Fragrances

Armaf Club de Nuit Intense vs. Explorer

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Club de Nuit Intense and Montblanc’s Explorer are both often touted as cheaper alternatives to Creed’s Aventus. But, when it comes down to it, which of these colognes is actually the better buy? Which one lasts longer? Has the better sillage?

Tale of the Tape: Montblanc Explorer vs. Club de Nuit Intense

Explorer

Notes include: sage, bergamot, pink pepper, cocoa, vetiver, ambroxan, leather

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Explorer Eau de Parfum, 3.3 fl. oz.

Read my full review: Montblanc Explorer

Club de Nuit EDP

Notes include: lemon, apple, blackcurrant, birch, jasmine, rose, vanilla, musk, ambergris, patchouli

Click here to try: Club de Nuit Men EDP

Opening

Explorer opens up with a pretty sharp bergamot note. What I like about it, is the lack of pineapple that was always bothersome to me with Aventus. The bergamot gives you a bright quality, joined by sage, and a warm/spicy pink pepper.

Then, a second wave comes consisting of leather, woods, and ambroxan.

Club de Nuit EDP smells a lot like Aventus. It’s fruity, less smoky, and the birch comes across as more of a dry wood, without the same amount of leathery facets it will develop later.

The EDP comes across as being a bit smoother than the EDT version. Less of the lemon note, but with a more pronounced apple, which I enjoy.  Also, the birch here is smokier early on and does give it that leathery aroma to a greater extent.

Which is better in the opening? I actually like what Explorer brings to the table early on. I also like how it shifts and includes more of the leather note.

Edge: Explorer

Projection

Both of these start out with a very good ability to project off of the skin. To me, Club de Nuit Intense has a higher peak, and stays stronger throughout the wear.

Explorer isn’t weak, but it does moderate faster and stay closer to the skin for the duration of the wear. It’s not a huge difference between these scents, but the Armaf has a pretty clear edge.

Edge: Club

Longevity

Club de Nuit Intense EDP will go for 7-9 hours, on my skin. It’s solid, not a complete all-star here, but really not too much to complain about.

Explorer, on the other hand, gets 6-8 hours of wear. Usually, it’ll be 7 and occasionally squeeze out that extra hour.

So, it’s within most of the range of the Armaf, but that one can go into an extra gear.

Edge: Club

Versatility

There isn’t too much difference here, as they overlap a lot as fragrances. I’m not really going to give an edge here, maybe the Montblanc feels a bit more well put together, but the ingredients aren’t the same level of quality as the Creed original.

Either is fine in almost any other scenario, except for the days where it’s hot outside.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Overall, which scent is better? Personally, I’d rather go with Explorer, unless I just wanted a cheaper alternative to Aventus with a similar aroma. Sure, Explorer covers much of the same ground, but it is distinct enough to not be confused as the same.

The opening is smoother and fresher with Explorer. I like the added cacao note and how it plays off of the leather, sort of like the old Dior Homme. It finishes with a simple citrus, pepper, and woods.

With Club de Nuit, you basically just get a re-hash of Aventus, not as much depth or quality. If you want that or price is your only concern, you should go with the Armaf.

If you want a versatile and better smelling cologne, I think the Montblanc is simply better between these two.

Winner: Explorer

Phantom vs. 1 Million Comparison

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1 Million is a fragrance which has been a best seller for a long time for Paco Rabanne. One of the brand’s latest releases, has also become very popular, it’s called Phantom.

1 Million is a scent that I’ve very familiar with and I’ve tested out and reviewed Phantom EDP, too.

Which cologne is better? Lasts longer? Is the one to buy?

Tale of the Tape: Phantom vs. 1 Million

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

Phantom

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

Click here to try: Phantom by Paco Rabanne

Read my review: Phantom

phantom cologne review

Opening

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.

The original 1 Million has this grape bubblegum-like opening that has become pretty infamous. This candy scented start is one reason I think this fragrance has pushed some people away from wearing it. Personally, I think that it works just fine and actually enjoy it.

