Cool Water vs. Drakkar Noir Cologne Comparison

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In today’s cologne comparison, I’m going to take things back to the 1980s for a face off between two scents, which were powerhouses then and continue to be best sellers into the present time. In one corner, we have Cool Water by Davidoff. In the other, Guy Laroche’s Drakkar Noir. Which one of these colognes smells better? Which has the better performance?

Quick Overview

🏆 My Verdict

Cool Water wins on opening, versatility, and overall scent, while Drakkar Noir wins on projection and longevity.

Buy Cool Water if you want the fresher, cleaner, more versatile aquatic fragrance that works easily for daily wear and warm weather. You might also try the ‘inspired by’ the vintage formula alternative from Dua, called: His Dua Water

Buy Drakkar Noir if you prefer a darker, sharper fougère with stronger projection, longer wear, and more of that classic 80s masculine edge. You might also try an alternative: Black Viking Ship

Category Cool Water Drakkar Noir Winner
Opening Fresh mint, lavender, green notes, seawater freshness, and clean citrus energy Lavender, rosemary, bergamot, lemon, spice, and a darker fougère sharpness Cool Water
Projection Moderate and cleaner off the skin Stronger projection with a heavier masculine presence Drakkar Noir
Longevity Around 5–6 hours Usually 6–8 hours depending on skin Drakkar Noir
Versatility Excellent for spring/summer, office, gym, and casual daily wear Better for cooler weather, evenings, and stronger masculine styling Cool Water
Overall Scent Cleaner aquatic freshness with easier modern wearability Sharper classic fougère with darker old-school masculine character Cool Water
Best For Those who want fresher daily versatility Those who want stronger classic masculine performance —

Tale of the Tape: Drakkar vs. Cool Water

Drakkar Noir

Notes included: sandalwood, lavender, citrus, cinnamon, leather, vetiver, oakmoss, cedar, fir

Click here to try: Drakkar Noir By Guy Laroche For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 6.7 Ounces

My original review: Drakkar Noir Review

Cool Water

Notes include: lavender, mint, tobacco, amber, musk, jasmine, sandalwood, neroli, coriander, rosemary, and more

Click here to try: Davidoff Cool Water Edt Spray for Men, 6.7 oz

My Original Review: Cool Water

Opening

With Drakkar Noir, the opening part of the wear gives me a very dry and smooth aroma. I particularly get the oak moss and lavender notes, which bring about that creamy/soapy vibe, and then there is the slight warm spice of cinnamon.

Cool Water is more oceanic. It also has a soapy lavender feel but with a crisp and cool mint note. It’s quite sharp to my nose at the start, but gradually settles into a fragrance with more amber smoothness.

Underneath is the greenish qualities, a good deal of uncured tobacco.

The opening of Cool Water is the most interesting part of the fragrance, to me. Plenty of tobacco and mint, with that underlying aquatic feel. Yes, it can seem somewhat sharp, but it comes across a different from many more modern fragrances.

Between the two, I think I enjoy the opening of Cool Water better. Yes, it’s more in your face than is Drakkar but the oceanic touch to the lavender, just seems more interesting to me.

Edge: Cool Water

Projection

Cool Water starts off with stronger sillage. However, as things move along Drakkar is more consistent over the course of the wear.

Neither of these scents is an absolute beast in terms of sillage. Both more towards the upper moderate end of the spectrum. There’s not really a clear winner.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Drakkar is good but not great. I’ve usually gotten 6-7 hours out of it. Meanwhile, Cool Water will deliver 8+ hours.

This is one of those aspects of these fragrances that can be effected by the reformulations. So, just judging by the bottles, I’ve recently sprayed from this is the conclusion I’ve drawn. The vintage bottles may be a different story.

I’m sure that the vintage formulas of each, had better performance. I do know that Drakkar had some natural ingredients in the past, that aren’t allowed to be used anymore. So, that effects the entire structure and performance of a scent.

Edge: Cool Water

Versatility

Drakkar is dry and for the colder months of the year. While Cool Water, performs great during the summertime.

