Oud Wood vs Intense Comparison

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I reviewed Oud Wood by Tom Ford, in the beginning of this year. I also had a small batch of Oud Wood Intense, but only got around to testing it recently. Now, that they’re both out of the way with the reviews, I wanted to do a head to head comparison post between them.

Oud Wood vs. Oud Wood Intense. Which is the better fragrance? Which lasts longer? Which has the greater sillage?

Tale of the Tape: Oud Wood vs. Intense

Oud Wood

Notes include: rosewood, sandalwood, oud, vanilla, tonka bean, amber, cardamom, and vetiver

Click here to try: Tom Ford Private Blend Oud Wood Eau De Parfum Spray – 50ml/1.7oz

Read my original review: Oud Wood

Oud Wood Intense

Notes include: oud, juniper, leather, cypress, angelica, ginger

Click here to try: Tom Ford Oud Wood Intense 1.7 oz./ 50 ml Spray New 

Read my original review: Oud Wood Intense

Opening

Oud Wood starts off with a strong blast of the oud note and cardamom. Underneath that, is a peppery sort of spice. It’s warm and dry, with sandalwood and rosewood, already being prominent at the base. It’s a very spicy and woody, sort of aroma up top.

Oud Wood Intense is a monster from the start. It too, is spicy, with less of the oud in the beginning. What you get is a spiciness from the ginger, with an animalistic spice, and the smell of rich leather. Quite a different experience.

Which opening is better? It’s tough to say, but I think I’ll give the edge to the original. Intense can be pretty harsh and bold, in the immediate stages, while Oud Wood gets right to business.

I think that the original has a better balance, even if it is the more understated scent of the two of them.

Edge: Oud Wood

Projection

This one isn’t even close. Oud Wood Intense has a bomb-like sillage. It is loud and can project itself like crazy, off of a few sprays. Oud Wood is more of a moderate, then, a lighter scent after some time has past.

I’m glad that they made an intense version that actually lives up to the title. Oud Wood itself, isn’t terrible with the sillage or how far it projects. It’s maybe a bit above average, in the initial stages of wear.

It just doesn’t compete with its flanker, though.

Edge: Intense

Longevity

The original Oud Wood, was pretty mediocre on my skin, with how long it lasted. I only got 4-5 hours of wear from it. Meanwhile, Intense, will hit 10+ without even a problem. It really is an all day kind of fragrance.

I’m not sure if other people have had problems with the performance of Oud Wood, but it really didn’t hold up for me. Intense, however, is great and lives up to its lofty price point.

Edge: Intense

Versatility

Oud Wood and Intense are both cold weather fragrances. Oud Wood can be worn formally, to an office, or casually. Not a club beast, nor will most folks find it particularly sexy.

Intense, on the other hand, has some limited uses. It is very loud cologne. It’s not really office suitable, and would seem, to be best used casually. It’s a niche sort of scent, that isn’t going to have a wide appreciation among the public.

Neither of these perfumes is super versatile, with when or where it can be worn, but the original is much more accessible.

Edge: Oud Wood

Overall Scent

This is a pretty challenging call. For one reason, I’m not a huge oud fan. Secondly, these are ultimately quite different fragrances, with period of overlap.

In my mind, Oud Wood Intense, is the better fragrance. I find it intriguing, even if, I don’t ultimately love it. The fiery and smoky qualities. The leather. The dry cypress. The bold presentation. It’s great.

The downside? It’s so niche and powerful, that most guys won’t be able to wear it. Heck, I couldn’t wear it for much beyond testing it out.

Oud Wood is the safer choice. But, I don’t really care for it, as it isn’t super interesting like its flanker. The smell is better initially, but Intense has more going on, start to finish. The performance of Oud Wood was pretty crappy, especially at the price. Had that not been the case, it would have taken it.

As it stands, I’m giving the win to Intense, even if only a few will find it to be something they can use.

