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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)

Valentino Uomo vs Uomo Intense Comparison

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In this edition of the fragrance comparisons, I want to take a closer look at a popular scent, and one of it’s flankers. Today, it’s between two Valentino colognes: Uomo vs. Uomo Intense. Which of them smells better? Does the Intense version give you a better buy than the original? Which performs better? Ultimately, which is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape

Valentino Uomo

Notes include: myrtle, bergamot, leather, coffee, cedar, gianduja cream

Click here to try: Valentino Uomo FOR MEN by Valentino – 3.4 oz EDT Spray

My review: Uomo EDT

Uomo Intense

Notes include: sage, iris, vanilla, leather, tonka bean, mandarin

Click here to try: Valentino Uomo Intense by Valentino EDP for Men, 3.4 Fl Oz

My review: Uomo Intense

Opening

Uomo opens up with a bit of sour bergamot, gianduja cream, and myrtle. The cream is essentially a hazlenut aroma, when blended with the citrus, and myrtle it smells absolutely amazing. Seriously, it is one of my favorite openings to a fragrance, ever.

Intense starts off smelling like Dior Homme, with much more leather. However, it doesn’t have the same level of sweet cacao and the iris note, isn’t as good to my nose. It stays this way for about 10 minutes, then, Intense begins to take on a more leather/vanilla aroma with bits of mandarin.

Which is better? To me, it’s the original Uomo, without a doubt. I do like Intense a lot, but it feels like it wants to mimic Dior Homme (which I wear often), and doesn’t do as good of a job at it.

Edge: Uomo

Projection

While Uomo Intense, should have a better sillage than its predecessor in theory, it really isn’t that strong. They both start out on the stronger side of the spectrum, but both become moderate thereafter.

I don’t know if there is any real difference between the two. Both are solid and you’ll know you’re wearing them, but neither are complete beasts.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Again, not much difference here. The original consistently gets 7 hours, on my skin. While Intense, will go for 6-8 hours. So, it can get an extra hour at times, which is enough to give it a slight edge.

Edge: Intense

Versatility

They occupy the same space. Both are very versatile, during the cooler months, but not summer. You can wear these casually, at the office, or out on a date. Both are very fresh and attractive. Again, not club beasts, but can definitely venture out into the nightlife.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Uomo Intense is like a hybrid of the Dior Homme line. It starts off like Dior Homme and ends smelling more like Dior Intense. That’s great, as I like both of those colognes a lot, but it brings nothing new to the table. I like its creamy sweetness and the extra leather. It’s overall a very good scent.

However, Valentino Uomo, is better. It matches Intense almost exactly, in its performance. Plus, it has one of the best opening acts ever, in my opinion. Yes, it eventually, smells a lot like Dior Homme too; but it is distinct at the start. I wish the whole fragrance was the opening, as I love it.

To me, I’d rather wear Uomo, any day of the week versus Intense. It at least gives me something a bit different, from the norm, before mimicking a cologne I really enjoy.

Winner: Uomo

Mont Blanc Explorer vs Legend

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Legend has been a best seller for Mont Blanc for many years now. A few years ago, they released Explorer, and it quickly became a favorite among consumers. They have somewhat differing styles, but which is the better cologne? Which fragrance lasts longer? Opens better? Is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape

Mont Blanc Legend

Notes include: Bergamot, Pineapple Leaf, Sandalwood, Apple, rose, oak moss, lemon verbena, geranium, lavender,  And Tonka Bean

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Legend Eau de Toilette 3.3 fl.oz.

Read my review: Mont Blanc Legend

Explorer

Notes include: sage, bergamot, pink pepper, cocoa, vetiver, ambroxan, leather

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Explorer Eau de Parfum, 3.3 fl. oz.

Read my full review: Montblanc Explorer

Opening

Legend has a fruity opening of apple, bergamot, and pineapple. It has a very citrus beginning, but it features a dry scent, with creamy tonka bean and lavender coming through. Along with, the underlying woodsy notes.

Explorer kicks off with the bergamot citrus note going strong. With that is pink pepper and sage, giving it a fresh spiciness. Can be somewhat sharp, but honestly not overwhelming. The second layer consists of leather, ambroxan, and woods.

Which is better? They both give you the citrus opening, but Mont Blanc Explorer is just more dynamic and better to my nose. I like the sage and pink pepper more so than the dryness of Legend.

Edge: Explorer

Projection

Legend is a moderate fragrance throughout, pretty average, and never ventures into super strong territory. Meanwhile, Explorer is above average for a good deal of the wear, before settling into something closer to Legend.

Explorer hits higher highs and can project itself further from the skin.

Edge: Explorer

Longevity

On my skin, I get 5-6 hours of wear from Montblanc Legend. It never goes beyond that, but to its credit, also doesn’t fail to meet that target either. It’s pretty steady.

Explorer can go 6-8 hours and will usually hit at least 7 for me. Neither one of these is elite in its performance, but there is a clear winner.

Edge: Explorer

 

 

Versatility

Both of these scents are extremely versatile in terms of when they can be worn and who can wear them. Both are low key enough for work or for school. Yet, they can also venture into the nightlife and be fine in most climates, except for extreme heat. No real difference.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Legend has never been a personal favorite of mine. I’ve always found it to be just okay and kind of thought that it was a lesser version of the original bottles of Abercrombie Fierce. Well, since those aren’t great anymore, I guess Legend is it.

That’s not to say I dislike it. I do enjoy the citrus, sandalwood, and lavender blend. It’s a very easy fragrance to wear, not going to offend, and can be a go to starter fragrance for younger guys.

That being said, Explorer absolutely is a better fragrance. Yes, it’s a pretty good dupe of Aventus, but it does have some personality of its own. It smells better, lasts longer, and is just all around more enjoyable than Legend. No brainer here for me.

Winner: Explorer