Both have the same applications basically. They can be worn casually, at work, or for a night on the town. Neither is a club type of cologne.

Drakkar Noir strikes me as more mature as a scent. Cool Water seems more youthful and closer to an inexpensive version of Green Irish Tweed. I’m tempted to give Cool Water the edge, as it seems more universally like, but there’s not too much difference here.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Man, this is tougher than I thought that it would be to decide a winner. I’m not a huge fan of either one of these fragrances for my own personal style and tastes, but I do think that they’re both solid choices.

I like to dark and dry spice that Drakkar Noir offers and I think that it gets better during the dry down, when more leather begins to emerge.

With Cool Water, it’s like a more oceanic/summery Green Irish Tweed. I like the crispness of the mint and how it shifts into a more amber-laden cologne after an hour or so. Plus, Cool Water has the better longevity on my skin, and I enjoy the upbeat summery vibe.

With that in mind, I’m going to give the nod to Cool Water. I also think that it has more of a universal application than does Drakkar Noir. More guys will probably like the Davidoff scent and it will cover a wider range of styles than the Drakkar.

Maybe the original vintage bottles would have yielded a different result, but I think Cool Water checks more boxes currently. Note: here are alternative options to each, that are cheaper and should give better performance: His Dua Water and Black Viking Ship

Winner: Cool Water

Who Should Buy Each?

Choose Cool Water if:

You want the better overall everyday fragrance
You prefer fresh aquatic scents with mint, lavender, green notes, and seawater freshness
You need something easy for office wear, gym use, or warm-weather daily wear
You want the more versatile and modern-smelling option
You prefer freshness over darker fougère sharpness

Choose Drakkar Noir if:

You want stronger projection and better longevity
You prefer lavender, rosemary, bergamot, spice, woods, and a classic fougère profile
You like darker, sharper, old-school masculine fragrances
You mainly wear fragrance in cooler weather or evenings
You want more boldness and vintage masculine character

Burberry Goddess vs Her Comparison

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Burberry Her has been a very successful line of fragrances for the brand. But, they more recently brought to market their perfume called, Goddess. Being that, these are two of the hottest Burberry fragrances out nowadays, they are obviously going to be compared. Which smells better? Lasts longer? Is the better buy?

Quick Overview

🏆 My Verdict

Burberry Goddess wins on opening, versatility, and overall scent, while Burberry Her wins on projection and longevity.

Buy Goddess if you want the smoother, lighter vanilla fragrance with better versatility, more maturity, and a scent that works for both daytime and nightlife.

Buy Burberry Her if you prefer stronger fruity projection, better lasting power, and a sharper strawberry-forward scent. Overall, Goddess is the better-smelling fragrance, while Her is the better performer.

Category Burberry Goddess Burberry Her Winner
Opening Vanilla, cacao, ginger, and lavender with a lighter, cooler sweetness Strong citrus and berry opening led by strawberry and raspberry with a sharper fruity edge Goddess
Projection Moderate throughout, more intimate scent bubble Starts quite strong with a far reach, then settles to moderate Her
Longevity Around 6.5 hours Usually 7–8 hours Her
Versatility More mature, sexier, works for daytime and nightlife from autumn through early spring More limited, mostly daytime fruity wear from autumn through early spring Goddess
Overall Scent Pleasant vanilla-lavender scent with a smooth, light, easy-to-wear character Fruity fragrance with a BR540-style dry down and stronger berry focus Goddess
Best For Those who want the better-smelling, more versatile option Those who want stronger projection and longer wear —

Tale of the Tape: Burberry Her vs. Goddess

Burberry Her

Notes include: strawberry, citrus, raspberry, cherry, blueberry, wood, musk, amber, jasmine

Click here to try: Burberry Her Eau De Parfum Spray

Read my review: Burberry Her EDP

Burberry Goddess

Notes include: lavender, vanilla, cacao, ginger, vanilla absolute, vanilla caviar

Click here to try: Goddess by Burberry

Read my review: Goddess

Opening

Burberry Her EDP starts off with a strong use of its citrus and berry notes. The fruitiness is powerful in the early stages. Strawberry is the strongest note of the lot, with some additional raspberry and brightness of the citrus notes.

