Men’s Fashion

Invictus Victory vs Bad Boy

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Invictus Victory is a flanker of the very popular Paco Rabanne cologne. Meanwhile, Bad Boy is the original of Carolina Herrera’s more recent best selling line. Since each of these fragrances has a similar style, they can be the final two picks that someone is deciding between.

On this page, I break down how Bad Boy and Victory compare and contrast with one another, after having tested and reviewed each. Which smells better? Lasts longer? Is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Bad Boy vs. Invictus Victory

Bad Boy

Notes include: white pepper, cocoa, sage, tonka bean, vetiver, pink pepper, grapefruit, and amber

Click here to try: Carolina Herrera Bad Boy EDT Eau de Toilette 3.4oz / 100ml For Men, Black

Read my review: Bad Boy EDT

Invictus Victory

Notes include: pink pepper, vanilla, amber, lemon, tonka bean, olibanum, lavender

Click here to try: Invictus Victory

My Full Review: Invictus Victory

Opening

The opening of the original Bad Boy EDT, strikes quite differently to my nose, depending on whether it is close to the skin or not. Up close, I get a honeycomb like aroma that is dipped in amber and dotted with various pepper notes.

From afar, I really pick up the sweeter and creamier aspects of this scent. Namely, the cocoa and tonka bean.

Invictus Victory starts a lot like the old Pure XS line that Paco Rabanne had put out some number of years before this. Victory has a lemon note up top, with pink pepper, and a dose of incense.

Kind of smoky, but it doesn’t dominate the composition. Up top, it’s a bit of that lemon with a spiciness and smokiness. As it moves on, Victory will start to have a greater use of the vanilla and amber notes.

Edge: Invictus Victory

Projection

Bad Boy has never been a heavy or very far-reaching fragrance whenever I’ve tested it out. It’s more of a moderate fragrance. Not weak, but it doesn’t blow the doors off.

Victory does start off strong and it has a heavier/thicker feeling to it. That more powerful projection will last for an hour or two, before settling into a moderate sillage itself.

Between the two, Victory is stronger at first and still has a slight edge after that. Not much, but it gets the win here.

Edge: Invictus Victory

Longevity

Invictus Victory takes this category as well. On my skin, the Paco Rabanne cologne will last for 8-9 hours, which is pretty good but not elite.

Bad Boy falls a few hours short. At it’s best, I get 7 hours from that fragrance. Again, the upper end of average, but nothing spectacular.

Edge: Invictus Victory

Versatility

Seasonally, they’re both the same with what they bring to the table. Autumn and winter wear mainly, with the ability to venture into springtime, on days where it doesn’t get too warm.

They do both skew younger, have more nighttime vibes than something that you might reach for daily. But, they can cover that base too, if you don’t have a very formal environment you need to go to each day.

Really, there isn’t much separation in this category.  So, I’m calling it a tie.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these fragrances is the one that I’d go with, if I had to decide? For me, it’s not too difficult of a decision.

Looking back over at what I like about Bad Boy. The sweetness, the amber, the late stage vetiver, and use of cocoa. It’s kind of messy, when you press your nose to the skin. However, I do enjoy the fragrance while it floating in the air.

It’s just never been much more than that. It’s performance is middling, but it does have a good deal of versatility and this Carolina Herrera scent is very wearable.

But, I’d take Invictus Victory.

Spicy and smoky. Better use of the vanilla note, with maybe a somewhat harsher amber not versus what I get with Bad Boy. The performance is also better.

This isn’t a massive preference for one versus the other. I’d just choose to wear Victory 6 or 7 times out of 10, if all I had were it and Bad Boy.

Winner: Invictus Victory

Dior Sauvage vs Versace Eros EDT

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In this edition of the cologne comparisons, that I have posted on the site, we have a competition between two of the best selling scents on the market right now. Those being, Sauvage by Christian Dior and Versace Eros. I will be talking about both of the original EDT releases of each cologne.

