Fragrances

Mont Blanc Legend vs. Legend Spirit

by

For this head to head match up, I want to take a closer look at two of the options from Mont Blanc’s lineup: Legend vs. Legend Spirit. Which of these smells the best? The original or its 2016 flanker release? Which lasts longer? Which is the better buy?

As usual, I will cover each in a variety of categories before declaring an ultimate winner. I have also included my original review of each cologne below, for further info, and my personal experience wearing them.

Tale of the Tape: Spirit vs Legend

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 Spirit

Notes include: grapefruit, pink pepper, bergamot, musk, aquatic accord, lavender, cardamom, oak moss, wood

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Legend Spirit Eau de Toilette, 3.3 Fl Oz

Read my review: Legend Spirit

Opening

Legend opens up with a trio of fruit notes: bergamot, apple, and pineapple leaf. There is also a creamy tonka bean and lavender which eventually takes over. It has a citrus aroma, but it does have a drier undertone to it.

Spirit opens up with grapefruit, as the citrus note, but it sits within an aquatic accord. There is also a warm and spicy cardamom note. Plus, a dash of pink pepper.

Which is better? Legend Spirit’s grapefruit aquatic blend is great and better than the original. Plus, the cardamom and pink pepper really separate Spirit, giving it a very nice starting aroma.

Edge: Spirit

Projection

Both Legend and Legend Spirit have pretty moderate sillage. They can project themselves fairly well for an hour or so, before moving much closer to the skin. Neither is bad, but they aren’t beasts.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Again, these two are very close competitors, and near identical in terms of how long they last. The original will do 5-6 hours. Spirit will do 4-6 hours. About the same.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Both of these scents are extremely versatile and can fit in, in just about any situation. Both are best in the spring/summer months, but can go year round. Casual wear, to the office, school, or even on a date without problem. These are simple crowd pleasers and there isn’t a real distinction in this category either.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Alright, in terms of their performances and uses, these two fragrances are quite similar. However, how each smells is actually quite different, even with some obviously shared DNA.

The original Legend is a pretty simple blend of lavender and fruit notes, with dry sandalwood and tonka bean notes, bringing up the base. It’s nice and pleasant and one that will fit in anywhere. It’s not a scent that will offend anyone.

Legend Spirit has the better smell and is the more interesting fragrance, in my mind. Like the original, it dries down with plenty of lavender. However, it is also heavy with that great cardamom/pink pepper combo, an aquatic accord, and the still present grapefruit. When all put together, you get an aquatic scent that has dry elements, warmth, spices, and citrus.

It’s really fresh and attractive. It is a cologne that will gather complements. It would be better, if the longevity was top notch, but it is still the better of these to Mont Blanc’s.

Winner: Legend Spirit

Best Smelling Gucci Guilty Cologne for Him

by

Gucci Guilty has become a really popular line of fragrances in the past decade or so. The company has released several flankers from the original cologne release and other variants over the years. The question that guys often have when sorting through all of these options is, which Guilty fragrance smells the best?

Having tried and reviewed these scents, I have experienced their strengths and weaknesses, to determine the answer. So, below I will present to you the two best options from the line, as it kind of is a 1A and 1B situation.

What are the Best Smelling Gucci Guilty Fragrances?

The Best Overall

Gucci Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, Guilty Black Pour Homme, 1.6 Ounce– Guilty Black has the slight edge, in my opinion, as the best Gucci Guilty cologne. It doesn’t open with the same citrus top notes as the others, and instead has neroli and orange flower, to simulate that aroma but take it in a new direction.

This one is very well blended, with a green and fresh aroma, that includes lavender and spiced coriander. It shares enough of the original Guilty DNA, while being its own thing. This is also one with solid performance and can be worn late night, as a club scent. Guilty Black Review

A Close Second

Gucci Guilty Intense Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 3 Ounce– It is a tough choice to put Guilty Intense at number two, because I really do like this stuff. It shares the same lemon note, as the original Guilty Pour Homme, but tones it down and amps up the lavender and amber notes.

There are additional floral notes and cedar wood, but Intense is a pretty linear fragrance, with the lemon and amber taking hold early. Intense has a solid sillage and can last for 7-8 hours, on my skin.

It is a very versatile fragrance, that can be worn year round, and feels more mature that its predecessor. It’s just a hair below, Gucci Guilty Black, but still an awesome fragrance. Guilty Intense Review

So, there you have it, my top two choices from the Gucci Guilty Pour Homme line. It is a really close call between the top two, but I think that they are clearly above the others in the series. If you’re looking at other Gucci colognes, here is my list of the best from the brand.

