Fragrances

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

Man in Black by Bvlgari

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I’ve recently received 20+ fragrance samples for the new year, so expect a ton of reviews coming your way over the next few weeks or so. One such scent is a cologne from Bvlgari, Man in Black. I take it that this is a flanker scent to Bvlgari Man, which I enjoyed, but was far too weak in terms of longevity.

I got a hold of Man in Black hoping that it would be better than Man in that aspect but also actually live up to its name and be a darker kind of fragrance. So many colognes take on the ‘Black’ moniker and don’t really match up to the imagery…cough cough Black XS.

In this post, I want to give my full impressions of this Bvlgari offering and determine whether or not it is worth a buy.

What Does Man in Black Smell Like?

bvlgari man in black cologne

Notes include: rum, spices, leather, iris, tuberose, guaiac wood, tonka bean, tobacco

Click here to try: Bvlgari Man in Black Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Review

The opening of Man in Black is a blend of spice and rum that carries a certain masculine intensity to it. I am also reminded a bit of Halston’s Man Amber cologne and Spicebomb, as both have a very similar profile of ingredients.

I’m not a big fan of either of those scents, but Man in Black has both of them beat, in my opinion. The spiciness doesn’t go too overboard and seems to be tempered by the leather and tobacco notes which is a smooth complement to the main notes.

During the opening, I can also detect the guaiac wood, which gives it that relation to Man Amber, and even though it is one of my least favorite notes, I actually think it works in this Bvlgari offering. It’s just enough and not totally in your face.

Mostly, Man in Black opens with a heavy hit of spices and rum, smoothed out by a sweet pipe tobacco. The sweetness that comes through, is one of my favorite aspects of this cologne, as it gives you just a little hint of something different.

Later on during the dry down, the spices subside somewhat and you get more of the leather and rum. Beyond that, tonka bean comes in, to give it an underlying creaminess and sweet addition to the light tobacco. Rum, leather, and the oud note are quite an amazing trio.

I like that Man in Black is actually a darker type of fragrance, it doesn’t cop out and add fruity notes to the profile. It’s boozy, spicy, and slightly smoky with a nice degree of warmth for the cooler weather.

The floral notes are present (iris, pretty much) but it isn’t dominant, just a slight reminder of a scent like, Dior Homme.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

Projection wise, Man in Black, isn’t all that powerful. It’s a decently heavy cologne but it doesn’t project like a beast. That’s kind of disappointing, but it does a good job at staying close to the skin.

It has good longevity, much better than Bvlgari Man, but again it hangs around as a skin kind of scent, so don’t expect to blow off the doors with this one. I tend to get in the six hour range, during the winter months.

When to wear it? Fall and winter is perfect for Man in Black. It would be completely out of place in the warmer parts of the year. It is also a more mature kind of scent, so, I’d recommend it for guys in their mid-twenties and up. It is masculine and sexy, but it could work more as a casual type of cologne.

I personally, have been wearing it as a nightlife fragrance with good results. I’ve gotten lots of positive comments from women, over the few years that I have been putting this on during the colder nights.

Man in Black works insanely well with my skin chemistry and just is perfect when it’s crisp outside.

Overall Impressions of Man in Black

Overall, is Man in Black worth it? Yes, this is a really well put together fragrance for guys who like darker/spicier kinds of scents. I really enjoy how it smells and it does have good longevity. I do wish that it was a bit bolder.

However, if you need something that is understated, Man in Black will do the job. I think Bvlgari did a great job on this one, when compared to some of their other offerings. Plus, it definitely lands in the range of affordable colognes for guys.

The more that I have worn this fragrance, the more I have come to love it. It can be limited to the times of the year, that I can actually throw it on.

However, those times are great, and I’m convinced this is one of the sexiest fragrances for men. Not every woman loves it, but the one’s who do, seem to go nuts for it. That’s always a plus, in addition to me, really liking to wear it.

212 VIP vs 1 Million Fragrance Comparison

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n this head to head fragrance comparison, I want to take a look at two of the most popular nightlife fragrances for guys, 212 VIP by Carolina Herrera vs. 1 Million by Paco Rabanne. 1 Million has been a best seller for over a decade and is the more famous scent, but is it actually better than 212 VIP? Which has the best aroma? Which lasts longer? Projects better? Is the top buy?

Tale of the Tape

212 VIP

Notes include: caviar lime, frozen mint, black pepper, vodka, ginger, amber, apple, King wood, tonka bean

Click here to try: 212 Vip by Carolina Herrera Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

Read my review: 212 VIP

1 Million

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

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne 1 Million By Paco Rabanne For Men Edt Spray, 3.4 Ounce

Read my review: 1 Million

Opening

1 Million opens up and let’s you know it’s arrived in a big way. It starts off with leather, rose, and citrus notes of grapefruit and blood orange. It is a sweet and warm aroma surrounded by amber and dotted with cinnamon spice.