Which of these two men’s fragrances smells the best? Which is the top performer? Which one has more versatile of use? Please continue below for my full take and comparison.

Tale of the Tape: Sauvage EDT vs. Eros

Versace Eros

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

Click here to try: Versace Eros Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 6.7 Fluid Ounce

My original Versace Eros Review

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

Opening

The opening of Sauvage EDT gives off an aroma of amber, pepper, and the sharp bergamot note. There is a bit of spice to it but I do get a lot of the ambroxan. It’s nice and dries down to a clean/soapy scent with some slightly spice wood notes and the ever present bergamot.

Eros, is an absolute beast from the start. The main players at the beginning are the mint, tonka bean, and vanilla. The green apple and lemon provide support and give Eros that juicy/gourmand quality.

I think the mint is done very well and doesn’t overpower the composition, for my nose, at least.

Updated view: I’m going to edit throughout this post, 3 years after initially publishing. Eros seems to have changed slightly in smell and more so in performance. This happens a lot with fragrances. Now, the opening seems to have a stronger lemon than before. 

Eros is a very sweet kind of scent, while Sauvage lacks all of that. I think that Eros is much more interesting and has a better scent.

Edge: Eros

Projection

Versace Eros is quite a heavy scent and loud as all hell. This of course, could scare some folks off from wanting to wear it, and that’s completely understandable.

Update: The latest batches of Eros EDT don’t seem to be nearly as strong, as the original. When compared with Eros Flame, they seem quite weak…unfortunately, Flame is a worse fragrance. Still a little bit stronger than Sauvage.

It’s one that I can enjoy and while I never wore it on a daily basis, I would limit it to one spray, if wearing it to work. Eros is just that kind of bold cologne.

Sauvage, upon further use, is a lot stronger than I had initially remembered. No, it’s not on the same level as Eros, but it is on the strong side of things.

Edit: After years, Sauvage is still a strong, but not massive cologne. It has not as of yet experienced any reformulation that’s noticeable.

Edge: Eros

Longevity

Eros wins here, it’s an all day and into the night kind of cologne. Edit: Nowadays, it is much more mortal. Somewhere in the 8-10 hour range it seems. Still great, but not like it once was. 

However, Sauvage isn’t bad. The first time I reviewed this scent, I would get 6-7 hours of wear. Now, with a different bottle, I seem to get around 8. I don’t know, it could just be my body chemistry, but that is the range I get from Sauvage.

I will note that, other people do get a bit more wear out of Sauvage. So, in your own experience this may now be an equal comparison. For me, it’s still Eros.

Edge: Eros

Versatility

Sauvage isn’t a winter scent, in my opinion (The EDP is better for this). Though, it wouldn’t perform badly, just kind of seem out of place.

Meanwhile, Eros is very much a cold weather scent and becomes messy in the high heat. I think that this is where Sauvage has the edge, as a year round kind of cologne.

Both of these scents could work for many occasions. Just go lightly in the office or at school. As a club scent, I’d pick Eros, but I think Sauvage wins this category.

Neither of these is really a formal kind of fragrance. Eros also has a tendency to lean younger. Sauvage isn’t necessarily a mature scent, but it is more wearable for older guys, as well as younger ones.

Sauvage really kind of nails being an all-around scent, which is a lot of the reason why it became so popular in the first place.

Edge: Sauvage

Overall Scent

These are both highly popular colognes. Neither one is bad in my opinion and they are actually quite different from one another. If you want something bold and sweet, go with Eros.

If that’s not your thing, Sauvage might be a good choice. It’s a bright/fresh kind of cologne versus Eros’ gourmand sexiness. Edit: My opinion on the original Sauvage EDT has definitely gone down, over the years. I really don’t care to wear it.

It’s funny how many other scents have started to have Sauvage-like qualities, as this Dior release has grown in popularity (like Dylan Blue).

