Fragrances

Neroli Portofino vs Forte by Tom Ford Comparison

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Alright, so here we are with another head to head match up between two Tom Ford fragrances. In this edition, I am going to compare how the original Neroli Portofino measures up to its flanker, Neroli Portofino Forte. Which one of these perfumes smells the best? Does Forte outdo the original? Which is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Portofino vs Forte

Neroli Portofino

Notes include: neroli, orange flower, amber, mandarin, bergamot, jasmine, lavender, lemon

Click here to try: Tom Ford Neroli Portofino 1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray

Review: Neroli Portofino

Neroli Portofino Forte

Notes include: neroli, orange flower, amber, mandarin, bergamot, jasmine, lavender, lemon

Click here to try: Tom Ford Neroli Portofino 1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray

Review: Neroli Portofino Forte

Opening

The opening of the original Neroli Portofino is a blast of lemon and other citrus notes, to go along with the neroli, and orange blossom. It has a citrusy top with floral undertones and a sort of soapy clean quality to it.

Forte, on the other hand, starts off musky and spicy, with white floral notes at the heart. Plus, there is a strong herbal spice, provided by the basil note. I really dislike how Forte starts off, it is just really off-putting. The musk and the basil beginning just isn’t as good as the original with the lemon and floral notes.

Edge: Neroli Portofino

Projection

The original Neroli Portofino was a pretty light fragrance, at best, the sillage was moderate at the start. Forte, isn’t heavy either but it is stronger and more consistently moderate throughout the wear. Clear edge.

Edge: Forte

Longevity

The original lasts on my skin for about 5-6 hours. Forte does do better and gives me 7-8 hours. Neither are super amazing in this department but the flanker does out duel the original.

Edge: Forte

Versatility

Both scents are spring/summer wears. Both are unisex and lean towards feminine. Both for more non-casual occasions. There isn’t a clear difference in this aspect.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I want to say that while I think that both of these versions of this namesake, smell nice, I’m not a huge fan of either. Neroli Portofino is a pretty simple fragrance, citrus with the orange blossom and neroli. Then, jasmine and lavender pop in to solidify the floral notes. It’s clean, soapy, and bright but also pretty similar to other scents that I’ve smelled.

Forte, I hate the beginning. However, it does get better, and is much more interesting than the original. Once you get past the first five minutes, the blood orange and bergamot, come out and add a zesty citrus.

Then, they add the leather note, which takes it to a different place than the original and it turns out quite well. Also, the better longevity and projection, make it much more worth paying those Tom Ford prices.

Again, neither is something that I’d personally buy, but Forte is the better fragrance overall.

Winner: Neroli Portofino Forte

Mont Blanc Legend vs. Legend Spirit

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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

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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

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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

Mont Blanc Legend Spirit vs. Invictus Aqua

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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