It can be sharp and sour versus being sugary sweet or anything. The floral notes aren’t all that strong, but there is a decent amount of jasmine at times.

Goddess goes sweet, not sour, and away from the fruitiness. Here you get the vanilla coming through early, along with cacao. But, there is also a ginger note which provides a wonderful freshness, at the start.

It’s a lot lighter and cooler than you might expect from a vanilla-dominant perfume.

Which is better?

I don’t mind the opening fruitiness of Burberry Her, but I do prefer Goddess a bit more in comparison. The ginger is great here, like the vanilla, and there’s enough cacao to keep it balanced.

Edge: Goddess

Projection

Burberry Her starts off actually quite strong. It has a far reach off of the skin and will leave a scent trail in your wake. The next phase, is much more moderate, but this one is no slouch.

Goddess, never hits the same peak as Her. I thought that this might be a stronger perfume than it is, coming into it, but it’s actually pretty moderate throughout.

In fact, much of the wear is a lighter moderate aroma. Not weak, just not screaming for attention.

Edge: Her

Longevity

With Burberry Her, I can get up to 8 hours of wear. Though, it will generally fall in the 7-8 hour range, and sometimes a little less than that.

With Goddess, it’s more like 6.5 hours tops. It doesn’t fall too far below that on the lower end, but it doesn’t have the same level of staying power as does Her.

Edge: Her

Versatility

Seasonally, I don’t think either of these is going to be one to reach for in the summer months. More autumn through early spring, for each of them. Equal on that metric.

Neither is a formal fragrance either. Though, I do think Goddess is a bit more mature, sexier, and can fit into the nightlife as well as daytime. Her, is much more limited in those respects.

Edge: Goddess

Overall Scent

Thus far it’s a pretty even split between these two perfumes. But, which do I ultimately prefer?

It actually is a close race, as I think that both scents are likeable.

With Burberry Her, I do like the fruitiness and it gets its comparisons to Baccarat Rouge 540, for pretty obvious reasons in the dry down. Even though, it is a different enough fragrance in totality.

It’s a slightly better performer than is Goddess. However, I like the way Goddess smells versus what you get with Her.

If you wanted to get both, you might opt for an alternative to Goddess by The Dua Brand, called: The Goddess within Her. It’s more affordable than the designer scent.

The opening act is wonderful. The middle with the vanilla and lavender is also nice. Never overbearing and keeps things light. Sure, the dry down is pretty basic with a whole lot of vanilla and some amber, but Goddess is still pleasant.

It’s not a wide margin, but I’d rather come back to wearing Goddess again, than more rounds with Her EDP.

Winner: Goddess

Who Should Buy Each?

Choose Burberry Goddess if:

You want the better overall scent
You prefer vanilla, cacao, ginger, and lavender over berry-heavy fragrances
You want something more mature and versatile
You need a fragrance that works for both daytime and nightlife
You like lighter, smoother sweetness instead of sharper fruity openings

Choose Burberry Her if:

You want stronger projection and better longevity
You prefer strawberry, raspberry, citrus, and fruity sweetness
You like fragrances with a stronger opening and bigger scent trail
You enjoy that BR540-style dry down comparison
You care more about performance than overall scent quality

Burberry Goddess vs Her FAQ

What does Burberry Goddess smell like?

It a mix of sweet and fresh, especially early on. The vanilla and cacao notes really come into their own, but they do get lightened up by the lavender and that initial ginger kick.

Is Burberry Goddess worth the hype?

I’m not sure how much hype there is behind the fragrance. Is it the best perfume ever? No, but it might be your personal favorite. For me, I think that it’s a very good designer release with performance that’s kind of middle of the pack. I do enjoy the fragrance a lot, overall.

Why is Burberry Her so popular?

Well, this initial release I think got a lot of traction due to its similarities to BR 540, which is a best-selling fragrance. Though, Her is enjoyable in its own right. Plus, Burberry has released a bunch of flanker fragrances from this line which are also good. Thus, the popularity builds.

