Mont Blanc Explorer vs Aventus

Aventus by Creed became a wildly popular men’s fragrance over the past decade or so. Which of course, has spawned a bunch of cheaper rip-offs and imitations. Many of them, weren’t very good or just weren’t high quality. Explorer from Mont Blanc has come along and offered a similar experience to Aventus, with a designer level quality. So, which should you buy? Which perfume smells better? Does Explorer keep up with the Creed?

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Tale of the Tape: Aventus vs Explorer

Creed Aventus

Top: Blackcurrant, Italian bergamot, French apples and pineapple

Middle: Rose, dry birch, Moroccan jasmine, and patchouli

Base Notes: musk, oak moss, ambergris, and vanilla.

Click here to try Aventus: Creed Aventus Creed 4 OZ Millesime Spray For Men

My original Review: Creed Aventus

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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

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Opening

Aventus kicks things off with its sharp blend of pineapple and bergamot. These tropical fruits have always really come on strong to my nose and sometimes make this Creed one tougher to settle into. Even under that, is an additional black currant, which further amps things up.

However, there is also a fresh and smoky birch wood, that makes its initial appearance. Gradually, Aventus will calm down and reveal its depths.

Explorer also has a sharp bergamot note, but is without the other notes like pineapple, making it feel more tolerable to me. It is joined by a warm pink pepper and sage spiciness. Then, a second wave comes through of leather, woods, and ambroxan.

Which is better? Personally, I’ve never been a fan of how Aventus starts things off. To me, the latter stages has always been where the magic is at. I like the dynamic and less sharp start of Explorer better.

Edge: Explorer

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Projection

Aventus has always been a fragrance with strong sillage. Though, just under being an elite powerhouse. The good news, is that it holds its strength for most of the wear.

Explorer is above average early on in its life, before becoming something that is wholly moderate and not going to jump off the skin. Aventus has the clear edge.

Edge: Aventus

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Longevity

Aventus gets me 8-9 hours of wear, which is good, but it doesn’t touch double digits. Really, depending on your lifestyle that may not be very important.

Explorer, on the other hand, gets 6-8 hours of wear. Usually, it’ll be 7 and occasionally squeeze out that extra hour. Explorer almost keeps up, but not quite.

Edge: Aventus

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Versatility

There isn’t too much difference here, as they overlap a lot as fragrances. I’m not really going to give an edge here, maybe Aventus is better in more formal situations, but the Mont Blanc doesn’t smell cheap to me.

Either is fine in almost any other scenario, except for the days where it’s hot outside.

Edge: Push

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Overall Scent

Is Explorer a replacement of cheaper alternative to Aventus? Well, in many ways, yes. Personally, I don’t think it has the same level of quality or depth that Aventus does. However, it covers a lot of the same bases at a much cheaper price point.

Aventus really does develop as a fragrance. You get different stages. Sometimes it’s more woodsy. Then, it has a nice vanilla aspect. That citrus stage is where the two are similar and that’s what you get for most of the wear with Explorer.

I do like its leather notes and smooth aroma. But, I cannot say that it smells better overall when compared to Aventus. The Creed is absolutely a better scent.

That being said, if it’s me…I’m buying a bottle of Explorer and using the price difference to purchase bottles of other colognes also. Or, you could try one of the best ‘dupes’ of Aventus.

Better fragrance? Aventus. Better bang for your buck? Explorer.

Winner: Aventus