Gabrielle Essence EDP by Chanel

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Gabrielle Essence is the follow up release to the popular Gabrielle by Chanel. It came out in 2019 and has enjoyed a good deal of attention itself. I purchased a sample of this scent, with my latest batch, in order to test it out and review it for the site. How does it smell? What’s different? Is it even worth a try?

What does Gabrielle Essence Smell Like?

Notes include: tuberose, orange blossom, ylang-ylang, jasmine, coconut, peach, citrus

Click here to try: Gabrielle Essence by Chanel Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4 oz / 100 ml (Women) 

My Full Review

Gabrielle Essence opens up much better to my nose versus the original EDP. With that one, it seems harder to distinguish between notes, at first.

Essence doesn’t have the same sparkling brightness as the original, but the fruity notes are better and juicier overall. Not sharp, but smoothed out by the white floral notes, that make up the Gabrielle DNA.

This is a blend of peach and citrus, with a bit of coconut that becomes more noticeable deeper into the wear.

While the fruity opening is better here, it also is shorter lived to my nose. This one gets down to the floral notes rather quickly, but I actually like that phase of Essence.

The main difference with the floral notes for me is, Essence has a stronger emphasis on orange blossom and jasmine, at first. With the EDP, it was jasmine and tuberose. The tuberose in Gabrielle Essence doesn’t play that big of a role.

Eventually, the jasmine, orange blossom, and ylang-ylang are sharing most of the duties. That’s what I get for most of the rest of the wear. It’s a bit sweet and has a nice, but not thick creaminess about it.

Light musk and woodiness, at the base, but this is mostly all about those floral notes. Nothing overly complicated, just a variation of what you’d expect.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage with Gabrielle Essence is pretty moderate. It does project itself better than the original, but it isn’t a massive difference. Not super powerful and dries down fairly softly.

There will be a scent trail left behind you for that first hour or so. After that, it’s going to be more noticeable in a 3-4 foot radius from where you’ve sprayed Gabrielle Essence on.

I also get just over 8 hours of wear on my skin with Essence. Yes, it stays as a skin scent for a good chunk of that time, but it is still there…just not in full force. That’s about what it consistently seems to be. Maybe it’ll get to 9 hours, at times.

Seasonally, it’s at its peak in the spring. Summer and autumn are great, but the spring is where the Gabrielle perfumes shine. In the warmer air, this Chanel really hangs beautifully and you catch whiffs of the full floral array.

Gabrielle Essence is a versatile daily wear, just like the original. It isn’t super formal and can actually serve better as a casual or semi-formal scent. It’s a lovely and attractive scent, just not a super sexy club beast.

Overall Impressions of Gabrielle Essence

Overall, do I like Gabrielle Essence? I really do. It’s a beautiful perfume and better than the original (which I liked). Essence is a very well balanced and well put together floral. The fruity opening is great, without being over the top.

Also, I like how the floral notes are weighted in this one when compared to the original. It’s performance is a bit better, but that could’ve been bumped up somewhat. It’s not bad, by any means, just not outstanding. Both longevity and power are above average, however.

This is more than just a solid entry from Chanel. One that does everything well and has the versatility to become a daily wear for many women. More modern than some of their past releases, even if it’s not entirely unique.

It’s not their absolute best, but I enjoy what they’ve done with this Gabrielle series so far, and Essence in particular.

10 Best Giorgio Armani Colognes for Men

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Armani has a fantastic line of fragrances for both men and women, that have their own unique style and impression. Two of the colognes for men, Armani Code and Acqua Di Gio, have been best-sellers and very popular with both men and their women for years now.

However, there are other Armani colognes that are really great that don’t get the same amount of attention as those two. For this list, I wanted to explore ten of the best Armani scents, of both new and old. Also see: The Top Armani Perfumes for Women

Favorite Armani Fragrances for Him

Enveloping Winter Warmth

Giorgio Armani Code Profumo EDP Spray for Men, 3.7 Ounce– Code Profumo was the best flanker fragrance, that has stemmed from the original Code moniker.