Luna Rossa Ocean EDT vs EDP

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Luna Rossa Ocean has been a fairly successful flanker for Prada. Enough so, that they have released an eau de parfum version of it. Ocean EDT, while it smelled very nice, was not without its faults in the performance department. Has the EDP solved the issues? Which cologne smells better? Which is the better buy?

Quick Overview

🏆 My Verdict

Luna Rossa Ocean EDT wins on opening, versatility, and overall scent, while projection and longevity are basically a tie.

Buy Ocean EDT if you want the fresher, smoother, more versatile everyday scent with the better opening and stronger warm-weather appeal.

Buy Ocean EDP if you prefer a sweeter vanilla-amber dry down and want a slightly darker take on the Ocean DNA, but overall the EDT is still the better buy.

Category Luna Rossa Ocean EDT Luna Rossa Ocean EDP Winner
Opening Fresh citrus, lavender, iris, sage, suede, and smooth aquatic freshness Fresh citrus start, but quickly shifts into vanilla, amber, and woods EDT
Projection Upper-moderate opening, then becomes much more intimate Upper-moderate opening, then also collapses closer to the skin Push
Longevity Around 4–6 hours, with last hours mostly skin scent Very similar overall, maybe slightly better at best Push
Versatility Better for warm weather and easier daytime wear Still versatile, but sweeter vanilla-amber style suits cooler weather more EDT
Overall Scent Fresher, smoother, cleaner blue fragrance with the better opening experience Sweeter amber-vanilla dry down that feels more familiar and less exciting EDT
Best For Guys who want the fresher and better overall Ocean scent Guys who prefer sweeter vanilla-amber designer fragrances —

Tale of the Tape: Ocean EDT vs. EDP

Luna Rossa Ocean EDT

Notes include: bergamot, iris, pink pepper, artemisia, lavender, sage, suede, saffron, musk, vetiver, caramel, patchouli

Click here to try:  Luna Rossa Ocean EDT

My Full Review: Ocean EDT

Ocean EDP

Notes include: grapefruit, wood, incense, vanilla bean accord, amber extreme

Click here to try: Ocean EDP

My Review: Luna Rossa Ocean EDP

Opening

Ocean EDT uses bergamot and some other light citrus notes, in the opening. It’s fresh and juicy.

The usual Luna Rossa lavender note, is actually lighter in this composition. You get a smooth sweetness of suede, caramel and tonka bean. I don’t think those notes are officially listed, but their aroma is definitely in there. Perhaps, as a part of the ‘saffron accord’.

The main floral note here is the iris. Along with that suede quality and juicy citrus, you will get a fresh and aromatic aroma, with a touch of the lavender.

Smooth, sweet, spicy, but actually not an aquatic, just a ‘blue’ impression.

Ocean EDP begins somewhat like the original. This time, this citrus is a grapefruit note, but for a few minutes I still get a very similar blue-ish vibe out of this newer release.

Still smooth and a bit powdery, though the tonka bean and iris aren’t listed as notes here.

But, that opening is short-lived, after a few minutes it really shifts into a slightly smoky vanilla and amber fragrance.

Which is better? I was excited upon initially spraying the eau de parfum. I thought that I’d get a similar and hopefully longer lasting start than the EDT. That’s not how it worked out, however.

I think that the original Ocean is still better, as it gives me more time with it’s awesome opening act versus EDP.

Edge: Ocean EDT

Projection

Both of these start out with a sillage in the upper moderate end of the range. Nice projection and very noticeable for those around you. Yet, each will also collapse much closer to the skin within an hour or two.

Very light with how they project thereafter. Sure, you can still detect them, but both Luna Rossa Ocean’s are more intimate wears. EDP did not improve upon this.

Edge: Push

Longevity

With the original Ocean, I get a total of 4-6 hours of wear on skin. Now, it gives me 2-3 hours wear it is noticeable, the last few are purely a skin scent.

Is the EDP an improvement? Not during my testing. If anything, it matches what you get with the EDT at best. But, it might even undershoot it.

