Fragrances

Phantom vs. Versace Eros Comparison

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Phantom has quickly become a best seller in the men’s fragrance world. Which means, that it is going to be compared to other scents in that realm, before a lot of guys actually make a purchase. One such alternative option, is the now decade-plus old Versace Eros EDT. Which one of these fragrances smells better? Lasts longer? Is the winner between them?

Tale of the Tape: Eros EDT vs. Paco Rabanne Phantom

Versace Eros EDT

Notes of Eros: mint, green apple, tonka bean, madagascar vanilla, vetiver, Italian lemon

Shop Amazon for: Versace Eros Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

My Full Review: Eros

Phantom

Notes include: lemon, lemon zest, lavender, patchouli, vetiver, apple, smoke, and more

Click here to try: Phantom by Paco Rabanne

My Full Review: Phantom

phantom cologne review

Opening

So, Eros and it’s opening has changed to my nose over the years. Back in the day, the original was a balanced mix of mint, vanilla, lemon, and apple. Creamy and warm, sweet and enveloping.

While it hasn’t lost it entirely, to me, the newer batches have a higher weighting towards lemon in the mix. It’s still nice enough, I guess, but Eros EDT doesn’t have that same magic it once did.

With Phantom, I actually kind of like the start. Phantom kicks things off with apple and lemon notes, creating a juiciness that is quite nice. The aroma is semi-tropical and sweet, with the way it ties together. Under that, is lavender and vanilla, further pushing the aromatic creaminess.

That juicy citrus fruit opening will be pushed out by a drier and earthy aroma. The juiciness fades, and patchouli will have its time to shine, with an herbal sort of spice coming together. It dirties it up, and yes, there is a touch of smoke.

Which is better? I do like the use in Phantom of the lighter apple and lemon, with the sweetness and somewhat tropical appeal. However, I still do prefer Eros.

If we were comparing the 2012 batches to Phantom, it’s an easy win for Eros in the opening act. Nowadays, it’s still a victory, just not a complete blow out.

Edge: Eros

Projection

Eros is still a strong, heavy, and far reaching fragrance…just not to the same extent as in the past. It’s lost a step, but a limited Eros is bolder than most average colognes on the market by a wide mark.

Phantom kind of stays true to its name, in terms of how it projects early on. It initially seems like it’s going to be fairly massive, but then will moderate quite a bit in quick succession.

It will then, stick closer to the skin, to create a nice scent bubble. Not too crazy, but a big start from Phantom. Then, it’s basically middle of the road.

Edge: Eros

Longevity

When testing out Phantom, I was able to get somewhere in the 6 to 7 hour range of wear, on my skin. It’s pretty good, but for an EDP not ideal. It could’ve been boosted up a bit more.

Meanwhile, older bottles of Eros used to last and last. Easily getting past the double digit hour mark. Now? It still is capable of 10 hours. Not much beyond that, anymore, and more likely in the 8-ish hour range.

I think the projecting ability took more of a hit versus the longevity and this is still an easy win for Eros.

Edge: Eros

Versatility

Seasonally, both are at their best in the autumn and winter months. Phantom can probably extend a bit further into the springtime than Eros. I wouldn’t wear either in the summer, especially with high humidity.

I suppose each could be a daily wear for younger guys. For anyone older than their mid-20s, these would be more of a casual or laid back type of wear, not for the office.

I think Eros has an edge as a nightlife or romantic wear fragrance. I think it’s the sexier scent and one that will likely get more attention while wearing.

Phantom comes close, in this category with its extended weather usage. But, I think Eros still comes out ahead.

Edge: Eros

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these fragrances do I prefer? Eros. Personally, I don’t much get the hype about Phantom. It’s kind of strange, has it’s moments, and then is basically run of the mill thereafter.

I don’t completely dislike it. The lemon peel and apple note up top, when blended with everything is nice. Later, it’s completely average to me. The performance is okay. The smell is just okay. That’s it, across the board.

Eros has been around the block for a long time now. It used to be a complete love for me. Now, I do like it, I’m just not quite as high on this blue bottled beast.

It’s still a better fragrance than Phantom will ever be. I’d rather buy a bottle of the Versace every time versus the silver robot.

Winner: Eros 

Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme by Chanel

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Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme is one that I came across on and off for many years, but really haven’t had any contact with for a long while. In fact, I’ve been rediscovering for myself, a lot of the Chanel men’s and women’s fragrances. I got a hold of a sample of Eau Extreme in order to finally do a proper review of this one for the site, using the latest batch. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it really worth a buy?

Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme Overview

Notes include: mandarin orange, tonka bean, cypress, musk, sage, mint, sandalwood, pepper, cedar

Click here to try: ChaneI Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme Eau de Parfum Spray 1.7 Fl. OZ. / 50ML.

My Full Review

Before we get into my review, let’s see how Chanel describes it: Allure to the extreme. A powerful, dynamic and invigorating fragrance for the man who thrives on extreme sensations and pushes himself beyond his limits. An intense Eau de Parfum, like a rush of adrenaline.

Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme starts off with a fresh coolness and green quality that the original Allure Sport lacks. Eau Extreme doesn’t have the same mandarin or sea notes, but instead, goes with mint and sage as prominent players.

The citrus is definitely still there, just toned down. It’s a cypress, sage, mint, and peppery start up top. Musk is hanging around as well, but for me that really starts to show up more in the latter stages.

I have been going back and forth for years, whether I prefer the opening act of Sport or Eau Extreme. Having had samples of each in the past few months, Eau Extreme has taken the lead for me.

Some of that initial sage will then wear off and it’s more just about the mint and the cypress note. However, the tonka bean and musk notes also really begin to emerge and give this fresh scent an aromatic sweetness.

Eau Extreme does give you a different take from the original Sport, but during the dry down is when these fragrances really start to smell similar. Though, Eau Extreme strikes me as muskier and less of a sweet aroma with that spicy fresh kick.

The tonka bean really begins to take control of the wear, it feels sweeter and warmer. Together with the musk, it is super smooth and very appealing. Along with those two notes, I get the remnants of pepper and the wood accord, which it’s pretty tough to pick out just the cypress anymore.

The way things come together it does create a sweetish-powdery kind of aroma. Not like baby powder, but some people might not like the tonka bean note in this.

After coming back to this one during this past year, this reminds me of Luna Rossa Sport, in the dry down. Not the same, but that tonka bean is just so prominent.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, Eau Extreme starts out fairly strong on my skin, but not a complete beast. It actually will be pretty moderate throughout the wear, but an improvement on Allure Sport, especially compared to the newer batches.

Solid. Though, I still wish it was cranked up a bit more with its projection abilities.

On my skin, I get right about 8 hours each time I’ve worn it. Amazing? No, but very good. Again, a little more ‘extremeness’ would’ve been nice, but I can’t complain too much. Those last few hours are pretty light, which is probably one of the downsides here.

Seasonally, Eau Extreme can work pretty much whenever. I would prefer it in warmer weather and not the winter, but it’s not bad there. It is a ‘cold’ sort of scent, so, I’d rather go with something thicker and warmer in icy conditions.

To me, it’s best in the moderate range of temperatures from slightly chilly to a bit warm. At the far ends of the scale, it’s not as good.

Aside from that, Allure Sport Eau Extreme is very versatile. It can be worn by any age range, in a variety of situations. Sort of a jack of all trades and one that most guys could own as their only bottle of fragrance. It’s not really a formal fragrance, but not terrible there either.

The sportiness is there. Others in the category, seem to go a lot more dynamic or even skew the line between being an aquatic. Allure Sport Eau Extreme brings you a refined and energetic aromatic freshness.

It’s also got an attractive and mass appealing smell. Women like this and it does get complements. Maybe not a night club monster, though, it fits into the nightlife fine…just less ‘in your face’ about it.

Overall Impressions of Eau Extreme

Overall, do I like Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme? Yes! I’m so glad I came back to this one. The long time away from it, really made me appreciate what it is. I’ve found that I like the original Allure Homme less, Allure Sport about the same, and Eau Extreme more so.

The opening freshness gives you a nice change of pace from Sport. The mint, pepper, and cypress is great. The mandarin is less intense, but adds a brightness to the cold feeling of the composition. Then, the tonka bean, musky/woody finish is super smooth and attractive, if also being a bit fuzzy/powdery.

This is an easy to wear, all around versatile sort of scent. The sillage isn’t amazing and it’s not really what I’d term extreme, but the performance is still pretty darn good. I think complaints on this front are overblown. That 6-8 hour range of the wear, isn’t strong, but it is still pretty well detectable.

Eau Extreme is one of the better Chanel fragrances for men and very useful in any guy’s collection. Very mainstream entry from their collection and easy to wear.

Again, some people are just not going to like the tonka bean note in Eau Extreme. As such, one of the Bleu de Chanel’s might be the better starter cologne from the Chanel line.

