Armani Code EDT vs EDP

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Armani has done a great job keeping its two most popular fragrances alive, that being, Code and Acqua di Gio. Over the recent years, they have released a bunch of different flanker fragrances with these names, that have really raised the bar when compared to what others have come out with for their own popular colognes. The latest, is Code Eau de Parfum. How does it compare to the EDT version? Which lasts longer? Which is a better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Code EDT vs. Eau de Parfum

Armani Code

Notes include: citrus, lavender, apple, leather, tobacco, star anise, woods

Click here to try: Armani Code By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 4.2 Oz.

Read my review: Armani Code

Code Eau de Parfum

Notes include: lavender, tonka bean, cedar, lemon, vanilla, suede 

Read my review: Code EDP

Opening

Code EDT opens up with some fruity top notes, consisting of citrus and some apple. The citrus is the main attraction, but quickly joined by tobacco, star anise, and leather. It is freshly spiced with a powdery quality. This is all, while it still has that citrus aroma, which gets progressively weaker.

EDP, on the other hand, strikes me as if you took the original Code and blended it with Luna Rossa Sport by Prada. Tonka bean and lavender are both overlaps between those two fragrances. Also, you get the citrus opening and suede in lieu of leather.

Which do I prefer? I like Code EDP’s opening act more. It is difficult for me to recall what older formulations of EDT smelled like, but Code eau de parfum is a nice approximation, but ‘remixed’.

Edge: EDP

Projection

Eau de parfum has the greater concentration and therefore the stronger sillage, correct? Yes. However, it isn’t actually a powerhouse and is a fairly moderate fragrance overall. It projects better than the modern EDT, but it’s not miles better.

Edge: EDP

Longevity

With the current bottles of the original Code, it will last on my skin for 5-6 hours. It used to go 8 hours. Meanwhile, 7-8 hours is what Code EDP will get me. Neither is amazing, but there is a clear difference.

Edge: EDP

Versatility

These two colognes, essentially occupy the same space, as you’d expect. Both are best worn when the temperatures are cooler and are great as nightlife scents. Yes, the both have an attractive and sexy scent. No clear winner, here.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Armani Code is a classic fragrance, there’s no doubt about that. However, it has been surpassed in terms of smell and performance by its flanker fragrances. I personally prefer Absolu and Profumo versus either of these two.

That being said, if you want something that’s closest to the original formulation of Code EDT, the EDP is going to give you that…with some changes. It doesn’t have the star anise spice, which is disappointing, but EDP is inherently smoother with a very nice vanilla finish.

For me, Code EDP is the clear winner. Frankly, I don’t see why you would even bother with EDT any longer. It had it’s day in the sun and the newer releases are just better than what is left. Code Eau de Parfum is a worthy successor.

Winner: Code EDP

Angel Nova vs Muse Perfume Comparison

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Angel has been a best seller for decades now. Over that time span, Mugler has released a bunch of flankers under that banner. Two of the more recent popular entries, have been Angel Muse and Nova. As such, it will often come down to these two, when women are deciding which Angel perfume to buy. In this post, I will compare and contrast these fragrances, before declaring an ultimate winner between them.

Tale of the Tape: Muse vs. Nova

Angel Nova

Notes include: litchi, raspberry, benzoin, Damask rose, akigala wood

Read my full review: Angel Nova

Angel Muse

Notes include: patchouli, vetiver, hazelnut cream, pink pepper, wood

Click here to try: Thierry Mugler Angel Muse Eau de Parfum spray, 1.0 oz

Read my review: Angel Muse EDP

Opening

Angel Nova starts off with a burst of juicy fruit led by the raspberry note. There is also litchi and a slightly tropical aroma, that smells like mango, to my nose. It’s actually a sweet and slightly sour blend, but has a great intensity to it.

Meanwhile, Muse starts off with a sugary sweet blend of patchouli, hazelnut cream, and a bright grapefruit citrus note. It’s warm, a bit earthy, and has the nice creamy sweetness.

Which is better? I do really like Nova. That semi-tropical raspberry bomb, is pretty darn good. However, I prefer Muse. Muse is a bit more traditional, but it really smells wonderful and I preferred it to Nova’s start.

Edge: Muse

Projection

To me, Nova had two phases. First, it’s loud opening act, where the sillage is quite strong. Then, it settles more moderate. Meanwhile, Muse is pretty moderate throughout. Though, probably the upper range of what could be considered moderate.

Nova definitely reaches a higher level of power overall.

Edge: Nova

Longevity

Nova and Muse both have really good performance and will hang on the skin for a long while. With Nova, it was 9 to 11 hours. With Muse, it was 8 to 10 hours.

So, not a huge gap between them, but Nova still has a clear edge here.

Edge: Nova

Versatility

Nova skews toward a younger audience and is best in the spring and summer months. It’s also more casual than Muse.

Muse isn’t a warm weather fragrance and should be worn during autumn and winter. I think that it will appeal to a wider age range and can fit into the nightlife or more formal occasions better than Nova can.

