Fragrances

Oud Wood vs Intense Comparison

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I reviewed Oud Wood by Tom Ford, in the beginning of this year. I also had a small batch of Oud Wood Intense, but only got around to testing it recently. Now, that they’re both out of the way with the reviews, I wanted to do a head to head comparison post between them.

Oud Wood vs. Oud Wood Intense. Which is the better fragrance? Which lasts longer? Which has the greater sillage?

Tale of the Tape: Oud Wood vs. Intense

Oud Wood

Notes include: rosewood, sandalwood, oud, vanilla, tonka bean, amber, cardamom, and vetiver

Click here to try: Tom Ford Private Blend Oud Wood Eau De Parfum Spray – 50ml/1.7oz

Read my original review: Oud Wood

Oud Wood Intense

Notes include: oud, juniper, leather, cypress, angelica, ginger

Click here to try: Tom Ford Oud Wood Intense 1.7 oz./ 50 ml Spray New 

Read my original review: Oud Wood Intense

Opening

Oud Wood starts off with a strong blast of the oud note and cardamom. Underneath that, is a peppery sort of spice. It’s warm and dry, with sandalwood and rosewood, already being prominent at the base. It’s a very spicy and woody, sort of aroma up top.

Oud Wood Intense is a monster from the start. It too, is spicy, with less of the oud in the beginning. What you get is a spiciness from the ginger, with an animalistic spice, and the smell of rich leather. Quite a different experience.

Which opening is better? It’s tough to say, but I think I’ll give the edge to the original. Intense can be pretty harsh and bold, in the immediate stages, while Oud Wood gets right to business.

I think that the original has a better balance, even if it is the more understated scent of the two of them.

Edge: Oud Wood

Projection

This one isn’t even close. Oud Wood Intense has a bomb-like sillage. It is loud and can project itself like crazy, off of a few sprays. Oud Wood is more of a moderate, then, a lighter scent after some time has past.

I’m glad that they made an intense version that actually lives up to the title. Oud Wood itself, isn’t terrible with the sillage or how far it projects. It’s maybe a bit above average, in the initial stages of wear.

It just doesn’t compete with its flanker, though.

Edge: Intense

Longevity

The original Oud Wood, was pretty mediocre on my skin, with how long it lasted. I only got 4-5 hours of wear from it. Meanwhile, Intense, will hit 10+ without even a problem. It really is an all day kind of fragrance.

I’m not sure if other people have had problems with the performance of Oud Wood, but it really didn’t hold up for me. Intense, however, is great and lives up to its lofty price point.

Edge: Intense

Versatility

Oud Wood and Intense are both cold weather fragrances. Oud Wood can be worn formally, to an office, or casually. Not a club beast, nor will most folks find it particularly sexy.

Intense, on the other hand, has some limited uses. It is very loud cologne. It’s not really office suitable, and would seem, to be best used casually. It’s a niche sort of scent, that isn’t going to have a wide appreciation among the public.

Neither of these perfumes is super versatile, with when or where it can be worn, but the original is much more accessible.

Edge: Oud Wood

Overall Scent

This is a pretty challenging call. For one reason, I’m not a huge oud fan. Secondly, these are ultimately quite different fragrances, with period of overlap.

In my mind, Oud Wood Intense, is the better fragrance. I find it intriguing, even if, I don’t ultimately love it. The fiery and smoky qualities. The leather. The dry cypress. The bold presentation. It’s great.

The downside? It’s so niche and powerful, that most guys won’t be able to wear it. Heck, I couldn’t wear it for much beyond testing it out.

Oud Wood is the safer choice. But, I don’t really care for it, as it isn’t super interesting like its flanker. The smell is better initially, but Intense has more going on, start to finish. The performance of Oud Wood was pretty crappy, especially at the price. Had that not been the case, it would have taken it.

As it stands, I’m giving the win to Intense, even if only a few will find it to be something they can use.