212 VIP opens up with boozy spice and sweet notes. It’s led initially by vodka, with some fruity top notes, but more of the mint, pepper, ginger, and tonka bean. 212 VIP also has a warm and quite a loud disposition.

Which do I prefer? I actually really like both of them. However, the vodka note in VIP puts some people off to this fragrance. It does settle down, but 1 Million is probably slightly more enjoyable from the start.

Edge: 1 Million

Projection

1 Million is pretty legendary for its massive sillage. That stuff can project extremely well, which is why it’s been such a popular club fragrance.

However, 212 VIP, is one of the fragrances that can absolutely go toe to toe with 1 Million with its performance. It’s also a beast and I don’t find either to have the upper hand, here.

Update: Newer bottles of 1 Million aren’t as strong. So, this went from being a tie to advantage VIP.

Edge: 212 VIP

Longevity

212 VIP is good for 8+ hours. Usually, it is over 10 without a problem, but it does have days where it dips into 8. Depends on the climate and body chemistry. 1 Million, always gets me over 10 hours of wear, and it’s not unheard of to go 13-15 at times.

Update: Newer bottles of 1 Million go only 8-9 hours on my skin. 212 VIP is now the stronger.

Edge: 212 VIP

Versatility

So, both of these fragrances are best in colder weather, and are great in the nightlife. They also, cater mostly to the younger crowd. 212 VIP is pretty much limited to the bar/club scene, that’s what it’s named for, and what it excels at.

I have a full bottle of the stuff, but don’t really wear it outside of that situation. 1 Million is similar, but it can venture into other areas of life, if you go light with it.

Edge: 1 Million

Overall Scent

I enjoy wearing either one of these colognes, on occasion. Neither is a daily wear for me, but are really fun scents to break out, from time to time.

212 VIP is brash and loud and not for everyone. It is like an alcoholic drink centered around vodka. It’s sweet with a spicy kick and a warm enveloping aroma. I totally dig it, and it’s one that I love to spray on when I’m feeling bold, and want to go enjoy myself.

However, it’s a step below 1 Million. The mint, leather, rose, and general dynamism of this cologne is simply great. It’s much more well known than the Carolina Herrera cologne, but it is still a better scent, with a bit more performance and versatility (older bottles).

Is 1 Million way better? Not really. If I had to wear one or the other on 10 separate occasions, I’d pick the Paco Rabanne 6 times probably.

Winner: 1 Million

Versace Eau Fraiche vs. Acqua di Gio

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For this head to head fragrance match up, I am going to be taking a closer look at two highly popular men’s fragrances, Acqua di Gio vs. Versace Man Eau Fraiche. Which one of these best sellers, has the best smell? Which lasts longer? Which is more versatile? As usual, I am going to compare each cologne, in these categories, before declaring a winner. I have also included, my original review of each below, for further information.

Tale of the Tape

Acqua di Gio

Notes include: bergamot, tangerine, neroli, jasmine, rosemary, patchouli, rock rose, hyacinth, persimmon, marine notes

Click here to try: Acqua Di Gio By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces

Read my review: Acqua di Gio 

Versace Man Eau Fraiche

Notes include: Lemon, Rosewood, Carambola, Cedar leaves, Tarragon, Sage, Musk, Amber, Sycamore

Click here to try: Versace Man Eau Fraiche By Gianni Versace For Men Edt Spray 3.4 Oz

Read my review: Man Eau Fraiche

Opening

Eau Fraiche opens up with a great fruity citrus blend led by lemon, bergamot, and an additional starfruit. The starfruit, isn’t in too many men’s fragrances, so its inclusion is a welcome addition to the start. It is very fresh and upbeat with subtle herbal notes that kick in, but it’s mostly about the citrus.

Acqua di Gio starts out with the bergamot and tangerine citrus combination, which is joined by marine notes, to give this Armani scent its famous aquatic edge. Then, there is the inclusion of jasmine and other floral notes, lurking underneath.

Which is better? I like AdG and how it starts, but, I prefer Versace Man Eau Fraiche. The lemon and other fruit notes, really start out with a bang, and create a more enjoyable experience than what I get with AdG.

Edge: Eau Fraiche

Projection

Neither scent has a loud and completely enveloping sillage. Eau Fraiche is pretty moderate for a few hours and then shifts to being much more light and airy. Acqua di Gio is also moderate, but it keeps it up throughout the wear, better than does its competitor.

