

Notes include: Virginia Cedar, Ginger, Violet, Citron, White Pepper, Basil Flower, Ozone, Tonka Bean, Sandalwood, Vetiver

Click here to try: YSL L’Homme

My Full Review: L’Homme

Opening

L’Homme EDT opens up with a nice mix of citrus and spice. The bergamot and citron aren’t too sharp, as they’re really held in check by the other notes. I like the ginger and basil, here.

Again, the balance of the composition comes through, since the spice doesn’t overpower. The emergent tonka bean adds a creaminess and the violet brings a floral touch. There’s an herbal or greenish quality to the scent, but still enough of a kick to keep things interesting.

Meanwhile, Myslf opens with bergamot and orange blossom. It’s fresher than is L’Homme and it also has a slight creaminess to the aroma, thanks to the orange blossom note.

But, the very opening stage is definitely about the bergamot. That will flip a bit later, but for the start it’s a fresh citrusy cologne.

Which is better? I like each of them. Though, I would probably give an edge to L’Homme. There’s more complexity and thus more to appreciate versus the rather simple Myslf.

Edge: L’Homme

Projection

Both of these fragrances are fairly light. L’Homme is the more airy of the two. Not really going to have a monstrous projection and it will mostly sit quite close to the skin.

With Myslf, I think the first hour is actually pretty strong. Not heavy, but will create a scent trail in your wake. After that, it’s more of an intimate scent bubble. I’d say it sticks in that 1-3 foot range off of the skin, but it’s still noticeable.

L’Homme, by that point? Skin scent with very little substance.

Edge: Myslf

Longevity

YSL L’Homme has never been a performance beast. In fact, it’s gotten worse over the years, in my experience.

My latest bottle is from 2021 and now the fragrance only lasts for 2-3 hours. Whereas it used to be, 4-5, and sometimes longer. Really disappointing.

Myslf is much better than L’Homme EDT, but still nothing amazing. I got 6-7 hours of wear out of it during my testing. Still, even with that decent level of performance, it’s an easy win for the newer entry.

Edge: Myslf

Versatility

I don’t see really any difference here. They’re both best in moderate to warmer temperatures. Both of them can be worn in just about any environment or situation, without issue. These are fragrance that are designed to be extremely versatile and both do a great job at occupying that space.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these two colognes do I prefer?

While L’Homme EDT, has long been one of my favorites from the YSL lineup, it’s quality has for sure degraded over the years. The bottle that I purchased in 2021, will be my last. I’ve basically relegated to a gym fragrance or just something to spray on occasionally.

Mostly, it sits on my shelf.

Myslf, isn’t an amazing fragrance. I really like the opening act from it, though. It was close to edging out L’Homme, in that respect.

The citrus and orange blossom duo is great. There is a light spice, woodiness, and earthiness in the dry down. I do think the first half of the wear is better than its second half, however.

But, if I’m comparing these two scents, I’d pick Myslf as the one that I’d buy. The newer L’Homme EDP had promise, but ultimately fell flat with its performance too. ‘d pick Myslf over that one, as well.

If we were talking the original batches of L’Homme, it’d probably get the edge. However, nowadays, I’d definitely pick up a bottle of Myslf, before the older fragrance release.

Winner: Myslf

6 Best Smelling Diesel Colognes

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Diesel is a youthful and striking brand known around the globe for its line of denim. In the world of fragrance, it has also carved out a niche for itself and in the men’s cologne category it carries a lot of weight in terms of popularity and the quality of its scents.

For this list, I have selected six colognes from Diesel’s lineup, which I feel are the best of the bunch. Note: I have updated the page with some newer entries. Others on the list, may be less available than they used to.

Favorite Diesel Colognes

The 90s Classic

DIESEL PLUS PLUS by Diesel EDT SPRAY 2.5 OZ Masculine– While it comes in a box shaped like a milk carton, Plus Plus by Diesel, won’t leave a man smelling like sour dairy. Its notes include sandalwood, bergamot, orange, cinnamon, nutmeg, and tonka bean among others.

