Fragrances

9 Fragrances Similar to Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male

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Le Male by Jean Paul Gaultier has been a best seller since the mid-1990s. As such, it has spawned many imitators. As such, guys who enjoy this fragrance, want to seek out a cheaper or even better alternative perfume to wear.

In this post, I want to present the nine best smelling options for those who want a similar fragrance to Le Male. I have included cheaper scents, those of roughly the same price, and even one that is more expensive (but better quality, in my opinion).

Also, I have added some that have similarities to the vast number of Le Male flanker fragrances out there and will continue to do so in the future.

Colognes that are Like Le Male by JPG

gaultier le male

Similar JPG Option

Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Terrible Eau De Toilette Extreme Spray for Men, 4.2 Ounce– The opening of Terrible and the original are very similar. However, this one doesn’t have the mint note, and gets its spice instead from pink pepper.

Also, Le Male Terrible features a prominent grapefruit note, which gives it a different feel. You still get the lavender and vanilla notes, however, Terrible isn’t as spicy as its predecessor. It is warmer and features a fresh dryness in the latter stages, supplied by the vetiver.

This version is probably the closest flanker to the original, but brings some different aspects to the table. Le Male Terrible Review

Best Cheaper Play

Cuba Gold By Cuba For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Ounces– Smooth vanilla, vetiver, jasmine, and lavender. This one does have that famous Le Male scent, though, this actually precedes it. You can definitely smell the similarities, though, this has more jasmine and is less spicy/smoky.

Although, that is still around in the dry down period, thanks to the vetiver. It turns warm, sweet, and powdery with a great amber note. This one is quite close and a lot cheaper. Again, the fresh spiciness, isn’t as strong in Cuba Gold…but it has the other elements.

For the cheapies in this group, I’d say this is the closest to being what we want, while being of solid quality. Great bang for your buck.

Similar Designer Wear

212 Sexy by Carolina Herrera For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4-Ounces– A smooth and seductive scent from Carolina Herrera. 212 Sexy is a cologne that has a fantastic vanilla note, that is fresh and sweet, and somewhat similar to Le Male by Jean Paul Gaultier.

212 Sexy has a stronger wood base, than does the JPG, and a bit of citrus at the top. Plus, the vanilla is more involved.  It’s a softer cologne, with a nice powdered sandalwood dry down, which sits underneath that vanilla lead.

Very easy to wear and attractive. You can sometimes find this for cheaper than Le Male, but they will often be around the same price.

Higher End and Close

Darley by PdM– This one really reminded me of Le Male when I tested it out. However, Darley and our JPG target fragrance aren’t exactly the same.

Mint, cinnamon, lavender, and lemon are overlapping notes between the two and right out of the gate you get plenty of them. It’s a warm freshness, more balanced than is Le Male with a better lavender note.

Le Male has more of a vanilla and mint aroma. The mint here, comes on later, and there’s also a further distinction with an added rose. No vanilla, just tonka bean. Lavender, mint, and rose with a sandalwood and amber base.

That back half is much more distinct from Le Male, but that opening act is pretty similar.  Darley review

Another Inexpensive Alternative

Perry Ellis 360 White By Perry Ellis for Men 3.4 Oz Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Oz– An interesting alternative, that can be had for a price, close to Cuba Gold. In fact, you might be able to grab this and Gold for cheaper than Le Male.

360 White, ends up close to the JPG, but has a persistent citrus aroma during the wear (think lime). It’s not a heavy citrus, but it is there, and makes the distinction from Le Male.

The spice here comes from cardamom and musk, which provide a different take on the freshness. It is warmer and spicier in the beginning, but becomes more vanilla based, as it dries down.

Super Cheap 

CATSUIT BY CREATION LAMIS COLOGNE FOR MEN 3.3 OZ / 100 ML EAU DE TOILETTE SPRAY– This one can be tough to find, but is pretty much a cheaper one with a very similar aroma to Le Male. Is it as good? No, the quality isn’t the same. Plus, this has more vanilla.

Catsuit can, however, only cost around $10 which is a good deal for what it is. I’d probably go with Cuba Gold, before this, though.

Same Style, Better Quality

Prada Luna Rossa Sport for Men 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette Spray– Generally, this is going to be more expensive than Le Male. However, Luna Rossa Sport is the more mature version, of this style of fragrance.

It opens up with a sweet and creamy tonka bean note, which is paired with juniper and ginger.

Those two notes give this Prada scent, a fresh spiciness, while the lavender and vanilla sit underneath. As it dries down, it becomes more like Le Male, because the lavender and vanilla combo really takes hold.

It has that sweet powdery finish and enough spice to keep it interesting. It’s a simple fragrance, but a damn good one. Luna Rossa Sport Review

CR Similar

CR7 by Cristiano Ronaldo– So, this would probably be the last of the group that I’d pick as a replacement or alternative to Le Male. But, CR7 has a very close style. Mind you, the smell isn’t exact, you just get a lot of overlap.

