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This post has been sitting in the queue for a few years now, so, I guess it is time to finally write up this comparison. Today, we have to entries from YSL men’s fragrance collection: La Nuit de L”Homme vs. La Nuit de L’Home L’Intense. Which of these smells the best? The best-selling original or its offspring? Which has better performance? Which is the better buy?
Tale of the Tape: La Nuit vs L’Intense
La Nuit
Notes include: cardamom, bergamot, vetiver, lavender, cedar
Try it out: Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit De L’homme Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.3-Ounce
Read my review: La Nuit de l’Homme
La Nuit L’Intense
Notes include: violet, sage, iris, patchouli, vanilla, tonka bean
Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit De L’homme L’intense Eau De Parfum Spray, 2.0 Ounce
Read my review: La Nuit L’Intense
Opening
La Nuit opens up with lots of cardamom and a citrus bergamot note, at the start. It is fresh, warm, and has that light addition of bergamot. Then, the lavender really begins to come into its own, sometime thereafter. It is a really captivating start, that gives you a nice bit of spice before settling down.
L’Intense opens up with violet and iris. It is a very floral fragrance, pretty powdery, and pretty darn feminine to my nose. Later in the wear, sage and patchouli, will help to give it a better profile but the start is really sweet and floral.
Which is better? For me, the original La Nuit has the better opening, without question. L’Intense doesn’t smell bad, but it can be too sweet and powdery, without anything anchoring it.
Edge: La Nuit
Projection
Both of these scents are moderate for me, for a few hours, and then become light. No, L’Intense wasn’t intense at any time, I wore it. Not sure why it has that name.
Edge: Push
Longevity
La Nuit has consistently gotten me 6-8 hours of wear, on my skin. I hear talk about reformulations, taking a toll on its performance, but I haven’t come across that (though, it could be certain batches under performing).
Meanwhile, L’Intense would only last for 3-4 hours. I’ve tried it several times, in different climates, same result.
Edge: La Nuit
Versatility
Both are best worn in fall/winter, but can venture into more mild temperatures, just fine. I’d say the original is more versatile, as it is a nightlife scent, that can go casual/work/date.
While, L’Intense just doesn’t strike me as something to wear in the evenings. Plus, who wants to re-apply constantly?
Edge: La Nuit
Overall Scent
This head to head, really isn’t even close. I never understood the purpose of the L’Intense version of La Nuit. It doesn’t smell like the original, it isn’t intense, and is just a decent overall fragrance in terms of scent.
If it were an actual intense version of the original, that would be awesome, but it isn’t. As far as flankers go, La Nuit Eau Electrique is really good, and underrated. So, you might give that a try.
La Nuit de L’Homme is smooth, fresh, with enough spicy kick to make things interesting. I really enjoy the cardamom and lavender combo, especially once the cedar and vetiver get going in the base. It outperforms its flanker and just smells better.
Winner: La Nuit
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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.