Men’s Fashion

Dior Sauvage Parfum vs. EDT Comparison

by

2019 has brought the release of a new Sauvage flanker, with it. This time it is called Sauvage Parfum (not to confuse with the EDP version), but how does it stack up when compared to the original and highly popular Sauvage EDT?

In this post, I want to break them each down and declare an ultimate winner, between them. Which smells better? Which lasts longer? Which is the better buy? I have worn and reviewed each and am ready to share my thoughts.

Sauvage EDT or Parfum?

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

Sauvage Parfum

Notes include: mandarin, bergamot, cedar, sandalwood, vanilla, tonka bean, ambroxan

Click here to try: Sauvage Parfum

Read my review: Dior Sauvage Parfum Review

Opening

The EDT starts off with a sharp and spicy blend of bergamot and Sichuan pepper. It hits boldly and with a loud quality, but settles thereafter, with a big dose of ambroxan and lavender.

I’ve really never enjoyed the opening of Sauvage EDT, all that much. It comes across as somewhat too harsh to my nose. It settles down and smells better, as it moves along.

Sauvage Parfum begins with that same bergamot note, but paired with mandarin orange, also. It’s juicy, not as sharp, and the mandarin outlasts the bergamot, to my nose. The ambroxan is toned down and the spicy pepper notes aren’t present.

Too much ambroxan can become sickening to smell. That seems especially true now, as so many men’s colognes have added that note, in order to emulate the success of Sauvage. Parfum’s restrained use of it, along with the citrus notes, really help set it apart.

Which is better? I prefer how Parfum begins. It’s much smoother and doesn’t have the big spiciness that the original EDT can develop. For me, Parfum is a much more pleasant experience.

Edge: Parfum

Projection

I’d say that they both start off strong. The EDT can feel as if, it is bolder, but it doesn’t have the same sillage staying power. I’d say that Parfum is much more consistent overall.

Parfum may not be stronger with its sillage, but it’s an equal and is steady. I’ll get a similar experience to the EDT’s opening, hours into the wear. The original Sauvage did have really good power for an eau de toilette, so, the power has never been an issue with this line.

Edge: Parfum

Longevity

A parfum version of a scent is going to have a higher concentration, so it should last longer on the skin. However, Parfum’s projection strength wasn’t greatly better, so what’s the longevity like?

Sauvage EDT has always gotten me 6-9 hours worth of wear, which is good. It’s a wide range for me, depending on the climate and what I’m doing.

However, Parfum, lasts for over 10 hours, on the skin. Neither one is a slouch, but Parfum is just better, in this regard. It was also more consistent in testing than EDT.

The baseline of Sauvage Parfum is better for me, than the best case that I’ve gotten, when I’ve used the EDT.

Edge: Parfum

Versatility

Here is where they are pretty evenly matched. Sauvage EDT is better in the heat, but isn’t spectacular in that regard, itself. Parfum is more mature and can be worn in an office-like environment better. Both can easily be worn as a nighttime cologne and are attractive.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Sauvage EDT was never my favorite fragrance, but I do like it well enough. The top can be a bit bothersome to me, but I like the lavender and ambroxan, in the dry down. The scent holds up well and does a good job at performing.

However, I prefer the newer Parfum version to the EDT. It’s smoother, darker, and more refined. It has a dryness, a sweetness, and isn’t an ambroxan bomb. The Parfum is more closely related to the EDP version, than it is the EDT. Actually, Elixir and the EDP, are the best of them.

It ends up being more woody and vanilla, but I really appreciate the use of the citrus notes in Parfum. The mandarin orange is a nice touch, that helps to set it apart somewhat from the others in the series.

Parfum does a great job performance wise, makes the Sauvage DNA more interesting, and the warm creamy aroma is super nice to smell on the skin. For me, it’s not really a close call. I’d rather wear Sauvage Parfum versus the EDT.

You can usually find the EDT for the cheapest, out of the Sauvage fragrances. So, if price is an issue, it might make more sense for you to go with that one.  On smell alone? Parfum.