Though, I’m not entirely sure that I’m not just going ‘nose blind’ with EDP. I don’t think so, as it does project much off clothes I’ve sprayed it on either.

Spraying on clothes, it will hold up better, much more in that six hour range. Nevertheless, it’s basically an even draw again between these two.

Update: I’ve been testing both of these with the travel sizes that I purchased of each and there’s really not much difference with performance at all. Maybe slightly EDP, but that’s it.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Both of these colognes are very versatile and can work in a multitude of seasons. Maybe EDT has a slight edge, as I think it’s somewhat better in the warmer weather than is the vanilla and ambermax combo found in Ocean EDP.

Otherwise, each is safe and can fit in to scenarios day or night. Neither is really going to offend anyone or come off as being inappropriate to a given situation.

Edge: EDT (slightly)

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these do I prefer? Honestly, I think the EDT is better than this newer release. Even if, there isn’t too much separation between them. Sure, different smelling fragrances, but the experience is similar.

The opening act of the EDT only lasts around an hour on my skin. The back half of the wear is quite weak and not very exciting. Iris, lavender, and a soapy clean musky aroma is what to expect. Not great and held me back from making a purchase of it.

The EDP doesn’t do much for me, beyond that opening 10 minutes or so. It goes really quickly into the vanilla, amber, and light woods blend. It’s not all that powerful and doesn’t seem to last any longer than its predecessor.

The amber and vanilla thing has been done a million times before…and much better. Coach Platinum, Invictus Victory, probably some of the Armani Code’s are all sort of like Ocean EDP’s dry down. Luna Rossa Black has a similar style, but way better.

Ocean EDP does smell nice. I again liked the opening, but there’s nothing here that keeps me interested.

For the price, I don’t really care for it. Ocean EDP doesn’t smell bad, it’s just not worthwhile, in my mind.

If you absolutely want to have one of these colognes, I’d go with Ocean EDT. At least you’ll get a nice smooth and sweet wear for an hour out of it. I really wanted each to be better than they actually are. Both are fine, just never can touch that elite level.

Winner: Ocean EDT

Who Should Buy Each?

Choose Luna Rossa Ocean EDT if:

You want the better overall fragrance
You prefer fresher blue fragrances with citrus, lavender, iris, and sage
You want stronger warm-weather versatility
You like smoother, cleaner everyday scents
You care more about the opening and full wear experience than a sweeter dry down

Choose Luna Rossa Ocean EDP if:

You prefer sweeter fragrances with vanilla, amber, and light woods
You want a slightly darker version of the Ocean DNA
You like designer scents with a warmer dry down
You wear fragrance more in cooler weather or evenings
You prefer the EDP style even if performance is not much better

Luna Rossa Ocean FAQ

Which is better: Luna Rossa Ocean EDT or EDP?

To me, I still like the original the best. Eau de Parfum is nice enough. Again, the vanilla and amber dry down is very similar to a lot of other fragrances on the market. It’s not a huge margin, but I like EDT more. You might go with Ocean Le Parfum if you want something different from this line.

Which Prada Luna Rossa Ocean should I buy first?

Out of the current three fragrance lineup from Prada, I’d still get the original EDT first. Obviously, if you have the opportunity to try these before you buy, that’s ideal to make sure you actually like any of them. But, EDT is the most affordable and in my opinion the best.

Which one has better performance overall?

I was hoping that the eau de parfum would have the better performance before I tried it out. I wanted a longer lasting version of the original. However, after wearing both dozens of times, I really do not notice very much difference in performance.

1 Million vs Armani Code Cologne Comparison

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Over the past 10-15 years, two of the best selling men’s fragrances, have been our two competitors featured in this post. 1 Million by Paco Rabanne vs. Code by Giorgio Armani. They are extremely well known, well loved, but which option is the better cologne? Which lasts longer? Which should you buy?

Quick Overview

🏆 My Verdict

1 Million wins on opening, projection, longevity, and overall scent, while Armani Code wins on versatility.

Buy 1 Million if you want the bolder, sweeter, louder nighttime fragrance with better performance.

