By Designer

1 Million vs Le Male Fragrance Comparison

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In this installment of my cologne comparison series, I’m going to take a look at two mega selling fragrances with very distinct bottle shapes. The gold ingot of 1 Million by Paco Rabanne versus the Blue torso of Le Male by Jean Paul Gaultier. These are two extremely popular and great smelling colognes for men.

However, I want to break it down further and find out which is the better performer, the better smelling, and the most versatile of the pair. Which of these scents for guys is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: 1 Million vs. Le Male 

1 Million 

Notes include: Mint, Grapefruit, Rose, Patchouli, Amber, Cinnamon, White woods, Blond leather, Blood orange, Spice notes

My original review

Buy here: Paco Rabanne 1 Million By Paco Rabanne For Men Edt Spray, 3.4 Ounce

Le Male by JPG Tale of the Tape

Notes include:  orange blossom, mint, lavender, woods, vanilla, tonka bean, cinnamon, and more

My JPG Review

Buy here: Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male By Jean Paul Gaultier For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 4.2 Oz.

Opening

Upfront, I have to say that both of these colognes are on the sweet side of things, so if that isn’t your type of fragrance you might want to look elsewhere. You’ll notice that they do share some common notes: mint and cinnamon.

Neither of which is the main draw but do support the overall structure of the colognes. Le Male is more of a vanilla/tonka blend with a warm spiciness. The mint and cinnamon, add a bit more of a kick up front.

Though, the impact will be lessened by lavender and orange blossom floral notes.

Meanwhile, 1 Million is like a candy grape at first with a smooth rose/leather undertone to it. The grape-like aroma, comes from those two notes meeting with orange and grapefruit.

It’s very sweet, with a warm amber ingredient enveloping things. With 1 Million, you will get more of the cinnamon note. With Le Male, mint.

It’s much less spicy, to my nose, but those notes will come along more during the dry down. Which scent is better?

I actually prefer 1 Million from the start, as it just has a more interesting profile in my opinion. I have always really enjoyed the bold start, the super sweet profile, and great use of leather/rose/amber.

I enjoy Le Male, but I really feel that it’s in top form, a bit later on in the wear. The sweet creamy/powdery heart, is really where it’s fantastic.

Edge: 1 Million

Projection

1 Million is a monster. It is loud and projects extremely well. Le Male is pretty good in this regard, but isn’t touching 1 Million.

Le Male starts out moderate, maybe towards the upper end of what you consider moderate. Then, it’ll get lighter as we move along.

Update: While Le Male, seems basically the same as it ever was in terms of its sillage. 1 Million doesn’t have the same level of sustained power that it once did. It still wins this category, but not by nearly as wide of a margin.

Edge: 1 Million

Longevity

Again, both last well. The Paco Rabanne lasts very well. Seriously, 1 Million will go on and on with very little use, it can become annoying.

Maybe newer bottles don’t have the same power, as it used to, but it still will do a great job on the performance end of things. Update: They don’t last as long. But, I still get 8 hours of wear, from my bottle.

Jean Paul Gaultier is pretty solid, I usually get about 6 hours from it, which isn’t great but it is certainly serviceable. Le Male is much more low key, but as a daily wear, it’ll handle most of a work day. Perhaps, a full one, at times.

Edge: 1 Million

Versatility

Le Male would be better for close quarter situations such as work or school. 1 Million would be better for nightlife, though, a small dab may not overpower the room and thus could be used elsewhere.

I think both are better suited for cool weather, and JPG, especially becomes a mess in the heat. For me, Le Male gets pretty darn cloying when it’s too warm.

Just as a daily wear, Le Male would be the better bet. It isn’t a formal fragrance, but really isn’t going to offend and take over a room. Coming back to this cologne after a few years, I’ve enjoyed how pleasant it can be on certain days.

Le Male has the edge here.

Edge: Le Male

Overall Scent

I like both of these colognes. Like I said, they are both sweet and they do get on my nerves at times because of that. However, I like wearing 1 Million better than Le Male.

It is just more interesting to me. Le Male is nice but it can feel pretty synthetic and I don’t find myself wanting to wear it as often. There are stretches of time, where that isn’t true, but then I grow tired of the JPG once again.

Plus, I think there are plenty of other options that accomplish the same sort of vibe as Le Male. In the winter, I might also go with Kouros Body or Eros or even Burberry. Update: That’s changed, since this was originally posted almost 10 years ago.

1 Million is limited sometimes in its uses ,and I cannot bear to wear it , everyday. However, when I’m in the mood, it fits the bill. The leather and amber notes, really make it something special to me.

Yes, it can be brash at times, and that ‘bubble gum’ smell can be hit or miss depending on the mood.