Winner: Parfum

1 Million Prive vs 1 Million Lucky Comparison

by

For today’s cologne comparison, I’m going to do two more from the Paco Rabanne 1 Million line of scents: Prive vs. Lucky. Which of these flanker fragrances smells best? Which has the better performance and versatility? Ultimately, which is the better purchase when looking for a 1 Million cologne?

Tale of the Tape: Lucky vs. Prive

1 Million Lucky

Notes include: hazelnut, cedar, green plum, patchouli, grapefruit, amber, and more

Click here to try: 1 Million Lucky by Paco Rabanne Eau de Toilette Spray 100ml

Read my original review: 1 Million Lucky

1 Million Prive

Notes include: tonka bean, apple, cinnamon, myrrh, mandarin orange, tobacco

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

Read my original review: 1 Million Prive Cologne Review

Opening

1 Million Prive opens darker with a more emergent cinnamon note that blends with a crisp and sweet apple note. It’s warm and slightly spicy but still retains an overall sweet profile. Prive has a lot of similar elements with the original 1 Million and Armani Code Profumo, which is another great fragrance.

There is another layer to Prive with mandarin, tonka bean, and tobacco which adds depth and smoothness.

1 Million Lucky is closer to the original than is Prive. It has the same candy-like sweetness except you substitute in a plum note. It’s not exactly the same but this plum sits on top of wood and is soaked in amber.

Then, add a unique nutty profile with the addition of hazelnut. It’s got a great cedar note, which puts it above how the original 1 Million opens.

Between these two, I think Prive has the better opening. I like it’s dark cinnamon quality. Although, I don’t think it to be a massive advantage over Lucky.

Edge: Prive

Projection

The sillage between these two scents is close and neither beats the original. However, 1 Million Prive, just does a better job overall in terms of how potent of a cologne it is. Lucky can seem pretty intense, in the start, but its mostly due to the tart plum note blending with the sweetness.

Prive is actually stronger and projects itself better than Lucky. It’s just kind of an illusion of power at first for Lucky.

Edge: Prive

Longevity

On my skin, I usually get 6-8 hours from Lucky. Closer to six hours on average. 1 Million Prive gives me 9-10 and takes this category fairly easily. Lucky is the worst performing of all of the 1 Million fragrances, in terms of how long it lasts. Every other one has hit at least 9 hours for me.

Edge: Prive

Versatility

Both of these colognes have good versatility, as you can wear them both casually or during a night out. I will say that Prive is probably the ‘sexier’ of the two scents.

Prive is also more mature and better for older guys. Both of these do have a youthful vibe, Lucky does feel more like a teenage or college age scent.

While neither scent is built for hot weather, Lucky does hold up better in higher temperatures than does Prive. High heat, both will fall apart but Lucky hangs in longer.

Edge: Lucky (slightly)

Overall Scent

I’ve enjoyed wearing Lucky over the past week or so. I think it’s a nice addition from Paco Rabanne, but it doesn’t take things to a higher level. 1 Million Prive is still my favorite from that line of fragrances.

Lucky has a nice aroma, sweet, woody, warm, with nutty elements floating to the top. It’s a solid casual wear, but nothing that will really set one apart while wearing it. It has a tart and sweet opening, which I enjoy, but may turn some folks away. Plus, it is geared toward younger guys.

Prive is awesome. I like it better than the original 1 Million and it’s a fantastic cold weather scent. Yeah, it doesn’t have that year round versatility, but it’s a great cologne. It has a more mature and masculine vibe while retaining a warm sweetness that shares the spirit of the original.

Update: Prive has been discontinued and it’s already really difficult to find a bottle at a reasonable price. So, you’ll have to go with Lucky or one of the other 1 Million fragrances. Personally, if I had to buy one, it’d be the original. The Parfum is decent, but didn’t wow me.