Edge: Muse

Overall Scent

I personally enjoyed Nova during testing. The opening act, where it is a fruity bomb was great. But, not everyone is going to like it. It does have some more depth, a bit of spiciness, and notes like benzoin to add more depth.

Nova is a very nice perfume and will give you great performance.

However, I prefer Angel Muse more so than its newer counterpart. It’s warm, sweet, and dry with a nice vetiver note in the base. It also has a creamy sweet aroma mix of hazelnut and cocoa, which comes together extremely well.

No, it’s not as powerful as Nova, but it’s close enough. Plus, it smells better and can be worn in more scenarios. For most folks out there, Muse will be the one to go with.

Winner: Angel Muse

Tango by Masque Milano

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At the end of last year, I received a whole bunch of sample fragrances, both that I purchased and that were thrown in as bonuses. Now, while I’ve gotten around to doing a review on most of them, I have fallen behind somewhat on getting all of them posted. Let’s rectify that.

Today’s entry is a scent release from 2013 by Masque Milano in Italy, called Tango. How does it smell? What are the ingredients? Is it worth a try? Please continue below, for my full take.

What does Tango by Masque Milano Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, black pepper, cardamom, jasmine, Damascena rose, cumin, patchouli, vanilla bean, amber, leather, benzoin, musk

My Full Wear Review

The fragrance from Masque, is pretty much a niche sort of scent, that is never going to be known by a wide audience. Only certain stores will carry it and it’s going to be pricey.

Nonetheless, I wanted to do a review here, even if no one is going to be reading this page; mostly, because I think that this is a really nice cologne.

The opening notes of Tango, mainly consist of the bergamot and black pepper. The citrus note is highly present, but wrapped up in the warm spice of cardamom/amber, and dotted with the black pepper note. It warm and smooth, the bergamot prevents it from becoming too heavy, and overbearing.

After that initial opening, Tango’s floral and earthier notes, really emerge. I get more of the jasmine note, than the rose, with a light touch of patchouli; which doesn’t distract from the overall composition.

As Tango moves along, the amber note really comes to dominate things. The spice is less noticeable and it really just gives off the effect of being warm, with some saltiness from the amber.

Finally, what I am left with is amber, leather, jasmine, vanilla, cardamom, and benzoin. The bezoin in the base note brings to mind Kouros Body by YSL, with a warm spicy profile, instead of being a sweet spicy scent.

Tango is amber soaked leather and jasmine, with cardamom, and a bit of vanilla peaking through with that benzoin note. It’s rich, fairly resinous, and smells quite nice.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Tango is a strong fragrance, at first. Overall, it’s more in the moderate range, but it can pack a punch early on.

The longevity is actually great and this Masque Milano scent, will last on my skin, all work day long. So, you will get the performance to match the price. It can go 10 hours, at times, but it seems closer to nine for the most part.

Tango is deep, ambery, and sexy. As such, I’d only be wearing this when it is cold out, as it won’t react well to the heat. Much more of an evening/romantic sort of wear.

If you go light with it, you could pull it off, in an office environment. However, I’d mostly be wearing this for nights on the town.

Overall Impressions of Tango

Overall, do I like Tango by Masque Milano. Yes, I really do. I don’t think it’s the greatest thing ever, but, I do think that it is a great example of a niche cologne. It is actually pleasant to wear, and not just weird, for the sake of being different.

It’s warm, has a nice spicy profile, with a dark and deep resinous quality. I dig it. If you can find a bottle, I recommend giving it a try at least. The performance matches the quality of the scent and it’s a very good scent, all around.

Elie Saab Le Parfum Review

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I’m getting really close to making it through the write ups, for my latest haul of sample fragrances. One of them, and the subject of today’s review, I’ve been meaning to do a full write up on for a long time. That would be Elie Saab Le Parfum, which was released in 2011. How does this one smell? How long does it last? Is it even worth a try?

What does Elie Saab Le Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: jasmine, orange blossom, cedar, rose, honey, patchouli

Click here to try: Elie Saab Le Parfum Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 3 Ounce

My Full Review

Elie Saab Le Parfum opens up with a sweet floral aroma. Orange blossom is the dominant note, especailly at the start, and is joined by a noticeable honey and patchouli.

The patchouli and rose note, seem to be intertwined in this composition, and form a singular ingredient. So, from the start you get orange blossom, with a light soaking of honey, rose/patchouli.

It feels like a blend of sweet floral, with an underlying freshness. After some time, the jasmine note moves up in the ranks, to join but not overtake the orange blossom. Whatever rose note there is, falls back to being nearly imperceptible.

What I get for most of the wear, is an orange blossom note, with jasmine undertones. Honey, patchouli, and cedar round things out. However, Le Parfum is mostly about those top two floral notes, working in conjunction.

Really late into the wear, there is more of a cedar presence, at the base. Clean woodiness, but nothing that overwhelms the scent overall.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

While this Elie Saab isn’t a complete bomb, with its projecting capabilities, it does indeed have a strong sillage. There’s really no need to go heavy, with this one. The performance is really a positive.

It will also last, around a full work day. Somewhere in the 7-9 hour range, on my skin. Not an elite level of longevity, but good enough for what most folks will need to get out of it.