Fresh, powdery, spicy, but more sweetness. Sort of a 1 Million sweetness mixed with aspects of Le Male and Luna Rossa Sport.

It’s got tobacco, cinnamon, and iris as notes. Not a vanilla-centric as Le Male, warmer and sharper with the spice. The performance isn’t great, the quality is decent for the low price range, just not what you get with Gaultier.

For super cheap? It’s got its charm, but again, I’d go with one of the others first.

Airlines Overlap

1 Million Royal by Paco Rabanne– So, there is a flanker of the original Le Male, called Airlines. It’s usually not too expensive, at the moment. However, it can be tough to find.

1 Million Royal has a good deal of overlap with Le Male Airlines, while still being very much a 1 Millon fragrance.

Between these two, you have a noticeable use of the cardamom note, lavender, citrus, and cedar notes. Airlines is sweeter than the warmer and spicier Royal is. But, there is plenty of similarities between the (I own both).

If your someone who is looking for an alternative to Airlines, 1 Million Royal might fit the bill for you.

There it is, a list of alternative and similar smelling fragrances to Le Male by JPG. I will come back to this page and update it, as I find any other potential options, but for now this should suffice. There are a lot of scents that has a closely related profile to Le Male, because of the lavender and vanilla, but don’t really strike close enough to be included here.

le male jpg review

23 Best Smelling Cheap Colognes

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Men’s colognes are available at a wide range of price points, from the insanely expensive, to the super cheap. The thing is, the price doesn’t necessarily correlate to how good a fragrance smells or performs.

In fact, there are some inexpensive options which blow niche designer wears, out of the water. Not always in terms of the quality of ingredients used, but utility and a more pleasant wear experience.

In this post, I want to explore some of the best options, of budget perfumes for him. I want to give a fairly large array of different styles, so that, one could hone in one a particular fragrance or pick up a few to cover all occasions. These are in the $20-40 range, max.

My Affordable Fragrances for Men Picks

tommy bahama review

Note: For further options beyond just this list, I would suggest that you check online discounters who can have other colognes for 50+ percent off of their retail price. Brands like Calvin Klein and Tommy Bahama will often be super cheap versus what you’d get from the store (those two in particular really seem to have heavy discounts online).

The following list of fragrances will be those scents that are basically always available for under $30 or so. But, just know that you can find some other options depending on when you look.

Most Popular Inexpensive Fragrance

Nautica Voyage 3.4 oz., EDT Spray-  A 3.4 oz bottle can be purchased for under $30 and a 1.7 oz for under $20. This is a really great fragrance and is affordable for just about any budget.

Nautica Voyage has an aquatic aroma with musky undertones. However, the main attraction is the fruit which is listed as apple, and has a cold crispness to it. Very fresh with additional floral notes.

This one has a cold aroma, with the crisp cucumber-like juiciness. It’s aquatic but not oceanic or marine, meaning, it doesn’t have that heavy sea salt note as others do.

Floral and green undertones provided by oak moss, mimosa, and lotus. Voyage is one for daytime use and will usually go for about 7 hours on my skin, when wearing it.

Voyage is a constant best-seller because it delivers that bright and sunny aroma with nice performance. It has that usual Nautica marine/aquatic profile with a cedarwood base holding it all together.

It’s light and built for the summertime. Casual or everyday wear.  My Full Review of Voyage Cologne

Blue Aquatic at a Reasonable Price

Antonio Banderas Blue Seduction for Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 6.75 Ounce– Blue Seduction is priced right at our cutoff point in terms of price. I will say, that Antonio Banderas has a handful of very nice fragrances that are affordable

Blue Seduction is a warm weather fruity aquatic cologne, that is both familiar to other colognes on the market, yet does its own thing.

It is led by a phenomenal melon note compared to how much this costs. The base is watery aquatic with that crisp and cold fruit on top. This is all further chilled/freshened by a dose of mint.

Midnight Edition

Midnight by Perry Ellis– Midnight is a very nice release from Perry Ellis, that I’ve been seeing for sale at around the $30 mark, as of this update.

It’s got some similarities in style to the Armani Stronger with You series, but this is a lighter take on the warm/spicy/vanilla type of cologne.

Actually, you start out with an orange and amber blend. Spices from cinnamon, rosemary, and further geranium freshness.

The dry down will be about the amber, vanilla, and tonka bean. It’s not too heavy, has a creaminess to it, and is a touch spicy to go along with the sweetness. Okay performance, nothing spectacular, but an enjoyable cologne in this price range.

The Bogart

Bogart Pour Homme– I’m actually going to give you two options from the Jacques Bogart line. Pour Homme and Riviera Nights. Both are around $20-25 and are appropriate for grown men, rather than teens.