Winner: Prive

11 Best Smelling Colognes for College Age Men

by

Going to your classes in college, you won’t necessarily see too many well-dressed and stylish people. Many times, in fact, there will be plenty of people rocking sweats and baseball caps.

If you’re one of those people who wants to buck that trend or you want to simply smell great at a house party, investing in the right cologne can go a long way to making sure you make a good impression.

Fragrances are designed to fit different lifestyles and personalities and a good college cologne should match with the circumstances you’ll find yourself in or what you own style is. What is the best cologne for college students?

Well, there isn’t one definite answer as it depends on your own tastes. However, with this post I want to present you with some great options that should have you covered no matter who you are or who you’re buying for.

What are the Best Smelling Scents for College Men?

Note: I’m not getting into the super inexpensive options in this post. Here is my list of cheaper buys for all age ranges.

Invictus Flanker

Invictus Legend–  The original Invictus is still a best seller. To me, that scent is okay, but if you want something similar but better…go with Legend. Intense is also an option, but that might be too boozy for most guys.

Legend is closer to Intense than the original but with a more aquatic and fruity profile. Thus, making it easier to wear on a day to day basis.

It starts off with those marine notes, amber, and grapefruit. An interesting addition to this version of Invictus, is a metallic note sort of like in Azzaro Chrome. You get the usual sweetness of Invictus and the bay leaf undertones.

Warm amber, slight spice, woodiness, and that metal note make up the base. Legend is a very powerful scent and can hit double digit hours of wear. Invictus Legend Full Review

New Take on an Old Classic

Acqua di Gio Profondo– The original AdG has been a staple for around 25 years or so. However, it is past its prime and doesn’t deliver the same quality (here are cheaper alternatives to the original).

The good news is that Armani, has put out two flanker versions of this scent that are much better than the original, in my opinion. Profondo and Profumo. I’m listing Profondo as the better option for college guys, as it has a brighter and bluer aquatic profile, and is a complement getter.

Profumo is great and one that I really enjoy wearing in summer. If you want a darker, deeper scent, with more intensity and incense smokiness…go with that. Profondo gives you citrus, aquatic freshness, with a woody and herbal base.

Simple and Versatile Prada

Luna Rossa by Prada–  Luna Rossa is a very simple fragrance, but also smells wonderful. It has spawned a number of flanker fragrances. I could also go with Sport, here. That one, doesn’t have as good of performance as it should, though.

This is a super fresh and clean sort of scent. Luna Rossa kicks off with citrus and spearmint, being the two main attractions. It is very upbeat and the mix is joined by lavender and sage, the latter giving it an extra kick.

This one settles down into a blend of lavender, mint, and some remaining citrus. A unique sort of smell, that keeps it simple, but excels at everything. Prada Luna Rossa Review

The Explorer

MONTBLANC Explorer Eau de Parfum, 3.3 fl. oz.– This Montblanc cologne has become a very popular alternative to those wanting a cheaper Aventus by Creed. There’s some similarities there, but Explorer isn’t entirely a complete match.

Explorer starts off with a very nice bergamot citrus that gets paired with the fresh spices, pink pepper and sage. Underneath that, sit cacao and leather. It will become bright, fresh, and very smooth to wear.

Explorer is very versatile and easy to wear. It doesn’t have monster sillage, but it does have a good ability to project itself. Plus, a 6-8 hour lifespan, on the skin. This is a good choice for an all-around crowd pleaser. Explorer Review

The Better Sauvage

Sauvage EDP by Dior– I know that it is still the best seller, but my opinion of the original Sauvage, has only declined with the hype. It was never very high to begin with. Nonetheless, I was really surprised by how good the eau de parfum version of Sauvage was. It blows away its predecessor.

From the opening spray, EDP is so much smoother and doesn’t have the same sharpness as the EDT. You get the ambroxan amped up, with the citrus and Sichuan pepper toned down. That, is no longer a heavy spice and is joined by anise and nutmeg, giving this version a better balance.