Kouros Fraicheur by YSL

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After receiving my bottle of YSL Haute Concentration, I decided to buy another vintage Saint Laurent fragrance. This time I grabbed a bottle of 1993’s Kouros Fraicheur, a flanker to the original released in 1981. I was intrigued to get the original Kouros experience, blended into a lighter and more wearable version. Is it actually any good, though?

What does Kouros Fraicheur Smell Like?

Notes include: clove, pineapple, bergamot, ginger, orange blossom, patchouli, vetiver, amber, honey, oakmoss, incense, coriander, vanilla, tonka bean

My Full Review

The opening is full of that familiar spiciness and animalic quality found in the classic Kouros. Civet is toned down, but it is definitely there, adding an intense musk to the top of this scent.

Yet, I think they used aldehydes to a greater extent here, like I get with the last batch of Kouros I reviewed. A warm spice blended with that cold fresh airy blast.

But, the main difference with Fraicheur is the inclusion of lighter notes up top like pineapple and bergamot. This brightens up the composition with less of a massive pungent heaviness, that the 80s bottles of Kouros had.

When compared to the modern Kouros, I think this one is actually the more potent of the two, even though this was the ‘lighter’ version of the original 30 years ago.

Like Kouros, I get a good deal of coriander in the spice profile. Maybe some ginger. Most of it is going to be a mix of those spices, musk, patchouli, and what smells like neroli (not just the orange blossom alone).

Once we’re past that initial heavy mix of many different notes, things start to shift to an earthier blend. Some smokiness from incense, lots of vetiver, patchouli, and a bit of amber. This earthy smokiness is pretty well-blended with the floral notes (perhaps honey, too?) and the remaining pineapple/citrus.

I think this phase of the wear is great. The civet/aldehydes have take a back seat to these earthier notes and you start to get an unobstructed smell of the floral notes, also. It’s a mix of the cleaner and dirtier notes, but gradually becoming calmer.

At times, I really pick up on a powdery or creamier scent in this. It’s not distinct enough to be just one note, but the way everything starts combining.

While Kouros ends as a musky/floral/herbal fragrance, Fraicheur dries down woody/floral/sweet. There are hints of vanilla coming through and enough of the top pineapple influence to be noticeable if you press your nose.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this one will leave a trail and fill a room, especially in that first hour of wear. It reaches much further than the Kouros sample I reviewed a few months ago. Fraicheur doesn’t require a ton of sprays to be effective.

That being said, past the first hour, and this cologne calms down a lot. Still very noticeable, but it doesn’t radiate quite like it does when it’s in full civet, aldehydes, pineapple, and spices mode.

The longevity is also great. It seems to stick around for about 9 hours on my skin. Remember, this is a ‘freshie’ EDT, and it’s putting out this kind of power. Most vintage colognes were just built different.

Seasonally, this is actually really nice in (near) springtime and could work in summer too. Fraicheur wouldn’t feel too out of place anytime of year. But, I think it’s best in mild temperatures and above.

Fraicheur still comes across as a vintage scent. Very different from just about anything that’s come out in the past decade-plus. It will probably appeal much more to older guys or those who appreciate the classic stuff.

I think that this is an approachable way to wear the vintage Kouros. It’s not overwhelming and the animalic facets aren’t the main event here. Still, it’s a classic chypre style, that you may have to grow to love.

Overall Impressions of Kouros Fraicheur

Overall, do I like Fraicheur? Yes, I actually prefer it to Kouros itself, especially in its modern incarnation. This 1993 version has a better strength and heavier reach than the newer bottles of Kouros, while having a lighter and more appealing scent.

You can absolutely still tell that this is very much a Kouros derivative. As such, if you don’t like Kouros, I doubt that you’ll enjoy Fraicheur. I like it somewhat more, but it’s still never going to rate as a personal favorite.

That initial spray is jam packed with things going on. I think it’s nice enough at that stage. I like the pineapple and citrus editions, but I think that Kouros Fraicheur really comes into its own once you get to the earthier and floral parts of the cologne.

All in all, I think this is a great release by Yves Saint Laurent. Obviously, it’s discontinued nowadays, and can be pricey to track down. I paid about $95 for a 1.11 ounce (30 mL) bottle, which isn’t too bad. But, this is mostly going to appeal to collectors.

4 Fragrances Similar to Wanted by Night

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Wanted by Night is one of the most popular fragrances that has emerged from the Wanted line by Azzaro. I wasn’t a big fan of the original Wanted, but this came along and was something that I did enjoy wearing. Now, there aren’t any fragrances that I’ve found with the same exact smell, but I figured I’d create an ongoing list of colognes with the same sort of style. Similar scents that you can enjoy in lieu of a bottle of Wanted by Night.

