Bleu de Chanel Parfum vs. EDT Comparison

by

Chanel keeps chugging along with its Bleu de Chanel line of perfumes for men. The original EDT, has been immensely popular for many years now, and show no signs of slowing down. The most recent release has been, BdC Parfum, which gives the formula a newer take.

The question is, which smells better? EDT vs. Parfum? Which lasts longer? Which is the best one to buy?

Tale of the Tape: BdC EDT vs. Parfum

Bleu de Chanel Parfum

Notes include: sandalwood, cedar, lemon, lavender, mint, bergamot, tonka bean, amber, geranium

Click here to try: BLEU DE C H A N E L PARFUM, 3.4 oz./ 100 mL

Read my Review: Bleu de Chanel Parfum

Bleu de Chanel EDT

Notes include: lemon, grapefruit, ginger, mint, pink pepper, incense, cedar, vetiver, patchouli, jasmine, and more

Click here to try: Bleu De_Chanel for Men Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4oz NEW in BOX 

Opening

BdC Parfum kicks things off with a duo of citrus notes: lemon zest and bergamot. It does take a somewhat different direction from the other Bleu fragrances, by those citrus notes being tempered by mint and the woods.

All in all, it still is pretty similar in the beginning. Later, Bleu de Chanel Parfum will become a woodier and warmer scent, with plenty of sandalwood and cedar coming into the fold.

Bleu EDT is also a citrus affair up top. The grapefruit and lemon, get blended with softer spice notes, and a smoky incense. This BdC entry, also has the mint note, but ginger is the more prominent of the two.

Which fragrance has the better start? They’re both pretty close at the start, and I do really like either of them. But, I’d say Parfum gets the slightest edge, with its added woodiness. I do, really enjoy the ginger in EDT, though.

Edge: Parfum

Projection

Sillage wise, again, they’re actually very close to one another. Neither is an absolute beast in terms of strength or projection ability.

Parfum starts off pretty strong, but goes into its moderate phase pretty shortly thereafter. EDT does the same. The opening of Parfum, I’d say, hits a higher high. But it’s so short-lived, to not be a major factor.

You’d think that Parfum, would have better sillage, as the higher concentrated fragrance. However, that’s not actually the case, in my experience with each.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Bleu de Chanel EDT will go anywhere from 5-7 hours, on my skin. It doesn’t really have that insane performance. Decent? Yes. Not elite, though.

Parfum, while not having a super powerful sillage, actually does have really good longevity. For me, it lasts over 10 hours. It just seems to continually hang around. It’s easily the winner, in this category.

Bleu de Chanel Parfum is really low key with its performance. You don’t always notice it, but you will catch whiffs of it during the day, and those around you will be able to pick it up.

Edge: Parfum

Versatility

Alright, both of them are highly versatile scents. Bleu de Chanel can work in a wide variety of situations, meaning, all of these releases under this name.

Parfum, might be more refined and formal, in some ways. But, it’s not really something that’s going to move the needle here.

The only real distinction here is that, the EDT version, is better in the heat. Parfum cannot stand up to the high heat, while the EDT can. As such, its getting the edge.

Edge: EDT

Overall Scent

For me, I don’t think you can actually go wrong with any of the choices from the Bleu de Chanel line. They are all high quality and smell wonderful. Naturally, each shares a common DNA with one another, but each stands alone as a distinct wear.

What I enjoy about the EDT version, is the fresh and clean aroma. The citrus is very nice, but I absolutely love the ginger note. It does get a smoky aroma in there as well, but the ginger led spice accord is the highlight.

This is the best of them, at handling the heat. I’d go with the EDT, if I lived in a tropical climate…possibly the EDP. Even then, the amber in that one can be wonky, in the hotter temperatures and humidity, especially.

However, when it comes down to which of these two is better, I’m going to say Bleu de Chanel Parfum. The performance is better, it has enough of an overlap with the EDT, but brings in more of a woody freshness.

