Top Selling Fragrances

Eros for Men EDT by Versace

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In mythology, Eros was the God of Love. Perhaps it is fitting that a mythological deity who inspires love, should have a fragrance named after him. Italian fashion house, Versace, has a long history of producing fashionable and very well done colognes for men.

I am updating (and have been previously) this review of Eros for Men after spending years, coming back to it, and refining my opinion of this cologne.

This has become one of my favorite scents from the brand, as it just strikes me as something so different from the rest of the line. In this post, I want to explore how this cologne smells, how it performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is a buy.

What does Versace Eros EDT Smell Like?

versace eros

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

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

Intro to Eros

The first thing that one should know about Eros, is that it is a very strong fragrance, in certain circumstances. While there are plenty of others out there which you can wear many sprays and not offend, Eros is not among them. Which can be a good thing, as when you have to use less, the bottle itself will last for a longer period of time.

However, let this serve as a warning to those who like to wear too much cologne, because while this smells great, too much of a good thing will have you repelling people left and right.

That being said, the mythological moniker, has proved to be utterly appropriate for this scent since its release six or so years back. Eros has such a lively character and intensity, which really sets it apart from other fragrances and probably why it’s a perennial best seller.

Versace didn’t hold back with this one and its sheer boldness has garnered it a legion of dedicated supporters over the years. It’s also not just loud for loud’s sake, it is insanely attractive, and a cologne with complete sex appeal.

My Full Review

This Versace eau de toilette opens with a zesty Italian lemon note, that is joined by a crisp juicy green apple, and the cool spice of mint leaves. Eros is super fresh, intense, and has quite the masculine presence.

What’s always been interesting to me, is how there is a slight chocolate undertone, which sits throughout the wear, but mostly in the opening minutes. I know that I’m not the only one who detects this, but what I take it to be is the interplay between the dry vetiver, vanilla (among other sweet notes), and tonka bean.

It is sort of the same effect (chocolate aroma without the ingredient) you find in Dior Homme Intense, though, these are entirely different fragrances.

Eros is a cologne that yields a definite spiciness to how it projects itself. Not a peppery or overwhelming spice, mind you. The mint oil note probably gives it the strongest sense of spiciness, as it is a dominate note in Eros’ presentation.

It’s really a blend that is headed up by mint, vanilla, and tonka bean with the latter two notes helping to create that very rich warmth and ‘delicious’ flavor that this cologne becomes known for. This is offset by the cold crispness of mint (and apple to some extent).

Update: The newer batches have had an impact on my opinion of Eros EDT. I’ve tried a few different samples and minis and they now seem to be skewed towards a strong lemon in the opening, with more ambroxan (like Flame) in the dry down. The balanced nuance with the vanilla appears to be lost.

Some people find this cologne to be too sweet for their tastes, and though I agree that it can be too much sometimes, I also find it to be very pleasing to wear when I’m in the right mood for this Versace beast.

I think that there are much sweeter or candy-like fragrances out there and Eros gets balanced out but it other ingredients. It sort of tones down, once the fruit top notes recede into the background.

Further on in the drydown period, Eros really becomes an enveloping fragrance. It’s like a delicious gourmand cloud of warmth. The ambroxan amber and an ever so slight floral note (geranium) emerge to flank the main trio of notes.

It’s a radiating aura of a smooth, creamy, and freshly sensual aroma with the vanilla note at its absolute apex. Ambroxan is seemingly used in just about every new release nowadays. I think between this and Dior’s Sauvage, designers needed to put out as many copycat scents as possible. In Eros, the amber is great, and gives a perfectly desirable effect. (Update: Again, now it’s too much).

Then, we get to the base, ever present but most detectable a few hours after application. Dry woods and earthy aromas, this is the foundation of the entire fragrance.

Mostly what I get from the base, is the dual blend of cedarwood notes (Atlas and Virginia), which are staples in men’s fragrances. This is what gives Eros its staying power and strong virile character. Throw in some oak moss and the aforementioned vetiver and this scent is perfectly rounded out.

How Long Does Eros Last?

Beyond being just a strong cologne, Eros also tends to last a long time as well. Seriously, a few sprays will last all day on my skin and well into the evening. Eros is an absolute monster in terms of performance, in my experience with it.

Longevity can of course vary based on one’s own skin, body chemistry, and the batch of the fragrance being sold. I haven’t heard anything about any significant reformulations of the scent by Versace yet, but I’ve tended to get 8-10+ of wear from Eros, depending on the climate that particular day.

Update: Yeah, it seems like it’s lost a step to me. Still very strong, but not to the same degree, in the latest batches I’ve tried. The longevity is still fine, just less of the wears that hit double digit hours.