Buy Armani Code if you want the more flexible scent for office wear, casual use, nights out, and slightly more formal situations.

Category 1 Million Armani Code Winner
Opening Bold mint, blood orange, grapefruit, rose, leather, spice, and amber Citrus, apple, lavender, anise, tobacco, leather, and powdery spice 1 Million
Projection Very strong reputation, still stronger than Code EDT even in newer bottles Starts with some power, then becomes moderate for most of the wear 1 Million
Longevity Now around 8 hours; older bottles could go 10+ hours About 5–6 hours from newer bottles 1 Million
Versatility Best for colder months, casual wear, and nightlife; not ideal for workplace wear Works for office, casual, nighttime, and more formal events Armani Code
Overall Scent Bold sweet-spicy blend with amber, leather, citrus, spice, and strong personality Powdery, creamy, citrus-leather scent with apple, tonka, tobacco, and versatility 1 Million
Best For Guys who want a bold, sweet, loud cold-weather/nightlife scent Guys who want the more versatile daily and semi-formal option —

Tale of the Tape

1 Million

Notes include: Mint, Grapefruit, Rose, Patchouli, Amber, Cinnamon, White woods, Blond leather, Blood orange, Spice notes

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne 1 Million By Paco Rabanne For Men Edt Spray, 3.4 Ounce

Read my review: 1 Million

Armani Code

Notes include: citrus, lavender, apple, leather, tobacco, star anise, woods

Click here to try: Armani Code By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 4.2 Oz.

Read my review: Armani Code

Opening

The opening of 1 Million is a blend of notes, that is quite bold, and starts off with plenty of power. It’s a mix of mint, blood orange, leather, rose, and grapefruit. It’s a mix of spice and sweet, with warmth and cooler elements. All of this is surrounded by a nice amber note.

Armani Code kicks off with citrus and apple, being fairly strong at the top. It turns more powdery with some spiciness from notes anise, tobacco, and leather. The fruity notes start to fade, somewhat after the first minutes.

Which is better? I like how Code starts off, its quite nice. However, I prefer the beginning of 1 Million. It’s intensity and depth, is a bit more engaging, and the smell is better to me.

Edge: 1 Million

Projection

Armani Code has some power, at the start, but is really pretty moderate for the majority of the wear. The newer bottles, don’t seem to have the same strength. Meanwhile, 1 Million has a very strong sillage, and has always had the reputation of being able to fill up a room.

Update: Newer 1 Million bottles also don’t seem to have that same power and longevity, but are still better than Code EDT.

Edge: 1 Million

Longevity

Code used to be better, in this regard. I could get 8 hours of wear from it. Now, it seems to go 5-6 hours. Either way, it never hit the same level as the Paco Rabanne. 1 Million will go for over 10 hours. It pretty easily wins this category. Update: 1 Million is now around 8 hours.

Edge: 1 Million

Versatility

Due to its sillage and somewhat youthful vibe, 1 Million mainly gets relegated to nighttime use. Plus, it holds up better in the colder months of the year. So, a casual or nightlife scent. Not a workplace wear.

Code, on the other hand, can venture into the office. It is good for nighttime wear, casual, or even more formal events. It’s also better in the colder climate, but it has more uses than 1 Million.

Edge: Code

Overall Scent

Armani Code is still a really good pick for a daily wear. It’s got solid versatility and performance, even if it’s lost a step. The smell itself is still a beautiful composition. The powdery elements, the apple, citrus, leather, and creamy tonka bean are all great. For many guys, it will be the better choice, out of these two based on lifestyle and need.

However, which one is better? I still like 1 Million more than the Armani. Yes, it skews to a younger wearer, but this scent can still be a great wear. I’ve always loved its boldness and the awesome blend and balancing act between different aromas and styles.

Beyond that, the performance has always been great for me. Strong, bold, and something that I can throw on during certain occasions and completely love wearing it. Both of these scents are great, 1 Million, just a little more so.

Update: If you’re looking for Code, I would nowadays go with Code EDP for the closest thing to the original. Code EDT just doesn’t hold up anymore. You could also go with the other Code flankers, which are great, but smell somewhat different.