Overall though, it still has better performance, a deeper profile, and captures attention in ways that the Jean Paul Gaultier perfume doesn’t. I’d wear either, but I prefer 1 Million.

I will say, for most people, Le Male would be the better option due to its versatility and low key style. But, I don’t think that makes it a better fragrance.

Winner: 1 Million

New York Oud by Bond No. 9

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I’ve received plenty of Bond No. 9 samples, as of late, so one can expect plenty of reviews of both men’s and women’s fragrances to be posted…as soon as I write them all up. Today, we have an entry from the unisex collection, New York Oud. It was released by Bond back in 2011. In this post, I’m going to explore what’s in it, how it smells, performs, and if I think it is worth a purchase or not.

What does New York Oud Smell Like?

Notes include: red plum, agar wood, saffron, rose, orris, honey, patchouli, orange zest, vetiver, musk

Click here to try: Bond No. 9 New York Oud Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

My Full Review

Right off of the bat, it is important to understand that New York Oud is a unique and niche fragrance. Meaning, it will not have the universal appeal of the common best sellers, that seemingly everyone enjoys.

The opening is brash and strong. You are immediately introduced to the tart red plum note, the oud, and rose.

I have to say, rose is one of my least favorite notes (especially in a men’s fragrance), and oud can be hit or miss for me. Both are good at times and terrible at others. I think that Bond No. 9 gets the oud right in this one.

Still, I do get tired of the rose and oud pairing.

The plum is quite tart and strong, underneath it I can detect the sweet familiarity of the honey note. The fruit blended with patchouli, reminds me a bit of Black XS, as it hits your nose in the same intense way.

There is a lot going on here, but mostly what I experience is: plum with orange layered with the rose/saffron/iris floral, and then that animalistic aroma of agar wood/musk.

Throw in some honey and patchouli for good measure and that’s New York Oud. It’s plenty complex.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, this one is really powerful on my skin. If you like very bold and loud scents, this one might be along the lines of what you’re looking for.

It’s pretty difficult to screw up the power with these rose and oud combo scents. But, this one is particularly well projecting. Plus, it does have some heft to it. Not a giant, thick cloud; kind of close though.

Not only that, it goes on and on, with how long it lasts. It’s one of those colognes that you really have to scrub off, in order to get rid of it. Top level projection and longevity.

This strikes me as more of a cold weather scent. I’m not really sure what to classify it as, casual? Romantic? I’d go more nightlife with this, but not a nightclub scent. Something like a lounge.

I really think that this will only work for a certain type of guy and would become more of a signature scent for him. It is unisex, technically. Though, this one definitely leans much more masculine, to me.

For most consumers, I don’t think this will even be an option. It’s one of those higher end niche fragrances, made for collectors or those who are bold with their perfume choices.

Overall Impressions of New York Oud

Overall, do I think that New York Oud is a buy? Yes, with caveats. Looking at the list of notes, I would expect to hate this fragrance, as it is chock full of stuff that can completely turn me off of a scent.

However, I don’t hate it. It’s interesting and unique, though, still not something that fits my personal style.

This is quite a niche fragrance, for those guys who love oud and want to stand out on a daily basis. If that’s you, New York Oud is your scent. It is expensive, as is the rest of the Bond No. 9 lineup.

Still, there are a ton of fragrances in this category, that do similar things. I like the addition of the plum note and honey, which help to separate it a bit from the usual rose and oud entries.

Moves for Men by Adidas

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Adidas is an athletics company, so, it should be kept in mind that the fragrances they produce are catered to a certain segment of the market at a certain price point. This isn’t a Dior or Creed type of fragrance manufacturer, where you are buying something wholly unique and a fashion statement in its own right.

With that out of the way, I wanted to do a review of Moves because it was one that I received as a gift in my early years in high school, which brings back memories when I think about Moves cologne.

This one came out back in 1999. How does it smell? How long does Moves last? Is it worth a try?

Note: Moves for Him was discontinued for a long while. It seems that Adidas has now re-released it. I found bottles on Amazon, which have ben redesigned, but you can at least buy this one again.

What does Adidas Moves Smell Like?

adidas

Notes include: black pepper, clove, jasmine, pineapple, spearmint, green apple, musk, and more.

Click here to try: Adidas Moves for Him

My Full Review

Moves is a blue fruity fragrance. Not in terms of a lemony type of citrusy smell but its fruity based profile is something similar to Tommy Hilfiger (although they don’t smell the same at all).

Though, there is an orange note here.

Where those two scent do align, is their youthful appeal. Let me just state from the start that, Adidas Moves is a cologne that should be used for high school guys in most instances.

Opening up, green apple is most prevalent and I can also detect the pineapple in it as well. As it settles down a bit, the more earthy notes begin to emerge and give it a center.

