Fragrances

Dior Homme Intense (2011) by Christian Dior

by

Seeing as I just reviewed Dior Homme, I of course had to do one for its flanker fragrance, Dior Homme Intense. Don’t worry, I’ll do a comparison post of these two in the near future. Until then, I want to focus singularly on Intense as a stand alone scent.

How does it smell? How does it perform? When should it be worn? Is it worth a buy? Update: I am revising and updating this post, as I’ve gotten more experience with it, and the original Dior Homme.

What does Dior Homme Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: pear, iris, vetiver, ambrette, lavender, cedar

Click here to try: Christian Dior Dior Men Intense Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Review

The opening of Dior Homme Intense hits with a blast of lavender, cedar, and vetiver. It’s a smooth woody affair that pairs with the ambrette to create a warm woods feeling. The iris emerges for me, after about a minute of wear and gives off that familiar powdery floral aroma.

The lavender is in many ways the leader, but what I guess is the ambrette, gives this fragrance its warmth and adds to the cacao sort of aroma. Cedar and vetiver solidify the base. The latter two notes, will have a greater impact later on, but I can detect them from the start.

Honestly, I think that my favorite part is the opening 10-15 minutes with this fragrance. It’s just so layered and wonderful. To me, the opening beats out Dior Homme. That’s saying something, considering Dior Homme has become a staple in my rotation.

I’ve noted in subsequent comparisons between the two, that I enjoy Dior Homme more, overall. That being said, I will combine this two, and it’s essentially a 1A vs 1B scenario.

One of the main differences with Intense, is the lack of the leather note, when compared to the original. This is woodier, with a sweeter warmth.

The iris is still dominant, later on, but tempered when compared with Dior Homme. The lavender here, plays a pretty big role in how the iris gets to develop.

As it settles down, it draws more toward the powdery end of things, and there is definitely the cacao note that is found in the original Dior Homme lurking in this mixture.

It actually dries down into a rich, chocolate (somewhat vanilla) powder, gourmand and that’s how Intense separates itself from Dior Homme.

I get a fresh and semi-sweet fragrance, once it’s fully developed. This is all sitting on a dry base of cedar and vetiver. Powdery, clean, classy, and surprisingly seductive.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection on Dior Homme Intense is quite good. It’s not nearly as loud as something like 1 Million but it definitely earns the intense moniker.

The longevity is excellent. Dior Homme Intense is an all day wear and then some. That’s one thing, that I really appreciate about this cologne.

On my skin, I can hit that 9-11 hour range of solid wear. Yes, towards the end of that set, it is much more of a skin scent. However, the performance is very good overall.

For wear, it’s a late fall and winter wear in my book. It has a really warm, sweet gourmand fragrance and just sits perfectly in the colder air.

I stay away from the two Dior Homme’s in summertime. Maybe, if I’m going to be indoors, during the evening. But, it has to be air conditioned, and low humidity.

In terms of versatility, it is another classy and dressed up kind of scent. Hell, I’ll wear it with t-shirt and jeans, but it exudes sophistication and is best represented when dressed to the nines.

I like Dior Homme Intense best for evening wear and romantic wear. It does a great job at filling that role.

It is a masculine fragrance, but not in a rough, or overbearing sort of way. This is a man who is well put together, not weak, but not boorish either.

I have gotten plenty of complements, wearing Dior Homme Intense. Several drivers, when I’ve headed out to the bars, have commented on how much they like it. Also, women, once I arrive in whatever nightlife venue respond really positively toward this scent.

Now, I do wear Dior Homme, over this usually. But, I do often combine the two, for greater effect. Maybe two sprays of Dior Homme for one spray of Intense. It brings out enough strength, blends well, while giving you some highlights of each of the colognes.

Overall Impression of Dior Homme Intense

Overall, would I recommend Dior Homme Intense? Yes, indeed I would. I enjoy wearing it and like it’s different take on the original Dior Homme.

You can totally have both of them, as they are different enough, to create their own experiences and have a slightly different personality, so to speak.

