Fragrances

9 Best Smelling Mont Blanc Colognes

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For my next entry into reviewing the best scents from the world’s top designers, I wanted to take a closer look at Mont Blanc. Mont Blanc can tend to get overlooked, however, it is a design house that has done some very nice things in terms of men’s fragrances and does so at an affordable price point.

Are all the scents they make the most amazing and unique things to hit the market? No. What they do well is to make a great and wearable scent for men that will attract and draw complements on a daily basis. With that in mind, here are my top 9 Mont Blanc colognes for men.

What are the Best Mont Blanc Perfumes for Him?

Top Overall Mont Blanc Men’s Fragrance

MONTBLANC Legend Night Eau De Parfum, 1.7 fl. oz.– Vanilla, citrus, and candied apple start off this wonderful scent, that has a fantastic blend of sweet and spice. There is also a great mint note, up top.

It dries down as a much warmer and masculine cologne with an undeniable freshness. This has quickly become my favorite fragrance from Mont Blanc and a good reason to amend this list.

I purchased a full bottle of Legend Night after sampling it in 2018, it quickly became a favorite of mine to wear this past winter. Concerns about its longevity are overrated, and I find it to be quite well suited; to last all evening. Legend Night Full Review

Pros

  • Great sweet smell with warmth and depth
  • Draws complements
  • Awesome for nights out

Cons

  • Limited to cold or moderate temperatures
  • Some have longevity problems using it (it works well for me)

Best Selling Cologne

MONTBLANC Legend Eau de Toilette 3.3 fl.oz.– The most popular of the scents from Mont Blanc. It is a very crisp and clean scent featuring notes of pineapple, sandalwood, tonka bean, and bergamot. It is a solid choice for an everyday wear, though it can be classified as a moderate in terms of longevity.

This often gets compared to Abercrombie Fierce, but I think the classic Fierce formulation was better. However, that one isn’t around anymore. I like the fruity notes up top, plenty of pineapple, apple, and bergamot.

Later, this gets much drier with the wood and significant use of lavender. For some guys, they still swear by Legend, but to me it’s the third best fragrance using the Legend name. My review

Pros

  • Clean and good for daily wear
  • Complements

Cons

  • Not unique. You can find cheaper scents just like this
  • Performance is good, not great

legend

Great Clean Woody Fragrance

MONTBLANC Star Walker Eau de Toilette, 2.5 fl. oz.– A lovely scent for warmer days and a multitude of events. Woodsy and citric cologne with somewhat of an aquatic feel and for the price, it’s quite unique and mesmerizing.

I’d say it’s projection and longevity are moderate, which is the only thing stopping this fragrance from becoming a must buy for anyone. Starwalker is still a nice bet, at the right price.

Notes include: mandarin, ginger, bergamot, sandalwood, bamboo, amber, nutmeg, and more. My full Starwalker Review

Pros

  • Easy to wear, good daily option
  • Fairly unique

Cons

  • Not very powerful, needs more intensity

Extreme Starwalker

Starwalker Extreme– This is a newer edition of the Starwalker name. It’s actually quite different overall, but has its own charms that give it a spot on the list.

The fruity top is full of crisp apple, pineapple, and citrus notes. It’s not super sugary or a massive tropical type of aroma, but they are there and quite noticeable. The tonka bean is also very noticeable at the start.

The tonka isn’t massive or overbearing, instead giving you a light closer to vanilla sort of scent versus some other colognes which use the note. The opening will transition into something spicier, yet still sweet, before becoming a woody/tonka/lavender cologne.

Only hints of a marine influence, that adds to the freshness.

It kind of flew under the radar and can be harder to come across at a lot of retailers. However, when you do find it, Extreme is usually sitting there for a pretty massive discount. It’s well worth picking up at that sub-40 dollar price point.

Best New Mont Blanc

Legend Red– Legend Red isn’t spectacular to me, but it’s a very nice release from Montblanc, better than the Eau de Parfum for sure.

