Prada

Prada L’Homme Intense EDP

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So, today I have another entry from the Prada line of men’s fragrances, and one of the flankers to the original Prada L’Homme: Prada L’Homme Intense. In this post, I am going to cover what’s in it, how it smells, when it should be worn, how long it lasts, and if it is even worth a buy?

What does L’Homme Intense by Prada Smell Like?

Notes included: amber, leather, tonka bean, iris, sandalwood, patchouli

Click here to try: Prada L’homme Intense Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Review

Prada L’homme Intense starts off with that familiar iris note, with its powdery aroma, and a warm amber plus smoothly rich leather. It’s very nice and has a noticeable darker profile than does the original L’Homme.

This scent is clean, warm, and sweet with the inclusion of a roasted tonka bean note for good measure. I like how dry the composition is and how the amber sort of soaks the iris.

Further along in the wear, we get to hit a base of sandalwood and patchouli. I really appreciate how subtle these later notes are and how they simply enhance the overall vibe of an already fantastic smelling cologne.

It’s really at this time, that I am reminded of Dior Homme and Dior Homme Eau, as L’Homme Intense fits right in line with that series. However, this is stronger on the iris and doesn’t have the leather to the same extent, nor any cacao. The overlap isn’t too extreme.

What it ultimately dries down to is an incredibly rich blend of mainly the iris and tonka bean. It’s so classy and smooth, with the leather and amber, being the next most powerful notes.

Though, I’d put the amber at number three. From here, it is pretty linear, and doesn’t develop much beyond this.

The powdery iris and the mix of woods, sweet notes, and leather are truly fantastic together. Not a super complicated fragrance in its development, but is definitely enjoyable throughout.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I find the sillage to be on the upper end of moderate. It’s not a heavy scent, but it projects well, just not crazy so. The performance is very good, regardless, and you or other people will notice this juice on you.

The longevity for me hits around 9 hours, which is great for just about any purposes. Not exactly top tier level, that goes on for seemingly ever, but this Prada isn’t going to disappoint. Truly, for most purpose Intense is going to work perfectly.

Seasonally, L’Homme Intense strikes me as a cold weather scent, with the ability to be worn in more moderate temperatures. I do feel it is a bit more limited than the original L’Homme, in this regard, but if you want to wear it at its absolute best, is should be colder.

This Prada cologne, does have a more mature profile, which isn’t to say that younger guys cannot wear it. However, it’s one that works extremely well dressed up, or out for an evening on the town. It is fresh and elegant and doesn’t have any of the overly youthful sweetness.

It is an excellent choice for men in their mid-20s and above, is completely safe for work, while being completely attractive enough for dates.

Overall Impressions of L’Homme Intense

Overall do I like Prada L’Homme Intense? I think it is an amazing fragrance. It’s got enough similarities to the original to be familiar, while also adding new elements, to stand on its own.

It does occupy that same sort of space that the Dior Homme’s of the world do, which might prevent me from getting a full bottle in the near future.

Though, since Dior has reformulated Dior Homme in 2020, maybe this would be a nice alternative.

This Prada is a clean, classy scent and the iris note is simply great. It’s not one to get, if you don’t really enjoy floral or powdery fragrances. The leather and patchouli rough it up and masculinize it, but there is a very good balance at play here.

But, I really have no negative things to say about Intense. I enjoyed wearing it thoroughly. This is an elegant scent, that performs well, and will appeal to a wide variety of people. Yes, there is plenty of overlap here, but still an outstanding scent to put on.

Prada Luna Rossa vs Luna Rossa Carbon Comparison

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Here we are with another head to head cologne comparison between two Prada fragrances, from the Luna Rossa line: Luna Rossa vs. Carbon. Now, Luna Rossa Carbon is obviously a flanker scent to the original, but did it end up surpassing it in quality? In this post, I’m going to do my usual breakdown of features, which has the edge in categories, and the overall best smelling option out of the two.

Tale of the Tape: Luna Rossa vs. Carbon

Luna Rossa Carbon

Notes include: lavender, ambroxan, metallic notes, pepper, patchouli, coal, bergamot

Click here to try: Prada Luna Rossa CARBON for Men Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.4 ounce

My Original Review: Luna Rossa Carbon

Luna Rossa

Notes include:  lavender, sage, spearmint, ambrette, ambroxan, and bitter orange

Click here to try: Prada Luna Rossa Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

My Review: Luna Rossa Review

Opening

The original Luna Rossa, opens with a blast of citrus and lavender, which is quickly joined by that cold spearmint note. It has a bright, positive, albeit ‘breezy’ sort of quality. The bitter orange citrus is the main highlight of the open.