I absolutely love the opening act of this fragrance. It’s about as perfect, as I can imagine a scent to be, or that I have come across in all the hundreds of tests that I’ve done. It’s fantastic.

The performance overall is outstanding and there’s no overwhelming negative, that I can tell from, all of my time spent with this cologne. Dior Intense has achieved classic status, in my book.

Update: Intense is now the remaining Dior Homme with this formulation (outside of the scarce Dior Homme Parfum). The brand revamped the Dior Homme lineup, producing: Dior Homme 2020 review and the Sport variant. As such, DHI would be my number one pick from this line.

Acqua di Gio vs Polo Blue EDT Cologne Comparison

by

I am back with another entry into the head to head men’s fragrance match ups, here on the site. Today’s battle is between two aquatic type of colognes, that are both very popular best sellers, Acqua di Gio vs. Polo Blue EDT.

Which of these scents smells the best, the Giorgio Armani or the Ralph Lauren? Ultimately, which gives the best performance, and is worth a buy?

Tale of the Tape

Polo Blue

Notes include: amber, melon, patchouli, geranium, cucumber, tangerine, moss, musk

Click here to try: Polo Blue by Ralph Lauren for Men, Eau De Toilette Natural Spray, 4.2 Ounce

Read my original review: Polo Blue Review

Acqua di Gio

Notes include: bergamot, tangerine, neroli, jasmine, rosemary, patchouli, rock rose, hyacinth, persimmon, marine notes

Click here to try: Acqua Di Gio By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces

Read my review: Acqua di Gio 

Opening

Polo Blue opens with a chilled blend of melon and cucumber. It is quite crisp and joined by amber and tangerine. It’s a pleasant enough smell, but doesn’t really knock it out of the park.

Meanwhile, Acqua di Gio, starts with bergamot and a similar tangerine note to Polo Blue’s. It is a very nice citrus with a sea breeze accord and a bit of a floral aroma with jasmine.

The sea breeze and citrus is really quite nice to start things off with Acqua di Gio. I did enjoy, my last go round testing it out, the emergence of the jasmine note and how that plays off of the citrus.

Which is better? I like AdG more than Polo Blue, I enjoy the citrus notes and it has more of an aquatic feel than does Polo Blue. I just think it smells better overall.

Edge: AdG

Projection

Polo Blue is a very solid moderate with its sillage. Not huge or beasty, but it performs well throughout. Acqua di Gio is also a moderate projecting fragrance.

It was probably stronger when it was initially released. But nowadays, these two are seemingly on par with one another. Neither of them were ever massive with the sillage level.

If you want more intensity, you’ll have to go with one of the other flanker scents in these lines. Between them? You can pick either for the same result.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Acqua di Gio gets 6-7 hours of wear on my skin, as of the last batch I tried. Update: it can actually be 5-6 hours, now, for me.

Polo Blue does a bit better, with 7-8 hours of wear. It has always been consistent for me, at this level. I’m not sure if its lessened at all the past few years.

However, even if it isn’t a loud beast, Polo Blue EDT was always a decent performer.

Edge: Polo Blue

Versatility

Mostly, these two colognes shine in the spring and summertime. However, they both have the capability to be worn year round.

Beyond that, each is safe for both school and work. Also, they are attractive enough to be worn on dates.

Polo Blue and Acqua di Gio, seem to have been best sellers for long periods of time, because they both are so very versatile. Again, no real separation here.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I like Polo Blue EDT. It has a nice crisp and cool aroma from the tangerine and melon. The amber note is lovely and the aquatic bits, share a bit of overlap with Acqua di Gio.

That cucumber and melon do produce an interesting watery and crisp effect. I rather like it, even if it’s not amazing.

It’s a solid cologne, overall. I’m just not a huge fan of it and was never all that into it when I had it on. It does have its charm, but just doesn’t reach the same level of likeability.

Acqua di Gio, is the better smelling cologne in my opinion. To this day it still sells, it is still one of the classic aquatic fragrances on the market, and for good reason.

It’s probably a notch below, where it once was, but it still stands above Polo Blue EDT based on the scent. Polo Blue does have a bit better performance, but they are close to equal.

