212 VIP Black vs 1 Million Comparison

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When looking for a nightlife fragrance, something that you can wear out to the bars and stand out, the same names seem to come up. 1 Million by Paco Rabanne is one of those. Another, is the 212 VIP line, especially the original. However, that line has also spawned another nightlife wear, 212 Black. In this post, I want to compare 212 Black vs 1 Million. Which lasts longer? Which has better sillage? Which smells better?

Tale of the Tape: 212 VIP Black 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

212 VIP Black

Notes include: absinthe, leather, lavender, musk, vanilla, amber, anise

Click here to try: Carolina Herrera 212 VIP Black Men Eau de Parfum 3.4oz / 100ml – Launched in 2017

Read my review: 212 VIP Black

Opening

1 Million has a well-known, sort of grape bubblegum opening, which is actually bold and intoxicating. Some folks, don’t like it, but I think it’s great and gets better thereafter.

1 Million opens up with leather, citrus, and rose. This combined creates 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. All of these notes, I happen to love, except rose…which is fine here.

VIP Black, on the other hand, has a boozy start with a hefty dose of absinthe. I really like the absinthe here, as it’s a different alcoholic note, from most compositions. 

Like it’s predecessor, Black has a warm amber note and spice, but it’s a weaker anise . Add to this, lavender and a quite faint leather note.

Which is better? I like the smooth, warm, and slightly spicy profile of 212 VIP Black. However, I still prefer the interesting and classic start to 1 Million. It’s not that much better, but enough to have the edge here.

Edge: 1 Million

Projection

For me, VIP Black has a fairly light to moderate sillage on my skin. I’m not sure, if it’s just me or what, because others have said it’s a strong fragrance. To me, it didn’t come close to the original 212 VIP.

1 Million has a great ability to project itself. Seriously, the sillage here is absolutely huge. So, whatever the actual story with VIP Black is, it would still fall short of the Paco Rabanne.  Update: 1 Million isn’t as strong as it once was, but still superior to its competitor. 

Edge: 1 Million

Longevity

With VIP Black, I could only muster 5-6 hours of wear, and most of that it had fairly weak sillage. The first 2 hours or so, it has a nice and full performance, but it drops of rather precipitously. 

On the other end of things, 1 Million just seems to thrive, on my skin. I can get 12 hours of wear, from the formulations that I’ve had in the past. So, unless they’ve tampered with new batches and made them weaker, this stuff is a star performer. Update: Yeah, it’s like 8 or 9 now.

Edge: 1 Million

 

 

Versatility

Both of these are pretty limited colognes and are designed specifically for nightlife wear. They both are great in cold weather, but not when it gets too warm. Neither is very casual or an office safe type of scent. They pretty much fit the same bill.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I really wanted to love 212 VIP Black, as I have a full bottle of 212 VIP, which can be great on the right evening. If it could have been another monster performer, with a different take on the booze soaked cologne genre, I would have been quite happy.

It just doesn’t perform up to the standards, that I want from a nightlife fragrance. Nor does it smell as good, as 212 VIP.  VIP Black has that nice boozy opening and then settles into something that is sweet with a bit of musk.

Vanilla, amber, and musk are pretty much the dry down and the absinthe and spice is hardly noticeable.

1 Million just smells and performs, at higher level than 212 VIP Black. I love the depth and development of this scent. Super sweet, leather, spice, and fruity juiciness. A bold performer, that has been a staple in the nightlife for the past decade plus. 

Winner: 1 Million

Park Avenue South by Bond No. 9

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Today, we have another Bond No. 9 fragrance sample to review. This one is another for the ladies and is entitled, Park Avenue South. In this post, I am going to cover how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and if I think it’s worth a buy.

What does Park Avenue South Smell Like?

Notes include: apple, peach, musk, amber, jasmine

Click here to try: Bond No. 9 Park Avenue South Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

My Full Review

The opening of Park Avenue South is that of crisp apples. I had eaten a Golden Delicious apple earlier in the day, so the sensation was rather instantaneous. That initial apple dominant aroma seems to only last for a minute, however, since it is then quickly joined by the peach note.

Again, I want to state that this fragrance is crisp and not really ‘juicy’ as many other fruity perfumes tend to be. Actually, Park Avenue South is quite dry, warm, and with a slight spice to it.

The musky amber keeps the fruits tempered somewhat and allows the scent to have that dry quality.

That’s kind of it because this perfume is almost ridiculously simple. It’s so linear, by five minutes in, you kind of know what you’ve got.

While I do think that it smells pretty good, it also reminds me of an air freshener spray. Park Avenue South just has that same aroma to it, just with less of a chemical/synthetic undercurrent to it. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s okay. It does it’s job without overwhelming but it is more towards the softer side of things. I always knew that it was there, but Park Ave. South never felt overwhelming, in the slightest.

 

I will say, that the longevity seems to hit the 7-9 hour range, which is a plus. It doesn’t develop much at all, but the perfume also won’t just quit in the middle of the day. So, if you like that initial scent, you might very well enjoy that you get to spend a long time with it. 

I’d call this casual. You could wear it to work or school, but it never struck me as romantic or sexy. Just a decent spray for the warmer days of the year. 

