Men’s Fashion

Dylan Blue vs Acqua Di Gio Profumo Cologne Comparison

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In this post, I’m going to do another head to head comparison between two popular fragrances that have been released in the past few years. One is, Acqua Di Gio Profumo. The other, Dylan Blue by Versace. Now, ADG Profumo is obviously a flanker fragrance of the orignial Acqua Di Gio, while Dylan Blue is its own stand-alone entity. How do these two scents stack up? Which one smells better? Which has better performance?

Tale of the Tape

Dylan Blue

Notes include: black pepper, violet leaf, grapefruit, bergamot, tonka bean, ambrox, fig leaf

Click here to try: VERSACE Pour Homme Sealed Dylan Blue Eau de Toilette, 3.4 Ounce

Read my Full Review of Dylan Blue

Acqua Di Gio Profumo

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

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

Read my Full ADG Profumo Review

Opening

ADG Profumo has a lot of similarities to the original ADG but is much darker, marine, and spicier. The bergamot note is the main player as far as the summery citrus notes go. Dylan Blue starts out quite similar to Profumo but much lighter and seemingly less intense.

The incense note in Profumo gives it that smoky aroma and puts more of an edge on the spice, while the pepper note in Dylan Blue is much more subdued.

I think ADG Profumo has more character and smells distinct. Dylan Blue starts out quite like Profumo and then morphs into a Sauvage-like scent, it doesn’t seem to have an identity of its own. The one thing that I do think that gives it a boost, is the fig leaf note. That is prominent in the begining and is my favorite aspect of Dylan Blue.

Edge: Profumo

Projection

Dylan Blue is a good starter, not overly powerful, but you’ll know that it’s there. However, at around an hour or so, it gets weaker and settles into something definitively average.

Meanwhile, ADG isn’t a beast, by any means, but it is really good in this regard. The fragrance performs well, sticks around, and doesn’t nosedive into some weakened state.

Edge: Profumo

Longevity

Dylan Blue gives me 5-6 hours worth of performance, which isn’t bad. Profumo usually will go 7-9 hours depending on the weather or other circumstances.

Edge: Profumo

Versatility

Here’s where I think Dylan Blue has an edge. While Profumo can be used on many occasions, it strikes more of a summery vibe. It can be worn in the cold but it just doesn’t have the same appeal, in my opinion.

Dylan Blue is more of a spring/summer scent that can be worn casually, at school/work, and out on a date. It’s similarities with Sauvage make it more of a crowd pleaser, especially for the under 25 year old set of guys.

Edge: Dylan Blue

Overall Scent

Dylan Blue has struck me as plain generic, ever since I first sampled it at an airport. I bought a mini bottle, just to make sure I wasn’t mistaken, and my opinion didn’t change all that much. I like it, I think that it’s pleasant, and will work for plenty of guys. It’s grown on me a bit, but I don’t love it.

Acqua Di Gio Profumo is an enhanced version of the original. It’s bold, spicy, smoky while retaining a citrus/aquatic character. It’s not my favorite scent either, but it is so much more interesting to me.  It has better performance than Dylan Blue and is more unique.

If you want a citrus/aquatic that is softer and not as dark, go with Dylan Blue. If you liked the original ADG and want something more mature, go with Profumo. I’ll take the latter.

Winner: Profumo

Polo Red vs Polo Red Rush Comparison

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For this cologne comparison, I am going to take a closer look at two men’s fragrances from the Ralph Lauren lineup, Polo Red vs. Polo Red Rush. Which scent does it better? The original or one of its many follow up flankers. Which has the edge in performance? Which is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape

Polo Red

Notes include: grapefruit, italian lemon, cranberry, saffron, sage

Click here to try: POLO RED by Ralph Lauren, 4.2 Fl Oz

Read my full review: Polo Red

Polo Red Rush

Notes include: mandarin, grapefruit, pineapple, lemon, saffron, orange flower, spearmint, red apple, lavender, red coffee, cedar, musk

Click here to try: Polo Red Rush by Ralph Lauren EDT Spray 4.2 Oz.

Read my review: Polo Red Rush

Opening

The opening of the original Polo Red is a whole lot of cranberry, citrus, and some saffron. It is very warm and hyper-sweet, the cranberry note is tart, but overall I find it intriguing and enjoyable when I’m in the mood for such a scent.

