Fragrances

Polo Red Intense vs. Polo Blue

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In this edition of the men’s fragrance comparisons, I am going to be taking a closer look at two offerings from Ralph Lauren, Polo Red Intense vs. Polo Blue EDT. Which of these popular colognes smells the best? Which lasts longer? Which is the better buy? I am going to be comparing the eau de toilette version of Polo Blue, as it is the more popular of the two options. I have included my original reviews of each fragrance linked below.

Tale of the Tape: Polo Red Intense vs. Blue EDT

Polo Blue

Notes include: amber, melon, patchouli, geranium, cucumber, tangerine, moss, musk

Click here to try: Polo Blue by Ralph Lauren for Men, Eau De Toilette Natural Spray, 4.2 Ounce

Read my original review: Polo Blue Review

Polo Red Intense

Notes include: cranberry, grapefruit, coffee, leather, ginger, amber, lavender, lemon, cedar, sage, saffron

Click here to try: Ralph Lauren Polo Red Intense for Men 4.2 Oz Edp Spray By Ralph Lauren, 4.2 Fluid Ounce

Read my original review: Polo Red Intense

Opening

Polo Blue starts off with a cool and crisp aroma, with notes of melon and cucumber, checking in early. Those are the two main attractions, with a nice aquatic scent, and a light tangerine and amber note. It is simple and pleasant.

Red Intense starts off with the same lemon and cranberry notes of Polo Red, but with added spices, to give it its own flavor. Red Intense brings forth a heavier dose of sage, saffron, coffee, and ginger. It is a sweet fruit blend with warm herbal spice.

Which is better? To me, Red Intense has the better opening, hands down. It is an improved version of Polo Red, which I already thought started off better than Blue. So, Red Intense is great. After that initial wave, you start to get more leather and lavender, to add a smoothness to the composition.

Edge: Red Intense

Projection

Polo Red Intense does start off with a few hours of pretty strong sillage, before becoming more moderate. It is definitely strong enough to be noticed, with normal application.

Polo Blue doesn’t hit the same heights as Intense, but is a pretty moderate scent throughout. Keep in mind, Red Intense is an EDP and this Polo Blue is an EDT version.

Edge: Red Intense

Longevity

The longevity of Polo Blue is actually pretty good and competes well with Polo Red Intense. With Blue, I get 7-8 hours of wear, consistently. Red Intense will go between 7-9, so, it does have a bit extra. Though, not a major difference.

Edge: Red Intense (slightly)

Versatility

Both of these scents are very versatile. Polo Blue is a bit better in terms of what climate, it can be worn in. It will hold up in the heat, while Red Intense isn’t great on those hotter days.

Meanwhile, Red Intense is better for nightlife, and has more sex appeal. Both are fine casually. pretty evenly matched, but I think Blue EDT holds up a bit better at school or work than does Intense.

Edge: Blue

Overall Scent

Polo Blue is a nice fragrance, but fairly linear, and nothing spectacular. I like it’s aquatic elements, the cucumber/melon/tangerine trio have a bright and crisp aroma. All of this sits within the warm embrace of amber. It is a simple and inoffensive choice for everyday wear, with good performance overall.

However, Polo Red Intense just smells better to me. The dry down has that great cranberry note, with amber, leather, lavender, and coffee. It has lots of personality, warmth, and a dynamic smell.

It can be super smooth, spicy, and fruity. Red Intense is a really interesting fragrance to wear and I would reach for it over Polo Blue a vast majority of the time.

However, Red Intense might not be the best for you. It can indeed be bold and sweet, which might not fit in for what you’re using it for. Many, might want to go with the more versatile Blue EDT.

Truth be told, neither of these would be my first choice from either the Red or Blue lines. If you like Blue: Deep Blue or Blue EDP are better. If you like Red: Red Extreme and Red EDP.

Winner: Red Intense

Tom Ford Tuscan Leather vs Creed Aventus Comparison

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In this edition of our head to head cologne comparisons, we have to competitors that are best sellers for their respective brands: Tuscan Leather by Tom Ford vs. Aventus by Creed. Which one of these popular fragrances smells the best? Which one gives a better performance? Is more versatile? Please continue below, for my full take after wearing both of them for a long time.

Tale of the Tape: Aventus vs. Tuscan Leather

Tuscan Leather

Notes include: leather, suede, raspberry, jasmine, olibanum, saffron, amber

Click here to try: Tom Ford Tuscan Leather Eau De Parfume Spray for Men, 1.7 Ounce

My original Review: Tuscan Leather

Aventus

Top: Blackcurrant, Italian bergamot, French apples and pineapple

Middle: Rose, dry birch, Moroccan jasmine, and patchouli

Base Notes: musk, oak moss, ambergris, and vanilla.