What I do really enjoy are the citrus top notes. The grapefruit and blood orange notes are actually great and grab one’s attention from the start. But, it’s also joined by some great fresh notes like juniper and clary sage.

Mainly, this is going to be citrus and great woody notes, with cedar taking the lead.  The blend is great when it’s a bit chilly out or through moderate temperatures. East to wear with moderate performance. A crowd pleaser.

Becomes quite woody in the dry down, but the juniper is something that I still pick up on in the late stages. Legend Red Review

Top Scent for Autumn

MONTBLANC Individuel Eau de Toilette, 1.7 fl. oz.– This cologne has a sweet gourmand quality to it with a blend of cinnamon spice that is reminiscent of something like Joop! or Creed Santal.

The opening isn’t the best but it does dry down into something very nice and is a good and inexpensive bet for the Fall months.

I particularly like it when the juniper and mint, really start to kick in, and provide a cooling freshness to this scent. Individuel is clean and pairs nicely with the warmer spices, before you get a dry woodsy scent, during the final act.

This doesn’t project itself like a monster, but I get about 6-8 hours of wear from it, which is solid. Notes include: bergamot, mint, oakmoss, cinnamon, sandalwood, violet, and jasmine. My full Review

Pros

  • Very attractive scent
  • Nice for the colder months
  • Warm sandalwood and cinnamon

Cons

  • Not the most unique
  • Not great in warmer weather

indiv

Easy to Wear Spice

MONTBLANC Emblem Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.3 fl. oz.– A very nice everyday scent that excels in that role. It has a soft and sweet citrus opening, which isn’t feminine at all but rather, plays off the cinnamon and sage notes to create something that is attractive yet masculine.

As it dries down, Emblem becomes warmer and has a bit of spice that adds character to the composition. This is a wear from the winter months, it can be worn formally or professionally.

Not the sexiest fragrance ever, but it does have quite a nice scent, overall. It’s warm, sweet, and creamy. Read My Emblem Full Review

Pros

  • Balanced scent
  • Low key and won’t overwhelm

Cons

  • Not very exciting, probably the sixth best smelling on the list

emblem

Top Mont Blanc Scent for Summer

MONTBLANC Legend Spirit Eau de Toilette, 3.3 Fl Oz– This is the newest edition to the list, Legend Spirit. To me, it’s the second best of the Legend line that has been released, after Night. It’s a blend of citrus notes, warm cardamom, and an aquatic accord.

The cardamom and pink pepper notes, give it a bit of a spice, and it sits on a woody base that is surrounded by a watery aroma. This is a moderately sillaged perfume with decent longevity, that is a good choice for warmer weather.

The citrus is mainly in the beginning, but the aquatic notes give Legend Spirit a light freshness throughout. If I had to pick two scents from the list, it’d be Spirit and Legend Night, to have all seasons covered. Legend Spirit Review

Pros

  • Great summer aquatic
  • Attractive citrus notes
  • Fresh

Cons

  • Not necessarily a wintertime wear

Best Explorer Cologne

MONTBLANC Explorer Eau de Parfum, 3.3 fl. oz.– Explorer has gotten a lot of attention due to its close resemblance to Creed Aventus. However, I think that it also has plenty of merit on it’s own and is definitely one of the better Mont Blanc fragrances for men.

You get citrus, sage, ambroxan, and pink pepper for a fresh and bright composition. Later, the wood, leather, and cacao will allow for a bit of separation from the Aventus comparisons.

So far, this is my favorite of the Explorer line. Ultra Blue wasn’t too exciting and I have yet to try Platinum, as of this update.

The performance is good at around 7-8 hours of wear and Explorer is just an all-around pleasant scent to wear. Explorer Review

10 Best Smelling Chanel Colognes for Men

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Chanel is a French luxury brand that has a long and rich history in women’s fashion dating back to the 1920s. However, their men’s fragrance line is also a force to be reckoned with as just about all of their releases are utterly fantastic and enjoy a broad appeal among cologne enthusiasts.