So, yeah, not only is the sillage great; Eros also tends to last a very long time. More than you will need under most circumstances. Again, I’ve never needed or wanted to spray this at a maximum of 3 times. In confined space, I’m not even going more than two spritzes.

When Should You Wear Eros? Is it Versatile?

I like it best as a romantic or nightlife fragrance, I mean, you can wear it during the daytime but tread lightly in an office type environment. When I wore it casually to work, I’d put on only 1 spray and let it breathe some before heading into the office.

Update: Nowadays, you could probably do 2 sprays in this scenario. The initial release was an absolute monster, it’s still heavy, just not to the same degree.

I also wouldn’t wear this during the summertime and I don’t think it holds up well in the heat. At night, you can rock Eros during the warmer months, I just really don’t like what the humidity turns this one into.

This cologne is built for the cooler weather and it is absolutely beautiful during that time of year. Eros hangs so beautifully in the cold and envelops you in a warm and sweet cloud of fragrance that will have you wanting to catch a sniff of yourself all day. Now, picture how that turns out in hot and humid conditions.

It’s versatile in the sense that you can wear it everyday, if you go light with it. However, I really do keep it limited to evenings out, and casual daytime use. Personally, I don’t need such a bold cologne for situations that don’t call for it.

In terms of the age of a potential wearer, this scent does seem to skew younger, but I don’t find it to be a ‘teenager’ scent exclusively.

Sure, high school guys through men in their twenties, have really latched on to Eros and propelled it to top seller status…but it still works for males of all ages. Don’t let the sweet elements dissuade you, this Versace is still plenty manly and just exudes a vigorous confidence.

Eros Flame vs Eros

In 2018, Versace finally released a flanker fragrance to the original Eros, some six years after it came out. This cologne comes in a Ruby Red bottle and is called Eros Flame (linked my review).

Is it better than the original? In my opinion, no. It shares a lot of similarities, but ultimately takes things in a new direction during the dry down.  For a complete head to head breakdown: Eros vs. Eros Flame

Final Thoughts on Eros for Men

Overall, I rather like Eros a lot as a cologne. I think it is one that will work great from the Fall to the early Spring because its spice and rich aroma will project well in the crisp air of those months. If you’re a guy who like layered scents that are wholly masculine, then Eros might be just what you’re looking for.

Update: This was one of my favorites of the best-selling designer colognes. Nowadays, not so much. I still like it, but the formula just feels off to me.

The citrus is stepped up or the creaminess of the vanilla/tonka bean is scaled back, or both. I don’t think it’s just my imagination, as I wore this for years after this initial review came out in 2013 or 2014. With a thinner and less rich and creamy envelopment, the ambroxan comes on a bit too much, also.

I don’t think the new batches are bad or anything, just had to drop the score below down 10-15%. You might want to check out the newer Eros releases too, EDP and Parfum. EDP captures a similar start to how EDT used to smell, but not quite.

Actually, I prefer Parfum to EDP overall, since EDP changes away from being a close comparison to the original EDT formulation. Still, none of the Eros releases really stand out as being significantly better than the others, in my opinion. I’d either go Parfum or EDT here in 2023.

Test them out and see which is best on your skin. Hopefully, with EDT you still get to experience more of that vanilla richness the 2012 version had.

If you don’t like sweetness, gourmand type of scents, or colognes that can be heavy…I would avoid Eros in that case. This is a bold and gaudy fragrance, that isn’t for the meek or those who are in the market for a moderate, year-round scent.

It has a specific function in a cologne collection and Eros does what it does very well. It’s not for everybody, but it is damn good.

Eros Flame by Versace

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I have been waiting for many months to get my hands on a bottle of this new Versace release, Eros Flame. I heard about it, saw that it was released in Europe, and couldn’t find any info as to when it was coming to the US.

It was a few months in between its European release and when I could actually purchase a bottle for myself, but finally the day came and I ordered it immediately.

I am a fan of the original, so, I was pretty excited to try out the new Eros in the sharp looking red bottle. Does it meet expectations? What does Flame actually smell like? Can it match the performance of the original? Is it even worth a purchase?

What Does Eros Flame Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, tangerine, chinotto accord, black pepper, wild mountain rosemary, pepperwood, geranium, rose, cedar, patchouli, vetiver, oak moss, sandalwood, tonka bean, and vanilla

Click here to try: Versace Eros Flame 100ml 3.4Oz Eau de Parfume For Men

My Full Wear Review

Eros Flame opens in a similar manner to the original Versace Eros, but has enough differences to be a distinct fragrance. You can definitely tell that the two share a common DNA. The main overlap that I noticed immediately, was in the use of citrus in the top notes.

