Phantom vs. 1 Million Comparison

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1 Million is a fragrance which has been a best seller for a long time for Paco Rabanne. One of the brand’s latest releases, has also become very popular, it’s called Phantom.

1 Million is a scent that I’ve very familiar with and I’ve tested out and reviewed Phantom EDP, too.

Which cologne is better? Lasts longer? Is the one to buy?

Tale of the Tape: Phantom vs. 1 Million

1 Million

Notes include: grapefruit, blood orange, rose, mint, cinnamon, amber, leather, patchouli, and more

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne 1 Million Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

Read my original review: 1 Million Cologne Review

Phantom

Notes include: lemon, lemon zest, lavender, patchouli, vetiver, apple, smoke, and more

Click here to try: Phantom by Paco Rabanne

Read my review: Phantom

phantom cologne review

Opening

Phantom kicks things off with apple and lemon notes, creating a juiciness that is quite nice. The aroma is semi-tropical and sweet, with the way it ties together. Under that, is lavender and vanilla, further pushing the aromatic creaminess.

That juicy citrus fruit opening will be pushed out by a drier and earthy aroma. The juiciness fades, and patchouli will have its time to shine, with an herbal sort of spice coming together. It dirties it up, and yes, there is a touch of smoke.

The original 1 Million has this grape bubblegum-like opening that has become pretty infamous. This candy scented start is one reason I think this fragrance has pushed some people away from wearing it. Personally, I think that it works just fine and actually enjoy it.

1 Million opens up with leather, citrus, and rose. Together, they create that bubblegum sort of smell. It’s actually a really smooth leather, juicy orange and grapefruit. This is surrounded by a warm and bold amber, with hints of cooling mint.

Overall, which is better? The initial somewhat tropical and juicy aroma of Phantom is enjoyable enough, but after that I’m not too into the earthy lavender scent.

I prefer 1 Million,  it’s still bold and has more depth and a better overall scent, here at the start.

Edge: 1 Million

Projection

Phantom kind of stays true to its name, in terms of how it projects early on. It initially seems like it’s going to be fairly massive, but then will moderate quite a bit in quick succession.

It will then, stick closer to the skin, to create a nice scent bubble.

1 Million is a fragrance which was always massive. But, the last batch I had from 2020, seems to have lost some of that power. It was still around 85% of what it once was, just not nearly the same extent.

However, it still outdoes anything that Phantom can conjure up.

Edge:1 Million

Longevity

With Phantom, I was really only able to get 6 or 7 hours of wear out of it on skin. That’s not bad, maybe a tad above average. It’d be useful for most purposes.

1 Million nowadays, reaches around 8. Sometimes, it might be 7, but my last batch was getting to 8 pretty consistently.

The older batches would hit double digits for me, easily. Those days are gone, but it is still a bit better than Phantom. It just doesn’t have that same overwhelming edge in the performance categories, like it used to.

Edge: 1 Million

Versatility

Phantom works at its best in the chilly weather of autumn and winter. But, it does have the ability to go deeper into the springtime than does 1 Million.

1 Million is pretty limited to colder or moderate temperatures, more casual situations, and a younger audience in general.

I think Phantom has a bit of an edge here. It is better in the warmer climate and as a daily wear too. Both are for younger guys, but Phantom has a tad better use case overall.

Edge: Phantom

Overall Scent

Overall, which one of these do I prefer?

Phantom is kind of a weird cologne. It’s got so much that is recognizable, but it doesn’t smell exactly like any scent in particular. The opening that is citrusy and apple is decent. I like the semi-tropical aroma that it puts out, when combining with the vanilla and lavender note.

After that, it’s not nearly as enjoyable. It becomes earthier with the lavender and a faint smokiness. But, it will shift to being lavender and vanilla dominate with a dry/grassy vetiver and the fruit notes kind of stage a comeback. Just, at a not to the same strength.

1 Million just smells better to me. Also, performs better. It’s sweet, spicy, warm, and still has a boldness to it, even if it has lost a step over time.

Phantom EDP has been followed by a few more releases thus far in the series. I think that Phantom Parfum is somewhat better than the original, but I still would prefer wearing 1 Million EDT to that.

1 Million is a more pleasant experience and gives me higher highs and more consistency. I’m picking it over Phantom every time.