Winner: Oud Wood Intense

Angels’ Share vs Grand Soir

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Angels’ Share by Kilian and Kurkdjian’s Grand Soir are two of the more popular high end perfumes. Both of them are unisex, which only serves to heighten their appeal. Since there is some overlap in style and purpose, these fragrances will often be compared. But, which one actually smells better? Lasts longer? Is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Grand Soir vs Angels’ Share

Grand Soir

Notes include: amber, vanilla, tonka bean, benzoin, labdanum

Click here to try: Grand Soir from Saks

Read my full review: Grand Soir Review

Angels’ Share

Notes include: cognac, tonka bean, oak wood, cinnamon, praline, vanilla, sandalwood

Click here to try: Angels’ Share at Sephora

Read my review: Angels’ Share by Kilian

angels review

Opening

Grand Soir starts off with it’s amber already on full display. Yes, the amber with the labdanum and some benzoin are going to be contributing heavily early on.

When pulled together, there is a light spice to the warmth and even some smokiness. The vanilla isn’t too strong at the beginning of the wear. However, that and the tonka bean will increase in strength into the middle of the act giving Soir some creaminess and powdery hints.

Meanwhile, Angels’ Share starts of with its signature cognac, oak, and its tonka bean note. The cognac has an apple-like sweetness to it, which is fantastic.

The sweetness is enhanced by the inclusion of vanilla and praline. Which all plays well off of the spicy punch of the cinnamon note.

Which is better? The Kilian has more going on. Grand Soir has some spice and smoke, but Angels’ Share is boozy, warm, sweet, and spicy with an array of notes coming on board early for the ride.

I’ll go with Angels’ Share.

Edge: Angels’

Projection

With my use of Grand Soir, I get a fairly strong opening and then it’ll hang 2-3 feet from the skin, for most of the way.

Angels’ Share starts off with about the same strength initially. However, I think it stays in what could be considered an upper moderate zone for much of the wear. It has a slower decline with its strength versus what I got from Soir.

Edge: Angels’ 

Longevity

Both of these fragrances last a very long time. With Angels’ Share, I get 9-13 hours of wear on my skin.

You’d think that’d be enough to overcome Grand Soir, but nope. Grand Soir will also hit the double digit hour mark easily.

Really, there’s no real separation here. It’s just a tie between them in this category.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Seasonally, Grand Soir’s amber and vanilla richness is suited for the autumn and winter months. With Angels’ Share, it’s the same. I’d avoid both when it’s too warm out.

Both are mostly for casual to semi-formal wears, but I think Soir fits better at the office or dressier functions, since it doesn’t have a cognac note like the Kilian.

While each is more for daytime use, I have worn Angels’ Share in nightlife situations and got plenty of attention from it. Not a club beast, but it’s got the boldness to stand out.

Overall, it’s pretty split. I think the edge goes to Grand Soir, however. It fits in more environments and is probably more of a true unisex versus Angels’ Share.

Edge: Grand Soir

Overall Scent

So, overall, which of these is the better fragrance? Despite the splitting of most of these categories, this is an easy call for me personally. I am a massive Angels’ Share fan. I bought a full bottle almost immediately after first testing a sample.

Grand Soir is also a very good scent. It’s one I thought that I’d love wearing, but it was more of a like. Mostly, I just get bored of the amber and vanilla combination after a while. It’s not a very dynamic perfume beyond that opening act.

Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. I do like that Maison Kurkdjian and it’ll be a good fit for those who don’t want the sweet, boozy, and spicy mix of Angels’ Share. Some people will prefer the low key warmth of Grand Soir.

For me, the winner is Angels’ Share. It smells better to me, has a bolder profile, and a more unique aroma than its competitor.

Winner: Angels’ Share

Cloud Pink by Ariana Grande

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Cloud Pink is the latest 2023 release in the series and from the entire Ariana Grande line. I only heard about it a few days ago and decided that I’d buy a full bottle, to test out for the site. I’m not a huge fan of Cloud, but wanted to see what this was all about. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Cloud Pink Smell Like?

Notes include: dragon fruit berries, pink pineapple, coconut water, vanilla orchid, blush ambrette, musk, praline, amber woods, magenta moss

Click here to try: Cloud Pink

My Full Review

Here’s how the perfume is described: Empowering and optimistic, the Ariana Grande Cloud Pink fragrance is inspired by a confidence that reveals both beauty and strength, no matter the storm.