However, I think that Sauvage is still better than all of its ‘clone’ fragrances (update: Luna Rossa Carbon is better if you’re in the market for Sauvage EDT).

In the battle between these two, I think Versace Eros has the edge. I enjoy wearing it more than Sauvage, any day of the week, it has better performance, is more unique, and just plain smells better. Again, that’s not to say that Sauvage isn’t a good choice for some guys, it just wouldn’t be mine.

2020 Update: Nowadays, I still have Eros ahead of Sauvage EDT. However, Sauvage EDP and Parfum are better than either in their current form. As such, go with those, unless you’re dead set on Eros…which is still good.

2024 Update:  Coming back to this once more. I guess I’d still choose Eros, when considering the EDT editions. My ranking of the other top variants would be something like:

I have lost a lot of my enjoyment from the Eros series. That being said, the original Sauvage EDT doesn’t do much for me either. I think it has the worst blend of any of the editions released thus far. EDP and Elixir are really great, in contrast.

The rest of the Eros line, is about the same as the original, as far as I like them. Parfum is the best of that series.

Winner: Eros

Invictus vs. Invictus Victory

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Invictus has been such a massive success for Paco Rabanne that we’ve now had about a decade’s worth of flankers released in its wake. Many of the initial releases were a lot like the original Invictus EDT. Now, the names are the same, but they don’t always have much in common.

On this page, I want to compare the original Invictus to one of its much later flankers, Invictus Victory. How does each smell? Which lasts longer? Which cologne is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Invictus vs. Victory

Invictus

Notes include: grapefruit, sea notes, mandarin orange, bay leaf, jasmine

Read my review

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne Invictus Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

Invictus Victory

Notes include: pink pepper, lemon, vanilla, amber, tonka bean, olibanum, lavender

Click here to try: Invictus Victory

My Full Review: Invictus Victory

Opening

Invictus opens with a citrusy candy-like aroma of a blend of orange and grapefruit notes. This is joined by an aquatic aroma, that gives it a summertime vibe. Not a realistic water, mind you, but that’s what they’re going for.

Ambergris and bay leaf combine with the fruits and aquatic accord to give Invictus a sweet grape bubblegum sort of smell. Very blue-ish and watery, without giving off that oceanic sea water smell.

Invictus Victory starts a lot like the old Pure XS line that Paco Rabanne had put out some number of years before this. Victory has a lemon note up top, with pink pepper, and a dose of incense.

Kind of smoky, but it doesn’t dominate the composition. Up top, it’s a bit of that lemon with a spiciness and smokiness. As it moves on, Victory will start to have a greater use of the vanilla and amber notes.

Which is better? Invictus is pretty good at the start. Kind of a lot to handle all at once, sometimes. But, it’s fine.

However, Invictus Victory has a more refined scent, that’s just more pleasing all around.

Edge: Victory

Projection

Both of these fragrances have a strong burst of power during the initial part of the wear. Victory is the heavier of the two, but the citrus notes of Invictus make it seem like a more power scent than it might actually be.

However, both of them will turn more moderate after that first hour or two. But, I’d say that Invictus Victory has the greater reach and staying power when comparing them.

Edge: Victory

Longevity

The original Invictus was never a super long-lasting fragrance for me, but it was always passable. On my skin, I can get about 6-7 hours of wear from this EDT.

With Victory, that gets bumped up to 8-9 hours. Victory Elixir actually hits the double digits, but the original Victory is just shy. Still, it takes this category.

Edge: Victory

Versatility

Invictus EDT has the greater versatility across seasons. It is more of spring and summer wear, that holds up better in winter than Victory does in the heat. Victory is mostly an autumn and winter cologne that can go somewhat into spring.

I think that Victory is the more refined scent of the two. It’s still a younger man’s cologne, but it’s well put together in comparison to the youthful Invictus. I also think that it does a better job as a nightlife option than Invictus.

I tend to give the edge to Victory in this category, because I think it has more use cases within its time of the year, but Invictus EDT does have that seasonal lead.