The lemon note is prominent in both, at the start, and is exactly the same. However, in Eros Flame it is joined by a tangerine note, that will eventually take over the composition from its citrus compatriot.

The tangerine/lemon combo is very bright and juicy at the top. It brings to mind not only the original Eros, but also, Ultra Zest by Thierry Mugler in its orange citrus use. This is especially the case, when the emergent vanilla and tonka bean bring about that smooth creamy aroma.

Versace says that the citrus pairing is a part of a chinotto accord, which is a carbonated soft drink in Italy. I’m not familiar with this at all, so I can’t really speak on what that supposed to smell like.

Now, there are of course, differences at the beginning even with all of the shared commonalities. The green apple from the original is gone and replaced by that tangerine. Also, the cool refreshing mint, has been replaced by a warm black pepper note instead.

The pepper here isn’t crazy spicy and probably not as strong as the mint is in the original. It does add a different element to the composition of Flame and really is the signal that this cologne is changing into something quite different from its predecessor.

On the whole, I really enjoy the opening act. The citrus and vanilla/tonka bean is familiar and there is a certain effervescent quality to the whole thing.

As it dries down, Flame takes on a lot of outdoorsy/woodsy elements, and even during this stage it share some with the original. Cedar, vetiver, oak moss and geranium are all here from the original.

The strength of each has changed particularly the cedar note but the geranium feels a tad more prevalent in Flame. One thing that is different is the rosemary, which I pick up a lot on, maybe an hour or so into the wear.

Flame has a woody and dry earthy base, like Eros, but it is much stronger in the newer version. Rosemary, cedar, some sandalwood, and a very slight hint of rose at times.

All of this sits underneath a top of tangerine, vanilla, tonka bean, and some light black pepper. It is noticeably different from Eros and especially the complete lack of mint here.

The dry down, isn’t my favorite part of Flame. Since wearing this, I really love the opening act, but seem to have to be in the right mood to truly enjoy the latter stages of it.

How Long Does it Last? How Strong is the Sillage?

Projection wise, Eros Flame is really strong on my skin. I definitely get that famous Eros sillage out of this flanker, and two sprays is fairly bold, I can pick it up when sprayed on an old t-shirt across the room. It does calm down, as it dries down, because that lemon top note fades.

However, it provides a solidly strong projection for the entire wear. This isn’t one that I need to spray, very much at all. It gets noticed by others, even with a lighter application, in my experience.

Update: The more time I spent with Flame the more I realized the sillage was crazy. One of the strongest mainstream designer scents that I’ve come across. I think that it actually outdid the initial batches of Eros EDT. I could spray this one something far away in another room and catch whiffs of it. Not sure if newer bottles maintained this power, but geez it was loud…

Longevity is also very good, I hit double digit hours with it each time, that I put it on. Versace didn’t screw this one up, in terms of performance.

Update: I have been using my bottle for months now and the longevity is insane on my skin. I can hit 13-15 hours, at times. It just keeps going.

Update 2: Newer bottles don’t have this same staying power or even close. Same thing happened to the original Eros. Now, it’s in the 8-9 hour range and not nearly as strong.

Versatility. When Should You Wear Eros Flame?

Seasonally, it doesn’t differ in my opinion, from the original. It is best in the colder months of autumn and winter, but can extend its wear into the spring. I think that the absence of amber, could let it perform a little better in the heat, but it’s not a summertime fragrance for me.

Eros Flame has good versatility. If you go super light, it can be an office scent…though, I wouldn’t use it for that purpose. But, it’s best as a casual wear, and especially as a nightlife one.

For some guys, they would choose this as a daily wear and it could certainly serve that purpose, as well.

It still has that Eros vigorous youthfulness, but never feels like something only a teenager can wear. It is attractive and has a level of sexiness about it. Obviously, I think it’s less sexy in the later stages, but I’m sure others will disagree.

Overall Impression of Flame

Overall, do I like Versace Eros Flame? I do. I bought a full bottle of this stuff as a complete blind buy and still plan on wearing it, after testing it out. That’s a good sign, I at least didn’t throw away money.

Update: The more that I wore it, the less I enjoyed Flame. I like the opening citrus, but the later dry down, gets on my nerves. Seriously, that dry down just grated on me. Something about it, that I’ve also found with the newer batches of Eros EDT…just to the extreme with this one.

The vanilla and tonka bean started to have less of an influence, in those latter stages. Also, once the citrus had mostly burned off, I just felt it less.

I ended up getting rid of my bottle, after not using it much at all past those initial 5-6 months. Even during that phase, it was sparsely worn. So, it sat on my shelf for over 2 years. The red bottle did look fantastic, however.