With the changes in the formula, the citrus is fresh and juicy, as it should be. The longevity here is amazing, and honestly, one of the best from the more popular designers. Sauvage eau de parfum is the best, from that line, with Parfum being second. (Update: Elixir is the best now, but quite pricy).  Sauvage EDP Full Review

Sweet Red Spice

Spicebomb Infrared EDT– This newer edition of Spicebomb is a great choice for men in their early 20s. It takes parts of the familiar Spicebomb DNA and infuses it with a blast of reddish notes. Red berry oil, cinnamon, and peppers.

The result is a sweet, warm, intense spice up top. Then, Infrared will become a fresher sort of spicy cologne, with tobacco, and that great fruitiness from the red berry notes.

One could go with the Night Vision series from this line, but Infrared is much more appealing and my opinion and delivers a good performance without being overwhelming. Spicebomb Infrared Review

Powdery Clean with Spice

Burberry Brit– Burberry Brit is a very smooth, green, powdery, and slightly spicy scent. It’s one of my favorite from Burberry, the other being London, but this one is a bit more versatile. If you want a woodsy/tobacco scent, go with London.

It opens up with a blend of ginger, nutmeg, and tonka bean. Underneath this, is a nice bit of citrus, that really only hangs around for the start. It has some sharpness in the beginning and more of an outdoorsy aroma.

Then, the wild roses kick in but they balance quite well with the ginger note and tonka bean. This combines to create the powdery finish. Solid performance. Burberry Brit Full Review

brit

Classic, Well-Loved, Affordable

Jean Paul Gaultier– Le Male by JPG has been a super popular fragrance for younger guys since the 1990s. I actually prefer the discontinued release, Ultra Male, to this. However, this one is much more suitable for daily wear outside of the nightlife. It doesn’t have the same level of power that it once did, but Le Male is still pretty good in terms of performance.

It opens up with vanilla, mint, and cinnamon. A sweet and spicy blend with a bit of citrus and plenty of intensity. The fragrance will settle down into something warmer, cleaner, with some underlying creaminess.

Vanilla, lavender, and mint will lead the way. Under that is woods, amber, and some smooth tonka bean. Le Male is super easy to wear and gives you a fresh option for daily wear.  My Review of Le Male

jean paul

Fresh, Herbal, Aquatic Polo

Polo Deep Blue- I like this newer release from the Polo lineup. I’ve never been a huge fan of Polo Blue, but this or the EDP are the best options. Deep Blue adds a very similar mango note to the opening, as found in Polo Black.

For a younger man, I’d go with Deep Blue or Polo Black. The mango here is paired initially, with what the brand calls ‘deep aquatic accord’, which provides a bit of a salty oceanic sort of aroma. It’s not a super heavy addition, but it is a great touch.

This is a fresh and moderately aquatic cologne. The second stage comes with the herbal and woody notes, mainly, sage and cypress. My only complaint, is that it finishes smelling like the other Polo Blue offerings, but with more ambroxan. It’s still good, but I like the first half best. Deep Blue Review

Bright, Clean, Attractive

Gucci Guilty Black– This is probably the best of the Gucci Guilty line of scents. I rank it slightly ahead of Guilty Intense. Black, is a very clean and well-balanced scent, that offers notes of coriander, lavender, and orange flower as the main attractions.

Up top, you get a bit of a citrus aroma from the neroli and a nice cedar wood in the base. However, it blends together and it can be difficult to pick out the individual notes, but the result is a very attractive and versatile cologne for guys.

Not a huge powerhouse, but Guilty Black has very good longevity and can be worn in a variety of situations. Plus, it is a rather unique scent that stands out from the crowd. Gucci Guilty Black Review

The Best and Most Wanted

Azzaro The Most Wanted Eau de Parfum Intense | Cologne for Men 1.7 fl oz– This is the most recent release from the Wanted line by Azzaro here in 2021…and it is absolutely the best one.

The warmth and slight spiciness of the cardamom notes comes through early. But, it also has a lemony sort of scent to it as well, giving a nod to the first edition of Wanted. It has a bit of fruitiness, but more of a fresh spice and great sweetness provided by caramel.