Upon first spraying Cloud Pink, I notice that it isn’t radically different from the original Cloud, but it does have its distinctions.

(As an aside: the bottle cap was really loose on mine. Not sure, if that’s the case with others, but it’s annoying).

It’s softer and sweeter, especially in this opening act. Cloud, always had a strong lavender note, especially on my skin. With Pink, that is gone. It does have the same sort of warmth, just with a more fruity/tropical top.

The coconut water returns. This time it is flanked with dragon fruit and pineapple, instead of pear and bergamot. Specifically, this is a pink pineapple. From what I can tell, this is just a sweeter candy-like note, instead of that sharp/tart generic pineapple found in other scents.

Still, that’s not all that powerful and I get much more coconut water and a light berry smell from the dragon fruit. Though, that pink pineapple seems to be prominent for a few minutes, at least.

Like, the other Cloud scents, I am also getting that musk note for the entirety of the wear. This time, it is joined by ambrette more so than the praline, which is still somewhat present. A stepped up amount of vanilla orchid and musk, really come to dominate the aroma past that 30 minute mark.

It’s still fruity, but it starts having more of that fluffy ‘cloud’ feeling. To me, it’s less creamy than the original. Yet, Cloud Pink has moments where its powdery, sugary, and almost like a cotton candy kind of smell.

As we get further along, the more this smells like Cloud to me just without the lavender. Sweet musky woods, with a touch of earthiness. The moss is something I can pick up, if I really press my nose against the skin. Not a huge factor here.

Musk, vanilla orchid, ambrette, woods, and a general sweet mixture of notes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Like Cloud, you get a rather strong opening with Cloud Pink. Seems to hit that same 6-8 foot radius with its projection, also. Moderate overall, will leave a scent trail in your wake, but pretty consistent with its power.

With the longevity, again, I don’t notice any difference here versus Cloud. Pink still seems to be in that 5-6 hour range for me. Not great, but it is still noticeable deeper into the wear. So, Pink doesn’t just turn into a complete skin scent.

Seasonally, this is still going to be one mostly for autumn through early spring. It’s not an ‘eau fraiche’ version for the summer, despite the inclusion of the dragon fruit and pink pineapple. Though, if the humidity isn’t bad, you can probably use it at night during this time of year.

I still would consider this one a daytime wear, mostly. Casual, fun, and upbeat rather than anything formal. It’s a pretty sort of perfume, I don’t find it all that sexy, and you’d probably want to go with something else for evenings out. Again, you can use it, but I wouldn’t consider it Pink’s main use case.

Essentially, what you used Cloud for, you’ll use Cloud Pink for.

Overall Impressions of Cloud Pink

Overall, do I like Cloud Pink? Yes, I like it better than the original Cloud and slightly more than Cloud 2.0, since it’s a bit more unique. Though, you are getting a ton of that same DNA still.

I do like the fruitier and tropical influence of the opening act especially. Since the lavender isn’t a factor here, I get more enjoyment out of Pink. Plus, it moves away from having too much of the Baccarat Rouge influence.

This isn’t like Burberry Her with its fruitiness, either. That one has an extremely loud fruity burst and Cloud pink is subdued in comparison.

It’s less creamy in the dry down, but still has a great warmth and fluffy feeling to it. The latter stages are as if the original Cloud formula had the weightings of its notes shuffled around a bit.

If you liked the original Cloud, you’ll almost certainly like this one. Even the performance is in line with Cloud and most of the other best smelling Ariana Grande perfumes.

If you’re like me and weren’t too enthusiastic about the original, I’m not sure this changes your mind. I like it more, but am still not amazed by Cloud Pink. It’s an improvement, since that lavender note bothered me so much, just not reaching a super high level of enjoyment either.

8 Fragrances Similar to Invictus

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Invictus by Paco Rabanne has been really really popular, over the past handful of years. It has also spawned many flanker fragrances of its own. With that being the case, there are a lot of guys who want something similar to this best seller, but not the original itself.