That’s changed, in my opinion, but I do still love this one. It is sweet, warm, and a magnificent wear for the colder months of the year.

Profumo opens up with tonka bean and amber. Then is quickly followed up by the inclusion of mandarin orange, herbal notes, and rich leather. Smooth and creamy on the dry down. If you want a spicier and boozier version, go with Absolu.

Code Profumo has a strong sillage and lasts on my skin for over 10 hours, most of the time. A very good and highly intriguing winter wear for guys. Code Profumo Review

Deeper, Darker Aquatic

Giorgio Armani Aqua di Gio Profumo, 4.2 Fluid Ounce– A flanker from the original and best-selling Acqua di Gio, AdG Profumo, exceeds the original in my opinion. It is a dark aquatic fragrance with an attractive spice and smoky undertones provided by the incense note.

Update: They’ve basically discontinued Profumo under this name. Now, Acqua di Gio Parfum is essentially just this rebranded.

To me, it can be a toss up between this and Profondo. Profumo is a darker scent, while Profondo is a lighter and has a zesty sort of personality.

Profumo starts out with bergamot and deep sea aquatic notes. The composition screams out summertime spent on the coast and is more refined and masculine than its predecessor. Great salty marine elements with sage and rosemary, giving it all extra heft. Awesome. Acqua di Gio Profumo Review

Unisex Floral Leather

Cuir Zerzura– Zerzura is a part of the expensive Privee line from Armani. This one is great, as it leans masculine and delivers a great and deep floral scent.

Iris is the main floral note, with some rose and light violet leaf early on. The main attractions though are the iris, leather, and vanilla notes.

Early on, you will get a brightness of mandarin and elemi. Though, that is short-lived and this becomes rich and has an enveloping smoothness and warmth. The contrast between the leather, the creaminess, and the powdery aroma of the iris note.

Not too sweet or overpowering. I think that Armani struck a very good balance between that iris and the leather without falling too much into make-up bag territory. Lovely stuff.

Newer Code

Code Parfum by Giorgio Armani– This will be one of three Code entries onto the list. It was released in 2022 and I was surprised at how good it was.

Code Parfum kicks off with the usually bergamot note, paired with sage and iris. The bergamot is sparkling and this one has a great opening freshness to it. It’s sort of bright and aldehydic with the way the iris is worked into things.

There is some powderiness, not too much, and not as much as you’d think with both iris and tonka bean coming through. Those two notes are heavily featured in the dry down along with the remaining citrus and a crisp cedar.

It’s a clean daily wear that can fit in a wide variety of situations. Code Parfum is going to be one of those workhorse fragrances, that you can spray on pretty much whenever, but it has plenty of style. Code Parfum review

Sweet, Woody, Unique

Giorgio Armani Cologne for Men, Armani Diamonds, 2.5 Fluid Ounce
At its base, Emporio Armani Diamonds is woody and spicy. At the top, you have cocoa bean and bergamot leading the way, with a heart of amber.

The citrus and cacao combination is beautifully done and feels wrapped up in that warm and familiar amber note. I really like the bergamot that comes out of the early stages, along with the initial spiciness that will be such a factor in the middle.

The bergamot is most noticeable at the start and gradually it all dries down into a woody cologne with sweet cocoa and hints of sichuan pepper (just not much). Coming back to this one recently, the amber note really developed well, in a way I hadn’t remembered.

At that point, the aroma is quite dry, but overall it remains light and none too heavy. Fresh, sweet, with good longevity.  Notes include: Citrus, Bergamot, Cedar, Szechwan Pepper, Gaiac Wood, Ambroxan, Vetiver, Cocoa Bean. Diamonds Review

emporio diamonds

Bluer Citrus Aquatic

Acqua di Gio Profondo– This newer release is replacing the original AdG, which really feels unnecessary to have at this time. It has been surpassed by flankers like this and there are cheaper options, that smell pretty much the same.

Profondo has plenty of overlap with Profumo, but as I said, there are slight differences. This is the lighter and has a zestier/blue vibe, versus the deep water aroma of Profumo.