Winner: 1 Million

Who Should Buy Each?

Choose 1 Million if:

You want the stronger performer between the two
You prefer bold sweet-spicy fragrances
You like mint, grapefruit, blood orange, leather, rose, cinnamon, amber, and patchouli
You mainly want something for nights out, casual wear, or colder weather
You want the fragrance with the bigger personality and stronger overall impression

Choose Armani Code if:

You want the more versatile fragrance
You prefer citrus, apple, lavender, tobacco, leather, tonka, and powdery spice
You need something that can work in the office or semi-formal settings
You want a smoother, less loud scent than 1 Million
You care more about flexibility than maximum performance

1 Million vs. Code FAQ

Is Armani Code more versatile than 1 Million?

Yes, it is the more versatile fragrance of the two. 1 Million skews younger and more towards the nightlife. Meanwhile, Code is much more of an all-around or daily wear sort of cologne.

Is Armani Code still worth buying?

The original Code EDT? Maybe. It still smells great, even if the performance isn’t as good anymore. You can usually find bottles for cheaper nowadays too. However, if you want a better performer or potentially better scent for your tastes from the code line, try: Code Parfum or Code EDP.

Are 1 Million and Armani Code similar?

Not really in terms of how they smell. They often get compared to one another because they were both released in the same era and are the best-sellers that survived to this day. So, this has led them to being mentioned together somewhat often.

Does 1 Million project more than Armani Code?

Yes. The difference has always been there. The older bottles of 1 Million were truly quite powerful and Code was better also, just not nearly to the same level.

Versace Eros vs Eros Parfum Comparison

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Eros is one of the best-selling fragrances in the world. Eros EDT started things off and the line has now spawned three additional iterations, such as today’s competitor, Eros Parfum. Since both of these are closely related in terms of everything, how do they actually compare and contrast. Which fragrance lasts longer? Which smells better?

Quick Overview

🏆 My Verdict

Eros Parfum wins on opening, longevity, and overall scent, while Eros EDT wins on projection and slightly better versatility.

Buy Eros Parfum if you want the smoother, richer, and more refined version of Eros with stronger lasting power and a better dry down.

Buy the original Eros EDT if you prefer the louder mint-apple sweetness and stronger youthful club-fragrance energy, but overall Parfum is the better fragrance.

 

Category Versace Eros EDT Versace Eros Parfum Winner
Opening Mint, green apple, lemon, vanilla, and strong youthful sweetness Mint and citrus opening with smoother woods, amber, and a richer sweeter base Eros Parfum
Projection Very strong and louder off the skin Strong, but smoother and less aggressive Eros EDT
Longevity Around 7–8 hours depending on batch Usually 8–10 hours with a stronger dry down Eros Parfum
Versatility Nightlife, colder weather, younger crowd, but still wearable casually Nightlife, dates, cooler weather, slightly more mature versatility Eros EDT
Overall Scent Louder sweet mint-apple vanilla club scent with strong youthful appeal Richer, smoother, more polished Eros with stronger balance and refinement Eros Parfum
Best For Those who want the louder original club-fragrance feel Those who want the smoother, more mature, better overall Eros —

Tale of the Tape; Eros vs Eros Parfum

Versace Eros EDT

Notes of Eros: mint, green apple, tonka bean, madagascar vanilla, vetiver, Italian lemon

Shop Amazon for: Versace Eros Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

My Full Review: Eros

Eros Parfum

Notes include: lemon, mandarin, black pepper, elemi, tonka bean, Madagascar vanilla, litsea cubeba, pomarose, geranium, lavender, clary sage, benzoin, cashmeran, patchouli, vetiver

Click here to try: Eros Parfum

Read my full review: Parfum

Opening

So, with the newer bottles of Eros EDT, I get a stronger opening of the lemon note versus what it was in the past. To me, it used to have more of a balance between the vanilla, mint, green apple, and that lemon.

Sweet, fresh, rich, and bold. Now, it’s quite citrusy on my skin and has a sharpness to it, that just doesn’t have that same vibe.