It’s not too complex of a cologne. It’s a nice balance between that bitter orange citrus and the cooling freshness of the spearmint. Add to that, the signature lavender (which starts off lighter), and you’ve got yourself a very pleasing scent.

Carbon, on the other hand, opens with a pretty intense bergamot citrus, and is joined by lavender, pepper, and ambroxan.

After about five minutes, the lavender becomes much more of the biggest star of the composition. This whole affair, is why it draws so many comparisons with Sauvage.

Which one do I like better? I think I have a slight affinity towards how Luna Rossa starts off. The orange gives it a different citrus aroma, they share the lavender, and the mint sets it apart.

Plus, the lavender is much more subdued in the original than in Carbon. The more time that I have spent with each, over the past few years, the more that I like Luna Rossa’s start compared to Carbon’s.

Edge: Luna Rossa

Projection

Luna Rossa is moderate. Heck, even on the lighter end of the spectrum of moderate. Carbon is pretty loud at the beginning and then settles down into a moderate, though, it is a stronger moderate than the original. Carbon wins this.

The citrus, pepper, and ambroxan  gives Carbon its punch early on. It outdoes the mint note in the original.

Luna Rossa isn’t weak, it’s just not a powerhouse. You’ll definitely notice that its there, but you’re not going to overwhelm the room, unless you go crazy with the sprays.

Edge: Carbon

Longevity

This is another clear win for Carbon. It’ll last 10+ hours on my skin, while I can only manage 6-8 hours with Luna Rossa. Luna Rossa isn’t bad, but Carbon has better staying power. Both of these fall pretty consistently within this range.

Luna Rossa doesn’t have that one note, that will just keep going, while Carbon does have more heft to its overall composition.

Edge: Carbon

Versatility

I don’t see a real winner in terms of when it can be worn seasonally or during specific occasions. They can both do the everyday, casual, office wear, and date night. These two scents are very versatile.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

So, Carbon has the edge in terms of it’s strength and staying power, and there’s no clear winner in versatility. However, in my mind the original Luna Rossa smells better.

It’s a simple fragrance, but effective. In it’s minimalism, Luna Rossa is very fresh and inviting. The spearmint note adds a nice little dash of cooled sharpness to the cologne, which I feel keeps it from getting boring.

It’s invigorating and very pleasant. The lavender never becomes too heavy and once that initial orange and mint tones down, it’s an attractive wear.

I like Carbon too. If you’re someone who really enjoys Dior Sauvage, this is a very close approximation of that scent, especially when smelled from a distance. Neither one of these is a bad cologne, but Luna Rossa has a more pleasant and desirable aroma, in my opinion.

It sort of all depends on how you want your lavender note served up. I just prefer the original more so.

Winner: Luna Rossa

Luna Rossa Carbon vs Ocean Comparison

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Luna Rossa has been a massively successful fragrance line for Italian brand, Prada. In 2021, it released its latest edition, Luna Rossa Ocean. The question then becomes, how does this latest cologne compare to some of the more popular ones before it? In this post, I am comparing Ocean to the popular, Carbon. Which smells best? Lasts longer?

Tale of the Tape: Ocean vs. Carbon

Luna Rossa Ocean

Notes include: bergamot, iris, pink pepper, artemisia, lavender, sage, suede, saffron, musk, vetiver, caramel, patchouli

Click here to try:  Luna Rossa Ocean at Macy’s

Luna Rossa Carbon

Notes include: lavender, ambroxan, metallic notes, pepper, patchouli, coal, bergamot

Click here to try: Prada Luna Rossa CARBON for Men Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.4 ounce

My Original Review: Luna Rossa Carbon

Opening

Luna Rossa Carbon opens up with a strong use of its citrus note, bergamot. Lavender, a light ambroxan, and the metallic aroma finish which gives it the name Carbon. It’s clean, citrus, then gives off a soapier vibe.

With Ocean, you get what I would call a ‘light blue’ impression. You get the same bergamot note. But, this time the lavender is toned down. It has a sweetness provided by a mix of tonka bean and caramel.

Smooth suede, powdery iris, really help to give off a fresh and aromatic aroma.  The iris is stronger than the lavender, in this one.

Smooth, sweet, spicy, but don’t expect an aquatic based on its name. Less of the ocean and something that would smell very pleasant while on the boat or shore.

Pink pepper is really coming through, at times. Artemisia? I really don’t pick up much, but there is some slight herbal bitterness there…if I stop and pay attention.

Which one is better? I really like the opening of Luna Rossa Ocean. It’s that absolute highlight of the cologne, to me. Very attractive and easy to wear. Familiar, while giving off its own style.