It is a fresh and spicy fragrance that gives off an air of creaminess that stimulates the senses. This is an older part of the Diesel lineup, but this does have a rather unique vibe to go along with that kind of bizarre milk carton box.

The fresh spiciness of cinnamon and nutmeg, is always a good pairing together. Not too intense, but tempered but a sweet orange and a great tonka bean note.  Maybe not for everyone, but this does take me back to the 1990s, which had its own style of fragrances.

A Spirited Wear

Spirit of the Brave– This one is interesting versus the rest of the newer releases from the brand. Even though, this one came out in 2020, they’ve slowed the pace of their new fragrances.

Anyway, it’s an interesting mix of citrus and apple sweetness, woods, and tonka bean creaminess, and more.

The fragrance starts out with a great mix of aromatic freshness and fruitiness. The bergamot and apple aren’t naturalistic, so, Spirit does have more of a candy-like sweetness to it early on.

But, we also get sage, cypress, amber. The dry down is woodier, with more of a vanilla sort of aroma and that amber note. It’s not overly heavy or cloying, just something that’s quite enjoyable, and even somewhat green at times thanks to that cypress note.

Best Nightlife Diesel

Bad EDT by Diesel– This one has some similarities to my nose, with Invictus Legend and 212 VIP. Bergamot and lavender give you a citrus and soft opening, but then you get some spices and woody notes.

Bad EDT is a youthful and bold fragrance, best suited for nightlife. I’m not too big of a fan of the opening act, but it gets better and transforms as it goes on. Tobacco, woods, amber, and some bergamot are the stars as this scent moves along.

What you really do get with Bad, is great performance. It gives you a 8-9 hour wear, which is perfect for the casual or nighttime situations, you’d be wearing it in. Bad EDT Review

diesel bad edt review

Best Overall Diesel Scent

Diesel Only The Brave By Diesel For Men Edt Spray 4.2 Oz– Only the Brave is one of the most popular scents from Diesel.

It is a great citrus/woodsy scent best served for younger guys and for wear during the fall and winter months. When used correctly it is a real crowd pleaser, especially with the ladies.

This has low key been a terrific option for guys, for a long time now. Not only do you get an attractive and versatile cologne, it is also usually available at a low price point.

This one give you a richness that can really draw your attention to the aroma, with a balanced sweetness provided by citrus and some light floral touches. Later in the wear, I pick up more of the amber and leather notes, which ends things very well.

Most Popular Diesel Cologne

Diesel Fuel for Life Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 4.2 Ounce– Smooth, rich, and energetic. Fuel for Life is a blend of fruit notes like raspberry and grapefruit along with lavender and woodsy notes.

A great scent choice as it is versatile enough to be worn whenever and is also just a great smelling cologne. The appeal with this one, I think, comes from the anise note.

I love that ingredient to give a cologne some spiciness. It pairs surprisingly well with the raspberry and citrus.

Fuel for Life has some close imitators, of its simple formula. Notably, Playboy London is a close imitator.

However, that one doesn’t have the performance, great anise or raspberry, and feels more alcohol based. Fuel for Life delivers an attractive, simple, and well rounded performance.

Under the Radar Scent

Diesel Only The Brave Tattoo Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 4.2 Ounce – A sensual and perhaps a bit darker take on the Only the Brave line of colognes.

Tattoo features Bourbon pepper, sage, apple, and tobacco notes to create a sexy and masculine scent that is sure to draw attention.

This was a flanker fragrance, spawned from the success of Only the Brave. I don’t think they make it any longer, but you can track down bottles online. It’s a darkly sweet scent, that has similarities to Black XS.

However, Only the Brave Tattoo doesn’t have the overwhelming lemon and patchouli mix, that the Paco Rabanne scent does.