What Fragrances Smell Similar to Wanted by Night?

Ultra Male by Gaultier– Since I first tried out Wanted by Night, I noticed the similarities between it and my bottle of Ultra Male. Not a one to one exact match, but they do have a ton of overlapping notes.

Lavender, lemon, vanilla, cedar, patchouli, and cinnamon. Those are the commonalities between these fragrances, noticeably the spiciness of each of them. However, Ultra Male has a strong use of pear and mint, which is distinct and separate from Wanted by Night.

Night is darker and has a tobacco note. Ultra Male goes in a sweeter/spicier direction. The weighting of notes is also different, but the style is similar enough to warrant a spot on the list.

Night Vision EDP– Night Vision EDP is another mass appealing option, with a pretty similar style. The lemon essence up top with spices, takes a page out of the Wanted playbook. But, this one is a colder and fresher use of spiciness.

Red and black pepper up top, with sage, greenish fir, and some resinous undertones (the same benzoin note as Night). A bit of sweetness here and the wood notes are amplified versus what you get with Azzaro.

Again, none of these are going to be the same as Wanted by Night. Night Vision EDP does provide a great spice blend that is clean and inhabits the same area of the map as does our target. Night Vision EDP review

The Most Wanted Parfum– Yes, one should definitely look into the next iterations of the Wanted series, if you enjoy Night. Both The Most Wanted and Most Wanted Parfum are better, in my opinion.

The Most Wanted Parfum might be the better of the two to go with, if you want a similar spicy burst to Night. Here, you get a fantastic and fiery red ginger note instead of the cinnamon. Really, it’s great. The ginger is hot and fresh and smells roasted.

The dry down uses the sweeter toffee note, growing vanilla strength, and some light woods in the background. It does become its own thing, but that start always reminds me of Wanted by Night.

most wanted parfum review

 

 

The Scent Intense– Hugo Boss’ The Scent line has a whole host of options built around the same sort of theme. The Scent Intense is the best option of the group is you want something closer in style to Wanted by Night.

Cardamom and ginger up top give this one a spicy and less fruity entry into the series versus the original. The maninka fruit note is still there, but the sweetness and fruitiness isn’t on the same level.

The next phase is less at all like Wanted by Night and really does its own thing. You get lavender, leather, and vanilla through the middle. The leather, vanilla, and maninka at the end.

I do with the spicier ginger and cardamom opening lasted deeper into the wear. But, if you’re a fan of Wanted by Night, there’s a good chance you’ll like this one as well. The Scent Intense review

Acqua di Gio Profumo by Giorgio Armani

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So, I recently got a sample of Acqua di Gio Profumo to go along with the Armani Code Profumo vial that I really enjoyed. This is an updated and slightly altered flanker to the original and highly popular, ADG. How does this one stack up to its predecessor? Does it improve on the past or not live up to the hype?

In this post, I want to take a closer look at the Profumo version, see how it smells, how it performs, and whether or not it is worth a buy. Note: This is a continuing review, I’ve been updating since 2016.

What does Acqua di Gio Profumo Smell Like?

acqua di gio profumo

Notes include: bergamot, sage, patchouli, incense, geranium, rosemary, and marine notes

Click here to try: Giorgio Armani Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio Profumo 75ml (2.5oz) Parfum Vapo., 2.5 Fluid Ounce

My Full Review

Before we get into my own review, let’s see how Armani describes it: Acqua Di Giò Profumo is a sophisticated fragrance born from volcanic rock and deep ocean waters. Deeply sophisticated and intensely masculine, Acqua di Giò Profumo evokes the depth and intensity of the Mediterranean Sea.

Wow, Armani has been crushing it with these Profumo releases, at least the two I’ve tried so far. Acqua di Gio Profumo is very closely related to the original release, yet, feels somewhat more mature and sensual. This fragrance is dominated by the salty marine notes and bergamot, which gives it a wholly summery aura to it.

Think deep ocean waters, dark and mysterious. The incense and other more earthy notes adds a smokey/spicy touch, which is quite masculine. Now, this isn’t completely different from the original Acqua di Gio, just more ‘grown up’ and I think it’s even more interesting than the previous incarnation.

AdG Profumo opens up with the bright and somewhat sharp bergamot note, a nice spicy sage, and the marine notes which again, feel darker than in the original Acqua di Gio. I really like the refreshing aquatic summertime aroma of the top notes and how it starts strong, on my skin.

The juiciness of the bergamot is easy to overlook, but it really helps to capture the same sort of citrus feel as the original.

The sage and incense are really evident early on, along with the signature sea notes of the AdG lineup. 