It has a great depth and sweetness that I completely enjoy.

Edge: Ocean

Projection

The two seem to open up at around the same upper level of moderate, with it how far they will project. Neither is a beast, but they are very noticeable by those around you, right after application.

Luna Rossa Ocean doesn’t hold up though. You get maybe 1-2 hours of decent projection, before it becomes super light. It’s kind of a bummer for something in this price range.

Meanwhile, Carbon is more consistent. Not a massive fragrance, it is just one that will stay steady and then slowly dissipate.  Easy win here.

Edge: Carbon

Longevity

With Luna Rossa Carbon, it has consistently performed well on my skin. I get over 8 hours of wear from it, sometimes in that 9-10 range. It sticks around and is overall a very solid scent, in this regard.

Ocean does have some performance issues. For me, it’s been 4-6 hours of total wear, during testing.

It is one that you’re going to have to spray like crazy in order to get decent longevity from it. Even with that, the last 2-3 hours are pretty much going to be sitting very close to the skin.

Edge: Carbon

Versatility

Both of these fragrances really do deliver value in terms of when you can wear each. They both fit in during pretty much all seasons. You can wear them casually, on a date, at work, or on formal occasions.

Mass pleasing for sure.

I think that I’d rather wear Ocean in the summer versus Carbon, but neither is strictly a hot wear wear.  These fragrances are daily wears for men of pretty much any age group.

I’m not sure that there is much of a distinction with these.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these colognes from Prada do I prefer?

If we were just going off of initial smell alone, I really prefer Luna Rossa Ocean. That opening act is fantastic and super pleasing to my nose. Carbon is cool, but Ocean gives me more.

The middle act is a fresh floral with notes like sage, coming through more. That initial caramel, will fade to a great extent.

But, the dry down is a pretty boring affair. Still nice, but you don’t get to enjoy the full experience thanks to its light sillage. It’s very floral, powdery, musky. Iris and lavender, a bit sweet, less ‘blue’ during this stage.

It still like it. But, I don’t like the performance. At full price? No, but I have already seen Ocean on sale that includes an extra travel sprayer. As such, I might still buy a bottle at some point. Just going to spray the hell out of it.

Carbon is just a bit better in terms of its consistency. I still like the way it smells, just not to the same extent. Plus, the performance is much better. It’s always been a better version of Sauvage.

I’ll probably own Ocean, but for most guys, Carbon would be the better play.

Luna Rossa Sport by Prada

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This is the first time that I have gotten to a Prada fragrance on this site.  No particular reason for that but I really wanted to write about this fragrance because it caught my attention. When I saw the name, I must admit that I thought it would be a different type of fragrance profile…you know, something ‘sporty’ or outdoorsy but it was something else all together.

Luckily, it wasn’t a disappointment to smell this Luna Rossa flanker, and whatever my expectations were; they went out the window. With that in mind, please continue reading below for my full take and breakdown of Luna Rossa Sport.

What does Luna Rossa Sport Smell Like?

Notes include: Vanilla, juniper berry, ginger, lavender, and tonka bean

Shop on Amazon: Prada Luna Rossa SPORT Eau de Toilette Spray 3.4 oz

My Full Review

The first thing that I really noticed about this scent was how sweet and clean it was. I really dug the opening of the tonka bean with just an underlying hint of vanilla, which really begins to emerge later.

It’s got an aromatic powdery scent to it, but unlike something such as Joop!, it isn’t accompanied by a heavier spice. It’s a sweeter and more airy scent like Kouros Body (again without the spice) or Eros by Versace (without the heaviness).

Ultimately, it reminds me most of Armani Code Profumo, in how it presents itself, and the two notes it has in common. While the opening is delicious and reminiscent of other fragrances, I think its unique qualities emerge with time.

Beyond the vanilla and tonka bean in the opening, there is also a nice juniper, and a clean ginger spice. These two really contribute to the fresh and mild spicy profile.

This does create a dynamic feeling to this edition of the Luna Rossa line, that the original just didn’t have, with its bright citrus and lavender paring.

The one thing that is very familiar about Luna Rossa Sport, is its use of the lavender note that is prevalent throughout the series. I don’t feel like it’s as heavy as it is in Luna Rossa Carbon, for example, and seems much more subdued by the tonka bean note.

It’s utterly refreshing with a bit of a crisp bite lying underneath, which I guess is the ginger note, at play.

Versatility

Again, this isn’t a sporty scent in the usual sense of the word, I would categorize it as a sexy and versatile fragrance. You could definitely wear this out on a date or to the office or school.