I know that this is some people’s favorite Eros. To me, it’s the worst. Opening hour or so is attractive and after that…meh. 

If you enjoyed the original Eros, you’ll more than likely be into Flame. If you didn’t like Eros, it probably won’t change your mind.

I don’t think that Flame surpasses the original, it has a lot of similarities, but offers more woodiness and enough differences to keep it interesting for me. Flame is a great balance of sweetness with dry woods and a peppery spice.

The citrus is similar at the beginning to Eros, but changes, and is a consistent aspect of the cologne. It is worth a try and should enjoy plenty of popularity in the near future.

Top 20 Best Selling Men’s Colognes 2023

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When shopping for a new cologne either for yourself or as a gift for someone else, a good place to start is by seeking out a list of the best selling colognes, in order to find something which already has a broad base of support. After all, if they’re are best sellers then they ought to smell at least somewhat good, right? Here is my updated page, keeping track of these fragrances.

How I assembled this List

I went through dozens of online retailers websites from around the globe, creating top 20 lists from their stock, sorting by top sellers.

Obviously, I don’t have sales data for each fragrance, so a lot of this is guess work and seeing repeating patterns. Plus, I do have lots of search information with this website in particular, that helps me have a deeper understanding of the market.

Also, there is the limitation based on what the criteria for each retailer’s sorting mechanism is. Is the top seller sorting based on sales from the past day or how many months back?

I also used dozens of websites in different regions, as some places like Sephora only carry certain brands. I chose sites from among discounters, mid-range retail shops, and high-end department stores. That way, there’s plenty of variety.

It’s not perfect, but this top 20 list is a pretty good representation of the top of the top sellers.

The only fragrance that I know for sure is the top seller in the world is Sauvage. LVMH has stated that to be a fact. That’s only because it is the first men’s fragrance to outsell all other women’s fragrances too.

There is a ton of overlap across sites, which is what gives me the top 20. But, I’ll share some fragrances here that were best sellers in their particular market space, that don’t make the main list.

At the discounter level, these colognes are still very popular:

In the UK and EU, there are some scents that hit the top 20 sellers in those regions, but not in the US…including:

Now, the main list is strictly men’s colognes. Here are some of the top-selling unisex perfumes:

  • Santal 33
  • Another 13
  • Myrrh and Tonka
  • Baccarat Rouge 540

20 Best Selling Men’s Fragrances

Again, outside of the top spot, this isn’t really going to be in complete order. The second through the fifth or sixth spot, is probably pretty correct, but not necessarily in order. After that, there isn’t a ranking really, just colognes that make the cut.

I’ve combined many of the EDP, EDT, Parfum flankers into one main entry for these fragrances. That way it’s not just a repeating list of variations of the same colognes. So, it’s actually going to be more than 20 options.

Sauvage– The number one spot and a scent that is pretty ubiquitous at this point. The original EDT still gathers a lot of sales. However, the Eau de Parfum and Elixir versions are also consistently topping retailer bestsellers. So much so, that they’re just getting combined into this one spot on the list.

Elixir takes the Sauvage name in its own direction, still tied to the formulation in some ways, but smelling quite unique. The EDP is the best of the original set of flankers, in my opinion. I would go with that one versus the EDT any day of the week.

Bleu de Chanel– Bleu de Chanel doesn’t appear like it will ever lose its spot on this list. It’s tough to tell which version is the best seller, at this point, but I think it might be the EDP.

All of them are great in their own ways. The citrus and amber and spicy mix has become a staple. Clean and still beautiful to wear after all of these years. Very much worth a spot in anyone’s collection.

Eros– The Eros line is still going strong. I used to really love the initial release, among my old favorites. However, to me the lemon note in the EDT has gotten way more pronounced and it doesn’t smell the same, in my opinion. Plus, it’s not as powerful and long-lasting.

The original batches had a great blend of mint, vanilla, lemon, etc. It was fantastic. I’ve tried multiple minis and samples and never recapture that original magic. Though, it’s still worth it among the popular designer colognes, not to make it sound as if I hate Eros…I don’t.

The EDP, Parfum, and Flame have become top sellers themselves in various regions.

Aventus– Through no fault of its own (other than being a great fragrance), Creed Aventus has just become annoying to talk about.

The massive popularity has spawned dozens of knock offs and other colognes trying to steal elements of its style. The industry sure knows how to beat a trend to death. Nonetheless, the original remains a best seller even with its lofty price.

Y EDP– Well, the Y line is represented mostly by the EDP version. It is pretty much a bestseller across every website that features it. Y Le Parfum, has also crept up and is routinely in that 10-20 range, so it’s getting combined into one entry.