Edge: Victory (slightly)

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these fragrances do I prefer? It’s honestly not a difficult choice for me. Invictus Victory is the better cologne versus Invictus EDT.

I’ve never been a big fan of the original. Though, I do sometimes enjoy the opening act, and don’t think that it’s a terrible fragrance. People in public do tend to overspray it, which makes it also feel unbearable to be around sometimes.

When compared to Invictus Victory, I just don’t think that EDT does much better. Victory smells better, performs better, and is at least equal with when it can be worn. I like its spice and its vanilla note.

It’s not my favorite cologne in the world, but Invictus Victory would be one of my top picks in the series.

Winner: Victory

New Haarlem by Bond No. 9

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New Haarlem is one of the longest running of the Bond No. 9 offerings, having been released back in 2003. I recently grabbed another sample of this scent, since I hadn’t worn it in a few years. So, I’m here to post a fresh review of the perfume to see if it still holds up.

What does New Haarlem by Bond No. 9 smell like?

Notes include: lavender, bergamot, green leaves, coffee, cedar, vanilla, tonka bean, patchouli, amber

Click here to try: New Haarlem

My Full Review

I’m not usually big on lavender fragrances, but New Haarlem is one that I’ve always liked a lot. The opening act is fresh and bright with a touch of the bergamot citrus note, but it is going to be dominated by the lavender.

This scent will become richer and creamier, as we dry down. But, early it’s got itself a great aromatic vibe with its generic ‘green notes’ and light citrus touch.

The other note that will pop off, about 10 minutes in is cedar. It’s a lavender and cedar affair at this point, with the sweetness of coffee/vanilla/tonka bean already starting to come through.

Fresh woodsy, but still quite clean in how it comes across. This does have some outdoorsy touches throughout, but it isn’t a ‘dirty’ or very ‘earthy’ kind of fragrance.

At some point, the coffee will begin to take over the number one spot. Lavender doesn’t go away, it just begins to be outshined. With that, we will have more of a gourmand phase into the dry down.

Patchouli, vanilla, and tonka bean. Mainly, the vanilla will join the coffee and lavender notes, as this one takes on its creamier aspects. At times, it will indeed have a syrupy kind of smell, but it’s not too noticeable on me.

Warmer with a touch of amber to go with the vanilla and tonka bean in the finish. I do still get lavender at the end, but the coffee is really coming through on my skin.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

New Haarlem was never a complete bomb for me. It was always strong and quite substantial, but it never reached the upper echelons in terms of its power.

That being said, it projects quite well and can feel somewhat heavy in the warmer weather. Though, this fragrance will moderate itself a few hours into the wear. Still, well above average with its performance.

The longevity hasn’t taken a dip at all. I still get well into the double digits, in terms of hours that New Haarlem will last on my skin. 11-12 seems to be pretty standard for me with this one.

It’s great that even after 20+ years of being on the market, the formula hasn’t been degraded in the slightest.

Seasonally, this is mainly an autumn and winter wear, mainly. I think that it’s fine on a mild spring day, as well. Though, as I mentioned above, New Haarlem isn’t built for the warmer weather. So, I’d go with something else then.

This is indeed a unisex perfume. Heavier use of lavender does usually get associated with men’s colognes, but I have to say that this doesn’t stray too far in the masculine direction. It does seem to lean that way, but nothing that most women couldn’t pull off as well.

Maybe, just test it out, before committing to a full bottle. I will say this is more unisex than New York Nights (which also uses coffee) or R.E.M. by Ariana Grande (which uses lavender and caramel). New Haarlem is probably closer to Coffee Break by Maison Margiela, in this regard.

While not completely a formal perfume, New Haarlem does have enough style to not stick out like a sore thumb, in most scenarios. It’s got enough versatility to be a daytime wear for many people, while also being able to venture easily into the nightlife.

I personally find it to be a great wear, on a colder night, when going out to dinner or hanging out in a lounge type of environment.