Eros Parfum actually opens up being more fresh than citrus. Yes, the citrus does pop at the top and its sparkling quality is nice. But, it’s actually more muted in the blend.

The usual lemon, mandarin, and that verbena-like litsea cubeba. Pepper and sage are more apparent, as is the base of amber and resinous notes like, benzoin and elemi.

Sage is the leader, geranium is stronger in this composition, and I get very little of the mint note.

Which is better? As it stands currently, I prefer what Parfum has to offer versus what I’m getting from the original EDT. It’s different, but familiar, and utilizes the fresh notes very well.

Edge: Eros Parfum

Projection

Both are strong. Neither are powerful, anymore. You’ll get a nice scent trail with either of these.

The projection reaches a tiny bit further with the Parfum version. Older Eros EDT, would outdo both of these. The performance has taken a step back, but these are still good performers for mainstream designer fragrances.

Edge: Parfum

Longevity

Eros EDT used to routinely get me 10+ hours, with the older bottles. Now, it is basically hitting 8 hours and can on occasion, still be detected at the 10 hour mark.

With Eros Parfum, the longevity seems to be 8.5-10+ hours. Mostly towards the upper end of that range. One time that I wore it, Parfum did fade at the 8.5 hour mark.

So, while the longevity now overlaps. Parfum is a more consistent performer for me, than is EDT.

Edge: Parfum

Versatility

As far as use cases go, these are obviously going to be very similar. Both are mainly used in the colder months of the year. An advantage that Parfum has, is that it can extend its usefulness further into the springtime than EDT.

Neither is a summertime wear, but Eros Parfum just keeps it together better when it gets warmer out.

Secondly, I think that Parfum is the smoothest and most refined of the Eros line. It’s got more maturity than any of them and can be worn by older men, as well as younger guys.

These are the main differences to me and Parfum takes this category.

Edge: Parfum

 

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these two fragrances do I prefer? It’s tough, because I would prefer older bottles of Eros EDT to Parfum. However, even comparing what I can buy right now, I only slightly prefer Parfum to the current incarnation of EDT.

EDT is still fine. I don’t want to make it seem like it’s terrible, it isn’t. Actually, all of the main Eros variants are about the same in terms of how each smells. But, I do think that Parfum is currently the best of them.

I like the freshness that Parfum has, while keeping it smooth in the latter stages. The vanilla and amber are very nice here, getting paired with a prominent vetiver note. The amber is the most tolerable in the series, to my nose. Whereas, EDP gets annoying after a while.

Beyond that, the performance and versatility of Eros Parfum are also better. Even if its not by too much, I still give it a definite edge, and it’s the winner of this contest.

Winner: Eros Parfum

Who Should Buy Each?

Choose Eros EDT if:

You prefer the original loud Versace Eros DNA
You like mint, green apple, lemon, tonka, vanilla, and stronger sweetness
You want the bigger projection and youthful club-fragrance feel
You mainly wear fragrance for nightlife, parties, and casual colder-weather use
You prefer louder attention-grabbing scents over smoother refinement

Choose Eros Parfum if:

You want the better overall fragrance
You prefer smoother woods, amber, vanilla, and a more refined dry down
You want better longevity and a more mature take on Eros
You like fragrances that still perform well but feel less aggressive
You want the best full-wear experience rather than just the loudest opening

Versace Eros FAQ

Which Eros fragrance is the best?

They’re all sort of close in terms of likeability in my opinion. If I had to say right now: Eros Parfum. I might go Eros EDT or Flame (if you wanted something a bit different) from the ‘blue bottles’.

Does Eros Parfum last longer than Eros EDT?

Nowadays, yes. Parfum does have the edge in terms of how long it lasts on skin. Older bottles of Eros EDT were amazing with how they performed. Now, they’ve lost a step or two, in my experience.

Are Eros EDT and Eros Parfum very similar?

Eros EDT, Parfum, and EDP all have a lot of overlap. There are different notes between them, but mainly its about the strength of the main core of the ‘DNA’. So, it comes down to preference, and I lean toward Parfum first. Then, EDT.