I have a bottle of EDP, that I do still wear. I was higher on this fragrance when it came out, but don’t enjoy it quite as often in my rotation. Le Parfum is actually a lot of people’s favorite from the line. I like it, though, it never was really my thing.

y edp intense review

Acqua Di Gio By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 6.7 Ounces
Chances are that you’ve smelled this wildly popular cologne before, even if you didn’t know about it. Acqua di Gio is a fantastic scent that is always among the top sellers.  

The citrus, the sea notes, the florals. It’s such a balanced and well done fragrance. It’s easy to forget about as it’s been a staple for over 25 years now.

I grabbed samples of this a year or two ago to see how it still performed. The scent is still the great aroma, that I remember. The longevity has taken a hit. Now, it’s around 5-6 hours. Not amazing, but AdG is usually available at a fairly affordable price. Acqua Di Gio Review

acqua

Paco Rabanne 1 Million By Paco Rabanne For Men Edt Spray, 3.4 Ounce– Another men’s fragrance that has been an extremely popular option for well over a decade. 1 Million still has a spot on the list, even if it’s not higher ranked, like it probably used to be.

The newer bottles don’t seem to be as powerful or as long lasting, as the original batches were. Nevertheless, it still is like 85% of what it once was.

The leather, rose, and citrus opening create a sweetish ‘grape bubble gum’ sort of aroma. This is mixed with spices and an enveloping warmth. The dry down is less of the sweet, more of the leathery amber and spice blend. I’m still a fan, even if it’s no longer a part of my rotation. 1 Million Review

1 Million Elixir– 1 Million Elixir was more of a surprise to me. I hadn’t realized how popular this flanker had become. But, it was consistently running near the top of websites from the USA and EU. We’ll see how long it lasts, but for 2023 it makes the cut.

It opens up with a crisp fruity kick of green apple. The blend underneath is a Damask rose, osmanthus, and davana. The rose is a lighter and sweeter variety. The dry down is mostly about the vanilla and tonka bean with everything else playing a bit role.

I enjoyed this one. It’s actually one of the better flankers from the 1 Million line, so maybe it will have some staying power. 1 Million Elixir review

Profondo– Another AdG fragrance and I’ll give this one it’s own spot on the list. This one is popular worldwide, but Profumo is up there in popularity in Europe.

This version is aquatic, fresh, and woody with a nice citrus opening act. Doesn’t have the smokiness of Profumo and is less of a salty sort of marine accord. Good balance and performer. Profondo Review

Dylan Blue– I get the popularity for this one. It’s not my favorite, by any stretch, but the opening has been something that I’ve enjoyed from time to time.

It is interesting that Dylan Blue Pour Homme is still the only men’s release from this line, even with immense and steady sales. The women’s line now stands at three fragrances.

Still, this is a nice option for younger guys who don’t want to overthink things.

The One by Dolce & Gabbana– This is one of my favorite colognes. Most people’s only gripe, is that it doesn’t last long enough. For me, if I spray enough, the longevity is fine (Eau de Parfum). But, you will have to spray more than you usually do with other fragrances.

The warmth, tobacco, sweetness, and spicy elements are all so fantastic. Get the EDP version, because the longevity of the EDT is actually terrible, and there’s no getting past it no matter how much you spray.

I’m glad I picked up another full bottle last year. Notes include: coriander, grapefruit, tobacco, cedar, orange blossom, and ginger among others. The One EDP Review

the one edp review

Versace Pour Homme (Signature)– This Versace scent is fairly unique in its composition of notes. It’s a blend of woodsy and floral scents such as jasmine and kashmir wood that make it a fragrance that stands out.

It’s still chugging along it seems. This was one of the colognes which was on the original 2014 era list. People stiil love it. Versace Review

versace pour homme

Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana– Another great choice in the casual cologne market. Light Blue is a highly popular choice for both men and women for good reason, it’s light, subtle, and smells fantastic.

Light Blue is such an easy first cologne, as it is super versatile, and checks a lot of boxes as to what you’d want in a fragrance.

Eau Intense has especially gained in popularity over the years, too. I saw it pop up as a top seller across multiple sites. However, the original is still the higher ranked of the two. Even if Eau Intense is actually better. Light Blue Review

Gucci Guilty– Guilty is another one that has spawned almost countless iterations over the past decade-plus. The original EDT is still a very nice wear and fairly unique while being mass appealing.

A balanced lemon, pink pepper, and lavender note start things off. It’s a lighter cologne, floral with further touches of neroli and orange blossom. A bit sweet, somewhat woody, and overall pretty linear with its presentation.

Guilty EDT is extremely versatile and an easy all-around fragrance to start a collection with.