The next layer comes from the same rosemary note from the original, plus, the incense which provides that smoky note, playing off of the marine accord. The incense comes up from the base notes earlier on than I get with the patchouli, which plays a bigger role in the dry down.

Profumo is a salty citrus with rosemary and the lovely Oriental quality of the incense note. It doesn’t have the same woody base as the original, and instead, substitutes patchouli and geranium.

During the dry down, it takes on more of a warm and slightly metallic air. When blended with the bergamot, the bit of metallic sensation from the geranium, reminds me somewhat of Hugo Red. Different scents, but have some commonalities. Way less citrus in the Armani. 

Ultimately what I get from Acqua di Gio Profumo is an oceanic bergamot with herbal spices, smokey elements, and an altering between warmth/aquatic aromas. It took me some time to truly appreciate this one, but once I was done with my sample sprayer, I was fully into wearing this stuff.

The sage and rosemary definitely tone down as you move along. It stays fairly marine with its aroma, but with more warmth and smoothness. 

Sillage

Projection wise, it doesn’t falter. Profumo isn’t a heavy type of scent but you’ll know it’s there. It starts out strong on my skin for about an hour and then becomes much more moderate. It’ll radiate during the dry down, about 3-5 feet, but still not heavy.

Coming back to this fragrance, a few years later, and that initial sillage is quite good. I can spray AdG Profumo on a shirt and pick up the scent from across the room.

How Long does it Last?

Also, it has really good longevity and will last throughout the day. On my skin, I’ve been able to get 8+ hours consistently, and longer on some occasions. It maxed out just under 10 hours.

With more testing, I have found Acqua di Gio Profumo, usually settles in the 9-ish hour range. Occasionally, I can squeak out some more time, but it has to be the right climate mix. 

Update: My latest bottle doesn’t seem to hit these same total number of hours. Now, it’s more like 6.5-7 hours of wear. Don’t know if that’s everyone’s experience, but my initial testing of this had a longer impact. Still, very useful and it hasn’t stopped my from enjoying my bottle.

 

 

Versatility and When to Wear

To me, this is mainly a summer scent, as it will stand up and perform very well in the heat. However, it can honestly be used in the winter without any problem, which is a good bit of versatility.

It does have that oceanic aroma, which can be somewhat out of place. However, Profumo is pretty signature scent worthy and isn’t overly weird when it gets colder. Though, I wore it today when it was chilly out, and still enjoyed it.

Update: I usually wear this in spring and summertime. But, I do come back to it during the colder months and it’s still likeable in that environment. The smokiness and patchouli helps a lot with that.

Profumo is more mature than the original Acqua di Gio, so, if that one was more suited for teens through college age…this is for mid-20s and up.

That’s of course, not a hard rule or anything, but the vibe this one puts out. Good for casual occasions or during the night life. You could totally wear this to a bar or club, and I have gotten complements from women, while wearing this, just from the sample sprayer.

Can this one be an office scent? Yes, it can fit in nicely, if not over-sprayed. 

I was wearing this one around during the summer, fairly often. To me, that’s still when AdG Profumo is at its absolute peak. The citrus and spice, just sits beautifully in that climate. This or Profondo are well worth your consideration, if you live in a sub-tropical or tropical area. 

Update: Having worn this one a lot, Profumo has gotten me a ton of complements over the years. Maybe that’s just a factor of having worn it many times, but I think it’s sustained popularity over time speaks to its attractiveness. It’s not for everyone, but this manages to be unique, stay with the AdG DNA, and appeal to the masses simultaneously.

Overall Impression of AdG Profumo

Overall, is is worth a buy? Yes, if you liked the original Acqua di Gio and want a new bottle this is a great scent. However, there is the matter of price, as you can get the original for cheaper, usually. Profumo isn’t so much better that you should fork out more money, unless you want to of course.

Updated note: newer bottles of the original, don’t seem to have the same staying power. Now, you can find bottles of Profumo, for below retail price. Also, along with Profondo, you can also try out the EDP version. I like that in the summer, it’s just not as good overall as Profumo. This one still ranks as my favorite of the line.

Between the two? I do like wearing this version much more personally, but some might not enjoy, the incense addition. AdG Profumo is a very good release though and a summery wear that hits the mark.

Since I first began this review years ago, I have had a few full bottles, including currently. I’m a pretty big Acqua di Gio fan and this has been my favorite. Even though, I still like wearing the others. 

I enjoy the freshness, spicy elements, the dark ocean vibe, and metallic hints. Profumo is a wonderful blend of the aromatic, aquatic, and fresh.