For this post, I want to put forth 10 of these Chanel fragrances, which I consider to be the best bets of the line. I will update this page, as needed, when new fragrances show up or older ones get discontinued. If you want to see the best Chanel ladies fragrances, click there.

What Are the Best Smelling Chanel Fragrances for Men?

Best Bleu de Chanel

Bleu De Chanel Eau De Parfum Pour Homme Spray 3.4 OZ.– I could have also placed, the Parfum version here, as well. However, the two have plenty of similarities and overlaps, and I go back and forth on the better one.

Bleu de Chanel EDP is warm, rich, and a bit smoky. It is led, though, by the citrus top notes of lemon and grapefruit. It opens up with the citrus and some fresh spicy notes like: pink pepper, mint, and ginger.

I really love the opening act, when the both the citrus notes and spices, are on full blast. Ginger, is the main one, giving Bleu EDP a gentle fresh spiciness. Lemon and grapefruit together, has sort of an orange/lime-like aroma, to it.

Then, BdC EDP, moves into its more smoky amber phase. It’s warm and sweet, with an emerging base consisting of cedar and sandalwood. It’s a very versatile and lovely fragrance to wear.

It’s not super powerful, but it will last for a long time, and get complements from those around you. This is my favorite of the Bleu lineup and won’t be easily topped. Bleu de Chanel EDP Review

Top Unisex Option

Coromandel by Chanel– Coromandel is a scent that I’ve been getting into more lately. There are different variations of this scent: Parfum, EDP, and les Exclusifs. Each is going to give you a slightly different formulation and intensity.

Though, I’m pretty sure les Exclusifs and the older bottles of EDP are the same, at least they smell that way.

Each of them, features an awesome patchouli note, with a warm mix of amber/balsamic/oriental notes (benzoin, frankincense), and a gourmand finish…usually the white chocolate will come through the most. Spicy and warm, especially early on.

The Exclusifs or EDP (whichever is available) tend to be a sweeter formulation with more of an emphasis on the vanilla and white chocolate touches. Meanwhile, the Parfum version feels woodier and denser than the others. Coromandel Review

Ego Boost

Chanel Egoiste– Egoiste got its start in 1987, under a different name. In 1990, it was rebranded under its current title, and has been a classic ever since.

I’ve always gone back and forth as to whether this or Platinum (below) was my favorite Egoiste. However, in the past few years, the original has firmly taken the lead.

It starts off with a bold cinnamon punch. Coriander adds its own additional kick and these two are paired with a light and bright mandarin orange note. Yet, this one is super dry and warm.

Then, you get to the floral middle with a Damask rose and a touch of carnation. The dry down is almost entirely about the sandalwood, cinnamon, and tobacco. Other woods and some vanilla also make an appearance. Absolutely lovely.

For some people, they seem to need to get past that opening before enjoying it. Sure, it’s intense, but it’s one that I’ve grown to love. Egoiste Review

Old School Clean

PLATINUM EGOISTE POUR HOMME BY Chanel  – Classy and masculine. I actually remember hearing about this fragrance for the first time in a Biggie song. Egoiste Platinum is fresh with greenish and floral notes. Very luxurious and versatile for almost any event.

It’s a modern take on a classic men’s fragrance, has an old school barbershop quality to it. In that category, this is one of my favorites. Lavender, sage, geranium, sandalwood, cedar, and amber notes highlight this one.

This is a great example of a floral based fragrance, for men. Sage and rosemary, give it a masculine dose of spice, to counterbalance the soft cleanliness.

Platinum, is at times: green, dry, woody, floral, herbal, and overall fresh. This probably won’t have the mass appeal, of others, but can absolutely be a signature scent for the right guy. Egoiste Platinum Review

egoiste

Best Woodsy Green

Paris – Édimbourg– This is probably my third favorite Les Eaux des Chanel fragrance, but probably the one that will appeal most to men. However, that doesn’t mean that Paris – Édimbourg isn’t a great scent,.