It’s a tug of war between sweet and spice and a balsamic finish. Really good performance with this one and a fragrance that is an awesome choice for this demographic. The Most Wanted Review

The Scent Private Accord by Hugo Boss

by

The Scent from Hugo Boss spun off a ton of flankers in a pretty short amount of time. Overall, the lineup was good, with some that were even better. Private Accord was brought out in 2018, to give a new interpretation of the maninka fruit-based The Scent DNA. What does this entry smell like? How long does it last? Is it even worth a try?

What does The Scent Private Accord Smell Like?

Notes include: ginger, maninka fruit, mocha, cocoa absolute, pepper, bergamot, patchouli, woods

Click here to try: BOSS The Scent Private Accord for Him, 3.3 Fl Oz 

My Full Review

Private Accord kicks things off with an immediate impact from the cacao note. It is very strong from the start and joined by the fresh spice of ginger. Ginger is one of my favorite spicy notes, so, I think the opening here is sort of awesome.

Underneath that is a further spiciness supplied by a dash of pepper. Along with, the usual fruitiness of this series, maninka fruit. However, in this one, you get some pineapple to go along with it.

I will say, that the maninka and fruitiness as a whole, is toned down in The Scent Private Accord when compared to the others.

Once it has settled somewhat, the spiciness subsides. Cacao will at first be joined by a coffee note. Think more 75% cacao, 25% coffee. Then, the coffee will mostly be replace by vanilla, with the gourmand aroma being held together by a nice patchouli note.

 The dry down is probably my least favorite part of this fragrance. It becomes much drier with a powdery cacao smell. It’s a sweet and dry cologne, pretty distant from that early great freshness of spices and fruits.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Private Accord has good sillage. It will project itself around 6-8 feet from the wearer, at it’s peak. Strong, but ultimately hits the upper end of moderate for much of its wear. From then on, it will still have a nice scent bubble, but not permeate the room.

I get just over 8 hours of wear with Private Accord. It isn’t an elite scent, in this regard, but much better than some of the others in this series from Hugo Boss. I really had no issue with the performance from this one. 

So, if you like the smell, you’ll at least get your money’s worth out of it.

Seasonally, stick to the autumn and winter. This is very much a colder weather wear and would kind of get gross in the heat. That sweet, spicy, warmth isn’t exactly built for the summer.

This one also skews toward younger guys. The chocolate and vanilla combination dominates, once the initial ginger spice burns off. Not strictly a teenager’s scent or anything, but Private Accord isn’t something formal.

It’s good casually or for the nightlife. Would for sure, want to wear this Hugo Boss out for an evening on the town versus whatever during the daytime. 

 

 

Overall Impression of Private Accord

Overall, do I like this Hugo Boss scent? I think it’s a nice smelling fragrance overall. It does get a little too heavy on the cacao and vanilla, in the latter stages. That part isn’t bad, but it’s a noticeable step down.

The early stages with the ginger, pepper, and maninka fruit are worthwhile and ranks among the best in the series. There isn’t too much development, but the sweet powdery quality isn’t amazing to me.

I prefer The Scent Absolute from this series. Actually, I liked the original better also, it just had terrible performance. Private Accord at least has solid performance going for it, with a nice smell.

That being said, Private Accord is an above average to very good cologne. It might not be for everyone, as you’re going to have to really be into dry chocolatey gourmands. Not super sugary, but more of a warm powder.

Update: Here in 2024, it appears that Private Accord got discontinued at some point. Not surprising, since this fragrance came out in 2018, and Boss is still releasing other flankers in ‘The Scent’ line.

As of now, it looks like you can still purchase bottles at a reasonable price from third party sites. Still wouldn’t be my first pick in the series, but you could do a lot worse for $60 than picking up a bottle of Private Accord.