Winner: Oud Wood Intense

Angels’ Share vs Grand Soir

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Angels’ Share by Kilian and Kurkdjian’s Grand Soir are two of the more popular high end perfumes. Both of them are unisex, which only serves to heighten their appeal. Since there is some overlap in style and purpose, these fragrances will often be compared. But, which one actually smells better? Lasts longer? Is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Grand Soir vs Angels’ Share

Grand Soir

Notes include: amber, vanilla, tonka bean, benzoin, labdanum

Click here to try: Grand Soir from Saks

Read my full review: Grand Soir Review

Angels’ Share

Notes include: cognac, tonka bean, oak wood, cinnamon, praline, vanilla, sandalwood

Click here to try: Angels’ Share at Sephora

Read my review: Angels’ Share by Kilian

angels review

Opening

Grand Soir starts off with it’s amber already on full display. Yes, the amber with the labdanum and some benzoin are going to be contributing heavily early on.

When pulled together, there is a light spice to the warmth and even some smokiness. The vanilla isn’t too strong at the beginning of the wear. However, that and the tonka bean will increase in strength into the middle of the act giving Soir some creaminess and powdery hints.

Meanwhile, Angels’ Share starts of with its signature cognac, oak, and its tonka bean note. The cognac has an apple-like sweetness to it, which is fantastic.

The sweetness is enhanced by the inclusion of vanilla and praline. Which all plays well off of the spicy punch of the cinnamon note.

Which is better? The Kilian has more going on. Grand Soir has some spice and smoke, but Angels’ Share is boozy, warm, sweet, and spicy with an array of notes coming on board early for the ride.

I’ll go with Angels’ Share.

Edge: Angels’

Projection

With my use of Grand Soir, I get a fairly strong opening and then it’ll hang 2-3 feet from the skin, for most of the way.

Angels’ Share starts off with about the same strength initially. However, I think it stays in what could be considered an upper moderate zone for much of the wear. It has a slower decline with its strength versus what I got from Soir.

Edge: Angels’ 

Longevity

Both of these fragrances last a very long time. With Angels’ Share, I get 9-13 hours of wear on my skin.

You’d think that’d be enough to overcome Grand Soir, but nope. Grand Soir will also hit the double digit hour mark easily.

Really, there’s no real separation here. It’s just a tie between them in this category.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Seasonally, Grand Soir’s amber and vanilla richness is suited for the autumn and winter months. With Angels’ Share, it’s the same. I’d avoid both when it’s too warm out.

Both are mostly for casual to semi-formal wears, but I think Soir fits better at the office or dressier functions, since it doesn’t have a cognac note like the Kilian.

While each is more for daytime use, I have worn Angels’ Share in nightlife situations and got plenty of attention from it. Not a club beast, but it’s got the boldness to stand out.

Overall, it’s pretty split. I think the edge goes to Grand Soir, however. It fits in more environments and is probably more of a true unisex versus Angels’ Share.

Edge: Grand Soir

Overall Scent

So, overall, which of these is the better fragrance? Despite the splitting of most of these categories, this is an easy call for me personally. I am a massive Angels’ Share fan. I bought a full bottle almost immediately after first testing a sample.

Grand Soir is also a very good scent. It’s one I thought that I’d love wearing, but it was more of a like. Mostly, I just get bored of the amber and vanilla combination after a while. It’s not a very dynamic perfume beyond that opening act.

Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. I do like that Maison Kurkdjian and it’ll be a good fit for those who don’t want the sweet, boozy, and spicy mix of Angels’ Share. Some people will prefer the low key warmth of Grand Soir.

For me, the winner is Angels’ Share. It smells better to me, has a bolder profile, and a more unique aroma than its competitor.

Winner: Angels’ Share

8 Fragrances Similar to Invictus

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Invictus by Paco Rabanne has been really really popular, over the past handful of years. It has also spawned many flanker fragrances of its own. With that being the case, there are a lot of guys who want something similar to this best seller, but not the original itself.

For this list, I have selected similar smelling or styled colognes for men to Invictus. Some will be closer than others, with some just in the same general family as our target fragrance.

What Colognes Smell Similar to Invictus by Paco Rabanne?