With Pour Homme, you get a light citrus and floral top. Hints of rose, but it’s mostly about the lavender for much of the wear.

Then comes, the vanilla and tonka bean creaminess paired with musk and woods. It’s sweet, but dry, especially with the oak moss and cedar notes coming in strong at times. Solid performance. Clean and a classic style.

Riviera Nights is the more interesting of the two. Actually, it has a very nice mature profile, great for a multitude of occasions.

The opening has a blast of grapefruit citrus and dried fruits, which provides the sweetness of the scent, that will play a background role for much of the wear. But, that fruitiness will meet the spice of nutmeg and cardamom, creating a good balance.

Dry, hints of tobacco, floral, but those dried fruits add a great element to this one, as well.

Nice Newer Guess

Guess 1981 Los Angeles, 3.4 Oz– Guess has some nice cheapies, on the whole. I don’t know if any of their fragrances are terrible, so you’ll get a decent value with any.

But, 1981 Los Angeles is the latest best addition to the line, following the Seductive series. It starts off with bergamot and plum, a bit sweet and tart. Then, an aromatic blend of ginger and pepper.

It’s fresh and cold at first with a pretty big dose of mint outshining the spices and geranium note. As it dries down, it will feel herbal and warm with an amber base.

It retains its fresh spices, gains woodiness (vetiver and sandalwood), loses much of the fruity sweetness, then comes with an attractive powdery finish.

A Plethora of Picks

#Imagine by The Dua Brand– This entry to the list is actually a lot more than just one. I’m listing one of my favorite fragrances of this type, but Dua has hundreds of more.

The Dua Brand specializes in not only creating their own unique perfumes, but also scents which are ‘inspired by’ popular designer fragrances…at a much cheaper price.

So, I’ve bought 10+ bottles from them of different kinds. Listed above, is their version of the Imagination by LV formula.

This can give you the opportunity to get high quality near matches of some of the more expensive designer and niche perfumes. They usually have discount codes to knock prices back within our range, also.

A Linear Spicebomb

Spice & Black Vanilla by Cremo– Cremo has a few very nice fragrances for around $20. Spice & Black Vanilla is a popular one because it pretty closely mimics the popular Spicebomb.

I for sure see the connection, between the two. To me, it’s sort of like Spicebomb with touches of Spicebomb Extreme, but simplified. Sweeter, too.

The spice mix seems to be a cardamom and cinnamon blend, with the latter being weaker, and not to the same extent as the Viktor & Rolf cologne. That top is spicier, but the dry down is vanilla based and quite woody.

Maybe a hint of tobacco here? Not sure, as I tried this once a while ago. But, again not to the same extent as Spicebomb. Very smooth and pleasant wear.

The longevity is actually decent, but the sillage here isn’t overly powerful. It seemed to hit that 5-7 hour mark of wear, just mostly sitting close to the skin. For the price? Great quality and aroma. Also, available at Target and Wal-Mart currently.

Red Spice

Davidoff Hot Water Eau De Toilette Spray for Men 3.7 Ounces, Oriental Spicy– A lot of attention goes to the classic Cool Water, but I want to highlight Hot Water here.

The name indicates its spicy profile, but that belies its rather unique profile overall. Basil and paprika are two prominent notes, which just doesn’t happen all that often in the world of men’s fragrances.

But, it’s not just a hot mess. It has sweetness and a smooth warmth provided by the amber. Moderate sillage and rather fresh as a cologne.

Once the paprika has fallen into the background Hot Water becomes more herbal, with a touch of that sweetness.

Golden Performance

Jaguar Classic Gold Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce– Jaguar is a brand that I’ve overlooked for a long time, with their fragrances. Classic Gold from their line, really is a nice cologne, and usually only runs about $20 per bottle.

It’s mostly a big blast of citrus and apple, other floral notes, and vanilla to round things out. Sweet and sharp up top, but settles down to unveil the light floral aroma.

The woodsy base gives this one a more substantial composition, than the early stages might indicate.

Smells nice. The real prize is the performance, though. This one lasts on the skin as long as many higher end designer fragrances, even if it’s not to the same quality with the ingredients.

Cheap Daily Wear for Younger Guys 

Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger for Men – 3.4 oz EDT Spray– Tommy is the perfect simple blend of sweet and fresh. Tommy gives you a clean, crisp, and sort of aquatic blast of citrus notes and apple.

That sliced juicy apple is met by a cool batch of mint, which intermingle among the grapefruit and bergamot.

I think one of the reasons that this caught on so well, is that, Tommy has the familiar young men’s fragrance ingredients while adding notes such as cranberry and cactus.