Anyway, Profondo kicks off with a blend of citrus notes, with a solid freshness and spice provided by the rosemary. This doesn’t smell as smoky to me, either.

Much more of a fruity and blue aquatic, on the lines of maybe a Polo Blue, versus the other colognes in this series. Profondo Full Review

Classic Armani Release

Mania By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces
A sophisticated blend of woodsy aromatics and mandarin oranges. The opening is bright and upbeat with that mandarin note and saffron poking through.

There still aren’t too many men’s fragrances utilizing saffron, but it can be utterly brilliant, as it is here.

Mania is pretty simple, with dry elements, wood, amber, and a nice citrus shining through. You have to get this one online, nowadays, as Armani no longer produces it. Highly masculine and a full bodied scent that will drive ladies wild, when close.

Update: It’s been discontinued for a long while. Probably difficult to find a cheap bottle. So, pass on it if the price is in the triple digits.

Note: Dua brand has their fragrance: Arena, which is based on this formula.

mania

A Stronger With You Option

Emporio Armani Stronger With You Intensely EDP For Men 3.4oz– The original Stronger with You was pretty nice, but not something that I’d consider one of Armani’s best. However, I think that Intensely is a better option than that, and worthy of a spot for this update.

Stronger with You Intensely does indeed ramp up the power of the original, within a sweeter frame, and delicious gourmand aroma.

Sage, cinnamon, and pink pepper add the layer of spice but it really isn’t a completely thick cloud of fragrance…but very much a colder weather wear.

I like this and as of now, it takes the spot as my favorite cologne from this line. Yes, Absolutely is up there as well. For me, this has the slight edge between them. Here’s my review of Intensely and my comparison with SWY Absolutely

I also think that SWY Leather is right up there at the top between these two. That’s more of a limited edition, so, it can be more difficult to find than these two.

Stylish Stand Out

Armani Attitude By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 1.7 Oz– Attitude is a fitting name, because this one is bold, and can pack a punch.

Not that it is overly heavy, but this was one that could grab attention (it has been discontinued, as well, still bottles available online ). Note: Dua has their inspired by version: #Attitude available for cheap, if you can’t find this.

You had coffee and lemon, with notes like lavender and patchouli. All in all, it could be hard to distinguish between them, as it is so well blended. That’s perfectly fine, because the result was awesome, quite sexy, and could be a complement magnet.

attitude

The Best Armani Code

Armani Code Absolu– I am replacing the original Code on the list, as it has been surpassed by too many other offerings. Initially, Code Profumo was my favorite of the line. However, that all changed with the release of Absolu, which is the best of the bunch.

It kicks off with rum, suede, nutmeg, and tonka bean. There are the light fruit notes of mandarin and apple, floating in the background, as they do in all of the Code scents.

I really enjoy the kick and booziness provided by the nutmeg and rum, with the leather-like smoothness of suede.

It’s dark and warm, with a great sweetness during the dry down. A lighter option versus Profumo, not as cloying, but still delivers over 10 hours of wear. Code Absolu Review

11 Best Smelling Bond No. 9 Perfumes

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After I wrote my post for the best Bond No. 9 fragrances for men, it became clear that I would have to do one for women as well.

The New York boutique house has even a larger selection of perfumes for women, so the task of cutting them down became even more difficult, so don’t freak if your favorite scent isn’t on here.

I narrowed it down to what I consider to be the ten best smelling Bond No. 9 perfumes for ladies and I think there is something on here for everyone to enjoy. Plus, I will link to my full review of each individual fragrance, as I write them.

Also, check out the men’s list because there are some unisex scents on there that are great as well.

Other posts to check out: Sexiest Women’s Perfumes, Top Smelling Ladies Fragrances

What are the Best Perfumes for Her by Bond No. 9?

Awesome Clean Daily Wear

Bond No. 9 The Scent Of Peace Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.3 Fluid Ounce– A clean fragrance based on citrus notes whose airy aroma will have people wanting more. It opens with a blend of grapefruit and black currant, creating a juicy fruit-laced vibe that has a similar effect to D&G Light Blue, but better in my opinion.