The lemon zest, isn’t as intensely citrusy as the EDT version’s plain lemon, but it brings enough of that character. I like the lavender, amberwood, and sandalwood.

Actually, especially the sandalwood. To me, it is the highlight of Parfum, and what takes it to another level.

I have gone back and forth between liking the EDP or Parfum better. As of today, I usually lean EDP. In this contest? Parfum beats EDT. There are also a ton of alternatives to Bleu de Chanel that have been released, but that’s not the case yet for Parfum.

Winner: BdC Parfum

Virgin Island Water by Creed

by

Within the box of sample fragrances, I recently received (note: I’ve updated this page several times since), were several fragrances by Creed which I had yet to review on the site. One of them, is the popular unisex summer fragrance, Virgin Island Water. It was released in 2007.

This is a scent that screams time spent at the beach in some far flung tropical paradise. But, how does it perform? What does it smell like exactly? Is it actually worth the price of admission? Please continue reading below for my full take on Virgin Island Water, after wearing it.

What Does Creed Virgin Island Water Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, lime, rum, sugar cane, coconut, ylang-ylang, and ginger

Click here to try: Creed Virgin Island Water by Creed for Unisex – 4 oz Millesime Spray

My Full Wear Review

Upon getting my sample of Virgin Island Water, I immediately wanted to do a side by side comparison with Set Sail St. Bart’s, due to the similarities with these fragrances. I have tried both fragrances before but never had them together at the same time.

Virgin Island Water opens up with the lime and bergamot notes taking center stage, whereas the Tommy Bahama cologne is almost exclusively lime.

The opening is where the two scents are the most similar. I like Virgin Island Water better, as I feel the lime is less in your face, and tempered by the other citrus note and the coconut hanging around in the background.

It’s really the lime note that allows St. Barts to temporarily pass as a super cheapie VIW clone of sorts. The two scents also each have an alcohol note (tequila in St. Barts), which gives them another similar feel, but the quality difference is noticeable to yourself when wearing.

Anyways, the bergamot used in Virgin Island Water reminds me of it’s fellow Creed scent, Aventus. It really does blend well with the lime to create a beautiful citrus fusion.

After about 10-15 minutes of wear the creamy coconut takes over as the top dog in this scent and VIW starts to feel more like a suntan lotion.

It’s really like a sensory experience type of fragrance, it’s like being in the Caribbean on a beach with a drink in hand and a delicious smelling lotion covering your skin.

There are hints of jasmine and hibiscus, throughout the wear, but the floral notes are never out in full force. During the final dry down, it’s like a coconut rum lotion with some musk added in.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

Projection wise, it’s okay. It’s not a super strong scent but you’ll know it’s there for the first few hours. With these notes, I’m kind of glad it’s not a complete beast, as it’d probably too much.

It’s longevity is kind of meh, too. I’d say somewhere in the 4-6 hour range is what you can expect to get out of Virgin Island Water.

I get that this is a warm weather scent with some limited use cases versus others in the line, but that performance is pretty darn bad. It can make it difficult to justify paying full price for VIW, even if you completely love it.

When should this scent be worn? Summer. That’s about it. It’s a very good warm/hot weather scent, which is a bit rarer, so I think that it serves this niche well. Also, it is a unisex fragrance, and honestly doesn’t seem to lean towards one end or the other.

It’s a very balanced scent. I’d also say that this is a casual type of scent, I don’t think I’d be wearing it for any ‘serious’ functions or even a date. But, an outdoor party or beachy nightlife spot? Sure, I’d go for that.

VIW is mostly something to wear during the daytime to be refreshed and conjure up those memories of the island life.

Overall Impression of Virgin Island Water

Overall, is Virgin Island Water worth a purchase? I like the way it smells, but I don’t know that I like it for the price that Creed fetches. It’s honestly not one of my favorite Creed fragrances, but it is good.