Spicebomb Infrared vs Night Vision EDP

by

Viktor & Rolf have put out some newer Spicebomb flankers over the past year or so under the Infrared and Night Vision banners. As such, people are always comparing them or simply wondering what’s the difference between these colognes. For this post, I’m going to compare Spicebomb Infrared to Night Vision EDP (it’s better than EDT), and declare a winner of which one is best.

Tale of the Tape: Spicebomb Night Vision vs Infrared

Night Vision Eau de Parfum

Notes include: black spices, sage, lemon essence, fir balsam 

Read my Full Review: Spicebomb Night Vision EDP

Night Vision Infrared

Notes include: red berries, tobacco, habanero, cinnamon, saffron

Opening

Spicebomb much like it’s green bottle color suggests, does open up with a woodsy freshness and cooler profile. It’s got red pepper for spice, not as much sweetness as the EDT or Infrared, but also a lemon essence to separate it.

The fir and maybe some light benzoin give this a fresh and balsamic aroma, but when I move away from the skin, it can hang in the air as a fresh sweetness.

Infrared starts off hot and sweet. The cinnamon note pops, along with the red berry oil, and habenero pepper. I like that initial punch, very reminiscent of the original Spicebomb, but unique. The tobacco note from Extreme is also running around in this mix.

Which is better? It was fairly close at first. However, the more I tested Infrared, the more I gravitated toward it instead of Night Vision’s opening.

I love the spicy and sweet mix of notes. The cinnamon is a favorite spicy note of mine and the red berries is a nice touch.

Edge: Infrared

Projection

Night Vision is an eau de parfum with a higher fragrance concentration, while Infrared is an EDT. The sillage in the Night Vision is marginally better, but I don’t find there to be a huge difference.

Night Vision EDP starts off strong and settles into a moderate. While, Infrared probably reaches the upper limit of what could be considered moderate, and then settles.

Neither is a bomb, but both can reach that 4-6 foot radius mark without issue. Night Vision reaches a little further, on the whole.

Edge: Night Vision

Longevity

With Night Vision EDP, I get 7-8 hours of wear. Now, the last two hours or so, it’s very close to the skin. Still there, just not projecting very much at all.

Infrared seems to hit the 6-7 hour range, on my skin. Both of these are well within what could be called average to maybe slightly better than that.

Night Vision has the edge, but not by much even as an EDP.

Edge: Night Vision

Versatility

So, both of these fragrances are geared more towards autumn and winter. But, I’ve tested both of them in 75-80 degree Fahrenheit weather, with pretty high humidity and they held up well. I wouldn’t go much beyond that, but they’re pretty equal.

Actually, Infrared gets better when worn outdoors. It was actually what started me getting more into the cologne.

Neither of these is a formal wear. Can both be worn casually, more for younger guys, and can venture into the nightlife. Not really much difference.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Night Vision Eau de Parfum is a nice fragrance. It does have its moments during the wear, when I really enjoy it. When compared to Night Vision EDT, it absolutely is better (that’s my least favorite Spicebomb).

However, like its predecessor, it doesn’t run the table. The fir note is nice, giving it that woodsy feeling. The greenish freshness, the slight powdery and balsamic finish are good too. It just doesn’t completely hold my attention or wow me.

It’s fine, but not something I’m clamoring to own.

Spicebomb Infrared is my pick here. Since the original Spicebomb has lost much of its performance over the years, Infrared might be my second favorite now behind Extreme.

In fact, I might just pick up a full bottle of Infrared, since I don’t get enough cold days around here to justify owning another pure winter wear like Extreme.

I really love the opening act of the berries, habanero, and cinnamon. It reminds me of other ‘red hot’ style fragrances and it still has more of that original Spicebomb DNA when compared to the Night Vision scents.

It almost lost me during the dry down the first time I work it, as I was getting more tobacco and saffron with a sweet touch. But, when I wore it outside, Infrared created an awesome scent bubble around me.

The performance is okay and I hope they make a worthwhile EDP version of this cologne. As of now, I’ll happily take Infrared as is, and pretty easily in this head to head.

Winner: Spicebomb Infrared