Born in Roma– I don’t get why this one has become so popular, maybe its comparisons. The series as a whole is kind of meh, but apparently sells better than the previous Valentino Uomo line that it sort of replaced as the flagship. Even though, that had way more beautiful colognes.

To me, it’s mid. The whole series just doesn’t do much to get me interested. This one in particular isn’t anything special. It has a strong resemblance to Invictus, but I think I like the Paco Rabanne more.

It does have it’s own soapier personality in the dry down. Even then, the mineral accord and violet leaf aren’t my favorite notes. Born in Roma review

Phantom– Another Paco Rabanne, another scent that I don’t much care for. Phantom has a nice enough start, but isn’t really great overall. Maybe people really like the bottle?

The start is a lemon zest, with a juicy and somewhat tropical undertone. It smells like a pineapple or maybe even a touch of mango. That is a brief experience. Then, it becomes a lavender dominated scent with earthy, woody, and herbal notes. Phantom Review

phantom cologne review

Invictus by Paco Rabanne–  The sweet and youthful Invictus is perpetually among the top sellers in this past decade. It has spawned a ton of flanker fragrances to boot.

Invictus Victory is the most popular at the moment and is another cologne that I combined with its parent into one entry.

Victory smells more like the Pure XS line that Paco Rabanne came out with versus being another Invictus flanker. It’s sweet and boozy. The vanilla and amber notes really come through well in the dry down, almost producing a blend of chocolate and vanilla aromas.

Luna Rossa Ocean– A lot of the Prada Luna Rossa fragrances are in the mix. The newer Ocean appears to have secured a spot in the top 20, though.

This one is a mixed bag. I loved the opening act. I wish that they could have captured that and made it last for 8 hours. The problem is, it is short-lived and the back half of the fragrance while smelling nice, is very weak.

Suede, caramel, and tonka bean with a fresh bergamot citrus was a great idea. The rest of the execution, eh…Luna Rossa Ocean Review

Le Male Le Parfum– Following in the footsteps of the original Le Male and Ultra Male, Le Parfum is now the premier option from Gaultier.

Very nice with the appealing DNA of the original Le Male, especially coming from the lavender in the beginning. This is sort of an updated version of the classic.

It also gives you hints of Ultra Male, without the same powerful sillage (though, performance is still very good). Very warm with spicy punches throughout and wrapped up in that familiar JPG vanilla note.

The Most Wanted Parfum– From ‘The Wanted’ line The Most Wanted Parfum is now the best seller on most sites. I cannot really disagree with the demand for this cologne, as it is one of the two best from the series. The other is The Most Wanted EDP.

The opening ginger note is absolute fire. I love that spicy kick and the sweet toffee dry down is also great. Not very complicated scent, but a very good one all around.

most wanted parfum review

Versace Eros vs Eau Fraiche Cologne Comparison

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Versace has a whole line of wonderful smelling men’s colognes and two of the best selling fragrances in the world belong to the franchise, Eros and Versace Man Eau Fraiche. As such, many guys narrow their choice of what cologne to purchase to between these Versace gems.

How do they compare? Which one smells better? Which lasts longer? In this post, I want to compare these two scents and try to determine a clear winner or at least point to some deciding factors, that should help make a decision.

Tale of the Tape: Eau Fraiche vs. Eros

Versace Eros

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

Read my Eros review

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

Versace Man Eau Fraiche 

Notes include: Lemon, Rosewood, Carambola, Cedar leaves, Tarragon, Sage, Musk, Amber, Sycamore

My original review

Click here to try: Versace Man Eau Fraiche By Gianni Versace For Men Edt Spray 3.4 Oz

Opening

The opening of Eros is rich and complex. It’s a gourmand type of scent that blends the crispness of mint and apple with the smooth flavors of tonka bean and vanilla.

Update: Newer bottles seem to have more lemon, then they used to. As such, the opening act has a more noticeable citrus kick.

Eau Fraiche is a very cool fragrance that opens with the scent of frozen citrus, you literally get a chilled scent. It’s quite sharp with lemon and starfruit. Add to that, some rosemary spice and the freshness of the woody base.

I think Eros has more character and is more interesting from the beginning, though I have no complaints about either. I do really like the starfruit aspect of Eau Fraiche, but I’d still give Eros the edge.

Update: Ehhh, coming back to these two. I am going to change it to Fraiche. Maybe it’s just me, but the balance of the newer Eros bottles seems off. The opening of Fraiche is sharp and fresh, but strikes me as a bit better now.

Edge: Fraiche

Projection

Neither of these bad boys is weak by any means. Eros is loud and heavy. Seriously, I wouldn’t ever overdo this scent. Eau Fraiche is no slouch and while not as strong as Eros it can still be a projection beast, at first.