Click here to try Aventus: Creed Aventus Creed 4 OZ Millesime Spray For Men

My original Review: Creed Aventus

Opening

The start of Tuscan Leather is a mix of the leather note and saffron, which gives it a striking similarity to Godolphin by Parfums de Marly. However, the Tom Ford separates itself with the inclusion of a raspberry note, which adds a sweet juiciness to the composition.

It’s super rich and smooth, with an additional inclusion of black suede that really amps up those elements.

Meanwhile, the opening of Creed Aventus, is one that I’ve never really been a fan of. Pineapple and black currant together at the top, cause the cologne to be quite sharp, and this is played off of dry birch wood.

Plus, additional apple and citrus, make the opening of Avenuts a tad to intense for my taste.

Edge: Tuscan Leather

Projection

Creed Aventus isn’t insanely powerful, but the sillage is strong, and you can indeed overdo it if you’re not careful. Tuscan Leather matches that power at first, but after an hour or so, it turns into a more moderate scent with sillage commensurate with that.

Edge: Aventus

Longevity

With Aventus I average about 6 hours of wear on warm and humid days. On colder days, it will last for 8-9 hours, on my skin.

Older bottles of Tuscan Leather seem to have better longevity than Aventus, but the latest batch, gets around 8 hours of wear for me. So, with that in mind, I don’t currently see an advantage here.

Edge: Push

Versatility

In terms of what occasions each can be worn on, these two are very similar. Both are great dressed up, at the office, or for a night on the town. Heck, I wear them casually too. I think the difference comes in, when the seasons are considered.

Tuscan Leather is a autumn/winter scent, it’s not awful in moderate temperatures, but it shines in the colder air. Aventus, on the other hand, has much better ability to be worn year round. It’s not great in the middle of the summer, but is great during the rest of the year.

Edge: Aventus

Overall Scent

This is actually a really tough head to head to decide on, because these two colognes are actually quite different, but people seem to love comparing them for some reason. Which smell I enjoy better, can often depend on what day I’m asked, and what I’m in the mood for.

While I don’t like the opening of Aventus, I do like the dry down period much better. It becomes softer, has a dry smoky quality, and is quite well done. It also has better projection at this time and can hold up in warmer weather better.

Tuscan Leather, has an amazing leather note. It’s warmed by amber, really dark and smooth, with added raspberry and jasmine. It’s simpler but is very good within that simplicity.

Most of the time, I will enjoy wearing this Tom Ford more than the Creed. I happen to enjoy its aroma more than Aventus overall, even if Aventus can do better in certain aspects.

So, while I’m going to give the nod slightly to Tuscan Leather, it might not be the best option for you. If you don’t particularly enjoy leather, you won’t like wearing it.

If you want citrus and dry woods, among other things, Aventus will better serve you. Maybe you get a bottle of Tuscan Leather and try out one of the imitations of Creed Aventus for cheaper.

Winner: Tuscan Leather (slightly)

La Nuit de l’Homme vs. Sauvage EDT Comparison

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Today, I am going to be taking a closer look at two of the best selling men’s fragrances out there, and comparing what sets them apart. The two contestants? La Nuit de L’Homme vs. Sauvage EDT. Which smells better? The Dior or the YSL? Which cologne lasts longer? Has better sillage? Is the better buy? I have tried out and reviewed each of them, now it is time to see which is the winner.

Tale of the Tape: La Nuit vs. Sauvage

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

La Nuit

Notes include: cardamom, bergamot, vetiver, lavender, cedar

Try it out: Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit De L’homme Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.3-Ounce

Read my review: La Nuit de l’Homme

Opening

The opening of Sauvage EDT is a spicy citrus blend of bergamot and Sichuan pepper. It is strong and fairly sharp, but is quickly joined by a calm lavender, and the ambroxan note. The ambroxan will become more prevalent as it settles on the skin.

La Nuit de l’Homme kicks off with cardamom and bergamot. It is also a somewhat spicy citrus blend, but the spice is fresher, smoother, and the bergamot is lighter in this YSL. La Nuit is warmer than it is spicy and the lavender note here, eventually takes over most of the citrus.

Which is better? I think that I prefer the start of La Nuit versus Sauvage. Sauvage can be too sharp at the beginning for my nose and I like the cardamom note better than the Sichuan pepper.