Winner: 1 Million

Flowerbomb Bomblicious Edition by Viktor & Rolf

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Flowerbomb’s popularity has spawned a ton of flankers and special editions of the original formula. In 2019, they released Bomblicious Edition of Flowerbomb, I’ve been recently testing it out to do a full review for the site. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it actually worth a try?

What does Flowerbomb Bomblicious Edition Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, orange, blackcurrant, patchouli, rose, jasmine, bergamot, cashmere wood, musk

bomblicious review

My Full Review

From the first spray, I can tell that Bomblicious Edition isn’t going to be as thick as the original Flowerbomb formulation. The citrus notes and blackcurrant give this one a bright sharpness early on.

Still, some of that jam-like aroma of the original remains. On my skin, this one really throws off a lot of patchouli in the early stages of the wear. It’s mainly a grapefruit, bergamot, blackcurrant, and patchouli affair at this point.

After a while, the initial sharpness and that patchouli subside. Flowerbomb Bomblicious gets woodier and fresher. Not as sharp with the freshness, but clean and cold. I really don’t get much in the way of florals, aside from the rose note.

The jasmine is almost non-existent here.

The dry down is simple enough, a citrus and wood combination with a musky rose undertone. A fresh and clean scent, with some light citrus, and a somewhat soapy smell. Not a complete lather, but it is there.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, you do get a nice strong pop at the opening. It’s not super bold, but very noticeable. Perhaps, a tad weaker than the original, even at this stage. On the whole, it is a notch below Flowerbomb.

But, it is overall firmly above average with how it projects from the skin. It’s not going to take over a room, for the most part. However, it will create a nice scent bubble and trail behind you for at least a few hours.

The longevity itself is a little bit better than average. I can get it to go close to 7 hours, but it usually falls closer to 6. Nothing super here, but Bomblicious is certainly passable.

Seasonally, this is a Flowerbomb that is built more for the spring and summer. A nice change from the others that are autumn through spring. Nice change of pace and gives you an extend use case.

Still Bomblicious is a casual or daily wear type of perfume. Nothing super formal or sexy with this one. It’s pleasant enough, nice in the daytime, while not really having that attention grabbing ability for the nightlife.

Overall Impressions of Flowerbomb Bomblicious

Overall, do I like this scent? I actually like the beginning quite a bit. It made me start to think that Bomblicious Edition was way underrated. But, as it moved along it almost completely loses my interest.

All in all, it’s not terrible, but not much above your average perfume. It just doesn’t hold up over the long haul.

The grapefruit, blackcurrant, and patchouli notes are surprisingly captivating. I really dig the way that this blend comes together. Sure, it’s sharp, but it’s got enough of the original Flowerbomb spirit to keep me into it. I like the cold inhale that I get while wearing this.

The lighter citrus and wood based dry down isn’t all that amazing. It’s fine enough, I suppose, just nothing all that great. Performance is also decent.

This is a fragrance that might be worth trying, if you can get a good deal. At full price, I’d probably look elsewhere. Bomblicious Edition has some enjoyable aspects, but never fully comes together.

Givenchy Gentleman Reserve Privee vs. Dior Homme Intense

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Two iris fragrances for men, are among the two most popular cologne options for guys: Dior Homme Intense and Gentleman Reserve Privee by Givenchy. Add to that, they each have a dark warmth about them, and plenty of shared notes. The question is, which smells better? Which one lasts longer? Which is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Dior Intense vs. Gentleman Reserve Privee

Dior Homme Intense

Notes include: pear, iris, vetiver, ambrette, lavender, cedar

Click here to try: Christian Dior Dior Men Intense Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce

Read my review: Dior Homme Intense

Gentleman Reserve Privee

Notes include: bergamot, iris, benzoin, whiskey absolute, chestnut, cedar, vetiver and patchouli

Click here to try: Reserve Privee at Macy’s

Read my review: Reserve Privee

Opening

Homme Intense starts with a mix of lavender, cedar, and vetiver. It’s a smooth woody scent that pairs with the ambrette to create a warmer woods feeling. The iris emerges on my skin, after a minute or so delivering the signature floral note of each scent.

The ambrette creates a cacao-like aroma, that was found in the original Dior Homme. Sweet, warm, and just fantastic.

The opening of Gentleman Reserve Privee shares a lot with the two Dior fragrances, along with, Uomo by Valentino.

