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Sauvage is a line that keeps printing money for Dior, and so, they’re obviously going to keep putting out new flankers for the foreseeable future. The latest, is Sauvage Elixir, an expensive and more concentrated take on the name.
It’s enjoying early success, but how does this new fragrance compare to the original EDT. In this post, I will compare each in a variety of categories, before declaring an ultimate winner.
Quick Overview
Sauvage Elixir is the clear overall winner because it smells more balanced, distinctive, and refined while also delivering far stronger performance.
Instead of the EDT’s sharp bergamot, Sichuan pepper, ambroxan, and lavender opening, Elixir uses cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, grapefruit, lavender, licorice, amber, and woods for a smoother but still intense start.
The EDT does win on versatility because it works across a wider age range and climate range, including warmer weather where Elixir can become overwhelming. But if scent quality and performance matter most, Elixir is the better fragrance by a comfortable margin. You can also try the inspired by fragrance: Savage Elixir by Dua
| Category | Dior Sauvage EDT | Dior Sauvage Elixir | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening | Opens sharply with bergamot, Sichuan pepper, lavender, and ambroxan. Intense and fresh, but the pepper-citrus combination can feel harsh before it settles down. | Starts with cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, grapefruit, and lavender. Strong and spicy, but smoother and better balanced, with licorice and amber adding sweetness. | Sauvage Elixir |
| Projection | Strong at first and still above average after it settles. It creates a noticeable scent trail without being a light fragrance. | Extremely powerful and one of the loudest mainstream designer fragrances. It projects strongly throughout much of the wear. | Sauvage Elixir |
| Longevity | Usually lasts around 6–8 hours, with cooler weather sometimes pushing it toward 8–9 hours. | Easily lasts beyond 12 hours and can continue well past that point. A major step up in staying power. | Sauvage Elixir |
| Versatility | Works across a wider age range and more climates. It is easier to wear casually and handles warmer weather better. | More mature and better suited to cooler weather. The heavier concentration and strong projection make it less flexible in heat or casual situations. | Sauvage EDT |
| Overall Scent | A bergamot, pepper, lavender, and ambroxan fragrance that becomes smoother after the opening. Still crowd-pleasing, but less interesting than later Sauvage releases. | A richer blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, lavender, licorice, patchouli, vetiver, and woods. More distinctive, smoother, and better composed overall. | Sauvage Elixir |
Sauvage Elixir or EDT? Tale of the Tape
Sauvage EDT
Notes include: Bergamot, Ambroxan, Sichuan Pepper, lavender, pink pepper, and more
Click here to try: Sauvage by Chrisitan Dior Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce
Read my review: Sauvage EDT Review
Sauvage Elixir
Notes include: grapefruit, wood, lavender, nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon, patchouli, vetiver
Click here to try: Sauvage Elixir at Macy’s
Read my review: Sauvage Elixir
Opening
Sauvage EDT starts off sharp with the citrus bergamot and Sichuan pepper notes out in full force. This is joined by that lavender note that is found across the Sauvage offerings. It’s intense and not all that great to my nose, especially when ambroxan gets thrown into the mix.
It does settle down and become more enjoyable and smooth. However, I’m not a fan of the pepper and bergamot combination. The lavender and ambroxan are nicer when they take the lead, as is the now faded citrus note.
Meanwhile, Elixir opens up with a lot of spice. Though, it doesn’t use the Sichuan pepper. Instead, you get cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom with a much lighter citrus note in grapefruit. This blend is wonderful and intense without the same sharpness.
The next phase will feature more of the lavender and some sweetness from licorice and amber. Sauvage Elixir is spicy, woody, with enough sweetness to keep it interesting. The licorice is a great addition to the composition, which helps this one stand out from the other Dior offerings.
Which is better? Elixir. This newer concentration is just all around more balanced and pleasant to smell upon the initial spray. It is stronger while simultaneously being more tolerable.
Edge: Elixir
Projection
The original Sauvage always had a strong sillage starting out and wasn’t ever weak at projecting. It does moderate after, but the EDT isn’t exactly a light cologne.
When compared to Elixir, the EDT is no match. Elixir has a very powerful ability to project and will be noticed throughout the entirety of the wear. Dior didn’t skimp out on the quality with this new release and it easily takes this category.
Elixir is one of the loudest mainstream fragrances out there and has a great ability to leave a scent trail in your wake. EDT definitely won’t be a disappointment, it can’t keep up with the heavier concentration of Elixir.
Edge: Elixir
Longevity
With Sauvage EDT, it lasts about 6-7 hours on my skin when it is warm and the humidity is higher. When it’s colder, I can get about 8-9 hours of wear from it. Some people get better performance than I do, but that’s been a consistent outcome for me.
Sauvage Elixir goes a lot longer than the EDT version. It really is a much more concentrated fragrance. I called it 12+ hours in my review, but it seems to go well beyond that 12 hour mark, during my testing of it.
Update: Even coming back to newer batches of EDT, it still hits that 6-8 hour range mostly. Elixir still goes heavy into the over 12 hour range without issue. It’s a beast as keeping things going.
Edge: Elixir
Versatility
Here’s where I think the EDT may have an edge over Elixir. For one, the EDT can venture into the summer months a lot better than Elixir can. Neither is a summertime fragrance, but the EDT won’t be overbearing in the heat, like Elixir.
Secondly, I think that the EDT can fit a wider spectrum of age range. Not many teens are going to be willing or able to rock the more mature Elixir, but they can and do wear the EDT version.
Elixir is the more mature, but it’s not really a formal wear. Daily wear and more well put together, but I think the EDT could fit for a wider demographic.
So, the edge really comes down to a wider climate range, age range, and just overall versatility. Not to say Elixir is limited, it isn’t, just that Sauvage EDT fits a lot of situations.
Edge: Sauvage EDT
Overall Scent
Sauvage EDT is a perpetual best seller. To me, it’s become just a decent scent. Sure, it kicked off a whole trend in the industry, but fragrances like Luna Rossa Carbon have done the concept better. Also, the later Sauvage EDP and Parfum were also greater than the original.
That being said, I do like the middle and final acts of the EDT a lot better than how it opens. The performance is solid and it’s still an easy to wear crowd pleaser. For many guys, it’ll do just fine.
However, in this contest Sauvage Elixir is the clear winner. It smells better, outperforms, and presents a unique take on the DNA of this line.
The lavender, patchouli, and vetiver are the only commonalities in terms of notes versus the other Sauvage colognes. The structure of spice, citrus, and woods holds true…but they substitute newer ingredients.
Elixir has a great mix of spices. The cinnamon and nutmeg just work amazingly well within the composition. The lavender feels more natural, the amber smoother, and the licorice note adds a further distinct character.
Sauvage Elixir is easily better than the EDT. The price is where a lot of people will draw the line. It’s not cheap, but if that’s not a concern go with Elixir. If you can, you might consider buying Elixir and something else that tries to copy Dior Sauvage for cheaper. Like, Savage Elixir by Dua.
Winner: Sauvage Elixir
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Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with the different fragrances that I’ve owned, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, that new hobby grew into a consistent passion, helping millions of readers along the way. I have personally test out and written reviews for well over 800 perfumes and colognes for both men and women. This is along with writing hundreds of other in-depth fragrance guides. You can also follow me on: YouTube, Instagram, and Tiktok!