1 Million opens up with leather, citrus, and rose. Together, they create that bubblegum sort of smell. It’s actually a really smooth leather, juicy orange and grapefruit. This is surrounded by a warm and bold amber, with hints of cooling mint.

Overall, which is better? The initial somewhat tropical and juicy aroma of Phantom is enjoyable enough, but after that I’m not too into the earthy lavender scent.

I prefer 1 Million,  it’s still bold and has more depth and a better overall scent, here at the start.

Edge: 1 Million

Projection

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.

1 Million is a fragrance which was always massive. But, the last batch I had from 2020, seems to have lost some of that power. It was still around 85% of what it once was, just not nearly the same extent.

However, it still outdoes anything that Phantom can conjure up.

Edge:1 Million

Longevity

With Phantom, I was really only able to get 6 or 7 hours of wear out of it on skin. That’s not bad, maybe a tad above average. It’d be useful for most purposes.

1 Million nowadays, reaches around 8. Sometimes, it might be 7, but my last batch was getting to 8 pretty consistently.

The older batches would hit double digits for me, easily. Those days are gone, but it is still a bit better than Phantom. It just doesn’t have that same overwhelming edge in the performance categories, like it used to.

Edge: 1 Million

Versatility

Phantom works at its best in the chilly weather of autumn and winter. But, it does have the ability to go deeper into the springtime than does 1 Million.

1 Million is pretty limited to colder or moderate temperatures, more casual situations, and a younger audience in general.

I think Phantom has a bit of an edge here. It is better in the warmer climate and as a daily wear too. Both are for younger guys, but Phantom has a tad better use case overall.

Edge: Phantom

Overall Scent

Overall, which one of these do I prefer?

Phantom is kind of a weird cologne. It’s got so much that is recognizable, but it doesn’t smell exactly like any scent in particular. The opening that is citrusy and apple is decent. I like the semi-tropical aroma that it puts out, when combining with the vanilla and lavender note.

After that, it’s not nearly as enjoyable. It becomes earthier with the lavender and a faint smokiness. But, it will shift to being lavender and vanilla dominate with a dry/grassy vetiver and the fruit notes kind of stage a comeback. Just, at a not to the same strength.

1 Million just smells better to me. Also, performs better. It’s sweet, spicy, warm, and still has a boldness to it, even if it has lost a step over time.

Phantom EDP has been followed by a few more releases thus far in the series. I think that Phantom Parfum is somewhat better than the original, but I still would prefer wearing 1 Million EDT to that.

1 Million is a more pleasant experience and gives me higher highs and more consistency. I’m picking it over Phantom every time.

Winner: 1 Million

Givenchy Gentleman Reserve Privee vs. Dior Homme Intense

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Two iris fragrances for men, are among the two most popular cologne options for guys: Dior Homme Intense and Gentleman Reserve Privee by Givenchy. Add to that, they each have a dark warmth about them, and plenty of shared notes. The question is, which smells better? Which one lasts longer? Which is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Dior Intense vs. Gentleman Reserve Privee

Dior Homme Intense

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

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

Read my review: Dior Homme Intense

Gentleman Reserve Privee

Notes include: bergamot, iris, benzoin, whiskey absolute, chestnut, cedar, vetiver and patchouli

Click here to try: Reserve Privee at Macy’s

Read my review: Reserve Privee

Opening

Homme Intense starts with a mix of lavender, cedar, and vetiver. It’s a smooth woody scent that pairs with the ambrette to create a warmer woods feeling. The iris emerges on my skin, after a minute or so delivering the signature floral note of each scent.

The ambrette creates a cacao-like aroma, that was found in the original Dior Homme. Sweet, warm, and just fantastic.

The opening of Gentleman Reserve Privee shares a lot with the two Dior fragrances, along with, Uomo by Valentino.

Bergamot and chestnut come through early to give it a fresh and nutty aroma. It actually starts to settle into more of a cacao smell, but it is pure chestnut at the beginning. The iris of course, is there too.

It really does favor smelling like Dior Homme Intense, at this stage. But, the main highlight is the whiskey note. Warm, dark, and very appealing.