Bergamot and chestnut come through early to give it a fresh and nutty aroma. It actually starts to settle into more of a cacao smell, but it is pure chestnut at the beginning. The iris of course, is there too.

It really does favor smelling like Dior Homme Intense, at this stage. But, the main highlight is the whiskey note. Warm, dark, and very appealing.

Which is better? For me, the opening hour is a pretty close call. They are very similar and are both excellent openers. I do think that I still prefer Dior Intense a bit more than this newer Givenchy release.

Dior Intense is one of my favorite openers of all-time, I don’t think Reserve does anything to completely surpass it.

Edge: Dior Intense

Projection

Dior Intense has a nice and strong first few hours, that will for sure leave a scent trail behind. Not a powerhouse, but it’s always been well above average on me. Even if I couldn’t smell it at a particular moment, others have commented on it.

Reserve Privee doesn’t reach that same peak in the beginning. Plus, it falls off into something that is on the lighter side of moderate. Not completely weak, just not up to the Dior level.

Edge: Intense

Longevity

With this one, Dior Intense usually gives me in the 9-11 hour range of wear. I think I get a bit better performance out of this one, than most people for whatever reason.

The Givenchy lasted 8-9 hours on skin. So, it’s upper end can match what Dior does sometimes, but it doesn’t have that extra gear.

Again, for some people, this might actually be equal. For me, it’s Dior.

Edge: Intense

Versatility

These two inhabit the same sphere and share so many overlaps, there’s no real distinction here.

Both are autumn and wintertime wears. Both tend towards being nightlife wears, with mass appeal and sexiness. But, also there’s not problem wearing it in the daytime usually. Classy, well put together, etc.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these fragrances do I enjoy more? It’s the Dior.

Reserve Privee was a scent that I was pretty excited to try out, but ultimately a bit underwhelmed by. Now, I do think that opening is awesome and trying it again and again, it still captures my attention.

But, after that, this one just doesn’t hold up in the same way. Nor does it ever hit the same peak as Dior Intense. The whiskey note doesn’t stick around long enough, the nuttiness of chestnut becomes more of a dry chocolate (which is nice), but even that isn’t an extended stay.

Mostly, it’s the iris, amber, and wood. Not a bad smell, but just kind of boring and doesn’t bring the same punch as the Dior. The Givenchy isn’t a bad cologne, it’s just never as good, and tries to tread over much of the same ground.

Winner: Dior Intense

4 Fragrances that Smell Similar to Afternoon Swim

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Louis Vuitton’s Afternoon Swim is one of their best fragrances and a simple yet potent fragrance that is amazing in the summer months. It’s also one with a hefty price tag. But, if you enjoy the smell, here is my running list of perfumes that can deliver a closely related experience

What Perfumes Smell Similar to Afternoon Swim?

Swimming Scent

Gone Swimming– If you’re looking for a near perfect match, Gone Swimming by the Dua Brand is the one that you will probably want to go with.

Personally, I went with their inspired blend of the Louis Vuitton and Creed’s Virgin Island Water, called Gone Swimming in Caribbean Waters.  The added coconut and rum notes are really great and create a beachy fragrance.

However, the original Gone Swimming formula has the citrus notes that make the LV perfume great, done right. The price is also currently $60 for the full bottle, with a smaller size now available too. Performance is actually better than the Vuitton original, also.

Similar Citrus, Designer Style

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Forever for Men by Dolce & Gabbana Eau De Parfum,3.3 Fl Oz– Whereas Afternoon Swim goes with the orange and bergamot combination, Light Blue Forever is much more focused on the grapefruit note. Very realistic grapefruit, with a side of bergamot.

Instead of the amber, this one goes more greenish/ozonic with how it comes across. Violet leaf, a dry vetiver, and fresh musk round things out and have a greater influence later on in the wear.

Forever is a fresher cologne than Afternoon, but doesn’t have the same level of dynamic mix from the citrus notes. Really wonderful grapefruit, though. Light Blue Forever Review

A Tygar in Your Tank

Tygar by Bvlgari– By no means is this a cheapie. Tygar is right up there in price, if not more expensive than a bottle of the Louis Vuitton. It just provides you another great luxury summer citrus, with a simple formula.

It sort of splits the difference between Afternoon Swim and L’Immensite by LV. L’Immensite is spicier and might have a tad more amber. This one goes with a heavy use of grapefruit (feels like some orange is there too), as the citrus. With amber and wood to round things out.

