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Acqua di Gio vs Absolu Cologne Comparison

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For this entry into the men’s fragrance comparisons, I want to do one between the always popular, Acqua di Gio vs. Acqua di Gio Absolu. Absolu is one of its more recent flanker colognes, released by Giorgio Armani. However, does the newer scent, outdo the original? Or does it pale in comparison? Which smells best? Lasts longer? Is the better option?

Tale of the Tape

Acqua di Gio

Notes include: bergamot, tangerine, neroli, jasmine, rosemary, patchouli, rock rose, hyacinth, persimmon, marine notes

Click here to try: Acqua Di Gio By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces

Read my review: Acqua di Gio 

Acqua di Gio Absolu

Notes include: patchouli, marine notes, labdanum, tonka bean, wood, bergamot, grapefruit, lavender, rosemary, apple, pear

Click here to try: Acqua di Giò Absolu Eau de Parfum Spray 4.2 fl oz Men

Read my full review here: Acqua di Gio Absolu

Opening

Acqua di Gio opens up with that now classic tangerine and bergamot pairing, to go along with a sea breeze note, and late jasmine undertones. Clean and fresh aquatic with enough energy to play off of the citrus notes.

Absolu puts together grapefruit and bergamot, as the citrus notes here. It of course has a strong marine note, but also includes apple, and a very noticeable tonka bean. All of this on top of a woody base.

Which is better? While Absolu gets credit for being more complex and interesting, I don’t think that it smells better than the original, at the start. It’s very nice, but the simplicity of AdG, has a lot of appeal.

Edge: AdG

Projection

In terms of sillage, both of the scents end up as the same kind of moderate projecting fragrance. However, for the first two hours of the wear, Absolu feels stronger to me. It’s not a big difference, but was noticeable.

Edge: Absolu

Longevity

The original Acqua di Gio, seems to always give me the same consistent 6-7 hours of wear, before it evaporates. Absolu? It gets me to the 8 hour mark, which isn’t dramatically better, but is a notch above.

Edge: Absolu

Versatility

These colognes obviously are going to share a lot of overlap. When they should be worn is definitely, one of those shared areas. Each is mostly a spring/summer wear, that can be worn year round, if need be. They can fit in a wide variety of situations and are attractive enough to be worn on dates, for younger guys. No real advantage here.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Absolu is a nice fragrance. I like the citrus and marine notes, that mimic the original, but the addition of amber, wood, and tonka bean give it a sweeter and earthier profile. It also has slightly better performance than the original.

However, I still prefer the overall smell of Acqua di Gio versus Absolu. Yes, I’ve smelled it a million times, but it’s just a better wear for me. The blend of citrus notes and floral, sitting in an aquatic environment, is still great over 20 years later.

AdG Profumo, is actually the best of these Armani colognes, in my opinion. Second, is the original, and that’s not much better than Absolu. It is a little bit better, though. Absolu is still a solid wear and worthy of consideration, it gets compared to Invictus Aqua, but gets the nod versus that one.

Winner: Acqua di Gio

Angel Nova vs Muse Perfume Comparison

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Angel has been a best seller for decades now. Over that time span, Mugler has released a bunch of flankers under that banner. Two of the more recent popular entries, have been Angel Muse and Nova. As such, it will often come down to these two, when women are deciding which Angel perfume to buy. In this post, I will compare and contrast these fragrances, before declaring an ultimate winner between them.

Tale of the Tape: Muse vs. Nova

Angel Nova

Notes include: litchi, raspberry, benzoin, Damask rose, akigala wood

Read my full review: Angel Nova

Angel Muse

Notes include: patchouli, vetiver, hazelnut cream, pink pepper, wood

Click here to try: Thierry Mugler Angel Muse Eau de Parfum spray, 1.0 oz

Read my review: Angel Muse EDP

Opening

Angel Nova starts off with a burst of juicy fruit led by the raspberry note. There is also litchi and a slightly tropical aroma, that smells like mango, to my nose. It’s actually a sweet and slightly sour blend, but has a great intensity to it.

Meanwhile, Muse starts off with a sugary sweet blend of patchouli, hazelnut cream, and a bright grapefruit citrus note. It’s warm, a bit earthy, and has the nice creamy sweetness.

Which is better? I do really like Nova. That semi-tropical raspberry bomb, is pretty darn good. However, I prefer Muse. Muse is a bit more traditional, but it really smells wonderful and I preferred it to Nova’s start.

Edge: Muse

Projection

To me, Nova had two phases. First, it’s loud opening act, where the sillage is quite strong. Then, it settles more moderate. Meanwhile, Muse is pretty moderate throughout. Though, probably the upper range of what could be considered moderate.

Nova definitely reaches a higher level of power overall.

Edge: Nova

Longevity

Nova and Muse both have really good performance and will hang on the skin for a long while. With Nova, it was 9 to 11 hours. With Muse, it was 8 to 10 hours.