The Scent of Peace is extremely bright and pleasant perfume, that constantly had me sniffing my arm during my testing of it.

Later on in the wear, lily and cedar note emerge among other florals, to create a green outdoorsy aroma. This second layer is in complement to the beautiful fruit top notes.

The Scent of Peace has light to moderate sillage with a solid longevity of around 7 hours, on my skin, at least. It utterly screams spring/summer, with it’s pretty composition, and the sweetness doesn’t have that ‘teenager perfume’ intensity. It’s refined yet playful.

Notes include: Blackcurrant, Grapefruit, Cedarwood, Hedione, Musk, Lily of the Valley. Read my Scent of Peace Review

scent of peace

Night on the Town

New York Nights by Bond No.9– New York Nights is one from Bond that I didn’t try out for a long time, but it quickly became an absolute favorite of mine.

Gardenia, caramel, and aquatic notes start things off here. Strange combo? Maybe, but it’s great. Smooth, sweet, with a freshness/saltiness.

I get a spiciness from carnation and patchouli, especially as this one transitions into being more of a standard floral with the gardenia and jasmine notes. The aquatic notes fade away, the caramel loses some steam, and you get more sandalwood and patchouli.

It’s not one that everyone will love, but it seems to have plenty of fans and I think it’s worth trying out. New York Nights review

Most Popular/Best Seller

Chinatown New York by Bond No.9 For Womens Eau De Parfume 3.3 oz– A spice laden perfume which is further blended together but floral and fruity notes to evoke the experience of Chinatown.

It opens with a white floral twosome of tuberose and gardenia, that is balanced out a top note of bergamot citrus and peach blossom, which prevents it from having that super floral quality.

The cardamom really sets Chinatown apart from many other perfumes and adds a layer of depth, that takes it to another level of attractiveness.

This Bond No. 9 perfume is best in the cooler months of the year through springtime. The heat doesn’t really do it any service. However, the rest of the time, Chinatown could be a signature scent for a lot of women.

Notes include: Bergamot, Peach Blossom, Guaiac Wood Gardenia, Cardamom, Vanilla, Tuberose, Peony, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Orange Flower, Cedarwood.  Chinatown Full Review

chinatown

Gorgeous Jasmine Gourmand

Tribeca by Bond No. 9– This one has become very popular since its release, a few years back. It gets attention for its similarities to Baccarat Rouge 540, but they are ultimately fairly different perfumes.

This one has a great blend of caramel, cacao, and hazelnut. Mainly, the nutty accord and more of the caramel versus a chocolate smell. Tribeca is warm and creamy, but isn’t a heavy fragrance, as it kind of hangs gently in the air around you.

Next, the jasmine will really come into play. A very beautiful rendition of the flower, joined by a potent ambroxan note, that doesn’t feel annoying. The dry down is kind of woody/mossy, but it’s mostly about the jasmine.

The initial sweet notes are still there, just not with the same intensity.

Fruity, Aquatic, Rose

Bond No. 9 Gold Coast for Women Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce– Gold Coast is a fantastic and somewhat newer release from Bond No. 9. As a spring and summertime wear, Gold Coast is a fresh and semi-aquatic fragrance with juicy notes, such as watermelon.

Lychee and apple add a further crispness to the scent, before the rose note really starts to move in. The lychee and watermelon are the strongest of the fruity notes and it feels more like a fruity/floral.

It’s clean, light, and fresh with a bit of vanilla creaminess coming through the base.

The final stage is a sandalwood and musk infused rose note, with the remaining fruitiness still coming through. Very nice wear and well worth a try.

Great Casual Springtime Perfume

BOND NO.9 ASTOR PLACE EDP SPRAY 3.3 OZ– Smart, pretty, and unique. Astor Place delivers as a go to fragrance for women who like floral notes that don’t overpower but do perform.

It features a zesty bit of mandarin orange as the top note, which sits on top of the floral composition made up mainly of: violet leaf, freesia, and red poppy.

