Fragrances

Prada L’Homme vs. Dior Homme (2011) Comparison

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In today’s head to head fragrance comparison, I am going to take a closer look at to men’s fragrances that feature a leading iris note: Prada L’Homme vs. Dior Homme. Which of these popular designer scents, smells better? Which gives a better performance? Which is the better buy overall?

Tale of the Tape

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

Dior Homme

Notes include: vetiver, iris, cacao, bergamot, amber, leather, sage, and lavender

Click here to try: Dior Homme By Christian Dior For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces

Read my Full Review: Dior Homme Review

Opening

Prada L’Homme opens up with that fresh powdery floral scent, that is led by the iris note. It also is flanked by neroli and violet. This is all surrounded by amber, dotted with pepper, and on top of a cedar base.

Dior Homme opens up with its own floral blend of iris and lavender. However, it teams that up with a sweet cacao, citrus bergamot, and dry vetiver. With a smooth leather note, coming through.

Which is better? I lean toward the Dior. The Prada is very nice, simple, but smells great. I just think that the Dior’s use of cacao and citrus, give it a more complex, and better aroma.

Edge: Dior

Projection

Both of these fragrances are pretty moderate, in their sillage. Dior Homme might be slightly stronger, but it’s not much, and no significant enough to give an edge here.

Edge: Push

Longevity

I get 5-7 hours with Dior Homme. It’s mostly towards the 7 hours end. However, I can double spray the Dior and get 8-9 hours, and this is what I usually do with my bottle. Prada gives me 6-7 hours of wear, but the double spray really doesn’t add any time…go figure.

Edge: Dior (slightly)

Versatility

Another category that they really overlap. Both are good year round, outside of high heat and humidity. Both are office friendly, can go casual if need be, and have a refined style.

I personally think that Dior can venture better into the night life, as the cacao sweetness and leather notes, fit in more than the fresh powdery scent that Prada is.

Edge: Dior (slightly)

Overall Scent

These are two extremely evenly matched fragrances, and since they both are masculine iris-based floral colognes, that is to be expected. Ultimately though, which is the better scent? I’m going to have to go with Dior Homme. It’s my personal choice, the one I went with when buying a full bottle, and is the closest thing that I have to a daily wear.

I really do like Prada L’Homme, it’s a very nice scent, but a pretty straightforward cleanly fresh cologne. Non-offensive with decent performance. I would personally go with, Prada Intense, over this one if I were in the market for a Prada fragrance.

I think Dior is a much more interesting and better fragrance to wear. I love how it has the powdery iris, but that’s not all that it is. It can be dry and woodsy. Sweet. Smoothed by rich leather. Even having a touch of citrus, to set it apart. It’s not way better, but it’s my pick.

Winner: Dior Homme

Best Smelling Winter Colognes 2018-2019

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While I personally don’t enjoy cold weather for the most part, I absolutely do love the winter season, for the fact that I get to wear some of the best fragrances. There are certain men’s colognes, that are simply fantastic, but really don’t work too well when the heat is out in full force. So, here we are again in this hemisphere, about to venture back into the depths of winter and I can officially break out the scents for freezing temperatures. Now, not every scent on this list is limited to cold weather, but some very much are. This is the time of year that we can wear the sweet gourmands, heavier spices, and bold enveloping scents that hang in the crisp air.

 

 

Paco Rabanne 1 Million Prive Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce– When I wrote my initial review of Prive, I thought that this one would definitely be getting me complements and have a solid presence in a winter rotation. After wearing it time and time again for a year, I can confirm my theory. To me, this is the best of the 1 Million fragrances (and I like all of them), and the most mature. Prive has more of a smoky darkness underneath the obvious sweet heart and less of the in your face boldness of the original.

1 Million Prive opens with cinnamon spice and the familiar fruity appeal of crisp apple. It’s always kind of reminded me of cinnamon applesauce, in that regard. Then, notes of myrrh of tobacco are added, and I think that this is what separates this one from it’s Paco Rabanne brethren. The myrrh gives it a sort of exotic appeal and an added depth to the body. The dry down period I get the cinnamon note and the sweet tobacco, as the main attractions.