3 Great Scents Like Prada L’Homme

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L’Homme is a very popular fragrance for Prada. It is a line of colognes, that I have had plenty of experience with and have enjoyed testing out over the years. Though, sometimes you may want something a bit different. A fragrance that smells like it for cheaper or another one with a closely related style.

On this page, I keep track of such options that I’ve come across. Whether it’s the original L’Homme, L’eau, Intense, or other flankers.

Colognes that smell alike or have a similar style to Prada L’Homme

His Royalty L’eau– This is an ‘inspired by’ option from Dua. But, the inspiration is based on L’Homme L’Eau and not the original L’Homme. I actually have a bottle of L’eau, as it and the Intense version were my favorites.

The difference is that L’eau is a lighter scent. It starts off with a bright neroli note standing in contrast to the iris powder and the light spice of the ginger. It’s fresh and feels more like a pure powder when compared with the original, as it does have additional powdery notes in the base.

Pretty simple stuff, some light woods with the iris and powder, and an amber finish. His Royalty is the alternative version of that. So, if you want a version of the designer style without the price, check this one out.

Dior Homme Eau– I’m going to include this one, even if it’s been discontinued for a while. Just on the off chance you come across a bottle.

Eau is very much like the old Dior Homme formula. But, without the cacao and leather notes. Which gives this its lighter presentation of the iris and woody notes, that lends it to favoring Prada L’Homme.

Now, it’s not going to be exactly the same as our target. However, as an alternative this can be a great one to get a hold of. The iris is magnificent, the grapefruit helps to keep it lighter and brighter, and the cedar holds down the base. Not to mention the use of coriander to give Eau an extra kick.

This may be preferable to a lot of people when compared to our Prada target. Again, you’ll just have to track down a bottle. Dior Homme Eau review

Bleu Noir Parfum–  Here’s another one that’s not the same as the Prada release, but does have a very closely related style to our target and to other scents in this space.

For me, Parfum was the better of the Bleu Noir fragrances. As far as its similarities go, I would say that is has more directly in common with Dior Homme Intense with some additional overlap with Profondo Lights.

Iris, muskiness, and the citrus note up top bring in the relevant notes to what we’re looking for. But, we get a darker and woodier aroma than with L’Homme. Cardamom and cypress are powerful here early.

Then, I really got a smoother dry down with this Narciso Rodriguez cologne during testing. Iris with suede and tonka bean, sitting on some light musky woods. That’s when it has the most in common with Prada L’Homme.

This is a good one to try out, when you are wanting something a bit different, but well within the same ballpark.

Dior Sauvage vs Versace Eros EDT

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In this edition of the cologne comparisons, that I have posted on the site, we have a competition between two of the best selling scents on the market right now. Those being, Sauvage by Christian Dior and Versace Eros. I will be talking about both of the original EDT releases of each cologne.

Which of these two men’s fragrances smells the best? Which is the top performer? Which one has more versatile of use? Please continue below for my full take and comparison.

Tale of the Tape: Sauvage EDT vs. Eros

Versace Eros

Notes of Eros: mint, green apple, tonka bean, madagascar vanilla, vetiver, Italian lemon

Click here to try: Versace Eros Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 6.7 Fluid Ounce

My original Versace Eros Review

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

Opening

The opening of Sauvage EDT gives off an aroma of amber, pepper, and the sharp bergamot note. There is a bit of spice to it but I do get a lot of the ambroxan. It’s nice and dries down to a clean/soapy scent with some slightly spice wood notes and the ever present bergamot.

Eros, is an absolute beast from the start. The main players at the beginning are the mint, tonka bean, and vanilla. The green apple and lemon provide support and give Eros that juicy/gourmand quality.

I think the mint is done very well and doesn’t overpower the composition, for my nose, at least.

Updated view: I’m going to edit throughout this post, 3 years after initially publishing. Eros seems to have changed slightly in smell and more so in performance. This happens a lot with fragrances. Now, the opening seems to have a stronger lemon than before. 

Eros is a very sweet kind of scent, while Sauvage lacks all of that. I think that Eros is much more interesting and has a better scent.