Cypress and juniper are massive here. You are going to get a gin sort of smell from this one. But, it’s so fresh and green, being inspired by the Scottish highlands. The dry down will have more of the vetiver peaking through. It’s all like bright sunlight shining through the trees in a dense forest.

There is also a vanilla note in the base, which adds just a touch of something sweeter. The performance here is decent, but it’s not a projection monster. Edimbourg is a unique one and something that plenty of guys should enjoy.

Citrus, Vanilla, Woods

Allure Homme Edition Blanche by Chanel– Sure, it’s mostly limited to a fragrance for the spring and summer months, and the performance isn’t great. However, Edition Blanche is still one of the best smelling fragrances from Chanel.

It opens up with a sharp lemon note, which will dominate the early stages. You’ve got to be a fan of the citrus, to really enjoy Blanche. Then, you get the vanilla creaminess, to give this one a light dessert feel.

Finally, vetiver and sandalwood give it a dry and fresh scent coming up from the base. Not too complicated of a fragrance, but I really enjoy Allure Edition Blanche, for the summer months.

Most Popular Chanel

Bleu De Chanel for Men Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4oz – Clean blend of citrus notes, such as grapefruit and lemon, along with a woodsy base. Extremely pleasing scent that gets showered with complements from all walks of life.

It’s not as good as the EDP, in my opinion, but does offer a different experience. I do enjoy that minty aroma in the early stages.

The citrus and fresh spicy notes in the EDP are here and have more presence. It’s not as warm or dark, this EDT, is a lighter and less intense wear. That can be a good thing, depending on either your tastes, or the situation you find yourself in. Very fresh, refined, and upbeat. Well worth a try, if you find the EDP to be too ‘thick’.

I think that BdC EDT, is one of those ‘do everything’ type of fragrances. It’s classy enough for a more formal setting, yet has enough attractive appeal, for evening wear. Very well balanced, good performance, and an aroma folks just love.

bleu

Sporty Cool Freshness

ChaneI Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme Eau de Parfum Spray 1.7 Fl. OZ. / 50ML.– I’ve gone back and forth for years between the original Allure Sport and Eau Extreme, but I’m going to give the nod to Eau Extreme here.

Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme opens up with its fresh herbal and woodsy notes, out in full force. Mint and sage, with the same orange note as the original edition, just toned way down.

Throw in cypress and pepper and you’ve got a fresh kick on top of the already sweet aldehydic Allure Sport body.

The dry down is pretty much the original, with the tonka bean and musk coming up from the base. But, Eau Extreme has the better performance for sure, which Allure Home Sport seems to be lacking in newer bottles. Chanel Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme Review

Chanel’s Lion

Le Lion de Chanel– The more that I tested this one out, the more that I liked Le Lion de Chanel. It’s not my favorite, nor one that I’d want to wear all of the time. But, I do think that this perfume is worthy of a spot on the list.

This is a unisex scent, that can actually be worn by anyone, so long as you’re into this type of scent. Since it is unique and more niche, that may not be the case.

It opens up with labdanum, amber, and a nice burst of citrus. The first two give this one a warmth and smokiness, that contrasts well with the bergamot and lemon.

It will go from juicy to drier and earthy. It’s got a solid dose of patchouli and almost a leathery quality with how all of the notes come together. Musk, amber, patchouli, smoke. It’s an interesting fragrance to wear.  Le Lion de Chanel Review

Iris Woods

Sycomore by Chanel- This is another one of Chanel’s less mainstream fragrances. However, for the right person, this can absolutely be the best of the bunch.

The iris here is quite powdery, it’s joined early on with an earthiness, spice, and some additional wafts of smokiness. That iris is going to continue to be a factor, along with the vetiver note giving it that smoky finish. Those two are the main event with Sycomore.

There is also a cedar base and some slight sweetness with vanilla peaking in. Drier, leathery, smooth, and a warm woodsy scent.