Prive isn’t a scent without any power, as I can get double digit hours of wear out of this one. I’m actually wearing 1 Million Prive, as I’m doing this post, so I definitely enjoy the stuff.

 

 

Angel Men Pure Malt by Thierry Mugler Eau De Toilette Spray (Limited Edition) for Men, 3.40 Ounce– Pure Malt is a very interesting and unique fragrance from Thierry Mugler’s Angel Men line. As the name suggests, this one has a very malted aroma. Warm boozy fruit notes, whiskey, peat, and vanilla create an enveloping aroma that targets the winter weather perfectly.

This is one for guys who want a very rich full bodied cologne and who enjoy the whiskey note, in particular. Pure Malt has great performance in terms of longevity and the sillage is very solid as well. It won’t be great outside of the colder months, but it is fantastic during these cold days and nights. Pure Malt Review

 

 

Dirty English Cologne 3.4 oz Eau De Toilette Spray Mens– Dirty English is a men’s fragrance by Juicy Couture, that sort of still flies under the radar. That’s a good thing too, as finding a bottle for cheap is fairly easy, because not too many people know about it. This is a shame, Dirty English is great, and one that I keep a full bottle of for when the temperature drops outside.

I’m usually not super crazy about colognes with a really prominent oud note, but this one is blended so well off of the other ingredients, that I can’t help but love it. It’s a very woodsy cologne with cedar, sandalwood, cypress, and ebony wood. However, this is offset by a beautifully rich leather note. It is dark, warm, woody, with a nice bit of spice. Overall, Dirty English has a very dry profile though there are just enough citrus notes added to give it a certain layer of juiciness. I get very good performance from this one. Dirty English Review

 

Giorgio Armani Code Profumo EDP Spray for Men, 3.7 Ounce– Code Profumo is a more recent release by Armani. This scent is magnificent flanker to the original Armani Code and even better than that fantastic fragrance, in my opinion. Smooth, sexy, and warm this Armani cologne is a sure fire winner for the colder months of the year.

Code Profumo opens up with that familiar warmth of amber and this is paired with a smooth creamy tonka bean note. This one is sweet, especially at the start, but it does become much smoother and masculine as it dries down. There is a very slight zesty orange note and spices from both nutmeg and cardamom. All of this is wrapped up in rich leather. It ends up having a smooth, creamy, almost powdery aroma. The sillage while not monsterous, is quite good, and the longevity for this Armani scent is excellent. My Code Profumo Review

armani code profumo


Carolina Herrera Ch Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce
This is a beautiful fragrance by Carolina Herrera. It features notes of grapefruit, bergamot, nutmeg, jasmine, violet, leather, and amber. It is a sweetly sugary aroma with  vanilla and leather, which gives it  a rich and warm smoothness. The dry down is quite lovely.

However, the main attraction in CH Prive is the whiskey note, which creates a masculine and boozy air. The whiskey is there throughout the wear and pairs quite well with the leather, it’s got a similar vibe to Man in Black with the liquor/leather combo, but which much less spice. This one takes the whiskey in a much different direction than does the aforementioned Pure Malt.  The leather and whiskey are heavily featured in the dry down and are supported by the vanilla/tonka bean, mostly.

CH Prive is a sexy and masculine fragrance that is safe enough to be worn at the office, while also having a rightful place in the nightlife. CH Prive Review

ch

 

Thierry Mugler Eau de Toilette Spray, Angel Men Pure Havane, 3.4 Ounce
Pure Havane is an amazing mixture of masculine sweetness featuring notes of tobacco leaf, honey, amber, and bitter cocoa. Havane is like a fine cigar dipped in honey and sugar with a helping of chocolate. Completely warm and gourmand and awesome. This is another cold weather winner from Thierry Mugler and the honey/tobacco blend really stand out perfectly against a frigid backdrop.