This allows the fragrance to be distinct, as these unusual notes beautifully play a support role within the composition. Very clean and juicy. Tommy Full Review

Best Affordable Woody Fragrance

Encre Noire– A very popular scent that is inexpensive but provides a lot of bang for your buck. Encre Noire is a wood based cologne with cypress, vetiver, and cashmere being the main attractions here.

Of course as the name suggests, it is a dark scent with an air of mystery, and a nice dash of smokiness.

It is dry and features a vetiver note that feels a bit unique than some of the others on the market. Encre Noire is a fragrance for guys who want a woody/earthy sort of scent, at a very fair price. It’s not always on sale, but it can still be found within our range.

The Acqua Alternative

Just Me by Paris Hilton for Men – 3.4 Ounce EDT Spray– The Paris Hilton line of colognes sort of flies under the radar compared to the ladies’ perfumes. However, that’s a mistake, because she put out some very enjoyable fragrances for around $20.

Just Me, often gets compared to the famous Acqua di Gio. The similarities are definitely there, and nowadays, the performance is pretty much on equal footing. This one opens sweeter with a blueberry note, that is paired with citrus.

Add to that hints of spice, smokiness, sea breeze, grass, and floral notes. It’s a citrus aquatic with hints of woods and incense smoke, at the end. Just Me Review

Top Low Key and Sweet Fragrance

Versace Versace Versus Blue Jeans – Edt Spray 2.5 Oz, 2.5 oz— Another entry from Versace’s awesome back catalog of men’s fragrances. Blue Jeans is a complex mix of ingredients which combine to create a soft and refined cologne.

Lavender and vanilla are probably the two most noticeable of the notes, though, it’s a well blended scent. As such, you’ll detect slight whiffs of different floral, citrus, and woody notes. Blue Jeans has a classic clean powdery/shaving cream aroma.

During the dry down, this one gets a bit sweeter, as the vanilla seems to be draped over the sandalwood, rosewood, and cedar notes. It’s not too heavy but has a nice longevity. Blue Jeans works well in a variety of situations from casual to more formal wear.

The New Nautica

Nautica Midnight Voyage– The massive continued success of the original Voyage, has led Nautica to keep trying their hand at making another scent under this banner a hit. Most of them, have been pretty much forgettable.

However, that changed with the more recent Midnight Voyage. Amber, mint, and pink peppercorn blend with seemingly a bit of the original Voyage DNA.

It has that amber/ambroxan sort of aroma, like found in the popular Dior Sauvage. It’s not the same, but you get that kind of vibe.

Midnight Voyage is a bit spicy, but in a fresh and cooling way, while retaining its nautical and summery mystique. I think there is a hint of citrus in here, also, but I haven’t seen it listed. This is worth a try and the large bottles are starting to go on sale for cheap.

A Citrus Floral Based Citrus Cheapie

Nikos Sculpture Homme for men Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounces– Sculpture is a really nice cheapie and has been around for multiple decades now. The opening act is full of a bright/sour/sweet lemon note that stands out in the summer months.

The citrus opening, prominent orange blossom and floral notes, and at times bitter herbal qualities. Light with a clean and somewhat powdery finish in the latter stages. This one routinely goes for under $20 per bottle.

Maybe not the best formal wear, but as an all-around scent, this has got plenty to recommend about it.

Another Greek Legend

Ulysse by Vicky Tiel– Ulysse is a really nice and rather unique cologne to wear for around $20. Up top it’s green, fresh, and citrusy. With some musk added. Yet, it will dry down softer with lavender led floral and some powdery vanilla.

Light and the greenish notes have a dewy, almost aquatic aroma in the early stages. That lime note really stands out in the early sprays. It’s a refreshing fragrance for the daytime, while not being weak and having great longevity for this price point.

Sweeter and floral as it dries down. Super sophisticated? No, but pleasant and a fun wear for chill days.

The Celebrity Cologne for Cheap

David Beckham Instinct EDT Spray For Men, 2.5 Ounce– One of the fragrances from the athlete’s line of colognes, all of which are very affordable. Instinct is citrusy with notes of orange and bergamot which are paired with a slightly spicy anise note.

It is fresh and warm when it dries down with a vetiver and amber blend.

Instinct opens up with those citrus top notes leading the way. Bergamot and orange are the main attraction but you get some rugged and earthy notes playing supporting roles, here.

Not too spicy but there’s enough of a kick to make this one distinct. It becomes warmer and drier as the fragrance plays itself out.

You’re left with something that is citrus, woodsy, and with an anise spice. Very nice at this price point. It’s been a top seller in this dollar range, for many years now  Instinct Review

instinct

Designer Style for a Low Cost

Ferrari Scuderia Black Eau De Toilette Spray For Men- Scuderia Black opens with red apple, plum, and bergamot leading the way. This fruity aroma is warm and spicy with the added notes of cinnamon and cardamom.

This Ferrari scent is like a cheaper version of Boss Bottled. It dries down with woods, vanilla, and amber. A very nice buy for under $20.