Edge: La Nuit

Projection

La Nuit starts off pretty moderate with its sillage, before becoming a much lighter cologne. Actually, newer bottles are fairly light for the entirety. It was never a heavy fragrance, but now it’s got even less punch.

Meanwhile, Sauvage EDT, starts off with a powerful burst and gradually becomes more upper moderate. The sillage is an easy win for the Dior.

Edge: Sauvage

Longevity

La Nuit will last in the 6-8 hour range, on my skin, but it’s usually more towards the six hour end. Update: newer bottles of this YSL don’t hit that 8 hour mark anymore. I can still get six, usually.

Sauvage will go 6-9 hours, but usually towards the nine hour mark. Sometimes, they’ll be equal, but more often than not it’s Sauvage winning.

Edge: Sauvage

Versatility

Both of these fragrances have a lot of versatility and can excel in a variety of situations. I think that the distinction comes in, with the climate. Sauvage can work year round, better than La Nuit, which holds up in cold to moderate temperatures but not so much in heat.

Also, Sauvage is better suited for the night club kind of environment. They are pretty equal in other respects.

Edge: Sauvage

Overall Scent

As you can see, Sauvage performs a bit better and is somewhat more versatile, than is La Nuit. However, I have to say that La Nuit de L’Homme smells better than Sauvage EDT.

Sauvage starts out with that intensity, that I’m not too fond of, and it becomes smoother over time with its lavender and ambroxan note. It is warm, spicy, and crowd pleasing with its citrus.

La Nuit is very clean and masculine with a lavender and cardamom blend, leading the way. Under that, you get woodsy cedar and vetiver. It is fresh with a really nice aroma.

I’m going to give La Nuit the win over Sauvage, because I do think that it is better smelling fragrance. It’s performance is good enough, to make up for lagging behind Sauvage in area, by just having the better scent.

Update: The performance has suffered with Nuit recently. It still smells like a better fragrance. I wouldn’t pay full price for either, but I enjoy La Nuit much more.

Remember though, I’m talking about the more popular EDT version of Sauvage versus La Nuit. I would actually go with the EDP version over either. This is how I’d rank them: 1. Sauvage EDP 2. Sauvage Parfum 3. La Nuit 4. Sauvage EDT.

If it’s between just these two, go with La Nuit. Otherwise, I’d pick Sauvage EDP. If you want EDT, there are plenty men’s perfumes like Dior Sauvage.

Winner: La Nuit

Tuscan Leather vs Noir de Noir Comparison

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In this head to head matchup, we have to more entries from the Tom Ford Private Blend collection: Tuscan Leather vs Noir de Noir. Which of these popular Tom Ford fragrances, smells the best? Which has the better performance? Versatility? Which one is the better overall buy?

Tale of the Tape

Tuscan Leather

Notes include: leather, suede, raspberry, jasmine, olibanum, saffron, amber

Click here to try: Tom Ford Tuscan Leather Eau De Parfume Spray for Men, 1.7 Ounce

My original Review: Tuscan Leather

Noir de Noir

Notes include: rose, oud, patchouli, black truffle, tree moss

Click here to try: Tom Ford Private Blend Noir De Noir Eau De Parfum Spray Edp 3.4 Fl / 100 Ml

My original review: Noir de Noir

Opening

Tuscan Leather opens with saffron and a very good smelling and rich leather note. If one is a lover of how leather smells, Tuscan Leather is a fantastic example of it at its very best. Add to that, a smooth black suede note and the added touch of raspberry, and you have a delightful fragrance opening.

Meanwhile, Noir de Noir, opens up with rose and patchouli. It is a sweet smelling rose with a very earthy and slightly spicy patchouli. Oud sits underneath this combination and give it that familiar aroma.

Which is better? I like the way both of these fragrances smell at first, but I think Tuscan Leather has the better opening act. Noir de Noir is at its best once it starts to dry down, but Tuscan Leather tops it at the start.

Edge: Tuscan Leather

Projection

Tuscan Leather starts off with pretty heavy sillage and then becomes a moderate fragrance the rest of the way. Noir is moderate pretty consistently throughout the wear and never really goes that big. It will stay within 3-4 feet of your skin.

Edge: Tuscan Leather

Longevity

With the current incarnation of Tuscan Leather I get 8-9 hours of wear and I get about the same with its Tom Ford compatriot. No clear winner.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Both of these fragrances shine in cold weather. Tuscan Leather can probably take the heat better, but it’s not a warm weather scent by any means. They are both listed as unisex, but I think Noir de Noir can be worn by a greater number of people.