Edge: Eros

Projection

Versace Eros is quite a heavy scent and loud as all hell. This of course, could scare some folks off from wanting to wear it, and that’s completely understandable.

Update: The latest batches of Eros EDT don’t seem to be nearly as strong, as the original. When compared with Eros Flame, they seem quite weak…unfortunately, Flame is a worse fragrance. Still a little bit stronger than Sauvage.

It’s one that I can enjoy and while I never wore it on a daily basis, I would limit it to one spray, if wearing it to work. Eros is just that kind of bold cologne.

Sauvage, upon further use, is a lot stronger than I had initially remembered. No, it’s not on the same level as Eros, but it is on the strong side of things.

Edit: After years, Sauvage is still a strong, but not massive cologne. It has not as of yet experienced any reformulation that’s noticeable.

Edge: Eros

Longevity

Eros wins here, it’s an all day and into the night kind of cologne. Edit: Nowadays, it is much more mortal. Somewhere in the 8-10 hour range it seems. Still great, but not like it once was. 

However, Sauvage isn’t bad. The first time I reviewed this scent, I would get 6-7 hours of wear. Now, with a different bottle, I seem to get around 8. I don’t know, it could just be my body chemistry, but that is the range I get from Sauvage.

I will note that, other people do get a bit more wear out of Sauvage. So, in your own experience this may now be an equal comparison. For me, it’s still Eros.

Edge: Eros

Versatility

Sauvage isn’t a winter scent, in my opinion (The EDP is better for this). Though, it wouldn’t perform badly, just kind of seem out of place.

Meanwhile, Eros is very much a cold weather scent and becomes messy in the high heat. I think that this is where Sauvage has the edge, as a year round kind of cologne.

Both of these scents could work for many occasions. Just go lightly in the office or at school. As a club scent, I’d pick Eros, but I think Sauvage wins this category.

Neither of these is really a formal kind of fragrance. Eros also has a tendency to lean younger. Sauvage isn’t necessarily a mature scent, but it is more wearable for older guys, as well as younger ones.

Sauvage really kind of nails being an all-around scent, which is a lot of the reason why it became so popular in the first place.

Edge: Sauvage

Overall Scent

These are both highly popular colognes. Neither one is bad in my opinion and they are actually quite different from one another. If you want something bold and sweet, go with Eros.

If that’s not your thing, Sauvage might be a good choice. It’s a bright/fresh kind of cologne versus Eros’ gourmand sexiness. Edit: My opinion on the original Sauvage EDT has definitely gone down, over the years. I really don’t care to wear it.

It’s funny how many other scents have started to have Sauvage-like qualities, as this Dior release has grown in popularity (like Dylan Blue).

However, I think that Sauvage is still better than all of its ‘clone’ fragrances (update: Luna Rossa Carbon is better if you’re in the market for Sauvage EDT).

In the battle between these two, I think Versace Eros has the edge. I enjoy wearing it more than Sauvage, any day of the week, it has better performance, is more unique, and just plain smells better. Again, that’s not to say that Sauvage isn’t a good choice for some guys, it just wouldn’t be mine.

2020 Update: Nowadays, I still have Eros ahead of Sauvage EDT. However, Sauvage EDP and Parfum are better than either in their current form. As such, go with those, unless you’re dead set on Eros…which is still good.

2024 Update:  Coming back to this once more. I guess I’d still choose Eros, when considering the EDT editions. My ranking of the other top variants would be something like:

I have lost a lot of my enjoyment from the Eros series. That being said, the original Sauvage EDT doesn’t do much for me either. I think it has the worst blend of any of the editions released thus far. EDP and Elixir are really great, in contrast.

The rest of the Eros line, is about the same as the original, as far as I like them. Parfum is the best of that series.