Mont Blanc Legend vs. Dior Sauvage EDT Comparison

by

In this edition of the head to head men’s fragrance match ups, we have two highly popular scents, that I’ve covered here many times: Sauvage EDT by Christian Dior vs. Mont Blanc Legend. When it comes down to it, which of these colognes is the better buy? I have worn and reviewed each individually, but will now compare and contrast them, in a variety of categories. Which will come out on top?

Tale of the Tape: Legend 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

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

Opening

Sauvage starts out with a pretty sharp bergamot citrus note and a hit of Sichuan pepper. It is bold with a bright citrus note and a spicy disposition. Under that sits a calming and familiar lavender, along with, the famous ambroxan note that grows in strength throughout.

Legend also starts out with mainly citrus fruit notes. It has apple, bergamot, and pineapple leaf. Legend lacks the spice, but does have the lavender, is is much less intense and has a drier aroma.

Which is better? Even though, I’m not a huge fan of how Sauvage EDT starts out, I do enjoy it more than I do the simplicity of Mont Blanc Legend. It can be too sharp for my taste, but overall, the smell is really great and exciting.

Edge: Sauvage

Projection

Sauvage does have that large and bold sillage from the beginning. As it wears on, it is more of a moderate scent, probably toward the higher end of that spectrum. Legend is pretty middle of the road with its sillage throughout. Not too strong, but not weak, either.

Edge: Sauvage

Longevity

Sauvage has really good but not elite longevity, for me, while wearing it. I can get 6-9 hours from that cologne, which is useful for almost any purpose. Legend doesn’t hit that level, I get about 5-6 hours of wear, from it. Easy win for the Dior.

Legend is one of those Mont Blanc colognes that never performed all that well for me. It’s not absolutely terrible, but it should be better than it is.

Edge: Sauvage

Versatility

Both of these fragrances, excel at being versatile. They can work well in a wide variety or situations and climates. Legend is the more low key of the two and Sauvage can play the role of the night club ‘beast’, very well. No real advantage here.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

In my mind, this isn’t really a close call. I do like Mont Blanc Legend, somewhat. It is a pleasant enough cologne, with a clean scent, and is an easy grab on just about any occasion.

The citrus opening is nice, then, there is the more floral dry down period also with dried sandalwood and oak moss. I get the appeal, it just never blows your socks off.

Sauvage EDT is a good cologne, not amazing either to me, but I would reach for it over Mont Blanc Legend whenever. I would pick, Legend Night, over this Dior fragrance.

The intensity of the start, smooths out over time, and Sauvage gets a healthy dose of ambroxan and lavender to create a really nice scent. It also has better performance than does Legend. So, unless price is a huge factor to get Legend a lot cheaper, I’d go with Sauvage.

Winner: Sauvage

Light Blue Eau Intense vs. Dylan Blue

by

For this entry, I want to do a comparison post between two men’s colognes, with fairly aquatic compositions: Dylan Blue by Versace vs. Light Blue Eau Intense by D&G. Which of these two popular fragrances, smells better? Which has the better longevity and strength? I have worn and reviewed each, over the past few years, and will now breakdown which one is the better buy.

Tale of the Tape

Dylan Blue

Notes include: black pepper, violet leaf, grapefruit, bergamot, tonka bean, ambrox, fig leaf

Click here to try: VERSACE Pour Homme Sealed Dylan Blue Eau de Toilette, 3.4 Ounce

Read my full review: Dylan Blue

Light Blue Eau Intense

Notes include: mandarin, frozen grapefruit, juniper, aquatic accord, amber woods, musk

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Intense Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 1.6 Ounce

My review: Light Blue Eau Intense

Opening

Bergamot and grapefruit are the top notes of Dylan Blue. These two notes sit on top of a somewhat aquatic accord, surrounded by ambroxan, and a fig note which gives it some distinction versus other fragrances in this style. The opening is one of my favorite parts of Dylan Blue.

Light Blue Eau Intense also opens up with grapefruit, but is instead joined by mandarin orange, and the grapefruit has a frozen coolness added. It doesn’t have that same peppery intensity as the original, but I instead get plenty of juinper, and the aquatic accord in the beginning.

Which is better? I really enjoy how both of them start off, but I would say that I like Eau Intense more than Dylan Blue. It is refreshing and aquatic and doesn’t bring about similar thoughts of Sauvage, like Dylan Blue can.