Climate wise, this one is best for cooler to mild days. I wouldn’t use it on the really warm and humid days, as it wouldn’t hold up to well. Though, when worn in the right climate, it comes across beautifully.

This is a great option for daily wear. This can be worn to the office, school, casually, or to events. While it has a pretty aroma, it’s not a sexy sort of perfume, nor is it really built for the nightlife.

Very balanced all around.

Overall Impressions of Le Parfum

Do I like this fragrance? I do. It comes across strong, in the opening act, but it settles nicely. The opening feels too fresh, underneath that orange blossom and honey mix.

I do like it when, the jasmine comes in fully, and lends stability to the composition. The performance is great and it gives you a nice versatility for daytime wear.

You’re going to have to enjoy orange blossom and jasmine, to really like this fragrance. Those two notes, along with honey, are mostly what this is all about. A fresh white floral perfume, with a bold presentation, and sweet underpinnings.

Le Parfum is an easy fragrance to add to the rotation or rely on as a daily wear. There’s no particular weakness with this one. Everything about it is well above average, but just missing a higher level of greatness. Still, one that’s worth picking up.

Fougere d’Argent by Tom Ford

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I’m back again, with another Tom Ford fragrance review. I’ve got 3 or 4 more to go, in this current batch, and hopefully I can pick up some others in the collection. Anyway, today’s entry is a review of Fougere d’Argent, which isn’t a particularly well know Tom Ford cologne. It was released in 2018. What does it smell like? When should it be worn? Is it even worth a try?

What does Fougere d’Argent Smell Like?

Notes include: lavender, ginger, labdanum, orange, tonka bean, akigalawood

Click here to try: Fougere D’argent by Tom Ford Eau De Parfum 1.7oz/50ml Spray New In Box 

My Full Review

Before we get into my own review of Fougere d’Argent, let’s see what Tom Ford describes it as: Impeccable. Dashing. Provocative. New and unabashedly bold, Fougere d’Argent is a legend redux that converges impeccable decorum with the modus operandi of an agent provocateur. Tom Ford’s sleight of hand redefines the classic fougere in an exquisite work of beauty. 

The opening of Fougere d’Argent gives me a clean and spicy aroma. I pick up a lot of ginger, with lavender being the second in command, with wood and light citrus bringing up the rear.

The ginger note here, is particularly intense and sharp, which I actually like a great deal. The aroma is a classic gentleman’s clean, a barbershop quality, with the rough masculine edges smoothed out by notes such as tonka bean and lavender.

After the first few minutes, the orange note seems to get stronger to my nose. I’m not sure if that’s just the case for me, but it honestly feels weak after the initial spray, and then is quite prominent.

I like its combination with the lavender and ginger spice, which does help Fougere d’Argent have a more modern edge, versus the classic fougere colognes.

As it dries down further, the ginger and orange, begin to fall off. Lavender takes ahold of the reins, along with what I guess is the akigalawood, and what definitely is tonka bean. It’s really smooth, woody, fresh, with a hint of powdery spice.

There is something that is so simple, yet so utterly appealing with a fragrance, like this. So many fougere fragrances for men, that I come across, are really dated in how they smell. Fougere d’Argent doesn’t hit my nose that way, at all.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this is a lighter moderate scent. It’s not going to project like crazy, but will stay in a small radius, around the wearer. Will you forget that it is on you skin, at times? Sure. However, you will also unexpectedly catch a whiff of it, randomly during the day.

While the sillage isn’t a complete monster, the longevity is actually quite good. 7-9 hours on my skin, seems to be about the norm for Fougere. Not an elite wear, but certainly nothing to scoff at either.

Seasonally, this is versatile enough to be worn, almost anytime. I’m not convinced of it, in the summer heat, but outside of that this will work great. It absolutely can be worn for any occasion, also. It does seem like a formal fragrance for some of the wear, but it isn’t stuffy, and can go casual.

It’s not really a nightlife beast, but again, it wouldn’t be out of place. You’d just not be projecting your fragrance all over the bar or club.

Fougere d’Argent will get some complements, has a pleasant appeal, but isn’t necessarily ‘sexy’ with its scent. It’s definitely appreciated and adds something different from most of the modern fare.

This is listed as a unisex fragrance, though, it really leans masculine. It’s not too heavy or anything to preclude women from wanting to wear it, but it definitely favors one side of the perfume spectrum.

Overall Impression of Fougere d’Argent

Do I like this fragrance? Yes, it I really did, much more than I thought. When I see the word fougere, I have my doubts, that it’d be my style. This one, however, got my attention and admiration.

Is it the most amazing thing out? No, but it does give you an option, if you’re looking for a very well put together modern take on a classic concept. It’s not overly complex, but smells wonderful, and is of high quality.

It’s not going to be for every man. Some will want more strength, from their colognes. Others, might find this style to be boring. For me, I think that it’s a very good fragrance, albeit at a hefty price point.

It doesn’t seem to be around at every store, that the more popular Tom Ford scents are. So, you might have to go through the online route. I don’t think it’d be a bad blind buy, it’s got a easy to like scent and the performance is good enough.