But yeah, stick to the daytime in spring and summer with Park Avenue South.

Overall Impressions of Park Avenue South

Overall, would I recommend Park Avenue South? Not really. It’s decent. I’m not particularly enthralled by it and I feel like you could probably replicate a similar scent for a much cheaper price. It is a fresh and pleasant smell but nothing to write home about.

This is one of the least interesting fragrances that Bond has come out with. To me, at least. I think they have perfumes that smell worse, but they tried to do something novel with them. Park Avenue South is kind of meh, at a high price level. 

Ultra Male vs Le Male Terrible Cologne Comparison

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or this entry of my head to head cologne comparisons, I’m going to take a closer look at two Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male flankers: Ultra Male vs. Le Male Terrible. Which one of these colognes smells the best? These are two different takes on the highly popular original Le Male cologne, but is there a clear cut winner between them? Please continue below for my full take after wearing both of these scents.

Tale of the Tape: Le Male Terrible vs Ultra Male

Ultra Male

Notes include: vanilla, pear, amber, woods, cinnamon, cumin, sage, lavender, mint

Click here to try: Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male for Men Intense Spray, Eau de Toilette, 4.2 Ounce

Read my original Review: Ultra Male

Le Male Terrible

Notes include: vanilla, grapefruit, amber, lavender, pink pepper, vetiver

Click here to try: Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Terrible Eau De Toilette Extreme Spray, 2.5 Ounce

Read my original Review: Le Male Terrible

Opening

Ultra Male opens up with a candy-like sweetness led by the pear, cinnamon, vanilla, and mint notes. It’s sweet with a spicy profile and a noticeable intensity. It is warm and smooth and doesn’t have the same sort of powdered scent that the original Le Male does.

Meanwhile, Le Male Terrible opens up with a similar vibe to the original with vanilla and lavender notes. It doesn’t have that same minty scent and instead opts for using pink pepper and grapefruit. This makes Terrible brighter, warmer, and smoother than the original.

Between the two? While I do like the smooth warmth of Terrible and think that it is definitely a nice start, I prefer Ultra Male’s brash sweetness and intensity. It stands apart from the other colognes in this series and is just much more interesting.

Edge: Ultra Male

Projection

This isn’t even a contest. The sillage of Ultra Male is loud and bold, while Terrible is a more moderate type of fragrance. Terrible isn’t a weak scent, it just doesn’t come close to projecting as well as Ultra Male does.

Edge: Ultra

Longevity

With Ultra Male I routinely get 8+ hours of wear. It usually is around 8-9, but longer in some situations. Le Male Terrible gets me about 6-7 hours, with its moderate intensity, and I’ll catch whiffs of it during that time frame, but not after.

Edge: Ultra

Versatility

This is the category in which Terrible has an advantage. While both are more suited for colder weather, Terrible can venture into the warmer months of the year also. It’s still not great for the height of summer but it works every other time.

Next, Ultra Male is a late night, party, romantic wear scent. It doesn’t always fit in during low key casual or office type scenarios. Terrible fits in much better, since has a subtle scent.

Edge: Terrible

Overall Scent

I’ve tried out so many of the Le Male variations and I do think that Le Male Terrible is one of the better ones. It’s neck and neck really, with the original, in my mind. Perhaps not better, but it is a serious debate. However, when posted up versus Ultra Male, it doesn’t compete very well.

Ultra Male is the best JPG fragrance, to me. That’s why I have a giant bottle of it. I don’t wear Ultra Male everyday, but it is one of my winter go to scents for evening wear. Terrible is quite fresh and a nice take off of the original, with pink pepper and grapefruit, giving it an alternative dimension.

Terrible is decent as an everyday wear and would be a better choice for someone who doesn’t want a bold sweet/spicy cologne like Ultra Male. For everyone else, Ultra Male is the way to go. It’s just better all around and is distinct from the rest of the Le Male line.

Winner: Ultra Male

Nautica Voyage vs Versace Eros Comparison

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Alright, in this cologne comparison post, it’s going to be a bit of an odd one between Eros versus Nautica Voyage. This seems odd to me because the Versace and the Nautica colognes are almost completely different, occupy different price ranges, and seem to serve different purposes. Whatever. There are those of you out there wanting to know the differences between these two scents, which one smells better, performs better, and is the better buy between them.

Tale of the Tape: Eros vs. Voyage

Versace Eros

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

Click here to try: Versace Eros Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 6.7 Fluid Ounce

My original Versace Eros Review

Nautica Voyage

Notes include: apple, musk, cedar, green leaf, amber, mimosa

Read my original review here

Try Nautica Voyage: Nautica Voyage By Nautica For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 oz

Opening

Versace Eros comes right out of the gate as a powerhouse gourmand fragrance. It creates a sweet, warm, and smooth cloud of cologne around the wearer. There is a crisp apple note but it really comes across as sort of a chocolate-like scent at times.

Update: With newer bottles, I get a lot more of the lemon note up front. It was always there, but it seems stronger now.

Nautica Voyage is a really bright and summery cologne. It’s apple note, never really struck me as being apple. I guess it gets overwhelmed by mimosa and musk, as it truly smells more like orange to my nose.