They are also both best served to be worn while dressed up or for a night out. However, I’d wear Tuscan Leather casually, but probably wouldn’t with Noir. I do also think that Noir is probably considered sexier. Again, this is a tough call but I think Tuscan Leather has a slight edge.

Edge: Tuscan Leather

 

 

Overall Scent

Noir de Noir is a great scent. The rose and oud notes, which I’m usually not a fan of, are actually something that I enjoy with this one. Beyond that the dry down actually does get earthy and a bit dirty with moss and patchouli, but also sweet and creamy with black truffle and vanilla.

It’s all very warm, complex, and strikes a lot of different chords while wearing. It is definitely the more unique scent of these two.

Tuscan Leather is a fantastic leather fragrance with solid performance and an intriguing smell. It isn’t all that unique and does have a rather straightforward composition, so it won’t score high on originality, but it does outshine Noir in some respects or at least equal it.

In the end, I think I’m going to give the nod to Noir de Noir. While it doesn’t have beast sillage, it is good, and lasts all day. Most importantly, the dry down is outstanding, and has such an interesting development throughout. Even with ingredients that I’m usually not a fan of, it makes me enjoy wearing and smelling the fragrance.

That’s a pretty high complement in itself. Is it remarkably better? No, but I can get a similar experience with Ombre Leather or Godolphin, as I can with Tuscan Leather. I cannot say the same about Noir.

Winner: Noir de Noir

Mont Blanc Legend vs. Legend Night

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In this head to head cologne comparison, I want to take a closer look at the always popular Mont Blanc Legend versus its flanker fragrance, Legend Night. Which smells better? The original or the nighttime edition? Which lasts longer? Has better sillage? I am going to break down each by category, before declaring an ultimate winner between them.

Tale of the Tape

Mont Blanc Legend

Notes include: Bergamot, Pineapple Leaf, Sandalwood, Apple, rose, oak moss, lemon verbena, geranium, lavender,  And Tonka Bean

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Legend Eau de Toilette 3.3 fl.oz.

Read my review: Mont Blanc Legend

Legend Night

Notes include: candied apple, cedar, vanilla, cardamom, vetiver, sage, mint, bergamot, fir, lavender, violet, patchouli, and musk

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Legend Night Eau De Parfum, 1 fl. oz.

Read my review: Legend Night

Opening

Legend opens up with crisp and clean fruit notes including pineapple, bergamot, and apple. These are joined at first by a prominent tonka bean note, before lavender comes in, in a big way. So, you get mainly the pineapple and bergamot, with tonka, and then a surge of lavender.

Legend Night, opens with bergamot and candied apple. It isn’t as fruit dominant, as Legend, but these notes blend in more so with the composition. It is a vanilla and apple based mix, but the sage, cardamom, and mint really bring in some nice energy. There’s a brief time in the beginning, where it has an Eros-like vibe.

Which is better? For me, Legend Night is the better smelling cologne at the start, and the more interesting one. Legend is nice and clean, but has an aroma like a more upscale version of Playboy New York, at the start.

Edge: Legend Night

Projection

Legend is pretty moderate throughout the wear. It isn’t a heavy fragrance, but the sillage is good, and it isn’t weak.

Legend Night is also a moderate, but has a thicker, more enveloping quality. If I do two sprays, on each side of my neck, the sillage is quite strong. That’s not the case with Legend, so, I give Night the advantage.

Edge: Night

Longevity

The original Legend, lasts about 5-6 hours on my skin, with normal spraying. Legend Night goes for about 7, with normal sprays. I can up that to around 9, with double spraying.

Edge: Night

Versatility

Legend is a very versatile fragrance. It can be worn in all seasons and climates, without issue. It feels more like a daytime wear, that can go into the evening, as well. Legend Night is more autumn/winter, but can go safely into spring, just not the heat.

It is more geared toward the nightlife and has a sexier vibe. However, the original is the more all around wear, and is safe to wear whenever.

Edge: Legend

 

 

Overall Scent

The original Mont Blanc Legend has a lot of fans. I get why, as it does smell nice, and it is so versatile. The longevity is just okay, but as a fragrance, you really don’t have to think when reaching for it. The smell is nice, but fairly simple, and commonplace. I like it, but not amazed by it.

Legend Night is still flying under the radar. I love this cologne when I’m in the mood to wear it on certain nights. It smells great, has better performance, and has gotten me way more complements than when I ever had on Legend.

To me, it’s the better option, and it has quickly become one of my favorite colognes to throw on. Is it for everyone? No, but I think it is superior to the original.

Winner: Legend Night