Eilish EDP vs Mod Vanilla

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Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande now both have very successful fragrance lines. The Ariana lineup has been around for longer and has more options. But, Billie’s perfumes have already tended to have a more unique style.

But, two of the more popular releases from each brand, are: Mod Vanilla and Eilish EDP. These two are sweeter gourmand perfumes, but which of them actually smells better? Lasts longer? Is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Eilish vs Mod Vanilla

Eilish

Notes include: vanilla, cocoa, musk, sugared petals, wood, red berries, mandarin, spices, amber

Click here to try: Eilish EDP

Read my review: Eilish by Billie Eilish

Mod Vanilla

Notes include: pink freesia, dark plum, vanilla, musk, praline, cocoa butter, orris butter, jasmine

Click here to try: Mod Vanilla

My full review: Mod Vanilla by Ariana Grande

Opening

The immediate spray of Eilish EDP delivers a blast of red berries with a hint of mandarin. However, this doesn’t go completely fruity, and those notes are actually minor players in the overall composition.

There is a profound spiciness here. Cinnamon seems to be in the mix, but other ingredients are present as well. It also has an ambery warmth, vanilla cream, and the emerging powdery cocoa aroma.

It is sweet, with its ‘sugared petals’ note. Rose, maybe? What is interesting to me is that there is also something greenish and cold here in the mix. Menthol-like with the way it hits, not necessarily mint, but perhaps geranium. Not listed, but that’s what I get.

Mod Vanilla opens with a collection of lighter notes that will eventually fall into the background, though they remain well-balanced even on the first sprays.

The pink freesia becomes immediately apparent alongside the notes of fresh musks. The musk maintains its presence throughout the fragrance’s development, and while I don’t consider Mod overly reliant on this note, it does stand as the most prominent among the three opening accords.

Accompanying these two elements is a subtle plum that introduces an additional tart quality to what is already a fairly sweet composition.

Vanilla makes its presence known and is joined by praline and cocoa butter. The praline emerges as a significant piece, that will define much of this fragrance’s character.

As this opening act transitions, the freesia and plum become considerably softer within the overall blend.

Which is better? While, I like what Mod Vanilla brings to the table early on, I just think that Eilish EDP is the more interesting and has the better start between these two.

Edge: Eilish

Projection

On my skin, this feels like it has a pretty bold and far-reaching start. For the first 30 minutes or so, Eilish EDP seems loud and will leave a nice scent trail.

Thereafter, it moderates, but this has a scent bubble effect. The reach is probably in the 4 to 7 foot range, depending on how much you spray.

With the Grande scent, it’s pretty much the same. I don’t really notice any difference in the peak of their powers and they both behave the same way, after those initial sprays too.

Edge: Push

Longevity

I personally get up to 8.5 hours of wear from Eilish EDP. It might go further than that for some folks, but this is what I’ve gotten out of it. Not a super marathon runner, but a fragrance that is well above average.

Mod Vanilla also keeps up for over 8 hours on my skin, finally becoming undetectable somewhere between the 8.5 to 9 hour mark. For me, at least.

In this category, they are roughly the same.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Seasonally, both of these are obviously an autumn and winter wear. Once you’re in the warmer weather, neither is too great to have on. But, maybe some springtime sprays for either should be fine.

Each also does skew younger with its sugary sweetness. But it’s one that doesn’t go completely into teen girl mode. Sure, it fits that demographic, but if you’re older and like sweetness, there is still plenty here for you.

Eilish could be a daily wear or venture into nightlife. It’s pretty, with that appealing baked goods gourmand style, which is popular with most people.

Mod Vanilla is a sweet perfume, so don’t expect something suitable for formal occasions or office wear.

Mod appeals to a younger demographic, though some older women would certainly appreciate it as well. Mod has a delicious gourmand quality that feels fun, rather than something that is sexy or seductive. The overall vibe is casual and cozy.

I don’t really see too much separation between these fragrances, in this category.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

So, overall, which of these two gourmand perfumes do I prefer versus the other?

Mod Vanilla? It’s a pretty good release, but still a middle of the road Ariana Grande perfume.  I wasn’t a big fan of Cloud, as of now, I think Mod Vanilla is a bit better than that…just not far and away superior.

If you already like and have Cloud, you probably won’t need to get this one. Different scents, ultimately, but they do a lot of the same.

I like how Mod Vanilla starts off and I like when the vanilla gets going in full.

With the Billie Eilish fragrance, I really do like the opening act. It takes the usual sort of celeb perfumes and adds a nice amount of depth to it. It’s a great dynamic between the warmer spice and then a transition into something cooler.

The back half is fine, just not as captivating. Still, I like Eilish EDP a good deal more than I do the Ariana scent. Mod Vanilla is good, but a notch below with how it smells.

With performance and versatility, these are roughly the same sort of scent. Eilish just smells better.

Winner: Eilish EDP

Burberry Goddess vs YSL Libre

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Burberry Goddess has become a very popular fragrance for women over the past few years. Another now pretty standard option is Libre by YSL. It has spawned a bunch of different flanker perfumes of the formula, but the original is still quite well loved.