Popular Designer Wear

Uomo Born in Roma by Valentino– This was a fragrance which really reminded me of the Invictus line, in terms of smell and style. It’s not an exact copy, by any means, but the opening act really does favor what we’re looking for.

Roma starts off very sweet and with an undertone of mineral oil and violet leaf. That aspect isn’t something that I’m personally too keen on. I actually prefer Invictus in that regard.

With that you get ginger, salt, and sage. The spices here aren’t heavy and like what you get in some of the Invictus lineup. But, this Valentino doesn’t have the aquatic accord.

As it dries down, you get more wood, vetiver, violet leaf. It’s much less sweet and pretty different from Invictus, at that point. Still, if you like the Paco Rabanne, you might enjoy this. Uomo Born in Roma Review

Another Popular Scent

Azzaro Wanted Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce– Azzaro Wanted does often get compared to Invictus, as they do have plenty of similarities. They are not, however, the same. Just colognes with a close style and which go after the same market.

Some guys, think this is the superior scent, but I’m not one of them. However, if you want something along the lines of Invictus, it is indeed one you should check out for yourself.

The main difference in terms of smell, is that, Wanted is spicier and woodier in its presentation. The lemon note also seems sharper. Cardamom, to my nose, is the ingredient responsible for most of the distinction between these scents.

Wanted dries down with a smooth and fresh fruitiness, with apple, tonka bean, and juniper berries. Azzaro Wanted Review

Similar Nightlife Fragrance

Carolina Herrera 212 Vip Men Party Fever Eau De Toilette Spray For Men, 3.4 Ounce (Limited Edition)– 212 VIP Men Party Fever is a really interesting scent, that can be sort of difficult to find nowadays, but is still floating around. It has elements of the bold nightlife scent 212 VIP, as well as Invictus, and some distinct elements.

Update: Really difficult to find nowadays. I wouldn’t pay a ton for this.

Now, I want to state, that this isn’t the same smell as Invictus. Rather, VIP Men Party Fever, has a similar sweet fruity with wood profile as does our target, without the saltiness of the aquatic notes.

It provides a blend of citrus and apple notes with freshness from cedar, a nice ginger spice, and a touch of cannabis. Very much a youthful and sweet smelling scent.

Yep, but you won’t smell like a smoker. This isn’t as loud and lacks the booziness of 212 VIP, but delivers a nice warm weather wear, that evokes the style of the Invictus line. 212 Party Fever Review

Overlap with Invictus

JIMMY CHOO Man Intense Eau De Toilette, Fougere Oriental Woody, 3.3 fl. oz.– Man Intense starts off smelling quite a bit like Invictus and the original Jimmy Choo Man.

Then, it does develop its own personality distinct from those two, while remaining in the same ballpark. Oh, and it smells better than both.

The drydown is fresh and clean with notes of: melon, lavender, and tonka bean. Doesn’t have the oceanic notes of the Paco Rabanne, but gives you the fruitiness and some light amber with peppery spice. Read my full review.

Cheapest Glory

Milton Lloyd Fame & Glory x2 by Milton Lloyd– If you’re looking for a cheaper option to smell close to Invictus, Fame & Glory by Milton Lloyd, should fit the bill. Milton Lloyd fragrances, do generally, hit the mark of the colognes that they are inspired by.

I haven’t tried this one out personally, yet. However, at a price point of $10-15, it might be a worthwhile shot at finding a replacement for the more expensive Paco Rabanne.

Another Alternative Option

Rasasi Hawas for Men EDP – Eau De Parfum 100ML (3.4 oz)– Not exactly a  match, nor is it an exact Invictus Aqua aroma. Hawas for Men, is like a brother to those fragrances, with its own distinct personality.

It has aquatic notes, but this doesn’t feel quite as oceanic. Hawas has a nice amber note, a bit more of a soapy quality, and the sweetness isn’t as pronounced in the beginning.

A nice sharp citrus blend with apple and hints of spice from cinnamon and cardamom. Fresh with a light wood in the base.