Update: Eros has weakened somewhat, but is still ahead in this matchup. Eau Fraiche becomes more of a moderate, the further along you get into it. It’s sharpness up top, does project very well, though.

Edge: Eros

Longevity

Again, both are good performers. All day wear from both. Eros just doesn’t seem to quit sometimes, while Man Eau Fraiche, usually gets me 6-7 hours of solid wear before tapering off.

Update: Nowadays, I get in the 8-9 hour range with Eros. Not double digits anymore.

Edge: Eros

Versatility

To me, this is where the true decision lies between these two colognes. Eros is a cold weather fragrance and can be too much for casual situations (at least use it lightly).

Meanwhile, Eau Fraiche is a classic summetime scent, it can hold up during the rest of the year but it has that warm weather vibe to it. Plus, Eau Fraiche, is better for casual situations since it is not as heavy.

Eau Fraiche just has an easier time fitting in during a greater number of scenarios. Neither is a formal fragrance, however.

Edge: Eau Fraiche

Overall Scent

I like Eros better. I just find the warmth and complexity inherently appealing. However, Versace Man Eau Fraiche is probably more serviceable as an everyday wear. One is built for the winter while another shines in the summer.

They really are on two ends of the spectrum, so the best buy is up to your personal needs from the fragrance. I’d rather wear Eros out of these two. Even, with the slight changes I pick up from newer bottles of Eros, I still would gravitate toward that more often.

That being said, it’s much closer than it used to be and I’m very close to give Fraiche the win straight up. If I’m going to get a lemony opening from both, I like the pairing with starfruit from Fraiche.

The mint, vanilla, lemon blend used to be better. But, on the whole, Eros still has plenty going for it.

Winner: Eros (very slightly)

10 Best Smelling Creed Perfumes for Women

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Creed is a boutique fragrance designer which dates back centuries and has designed fragrances for for royalty and celebrities around the world (at least according to their stories). Creed is known for using the finest ingredients and creating complex natural scents that stand out among a crowd of imitators.

Their line of women’s perfumes seem to be mostly floral based and while many share similar floral notes, each one has a unique twist on them to add fruity, spicy, or other undertones. As always, I have linked out to a page where is of these scents can be purchased at a great price.

You may also find great Creed fragrances that can be worn by women in my Best Creed Colognes for Men post!

What are the Best Creed Fragrances for Ladies?

Most Popular Creed Perfume 

Creed Spring Flower by Creed for Women Millesime Spray, 2.5 Ounce– Notes include jasmine, peach, apple, musk, melon, rose, ambergris.  Spring Flower is an uplifting fruity scent with bright, floral undertones.

Melon, peach and apple are paired for a crisp and juicy sweet start to the wear.  Then, the rose and jasmine note usher in its flowery namesake, which is quite pretty.

Along with the typical Creed ambergris note, Spring Flower has a musky dry down that is fairly potent. The flower aspect is more prominent further along in the life cycle, with jasmine and musk being the highlights at that point. Meanwhile, the fruit notes have become more subdued.

Spring Flower isn’t really a heavy fragrance, more light to moderate. However, it provides good longevity, and versatility. It can definitely become a signature every day wear.

spring-flower-75ml-creed

Elegant Creed Fragrance

CREED FLEURISSIMO by Creed for WOMEN: EAU DE PARFUM SPRAY 2.5 OZ– A more mature floral than Spring Flower and not as bright as that fragrance. Classy and elegant. This actually lacks the fruits found in the first entry.

Instead one is left with a bouquet of florals with iris, violet, and tuberose. Fleurissimo has a vintage style and a garden rich profile.

As it dries down, this Creed scent has more warmth and a soapy/powdery clean quality. This is an all day wear, with excellent longevity. A springtime fragrance. Notes include: Bulgarian rose, violet, tuberose, Florentine iris.

creed fleurissimo

Classic Rose, Citrus, and Musk

Creed Fleurs De Bulgarie By Creed Millesime Spray For Women 2.5 oz– A very old perfume, supposedly dating back to 1845. Fleurs De Bulgarie is another floral perfume but one with more of a kick of citrus and spice to it.

This floral, however, is straight rose. It’s sweet and clean with a musky profile.

Fleurs de Bulgarie is pretty linear, but the dry down elevates the ambergris to go along with that great rose essence.

Obviously, it has been updated along the way, by Fleurs is still a wonderful addition to one’s collection.  Notes include: Bulgarian Rose Essences, Musks, Ambergris, bergamot. 

Fleurs De Bulgarie

Amazing Vanilla

Sublime Vanille– Creed’s Sublime Vanilla, might have the best smelling vanilla note that I’ve ever come across, it’s absolutely delightful. That creamy goodness is joined up top by orange and lemon, that creates a dessert-like quality to this scent.