For this list, I have selected similar smelling or styled colognes for men to Invictus. Some will be closer than others, with some just in the same general family as our target fragrance.

What Colognes Smell Similar to Invictus by Paco Rabanne?

Popular Designer Wear

Uomo Born in Roma by Valentino– This was a fragrance which really reminded me of the Invictus line, in terms of smell and style. It’s not an exact copy, by any means, but the opening act really does favor what we’re looking for.

Roma starts off very sweet and with an undertone of mineral oil and violet leaf. That aspect isn’t something that I’m personally too keen on. I actually prefer Invictus in that regard.

With that you get ginger, salt, and sage. The spices here aren’t heavy and like what you get in some of the Invictus lineup. But, this Valentino doesn’t have the aquatic accord.

As it dries down, you get more wood, vetiver, violet leaf. It’s much less sweet and pretty different from Invictus, at that point. Still, if you like the Paco Rabanne, you might enjoy this. Uomo Born in Roma Review

Another Popular Scent

Azzaro Wanted Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce– Azzaro Wanted does often get compared to Invictus, as they do have plenty of similarities. They are not, however, the same. Just colognes with a close style and which go after the same market.

Some guys, think this is the superior scent, but I’m not one of them. However, if you want something along the lines of Invictus, it is indeed one you should check out for yourself.

The main difference in terms of smell, is that, Wanted is spicier and woodier in its presentation. The lemon note also seems sharper. Cardamom, to my nose, is the ingredient responsible for most of the distinction between these scents.

Wanted dries down with a smooth and fresh fruitiness, with apple, tonka bean, and juniper berries. Azzaro Wanted Review

Similar Nightlife Fragrance

Carolina Herrera 212 Vip Men Party Fever Eau De Toilette Spray For Men, 3.4 Ounce (Limited Edition)– 212 VIP Men Party Fever is a really interesting scent, that can be sort of difficult to find nowadays, but is still floating around. It has elements of the bold nightlife scent 212 VIP, as well as Invictus, and some distinct elements.

Update: Really difficult to find nowadays. I wouldn’t pay a ton for this.

Now, I want to state, that this isn’t the same smell as Invictus. Rather, VIP Men Party Fever, has a similar sweet fruity with wood profile as does our target, without the saltiness of the aquatic notes.

It provides a blend of citrus and apple notes with freshness from cedar, a nice ginger spice, and a touch of cannabis. Very much a youthful and sweet smelling scent.

Yep, but you won’t smell like a smoker. This isn’t as loud and lacks the booziness of 212 VIP, but delivers a nice warm weather wear, that evokes the style of the Invictus line. 212 Party Fever Review

Overlap with Invictus

JIMMY CHOO Man Intense Eau De Toilette, Fougere Oriental Woody, 3.3 fl. oz.– Man Intense starts off smelling quite a bit like Invictus and the original Jimmy Choo Man.

Then, it does develop its own personality distinct from those two, while remaining in the same ballpark. Oh, and it smells better than both.

The drydown is fresh and clean with notes of: melon, lavender, and tonka bean. Doesn’t have the oceanic notes of the Paco Rabanne, but gives you the fruitiness and some light amber with peppery spice. Read my full review.

Cheapest Glory

Milton Lloyd Fame & Glory x2 by Milton Lloyd– If you’re looking for a cheaper option to smell close to Invictus, Fame & Glory by Milton Lloyd, should fit the bill. Milton Lloyd fragrances, do generally, hit the mark of the colognes that they are inspired by.

I haven’t tried this one out personally, yet. However, at a price point of $10-15, it might be a worthwhile shot at finding a replacement for the more expensive Paco Rabanne.

Another Alternative Option

Rasasi Hawas for Men EDP – Eau De Parfum 100ML (3.4 oz)– Not exactly a  match, nor is it an exact Invictus Aqua aroma. Hawas for Men, is like a brother to those fragrances, with its own distinct personality.

It has aquatic notes, but this doesn’t feel quite as oceanic. Hawas has a nice amber note, a bit more of a soapy quality, and the sweetness isn’t as pronounced in the beginning.