The florals really dominate the first few hours of the wear, before the scent turns more musky and woody with the teak note, but the freesia seems to stick around the most. Astor Place is a low key fragrance in terms of its projection, but is one that will last around 8 hours.

It has an upbeat feel and great for casual or everyday wear. Notes include: Amber, Mandarin, Violet Leaf, Teakwood, Iris root, Freesia, Musk, Red Poppy. Full Astor Place Review

astor place

Nights with a Spice

Chelsea Nights by Bond No. 9– Another one like Tribeca, that starts out with cacao and hazelnut. This time, the cacao is stronger, and it for sure goes in a different direction than its compatriot.

Chelsea Nights isn’t a sugary chocolate bar, though. It’s got great touches of saffron, oud, a light rose, and myrrh. Yes, it’s sweet but it has a cinnamon sort of kick that comes through, warmth, a bit of smokiness floating underneath.

The end has a good deal of suede and vanilla. It has settled down in terms of both spiciness and sweetness. Smoother and creamy. Chelsea Nights hits so many different levels with its depth and is well worth checking out.

Garden Greenish Floral

Bond No. 9 Madison Square Park By Bond No. 9 For Women Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4 oz– A light and crisp floral which comes in the cool, hot pink bottle.

An airy fragrance yet long-lasting perfume, Madison Square Park,  is at times grassy, blueberry-laden, and then rose dominant.

It really does have the sensation of a day in the park, in that it is green, with that light aroma of flowers in the air.

Bond has released several bouquet or greenish floral perfumes and this is one of the best. Others like the I Love New York Marriage perfume, was too much for my nose. Way too green and not as balanced as Madison Square Park.

Notes include: hyacinth, rose, blueberry, grass, vetiver, and more.

madison square park

Bold Powdery Rose

Bond No. 9 Broadway Nite Eau De Parfum Spray 100ml/3.3oz– Energetic and exotic are two words which come to mind when describing Broadway Nite. A very floral scent that starts out with the heliotrope, rose, and rose notes.

This is joined by an undercurrent of vanilla and musk. Vanilla, musk, and iris are of course going to create a pretty powdery aroma. As such, if you’re not a big fan of florals or powdery scents, probably stay away from Broadway Nite.

This is more of a niche sort of perfume than the others on the list. Still has its fans, but not for everyone. Notes include: Rose, Honeysuckle, Iris, Aldehyde, Green Violet, Cedarwood, Musk, Sweet Amber, Heliotrope, Vanilla Beans. My Full Review

broadway nite review

Awesome Fresh Gourmand

Greenwich Village by Bond No. 9– Greenwich Village is a great release from Bond and one of the best that they’ve put out over the past few years.

This one starts out with a fresh fruitiness, with a somewhat tropical aroma. Lychee and mandarin orange with a bit of watery/aquatic feeling from the waterlily note. Cassis is also present up top. It’s both fresh and sweet.

The dry down gets warmer with praline, vanilla, and musk. The latter stages give you a nice creamy gourmand perfume.

Greenwich Village has a sugary vibe to it at times, but also a floral heart and a really fresh kind of scent…all at the same time. Very interesting, nice performance, but not super powerful.

Cold Weather Gourmand

BOND No 9 Nuits De Noho, 3.4 Ounce– A complex and seductive scent that can add a great deal of sophistication to a woman’s style. Nuits de Noho opens with a pineapple and vanilla mix that sits in the middle of a patchouli wrapping.

It’s gourmand and has a sweet, baked goods sort of quality to the aroma. The patchouli and musk are pretty strong for the first 15 minutes or so before, this Bond No. 9 perfume settles itself into something sweeter and gentler.

To me, the floral notes like jasmine, are powdery and green but mostly stay in the background to only come out a brief whiffs.

This has a lot of similarities to something such as, Angel by Thierry Mugler. Nuits de Noho is more suited towards colder weather.

