In today’s head to head fragrance comparison, I am going to take a closer look at to men’s fragrances that feature a leading iris note: Prada L’Homme vs. Dior Homme. Which of these popular designer scents, smells better? Which gives a better performance? Which is the better buy overall?
Tale of the Tape
Prada L’Homme
Notes include: iris, amber, geranium, patchouli, neroli, violet, pepper, cedar
Click here to try: Prada L’Homme Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Fluid Ounce
My review: Prada L’Homme
Dior Homme
Notes include: vetiver, iris, cacao, bergamot, amber, leather, sage, and lavender
Click here to try: Dior Homme By Christian Dior For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces
Read my Full Review: Dior Homme Review
Opening
Prada L’Homme opens up with that fresh powdery floral scent, that is led by the iris note. It also is flanked by neroli and violet. This is all surrounded by amber, dotted with pepper, and on top of a cedar base.
Dior Homme opens up with its own floral blend of iris and lavender. However, it teams that up with a sweet cacao, citrus bergamot, and dry vetiver. With a smooth leather note, coming through.
Which is better? I lean toward the Dior. The Prada is very nice, simple, but smells great. I just think that the Dior’s use of cacao and citrus, give it a more complex, and better aroma.
Edge: Dior
Projection
Both of these fragrances are pretty moderate, in their sillage. Dior Homme might be slightly stronger, but it’s not much, and no significant enough to give an edge here.
Edge: Push
Longevity
I get 5-7 hours with Dior Homme. It’s mostly towards the 7 hours end. However, I can double spray the Dior and get 8-9 hours, and this is what I usually do with my bottle. Prada gives me 6-7 hours of wear, but the double spray really doesn’t add any time…go figure.
Edge: Dior (slightly)
Versatility
Another category that they really overlap. Both are good year round, outside of high heat and humidity. Both are office friendly, can go casual if need be, and have a refined style. I personally think that Dior can venture better into the night life, as the cacao sweetness and leather notes, fit in more than the fresh powdery scent that Prada is.
Edge: Dior (slightly)
Overall Scent
These are two extremely evenly matched fragrances, and since they both are masculine iris-based floral colognes, that is to be expected. Ultimately though, which is the better scent? I’m going to have to go with Dior Homme. It’s my personal choice, the one I went with when buying a full bottle, and is the closest thing that I have to a daily wear.
I really do like Prada L’Homme, it’s a very nice scent, but a pretty straightforward cleanly fresh cologne. Non-offensive with decent performance. I would personally go with, Prada Intense, over this one if I were in the market for a Prada fragrance.
I think Dior is a much more interesting and better fragrance to wear. I love how it has the powdery iris, but that’s not all that it is. It can be dry and woodsy. Sweet. Smoothed by rich leather. Even having a touch of citrus, to set it apart. It’s not way better, but it’s my pick.
Winner: Dior Homme
Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.
One of my favorites during the wintertime. This cologne is sweet and spicy and has the ability to draw women in it seems. 