Fragrances

Dylan Blue vs Luna Rossa Carbon Cologne Comparison

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Alrighty, it’s been a minute since I’ve done a head to head cologne comparison on the site. So today, we are going to do one between Versace’s Dylan Blue versus Prada’s Luna Rossa Carbon. Which of these scents smells better? Which one performs more impressively? Is there a clear winner out of either of these scents? Please continue below for my full matchup breakdown.

Tale of the Tape: Carbon vs. Dylan Blue

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

Luna Rossa Carbon

Notes include: lavender, ambroxan, metallic notes, pepper, patchouli, coal, bergamot

Click here to try: Prada Luna Rossa CARBON for Men Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.4 ounce

Opening

The opening of Dylan Blue is a citrus affair with the grapefruit and bergamot notes taking center stage. However, it has a certain aquatic feel and a noticeable contribution from the black pepper note.

Meanwhile, Luna Rossa Carbon, has the citrus of the bergamot top note but it is joined by a more intense ambroxan and lavender. There is also a pepper note and a hint of that metallic aroma, which gives it it’s Carbon name.

Which is better? Well, both of these scents get compared to Dior Sauvage, and Luna Rossa Carbon is much more in line with that from the start. I like the more nuanced approach of the Prada fragrance over Dylan Blue.

The Versace is a typical citrus at the stage and actually has reminded me of Acqua Di Gio Profumo in the past. Though, much sweeter and without the metallic influence. It’s nice, but I find Carbon to be better.

I have grown to enjoy the opening act of Dylan Blue more, over the years since its release. The fig note really stands out and it can be a nice fragrance to throw on.

Edge: Luna Rossa Carbon

Projection

They both start out fairly strong and perhaps Dylan Blue has better sillage at the start. However, it settles into something more moderate. It’s citrus and fig at the start, really gives it a good ability to project, but that subsides.

Now, Luna Rossa Carbon also turns moderate, it still has better and more consistent projection than that of Dylan Blue.

At their peak, it’s close to the same, but the Prada keeps things going for a longer time period. Neither of these is a heavy fragrance to wear. A good initial reach, before settling into something that’s pretty standard.

Edge: Carbon

Longevity

No matter how many times I wear Dylan Blue, it seems to only last 5-6 hours on my skin each time. That’s okay, just not outstanding.

Carbon, on the other hand, can last all day on my skin and can get into the double digit hours on most wears. The Prada cologne just has better performance. Carbon just really works on me, for whatever reason. Performance is extremely good for a popular designer scent.

Edge: Carbon

Versatility

I don’t see either one of these fragrances having much of an edge in terms of when or where you can wear each. The are both very versatile fragrances that can be worn casually or out on a date or wherever.

Carbon is more mature than is Dylan Blue. So, it might have a bit of an edge as to who will want to wear either.

I don’t consider either to be a truly formal scent, but I’d also go with the Prada if pressed. Carbon is more well put together overall, while also having a better balanced mix than the Versace.

Edge: Carbon (slightly)

Overall Scent

I’ve always found Dylan Blue to be decent at best. Although, I have enjoyed it somewhat more lately, than I used to. Sometimes, that opening act, particularly the fig note can be a very enjoyable wear.

Beyond that, it’s okay, just not something that I want to wear all of the time. It’s not a bad choice, if you can get a bottle for cheap.

However, I’m going to give the nod to Luna Rossa Carbon. It’s not a personal favorite of mine either, but it’s better than the Versace.  Carbon has a similar profile to that of Sauvage, but enough differences to make it distinct.

The citrus and ambroxan get downplayed as it dries down and Carbon gives you a lavender and metallic sort of vibe. It also has much better performance than Dylan Blue does.

Luna Rossa Carbon is a clear cut winner to me, in this head to head matchup. Both are really nice colognes, neither amazing, but Carbon is better.

Winner: Luna Rossa Carbon

8 Best Smelling Abercrombie & Fitch Fragrances

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The Abercrombie & Fitch name is utterly synonymous with late 90s and early 00s teen/college-aged fashion. The stores in malls across the globe pump an upbeat soundtrack into the shop and the smell of Fierce, would permeate the room.