Honestly, I would go with Acqua di Gio Profumo first, before either of these two. I also enjoy Polo Blue EDP, more so than the EDT version.

Winner: AdG

Ultra Male vs Paco Rabanne 1 Million Comparison

by

There are a lot of popular men’s fragrances out there, which get heavy use in the night life scene. Two of the more well known colognes are Ultra Male by Jean Paul Gaultier and 1 Million by Paco Rabanne.

1 Million EDT has been going strong for nearly two decades, as a best-seller. Meanwhile, Ultra Male once looked as if it was going to be on the chopping block, but then got a new lease on life with its growing popularity.

The question is, which of these scents is the better option? In this post, I’m going to do a full head to head breakdown and declare a winner, in this contest.

Tale of the Tape

Ultra Male

Notes include: vanilla, pear, amber, woods, cinnamon, cumin, sage, lavender, mint

Click here to try: Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male for Men Intense Spray, Eau de Toilette, 4.2 Ounce

Read my original Review: Ultra Male

1 Million

Notes include: grapefruit, blood orange, rose, mint, cinnamon, amber, leather, patchouli, and more

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne 1 Million Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

Read my original review: 1 Million Cologne Review

Opening

Ultra Male opens up with a sweet candy-like intensity, with pear, mint, vanilla, and cinnamon. It also has a nice spice in addition to all of that is both bold and at the same time, smooth. Unlike the original Le Male, it lacks that powdery aroma.

Meanwhile, 1 Million also opens up sweet with citrus, rose, mint, and leather accords running through it. This composition gives off the effect of smelling like grape bubblegum, but is actually quite nuanced when smelled up close.

To me, the spices in the newer bottle seem a bit more prominent. The cinnamon especially warms up the 1 Million aroma. Still smooth and something I enjoy.

The overlaps between the top are apparent in their use of mint and cinnamon, but the outcomes of each is fairly different.

Which one is better? Eh, I like both a lot, but I lean toward how 1 Million opens because there is so much going on and I can catch a different aspect each time. Is it way better than how the Jean Paul Gautier cologne opens? No, but I’ll give it the edge.

Edge: 1 Million

Projection

Both of these fragrances are pretty well known as, ‘club beasts’, which means they are the loud and bold type of scents you can wear at a night club. As such, the sillage on both is going to be very good, and that is indeed the case.

Sometimes, I feel that 1 Million projects itself better, but I don’t think that’s entirely the case. In fact, I sprayed Ultra Male twice on a shirt across the room, and can smell it from my sofa. There isn’t really a clear winner here.

Update: Newer bottles of 1 Million don’t have the same power, that they once did. Ultra Male has been discontinued, so any bottle you get will be the same. As such, I’m switching this category from a tie to Ultra Male.

Edge: Ultra Male

Longevity

I usually get 8-9 hours of wear from Ultra Male. Sometimes, it can go an hour or two longer. However, I consistently get 10+ hours out of 1 Million when I wear it.

Edit: Again, 1 Million doesn’t have that same power. However, I still get 8-9 hours from it. But, now this category is a tie.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Due to the strength of both, neither is usually thought of as an everyday wear. You can wear them during the day, just go easy with both. However, each is much more suited to the nightlife than anything else.

Also, they are cold weather performers, but 1 Million can venture into warmer weather while Ultra Male doesn’t do so well. I’d avoid both during the summer but 1 Million, can take the heat better, and takes this category.

Edge: 1 Million

Overall Scent

I wear both of these colognes at times, so, I can say that both are enjoyable to wear in my mind. It’s not an either/or question for me, but more along the lines of what I’m in the mood for.

That being said, I think that I’ll give the edge to 1 Million here. It’s not a blow out and I love Ultra Male, but I think that the Paco Rabanne has a slightly better smell, more versatility, longevity, and will fit better for most guys.

In fact, I don’t smell 1 Million everywhere like I used to, so I don’t even believe that it is still overused.