But, which of these two perfumes smells better? Which of them lasts longer? Which is the fragrance that you should buy?

Tale of the Tape: Goddess vs. Libre

Burberry Goddess

Notes include: lavender, vanilla, cacao, ginger, vanilla absolute, vanilla caviar

Click here to try: Goddess by Burberry

Read my review: Goddess

Libre EDP

Notes include: lavender, white musks, orange flower, vanilla, orchid

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau De Parfum Spray for Women 90ml/3oz, clear

Read my review: Libre EDP

Opening

Libre eau de parfum opens with a vibrant blast of orange blossom (possibly with other citrus notes mixed in) alongside lavender, which grows increasingly the focus as it develops.

The fragrance has a soapy, somewhat musky quality with a creamy undertone that runs throughout. As it evolves, the lavender takes center stage while the musk becomes more pronounced.

The orchid is much more subdued compared to what you get with something like Libre Intense, and the vanilla stays in the background rather than leading the composition.

Goddess takes a sweet rather than tart direction, moving away from any fruity elements. Here, vanilla emerges early accompanied by cacao notes, but there’s also a ginger component that adds lovely freshness right from the start.

Despite being vanilla-forward, it feels lighter and cooler than you’d typically expect from such perfumes.

Which is better? I think that I prefer how Goddess starts out versus the YSL. It’s not a massive advantage, but I just like the sweeter notes and use of ginger.

Edge: Goddess

Projection

Libre delivers solid performance. I’d place it in the upper moderate to strong category for intensity. For a mainstream designer fragrance, it projects well and maintains a noticeable presence in your personal space even after the initial spray settles.

Goddess never reaches the same intensity levels as Libre. I anticipated it might be stronger going in, but it actually maintains moderate strength throughout its wear.

Most of the time it sits at what you might call a lighter moderate level. It’s not weak by any means, just not demanding attention, like I thought it might.

Edge: Libre

Longevity

Libre delivers 8-9 hours of longevity on my skin, which is pretty much ideal for most occasions. Others in the series can go longer, but the EDP is still solid.

Goddess clocks in at around 6.5 hours maximum. It doesn’t drop much below that threshold, but it lacks the endurance that Libre offers.

The performance is a clear cut edge for the YSL.

Edge: Libre

Versatility

Seasonally, both are good in the autumn and winter months. I think that Goddess, can do just fine in the springtime too, but Libre is better at it between them.

Libre is a great option for those who want a daytime wear. It’s stronger, but it fits in well without being overly sweet. While not formal, it is more suited to something like that than the Burberry.

With Goddess, you can wear it in the daytime or nighttime. It’s not a nightlife beast either, the sweetness isn’t too unbearable or anything for most occasions.

There’s not a huge gulf between these fragrances, but I’d give Libre the slight edge.

Edge: Libre

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these two fragrances do I prefer?

Libre EDP is an appealing fragrance with a distinctly floral character. If you’re seeking a lavender and orange blossom combination, this could be your match. It’s not overly complex, but it wears nicely.

Libre also has the better performance between these two scents.

The opening of Burberry Goddess is delightful. The heart of things, with vanilla and lavender works beautifully too, staying balanced without becoming overwhelming while maintaining an airy quality.

The dry down becomes fairly straightforward with heavy vanilla and some amber presence, yet Goddess remains enjoyable throughout.

However, when it comes to which fragrance I enjoy smelling more, I’ll go with the Burberry. It’s not a whole lot better, but I think that the composition overall just as a better scent.

Winner: Goddess

Lost Cause by Phlur

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Lost Cause is another of the Phlur fragrances that I got with my sample set a few years ago. It’s also one that I haven’t done a proper review of, until today, after finding that set sitting in the closet.

So, let’s correct that error and see what this perfume is all about. How does Lost Cause smell? Perform? Is it worth a buy?

What does Lost Cause Smell Like?

Notes include: cassis leaves, apple, bergamot, rhubarb, freesia, lily of the valley, jasmine, ambergris, vanilla orchid, orris, mate absolute

Click here to try: Lost Cause by Phlur

My Full Review

The opening of Lost Cause has a lot of rhubarb coming through, between it in the citrus, it’s almost like a green/floral Hugo Red for Men, in the opening. Much more tart with the Phlur.

Also, it’s got a clean shampoo-like aroma, that becomes more prominent after the initial phase begins to dissipate. Part of this can be chalked up to an apple note, it’s not really distinct, just a crisp watery aroma.

Green cassis leaves and dew give it a springtime vibe with hints of being an aquatic perfume. 

The cassis play a dual role with that fruitiness and greener qualities.

The next phase features a calmer rhubarb note, that is paired with freesia and lily-of-the-valley. On my skin, I get a lot more of the freesia for the duration of the wear, but the lily and jasmine are also noticeable. A good blend overall.

Yet, this one is still much more of a bright greenish fragrance than a pure floral perfume. That’s going on the the background. I’m still getting the fruitiness and citrus and the leaves pulling things together.

The back half is less sharp to my nose, when the ambergris and vanilla, round of the composition. There’s still the dewy greenish aroma, but it’s creamier and an interesting way to close out things.