Similar Designer Style

MONTBLANC Legend Spirit Eau de Toilette, 3.3 Fl Oz– To me, this would smell closer to Invictus Aqua, than the original. Even then, it’s not super close. Nonetheless, the style of Legend Spirit, is in the same family as these fragrances and worth checking out if you like Invictus.

With Legend spirit you start off with grapefruit and an aquatic accord, much the same as Invictus. With this one, you also get a nice dose of pink pepper and cardamom.

This is a warmer scent, that has more spice and musk/woody base, with less citrus than the Paco Rabanne offerings. It feels more wearable for an older guy, than the often times too youthful, Invictus. Legend Spirit Review

Clean, Less Sweet

English Laundry Cambridge Knight Eau de Parfum, 3.4 fl. oz.– Another not exact aroma, that actually shares similarities with the above Legend Spirit, as well.

Black currant and grapefruit blend with aquatic notes, not as candy-like or as salty as the Invictus scents. The black currant gives this a different vibe, with a certain tartness and sharpness.

Later, Cambridge Knight really brings in some nice musk, with woods. To go along with the other notes, everything feels very clean. The performance here, is great, as it lasts long and projects itself well.

Nautica Voyage vs Azzaro Chrome

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For this edition of the head to head fragrance comparisons, we are going to be taking a closer look at two inexpensive and popular options for men: Azzaro Chrome vs. Nautica Voyage. Which of these two best sellers, is the better buy? Which smells better? Has the top performance? I have tested and reviewed both and will break it down below.

Tale of the Tape

Nautica Voyage

Notes include: apple, musk, cedar, lotus, amber, mimosa, and oak moss

Click here to try: Nautica Voyage Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 oz

Read my original review: Nautica Voyage Review

Azzaro Chrome

Click here to try: Men’s Chrome by Azzaro Eau de Toilette Spray – 3.4 oz.

Notes include: neroli, lemon, bergamot, rosemary, pineapple, musk, woods, and jasmine

Read my review: Chrome Review

Opening

Azzaro Chrome opens up with lemon and pineapple, this citrus blend, is fresh and pretty sharp. With that, is jasmine and neroli, and the second one is quite prominent up top. Chrome is a bright with an aquatic sort of aroma, despite there not being any oceanic notes.

Combined,  it is all pretty familiar and yet unique. It does get compared to CK One, but it does have a distinct aroma. Yes, vaguely metallic, at times.

Voyage starts off with crisp apple with mimosa and plenty of musk. It’s got a ‘green’ aroma with aquatic undertones and the muskiness. Voyage is clean with a watery scent.

Which is better? I’m going with Chrome, as the citrus/floral/aquatic composition, is much better at the start than is Voyage. The Nautica can be too much of a mess at first, and can take time, to settle.

Edge: Chrome

Projection

Chrome starts off pretty strong for me, it can be really bold, right out of the bottle. Later on, it is much more of a moderate scent. Voyage, is basically moderate, right out of the bottle. It’s pretty consistent, but lighter than Chrome is.

Edge: Chrome

Longevity

Nautica Voyage delivers 5-7 hours of wear, on my skin. It’s been the same result, over the years, time and time again. Not getting more than that. Azzaro Chrome will go for 7-8 hours, which outclasses its competitor, on most occasions.

Neither of these have ever been super performers for me. However, they’ve always been above average and can provide great value.

Edge: Chrome

Versatility

Both fragrances have good versatility. Neither is a nighttime scent, however. Chrome would probably fair better for office wear versus Voyage. Other than that, there’s not too much separation here. Both can be worn year round and serve as an inexpensive daily wear.

Edge: Chrome (slightly)

Overall Scent

Is it a clean sweep for Chrome? Yes.

While I like Nautica Voyage, it’s not a really ‘great’ cologne, just a great cheap cologne. It has a nice overall aroma, but to me, never smells as good as Chrome does. It doesn’t have the same performance level, either. But for less than $20? Having a bottle, isn’t a bad idea.

Chrome, on the other hand, features a great citrus/floral formula with underlying aquatic notes and a ‘metallic’ edge. It’s such a simple wear, but one which, gets plenty of complements and has the performance to last a workday.