It can hit the nose pretty hard, but it’s a nice experience to spray on when in the mood.

Rush opens in a similar manner, but instead takes grapefruit, mandarin, pineapple, and apple. This produces a similar sharp/tart opening to how Polo Red does it. After 10 minutes or so, Rush comes into its own with spearmint, and musk. It becomes much more of a greenish scent and less like the original.

Which is better? I think Red does a better job with the fruity opening and Rush seems like a simple imitation, that doesn’t quite hit the same note. I do like Rush, when the mint comes into play more, but I still enjoy the original more.

Edge: Red

Projection

Polo Red has always started out strong for me and then faded into something that is light to moderate, staying power was never its forte, but the sillage did have a big opening.

Red Rush is of similar strength ultimately to that of Red, but I think that the original starts off stronger, and that peak is never really matched by Rush.

Edge: Red

Longevity

Neither of these scents has great longevity. Depending on how much I apply, I can get 4-6 hours from Red. Rush gets about six hours also. There doesn’t seem to be a clear edge in this category. I usually have to spray more of either, to get fairly basic

Edge: Push

Versatility

Seasonally, both of these colognes can be worn pretty much any time, but I like them in the spring/summer mostly. Both are mostly casual fragrances, that can be worn at work, or formally. Neither is super ‘sexy’ but both are pleasant and attractive. They serve the same role essentially, not surprising considering they share a name.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

To me, I still think that the original Polo Red is better than this particular flanker. I appreciate that Red Rush added some new things to the Red name, but it also shares many similarities with the original, and doesn’t exactly improve on any of them.

I’m not too sure of its purpose. Red Rush is enjoyable to some extent, but doesn’t do anything all that well.

The original Polo Red, while it has so-so performance, does feature a unique cranberry note that isn’t found in too many men’s fragrances.

I do think that the other Red flanker fragrances improved upon the original, but Rush is a step backwards and doesn’t offer much that is worthwhile for the price. Maybe by now, it has been put on clearance at some stores. If it’s super cheap, I wouldn’t be opposed, but I’d still pick the original.

Winner: Polo Red

Mr. Burberry vs Dior Sauvage Cologne Comparison

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For this comparison, I want to breakdown two very popular eau de toilette scents for men: Sauvage by Christian Dior vs. Mr. Burberry. Which one of these colognes is the better bet for most guys to try out? I am only comparing the EDT versions of these fragrances (which are the best sellers) and not the EDP’s, so keep that in mind. As usual, I will cover what’s inside, how each smells, performs, which is more versatile, and which is ultimately the winner.

Tale of the Tape

Sauvage

Notes of Sauvage: bergamot, ambroxan, lavender, pepper, wood notes

Click here to try: Christian Dior Sauvage for Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

My Original Sauvage Review

Mr. Burberry

Notes include: tarragon, cedar, birch leaf, grapefruit, cardamom, sandalwood, vetiver

Click here to try: BURBERRY Mr Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 1.6 Ounce

Read my original review: Mr. Burberry EDT

Opening

Sauvage opens up with a bold and rather sharp bergamot note that is joined by calming lavender and a peppery kick. Within about 20 minutes, the warm smoothness of the ambroxan, takes the edge off of the pepper and the citrus notes settles down as well.

Mr. Burberry also opens up with a citrus note, this time, it is grapefruit. That is blended with woody notes, sandalwood and cedar, to create a subtle and super smooth aroma. There is also a cooling sensation from mint, that is brought in but isn’t too heavy. It’s quite clean and crisp. Plus, has an herbal undertone that emerges more later in the wear.

Which is better? Well, I’m not in love with either. Sauvage seems somewhat harsh to my nose at first but it settles down. Meanwhile, Mr. Burberry is pleasant, but isn’t all that interesting. Sauvage definitely captures my attention more and just has a better smell.

Edge: Sauvage 

Projection

I’ve always felt that the Dior fragrance was on the upper end of the moderate scale in terms of sillage and at times it can definitely be quite strong. With Sauvage, if you spray too much, it does have the ability to consume a room.