I like the plum note in here, which while not too heavy, does add tart aroma to the composition. This gives Scuderia Black a more unique feel than just being a Boss Bottled clone.

The Ferrari line does produce a lot of scents that provide a great bang for your buck and Scuderia Black is among my favorites. Sweet/warm/slight spice/woodsy. It hits so many different check marks and is something that will work well for lots of guys. Ferrari Scuderia Black Review

Third Time’s the Charm

Versace L’Homme by Versace for Men – 3.4 Ounce EDT Spray– Yes, another entry from Versace. This scent from their back catalog is from the 1980s and has a more mature aroma than the previous two.

L’Homme has depth and style. It opens up with that signature Versace Italian citrus, this time, lemon and bergamot.

The next level is cinnamon, leather, and a woodsy floral mix. Clean citrus and leather, with a rough finish from the dry earthy notes in the base. Smooth, dry, and fresh spice. Versace L’Homme is still one of their best and most affordable parfums.

Best Clean Crowd Pleaser

Curve by Liz Claiborne for Men – 4.2 Ounce Cologne Spray– Curve is a wildly popular fragrance for men because it smells so great, even after a few decades of being for sale. It’s not a heavy or any overpowering scent but one that is fresh and memorable.

People always react positively to this one it seems, as Curve’s unique blend of notes, just draws people in. For an inexpensive cologne, this is a complement machine.

There are fruity elements such as pineapple, citrus, and juniper berries which play off a calm and clean lavender note. It is super fresh with a slight spice provided by pepper and ginger. However, the outdoorsy elements really set this Liz Claiborne creation apart.

It’s got a floral charm while being masculine and uses mahogany and cactus as a part of its base. An almost perfect choice for the younger guy, as it is non-offensive, doesn’t cost much, and is quite versatile in a number of situations. My review of Curve

curve

Woody Inexpensive Masterpiece

Zino Davidoff by Zino Davidoff for Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 4.2 Ounce– Yes, yes, another one from Davidoff. What can I say?

The older classics stick around at a lower price. Not as big of a seller as Cool Water, but does it’s own thing with notes of sandalwood and patchouli as the main attractions.

Masculine with enough sweetness in vanilla and floral notes. Yet, it is mainly a deep woody/patchouli fragrance that sits beautifully in the colder air of late autumn and winter.

Very well done. Smooth and not too heavy, but with enough performance to get through a standard work day.

Earthy with a dry woods, it comes together as clean, but definitely has an underlying dirtiness. 80s fragrance, that gives you something different from most modern colognes.

Masculine, Designer Style

Ferragamo Black– Ferragamo Black is a very popular option for guys, who want something awesome for under $30.  This is probably because of its similarities to La Nuit by YSL which it does share plenty of overlap with, but it isn’t an exact clone.

It features a very prominent lavender note, which is paired with crisp apple from the opening, this is a familiar aroma in a lot of men’s scents.

Later, the creamy tonka bean comes out with a sharp black pepper note, to give it a great  masculine blend. For the price, this has to be included in a list of the best cheapies for men.

Unique and Attractive for a Small Price

Guess Seductive Men Edt Spray, 3.4 Ounce– I came across this cologne 8+ years ago. I discovered it while shopping at Target, and my initial reaction was, that it was a wonderful and unique smelling fragrance.

Guess Seductive begins with mandarin orange and a wonderful cardamom milk, which gives it a blend of fruity sweetness and warm spice. Then, the pink pepper comes in, and begins its strengthening from there.

It’s all wrapped up together with musk and amber, with some orchid bringing a floral vibe underneath the main notes. The performance has always been solid for me, with a decent sillage, that can get noticed.

Notes include: Cardamom Milk, Pink Pepper, Patchouli, Sandalwood, And Musk.  Read my review here!

Y by YSL vs Dior Sauvage EDT Comparison

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In this comparison post, I want to take a close look at two men’s fragrances that have been released over the past four years, Y by Yves Saint Laurent vs. Sauvage by Christian Dior.

Now, this will be a comparison of the eau de toilette versions of both of these colognes. Obviously, over the years each brand has come out with countless flankers of these original formulations. I’ve written about those elsewhere on the site and have sprinkled in links to those articles within this page.

The ultimate question here is, which of these colognes smells better? I will come to this conclusion by comparing them in different categories before declaring a winner.

Tale of the Tape

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

Y EDT

Notes include: bergamot, ginger, aldehydes, violet leaf, geranium, sage, cedar, musk, incense, ambergris, fir

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Y Eau De Toilette Spray 100ml/3.3oz

Review: Y EDT

Opening

Y opens with a very fresh aroma that is cool, crisp, and super clean. It has a nice top note of bergamot, which is light and juicy. The aldehydes provide a bright and sunshine-like feeling and that is met by a warm ambergris note. Later, ginger and violet leaf enter the picture.