So, not a huge gap between them, but Nova still has a clear edge here.

Edge: Nova

Versatility

Nova skews toward a younger audience and is best in the spring and summer months. It’s also more casual than Muse.

Muse isn’t a warm weather fragrance and should be worn during autumn and winter. I think that it will appeal to a wider age range and can fit into the nightlife or more formal occasions better than Nova can.

Edge: Muse

Overall Scent

I personally enjoyed Nova during testing. The opening act, where it is a fruity bomb was great. But, not everyone is going to like it. It does have some more depth, a bit of spiciness, and notes like benzoin to add more depth.

Nova is a very nice perfume and will give you great performance.

However, I prefer Angel Muse more so than its newer counterpart. It’s warm, sweet, and dry with a nice vetiver note in the base. It also has a creamy sweet aroma mix of hazelnut and cocoa, which comes together extremely well.

No, it’s not as powerful as Nova, but it’s close enough. Plus, it smells better and can be worn in more scenarios. For most folks out there, Muse will be the one to go with.

Winner: Angel Muse

Polo Red EDT vs. EDP

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Polo Red has been used for many releases by Ralph Lauren since the EDT was initially brought to market last decade. Now, they have come out with an Eau de Parfum version after cycling through Intense, Rush, Extreme, etc. The EDP does raise the question, which is better? EDT or the newer bottle? Which lasts longer? Which should you buy?

 

Tale of the Tape: Polo Red EDP vs Red EDT

Polo Red

Notes include: grapefruit, italian lemon, cranberry, saffron, sage, coffee beans, and amber

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

Read my full review: Polo Red

Polo Red Eau de Parfum

Notes include: red grapefruit, ginger, cranberry, lavender, sage, cedar, benzoin, oud, resin, musk

Read my full review: Polo Red EDP

Opening

The original Polo Red starts off with a sharp, sweet, and tart blend of notes: lemon, cranberry, and grapefruit. While the cranberry is the strongest note, the lemon is also quite prevalent and there is a growing amber coming from the base.

Meanwhile, Red EDP starts off with the same cranberry and grapefruit sans lemon. Instead, you get ginger and later the sage note begins to take shape.

Between the two, EDP feels more tolerable and not as in your face as the original. The cranberry note is given more space to shine and I always love a good ginger.

I do also like the EDT, it’s just that, the lemon and amber can be a bit much and overly tart and sweet when it’s all blended.

Edge: EDP

Sillage

Both EDT and EDP start off projecting themselves well and as fairly strong overall. Then, each settles into more of a moderate scent. While EDP has the greater concentration of fragrance, it’s actually only slightly better in this regard, when compared with EDT.

Edge: EDP

Longevity

Red EDT lasts 4-6 hours on my skin. If I double up, I can get a few more out of the wear. EDP is better, but is by no means elite. 6-7.5 hours is what I’ve been getting out of it. Still, it takes this round.

Edge: EDP

 

Versatility

Red EDP is good fragrance in any season other than the summer. Meanwhile, the EDT is good in spring and can hold up better in summer.

Eau de Parfum feels more grown up, however. Neither is a formal fragrance, but EDP would fit in better in an office environment than EDT. Both have their strengths, but I don’t think either really has an edge.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Polo Red was a really nice release, when it came out years ago. I enjoyed wearing it around and thought that the cranberry note, was an interesting ingredient to use. It has that really tart lemon aroma that gets tempered by amber, as it moves along.

I always wished that the performance was better. It also can become kind of too sweet for its own good, also.

The EDP corrects this. The lemon is gone. You get ginger, sage, and a blend of lavender and benzoin in the base. It feels much smoother and more appealing than the EDT version.

I don’t think it’s a great release, but it does have the edge in this matchup. It’s a nice wear and has enough of the DNA of the original to be enjoyed by fans of EDT. The performance is slightly better, but not elite. Still, all things considered, I’d rather wear EDP.

Winner: Polo Red EDP

Prada L’Homme vs. L’Homme L’Eau

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In this post, I wanted to take a closer look at two fragrances from Prada’s men’s lineup. It’s ever popular L’Homme versus one of its flanker releases L’Homme L’Eau. Which one of these smells the best? Which lasts longer? I have tested and reviewed each scent and will break them down by category. In the end, which is the winner?

Tale of the Tape: Prada L’Homme vs. L’Eau

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

L’Homme  L’Eau

Notes include: iris, amber, cedar, sandalwood, neroli, ginger

Click here to try: Prada L’homme Prada L’eau for Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce

My review: L’Homme L’Eau

Opening

L’Homme opens up with iris, neroli, and violet. Brought together you get quite a fresh and powdery floral fragrance. All of that is wrapped up in a warm amber, with extra support from cedar and some light pepper.