This is a really sweet cologne but the honey and cocoa notes make it different from many other sweet or fruity men’s scents. Pure Havane by Thierry Mugler Review

A*Men Pure Havane

 

Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male for Men Intense Spray, Eau de Toilette, 4.2 Ounce

Ultra Male is one of the flanker fragrances that was spun off from the original best seller, Le Male. However, this is the one that has exceeded its predecessor, and just strikes me as better in every metric.

Ultra Male features notes of pear, cinnamon, mint, vanilla, and citrus. The opening is sweet and candy-like but settles into something that is both warm and smooth. This is a super fresh sweetness that has that slight spice given off my the cinnamon and mint combo.

With 1-3 sprays, Ultra Male isn’t overwhelming, and has very good projection. I always seem to get around 9 hours from my bottle. This is a great fragrance for the nightlife, as its spicy sweetness has a boldness, and an ability to hang in the air. One more thing to add, JPG has discontinued this from what I understand, so one would do well to pick up a large bottle from what’s still on shelves. Ultra Male Review

 

Bvlgari Man in Black Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce– Man in Black has become an absolute go to cologne during the winter. It usually last between 4-6 hours, which while not great, is enough for the nightlife. It also starts off strong but becomes much quieter into the wear. What’s the deal then? This one while not universally loved, get highly complemented by a certain percentage of ladies. Like, this is one of those scents for me, that has gotten the most intense reactions and opinions about how sexy it smells. Again, not always the case, but when it lands its freaking lands big time.

So, while it’s not universally as popular as some of the other scents on this list, Bvlgari’s dark and boozy fragrance can do work when out in the field. It starts off with rum and cinnamon spices that is tempered by a smooth leather note. There is a oud base which amps up the masculinity and floral notes lingering around to give it a bit of sweetness. Again, it actually projects pretty moderately, but does the job when someone gets close to you. This isn’t one that I wear everyday, but on night’s when I head to the bar, it’s among my first selections. Man in Black Full Review


 

 

4 Best Smelling Bijan Colognes

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Bijan has garnered a reputation as a high end and expensive luxury clothing brand over the decades. However, it’s fragrance line is actually quite affordable, and its namesake cologne has been on the market for years at a great price point. In this post, I want to present what I feel are the 4 best men’s scents by Bijan to have been released up to this point in time. While I have linked each cologne to its page on Amazon, a couple of these can be harder to come by, and may fetch a higher price…but seller prices are always changing so check to see where it is currently at.

 

 

Bijan Style By Bijan For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 2.5 Ounces– A familiar and clean blend of citrus and sandalwood. This is a nice everyday scent for guys who want a versatile cologne that smells quite nice and won’t overpower. Style is fresh and simple.

 

Bijan By Bijan For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 2.5 Ounces– A classic in the masculine powerhouse fragrance space of the 1980s. Bijan for Men is a fougere, that is dipped in honey, and dotted with herbal notes. It has a slightly spicy crisp dryness, surprising complexity for the price, and a clean soapy undercurrent running through the entire wear.


Bijan Black By Bijan For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 2.5 oz– A unique scent with the addition of the pine note. However, it doesn’t have that car air freshener aroma. Instead, Bijan Black, utilizes vanilla, orange blossom, and amber to create a floral blend that is paired with woody scents and a slightly spicy musk. Smooth and interesting cool weather cologne that really does the men’s floral based fragrance very well.

 

Bijan Wicked By Bijan For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 2.5 Ounces– It draws pretty accurate comparisons with Azzaro Chrome, but this is a fairly straightforward wear, that still delivers the goods. Wicked has that sort of aquatic profile but this one can come on pretty sharp, so I wouldn’t overdo it with the sprays, if you come across a bottle.

7 Best Rose Scented Colognes for Men

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Right off the bat, I have to say that I am not personally a fan of rose. I don’t hate it, but it’s really not my thing. However, I can appreciate the note when used in a fragrance correctly. Much in the same way, I hate overused oud notes, but some of my favorite colognes have that as an ingredient. It can be done well and this list is all about appreciating those scents that feature the rose note prominently. Now, there are some unisex scents on the list and one where the rose is more of a support player. That being said, I selected 7 fragrances, so there should be something for just about every taste.

