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Explorer has started to become one of the most popular men’s fragrances on the market. Sauvage, is and has been at the top for a while. Each has a similar profile: citrus, ambroxan, and woods. Yet, each retains a distinct aroma from one another.
Since they occupy a similar space, people often want to know, which is better? Which cologne lasts longer? Which has the better aroma? In this post, I offer my head to head comparison of these fragrances.
Quick Overview
Mont Blanc Explorer is the overall winner because it delivers a smoother, more enjoyable version of the same general citrus-ambroxan-woods style. Its bergamot, sage, pink pepper, leather, ambroxan, vetiver, and cacao create a bright opening that is noticeably less harsh than Sauvage EDT.
Explorer gets a slight versatility edge because it is easier to wear in low-key settings like the office, while still working for dates, daily wear, evenings, and a wide range of climates.
Overall, Sauvage is stronger, but Explorer wins because it smells smoother, costs less in many cases, and does not give up much in performance.
| Category | Mont Blanc Explorer | Dior Sauvage EDT | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening | Opens brightly with bergamot, sage, and pink pepper over leather, ambroxan, and woods. Sharp enough to feel fresh, but smoother and less aggressive. | Starts with bergamot, heavy ambroxan, and Sichuan pepper. Much sharper and more intense, with the pepper hitting harder than Explorer’s spice. | Explorer |
| Projection | Above-average projection and definitely noticeable, but it does not maintain its strongest sillage as long. | Reaches a higher peak and stays stronger for longer. Clearly the more powerful of the two. | Sauvage |
| Longevity | Usually lasts around 6–8 hours, most often closer to 7–8 hours but occasionally falling short. | Regularly lasts around 7–8 hours and can sometimes reach about 9 hours, giving it the more consistent edge. | Sauvage |
| Versatility | Excellent for daily wear, dates, evenings, and different climates. Slightly easier to use in the office or other low-key environments. | Also highly versatile and works across a wide age range, climates, dates, daily wear, and evening situations. | Explorer |
| Overall Scent | A smoother bergamot, leather, cacao, ambroxan, and woody fragrance. Not especially original, but easier and more enjoyable to wear overall. | A stronger pepper, bergamot, ambroxan, lavender, and woody fragrance. It improves after the opening, but the initial pepper-heavy sharpness is a drawback. | Explorer |
Tale of the Tape: Sauvage vs Explorer
Sauvage EDT
Notes of Sauvage: bergamot, ambroxan, lavender, pepper, wood notes
Click here to try: Christian Dior Sauvage for Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Fluid Ounce
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
Explorer opens up with its citrus note in full effect, this being bergamot. It also contains fresh spices of sage and pink pepper. These are the main notes, at the start. However, underneath these ingredients is mainly leather, some ambroxan and woodsy aromas.
If is a very bright beginning, somewhat sharp, but not too overwhelming. Explorer comes across very well.
It often gets compared to Aventus, which it certainly favors. Though, it doesn’t have the pineapple and birch wood notes that can be so heavy in that cologne.
Sauvage EDT has similar notes, but feels much sharper and intense when compared to Explorer. Ambroxan and pepper are heavier. Sauvage has the same bergamot as Explorer, as its citrus note.
The Sichuan pepper hits hard than does the sage and pink pepper in the Montblanc. The leather also helps to keep things from getting too spicy versus the bolder start of Sauvage.
Which is better? I prefer the start of Explorer. You get similar aromas, but Explorer isn’t as harsh, and is just smoother.
I think other editions of Sauvage have done a better job with the opening act. To me, EDT is the weakest in this regard.
Edge: Explorer
Projection
After the initial spray, both of these fragrances have above average strength and projection. But, Sauvage hits a higher peak and maintains that sillage for a longer period of time than Explorer. Explorer isn’t weak, just not nearly as strong as Sauvage EDT.
Edge: Sauvage
Longevity
In terms of how each of these lasts on my skin, it’s a fairly close race. With Explorer, I get 6-8 hours of wear generally. Most of the time, it is closer to 7-8 hours, but it can fall short.
Meanwhile, with the Dior, I get 7-8 hours regularly. The difference is, that with Sauvage it sometimes bumps up to 9 full hours.
Not usually a huge difference, but Sauvage is more consistent and it trends upward. In fact, other people report getting better results out of Sauvage than I do, so, I think that it pretty solidly takes this category.
Edge: Sauvage
Versatility
Both of these fragrance have very good versatility. It’s one of their strengths. However, I think that Explorer can fit in better in the office or some other environment, where you want to be low key. Other than that, they can be worn out on dates, in various climates, etc.
Each of these is a daily wear, that can pull double duty in the evenings. Plus, cover a full age range of men, who will appreciate wearing these colognes. This category is pretty close, but Explorer has a little bit of separation here.
Edge: Explorer (slightly)
Overall Scent
I’ve never been a huge fan of Sauvage EDT. Frankly, I think its the worst of the series, and I like it much less than when it came out about a decade ago. That being said, I don’t think it’s a bad fragrance. After all, it’s the best selling cologne in the world.
I’m not too big on the opening act of Sauvage, but I like it more when it settles down. The pepper can just be too much. The lavender really helps out when it emerges.
Still, I’d go with Sauvage EDP or Luna Rossa Carbon, if I wanted a better replication of this cologne’s style. Alternatively, you could try some other scents like Dior Sauvage.
Between these two scents? I’d go with Explorer. No, it’s not the most original scent, but I enjoy wearing it more so than Sauvage EDT. It’s performance isn’t too much of a downgrade and it smells better.
I like the bergamot, cacao, and leather. It will usually be cheaper than Sauvage, also. Not a massive advantage, though, Explorer is my clear winner.
Winner: Explorer
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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!