Notes include: Mandarin, Pineapple Leaves, Bergamot, Rosewood, Grey Musk, Vanilla, Patchouli, Jasmine. Nuits de Noho Full Review

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Azzaro Wanted vs. Dior Sauvage Comparison

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Dior’s Sauvage has become an absolutely monstrous best seller, since its release, five or so years back. Because of this, it often gets compared to many other fragrances, that men are looking to buy. Azzaro Wanted, was released a few years after, and has enjoyed its own limited popularity. Which one is better? Which lasts longer? Which is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Wanted vs Sauvage EDT

Sauvage EDT

Notes include: Bergamot, Ambroxan, Sichuan Pepper, lavender, pink pepper, and more

Click here to try: Sauvage by Chrisitan Dior Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

Read my review: Sauvage EDT Review

Azzaro Wanted

Notes include: tonka bean, lemon, cardamom, vetiver, juniper, ginger, geranium, mint, amber wood

Click here to try: Azzaro Wanted Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce

Read my review: Azzaro Wanted

Opening

Sauvage EDT starts off with a mix of spicy Sichuan pepper and a sharp bergamot citrus note. It’s a pretty intense start, that is calmed by the later emergence of ambroxan and lavender.

Meanwhile, Azzaro Wanted begins with ginger, mint, lemon, and woods. It’s got a warm and very sweet aroma. There’s a thick and enveloping quality to Wanted. Cardamom and tonka bean come in and give the cologne that thick and sweet scent.

Which is better? I’m actually not too crazy about how either one of these fragrances starts. However, I do prefer the Sauvage opening. It is pretty strong, but it is much more preferable, versus the really sweet, slightly spicy, and huge lemon note of Wanted.

Edge: Sauvage

Projection

Sauvage and Wanted start off as strong fragrances. I’d say that Sauvage has the better sillage, up top. Both do grow less powerful, a few hours in, but Sauvage has the better projection throughout. Wanted becomes much more moderate.

Edge: Sauvage

Longevity

After trying out both of these colognes, many times, there doesn’t seem to be any difference in terms of how long they last. On my skin, I get in the 7-9 hour range for both, depending on the climate that day. Neither are elite, but both scents perform quite well.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Both of these scents can be very versatile. They can go casual, nightlife, and maybe to work depending on personal circumstances.

I think that Sauvage holds up better, in a wider variety of climates, and has a slightly more mature vibe.  Wanted can come across as too sharp/sweet, for certain applications.

Edge: Sauvage

Overall Scent

Wanted by Azzaro, is a pretty good cologne, in my book. I really don’t like how it starts off, as it smells way too sharp for my nose. However, later on in the wear, I do enjoy the blend of tonka bean and wood. The sweetness is smoother and less of a bother. Plus, the performance is solid.

Sauvage EDT has never wowed me, but I like it. I especially like it more than Wanted. If I had a choice, I’d go with Sauvage EDP or Parfum, before wearing the original.

However, between these two specific options, I’ll take Sauvage EDT for sure.

Update: Coming back to this post years later, the subsequent Wanted releases have all been better than the original. The Most Wanted and The Most Wanted Parfum are two that I’d pick before Sauvage EDT or Wanted.

Really, it’s a toss up between The Most Wanted and Sauvage EDP for me. I’d probably go with the Dior, but the Azzaro is a better value. You might also want to try a cheap alternative to Dior Sauvage.

Winner: Sauvage

7 Fragrances Similar to Gucci Guilty

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Gucci Guilty Pour Homme is one of the more popular daily wears for men, out on the market. Gucci has pumped out numerous flankers, after this became a best seller, and plenty of guys want something which smells similar.

Either to, find a cheaper fragrance that nearly matches, or just another alternative options which has a similar feeling. In this post, I want to present 7 colognes, which I think can fit the bill.

Cologne Alternatives Like Gucci Guilty

Before getting into the list, I haven’t come across any exact matches of Gucci Guilty Pour Homme.

Update: I have now. However, there are several options which are close or fit the same general style. Honestly, most of the list is just flat out a better scent, in my opinion, than is Guilty.

Guilty Inspirations

Fougere Pink Pepper by Dossier– Finally, found a directly inspired fragrance of Guilty Pour Homme EDT, and it’s from Dossier.