A nice sharp citrus blend with apple and hints of spice from cinnamon and cardamom. Fresh with a light wood in the base.

Similar Designer Style

MONTBLANC Legend Spirit Eau de Toilette, 3.3 Fl Oz– To me, this would smell closer to Invictus Aqua, than the original. Even then, it’s not super close. Nonetheless, the style of Legend Spirit, is in the same family as these fragrances and worth checking out if you like Invictus.

With Legend spirit you start off with grapefruit and an aquatic accord, much the same as Invictus. With this one, you also get a nice dose of pink pepper and cardamom.

This is a warmer scent, that has more spice and musk/woody base, with less citrus than the Paco Rabanne offerings. It feels more wearable for an older guy, than the often times too youthful, Invictus. Legend Spirit Review

Clean, Less Sweet

English Laundry Cambridge Knight Eau de Parfum, 3.4 fl. oz.– Another not exact aroma, that actually shares similarities with the above Legend Spirit, as well.

Black currant and grapefruit blend with aquatic notes, not as candy-like or as salty as the Invictus scents. The black currant gives this a different vibe, with a certain tartness and sharpness.

Later, Cambridge Knight really brings in some nice musk, with woods. To go along with the other notes, everything feels very clean. The performance here, is great, as it lasts long and projects itself well.

Bleu Noir EDP by Narciso Rodriguez

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Bleu Noir EDP is another flanker fragrance from this Narciso Reodriguez line of scents. It was released in 2022. I recently bout a sample of this one along with the Parfum, in order to give each a full test and review for the site. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is EDP worth a try?

What does Bleu Noir EDP smell like?

Notes include: musk, ebony wood, amber, cedar, and vetiver

Click here to try: Bleu Noir EDP

My Full Review

The opening of Bleu Noir EDP is mostly about the musk and the vetiver notes. Fresh, sort of earthy with a hint of dirtiness under the cleaner aspects. It’s got a fairly dry profile, at this stage. 

As we move along, I get less of the vetiver on my skin, and the musk takes the top spot for the rest of the way. With that, comes the ebony wood and amber, and Bleu Noir becomes smoother and much warmer. 

There is still a slight sweetness here and even a powdery touch. Even though, this one doesn’t officially have that same iris note that is in the Parfum version. 

This is how it goes on for most of the way. The aroma of the vetiver will continue declining and some cedar will be more apparent with the ebony wood.

The final dry down for me, is essentially just the musk and amber with a very light woody scent floating about in the background. This isn’t a very complex fragrance.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is at best moderate. It’s a lighter fragrance that hangs around your skin without a ton of projection. During that first 30-60 minutes or so, you do get some nice ability to project, but this isn’t a massive scent.

The longevity is pretty good, not great. On me, it lasts between 6-7 hours, before finally disappearing. Again, the back half is especially when this one is sticking close to the skin. It is still around and somewhat noticeable, but past the 7 hour mark, I get nothing from it.

Seasonally, because it isn’t a heavy cologne, it can kind of fit in most scenarios. It’s probably not the best for high heat and humidity, but outside of that this Bleu Noir flanker will hold up well.

It is also very versatile in terms of when you can wear it. It can work as a daily wear scent to the office and be worn out at night. It’s not the boldest nightclub scent or the sexiest fragrance you might grab for a night out. But, it will fit in well enough, and not really be a bad choice.

Overall Impressions of Bleu Noir EDP

Overall, do I like Bleu Noir EDP? It’s pretty good, but nothing special. The Parfum version is indeed better than this one. 

The opening is fine, not my favorite. Though, I do like the middle, when you still get some of the vetiver with the amber and woods also in balance with one another.

Still, even with that, I’m never completely loving wearing this cologne. It’s nice enough and has its moments that are quality, just nothing that I need to have in my rotation.

The performance is pretty basic too. Bleu EDP is the type of fragrance that you can wear almost anywhere, but it’s not going to stand out or blow you away with how long it lasts.

That all being said, it’s probably worth a try, at least. The pricing isn’t crazy and it can cover so many bases for guys, that it warrants consideration. The smell itself might endear itself more to you, than it did for me.