Meanwhile, Sauvage EDT, also opens with a bergamot note but this one is really sharp and quite intense. Sichuan pepper and lavender are also there. It is strong and sometimes harsh to my nose at first, but ultimately settles down.

I’ve never particularly enjoyed that pepper note with Sauvage. It’s not a bad start, but it develops better than what it initially leads on.

Which is better? I think the opening of Y smells better than Sauvage. Sauvage can be overbearing at first, before really hitting its stride, but Y EDT is very pleasant right out of the gate.

Edge: Y

Projection

Sauvage starts off quite powerful and has a sillage that leaves a solid scent trail. Then, it becomes more moderate, as the wear moves along. Still, it is  well above average with its projecting ability for almost all of the time it’s on your skin.

At the start, the Dior is up there with almost any of the best-selling designer colognes, as far as how well it projects off of the skin.

Y, on the other hand, starts off as a moderate and then becomes a skin scent or thereabouts for much of the rest of the wear. Y EDT isn’t a strong scent, not awful, just not great.

Between the two, it’s a pretty obvious advantage for Sauvage EDT.

Edge: Sauvage

Longevity

Sauvage lasts anywhere from 6-9 hours on my skin. When the heat and humidity are low, it lasts longer, but during summer it’s much closer to 6 hours.

Maybe that’s just what happens on my skin. Some people seem to get better performance than me with this cologne, but it’s still a fairly good performer. Especially for an eau de toilette concentration. That upper bound of the range is higher than what I’ve gotten out of Y EDT.

Y is pretty consistent with close to 7 hours of wear. It doesn’t seem to go beyond that. Pretty good, but it never goes to an extreme extent. So, on the worst days of Sauvage these two are equal. Otherwise, it’s a pretty easy edge for the Dior.

Some of the other newer editions of Y, go beyond what you get with the EDT, but they’re different in terms of smell too.

Edge: Sauvage

Versatility

Both of these colognes are highly versatile. They can be worn casually, dressed up, at the office, or out for the evening. Sauvage is probably better for nightlife, with its greater sillage, and sexier nature.

At least when compared to the EDT version of Y. Nonetheless, I would give Sauvage a bit of an edge versus the YSL scent.

Edge: Sauvage (slightly)

Overall Scent

Y EDT from Yves Saint Laurent, smells really good, but it isn’t anything special. I really enjoy how fresh, clean, and simple it is. It also doesn’t have any of the harsh intensity that Sauvage does and is much more low key.

Also, while it doesn’t have great projection, the longevity is solid and doesn’t disappoint. It just isn’t a beast and it’s not designed to be. It is very balanced with light qualities of sweetness and spice from the ginger.

However, Sauvage EDT is better. Even if I’m personally not a huge fan of it. Once it settles down it can be quite nice and catches attention. It is highly popular for a reason, after all.

The performance is better than Y and it has the added dimension of being a nightlife wear, while Y EDT, is more of a simple daily wear.

Between the two? I’m picking Sauvage EDT. Though, I’d really prefer the Eau de Parfum version to either.

Updating this my ranking of the options would be (before either of these two): Sauvage EDP, Sauvage Elixir, Y EDP

Winner: Sauvage

10 Fragrances Similar to Abercrombie Fierce

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Fierce by Abercrombie & Fitch has been a best seller, since its release, but 10-15 years ago; it was an absolute monster. In high school, I smelled this cologne everywhere I went, seemingly. With such popularity, there are bound to be other colognes that come along, which smell similar to Fierce.

There’s always a market for ‘clones’ of popular scents. Also, over time, the quality of Fierce has dipped and it doesn’t seem to pack the same punch anymore.

With that, guys are looking for an alternative, that either smells/performs better or costs less (or both). In this post, I want to present you ten options, that smell quite a bit like Fierce. Some will be more expensive, while others will be cheapies, but all produce that Fierce-like vibe.

Favorite Fragrances that Smell Like Abercrombie Fierce

Most Similar Designer

MONTBLANC Legend Eau de Toilette, 1.0 Fl Oz– Legend has plenty of similarities to Fierce, but isn’t as spicy nor woodsy as the Abercrombie scent. Legend opens up with pineapple, that isn’t too sharp, and later is joined and tempered by lavender.

Legend also features a crisp apple note and the smooth sandalwood, which is quite nice. Mont Blanc Legend has also been a best seller for years. Legend is clean and masculine with a solid woody dry down.

While this is probably the most similar, out of designer scents. I would go with Mercedes-Benz Man (listed below) before picking up a bottle of this. Legend Full Review.

A Better Legend

Mercedes-Benz Man–  Mercedes-Benz Man is one that has plenty of similarities with Legend above and I actually enjoy it more. It’s different, for sure, but shares a lot of overlap with the Mont Blanc scent.