Ultra Male is great and it’s a nice choice on cold nights out during the wintertime, but it is just a notch below 1 Million. I used to like it more than I currently do, but I’m not sure that it ever surpassed 1 Million for me. Close though.

Note: Even with the reduction in strength, I would still rather wear 1 Million more often than not. Actually, in some ways it makes 1 Million more wearable, to be toned down some.

Winner: 1 Million

Versace Dylan Blue vs Eros Flame

by

Versace has been releasing lots of popular fragrances over the past five or so years. Dylan Blue has been one such a release, that has gained traction with the younger set. Eros Flame is a newer release, which follows the huge popularity of the original Eros. It hasn’t enjoyed the same level of success, but seems to be growing. Which of these two colognes is better? Which one lasts longer? Which is the best buy?

Tale of the Tape

Eros Flame

Notes include: lemon, tangerine, chinotto accord, black pepper, wild mountain rosemary, pepperwood, geranium, rose, cedar, patchouli, vetiver, oak moss, sandalwood, tonka bean, and vanilla

Click here to try: Versace Eros Flame 100ml 3.4Oz Eau de Parfume For Men

My review: Eros Flame

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

My review: Dylan Blue

Opening

Eros Flame opens up with familiar lemon of Eros, but this time it is paired with tangerine. Along with that, is: black pepper, chinotto accord, with some vanilla and tonka bean. The latter two, will be heavier later, but now take on a smaller role.

I like the added citrus vibe to Eros Flame, a lot, as it is my favorite part of the wear. I think the pairing is fresh, bright, and has enough earthiness/spice to make it interesting.

Meanwhile, Dylan Blue kicks off with its grapefruit note leading the way. This citrus ingredient is flanked by ambroxan and an aquatic accord, giving this cologne a slight watery feel.

What sets this fragrance apart, is its use of the fig note, and is what really made me like wearing this scent sometimes.

Which is better? It’s close in my mind, but I prefer the way Dylan Blue starts off. It’s smoother, has a unique quality while being familiar to other scents, and the fragrance just comes together quite well.

Edge: Dylan Blue

Projection

Dylan Blue starts off with a strong sillage, but later becomes much more moderate. You could over spray this scent, though, most normal applications will be just fine.

Eros Flame has a very strong sillage. Like monstrous. This can absolutely fill a room, if you spray too much. I’d say stick to 2-3 sprays, max, with Eros Flame. It’s without a doubt, stronger than Dylan Blue.

I will applaud Versace for really delivering with Flame, in performance terms. I did have a bottle of the original batch and I’m not sure if it has been weakened in the intervening years.

Edge: Eros Flame

Longevity

I’ve worn both of these scents, plenty of times, and it’s really the same results each time. Dylan Blue goes 6-7 hours, with extreme consistency, on my skin.

Eros Flame, just keeps going on and on. It always go for over 10 hours and I’ve detected on my skin, even 15-16 hours later.

Just from pure longevity and strength, Flame is among the best on the market. Again, I’m not sure if this has been changed, but Flame could out do the original Eros EDT formulation.

Edge: Eros Flame

Versatility

Eros Flame is best used in cooler to moderate climates and temperatures. It doesn’t work well in the heat and humidity. So, limited there. Dylan Blue can be worn year round, without issue pretty much.

Eros Flame is better used for the nightlife or casual situations. Dylan Blue, can be used in a wider range of scenarios. It can be worn during the day: school or office wear, though, it is better suited for younger guys.

Flame can be so overbearing at times, it’s not really one to wear to work or school or really a daily basis.

Between the two, I’d say Dylan Blue has better versatility.

Edge: Dylan Blue

Overall Scent

Eros Flame is an interesting take on the original Versace Eros and has amazing performance. When I first got my bottle of Flame, I liked this cologne a lot more than I do now.

Now, it doesn’t smell as good to me. The dry down becomes much more woodsy and has rosemary coming through.

Plus, the vanilla and tonka bean combo, feels a bit off with the citrus and herbal woods ingredients. It’s not a bad fragrance, I just don’t want to wear it that often.