You do get a spicy freshness from the combination of the mint and black pepper notes. Nothing massive, but they give an edge to the shower gel sort of aroma that Moves presents.

One interesting note here, is the tomato leaf. Doesn’t stick out for long, but gives this Adidas cologne its initial greenish and freshness. Slightly aquatic, with how this can present early on.

A bottle of Moves can be had for under $10 (update: used to be. New bottles are about $15. Still a good affordable perfume for men) which makes it a solid option for younger guys, who don’t have much of an income yet.

Very clean presentation and always had a great cooling sensation when I wore Moves, back in the day. As it dries down, it honestly becomes much less distinct with its notes.

Vague florals, the blue-ish mishmash of notes and generic fruitiness, and then a musky base with some light woods. Not very complicated, but enjoyable.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise it’s pretty moderate and it can last somewhat long depending on the weather and conditions in which it is worn. That’s for the first half.

After that, it’s light and has it remaining refreshing quality that sits close to the skin.

On me, it would always hit the 5-6 hour range. Perhaps, it could tap 7 here or there. It’s a pretty basic and middle of the road performer. Not as bad as some of the really cheap colognes that have been released over the years, but also nothing spectacular.

It always struck me as a warm weather scent but it never really held up outdoors in the heat. It just evokes memories of those months when I was younger and this was my go to cologne.

A couple sprays should be enough for sitting in class, dates, etc. Again, though, this is more of a casual and sporty fragrance. It does smell good enough to venture a bit beyond that, but not much, and it is a teenager to college wear.

Maybe an older guy could wear it during a workout or something along those lines but should definitely opt for something more mature as a day to day fragrance.

Overall Impressions of Adidas Moves

Overall, is Adidas Moves worth a look? I mean, if you’re in middle or high school, then it is a safe bet. Outside of that? If you just happen to get a free bottle or don’t care about spending the $10 bucks…then go for it.

It’s not a mature fragrance and it doesn’t really have much to it in terms of layers. It’s a fairly attractive scent for the younger crowd. Though, it isn’t my favorite, but it is one which will work well for most guys of that age range.

It’s pretty linear, but I like the mix of fruity notes and greener undertones. This is more nostalgia for me, so, I’m not going to be grabbing a bottle. It’s nice enough for what it is and can do the job for some guys out there.

Nomad by Bond No. 9

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Nomad is a perfume released by Bond No. 9 New York back in 2021. I recently bought a sample of it as part of a lot and wanted to test out thing scent, to see what its all about. It’s one of the better looking bottles from the brand, but does the contents inside actually match up to the looks? How does it smell? Is it worth a try?

What does Nomad by Bond No. 9 smell like?

Notes include: quince, blackcurrant, pear, rose, oud, orris, violet leaf, vanilla, amber, sandalwood

Click here to try: Nomad from Bond

nomad bond review

My Full Review

Here’s how Bond describes it: Capturing the free spirit of New York’s dreamy wanderers. A strong, sensual, statement-making oud, with modern fruity notes and luxurious amber.

The opening here is sharp and fresh with a light watery mix coming from the pear and violet leaf notes. Blackcurrant, quince, and rose are kind of a lot to handle all at once. Especially, when they’re amped up to 1000 like they are in Nomad.

Man, this stuff goes on super powerful. Once some of the initial top has burned off, it will be more like a rose water, and much more tolerable.

Oud and rose are going to dominate. On my skin, I get a ton of the oud. I don’t mind it here, even if it isn’t a personal favorite note of mine. I could do without the pairing of it with rose, which has been done countless times by seemingly every designer.

The next phase is a slightly rosy oud with a bit of a powdery orris coming through. Spraying on clothes, I get more powder than on my skin. In either case, it’s only slight.

Nomad is sweeter less sharp, increasingly woody with some sandalwood coming into the picture and an amber base.

That’s basically the tail end of it. Woody, somewhat sweet and rosy, with an amber note having a larger role.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Nomad starts off monstrous with its projection. But, it’ll be quite strong for the rest of the way before declining into a skin scent deep into the wear.

That opening act is massive. Plenty of scent trail left behind, great projection, while not feeling super heavy. The slight aquatic aspect helps it from bogging everything down too much.

Nomad lasts forever on my skin. On a jacket, it’s still projecting a few feet, days after I sprayed it. It’s absolutely awesome with it’s performance. Not sure how long it actually goes on skin, but I’ve easily gotten 13+ hours before I scrubbed it.

Suffice to say, if you enjoy Nomad, you get your money’s worth.

Seasonally, autumn through spring. How deep into springtime, depends on where you live. I wouldn’t want this on, when it gets too hot outside. But, slightly chilly to moderate temperatures is where this Bond seems at its best.

This is also a true unisex. They did a great job a creating balance with appeal for anyone who likes this style of perfume.