Over the years, this fashion company has released plenty of fragrances for both men and women, many of which have been well received. In this post, I want to go over what I consider to be the eight best smelling men’s colognes by A&F.

Favorite and Best Smelling A&F Colognes

Note: Updating this post, some options have been discontinued and/or are difficult to find. Some have alternatives, which I will link in that entry. I’m keeping the older picks on the list, regardless, while still adding new entries that are worthwhile.

Most Popular Fragrance

Abercrombie & Fitch Fierce Cologne 3.4 oz– The timeless best seller from Abercrombie & Fitch, Fierce has long been a staple of high school and college guys, and for good reason. It has a blast of spiciness at the start which is super fresh and seductive.

Later during the dry down, you get a super smooth blend of woodsy notes and musk, which gives it a wholly masculine air. This one has been reformulated somewhat, so, a newer bottle really doesn’t pack the same punch that it did a decade ago…but it’s still a great smell.

Maybe at its height, it could be considered the best of the A&F line. Now, I’d probably put it 2nd or 3rd, depending on my mood. There are many other scents like this around, but Fierce really got that trend line going. Fierce Review

Best New A&F Fragrance

Fierce Night– Night is one of the best Fierce flankers that has been released in a while. Plus, it’s still readily available on their website.

The bergamot note up top gives it nice citrus opening, that is paired with an initial burst of ambroxan, and feels quite bold from the jump. However, it will become smoother with lavender and a touch of sandalwood in the base.

Clean and attractive, not a massive sillage, once it settles. But, the performance is right about a solid 8 hours of wear. Much better than the current formulations of the original. It’s clean and versatile with a soapy kind of finish from the lavender.

Another Newer Gem

Abercrombie & Fitch and Fitch Authentic Men EDT Spray – It was a toss up between this and Authentic Night (which seems pretty difficult to find bottles of nowadays). But, I like the style of Authentic, even if you have to spray the hell out of it.

No, the performance isn’t great here (longevity is okay…think 5-6 hours). This is a citrus and herbal spicy fragrance that will be a great go to for the spring and summer months. Right now, I’m seeing bottles floating around for $20-40, which is a nice deal for something like this.

That bright fruity opening is great, paired with an awesome ginger note and some pink pepper touches. The spices give it a colder aroma, when together with the rest of the composition…on the same wavelength as Jimmy Choo Man Ice. Less woody, though.

Top Summer Cologne

Abercrombie & Fitch First Instinct Men Eau De Toilette, 3.4 Ounce– First Instinct features a gin and tonic accord, which gives it that carbonated sensation of tonic water.

It’s sweet with sort of a tropical vibe at times, along with a nice pepper note. It mellows out the sweetness some during the dry down and you get the wonderful melon note along with musk.

Some might point out Fierce Blue as the best summer scent. I disagree, I think that First Instinct is a much more interesting and better options. The melon with the fizzy gin and tonic vibe is great. Not too heavy, but a cool option to throw on in the hotter months.

Note: If you can’t find this, Dua has its inspired by fragrance: Dua’s Instinct. 

Best Winter Wear

Abercrombie & Fitch Fierce Icon Eau de Cologne Spray, 1.7 Ounce– Fierce Icon is an updated, yet darker and sharper version of the original Fierce. The two colognes obviously share a lot of the same DNA but this one has more pepper and citrus at play…along the line of Luna Rossa Carbon or Sauvage.

Sort of like the original Fierce blended with elements of those two fragrances. Nice, powerful, and well done. I like this one, if you can get it for a good price, Icon is a pretty unique take on the Fierce name.

The opening few hour does have a stronger sillage, but it settles down, and you get an above-average performer with elements of the original Fierce.

Light Summer Aquatic Scent

Abercrombie & Fitch Hot Eau De Cologne Spray 50ml/1.7oz– A simple, fresh, and quite pleasant take on an aquatic fragrance. Hot has a touch of coconut on top of a watery base and features the crispness of that familiar cucumber aroma.

Not too heavy, but Abercrombie Hot, gives a good performance and is a clean everyday option for guys. This can be a little bit more difficult to find, nowadays, but you can still track it down and it’s a really good and unique choice.