Edge: AdG

Longevity

While, the sillage is a bit better when using Acqua di Gio, the longevity between these two is about equal. I get 6-7 hours of wear, on my skin, from both of these colognes. No real edge here.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Again, this is another aspect, in which these fragrances really match up well. Both are best in the warmer weather, but can go year round without issue. They can each be worn safely at school, work, casually, or out for an evening. Neither is a powerful nightclub beast.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I enjoy both of these fragrances quite a bit. They aren’t my favorite fragrances, by any stretch, but they are both very good at what they do. Acqua di Gio has a great citrus/spicy marine aroma with floral and woody undertones.

It performs well and has been loved for over two decades at this point. You cannot really go wrong with the scent at all. Though, I’d go with Profumo or Profondo, ahead of the original.

Versace Man Eau Fraiche has a great opening act, with the citrus and starfruit. Then, when it dries down you get plenty of rosewood, amber, and some herbal spice thrown in there. It isn’t super complex, but it is a really great smelling cologne, that is great to wear (especially in the summertime).

Which is better? If i had to choose, I’d ride with Eau Fraiche, a majority of the time. Not every single time, but I’d reach for it more often than AdG. It gets the nod here and I would say that it smells better.

Winner: Versace Man Eau Fraiche

Mont Blanc Explorer vs Aventus

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Aventus by Creed became a wildly popular men’s fragrance over the past decade or so. Which of course, has spawned a bunch of cheaper rip-offs and imitations. Many of them, weren’t very good or just weren’t high quality.

Explorer from Mont Blanc has come along and offered a similar experience to Aventus, with a designer level quality. So, which should you buy? Which perfume smells better? Does Explorer keep up with the Creed?

Tale of the Tape: Aventus vs Explorer

Creed 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

Explorer

Notes include: sage, bergamot, pink pepper, cocoa, vetiver, ambroxan, leather

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Explorer Eau de Parfum, 3.3 fl. oz.

Read my full review: Montblanc Explorer

Opening

Aventus kicks things off with its sharp blend of pineapple and bergamot. These tropical fruits have always really come on strong to my nose and sometimes make this Creed one tougher to settle into. Even under that, is an additional black currant, which further amps things up.

However, there is also a fresh and smoky birch wood, that makes its initial appearance. Gradually, Aventus will calm down and reveal its depths.

Explorer also has a sharp bergamot note, but is without the other notes like pineapple, making it feel more tolerable to me. It is joined by a warm pink pepper and sage spiciness. Then, a second wave comes through of leather, woods, and ambroxan.

Which is better? Personally, I’ve never been a fan of how Aventus starts things off. To me, the latter stages has always been where the magic is at. I like the dynamic and less sharp start of Explorer better.

Might not be the case for everyone, but this has always been a personal thing of mine when dealing with the Creed perfume.

Edge: Explorer

Projection

Aventus has always been a fragrance with strong sillage. Though, just under being an elite powerhouse. The good news, is that it holds its strength for most of the wear.

Explorer is above average early on in its life, before becoming something that is wholly moderate and not going to jump off the skin. Aventus has the clear edge.

Edge: Aventus

Longevity

Aventus gets me 8-9 hours of wear, which is good, but it doesn’t touch double digits. Really, depending on your lifestyle that may not be very important.

Explorer, on the other hand, gets 6-8 hours of wear. Usually, it’ll be 7 and occasionally squeeze out that extra hour. Explorer almost keeps up, but not quite.

Edge: Aventus

Versatility

There isn’t too much difference here, as they overlap a lot as fragrances. I’m not really going to give an edge here.

Aventus is better in more formal situations, but the Mont Blanc doesn’t smell cheap to me. Aventus has that greater depth and some higher quality notes in comparison. Still, Explorer isn’t bad in either respect.

Both fine to wear in almost any other scenario, except for the days where it’s hot outside. I might reach for Aventus in the summertime out of these two, but probably not, when I have other options for the heat and humidity.

Edge: Aventus (slightly)

Overall Scent

Is Explorer a replacement of cheaper alternative to Aventus? Well, in many ways, yes. Personally, I don’t think it has the same level of quality or depth that Aventus does. However, it covers a lot of the same bases at a much cheaper price point.

Aventus really does develop as a fragrance. You get different stages. Sometimes it’s more woodsy. Then, it has a nice vanilla aspect. That citrus stage is where the two are similar and that’s what you get for most of the wear with Explorer.

I do like its leather notes and smooth aroma. But, I cannot say that it smells better overall when compared to Aventus. The Creed is absolutely a better scent.

That being said, if it’s me…I’m buying a bottle of Explorer and using the price difference to purchase bottles of other colognes also. Or, you could try one of the best ‘dupes’ of Aventus.

Better fragrance? Aventus. Better bang for your buck? Explorer.

Especially, in the past few years where the price of the luxury designer fragrances keeps going higher. The Mont Blanc colognes can usually still be found at the discounters with a significant price break from their retail number.

Winner: Aventus