It might not be the most versatile scent, due to its strength and the somewhat polarizing nature of oud and rose fragrances. Can be a bit much for the office, when you go beyond a few sprays.

Not super dressy or formal, but Noma has enough substance to be considered well put together. It’d be good for certain nighttime wear, lounges and things like that.

Overall Impressions of Nomad

Overall, do I like Nomad? Really, it’s not for me at all. Not a big rose and oud guy, but designers keep on cranking out these formulas, so I sort of have to review them.

Nomad is a beast, which can be both good and bad, depending on where you land with this scent.

I like the middle and dry down more. It’s somewhat softer and more balanced, without the harshness of the opening act. That’s when you get the best of everything. Still sweet and fruity, but with a fully developed oud taking center stage and some orris powder.

Nomad isn’t going to be a Bond No. 9 that enjoys a wide mass appeal. For some percentage of people, this is going to be perfect for them. Others, will be overwhelmed. I would suggest getting a sample before committing to hundreds of dollars spent, on a full bottle of Nomad.

A few bucks up front can save you from having an expensive paperweight on your shelf, if it turns out that you hate it.

New York Nights by Bond No. 9

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New York Nights is a perfume which has gained a lot of popularity since its release back in 2017. It’s among my favorite Bond No. 9 scents, especially in the unisex part of this brand’s lineup. I bought another sample of Nights in order to finally do a proper review for the site. How does it smell? Does it last long?

What does New York Night Smell Like?

Notes include: gardenia, carnation, jasmine, patchouli, sea notes, sandalwood, caramel, coffee

Click here to try: New York Nights by Bond No.9

My Full Review

The opening here is interesting, as you get notes from every phase of the wear coming through to add their own statement.

To me, what stands out as interesting are: gardenia, aquatic notes, and the caramel. It’s a sweetish blend of flowers, with a smooth and somewhat thick blend of that caramel/coffee accord, and the freshness of sea notes.

Now, the sea notes here aren’t going to give you seaweed smells, like some of the others from Bond No. 9. However, it along with that caramel give you saltiness and just a general sense of freshness.

For some people, the sweetness mixed with the floral top notes, gives them a ‘banana’ or ‘banana bread’ sort of aroma. I get that somewhat, but on my skin New York Nights is much more of a distinct caramel with some roasted coffee.

That being said, that banana effect does pop up for me, from time to time.

Actually, I tend to get more of a spicy kick from the patchouli and carnation notes. This carnation does come across very much like clove here.

As we get into the middle act, Nights will become more of a standard floral. Most of the spice is gone, as are the sea notes. That’s kind of a disappointment, but I still like the result of this scent.

Gardenia and jasmine with sandalwood/patchouli, and a more equal mix of the coffee and caramel notes. The caramel loses some of its ground to its fellow base note.

The end of the line is a general sweetness with indistinct floral notes. Nothing too much stands out for me, at this point. It’s pleasant and wearable, but it all comes together into a mass.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

To me, this has a fairly strong start. It settles into something that is only a bit above average. But, I get good projection when I spray it on clothes and leave the room. I can certainly detect it from afar and it leaves a scent trail when I wear it.

That won’t be the case for the entirety, as Nights will start to be more of an intimate scent. I never find it weak, it just doesn’t have that beast in it.

On my skin, this will last somewhere in the 7-8 hour range. It seems to land more towards the former, rather than the higher number.

Seasonally, I do prefer this one the colder days and nights of the autumn and winter months. More nighttime, as the name suggests. I think it’s fine for most in the spring, also. I’d stay away from massively humid and hot days.

It’s not so heavy that it’s stuck to cold weather only. You can venture a bit with NY Nights.

This one is listed as unisex, as are a lot of others from this brand. It leans feminine, but still quite wearable by almost anyone. If you don’t like the sweeter scents or florals, then, you can probably safely ignore Nights.

Overall Impressions of New York Nights

Overall, do I like New York Nights? Yes, again, it’s one of my favorites from Bond. However, it won’t be for everyone, even if it is a popular perfume.

For some guys, this may be too feminine. For people in general, you might get too much of that banana and lotion kind of smell, and that could also put you off to Nights.

The performance for the price is decent, but definitely not spectacular. If it were cheaper, I’d recommend that people blind buy this one. Since it isn’t, I’d recommend trying it out if you’re really interested. New York Nights could be one that you absolutely love.

For me, the floral is blended very well with the caramel and coffee accord. Those two, along with the sea notes draw me into that opening act. Some jasmine and carnation are around as well, giving this some depth beyond being a one note gardenia perfume.

This is a really good scent for the right person. It’s still quite mass appealing, but there will always be a sizeable contingent that New York Nights just doesn’t mesh well with. For me, it’s a delight.