The lime and rum are particularly likeable for me. The coconut is good, but it’s not my favorite aspect, especially how it plays off of the floral notes. Not bad or anything, just not the greatest either.

So, I wouldn’t tell anyone else to not buy it. Some folks love it, but it has never particularly struck me as a ‘great’ perfume. Plus, not much in terms of being a high performance scent.

Personally, Set Sail St. Barts, while not exactly the same and not as high quality…is cheaper enough in price that I could substitute it. I have a full bottle of the Tommy Bahama cologne, so having VIW seems like overkill, especially since it’s so limited to one season of the year.

Update: I wouldn’t go for the Tommy Bahama option nowadays. I do now actually have a Dua Brand blend of this and Afternoon Swim by Louis Vuitton called, “Gone Swimming in Caribbean Waters”. That is much cheaper and better than just VIW on its own (they also have a cheaper alternative of that).

Plus, I’d wear this mostly while outdoors anyways, and with heat and perspiration, it’d be hard to tell the difference between the two.

Since this is a unisex fragrance, I would also recommend Tom Ford’s Soleil Blanc, over this. It is more of a women’s perfume (floral notes), but is honestly better than VIW, to my nose.

Le Male Elixir vs Le Parfum Comparison

by

Le Male is the never-ending series from Jean Paul Gaultier. Some of the scents fall off by the wayside, rather quickly, while others manage to capture the public’s imagination. Two of the latter entries are Le Male Le Parfum and the newer Le Male Elixir. Both of which are very successful, but which smells better? Lasts longer? Is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Elixir vs. Le Parfum

Le Male Elixir

Notes include: mint, honey, lavender, tonka bean, benzoin, tobacco, vanilla

Click here to try: Le Male Elixir at Macy’s

Read my review: Elixir

Le Male Le Parfum

Notes include: cardamom, iris, vanilla, lavender, woods, spices

Click here to try: Le Male Le Parfum

My Review: Le Parfum

Opening

Elixir actually starts things off with its mint note out in a bold way, giving it a cooling fresh spiciness. This is joined by the usual Le Male lavender note.

The other major factor early is going to be from the tonka bean. Elixir also has a vanilla note, it just gets stronger as the wear moves forward. Tonka is sweet and syrupy when paired with the honey note and the fuzziness of the benzoin.

With Le Parfum, you start off with a strong cardamom note and a mix of spices. The spices are pretty generic, probably some cinnamon in there, though.

Also, the iris comes into play as the main floral note, overtaking the usual Le Male lavender note. Vanilla also begins its support role. So, it’s warm, spicy, somewhat powdery, and smooth.

Which do I prefer? Le Parfum is nice, but I like the boldness and fresh/sweet mix of Elixir more so. There’s more going on, it’s dynamic, and comes out of the gate strong.

Edge: Elixir

Projection

Elixir starts off way stronger of the two. Both will eventually moderate, but Le Parfum is lighter and doesn’t have the same reach as Elixir.

Elixir is a bold start, steady strength, that declines into a moderate.

Le Parfum is above average start, that declines into a lighter moderate.

Edge: Elixir

Longevity

While Elixir is definitely the stronger of the two, it doesn’t have as big of a lead in terms of how long it lasts. Elixir gives me 8-10.5 hours of wear

Le Parfum hits the 8-9 hour mark, but doesn’t make it past that for me.

So, another Elixir win just not as much as you might have though based on the sillage of each scent.

Edge: Elixir

Versatility

This is wear Le Parfum has an edge.

Elixir is bold, sweet, built for the colder weather, and has a youthful nightlife vibe to it. Not going to be one that most people will wear to work or formal occasions.

Le Parfum is an autumn through spring wear. Not too heavy, loud, or limited in its uses. It’s not exactly formal either, but it can fit in most day to day scenarios better than Elixir can.

Edge: Le Parfum

Overall Scent

Overall, which do I like better? While these are two of the better releases in the series, I personally prefer Elixir over Le Parfum.