Mr. Burberry doesn’t do that. It is moderate and really completely average in how it projects off of my skin, definitely not as strong as Sauvage. I actually wish that the Mr. Burberry fragrances had more power, I don’t find either of them to be great.

Edge: Sauvage 

Longevity

For me, they are almost the same in terms how long they last, but Sauvage is just a little bit better. I get 5-7 hours from Mr. Burberry. Sauvage is usually 6-7. However, plenty of folks say they get all day wear from Sauvage, so it’s got the edge versus Mr. Burberry.

Sauvage EDT isn’t great but it’s a winner, in comparison. Sauvage Parfum and EDP are much better in this regard.

Edge: Sauvage

Versatility

There’s no real separation between these two fragrances in this category. Both of them are highly versatile and can be worn in a wide variety of situations and climates. That is one of the main selling points of each, is that, they aren’t limited to one specific time of year or situation.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Mr. Burberry is a pleasant scent to wear. It is low key and has a nice freshness from the grapefruit, woods, and herbal blend. It is a solid everyday wear and a totally non-offensive fragrance. I like it, but it never interested me, whenever I wore it. The whole thing felt rather flat and uninspired. I always wanted to wear something else before reaching for this.

I’m also no Sauvage fan boy, as I’ve made that clear in other posts. However, I do like it more than Mr. Burberry, and would prefer to wear it between the two of them. I think the overall fragrance smells better, has more energy, better performance, etc.

If it came solely down to price, I might pick Mr. Burberry, if I could get a better deal. But even that’s not a guarantee. Sauvage is the winner in this contest. If you want something that smells quite similar to Sauvage, that can usually be purchased for cheaper, try Luna Rossa Carbon.

I think Sauvage EDP is better than either. Mr. Burberry EDP smells good, but the performance is bad. So, I’d go with any of the Dior offerings before Mr. Burberry.

Winner: Dior Sauvage

Curve by Liz Claiborne

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One of the most popular fragrances for men on the market, always seems to be Curve by Liz Claiborne. Yes, this cologne always sits among the list of best sellers and has developed quite a following for itself since its 1996 release.

Why? Is it because it is the most complex scent out there? No, it’s a rather simple fragrance that blends its notes nicely. Is it the most masculine? Again, no.

Quite simply, Curve is just a great smelling cologne which is available at a very affordable price. In this post, I want to take a bit of a closer look at Curve and examine what makes it so good.

What does Curve by Liz Claiborne Smell Like?

Notes include: fresh greens, pepper, lemon, pineapple, neroli, lavender, sage, cactus, sandalwood, juniper, ginger, cedar, amber, mahogany and water

Click here to try: Curve By Liz Claiborne For Men. Cologne Spray 6.8 oz

My Full Wear Review

Curve became absolute legend when it was released back in the 90s. I remember that my dad used to wear this for a while and I thought it smelled fantastic.

It opens up with a blend of lemon, pineapple, and some neroli. It’s got a nice citrus zest, is a bit sharp, but flanked by spicy notes like ginger, pepper, and sage.

The opening is quite lemony and the pineapple is very noticeable as well, the spice notes are none too heavy, but are prominent during the early stages.

After that initial bit, Curve really gets going with the lavender note. That is probably the most important aspect of this fragrance and gives the composition its fresh and clean disposition. Curve smells sweet and warm, with bits of light coolness, breathing through the middle of the cologne.

Still, the citrus top notes are the main attractions, and when paired with that lavender note, it is great. This Liz Claiborne fragrance also features a cactus note, much like Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger, does.

It must have been a thing in the late 90s to add cactus to popular scents, perhaps, that is the secret to their success.

During the dry down, the woody base emerges, led by the mahogany note. There is also some non-distinct sandalwood and cedar lurking in the back, but mahogany is the strongest. So, you have a super fresh ctirus/green scent with light spices/musk and a woody base.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Curve never really had a huge sillage to me, it could start off fairly strong but would sink into a lighter moderate area. That’s about what one should expect. Not a powerhouse, but a very nice value play.

The longevity is around 5-7 hours on my skin, not much more than that. However, with a scent like this, it’s really all you need much of the time. If you want something longer lasting, you will most likely move to something more upscale.

Seasonally, it reminds me of spring, but really it’s a year round cologne. It can be worn casually, at work, school, or out on a date. This stuff will always get complements, I’m convinced of that fact.