Being your Self

Authentic Self for Men– This one is a newer flanker of the Authentic men’s line. Authentic Self is a woody and sweet fragrance with some similarities to L’Homme by YSL (not exactly the same). Namely, the bergamot top note is missing.

But, here you get a fresh vibe from violet leaf, geranium, cypress, and some ginger spice in the early stages. The woods will persist with a further infusion of cedar. While the rest of the wear will become a creamier and sweeter aroma from the vanilla and tonka bean.

It’s noticeably different from the original Authentic scent, they do share the ginger note, but that’s most of the similarities that they have. This one is woody and that one is more of a warm weather cologne.

I’m not sure if this one has already come and gone, as I’m having a tougher time finding bottles online. However, if you do come across it for a reasonable price, Authentic Self can be a great value play as a daily wear fragrance.

Best Overall A&F Fragrance

Fierce Intense– Fierce Intense takes the crown as the top pick from Abercrombie & Fitch. Not only in terms of smell, but it also has some amazing performance. Update: This seems to be discontinued now.

Elements of Fierce, sit underneath the main accords of Fierce Intense. They don’t smell exactly the same, but they definitely show a resemblance to one another. The differences with Intense come with its delicious watermelon note, musky highlights, and fresh aquatic heart.

Beyond that, Fierce Intense gives you a bold option for the year. I think it really shines when it gets warmer, but it smells great during the winter months too. The sillage is powerful and it will go for double digits, with it’s longevity.

1 Million vs Invictus by Paco Rabanne Comparison

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In my latest installment of cologne comparisons, I want to once again compare something against 1 Million by Paco Rabanne. This time I want to pit it against one from its own design house, Invictus.

In this post, I want to break down each scent and explain how I think each smells, performs, when they should be worn, and which scent is better overall between Invictus vs 1 Million.

This is a comparison between the original releases of each of these names. I’ve written about their flankers elsewhere on the site.

Note: I am updating this post 5 years or so, after the original, to add my latest experiences with more depth.

Tale of the Tape: Invictus vs. 1 Million

1 Million 

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

Read my review

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

Invictus 

Notes include: grapefruit, sea notes, mandarin orange, bay leaf, jasmine

Read my review

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

Opening

You’ll notice that these two fragrances have grapefruit and orange notes in common. In fact, the opening aromas of these scents have a very similar feel to one another.

They both tend to have that sort of grape candy/bubblegum smell at first before morphing into something else.

Invictus has a decidedly aquatic fragrance to it, while 1 Million has a more leathery smell, that comes through.

1 Million kicks off with its citrus notes, joining them together with leather, rose, and amber. Along with these, come a blend of fresh spice (mint/cinnamon), which will have some more influence later on.

Meanwhile, Invictus starts out with its citrus notes, as well. However, it pairs things up with aquatic notes, a strong bay leaf, and ambergris. It is sweet, somewhat salty aquatic, with a nice freshness.

I think 1 Million is the better starter, though. Invictus has grown on me as a fragrance, over the years. I just think that 1 Million is a bit more interesting, and I like its ingredients more so versus its competitor.

Edge: 1 Million

Projection

Both 1 Million and Invictus have very good projection. These are strong scents and it has always made me laugh that an ‘Intense’ version of 1 Million exists.

I think that, 1 Million has lost a step, in the newer bottles. Nonetheless, it has the stronger sillage.

Invictus starts out strong and then weakens quite a bit. 1 Million is an absolute beast throughout.

I’d say that, Invictus is on the upper end of moderate, for most of its time on the skin. Great start and it keeps it going for a few hours.

Update: Newer bottles of 1 Million aren’t as strong, so, they may be about equal now. With heavy sprays, I’d say that Invictus feels more overwhelming, but that just may be its sweetness.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Again, Paco Rabanne definitely knows how to make performers. I get all day wear from 1 Million, like 10+ hours.

Invictus is no slouch and delivers around 6-7 hours and sometimes more of wear before it’s gone.

Invictus is really consistent for me, delivering that 6-7 hour time frame, again and again. 1 Million and most of its flanker scents, have just had better staying power, than the offerings from the Invictus line.

Update: 1 Million has lost a step, but still has the edge here. My newer bottle can hit around 8 hours, on my skin. Not nearly what it once was.