It also shares a great deal with Fierce, as it it stands sort of in between these two cologne options. Plus, you can find bottles of Benz Man for cheaper than either of these picks.

You get the oakmoss and cedar freshness, along with a top note of a crisp and watery slice of pear. The spice comes across as quite light, with less of a bite, than some of the other listed colognes.

However, the performance is quite good, better than what I’ve gotten with the modern formulations of Fierce and probably a slight edge versus Legend.

Hashtag Inspiration

#Fierce by The Dua Brand– So, this is the only one from the designers that re-create the aromas of popular fragrances, that seems to have done an ‘inspired’ version of Fierce.

Now, I haven’t personally tried this one out, but I have done so for other Dua scents and they do a really good job at almost completely matching the scent of famous fragrances.

#Fierce is based on the original formulation of the A&F scent that used to get pumped into the stores back in the day.

Reviews are really positive and there’s no reason to think that Dua dropped the ball on this one. If you want something that tries to hit the same beats as Fierce, this is probably it.

Woody and Iris

Dior Homme Eau For Men by Christian Dior for Men – 3.4 oz EDT Spray– Dior Homme Eau is of course, a close flanker of Dior Homme. However, it also creates a close aroma like our target scent. Eau has a strong cedar base and the spice of coriander.

But, It starts off with top notes of grapefruit and bergamot.

The grapefruit and coriander is the same as Fierce, it uses different wood notes, but has that same sort of base. One big difference, is the presence of iris, which is the highlight of the original Dior Homme. This one has solid performance of 6-8 hours. Dior Homme Eau Review.

Update: This one has been discontinued and bottles are getting harder to track down for anything resembling a reasonable price.

Best Similar Cheapie

Frank Olivier Sunrise Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 2.5 Ounce– Here is our first cheaper option. It’s not an exact duplicate of Fierce, but close enough, when considering price and the reformulations of the A&F fragrance.

It’s less woody and not as dry as Fierce, but has a good lavender note, and a nice bergamot up front. If I were to go with one of the cheapest options on this list, it’d have to be Sunrise. It gives you the closest approximation and best performance, out of all the cheapies.

Affordable and Popular

Very Sexy Platinum– Very Sexy Platinum smells like a mix between a weaker old school bottle of A&F Fierce and Montblanc Legend. It never had the same level of power as classic A&F Fierce, but it was one that was always pretty popular and could draw plenty of complements. Usually not too bad of a price either.

The main differences between Platinum and those fragrances, to me at least, is a less spicy profile and it feels woodier. Very Sexy Platinum is fresh and has a nice earthiness to it.

Update: Nowadays, it’s less affordable than it had been when compared to Fierce. They can each usually be found for cheaper online versus in their respective stores. It sort of depends on when you’re looking for these colognes, as to what price you’ll pay.

Another Super Cheap Option

PLAYBOY New York Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce Playboy– This is the absolute cheapest option on the list. It isn’t the best, can be somewhat watered down, and is closer to Mont Blanc Legend.

Nonetheless, at around $10-15 per bottle, Playboy New York is a viable option. This one has apple and vanilla leading the way.

Yet an understated dryness of vetiver and an interesting vinyl note. It wouldn’t be my first option, but this one does inhabit the same fragrance style as Fierce. Playboy New York Full Review

Update: Playboy discontinued their whole line of older fragrances pretty much. There does seem to be plenty of stock with this one, at least. I just saw bottles selling for $18-20 online. Probably not worth any amount beyond that.

Better High End Version

PLATINUM EGOISTE POUR HOMME BY Chanel  – Updating this, since I put the wrong Egoiste down. Platinum is the version you want, if you’re looking for a grown up version of Fierce.

This has an old school barbershop aroma, that is modern and stylish. Sage, neroli, lavender, and petitgrain take control early on. That top line has a great deal of overlap with our target, just without the citrus top.

It’s greenish, herbal, and has a clean soapy quality. Egoiste Platinum is a deeper and more intricate scent versus Fierce. Floral, with sage and rosemary highlights. The latter stages get dry and woodier, with a nice vetiver note.

Probably won’t appeal to most high school guys, but if you’re an older fan of Fierce, this Chanel is a classic one to try. Platinum Egoiste Review

Fresh and Clean

Skulls and Roses ED Hardy Colognes for Men, 2.5 Ounce– Skulls and Roses is another cheap option that mimics Fierce, fairly closely. It starts off with a top of citrus, lavender, and cardamom spice.

Then, it dries down with musk and dry oak moss. It’s like a simpler and more linear version of Fierce.

This one is fresh and clean with more of a soapy vibe. The sillage isn’t huge, moderate at first, but quite light thereafter. It lasts about six hours, on the skin. Though, you can pick up a bottle for under $20. Skulls and Roses Review

The Newer Legend

MONTBLANC Legend eau de parfum 3.3 fl oz, 3.3 fl. oz.– I’m adding Legend eau de parfum to the list, as some people do like this one. Personally, I’d go with the original EDT, but this also smells similar to the A&F scent.