Keep in mind, this one has different concentrations which become available from time to time, including a parfum. Right now, it’s an EDP, as a part of the Les Exclusifs collection. It’s one that I have a limited experience with, so, I can’t give details on all of the versions.

Also, this is one of their very expensive scents, going for a multiple of what the more mainstream colognes sell for.

10 Best Giorgio Armani Colognes for Men

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Armani has a fantastic line of fragrances for both men and women, that have their own unique style and impression. Two of the colognes for men, Armani Code and Acqua Di Gio, have been best-sellers and very popular with both men and their women for years now.

However, there are other Armani colognes that are really great that don’t get the same amount of attention as those two. For this list, I wanted to explore ten of the best Armani scents, of both new and old. Also see: The Top Armani Perfumes for Women

Favorite Armani Fragrances for Him

Enveloping Winter Warmth

Giorgio Armani Code Profumo EDP Spray for Men, 3.7 Ounce– Code Profumo was the best flanker fragrance, that has stemmed from the original Code moniker.

That’s changed, in my opinion, but I do still love this one. It is sweet, warm, and a magnificent wear for the colder months of the year.

Profumo opens up with tonka bean and amber. Then is quickly followed up by the inclusion of mandarin orange, herbal notes, and rich leather. Smooth and creamy on the dry down. If you want a spicier and boozier version, go with Absolu.

Code Profumo has a strong sillage and lasts on my skin for over 10 hours, most of the time. A very good and highly intriguing winter wear for guys. Code Profumo Review

Deeper, Darker Aquatic

Giorgio Armani Aqua di Gio Profumo, 4.2 Fluid Ounce– A flanker from the original and best-selling Acqua di Gio, AdG Profumo, exceeds the original in my opinion. It is a dark aquatic fragrance with an attractive spice and smoky undertones provided by the incense note.

Update: They’ve basically discontinued Profumo under this name. Now, Acqua di Gio Parfum is essentially just this rebranded.

To me, it can be a toss up between this and Profondo. Profumo is a darker scent, while Profondo is a lighter and has a zesty sort of personality.

Profumo starts out with bergamot and deep sea aquatic notes. The composition screams out summertime spent on the coast and is more refined and masculine than its predecessor. Great salty marine elements with sage and rosemary, giving it all extra heft. Awesome. Acqua di Gio Profumo Review

Unisex Floral Leather

Cuir Zerzura– Zerzura is a part of the expensive Privee line from Armani. This one is great, as it leans masculine and delivers a great and deep floral scent.

Iris is the main floral note, with some rose and light violet leaf early on. The main attractions though are the iris, leather, and vanilla notes.

Early on, you will get a brightness of mandarin and elemi. Though, that is short-lived and this becomes rich and has an enveloping smoothness and warmth. The contrast between the leather, the creaminess, and the powdery aroma of the iris note.

Not too sweet or overpowering. I think that Armani struck a very good balance between that iris and the leather without falling too much into make-up bag territory. Lovely stuff.

Newer Code

Code Parfum by Giorgio Armani– This will be one of three Code entries onto the list. It was released in 2022 and I was surprised at how good it was.

Code Parfum kicks off with the usually bergamot note, paired with sage and iris. The bergamot is sparkling and this one has a great opening freshness to it. It’s sort of bright and aldehydic with the way the iris is worked into things.

There is some powderiness, not too much, and not as much as you’d think with both iris and tonka bean coming through. Those two notes are heavily featured in the dry down along with the remaining citrus and a crisp cedar.

It’s a clean daily wear that can fit in a wide variety of situations. Code Parfum is going to be one of those workhorse fragrances, that you can spray on pretty much whenever, but it has plenty of style. Code Parfum review

Sweet, Woody, Unique

Giorgio Armani Cologne for Men, Armani Diamonds, 2.5 Fluid Ounce
At its base, Emporio Armani Diamonds is woody and spicy. At the top, you have cocoa bean and bergamot leading the way, with a heart of amber.