Edge: 1 Million

Versatility

I like either one of these as a nighttime fragrance. I’m not really sold on them for office wear, it’d be acceptable if you only wore a spray. These both seem to be more youthful fragrances (20s and 30s) and Invictus feels like a ‘younger’ cologne than 1 Million does.

Invictus is a better summertime cologne than is 1 Million. However, I’ll still wear 1 Million at night during the summer (depending on the humidity, if it’s too muggy, nope) and I feel it’s better in the winter and fall as well.

Ehhh, Invictus might have the slight edge, but it’s not a huge margin.

Edge: Invictus (slightly)

Overall Scent

1 Million is a sweet scent. Invictus is even sweeter. While they do share similarities upon opening, these two colognes diverge after that.

Invictus becomes more aquatic and takes on a really fresh and clean smell with a slight woodsy base.

1 Million is sweet and warm with a leathery/cinnamon blend that I really like. I do enjoy that bold citrus blend opening, but when it dries down and the amber surrounds the leather/rose/spice core, I really enjoy wearing 1 Million.

Plus, it’s got a better performance. Even after not hitting the same levels as it used to, it is still better than Invictus EDT.

Honestly, I like both of these scents but 1 Million just fits better for me. It might be the case for you, that you would prefer the sweet, citrusy, and aquatic flavor of Invictus and if that sounds like you…probably go with that.

For me, my favorites from the Invictus line are Intense and Legend, with the original coming in third. Update: The newer releases have made me change my rankings, here they are now: Invictus colognes ranked.

Winner: 1 Million 

7 Fragrances Similar to Acqua di Gio

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Acqua di Gio has been one of the best selling men’s fragrances, since its release back in the 1990s. That’s decades spent near the top, with men of all ages buying, and enjoying this cologne. However, sometimes buying the real thing can get expensive, and we need a cheaper alternative that can clone what we dig about a scent.

As such, in this post, I am going to put forth some options for guys who want an Acqua di Gio sort of smell at a more affordable price.

Favorite Alternative Colognes Similar to Acqua di Gio

Inspired Creation

Aquatic Lime by Dossier– The first entry is going to be from Dossier, who give their take on the AdG formula, with Aquatic Lime.

Now, this is an ‘inspired by’ cologne, and tries to mimic what you get with the Armani. It does a good job at doing so, also. This and the Dua are one’s to go with, if you want a fragrance that smells like Acqua, to a near one for one match.

The others, are designer colognes that are very similar to the style of our target.

Bergamot, lime, and watermelon are the top notes here. Not exactly the same, as AdG doesn’t have a watermelon note, but it’s not much of a factor. Also, classic Acqua di Gio had a greater floral array.

Nonetheless, this is a great option for a cheaper price.

Dua Original

Acqua di Dua– The Dossier option above, nails the smell of most modern formulations of Acqua di Gio, but this Dua comes close to perfecting the scent of the original AdG formula from the 1990s.

Clean aquatic notes, with a great lime burst up top, greater depth of floral notes (nice jasmine), and even the woodsy base notes.

With Dua’s fragrance oils, it can take some time to macerate, but it is worth it. The smell gets better and better after a few months. Still great, early on, but I’ve had a bunch of scents from this brand and the improvement is usually phenomenal. 

This seems to run $5-10 more usually than the Dossier, but it might be a better option for those who want a more of the floral influence.

Best Cheapie 

360° Red by Perry Ellis for Men, 3.4 Ounce– The closest designer scent to the smell of AdG, 360 Red is the best bet for someone looking for a really near vibe, at a very low price. Lemon and lime open up the first part of 360 Red, which are somewhat synthetic, but still very enjoyable.

It dries down with a fresh cinnamon/peppery spice, which isn’t too overpowering but does have the mimicking of the Armani cologne.

Some folks prefer this to Acqua di Gio, and honestly, it isn’t too much of a stretch. You get really good performance, a close approximation of the smell, and it’s way cheaper. 360 Red Review

A Bit of Profumo and Essenza

Bentley for Men Silverlake– Silverlake gets a lot of comparisons to Acqua di Gio, which is accurate to my nose. Which edition of that scent is it closest to? Kind of a mix of multiple editions. Also, it sort of stands on its own too.