L’Eau is of course similar to the original, but to me, the iris isn’t as strong here. Also, the cedar wood note is much stronger. You get ginger in lieu of spice, with neroli, but no violet.

Which is better? I think that I prefer L’Eau a bit more, in the opening. It is cleaner and fresher to my nose. It’s got less of a floral aroma and more balanced, overall.

Edge: L’Eau

Projection

Neither scent is particularly powerful. The sillage of each is probably moderate, but I think the original is a bit stronger, just not by much.

Edge: L’Homme

Longevity

Another category which is pretty even. However, again the original gives a bit more. L’Eau lasts for 6 hours. L’Homme lasts for 6-7 hours. These Prada scents are essentially even, but a slight advantage to the original.

Edge: L’Homme

Versatility

These two colognes have too much in common for there to be a distinction in how versatile they are. They can be worn year round, dressed up, casual, or out on the town. Both are more clean and pleasant versus being sexy. Also, neither is a night club type of fragrance either.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

So, since these colognes share so much of the same DNA, there is going to be a lot of overlap. Plus, the distinctions are going to be few and far between.

I like the original Prada L’Homme. It is a fresh and classic clean. The performance is decent and the floral notes and amber, do play well with one another. For an easy, everyday wear, L’Homme will fit right in for many guys. I’m not in love with it, but I do like wearing it.

L’Eau is just a bit better than the original, in my opinion. I like how the powdery aroma is enhanced in this one, the cedar is more prominent, and I do get a nice ginger note in the dry down. It still has that iris and amber combo of the original, but a little bit more depth and intrigue, to the whole thing.

Winner: L’eau

Versace Man Eau Fraiche vs L’eau D’Issey

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For this entry, I am going to do a head to head comparison between two popular citrus fragrances, that guys like to wear in the spring/summer months: Versace Man Eau Fraiche vs. L’eau D’Issey by Issey Miyake. Which of these two colognes smells better? Lasts longer? Is the better buy overall? I am going to break down each of these scents, by different metrics, and as always I have linked my original review of each below.

Tale of the Tape

L’eau D’Issey

Notes include: lemon, yuzu, tarragon, bergamot, tobacco, vetiver, lotus, nutmeg, musk, cedar, sandalwood, lily

Click here to try: L’eau De Issey By Issey Miyake For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 6.7 Oz

Read my review: L’eau D’Issey

Versace Man Eau Fraiche

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

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

Read my review: Man Eau Fraiche

Opening

L’eau D’Issey starts off with the citrus notes of yuzu and lemon but doesn’t have the usual sweet juiciness of other fragrances. It is instead pretty sharp and has a dry tone from the woods, spices, and tobacco. It’s actually my least favorite part from this cologne.

Man Eau Fraiche meanwhile, also starts out with citrus notes of lemon and bergamot, plus, starfruit. It is much brighter and cleaner than is the Issey Miyake. More along the lines of what you’d expect with these kinds of notes. I prefer how this Versace fragrance opens when compared to L’eau D’Issey.

Edge: Man Eau Fraiche

Projection

The Issey Miyake cologne starts off with strong sillage and then calms down into more of a moderate. I would always go 2-3 sprays with this scent. Eau Fraiche has a pretty steady moderate wear for most of its life cycle before becoming lighter. Issey takes this category.

Edge: L’eau D’Issey

Longevity

I get 6-7 hours out of Versace Man Eau Fraiche before it evaporates. L’eau D’Issey is a 6-8 hour wear, depending on the day. The Issey Miyake doesn’t consistently hit that 8 hours, but it is at least capable of it.

Edge: L’Eau D’Issey (slightly)

Versatility

Both of these colognes are built for the summer months, but can be worn in winter too. Casual and office safe type of fragrances, with pleasant aromas, that are delightful but not necessarily sexy. Neither is a club beast, but on certain nights out they’d be fine. Not much separation here.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

This is actually one of the more balanced fragrance match ups that I’ve done, on this site. These two fragrances have similar performances and sort of occupy the same niche in men’s colognes. The question is which smells better?

I’ve worn Issey Miyake’s cologne a lot over the years, I really enjoy it. The citrus and herbal spice mix is quite nice to wear as it moves along, past the opening. It has a dry woody base, with a clean profile, and notes like nutmeg and tarragon providing the spice.

Versace Man Eau Fraiche, I think smells slightly better overall. I think it’s because it doesn’t have quite the level of spice or musk that L’eau D’Issey does. Though, it actually does have those ingredient too.

I think the citrus opening and that smell as a whole is better, than the Miyake, not by very much though. If I had to choose one to wear, out of 10 times, I’d probably pick the Versace 6 of them. It’s that close.

If you want a spicier, drier fragrance with a tad more musk, go with the Miyake. I prefer Versace Man Eau Fraiche a bit more.

Winner: Eau Fraiche (slightly)