Winner: Eros

New Haarlem by Bond No. 9

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New Haarlem is one of the longest running of the Bond No. 9 offerings, having been released back in 2003. I recently grabbed another sample of this scent, since I hadn’t worn it in a few years. So, I’m here to post a fresh review of the perfume to see if it still holds up.

What does New Haarlem by Bond No. 9 smell like?

Notes include: lavender, bergamot, green leaves, coffee, cedar, vanilla, tonka bean, patchouli, amber

Click here to try: New Haarlem

My Full Review

I’m not usually big on lavender fragrances, but New Haarlem is one that I’ve always liked a lot. The opening act is fresh and bright with a touch of the bergamot citrus note, but it is going to be dominated by the lavender.

This scent will become richer and creamier, as we dry down. But, early it’s got itself a great aromatic vibe with its generic ‘green notes’ and light citrus touch.

The other note that will pop off, about 10 minutes in is cedar. It’s a lavender and cedar affair at this point, with the sweetness of coffee/vanilla/tonka bean already starting to come through.

Fresh woodsy, but still quite clean in how it comes across. This does have some outdoorsy touches throughout, but it isn’t a ‘dirty’ or very ‘earthy’ kind of fragrance.

At some point, the coffee will begin to take over the number one spot. Lavender doesn’t go away, it just begins to be outshined. With that, we will have more of a gourmand phase into the dry down.

Patchouli, vanilla, and tonka bean. Mainly, the vanilla will join the coffee and lavender notes, as this one takes on its creamier aspects. At times, it will indeed have a syrupy kind of smell, but it’s not too noticeable on me.

Warmer with a touch of amber to go with the vanilla and tonka bean in the finish. I do still get lavender at the end, but the coffee is really coming through on my skin.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

New Haarlem was never a complete bomb for me. It was always strong and quite substantial, but it never reached the upper echelons in terms of its power.

That being said, it projects quite well and can feel somewhat heavy in the warmer weather. Though, this fragrance will moderate itself a few hours into the wear. Still, well above average with its performance.

The longevity hasn’t taken a dip at all. I still get well into the double digits, in terms of hours that New Haarlem will last on my skin. 11-12 seems to be pretty standard for me with this one.

It’s great that even after 20+ years of being on the market, the formula hasn’t been degraded in the slightest.

Seasonally, this is mainly an autumn and winter wear, mainly. I think that it’s fine on a mild spring day, as well. Though, as I mentioned above, New Haarlem isn’t built for the warmer weather. So, I’d go with something else then.

This is indeed a unisex perfume. Heavier use of lavender does usually get associated with men’s colognes, but I have to say that this doesn’t stray too far in the masculine direction. It does seem to lean that way, but nothing that most women couldn’t pull off as well.

Maybe, just test it out, before committing to a full bottle. I will say this is more unisex than New York Nights (which also uses coffee) or R.E.M. by Ariana Grande (which uses lavender and caramel). New Haarlem is probably closer to Coffee Break by Maison Margiela, in this regard.

While not completely a formal perfume, New Haarlem does have enough style to not stick out like a sore thumb, in most scenarios. It’s got enough versatility to be a daytime wear for many people, while also being able to venture easily into the nightlife.

I personally find it to be a great wear, on a colder night, when going out to dinner or hanging out in a lounge type of environment.

Overall Impressions of New Haarlem

Overall, do I still like New Haarlem? I do. While it isn’t my absolute favorite from this brand, I do think that it is still among the best smelling perfumes from Bond No. 9.

The scent is still very good, it’s unique enough, and the performance still delivers (even at the expensive price point).

I like that aromatic freshness, the greenish aroma, and the bergamot early on. It manages to make the lavender quite lovely throughout.

Of course, I’m a fan of coffee notes in perfumes, and New Haarlem will shift in that direction in the back half. Which, is awesome. The vanilla, hints of cedar, and the like make this a pretty enjoyable experience.

I do think that this is worth trying out at the very least, if not a full buy. It’d still be one of the ones from Bond No. 9, that I’d recommend testing first, before deep diving into their full catalog of fragrances.