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For this comparison, I want to breakdown two very popular eau de toilette scents for men: Sauvage by Christian Dior vs. Mr. Burberry. Which one of these colognes is the better bet for most guys to try out? I am only comparing the EDT versions of these fragrances (which are the best sellers) and not the EDP’s, so keep that in mind. As usual, I will cover what’s inside, how each smells, performs, which is more versatile, and which is ultimately the winner.
Tale of the Tape
Sauvage
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
Mr. Burberry
Notes include: tarragon, cedar, birch leaf, grapefruit, cardamom, sandalwood, vetiver
Click here to try: BURBERRY Mr Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 1.6 Ounce
Read my original review: Mr. Burberry EDT
Opening
Sauvage opens up with a bold and rather sharp bergamot note that is joined by calming lavender and a peppery kick. Within about 20 minutes, the warm smoothness of the ambroxan, takes the edge off of the pepper and the citrus notes settles down as well.
Mr. Burberry also opens up with a citrus note, this time, it is grapefruit. That is blended with woody notes, sandalwood and cedar, to create a subtle and super smooth aroma. There is also a cooling sensation from mint, that is brought in but isn’t too heavy. It’s quite clean and crisp. Plus, has an herbal undertone that emerges more later in the wear.
Which is better? Well, I’m not in love with either. Sauvage seems somewhat harsh to my nose at first but it settles down. Meanwhile, Mr. Burberry is pleasant, but isn’t all that interesting. Sauvage definitely captures my attention more and just has a better smell.
Edge: Sauvage
Projection
I’ve always felt that the Dior fragrance was on the upper end of the moderate scale in terms of sillage and at times it can definitely be quite strong. With Sauvage, if you spray too much, it does have the ability to consume a room.
Mr. Burberry doesn’t do that. It is moderate and really completely average in how it projects off of my skin, definitely not as strong as Sauvage. I actually wish that the Mr. Burberry fragrances had more power, I don’t find either of them to be great.
Edge: Sauvage
Longevity
For me, they are almost the same in terms how long they last, but Sauvage is just a little bit better. I get 5-7 hours from Mr. Burberry. Sauvage is usually 6-7. However, plenty of folks say they get all day wear from Sauvage, so it’s got the edge versus Mr. Burberry.
Sauvage EDT isn’t great but it’s a winner, in comparison. Sauvage Parfum and EDP are much better in this regard.
Edge: Sauvage
Versatility
There’s no real separation between these two fragrances in this category. Both of them are highly versatile and can be worn in a wide variety of situations and climates. That is one of the main selling points of each, is that, they aren’t limited to one specific time of year or situation.
Edge: Push
Overall Scent
Mr. Burberry is a pleasant scent to wear. It is low key and has a nice freshness from the grapefruit, woods, and herbal blend. It is a solid everyday wear and a totally non-offensive fragrance. I like it, but it never interested me, whenever I wore it. The whole thing felt rather flat and uninspired. I always wanted to wear something else before reaching for this.
I’m also no Sauvage fan boy, as I’ve made that clear in other posts. However, I do like it more than Mr. Burberry, and would prefer to wear it between the two of them. I think the overall fragrance smells better, has more energy, better performance, etc.
If it came solely down to price, I might pick Mr. Burberry, if I could get a better deal. But even that’s not a guarantee. Sauvage is the winner in this contest. If you want something that smells quite similar to Sauvage, that can usually be purchased for cheaper, try Luna Rossa Carbon.
I think Sauvage EDP is better than either. Mr. Burberry EDP smells good, but the performance is bad. So, I’d go with any of the Dior offerings before Mr. Burberry.
Winner: Dior Sauvage
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( votes)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.