Overall Impressions of New Haarlem

Overall, do I still like New Haarlem? I do. While it isn’t my absolute favorite from this brand, I do think that it is still among the best smelling perfumes from Bond No. 9.

The scent is still very good, it’s unique enough, and the performance still delivers (even at the expensive price point).

I like that aromatic freshness, the greenish aroma, and the bergamot early on. It manages to make the lavender quite lovely throughout.

Of course, I’m a fan of coffee notes in perfumes, and New Haarlem will shift in that direction in the back half. Which, is awesome. The vanilla, hints of cedar, and the like make this a pretty enjoyable experience.

I do think that this is worth trying out at the very least, if not a full buy. It’d still be one of the ones from Bond No. 9, that I’d recommend testing first, before deep diving into their full catalog of fragrances.

8 Best Smelling Prada Colognes for Men

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Prada is an Italian design house which has been around for decades and has made a huge impact within the world of fashion. It features a really great menswear line but also has some signature scents for guys up its sleeves as well. For this post, I want to explore eight scents from Prada which I consider to be their best that they have released thus far.

Key Takeaways

Here is a quick list for those in a hurry. I go into much more detail on each of these and the others below.

What are the Top Prada Perfumes for Him?

Top Sporty Cologne

Prada Luna Rossa SPORT Eau de Toilette Spray 3.4 oz– Luna Rossa Sport is a simple fragrance and is a flanker of the original Luna Rossa, that is listed towards the bottom of the page. While it is a simple and fairly linear wear, Sport, is super fresh and smells really great.

It opens up with a blend of vanilla and tonka bean, which creates a sort of powdery aromatic aroma, with sweetness provided in part by a nice juniper berry note.

Beyond that, ginger adds a lightly fresh spice, and there is the lavender note that is ubiquitous in the Luna Rossa series. Refreshing and crisp.

This one stays pretty tonka and vanilla heavy, with lavender and that juniper note flanking it. Sometimes, this is my absolute favorite Prada scent to wear, but then I get tired of it. It’s great, but not something I want to wear all of the time. I reviewed it here.

Best L’Homme Cologne

Prada L’homme Intense Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce– I’m going to go with Prada L’Homme Intense before the original. Mainly, I like the darker aroma of this one, and the fact that I can get 9 hours of wear on my skin.

It has the powdery iris note of the original, amber, and a healthy dose of leather, in the opening.

Later on, there is a subtle base of patchouli and sandalwood, which add to the overall enjoyment and aren’t a distraction. The dry down is mainly iris and tonka bean, with the leather and amber, playing support roles.

It’s super rich and fits beautifully in the colder weather of autumn and winter. I think that Intense is the best of the L’Homme line from this brand.  L’Homme Intense Review

Top Prada Olfactories Les Mirages

Soleil au Zenith– I also liked Dark Light from this series (that’s more vanilla and amber). However, Soleil au Zenith is also an amazing perfume from this more expensive Prada line (these are going to run around $300).

Zenith does open up much closer to a traditional ladies’ fragrance, versus being purely unisex. Ylang-ylang and peach are the top notes, but will ultimately give way to is deep and rich base of ingredients.

The peach gets wrapped up with vanilla and sandalwood. You have spices including cumin, cinnamon, and nutmeg becoming more prominent as it wears on. It becomes a softer warmer spice with powdery flourishes. To me, the ylang-ylang all but disappears.

Floral Unisex Perfume

Prada Amber Pour Homme by Prada for Men – 3.4 oz EDT Spray -This one is clean and soapy with bits of leather and lavender. A good fresh scent with solid performance. Honestly, it’s my least favorite on the list, personally.

I know a lot of people have said that this is among the absolute best, so, I include it for the sake of giving it a fair shake.

It does smell good, but it gets way too floral and soapy. for my taste. Has more of a unisex vibe, but it is a well put together, and classy scent overall. Amber Pour Homme is a mature or professional fragrance. You’re going to have to dig amber-laden floral scents.