Which is better? For me, the opening hour is a pretty close call. They are very similar and are both excellent openers. I do think that I still prefer Dior Intense a bit more than this newer Givenchy release.

Dior Intense is one of my favorite openers of all-time, I don’t think Reserve does anything to completely surpass it.

Edge: Dior Intense

Projection

Dior Intense has a nice and strong first few hours, that will for sure leave a scent trail behind. Not a powerhouse, but it’s always been well above average on me. Even if I couldn’t smell it at a particular moment, others have commented on it.

Reserve Privee doesn’t reach that same peak in the beginning. Plus, it falls off into something that is on the lighter side of moderate. Not completely weak, just not up to the Dior level.

Edge: Intense

Longevity

With this one, Dior Intense usually gives me in the 9-11 hour range of wear. I think I get a bit better performance out of this one, than most people for whatever reason.

The Givenchy lasted 8-9 hours on skin. So, it’s upper end can match what Dior does sometimes, but it doesn’t have that extra gear.

Again, for some people, this might actually be equal. For me, it’s Dior.

Edge: Intense

Versatility

These two inhabit the same sphere and share so many overlaps, there’s no real distinction here.

Both are autumn and wintertime wears. Both tend towards being nightlife wears, with mass appeal and sexiness. But, also there’s not problem wearing it in the daytime usually. Classy, well put together, etc.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these fragrances do I enjoy more? It’s the Dior.

Reserve Privee was a scent that I was pretty excited to try out, but ultimately a bit underwhelmed by. Now, I do think that opening is awesome and trying it again and again, it still captures my attention.

But, after that, this one just doesn’t hold up in the same way. Nor does it ever hit the same peak as Dior Intense. The whiskey note doesn’t stick around long enough, the nuttiness of chestnut becomes more of a dry chocolate (which is nice), but even that isn’t an extended stay.

Mostly, it’s the iris, amber, and wood. Not a bad smell, but just kind of boring and doesn’t bring the same punch as the Dior. The Givenchy isn’t a bad cologne, it’s just never as good, and tries to tread over much of the same ground.

Winner: Dior Intense

4 Fragrances that Smell Similar to Afternoon Swim

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Louis Vuitton’s Afternoon Swim is one of their best fragrances and a simple yet potent fragrance that is amazing in the summer months. It’s also one with a hefty price tag. But, if you enjoy the smell, here is my running list of perfumes that can deliver a closely related experience

What Perfumes Smell Similar to Afternoon Swim?

Swimming Scent

Gone Swimming– If you’re looking for a near perfect match, Gone Swimming by the Dua Brand is the one that you will probably want to go with.

Personally, I went with their inspired blend of the Louis Vuitton and Creed’s Virgin Island Water, called Gone Swimming in Caribbean Waters.  The added coconut and rum notes are really great and create a beachy fragrance.

However, the original Gone Swimming formula has the citrus notes that make the LV perfume great, done right. The price is also currently $60 for the full bottle, with a smaller size now available too. Performance is actually better than the Vuitton original, also.

Similar Citrus, Designer Style

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Forever for Men by Dolce & Gabbana Eau De Parfum,3.3 Fl Oz– Whereas Afternoon Swim goes with the orange and bergamot combination, Light Blue Forever is much more focused on the grapefruit note. Very realistic grapefruit, with a side of bergamot.

Instead of the amber, this one goes more greenish/ozonic with how it comes across. Violet leaf, a dry vetiver, and fresh musk round things out and have a greater influence later on in the wear.

Forever is a fresher cologne than Afternoon, but doesn’t have the same level of dynamic mix from the citrus notes. Really wonderful grapefruit, though. Light Blue Forever Review

A Tygar in Your Tank

Tygar by Bvlgari– By no means is this a cheapie. Tygar is right up there in price, if not more expensive than a bottle of the Louis Vuitton. It just provides you another great luxury summer citrus, with a simple formula.

It sort of splits the difference between Afternoon Swim and L’Immensite by LV. L’Immensite is spicier and might have a tad more amber. This one goes with a heavy use of grapefruit (feels like some orange is there too), as the citrus. With amber and wood to round things out.