The citrus and cacao combination is beautifully done and feels wrapped up in that warm and familiar amber note. I really like the bergamot that comes out of the early stages, along with the initial spiciness that will be such a factor in the middle.

The bergamot is most noticeable at the start and gradually it all dries down into a woody cologne with sweet cocoa and hints of sichuan pepper (just not much). Coming back to this one recently, the amber note really developed well, in a way I hadn’t remembered.

At that point, the aroma is quite dry, but overall it remains light and none too heavy. Fresh, sweet, with good longevity.  Notes include: Citrus, Bergamot, Cedar, Szechwan Pepper, Gaiac Wood, Ambroxan, Vetiver, Cocoa Bean. Diamonds Review

emporio diamonds

Bluer Citrus Aquatic

Acqua di Gio Profondo– This newer release is replacing the original AdG, which really feels unnecessary to have at this time. It has been surpassed by flankers like this and there are cheaper options, that smell pretty much the same.

Profondo has plenty of overlap with Profumo, but as I said, there are slight differences. This is the lighter and has a zestier/blue vibe, versus the deep water aroma of Profumo.

Anyway, Profondo kicks off with a blend of citrus notes, with a solid freshness and spice provided by the rosemary. This doesn’t smell as smoky to me, either.

Much more of a fruity and blue aquatic, on the lines of maybe a Polo Blue, versus the other colognes in this series. Profondo Full Review

Classic Armani Release

Mania By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces
A sophisticated blend of woodsy aromatics and mandarin oranges. The opening is bright and upbeat with that mandarin note and saffron poking through.

There still aren’t too many men’s fragrances utilizing saffron, but it can be utterly brilliant, as it is here.

Mania is pretty simple, with dry elements, wood, amber, and a nice citrus shining through. You have to get this one online, nowadays, as Armani no longer produces it. Highly masculine and a full bodied scent that will drive ladies wild, when close.

Update: It’s been discontinued for a long while. Probably difficult to find a cheap bottle. So, pass on it if the price is in the triple digits.

Note: Dua brand has their fragrance: Arena, which is based on this formula.

mania

A Stronger With You Option

Emporio Armani Stronger With You Intensely EDP For Men 3.4oz– The original Stronger with You was pretty nice, but not something that I’d consider one of Armani’s best. However, I think that Intensely is a better option than that, and worthy of a spot for this update.

Stronger with You Intensely does indeed ramp up the power of the original, within a sweeter frame, and delicious gourmand aroma.

Sage, cinnamon, and pink pepper add the layer of spice but it really isn’t a completely thick cloud of fragrance…but very much a colder weather wear.

I like this and as of now, it takes the spot as my favorite cologne from this line. Yes, Absolutely is up there as well. For me, this has the slight edge between them. Here’s my review of Intensely and my comparison with SWY Absolutely

I also think that SWY Leather is right up there at the top between these two. That’s more of a limited edition, so, it can be more difficult to find than these two.

Stylish Stand Out

Armani Attitude By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 1.7 Oz– Attitude is a fitting name, because this one is bold, and can pack a punch.

Not that it is overly heavy, but this was one that could grab attention (it has been discontinued, as well, still bottles available online ). Note: Dua has their inspired by version: #Attitude available for cheap, if you can’t find this.

You had coffee and lemon, with notes like lavender and patchouli. All in all, it could be hard to distinguish between them, as it is so well blended. That’s perfectly fine, because the result was awesome, quite sexy, and could be a complement magnet.

attitude

The Best Armani Code

Armani Code Absolu– I am replacing the original Code on the list, as it has been surpassed by too many other offerings. Initially, Code Profumo was my favorite of the line. However, that all changed with the release of Absolu, which is the best of the bunch.

It kicks off with rum, suede, nutmeg, and tonka bean. There are the light fruit notes of mandarin and apple, floating in the background, as they do in all of the Code scents.

I really enjoy the kick and booziness provided by the nutmeg and rum, with the leather-like smoothness of suede.