Best Summer Fragrance

Prada Luna Rossa Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce– I don’t usually care for bitter orange notes like in Terre d’Hermes (which I hate), but it quite simply works in Luna Rossa, and is by no means overpowering.

Plus, the citrus is only the main attraction at first. Then, there is an emergence of mint and lavender. What a great little scent. It is a bright citrus aroma with a cool demeanor thanks to the spearmint and calming lavender note.

The dry down does have a slight powdery/soapy feel, but it isn’t that much, and way less than what is in some of the others. This is super fresh and my main alternative to wearing Luna Rossa Sport, from the Prada line. The spearmint is utterly perfect.  Luna Rossa Full Review

Another High End Option

Cargo de Nuit– A lot of the Olfactories line of scents, get way too girly and not truly something that would be unisex. Cargo goes a bit more masculine with how it comes across, it smells great, and performs like a beast.

Again, this is one you can expect to spend $300 for. You’ll also have to source it from Prada, most likely. Saks has it sometimes or eBay.

Ambrette and tonka bean are the main attraction here, after an opening of aldehydes and musk. A very nice mix of sweet and spicy with a smooth muskiness to it. Prada says that, “Inspired by the mystery of a night voyage in the ocean”…Sure, why not? Not really what it makes me think of.

It dries down woodier, with a creaminess, and a cozy warmth. Cargo de Nuit isn’t going to be one that everyone will want, but is a great option for a more niche collector.

Top Powdery Fragrance

Prada Lhomme Prada Leau for Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce– L’Homme L’eau is another flanker to Prada L’Homme. It doesn’t have as much of the iris note, as the original does, but does have a stronger wood base.

It opens up with the wood, neroli, and iris notes. So, yes, this falls in the masculine floral category of colognes.

L’Homme L’eau is a very clean sort of scent, with a heightened baby powder kind of smell, when compared with the original. It starts off with strong sillage, but mellows out over time, and hangs in the air.

This is the kind of scent that you can wear formally or to the office, since it is inoffensive, and you get decent performance.  L’Homme Eau Review

Great Fresh Scent for Spring/Summer

Prada Luna Rossa Eau Sport Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 2.5 Ounce– Eau Sport isn’t just a slightly different fragrance from Luna Rossa Sport, it is actually a different fragrance almost entirely.

This one opens up with citron, bergamot, and ginger. It is very fresh and captivating. Yes, it has that usual lavender from the Luna Rossa line, but this one reminds me of the old Dior Homme Sport just swapping the iris for lavender.

Eau Sport quickly became one of my favorite Prada scents and a very enjoyable one for the summer. Not too complex, with some light amber and cedar in the base. However, it smells great and give a nice performance. Luna Ross Eau Sport Review

Honorable Mentions

Luna Rossa Black– Black was probably the most unknown fragrance from the Luna Rossa line. Though, that’s changed recently. Actually, it’s got lots of overlap with Cargo de Nuit…just not the same level of scent.

It’s different, really good, and has fantastic performance. Pretty simple presentation, as well.

My main problem with this fragrance, is with how it opens. Patchouli, bergamot, angelica…it doesn’t come together all that wonderfully. However, Luna Rossa Black surprised me during the dry down. Amber and tonka bean combine to make it sweet, smooth, and warm.

Is it incredible? No, but I love the use of that familiar Prada amber note, and tonka bean is among my favorite note. If you can get a good price, it’s a darker sweet scent for the winter.

Luna Rossa Carbon– I like wearing Carbon occasionally. It often gets compared to Dior Sauvage EDT, but, I think that this Prada version is better.

It opens up with a strong bergamot, ambroxan, pepper, and lavender. The lavender will really come into its own later, and take over the scent. It has good longevity and sillage.

Not my favorite scent, but I thought that I’d list it here, as another option. It’s certainly popular and has its fans.