A fresher citrus, but has enough in common with Swim, that you’d probably enjoy wearing this one too. Also, Dua Brand has a blend of their version of Tygar and Afternoon Swim available.

Another Cheaper Option

Turathi Blue by Afnan– Ok, this one is in the same vein as Tygar and Afternoon Swim, with some similarities to Bleu de Chanel too. Again, if you want a closer alternative, go with the Dua.

Turathi gives you it’s own blend of citrus, not as grapefruit dominant as Tygar, but  for sure leans that way. There’s some other stuff here, maybe bergamot? The opening is fairly sharp, but this one settles nicely.

It’s got some fresh musk, the amber, and a general woodiness. I don’t think the amber is quite as heavy, as the other scents. For the $40 or thereabouts, this is a nice and easy to wear citrus, that actually lasts a long time.

Idôle Nectar by Lancôme

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Nectar is the latest flanker of the Idôle line, released by Lancôme in 2022. I have tried out the others in the series and was curious as to what this one would be like and where it would take the line. How does Nectar smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Idole Nectar Smell Like?

Notes include: rose, popcorn, caramel, vanilla

Click here to try: Idole Nectar

idole nectar review

My Full Review

Here’s how Lancôme describes it: Idôle L’Eau de Parfum Nectar is an olfactory treat, a reinvention of the sweet and floral fragrance. A unique, avant-garde scent which marries a faceted rose bouquet with a sweet blast of popcorn deliciousness, Idôle Nectar cannot be ignored, and rather is meant to stand out.

Nectar starts off with a sweet blast, that’s almost fruity with the way it comes across, and somewhat green. Not sure what it is, it kind of reminds me of the osmanthus note in Flowerbomb, but nothing like that is listed by Lancôme.

Bergamot and pear have been used in the other perfumes in this line, perhaps they have been snuck in here too, and are interacting with the roses.

Underneath that, is the variety of rose types, and a caramel popcorn accord. Yes, this Nectar is the gourmand version of the Idole series. It is also the one which goes full on with the rose, instead of a rose and jasmine blend like EDP and Aura.

After a few minutes, the rose really starts to take over. The ‘fruity’ sweetness has faded and it’s a warmer deliciousness of caramel popcorn and vanilla. I was expecting this to be a buttery sort of aroma, with those three notes, but it’s really not. Also, not salty, like Idole Aura is.

The dry down is a fresh rose with mostly the vanilla. It’s more of a pinkish rose blend, Centifolia is the official listing from Lancôme. Along with rose water (freshness) and rose absolute. It is a very easy to wear perfume, even if you’re not a huge rose fan (I’m not, myself).

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, I think that this has a slightly stronger reach than Idôle Aura, but the longevity is a step behind. Not much of a difference, but that initial hour or two, seems a tad better than Aura a leaving a scent trail.

Then, it is back to the 3-5 foot range, just like its predecessor.

The longevity is in the 6.5-7.5 range versus the 8 I can get with Aura. I timed it twice on my skin and 7.5 hours was the max that I got with Nectar. Not bad.

Seasonally, I came into this expecting something heavier and more winter based. But, that’s not actually the case. It’s fresh and not overly cloying. Actually, it be fine in most temperatures except the extreme heat of summer.

This is mostly a daytime type of wear. Not too formal or too casual or just exclusively for teenagers. It’s probably good up to semi-formal occasions.

I do think that it could venture into the nightlife, if need be. Nectar does have a certain sexiness to it, not really sultry, but certainly quite attractive.

Overall Impressions of Idôle Nectar

Overall, do I like this scent? Yes, as of now it is my second favorite from the series. L’Intense is the best overall, in my mind. But, this is slightly better than Aura and pretty easily exceeds the original.

I enjoy that they went in a gourmand direction with Nectar. The caramel popcorn and vanilla are great here. Not too heavy or cloying, still very wearable in some warmer temperatures. The initial sweetness and later use of the rose, make for a very pretty perfume.

The performance is above average. It never reaches the realm of spectacular, just a well performing and one that can go close to a full workday with normal sprays.

Idôle Nectar is one from the series to try out. It doesn’t stay crazy sweet or overly sugared and the rose notes are actually pretty tame and wearable. Even if, you’re generally not a rose lover. With this perfume, you don’t need to be.