I really enjoy the opening and the addition of honey and tobacco to the Le Male series. It’s sweet, warm, spicy, rich, bold, and a fun cologne to wear.

Le Parfum is nice. Vanilla, amber, and lavender in the dry down. Heavier on the lavender, with a cardamom note like Le Male Airlines. It’s very much an updated take on the original Le Male (which I’ve really like wearing lately).

If I needed one cologne to wear for a lot of different situations, I’d probably go with Le Parfum as the one I’d buy, though. It’s solid all around and can be a great pick up.

But, just based on smell alone, I like Elixir. I don’t need an all-around fragrance, myself, since I already own too many bottles of cologne as is. This is a great and more unique take on the Le Male name from Jean Paul Gaultier.

Winner: Elixir

5 Perfumes Similar to Princess by Kilian

by

I Don’t Need a Prince by My Side to be a Princess is not only a long title, it is also a very popular scent from Kilian. The sweetness, the matcha tea uniqueness, and the fluffed powdered marshmallow are all highlights of this scent. But, what other perfumes smell similar to or are cheaper than Princess. This page keeps track of my ongoing list of alternatives.

Perfumes that Smell Like I Don’t Need a Prince by My Side to be a Princess

There’s no Prince

Princeless Princess by The Dua Brand– The first of the ‘inspired by’ options that I’ve found comes from The Dua Brand. They have a great track record with me, for providing scents that very closely resembling the designer fragrances that they are based on.

The formula consists of the same notes, it’s just a matter of how near they got to having the proper weighting of each.

Princeless Princess isn’t one that I’ve personally tried out yet, however. Though, since I’ve owned over 10 bottles of their other stuff, I can say they usually get close to the mark.

The Kilian isn’t all that complicated, so, this shouldn’t be too hard to match. It is also a more concentrated extrait de parfum, which makes it a good possibility that this one will last longer too.

Inspiration Royalty

Secret Duchess by Oakcha– Oakcha is another brand that does these ‘inspired by’ perfumes, like Dua. Their version of Princess is called Secret Duchess.

I have less experience with this brand and none with this scent in particular. However, I’m going to list it as another option, for those of you who want to give it a try.

Oakcha usually does great work and this is one with a ton of positive reviews to its name. The pricing is about on par with The Dua Brand, both of which are much less expensive when compared with Kilian.

Something Like

Ariana Grande Ari Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)– Ok, so, Princess isn’t exactly like Ari. But, I am reminded of it in comparison.

The overlap? Marshmallow, vanilla, and citrus.  Different floral notes, but Ari has a lily of the valley, which adds some light freshness to the mix.

The not so similar? Mainly, that tea note. Princess has more freshness (ginger), a greenish undertone, and probably a bit more powder. Peach and apple are also not here.

Ari dries down with a raspberry and pear sweetness, with that fluffy marshmallow note and an orchid. Sweet, with enough vanilla and marshmallow to have a similar style. Not super heavy, either.

It just can’t match the tea element. But, I figured that I should put this one the list anyway. Ari Full Review

The Prada Candy Option

Prada Candy L’eau– L’eau is a caramel-centered fragrance. So, right off of the bat, it’s not trying to be a replica of Princess. But, the style is quite similar.

This is still more of a blend of notes rather than a pure caramel explosion. It is like a powdery version of the original Prada Candy with a mix of Bonbon.

There is a sweetpea note here to distinguish L’eau from the others, but this definitely has their signature. But, since it is a L’eau version of this fragrance, it is fresher and lighter than the others in the series. Making it a worthy comparison to our target perfume.

L’eau is a lighter perfume with its sillage and overall performance. Not going to blow the doors off, but you’ll get a powdery, slightly fruity caramel blend, with a musky finish. Again, you’re lacking the matcha note in this one too.