Its dry down, becomes woodier, with hints of musk, and the citrus notes still sitting on top. The price at retail is usually pretty high, but every so often Chrome seems to get marked down dramatically at secondary sellers.

That $35-50 range is pretty standard, but I’ve seen bottles go for under $30 too. Basically, the price difference isn’t as large as it may seem. The Azzaro actually hovers much closer to the Nautica range than it first appears.

Chrome is wonderful in its niche and has been doing it for decades now. It wins this match up with ease.

Winner: Chrome

9 Fragrances that Smell Similar to Spicebomb

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Spicebomb for a long time, did its own thing. There really wasn’t much that smelled like it and that’s part of what made it so awesome. However, sometimes a good thing can be too expensive. Some even complain, that this popular fragrance, has reformulated.

I don’t know about that last part, as last I’ve tried it, Spicebomb smelled the same. Maybe it lost some power, but it definitely hasn’t been wrecked.

Either way, guys want an alternative to the Viktor & Rolf powerhouse, and that’s what I want to tackle in this post. Is there an exact clone of Spicebomb? I still say, no. However, there are definite options, which deliver similar experiences.

I’m also going to use this page for scents that are like the flankers, such as, Spicebomb Extreme, Infrared, and Night Vision. At least, if and when I find such alternates.

What Colognes Smell Like or are Clone Alternatives to Spicebomb?

Boozier Spicebomb

Bvlgari Man in Black Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce– So, Blvgari’s Man in Black, isn’t always thought of when it comes to seductive sort of fragrances; but it most certainly is one from my experience. It’s not a super intense bomb or one that lasts all night (roughly 4-6 hours), but that’s more than enough for when I use it.

This is a boozy version of Spicebomb, in a lot of ways. I say, that this one is darker, and has its own personality. But man, they are like brothers, closely related but not exact copies.

Man in Black has become for me, a nightlife wear on cooler evenings. Why? Because there is a certain percentage of women, who go nuts for this scent. Not kidding. I’ve had multiple random women stop me at a bar and just flat out tell me how sexy I smell.

I’ve also worn it on a few dates and pretty much been mauled by my companion, while repeating how much they love my cologne. At times, this has been that mythical ‘panty dropper’, scent that often gets talked about on fragrance forums and YouTube videos.

So, while it’s not universally as popular as some of the other scents on this list, Bvlgari’s dark and boozy fragrance can do work when out in the field. It starts off with rum and cinnamon spices that is tempered by a smooth leather note.

There is a oud base which amps up the masculinity and floral notes lingering around to give it a bit of sweetness.

Again, it actually projects pretty moderately, but does the job when someone gets close to you. This isn’t one that I wear everyday, rather, I break it out at night to see what attention it attracts me. Man in Black Full Review

Inspired Remix

Spice it Up with Belgian Choco– This one is a hybrid mix from The Dua Brand. Their version of the Spicebomb formula, is ‘Spice it Up’. However, it appears that they’re no longer selling the stand alone, at this time.

But, they do have the version mixed with their own scent called, Belgian Chocolate Truffle. So, essentially this is a fragrance that smells like Spicebomb, just with added: chocolate, almond, plum, and caramel notes to the mix.

I haven’t tried this one out, in particular. I have bought more than 10 fragrances from Dua in the past, including their ‘inspired takes’ on designer perfumes. They do a good job at coming coming close to replicating the smell.

This one should be fun with the sweeter gourmand elements added in.

Great Inexpensive Alternative

Spice & Black Vanilla by Cremo– Spice & Black Vanilla is a great one from Cremo that doesn’t cost very much, but it delivers a pretty close experience to scents from the Spicebomb line.

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 than either, 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.

Performance is in the 5-7 hour range with this, in my experience. Pretty good, considering this currently retails for about $20 (as of writing).

Sweeter & Inexpensive

Beverly Hills Polo Club Blaze by Beverly Hills Polo Club, 3.4 oz Eau De Toilette Spray for Men– This is a really inexpensive options that can mimic much of what we’re looking for with Spicebomb.