It’s fresher and cooler than most AdG entries and none of the same aquatic notes. I can see, Essenza (based on memories) somewhat, but not quite (I think that’s been overplayed). The original AdG? Maybe. Less floral jasmine and juiciness overall.

Then, there is the Profumo overlap.

Anyway, as a stand alone fragrance Bentley Silverlake this is more greenish fresh than anything blue-ish aquatic. Though, that is there to an extent. Mint and violet leaf play well off of the citrus top, consisting of lemon essence.

It’s cleaner and has a soapy-like quality to it. The performance is pretty darn good at this price point and it’s one that is easy to wear in a variety of situations. Although, it isn’t always that much cheaper than the Armani’s, if at all.

A Bit Spicier, Less Floral 

ARMAF Homme Eau De Tolette Spray for Men, Blue, 3.4 oz– I’m adding Armaf Blue to the list, because it does a really good job at mostly smelling like the aroma of AdG, for a very inexpensive price. 

This one is smoother than 360, it has more of an herbal spice and less of the cinnamon of that one. However, 360 Red probably lasts a little longer.

Armaf Blue starts off with some really nice citrus notes and the neroli top. The opening act is quite a bit like what we’re after. What this one lacks is that sea breeze quality found in the Armani. Also, while it has the jasmine note, it isn’t very strong.

In the latest batches of Acqua di Gio that I’ve tried, the jasmine is prevalent for a good portion of the wear, but it isn’t here. Nonetheless, this is a nice pick up for around 30 bucks.

Slightly Different, but Very Similar

Just Me by Paris Hilton for Men – 3.4 Ounce EDT Spray– Yep, a Paris Hilton fragrance. Don’t get dismayed by the name attached, this stuff is seriously good, at this price point. Not only does it perform well and last long, it also bears a striking resemblance to our AdG.

It does have a slightly different smell, with a different blend of citrus notes, and the inclusion of blueberry at the top (which is great).

Just Me has a smokier base, with its incense, than does Acqua di Gio. Also, the amber note feels more pronounced, and it has a ‘greener’ smell at times (which I think is from the lotus). Plus, it is a bit sweeter.

Nonetheless, it provides everything that AdG does, for a fraction of the price. Maybe even a bit better.

 

Blue Alternative to Profondo and Profumo

Polo Blue EDP– The EDP version of Polo Blue has really reminded me of Acqua di Gio Profumo (or Parfum) in the opening act. Lots of Eternity Aqua comparisons. Add to that, it does have a resemblance to Profondo with its woodier and earthier dry down.

So, it’s not exactly like anything, but it is in the same ballpark as all of them. If you like the AdG series, you’ll probably enjoy this version of Polo Blue.

The sharp bergamot, spices, and oceanic notes. Sage and basil are pretty prominent up top. Later, the suede will emerge and make it closer to the original Polo Blue EDT.

Might be too expensive at some stores, to serve as a replacement. I prefer the AdG colognes. But, if you can get a good price, I think this is a nice fragrance to have on hand. Polo Blue EDP review

polo blue edp

 

11 Best Smelling Christian Dior Colognes

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Christian Dior is an iconic fashion brand that has been going strong from way back in the 20th century. We have already completed a list of the best ladies Dior perfumes and now it is time to present a top offerings from Dior list for men as well. Dior fragrances are usually very elegant, complex, seductive, and masculine.

Quite frankly, I consider it to be among the top of my favorite designer lists along with names like YSL. For this list, I have selected eleven scents for guys which all offer something different for the different personalities.

Note that Dior isn’t a brand that comes out with endless flankers for their men’s line each year (compared to others). Sure, some come out here and there, but the offerings tend to stay relatively the same for a while.

Favorite Dior Men’s Fragrances

Best Dior for Summer

Christian Dior Cologne Spray for Men, Dior Homme, 4.2 Ounce– Dior Homme Sport 2012, was my previous pick, but that’s been reformulated twice now. So, here on this update, I’m giving the nod to Dior Homme Cologne.

Dior Homme Cologne is a very simple scent, that is perfect for the warmer months of the year. It also shares a lot of overlap with Allure Homme Sport Cologne by Chanel. But, I think the Dior is slightly better.