Edge: Eau Intense

Projection

The sillage of both can be strong at first, but I think Dylan Blue hits a higher level. An hour or two into the wear, both of these colognes move more into the moderate end of things.

Edge: Dylan Blue

Longevity

Dylan Blue lasts for 6-7 hours on my skin and I never get any more than that. It’s decent and serviceable. Light Blue Eau Intense will last or 9 hours, in my experiences with it.

Edge: Eau Intense

Versatility

Both are great in the spring/summer, but can work year round. Both can go casual, more dressed, up and out on a date, if need be. I don’t really see much of a distinction between these fragrances, here.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Dylan Blue grew to me having a higher esteem for the fragrance, the more I tested it out. I still don’t love it, but I do like the citrus aquatic opening, a whole lot.

The rest of the wear, becomes laden with ambroxan, pepper, and violet leaf. That part of it isn’t as good, but again, not terrible either. I never came around to thinking that the dry down, was more than decent.

Light Blue Eau Intense is better, in my opinion. The opening is even better than Dylan Blue’s which is the highlight of its life, and it also lasts longer.

It’s super fresh and the aquatic/fruit elements are chilled, which is really awesome on a hot day. Plus, the woody base with juniper floating around, only adds to its pleasant smell.

It’s a pretty close match up, but I’m going with the Dolce, in this one.

Winner: Eau Intense

Mont Blanc Legend Spirit vs. Invictus Aqua

by

For this edition of the head to head men’s fragrance match ups, we have a competition between two popular aquatic scents: Legend Spirit vs. Invictus Aqua. Which cologne smells the best? Mont Blanc or Paco Rabanne? I have worn and reviewed, each of these scents, and will break them down in a variety of categories before ultimately choosing a winner.

Tale of the Tape

Legend Spirit

Notes include: grapefruit, pink pepper, bergamot, musk, aquatic accord, lavender, cardamom, oak moss, wood

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Legend Spirit Eau de Toilette, 3.3 Fl Oz

Read my review: Legend Spirit

Invictus Aqua EDT

Notes include: yuzu, pink pepper, guaiac wood, marine notes, violet leaf, ambergris, grapefruit

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne Invictus Aqua Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce

Read my review: Invictus Aqua

Opening

Invictus Aqua opens up with a citrus blend of yuzu and grapefruit to go along with its marine accord. I really enjoy how this one opens, with that salty aquatic accord, and that very nice yuzu sitting on top. Plus, pink pepper kicks in to give it that slightly spicy warmth.

Legend Spirit has a similar opening to Invictus Aqua, with it’s citrus and aquatic start. However, to go along with the pink pepper, Spirit has a fairly strong cardamom note lurking in there as well, which is a good change of pace.

Which is better? Again, they are quite similar at the start. However, I think I like the smell of Invictus Aqua, a bit more at the beginning. The yuzu and the aquatic accord, is just a tad better.

Edge: Invictus Aqua

Projection

Both of these fragrances fall into the moderate camp. The sillage of either, isn’t very bold or extreme. Though, Aqua does achieve a bit better projection than does Legend Spirit. It isn’t a huge difference, but the Paco Rabanne is better, on my skin.

Edge: Aqua

Longevity

With Legend Spirit, I can muster about 5-6 hours worth of wear, before needing to reapply. Meanwhile, Invictus Aqua gets me 8 hours, and I can get over 10 on occasions.

Edge: Aqua

Versatility

These two are very closely related fragrances. Both are very nice colognes for casual wear during the warmer months of the year. They can also be worn to work or for an evening out. There really isn’t any separation, in this category.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

With Mont Blanc’s Legend Spirit, I do like plenty about this cologne. The cardamom is a great addition to a citrus aquatic, it isn’t super heavy, but it does add a noticeable spice to the composition.

It is clean and fresh and adds a different dimension than does the original Legend. It’s a very nice fragrance and not a bad wear, at all. The dry down stays fresh and the latter stages of this scent, smells better than Invictus Aqua.

Aqua has a better opening act and better performance overall. As it dries down, I am less of a fan, because it first becomes woodier (not bad) and then ends with lots of that sea water aroma (not great).

I’m going to give the nod to Invictus Aqua, because it does more overall, but I do think that Spirit has a better smell throughout the remainder of the wear. This is a close one, but I think most guys would prefer Aqua.

Winner: Invictus Aqua