A fresher citrus, but has enough in common with Swim, that you’d probably enjoy wearing this one too. Also, Dua Brand has a blend of their version of Tygar and Afternoon Swim available.

Another Cheaper Option

Turathi Blue by Afnan– Ok, this one is in the same vein as Tygar and Afternoon Swim, with some similarities to Bleu de Chanel too. Again, if you want a closer alternative, go with the Dua.

Turathi gives you it’s own blend of citrus, not as grapefruit dominant as Tygar, but  for sure leans that way. There’s some other stuff here, maybe bergamot? The opening is fairly sharp, but this one settles nicely.

It’s got some fresh musk, the amber, and a general woodiness. I don’t think the amber is quite as heavy, as the other scents. For the $40 or thereabouts, this is a nice and easy to wear citrus, that actually lasts a long time.

Gone Swimming in Caribbean Waters by Dua Brand

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Gone Swimming in Caribbean Waters was a Dua Brand scent that I was really excited to get a hold of. I bought it earlier in the year and wore it during the summer, completely forgetting to do a full review for the site. How does this one smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Gone Swimming in Caribbean Waters Smell Like?

Notes include: Bergamot, Lime, Mandarin Orange, Coconut, Sugar Cane, Ambergris, White Rum, and Sicilian Orange

Click here to try: Gone Swimming in Caribbean Waters

My Full Review

Gone Swimming in Caribbean Waters is a blend of Dua’s inspired versions of Louis Vuitton’s Afternoon Swim and Virgin Island Water by Creed. So, how good this one will be really came down to how the did the blend exactly.

The opening here is a citrus explosion with a very tropical vibe. Orange, lime, and coconut truly stand out. Early on, this leans heavily towards the Louis Vuitton scent, much of what you get from the Creed is restricted to the rum, coconut, and ambergris.

It’s got that pina colada vibe, sugary highlights, but I love that they favored Afternoon Swim in use of its fruits. I’m not a huge fan of VIW, but Dua captured the best of that fragrance, and added it to the Louis scent (which I really liked).

As we dry down, the fruit notes get less pronounced. Some of them are still around for the duration, but it becomes more about the coconut and amber here. Fresh, boozy, and has somewhat of a lotion vibe…just not overwhelmingly so.

This is a pretty simple fragrance, not too much development.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Gone Swimming in Caribbean Waters starts off strong. Especially for a summertime casual scent, this one really jumps off of my skin. For the first hour or two, you will get really good sillage, leaving a trail behind you.

Then, it is much more moderate, but still highly noticeable.

The longevity here is great. For me, it easily sticks around for 10 hours, even during the height of summer. Now, it obviously doesn’t have the same sillage throughout, but it does keep chugging along. I can even get it above 12 hours.

Seasonally, obviously summertime. Spring, if it is warm out. This stuff shines in the hot weather and is great to wear along the beach or wherever.

This is a true unisex fragrance. A lot of tropical fruit scents can get way too girly, but this is true to its inspirations and holds that line perfectly. Anyone can wear this, no problem.

But, it’s not the most versatile wear. This is a casual scent. Limited to the warmer parts of the year. Favors the daytime, but I could easily wear this to a beachside bar at night, while on vacation. Really, that’s what this perfume is, a lovely vacation fragrance.

Or, if you happen to live in a tropical region, and like to be outside a lot.

Overall Impressions of Gone Swimming in Caribbean Waters

Overall, do I like this fragrance? Absolutely. This is a fantastic blend, that I wore throughout the summertime, and will continue to make my way through the entire bottle.

It is an accurate representation of the great fruity blend of Afternoon Swim and the boozy coconut found in VIW. I’ve never been a massive fan of the Creed scent, but when paired with a clone of the Louis Vuitton fragrance, it becomes great.

But, beyond just being a great inspiration of each of those scents, the performance is way better and at a steep discount to either of the originals which inspired it.

If you like either of those fragrances, this is one to try. Or if you want a tropical beach fragrance, that is safe for men or women, this is totally one to try out.