It’s probably best for younger men, but all ages could wear it. If you need something fancier or more formal, Curve isn’t going to be the one. As a fresh aromatic cheapie? It’s great.

You can get it for cheap, but it will still get more positive reactions than many of the higher end fragrances for men. I don’t know what it is, but I cannot honestly disagree, as I love the way this smells.

That’s not to say that it will outshine all designer colognes, but it for sure punches above its weight class.

Overall Impressions of Curve

Curve is a great starter cologne for guys in high school up through college. Heck, I’d still wear it, if I had a bottle right now. It’s not my favorite fragrance of all time or anything, but you cannot really deny the power that this stuff has had for over 20 years.

Women love it. Like, it is unreasonable the attention that a simple cheapie like this brings, but it’s worth every penny. If you want something fresh, clean, and attractive for cheap…it’s not something you can go wrong with.

Less of a sexy smell and more of just something that is very attractive and pleasant to people. The performance is solid enough and the price is great. Curve is classic.

212 VIP vs VIP Black Comparison

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For this head to head cologne comparison, I am going to take a closer look at two Carolina Herrera fragrances from the 212 lineup: 212 VIP vs. 212 VIP Black. Which of these nightlife scents, smells the best? VIP Black was released in 2017, as a follow up flanker to the original, but does it surpass VIP? Which has better performance? Which should you buy?

Tale of the Tape: 212 Black vs. VIP

212 VIP

Notes include: caviar lime, frozen mint, black pepper, vodka, ginger, amber, apple, King wood, tonka bean

Click here to try: 212 Vip by Carolina Herrera Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

Read my review: 212 VIP

212 VIP Black

Notes include: absinthe, leather, lavender, musk, vanilla, amber, anise

Click here to try: Carolina Herrera 212 VIP Black Men Eau de Parfum 3.4oz / 100ml – Launched in 2017

Read my review: 212 VIP Black

Opening

The opening of 212 VIP is a smooth boozy aroma with a spicy blast. You get the alcoholic note of vodka, creamy tonka bean, amber, and the pepper to give it a kick. It’s sweet and warm with mixed drink undertones of lime and mint.

VIP Black, on the other hand, also has a boozy start but this time it is absinthe. Like it’s predecessor, Black has a warm amber note and spice, but it’s a weaker anise in lieu of pepper. Add to this, lavender and a quite faint leather note.

Which is better? The original 212 VIP has a much more interesting and better smelling opening, especially after a few minutes, when the vodka note settles. VIP Black is nice and I like the absinthe, but it just isn’t as attractive.

Edge: 212 VIP

Projection

212 VIP has been known as a strong scent, with beast sillage. It is the type you can spray and people will definitely notice it. VIP is absolutely a nightlife fragrance, as such, it is going to be loud and boisterous.

Does VIP Black have a similar profile? Unfortunately, no. It is a light to moderate scent and doesn’t seem to be able to project itself very well at all.

Edge: 212 VIP

Longevity

Again, I get 10+ hours of wear from my bottle of the original. It’s performance is really top notch. With Black, I could only muster 5-6 hours of wear, and most of that it had fairly weak sillage.

Edge: 212 VIP

Versatility

All right, so, both of these are pretty limited colognes and are designed specifically for nightlife wear. They both are good in cold weather, but not when it gets warm. Neither is very casual or an office safe type of scent. They pretty much fit the same bill, as to be expected with flanker fragrances.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I was really excited to try 212 VIP Black because I enjoy the original, as a bold go to scent on some evenings. If it could have been another monster performer, with a different take on the booze soaked cologne genre, I would have been quite happy.

The problem is, it just doesn’t perform up to par, and what smell there is isn’t as good as the original. VIP Black has that nice boozy opening and then settles into something that is sweet with a bit of musk.

Vanilla, amber, and musk are pretty much the dry down and the absinthe and spice is hardly noticeable.

212 VIP, isn’t a fragrance for everyone, many people won’t enjoy a bomb of a fragrance with a vodka note at the center of it. Understandable, but I still like throwing it on, because of it’s sweet boozy demeanor and very nice dry down. It’s a club banger, at an affordable price. It wins this head to head rather easily.

Winner: 212 VIP