It can actually be headache inducing. It’s greatest strength, is the fact that it is so strong and long lasting…but it does hinder its ability to be worn in a variety of situations.

Dylan Blue, has never been my favorite scent. Though, I have warmed up to it more. The opening is still the best part, while the dry down still feels generic to me.

The performance isn’t amazing, but it’s solid. I think that it smells better than Flame, overall. Also, it is much more versatile.

I think both of these are decent, but flawed fragrances overall. Lots of people seem to like Eros Flame, more than I ever have, so I guess take that into account. Dylan Blue isn’t a great cologne, but it does enough in comparison, to win this.

Winner: Dylan Blue

Azzaro Wanted vs. 1 Million Comparison

by

1 Million has been a best seller for over a decade and is basically a legend, at this point. It once ruled much of the nightlife, not as much anymore, but it’s a great scent. Wanted was released by Azzaro and quickly grew a following. Between the two, which is better? Which lasts longer? Which is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: 1 Million vs. Wanted

1 Million

Notes include: grapefruit, blood orange, rose, mint, cinnamon, amber, leather, patchouli, and more

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne 1 Million Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

Read my original review: 1 Million Cologne Review

Wanted by Azzaro

Notes include: tonka bean, lemon, cardamom, vetiver, juniper, ginger, geranium, mint, amber wood

Click here to try: Azzaro Wanted Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce

Read my original Review: Wanted Review

Opening

1 Million has always been compared to grape bubblegum in the opening act, by a lot of people. The initial blood orange, grapefruit, leather, and mint combination does make it come across like that.

The latest batch that I tried, seems to have less of that overall. It’s still there, just the start now feels warmer with more spice.

Cinnamon, mainly. Along with an earlier emergence of amber and rose, than I remember. Sweetness, warmth, with a playful spice.

Meanwhile, Wanted kicks off with a lemon note in the lead. It’s actually not as sharp as one would expect and the opening resembles Invictus by Paco Rabanne, somewhat. It definitely differs from that fragrance, when the tonka bean and cardamom grow in strength. 

Which is better at the beginning? I’m going with 1 Million. I don’t think that either opens up amazingly well, but I prefer the aroma of 1 Million versus the pseudo-Invictus opening of Wanted.

Edge: 1 Million

Sillage

Older bottles of 1 Million were monstrous with how they projected. However, it doesn’t have that same punch. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still strong, just lost a step. 

For much of the wear, it will be stronger than average, but just not blowing the doors off with its projection or heaviness.

Wanted starts off about equal to newer bottles of 1 Million, but becomes much more moderate when it settles. While, 1 Million keeps up its power for longer on my skin.

Edge: 1 Million

Longevity

Vintage 1 Million would go for 12+ hours on me, without issue. Newer bottles? Around 8-9 hours of wear. Still very good, just not elite.

With Wanted it’s in the 7-9 hour range. All in all, I’d say they’re about equal to one another now. It used to be a pretty clear win for the Paco Rabanne, but no more.

 

Edge: Push

 

 

Versatility

Seasonally, I think that Wanted has the edge. Neither of these is good for the heat, but 1 Million is best in colder temperatures. Wanted can go warm weather, just avoid extreme heat.

Both skew towards younger guys. With Wanted being appropriate in a wider array of situations. While, 1 Million is geared toward nightlife or casual wear.

Edge: Wanted

Overall Scent

Wanted is a good fragrance, but really not one of my favorites. I like it more once it dries down and develops its own personality.  Tonka bean, apple, and juniper berry are really nice touches after the Invictus-like opening act. 

It does everything well, but nothing amazing.

I’ve always enjoyed wearing 1 Million. I know a lot of people never liked this scent, but it was always a fun and unique wear. If I were comparing Wanted to the older bottles of this Paco Rabanne scent, it’d be any easy win for 1 Million.

Now, it’s a tighter race. Though, I’m still going 1 Million. It just smells better to me, still has good performance, and more depth. 

I would go with either The Most Wanted or The Most Wanted Parfum before either of these. But, between these two, it’s the Paco Rabanne.

Winner: 1 Million