The main difference is with the violet leaf and leather notes. They are prominent. That takes this away from being a clone of either Legend or Fierce, but the overall feel is the same.

The similarities are going to be with the moss, woods, and musky sort of aroma. The violet leaf is one of my least favorite notes, so I don’t really enjoy this version at all. The light leather is a pretty nice touch.

I’d say, if you can pick this up relatively cheap, it’s an option. The performance isn’t good enough for a full bottle, though. Legend EDP Review

Nautica Voyage vs Nautica Blue Cologne Comparison

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I’ve already done multiple reviews of Nautica fragrances and a list of the best smelling scents from this brand. As such, I think it’s time to narrow down the field a bit more and compare two of this brand’s best sellers, Voyage and Nautica Blue.

In this post, I want to compare how each scent smells, how it performs, and determine which one is the better buy in my opinion. Please continue below for the full comparison. Also see: Voyage vs Voyage N-83

Tale of the Tape Nautica Voyage vs. Blue

Nautica Voyage 

Notes include: apple, musk, cedar, green leaf, amber, mimosa

Read my original review here

Try Nautica Voyage: Nautica Voyage By Nautica For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 oz

Nautica Blue

Notes include: Musk, cedar, bergamot, sandalwood, peach, pineapple, water lily

Read my original review 

Click here to try Nautica Blue!

nblue

Opening

The differences between the openings of these two fragrances is that, Voyage gives off a juicy/citrus scent while being an aquatic cologne, and Blue is leaning more towards the woodsy/aquatic.

Yes, blue has citrus/fruity notes as well but it’s cedar note is more noticeable while Voyage’s fruit notes take center stage.

Voyage starts thinks off with apple, musk, some watery notes, and floral notes. This is a greenish floral fragrance, at times, particularly after the opening. You will get plenty of lotus and mimosa in Nautica Voyage. For such an inexpensive scent, it really is quite unique.

Nautica Blue is a blend of bergamot and pineapple, up top. The newer bottles really seem really quite sharp in the opening act. Like a sharp fruity detergent. It’s strange, as older bottles didn’t have this same level of intensity. It will get woodier, later on, and settle itself down.

It’s really a matter of taste…but I give Voyage a slight edge. Actually, with the newer batches, Voyage wins this category hands down.

Edge: Voyage

Projection

Both of these scents are moderate, however, Blue tends to be on the lighter side in my opinion. Neither is really a projection beast, but they get the job done, for the most part.

Blue gets softer, much earlier than does Voyage. Voyage actually stays moderate with its sillage for a good while, leaving at slight scent trail, but is detectable for longer than Nautica Blue.

Edge: Voyage

Longevity

I get about 7 hours of wear out of Voyage most of the time. Blue, on the other hand, is really hit and miss with somewhere between 2-5 hours depending on the circumstances.

Voyage definitely starts to open a lead over Blue with this category. The last batch of Blue that I tried, really hit the lower end of its spectrum, too. Voyage owns this category.

Update: Yes, after trying Blue again, it’s about 2-3 hours now. Voyage, as of the last time that I tried it out, is still the same.

Edge: Voyage

Versatility

Nautica colognes are well known for being casual aquatic scents and that holds true in the case of these two.

Blue is a fresh and clean fragrance that is quite simple and linear in its aroma. Both are good for work, school, casual situations.

Both would be best for younger guys, maybe Voyage has an edge for the older set head to head, but not enough to make a difference.

Update: I’m changing my stance on this. The newer bottles of Blue, do have a too much sharpness and have too much of a detergent-like aroma. I’d say since both are cheapies, limit the use to casual or some work wear, but I’d for sure go with Voyage before Blue.

Edge: Voyage

Overall Scent

Voyage to me, smells better overall and add that to its better performance and it has to be the winner out of these two.

I remember Blue being much better in the past, not as much of a detergent like smell. The opening of this latest batch, really turned me off this cologne.

Voyage is an easy to wear go to. It’s really the pinnacle of the Nautica brand, that they don’t ever seem to be able to top. For the price, it’s a great option.

Crisp fruit notes, green/floral blend, and a musky finish. There’s a reason that this fragrance, has become a best seller, at this price point.

I’d rather wear Voyage over Blue, every time, nowadays. In the past, Blue might have gotten a few wears, but it’s lost a lot of luster in my book.

The good news is that, since these colognes are so inexpensive, one could simply buy both of them and not break the bank in the process.

See if you actually like Blue, and if not, it’ll only set you back $10-15. I probably wouldn’t even bother with it at this point, since it really doesn’t do much of anything well.

Winner: Voyage