Is it amazing? No. It doesn’t have the depth, nor the staying power of our target. Nonetheless, it can be an option for those really pressed, for price. It’s got a heavy dose of cinnamon and more of a sweeter edge than does Spicebomb.

Drier and Smoother

Hanae Mori Him Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Fluid Ounce– This Hanae Mori release, isn’t an exact duplicate of Spicebomb, but it’s a fairly close relative of what we’re looking for. The biggest overlap comes in the use of both cinnamon and pepper, for the spiciness, but includes additional cardamom.

However, HiM has a sweet quality with tonka bean, light citrus, and warm amber. This all sits on top of mainly cedar, with some other woodsy notes.

Not the same level of spicy intensity, this is drier, and has a smoother character. Solid performance and available at a affordable price.

Leather and Spice Fendi

Fendi Fan Di Pour Homme Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 1.7 Ounce– Fan Di Fendi is a line that has gotten overlooked for the past few years. I wore the Aqua version, over the summer, and it’s got a lot of positive qualities.

This fragrance, is another option that sits in the same ballpark, as Spicebomb. This one amps up the leather, gives you the pink pepper/cardamom combo, and a solid woody base. Smooth with a bit of citrus, not as rough, and has a better ability to venture into warmer weather.

The good news is, this stuff has been heavily discounted. Again, not a clone of the Viktor & Rolf fragrance, but similar sensibilities.

Dry Spicy Burberry

BURBERRY London for Men Eau de Toilette , 1.7 fl. oz– London was my first Burberry cologne and its woody fragrance is probably the most masculine of the lot. Its base notes include mimosa, leather, tobacco, cinnamon leaves, and lavender.

This fragrance is probably best served as an evening wear option because of its sensual appeal. However, I used to daily wear this seasonally, back in college. Just with lighter sprays.

London opens up, at its spiciest, with that tobacco note surrounded by both pepper and cinnamon leaf. It also features a port wine ingredient at the top, to give the scent, an ever so slight booziness.

If you pay attention, you can pick up on the wine, it’s a nice addition. Further along, the spices notes are fading in place of the leather, and dry woodsy notes.

This is an option for those who want a good designer wear, that occupies a similar space as does, Spicebomb. This is much drier, but does share many related ingredient as Spicebomb. I just wanted to throw it out there, as another candidate.

It can be very dry and earthy at times, with a certain masculine ruggedness. It has its refinement along with a wild undercurrent. The most prominent notes are the tobacco, cinnamon, and leather notes. Great stuff.

London starts off with a strong sillage, but ends up being pretty moderate. The longevity is good and this one is still so enjoyable to me, after all these years. Burberry London Review.

Another Cheaper Alternative

Lomani Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, Body and Soul, 3.3 Ounce– As far as cheap alternatives to Spicebomb, this one is probably the best. It definitely brings that peppery kick up front, can clone much of what Spicebomb does, but then has its own personality.

Body and Soul gives you a touch of citrus, a lovely tobacco note, and fresh lavender to help make it feel clean. Not that sweet, but has enough to offset the pepper and tobacco note. The performance is good, but the sillage isn’t super strong. Not terrible, either.

Night Vision Dive

Zino Davidoff Cool Water Night Dive EDT Spray for Men, 2.5 Ounce– A very nice take off of the original Cool Water with mint, berries, aquatic elements, pepper, and tobacco.

It’s sweet and interesting yet still maintains an oceanic vibe but built for the nighttime as the name suggests.

It has some resemblance to the original Cool Water, with a sweetish and fresh aroma that has similarities to Night Vision EDP.

The main difference will be with its aquatic notes, which don’t feel to powerful and not really a salt water smell, at least for me. But, that just adds to the synthetic sort of freshness that each of these colognes can produce.

Much sweeter than Cool Water, more ‘blue’, less herbal/floral ‘greenish’ qualities. But, the rest of it feels a lot like Spicebomb Night Vision. Not going to be an exact match Performance isn’t bad, can be a nice wear for the summertime.