It’s warm, with some additional touches of musk and tonka bean. A softer fragrance, that isn’t too complicated, but shows the absolute quality of the Royal Exclusives line of perfumes by Creed.

The issue that can come up with this one, is the heavy price tag. It is even higher priced than the others on this list. The sillage and performance are pretty good, just not outstanding. What you do get is a nice creamy vanilla, with bright citrus, and a bit of musk. Sublime Vanille Review

Sweet Violet

Love in Black– I’m personally not a huge fan of wearing violet fragrances, but I have to say I do enjoy the way that Love in Black by Creed smells.

First, it opens up with a sweet and tart black currant note that can come across like a jam. This is joined by a fresh cedar, giving it an interesting, though not always immediately enjoyable smell.

The iris and violet notes come through, giving this one a powdery aroma, fairly similar to Broadway Nite (that’s probably more powdery, but smells a lot like Love in Black).

It will become an intense violet aroma, with a sweetness, mixed floral notes, and some slight woodiness. Love in Black isn’t for everyone, so, it’d probably be best to test before committing to a full bottle.

Yet, for those who enjoy violet, this is a great example and wonderful performer.

Princess Creed

Royal Princess Oud– Royal Princess Oud is an interesting one. Like, Love in Black it features violet and iris, but early on this is paired with citrus and is way less dense.

In fact, it’s kind of bright and a bit green/floral at the early stages. The title-sake agarwood will come on, but it doesn’t feel overwhelming.

The fragrance certainly has its stronger ingredients, but also feels very balanced for much of the wear.

Yet, this stuff is intricate. The powdery qualities of the florals have their time. Bright citrus. Woodiness. Spice. Then, a resin/creaminess of vanilla, sandalwood, and some benzoin. The opening can be rough, but the development is really great.

Tuberose-led White Floral

Tubereuse Indiana By Creed For Women. Millesime Spray 2.5 Oz– Tuberose Indiana brings on a nice smelling bouquet of white floral notes highlighted by the tuberose, but not really dominated. In addition, one gets a hint of bergamot, and a creamy vanilla at the top.

Then, there is the ambergris and fairly heavy musk. With that, a slight earthiness in the middle act, and a spiced kick too. The mix is attractive for those who like an old school sort of floral perfume, but not completely stuck in the past.

Notes include vanilla, ambergris, tuberose, white flowers, and bergamot. Captivating smell.

Tubereuse Indiana

Best Woody Fragrance

Vanisia By Creed For Women. Millesime Spray 2.5 Oz– A nice, feminine scent that screams sophistication. Vanisia is a move away from the strictly floral scents featured before. This is a very well performing blend of mostly sandalwood and vanilla.

Naturally, the Creed ambergris is another heavy hitter within the composition but there is also a straight amber note, which makes for an interesting pairing.

Vanisia is like vintage confidence in a bottle, with jasmine playing a supporting role to the main ingredients. Notes include: Jasmine, vanilla, rose, sandalwood

vanisia

Best Summertime Pick

Acqua Fiorentina Perfume by Creed for women Millesime Spray 2.5 oz
A complex fragrance that is a light aromatic with layered notes of (some) floral and (mostly) citrus.

This is the go to, if you like fruitier compositions. Bergamot, lemon, and plum start off Acqua Fiorentina with a very bright and quite sharp citrus sensation.

However, there is also a crisp apple note in the mix, which adds to the overall juiciness.

As it dries down, there is a hint of rose and carnation, which balances out some of the fruit overload. Plus, the cedar/sandalwood which sits at the base, and holds this whole thing together.

Very much like, The Scent of Peace for Her by Bond No. 9.  Notes include: rose, Virginian cedar, lemon, sandalwood, carnation, bergamot. 

Acqua Fiorentina

Top Winter Creed Scent

Creed Jasmin Imperatrice Eugenie Millesime Spray for Women, 2.5 Ounce– The supposed story behind this one, is that Jasmin Imperatrice was personally designed for Empress Eugenie of France, wife of Napoleon III. Ok, then.

If you enjoy jasmine and sandalwood, this might be your Holy Grail fragrance. It is an elegant woody fragrance with smooth vanilla undertones and that utterly delightful jasmine throughout.

Jasmin Imperatrice is luxurious and royal, whether or not it was actually made for an empress. This perfume has huge sillage and keeps going and going for hours.

Super strong but the sandalwood and jasmine combo might just be worth it to you. Notes include: bergamot, Bulgarian rose, amergris, Italian jasmine, vanilla

Jasmin Imperatrice Eugenie