It has an ability to be worn by all ages, but probably best for mid-20s and up. It’s a well put together, ‘sport’ fragrance, and doesn’t have a cheapie youthful aroma.

I actually like it the best during the colder months of the year, it hangs so well in the crisp night air of both autumn and winter. I’d give it a go in the springtime, but summer around here is much to humid.

Luna Rossa Sport is pretty linear and what you get at about 10-15 minutes in, is what you should expect from the cologne thereafter.

Sillage and Longevity

The projection is decent. I don’t find it to have as much sillage as Carbon but around the same amount as the original Luna Rossa. Sport has more depth than the original and can therefore seem heavier than it actually is.

That tonka bean and vanilla creaminess/smoothness can make it have thicker aroma, but the sillage isn’t as powerful as it might lead you to believe.

It’ll be noticeable around 8 feet from the skin, at first, before moving in closer to the 3-4 foot range. That initial burst, is pretty short lived, while being a pretty high peak.

The longevity is more stable, and I can pull 6-7 hours from this one, without a problem. This fragrance, isn’t an absolute workhorse. Though, it does give a solid enough performance to be useful

Overall Impressions of Luna Rossa Sport

Overall, do I like Luna Rossa Sport? Yes, it is quite an underrated fragrance in my mind. I think it gets overlooked because it is so simple and there are so many other Luna Rossa variants out there now, that Sport can get lost in the shuffle.

It is more of a subtle fragrance, that isn’t weak, but doesn’t overpower either. Sport features a crispy freshness and a rush of aromatic clean. I dig it and have absolutely loved wearing it around as of late.

The juniper and tonka bean pairing, isn’t always something that I’m in the mood for. Some days, it can feel annoying. Nonetheless, it really does have an appeal, which keeps bringing me back to this scent.

The whole Luna Rossa line has been great. Eau Sport is another one that really gets no love, but should be checked out.

Prada L’Homme vs. Luna Rossa Cologne Comparison

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For this edition of my running cologne comparisons, we have a contest between two popular Prada scents for men, L’Homme vs. Luna Rossa. Which of these fragrances smells the best? Which has more versatility? Better sillage? Overall, which is the better buy? Scroll down for my full breakdown and links to my original reviews of each.

Tale of the Tape: L’Homme vs. Luna Rossa

Luna Rossa

Notes include:  lavender, sage, spearmint, ambrette, ambroxan, and bitter orange

Click here to try: Prada Luna Rossa Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

My Review: Luna Rossa Review

Prada L’Homme

Notes include: iris, amber, geranium, patchouli, neroli, violet, pepper, cedar

Click here to try: Prada L’Homme Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

My review: Prada L’Homme

Opening

Luna Rossa opens up with a nice bitter orange citrus note, lavender, and a refreshing spearmint. It’s very simple, bright, and up beat. The spearmint note is key to the composition and how it plays off of the orange, to keep it interesting.

L’Homme, opens up with a fresh iris note, and other powdery floral ingredients. It’s got violet and neroli, which are surrounded by a warm amber. It’s slightly sweet and has a solid base of cedar, pepper, and patchouli.

Which is better? Both are pretty straightforward fragrances, and as much as I like the citrus top from Luna Rossa, I think that L’Homme just smells better. It’s cleaner and more refined.

Edge: L’Homme

Projection

Luna Rossa is a light to moderate fragrance, but it does feel quite airy, and definitely not a beast or heavy type of cologne. Meanwhile, L’Homme is more solidly in the moderate camp than is its competitor. It will be moderate for about 2/3 of the wear and then is a much lighter scent.

Edge: L’Homme

Longevity

Both scents fit in the 6-7 hour range of wear. L’Homme is stronger and has better sillage, but doesn’t last any longer than Luna Rossa.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Again, this category is a draw. Both of these fragrances is very versatile and can be worn year round in pretty much any scenario. Really a strength of both.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I really like both of these Prada scents and the performance is so close to one another, it really becomes a simple preference of which smell you prefer. Luna Rossa is a great simple blend of citrus, lavender, and mint.

You do get a little bit of amber, beyond that, but it’s a fairly linear experience from start to finish. Super clean and a nice light daily wear sort of cologne.

L’Homme, smells better to my nose. Yes, it is one of those floral based colognes, and could honestly be unisex.

However, the underlying pepper, patchouli, and cedar lend some masculinity to the aroma and blend really well with the prominent iris note. If you don’t like iris, you probably won’t like this. If you want citrus, go with Luna Rossa.

For me, I’d rather wear L’Homme over the original Luna Rossa in most scenarios. For that and the slightly better sillage, it gets the nod.

Winner: L’Homme