It’s dark and warm, with a great sweetness during the dry down. A lighter option versus Profumo, not as cloying, but still delivers over 10 hours of wear. Code Absolu Review

Azzaro Wanted vs. Dior Sauvage Comparison

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Dior’s Sauvage has become an absolutely monstrous best seller, since its release, five or so years back. Because of this, it often gets compared to many other fragrances, that men are looking to buy. Azzaro Wanted, was released a few years after, and has enjoyed its own limited popularity. Which one is better? Which lasts longer? Which is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Wanted vs Sauvage EDT

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

Azzaro Wanted

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 review: Azzaro Wanted

Opening

Sauvage EDT starts off with a mix of spicy Sichuan pepper and a sharp bergamot citrus note. It’s a pretty intense start, that is calmed by the later emergence of ambroxan and lavender.

Meanwhile, Azzaro Wanted begins with ginger, mint, lemon, and woods. It’s got a warm and very sweet aroma. There’s a thick and enveloping quality to Wanted. Cardamom and tonka bean come in and give the cologne that thick and sweet scent.

Which is better? I’m actually not too crazy about how either one of these fragrances starts. However, I do prefer the Sauvage opening. It is pretty strong, but it is much more preferable, versus the really sweet, slightly spicy, and huge lemon note of Wanted.

Edge: Sauvage

Projection

Sauvage and Wanted start off as strong fragrances. I’d say that Sauvage has the better sillage, up top. Both do grow less powerful, a few hours in, but Sauvage has the better projection throughout. Wanted becomes much more moderate.

Edge: Sauvage

Longevity

After trying out both of these colognes, many times, there doesn’t seem to be any difference in terms of how long they last. On my skin, I get in the 7-9 hour range for both, depending on the climate that day. Neither are elite, but both scents perform quite well.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Both of these scents can be very versatile. They can go casual, nightlife, and maybe to work depending on personal circumstances.

I think that Sauvage holds up better, in a wider variety of climates, and has a slightly more mature vibe.  Wanted can come across as too sharp/sweet, for certain applications.

Edge: Sauvage

Overall Scent

Wanted by Azzaro, is a pretty good cologne, in my book. I really don’t like how it starts off, as it smells way too sharp for my nose. However, later on in the wear, I do enjoy the blend of tonka bean and wood. The sweetness is smoother and less of a bother. Plus, the performance is solid.

Sauvage EDT has never wowed me, but I like it. I especially like it more than Wanted. If I had a choice, I’d go with Sauvage EDP or Parfum, before wearing the original.

However, between these two specific options, I’ll take Sauvage EDT for sure.

Update: Coming back to this post years later, the subsequent Wanted releases have all been better than the original. The Most Wanted and The Most Wanted Parfum are two that I’d pick before Sauvage EDT or Wanted.

Really, it’s a toss up between The Most Wanted and Sauvage EDP for me. I’d probably go with the Dior, but the Azzaro is a better value. You might also want to try a cheap alternative to Dior Sauvage.

Winner: Sauvage

7 Fragrances Similar to Gucci Guilty

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Gucci Guilty Pour Homme is one of the more popular daily wears for men, out on the market. Gucci has pumped out numerous flankers, after this became a best seller, and plenty of guys want something which smells similar.

Either to, find a cheaper fragrance that nearly matches, or just another alternative options which has a similar feeling. In this post, I want to present 7 colognes, which I think can fit the bill.

Cologne Alternatives Like Gucci Guilty

Before getting into the list, I haven’t come across any exact matches of Gucci Guilty Pour Homme.

Update: I have now. However, there are several options which are close or fit the same general style. Honestly, most of the list is just flat out a better scent, in my opinion, than is Guilty.

Guilty Inspirations

Fougere Pink Pepper by Dossier– Finally, found a directly inspired fragrance of Guilty Pour Homme EDT, and it’s from Dossier.

It opens up with the same neroli, pink pepper, and lemon notes before it transitions into that orange blossom and lavender heart. All for under $30 (as of this update).