Bergamot citrus, grapefruit blossom, and musk. Very juicy, cold, with a light floral aspect and musky base. Almost sort of a lemonade-like aroma, for parts of the wear.

Very well put together and fresh to wear around in the summertime. Decent performance, just not a complete beast. As far as I can tell, the newer update of this, is simply a new bottle design and nothing changed about the fragrance itself. Dior Homme Cologne Review

Intense Aroma

Christian Dior Dior Men Intense Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce– Outside of Sauvage, this is probably the next most popular Dior fragrance for men.

Dior Homme Intense is still around as of this year and didn’t get the complete overhaul that Dior Homme did (see further down on the list).

So, if you want the older formula of the Homme series, this is the easiest to find.

However, this is a fantastic fragrance that can have a spot, in any man’s rotation. The opening act is still among my favorites ever.

Smooth lavender, cedar, vetiver, along with pear and the signature iris note. It’s warm, seductive, woodsy, with an ambrette note that gives it a chocolatey sort of aroma. For a lot of people, this is the best Dior scent in the lineup.  Dior Homme Intense Review

Classic Dior Scent

Eau Sauvage By Christian Dior For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Oz.
A classic fragrance which dates back to the mid-1960s. Eau Sauvage is crisp, fresh, and fruit yet still retains an aura of total masculinity.

Eau Sauvage uses lemon and bergamot top notes with dry and spice herbal ones sitting underneath.

Bright, spicy, clean citrus with an old school style. There have been new variants released by Dior recently, which have a more modern approach to the original scent (like Parfum, below). So, perhaps that would be a better choice for some guys.

eau sauvage

Newer Better Eau Sauvage

Eau Sauvage Parfum– This one is harder to come by than the original Eau Sauvage. However, this 2017 update to another older flanker, is one of the best from Dior. Again though, bottles are scarce.

I had a travel sprayer full of this stuff last year, along with other entries in the Eau Sauvage series. But, this was my favorite.

Eau Sauvage Parfum kicks things off with citron, bergamot, and a resinous aroma to it. Bright, juicy, with a cold and refreshing feeling. The woods from the base already come up early on and add to the experience.

Jasmine, lavender, and vetiver play a larger role as we move the the dry down and the citrus will be more of a background player. If you can get some of this at a reasonable price, Parfum is for sure worth checking out. Eau Sauvage Parfum Review

Top Unisex Pick

Ambre Nuit Eau de Parfum– From the La Privee collection, but you could also give the nod to Fève Délicieuse. Ambre Nuit is the slightly better and wider appealing of the two, in my opinion.

Ambre Nuit features rose, amber, and pink pepper. It settles down as a lightly spiced scent, with a somewhat powdery aroma. The rose here isn’t super powerful and it never veers into coming across as a woman’s fragrance. Quite unisex indeed.

The scent itself actually does give a rather powerful performance, while the composition itself isn’t too complex.

The La Privee bottles are usually much more expensive than the standard bottles of Dior fragrances. The scents are more niche and some of them are well worth a shot.

1980s Powerhouse

Fahrenheit By Christian Dior For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 6.8 Oz.
This fragrance is one that most people will either love or hate. It can be too intense for some people to handle but for the right guy, this becomes a signature scent.

Violet and honeysuckle open Fahrenheit and give off what has been described for decades now, as a gasoline like aroma.

I’d say it’s pretty accurate in my testing of this one.  It does settle down to have an emergent leather accord with the violet, which is much more pleasant than how many will find that petrol start.

There have been many flanker releases of this over the years, some are still available and take this formula in different directions. Some more bold, some lighter for summer, etc.

Fahrenheit Parfum has a really awesome opening half, but I’m less enthusiastic about the dry down. Still, it’s probably the best, that are still fairly available.

People who tried this in the 1980s, say it’s not nearly as strong as it once was, but it can still pack a punch. Reformulations happen with older scents, this one hasn’t been completely diminished, though. Notes include: honeysuckle, balsam, and sandalwood. Read my Fahrenheit review here!

fahrenheit

My Personal Go To

Dior Homme By Christian Dior For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces– Light, fresh, elegant, and classy. Dior Homme is a modern classic and the scent that I wear on most days, when I’m not testing others for reviews. Dior Homme is light with floral notes like iris, on top of a woodsy base. Then, there is the sweet and raw cacao ingredient, which is lovely.