Another One

No Prince Required by Fine’ry– Here’s another one that I’ve come across recently, but haven’t tried out. Obviously, with the name it’s going to be doing its best to try and mimic what you get with the Kilian scent.

But, from what I see this is available as a body spray only. So, the hefty discount isn’t going to get you a heavy concentration.

However, it might be worth trying if you want a cheap alternative to Princess, especially if you’re trying to preserve a bottle of the Kilian that you’ve previously bought. 

Is it good? I don’t know, but I’ll leave it here for anyone who wants to try No Prince Required out.

 

MYSLF EDP by YSL

by

Myslfn is a new release from Yves Saint Laurent for 2023. After the endless Y and L’Homme flankers, I was excited to learn that they had come out with something different. I didn’t know anything about it before buying a sample online. How does this one smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a buy?

What does Myslf by YSL Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, orange blossom, woods, patchouli, ambrofix

Click here to try: Myslf by YSL

My Full Review

Here’s how YSL describes it: The first YSL Beauty woody floral for a contrasted trail of modernity.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this YSL coming into testing it. I saw comparisons between it and the women’s perfume, Libre by YSL after I ordered my sample, and wasn’t too excited for the prospect.

The thing is, it’s not really like Libre. Maybe closer to Libre L’Absolu Platine, which I also have a sample of. Even then, you’d have to strip out the lavender and aldehydes, which are major players in that fragrance.

Myslf starts off with it’s ‘fresh accord’, which basically consists of bergamot citrus notes, sitting on top of a strong use of orange blossom. It’s actually very nice.

The first time I wore this, I went outside for a stroll around the neighborhood and was loving the opening act and its mix of freshness and creaminess from the white floral.

The orange blossom will take over much of what the bergamot controlled up top. Patchouli and wood also appear, providing a slight earthy and spicy quality, while Myslf still manages to feel fairly clean.

The dry down comes and there is less distinction between the notes. The usual ambroxan fare, with the woody base, and a general aromatic smell perched front and center.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection in that first hour is good. Not a heavy fragrance, but it leaves a scent trail, and you can easily smell it on yourself.

I like to test scents outside, when I go for a daily walk. This was fantastic in that 30 minute window, when I had it sprayed on my wrist only. The scent itself was lovely, along with how it hung around me. Not quite a thick cloud, but more than a mist.

On my skin, this one will go for 6-7 hours. However, those last 3-4 hours are skin scent level performance. The first hour is really good and the next couple after that are decent.

Not an amazing performer. At the price point that Myslf is at, this is a reasonably disappointing result.

Seasonally, Myslf works best in the spring through autumn. It could be a year round fragrance, for those in a warmer climate. But, I’d probably go with something else during winter, for everyone else.

It’s a versatile clean. Any age group can wear it. Myslf isn’t a formal, wear it with a tuxedo type of cologne, but it works as an office daily wear. At school, casually, semi-formal events, etc.

It’s a scent that will be well-liked by others. It’s not a sexy sort of fragrance or one that’ll be a nightlife beast, either. Just one that can fit in pretty much anywhere else.

Overall Impressions of Myslf

Overall, do I like this fragrance? I do like it. It’s not a must have for me, but I do especially enjoy the first half of the wear.

Myslf isn’t a super unique or complex cologne. Though, that fresh accord paring with the orange blossom is very nice and attractive. It’s an easy to wear scent, that is clean and super versatile with its uses.

I like the light spiciness that comes through and that touch of earthiness. It’d be cool with some more of that.

Is it going to be one for those who love niche fragrances? Probably not. However, for the average consumer, this is a legitimate option if you just want to smell pleasant.

My biggest problem with this YSL, is the performance relative to the price. Not insanely expensive, but I want more longevity and power if I’m paying retail. I saw the small bottle selling for just under $90, which is a lot more than I’m willing to give up.

Outside of that, I think this is a very solid release. So long as you don’t have sky high expectations about what it should be or what YSL might have released instead of this.