I’m surprised that there aren’t many other inspired by versions of this cologne, since it is so popular and not that difficult of a formula to do. But, Dossier is the one that has the quality and presents the best option for those who want a cheaper alternative.

Black Edition

Dark Guilty by The Dua Brand– So, this one is inspired by Guilty Black and not the original Guilty Pour Homme. For me, that’s fine, as I prefer Black.

It’s going to have less of the amber influence, with greener notes, coriander spice, and a bit of a different balance among the floral notes. Has green notes and woods without coming across like a forest.

I haven’t tried this version out from Dua. But, I’ve bought plenty of designer inspired fragrances from them in the past and have had an overwhelmingly positive experience doing so.

If you want something like Guilty Black, this’ll probably be the best bet.

Similar Style from Another Italian Designer

Prada Luna Rossa Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce– Luna Rossa is similar to Guilty, yet remains distinct. This is one in the same sort of genre, but with more freshness. Plus, the citrus is only the main attraction at first.

After that, there is an emergence of mint and lavender. What a great little scent. It is a bright citrus aroma with a cool demeanor, thanks to the spearmint, and calming lavender note.

The dry down does have a slight powdery/soapy feel, but it isn’t that much, and way less than what is in some of the others.  Luna Rossa Full Review

The Better Guilty Fragrance

Gucci Guilty Intense Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 3 Ounce–  It shares the same lemon note, as the original Guilty Pour Homme, but tones it down and amps up the lavender and amber notes.

There are additional floral notes and cedar wood, but Intense is a pretty linear fragrance, with the lemon and amber taking hold early.

Intense has a solid sillage and can last for 7-8 hours, on my skin. It is a very versatile fragrance, that can be worn year round, and feels more mature that its predecessor. I prefer this one to the original, with how it smells, and it has better performance. Guilty Intense Review

Update: This one has been discontinued for years now. Bottles were still around before. It’s probably too expensive to be worth tracking down.

Fresh Aromatic Alternative

Prada Luna Rossa SPORT Eau de Toilette Spray 3.4 oz– Luna Rossa Sport is a simple fragrance and is a flanker of the original Luna Rossa. Sport doesn’t have the citrus notes, but does give you a similar fresh aromatic scent, like Guilty.

While it is a simple and fairly linear wear, Sport, is super fresh and smells really great. It opens up with a blend of vanilla and tonka bean, which creates a sort of powdery aromatic aroma, with sweetness provided in part by a nice juniper berry note.

Beyond that, ginger adds a lightly fresh spice, and there is the lavender note that is ubiquitous in the Luna Rossa series. Refreshing and crisp. I reviewed it here.

Between Guilty and Intense

Diesel Only The Brave By Diesel For Men Edt Spray 4.2 Oz– Only the Brave is one of the most popular scents from Diesel. It is a great citrus/woodsy scent best served for younger guys and for wear during the fall and winter months.

When used correctly it is a real crowd pleaser, especially with the ladies. It’s probably closer to smelling like Guilty Intense, though, it is close enough to make the list.

This one has a violet and leather accord, which sets it apart from the Gucci series. The citrus also has more of a sharpness to it at times, when compared to the better blended Guilty Pour Homme. Still, this one is very likeable as a daily wear and has similarities to our target cologne.

Brighter Citrus, Not Exact

Versace Signature By Gianni Versace Eau-de-toilette Spray for Men, 6.70-Fluid Ounce– A nice day to day fragrance from Versace with gentle spice notes. Versace opens up with bergamot and bitter orange notes, which creates a bright citrus aroma at the top.

It’s actually quite an intense fragrance, to my nose, for the first 30 minutes or so of wear. It mellows out a great deal afterwards, but that citrus opening is a bomb.

As it dries down, I get a lot more of the tonka bean and floral notes poking through, to give Versace Pour Homme much more depth of character. It is still a pretty straightforward cologne, which also provides some sage and cedar at the base. This has much more citrus sharpness, than Guilty, more of a close relative.  My review of Versace