Serge Lutens La Fille de Berlin Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 1.6 Ounce– Fresh green rose with a hint of musky spice and honey. This is a unisex fragrance with a cold metallic feel that reminds me somewhat of Hugo Red, in that regard. Good longevity.

UNGARO III Pour Homme Classic Version for Men Eau De Toilette Spray 1.7 oz / 50 ml– Rose, meet vodka and leather. Doesn’t sound great? Well, it is. This early 90s release from Ungaro is sexy and smooth with an interesting progression of notes including lavender and some citruses.

Cartier Declaration D’un Soir Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce– Rose with sandalwood and pepper. This has the rose note yet manages to remain a masculine scent through and through. My Declaration D’un Soir Review

EGOISTE POUR HOMME Eau De Toilette Spray FOR MEN 3.4 Oz / 100 ml– Rose isn’t the main attraction necessarily in this Chanel gem, but it is one of the main players. The floral is understated by creates a wonderful contrast between the cinnamon spice and familiar sandalwood notes. A classic fragrance.

PORTRAIT OF A LADY by FREDERIC MALLE 1.7oz/50ml– Yes, it is a women’s perfume. However, for the right person it is an intriguing ‘rose’ option. Why? The smoky incense and patchouli, give it a rough and dirty feel, that can really stand out. Careful, this one is a bomb, so don’t over spray.

Potion Royal Black Eau de Parfum Spray 100ml by DSQUARED2– Rose, incense, oud, and leather. Dark, rich, and hyper-masculine. Potion Royal Black is smoky and leathery with that added rose element that really makes this a unique scent. Less incense than the above, Portrait of a Lady, but more of a tobacco/leather blend.

AMOUAGE Lyric Men’s Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 fl. oz.– Setting aside my own personal dislike of just about every Amouage scent that I’ve tried, many people do seem to dig Lyric Man. The rose note is met with citrus and the usual oriental spices of this brand. Like their other colognes, this one is loud and long-lasting.

7 Best Amber Scented Colognes for Men

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Amber seems to be one of my favorite notes to appear in fragrances. It never was something that I was conscious of, just time and time again, I would buy fragrances that had amber as one of the ingredients. To me, it’s just a total embodiment of fall/winter weather, and adds so much intrigue to a cologne.

With that in mind, I wanted to create a list of some of the best smelling amber colognes that have been produced. Some will be more of pure amber scents while others will be a blend of other notes, but I came up with 7 total, so there should be plenty to try out.

Demeter 1oz Cologne Spray – Amber– Much more of a pure amber scent. Fairly moderate in its projection but does give off a warm, woody, and a bit spicy aroma.

Prada Intense Eau De Parfum Spray for Men, Amber, 3.4 Ounce– This certainly lives up to the title of ‘intense’. This Prada flanker fragrance gives you the amber note with myrrh and patchouli for a unique and well blended experience.

Dolce and Gabbana The One EDT for Men, 3.3 oz– Not a pure amber but it is a prominent note and one of my favorite scents ever in terms of its smell. In terms of its performance, I could never get The One to last on my skin. Others get much better results, but I really loved this cologne.

Halston Man Amber by Halston Eau De Toilette Spray 4.2 oz– An inexpensive blend of oud, amber, and myrrh. Quite warm, sweet, and smoky. An aroma that is quite unique and a nice niche scent for the price. Read my Full Review

Amber Gold– Mostly amber and sandalwood to give it that dark woody quality. Quite hard to find a bottle now, it seems but I’m sure it’s still somewhere on the depths of the internet.


Amber Absolute by Tom Ford– Another one that I think might be discontinued, which is a shame because this was an excellent distillation of smoky amber with some sweet vanilla tossed in for good measure. I’ve linked to Neiman Marcus’ website, which says it’s currently sold out, so maybe it’ll come around again in the future.

M7 By Yves Saint Laurent For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Oz.– Another fragrance that has the oud and amber blend. M7 is an absolute legend, at this point in time, for how it smells and performs. It might take some work to find a bottle of the classic formulation but for some, it’s the best there ever was.