When it dries down, that’s when this one really shines for me. The leather note and how it interacts with the powdery iris and soothing lavender. It can have a makeup bag-like aroma, at times, which some folks don’t like.

For men, it’s not like that but for a short time, and never feels feminine. Iris can hit your nose, differently, on occasion.

I absolutely love this stuff, the first time I tried a sample, I went out and bought the biggest bottle that they had.

It is quite dry and fresh with an awesome balance between the wood notes and the floral. Semi-sweet, with a classy vibe, that is also very versatile and gets me plenty of complements. Dior Homme Full Review

This is another one Dior has updated for 2020. The newer version doesn’t have the same style as this one, but does share some overlapping notes. Mainly, the difference is the lack of iris and cacao. That can be a good or bad thing depending on who you are. It really is a completely different fragrance.

See below, as the newer version was good enough to make the list.

The New Dior Homme

Dior Homme at Macy’s– As I wrote above, the newer 2020 version of Dior Homme is a distinct fragrance from its predecessor. Not as good, in my opinion, but is still very well worth a try.

This one kicks off with a light bergamot citrus, pink pepper, and vetiver coming through early on. It’s a bit spicy, with some resinous qualities underneath, but is mostly fresh and clean.

The vetiver will have its run near the top, but the other woodsy/earthy notes will begin to have more of a role to play. Iso E Super, cedar, and cashmere wood. It becomes less spicy, more of a woody musk, with a certain amount of sweetness to it.

Again, not my favorite of the list. But, this one is very easy to wear, versatile, and has a pretty good performance as well. Dior Homme 2020 Review

Most Unique Dior Cologne

Dune By Christian Dior For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces
An underrated cologne, Dune has an oriental and woodsy profile. It is fresh, sexy, and earthy with notes of mandarin, moss, sage, basil, and cedar wood. Airy and masculine sandalwood and fig leaf, lead the way for this late 1990s release.

Can be quite green and herbal at times with the sage and basil mix, but never heavy. A unique find that is very different from most of what you’ll find on the market.

It works insanely well in the spring and summer months, but not like the usual aquatic fare. It’s getting harder to come by, but Dune Pour Homme is still absolutely brilliant, if you happen to fall under its spell. Dune Pour Homme

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Top Sauvage Pick

Sauvage Elixir at Macy’s– Sauvage Elixir is a new release for 2021 and immediately got the edge above the eau de parfum as the best of the Sauvage line. It smells really nice and is a monster, in terms of its performance.

Lavender is still the main attraction here. However, Elixir is pretty different from the others in most of its notes, while still holding onto that spice, citrus, and woods DNA.

To me, the best part of Elixir comes from its newer spice accord, mainly the cinnamon and nutmeg notes. I never liked the Sichuan pepper very much in the original, but this newer mix is awesome with what it delivers.

Yes, it’s more expensive, but it lasts all day and actually brings a new interpretation to the line. The concentration here is really amped up, so, you’re going to have to pony up the cash for a smaller bottle. If you want something closer to the original Sauvage, go with the EDP (below).  Sauvage Elixir Review

Runner-Up Sauvage Fragrance

Sauvage by Dior Eau de Parfum Spray 100ml– I’m not a massive fan of Sauvage EDT. The original is fine, but I was never too into it, and it’s been copied to death by now.

However, Dior released the EDP version of Sauvage and changed up the composition. Everything that I disliked, went away. Not only that, they improved upon the performance and what worked well in the original release.

The result? A better performer, that is sexy, and gets complements.

The ambroxan led opening is smoother and the citric harshness is gone. It feels more refined, clean, and more pleasant to wear. It is joined by a dark and somewhat smoky vanilla note and a much quieter lavender, which add to the clean creaminess of Sauvage EDP.

The Sichuan pepper is also toned down and joined by lighter spices like anise and nutmeg. Has really great versatility and works well in different weather and climate conditions.

I really dig this variant versus the original EDT. It’s also still better than the more recent, Parfum version, which is now third in terms of Sauvage releases. Dior Sauvage EDP Review