Just on sheer pleasantry and as a more interesting opening, I’m going to have to give the nod to Eros.

Edge: Eros

Projection

Haha, this category isn’t even close. Nautica Voyage has light to moderate sillage and Eros is an absolute monster. Eros is quite heavy and as I mentioned, envelops you when you wear it.

Edge: Eros

Longevity

As an inexpensive fragrance, Voyage has always exceeded its price tag for me, in terms of performance. I can usually get 7 good hours of wear from it.

Again, though, Eros is just better in this regard. With this Versace scent, I can get double digit hours.

Update: With newer Eros bottles, I get like 8 or 9 hours. Still better than Voyage.

Edge: Eros

Versatility

Ok, while Voyage is much more of a summery scent, it can be worn year round. It may not have a winter ‘feel’ to it, but it will hold up in the climate. Eros is pretty much a cold weather warrior. It’s too much for the high heat and humidity.

So, is Voyage a winner in terms of versatility? Not quite.

Voyage is a casual scent. It’s not sexy and not a club beast and not really a work cologne (but wouldn’t be entirely out of place).

Eros can work casually, romantically, or in the club/bar scene. It’s probably too powerful for office wear.

Both also strike me as more youthful fragrances.

Ultimately, I think Eros has more uses, and I would definitely reach for it on more occasions than Voyage.

Edge: Eros

Overall Scent

So, this is a clean sweep for Versace Eros. I think it has the upper hand in every category versus Voyage. I like the smell better and even though it can be loud at times, Eros is more interesting.

That’s not to say that I dislike Voyage. It does smell nice. It is a very good choice for guys who need something for under $20. I mean, go check out all the reviews on Amazon, it’s a constant best seller.

It’s just that this is a weird comparison to do between two dissimilar fragrances. If I had to choose, I’d pick Eros to buy before Voyage, but I wouldn’t ever think to need to pick one versus the other.

Winner: Eros

Mon Paris EDP by YSL

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Mon Paris was released by Saint Laurent back in 2016. It has become the flagship of a pretty successful line of fragrances, though, not insanely so. I grabbed a few samples of these perfumes, to finally give them a proper review for the site, and will kick things off with the original Mon Paris EDP. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does Mon Paris EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: peony, white musk, patchouli, and datura accord

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris Eau de Parfum Spray, 3 Fluid Ounce

My Full Review

Before we get into my personal review, let’s see how YSL describes this fragrance: An intoxicating white chypre to make you lose your senses. The sensuality of white petaled musk, enlightened by a vertiginous datura accord and balanced by the intensity of an exceptional patchouli. The trail of intense love.

YSL doesn’t mention it, but there are fruity notes in Mon Paris and actually are more prominent than the floral notes for much of the wear.

I mostly get berries, some pear, and a hint of citrus. Though, the latter two aren’t that powerful within the overall composition.

With the floral notes, I mostly get the datura and peony, and a very light jasmine some of the time. It’s fruity/floral and somewhat musky, with a patchouli notes creeping up from the base.

For the rest of the wear, what it develops into is a sweet floral with musky and patchouli highlights. The fruit notes become less distinguishable and it just feels like a generic smell of ‘sweet’. It’s not bad or unpleasant to me, however.

The datura pretty much takes over the entirety of the composition. Datura, sweetness, and musk. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Mon Paris isn’t a complete beast, but it isn’t exactly weak, either. The sillage is above average and I can pick it up 4-7 feet away, when spraying on a t-shirt. Very respectable and one that will work well in most situations.

The longevity is also quite good, just not elite. On my skin, Mon Paris EDP will go 7-8 hours before it completely fades. Right around a full work day. If you need a longer wear, you’re probably going to have to reapply. 

 

Seasonally, this is a very versatile release from YSL. I’d say, outside of the absolutely hottest days of summer, you should be good to go. It’s fine when it’s warm out, but just that high heat and humidity could kill it.

It’s sweet and attractive. Not necessarily a sexy fragrance, but I enjoy the delicious smelling aspects of this perfume. Good for casual wear, daily wear, and can venture into the nightlife. Though, that’s not its main use. 

I wouldn’t really use Mon Paris for a more formal engagement. Also, probably best worn by those in their 20s.

My Overall Impressions of Mon Paris

Overall, do I like Mon Paris by YSL? I like it, but this perfume isn’t a love for me. It’s a very nice fruity floral, that does most everything well enough, but it isn’t an outstanding scent by any means.

I like Intensement better from this series. Lumiere is pretty decent too.

It’s more of a sweet fruity/floral fragrance, than what it seems to be marketed as. Mon Paris is not super sugary or candy-like sweet, but it might be one to avoid if sweetness is not your thing with perfumes.

I enjoy the berries, datura, and peony blend. It’s pretty and one that would be easy to grab for most any occasion. The later patchouli phase is also fairly enjoyable.

Mon Paris EDP is nice. That’s about what I can say about it. Nothing super special, but pretty basic, familiar, and nice. It skews toward the younger crowd, but isn’t a complete ‘teenager fragrance’.