It opens up with the same neroli, pink pepper, and lemon notes before it transitions into that orange blossom and lavender heart. All for under $30 (as of this update).

I’m surprised that there aren’t many other inspired by versions of this cologne, since it is so popular and not that difficult of a formula to do. But, Dossier is the one that has the quality and presents the best option for those who want a cheaper alternative.

Black Edition

Dark Guilty by The Dua Brand– So, this one is inspired by Guilty Black and not the original Guilty Pour Homme. For me, that’s fine, as I prefer Black.

It’s going to have less of the amber influence, with greener notes, coriander spice, and a bit of a different balance among the floral notes. Has green notes and woods without coming across like a forest.

I haven’t tried this version out from Dua. But, I’ve bought plenty of designer inspired fragrances from them in the past and have had an overwhelmingly positive experience doing so.

If you want something like Guilty Black, this’ll probably be the best bet.

Similar Style from Another Italian Designer

Prada Luna Rossa Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce– Luna Rossa is similar to Guilty, yet remains distinct. This is one in the same sort of genre, but with more freshness. Plus, the citrus is only the main attraction at first.

After that, there is an emergence of mint and lavender. What a great little scent. It is a bright citrus aroma with a cool demeanor, thanks to the spearmint, and calming lavender note.

The dry down does have a slight powdery/soapy feel, but it isn’t that much, and way less than what is in some of the others.  Luna Rossa Full Review

The Better Guilty Fragrance

Gucci Guilty Intense Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 3 Ounce–  It shares the same lemon note, as the original Guilty Pour Homme, but tones it down and amps up the lavender and amber notes.

There are additional floral notes and cedar wood, but Intense is a pretty linear fragrance, with the lemon and amber taking hold early.

Intense has a solid sillage and can last for 7-8 hours, on my skin. It is a very versatile fragrance, that can be worn year round, and feels more mature that its predecessor. I prefer this one to the original, with how it smells, and it has better performance. Guilty Intense Review

Update: This one has been discontinued for years now. Bottles were still around before. It’s probably too expensive to be worth tracking down.

Fresh Aromatic Alternative

Prada Luna Rossa SPORT Eau de Toilette Spray 3.4 oz– Luna Rossa Sport is a simple fragrance and is a flanker of the original Luna Rossa. Sport doesn’t have the citrus notes, but does give you a similar fresh aromatic scent, like Guilty.

While it is a simple and fairly linear wear, Sport, is super fresh and smells really great. It opens up with a blend of vanilla and tonka bean, which creates a sort of powdery aromatic aroma, with sweetness provided in part by a nice juniper berry note.

Beyond that, ginger adds a lightly fresh spice, and there is the lavender note that is ubiquitous in the Luna Rossa series. Refreshing and crisp. I reviewed it here.

Between Guilty and Intense

Diesel Only The Brave By Diesel For Men Edt Spray 4.2 Oz– Only the Brave is one of the most popular scents from Diesel. It is a great citrus/woodsy scent best served for younger guys and for wear during the fall and winter months.

When used correctly it is a real crowd pleaser, especially with the ladies. It’s probably closer to smelling like Guilty Intense, though, it is close enough to make the list.

This one has a violet and leather accord, which sets it apart from the Gucci series. The citrus also has more of a sharpness to it at times, when compared to the better blended Guilty Pour Homme. Still, this one is very likeable as a daily wear and has similarities to our target cologne.

Brighter Citrus, Not Exact

Versace Signature By Gianni Versace Eau-de-toilette Spray for Men, 6.70-Fluid Ounce– A nice day to day fragrance from Versace with gentle spice notes. Versace opens up with bergamot and bitter orange notes, which creates a bright citrus aroma at the top.

It’s actually quite an intense fragrance, to my nose, for the first 30 minutes or so of wear. It mellows out a great deal afterwards, but that citrus opening is a bomb.

As it dries down, I get a lot more of the tonka bean and floral notes poking through, to give Versace Pour Homme much more depth of character. It is still a pretty straightforward cologne, which also provides some sage and cedar at the base. This has much more citrus sharpness, than Guilty, more of a close relative.  My review of Versace