Turns out there is also an orris note in here. If I detect much of it, it’s within a blend between it and the vanilla.

Really changed my thoughts on this one as the wear moved on. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this isn’t a heavy scent, it has the aquatic/ozonic sort of lightness to it. But, that initial hour actually has decent projection. Not a massive beast, but I can smell it just fine.

After that, it is more intimate. But again, I have not trouble smelling it on myself. Lost Cause just isn’t a perfume that is going to wallop you with its presence. 

The longevity is also just okay. 6-6.5 hours, on my skin. 

Seasonally, this is a spring and summertime wear. It really works well in this warmer and even more humid weather. I wore it outside the other day and the fragrance came alive.

This is a unisex perfume. There are stretches where it leans more masculine, but then it’ll move towards being more traditionally feminine. Anyone can wear this one, though.

Within the spring and summer season, it does have fantastic versatility. In the daytime, it’s a staple, and at night it can work as well. Not a club beast, but it’s an attractive scent once it’s settled in.

Basically, this is a perfume that is going to serve as a daily wear when it’s warmer out. 

Overall Impressions of Lost Cause

Overall, do I like Lost Cause? I have to say, yes. But, it’s more of a mixed bag for me. I do like this more than Missing Person, for example, which is probably the more popular of the Phlur line.

I’m not thrilled about the opening act, while I really do enjoy rhubarb as a note, and how it is here. There are parts throughout the wear that I’m not exactly enjoying and then I’ll love other parts of this.

The back half, while pretty weak in terms of performance, is fairly awesome in terms of how it smells. 

So, I’ll say a decent opening hour, with a really good rest of the wear. It’s a difficult fragrance to rate for me, but I’m sure this one has people who are crazy about it. Also, I’ve been trending in the positive direction on Lost Cause.

The longevity and performance overall is decent. Again, not a massively projecting or heavy perfume. A lot of the Phlur scents are like that. Keep that in mind, before grabbing your bottle of the stuff.

Apparently, this one is or has already been discontinued. So, if you want to try it out, you’d better act quickly before it starts becoming scarce.

Missing Person by Phlur

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Missing Person became a very popular fragrance on social media in the past few years. I’ve had a sample vial as a part of a Phlur tester set for quite a while. I kind of forgot about it and never did a full review of this perfume.

But, today, I’m going to change that and give this scent a full write up. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is Missing Person worth a buy?

Missing Person Perfume Overview

Notes include: skin musk, bergamot nectar, sheer jasmine, cyclamen, neroli, orange flower, sandalwood, blonde wood, white musk

Click here to try: Missing Person by Phlur

My Full Review

Missing Person opens up light, with a blend of musk, citrus, and floral notes. The bergamot citrus isn’t too heavy or juicy, just a squeeze to break up the hold that the musk has on the composition.

Beyond that, I’m mainly getting the jasmine note out of the floral ingredients. That, and the cyclamen, are what stand out to me. The orange flower/neroli is pretty hidden underneath that tart bergamot.

It’s a somewhat sweet musky aroma, at this point. But, you do get a fresher scent at the start then the powdery clean it will dry down to.

The rest of the development? You will get some woods, soft powdery sandalwood, lots of musk and a clean cozy feeling throughout.

Mainly, it’s about the musk and sandalwood with mostly the remaining jasmine as the discernable note. Everything else, just sort of blends together.

Missing Person isn’t too complicated of a fragrance.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is light. It’s not going to leave a massive scent trail in your wake, nor is it going to blast itself off of your skin.

Yet, I can actually detect it on my skin pretty well and I don’t have to absolutely press my nose up against where I sprayed. But, I think that I have meshed well with this Phlur perfume, because other people report that they cannot really smell anything after a short period of time.

For me, I can get between 5-6 hours of wear from Missing Person. Not amazing, by any means, but basically hits the mark of being average.

Don’t expect a powerhouse scent.

Seasonally, this is a fragrance that can be worn during any time of year. It doesn’t get cloying and isn’t bad in the cold, either.

The versatility is probably its greatest strength. It’s mostly going to serve as a daytime wear, but within that frame you can wear it basically whenever. It’s not the sexiest or an absolute nightlife beast, but if you want to be clean and lowkey, this Phlur can do the job.

Overall Impressions of Phlur Missing Person

Overall, do I like Missing Person by Phlur? I actually do enjoy this one, quite a lot. For a musk driven perfume, it’s extremely wearable and pleasant to have on.

I like the softness here. The sandalwood is great, the light citrus, and the floral mix that is led by jasmine. It’s simple but effective.

Is the performance great? No. For me, it isn’t terrible either. If you want something bold, get something else besides Missing Person.

This is one that can be a staple in one’s collection, but might not completely stand out unless people really get close to you. The performance is somewhat of a problem. I think that it’s ok, but other people get much worse results than I do with this.

So, keep that in mind, if you decide to pick up a bottle.

Best Versace Eros Fragrances Ranked

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Eros has been successful as a line for Versace, both on the men’s and women’s side of things. However, the men’s line has been an absolute smash hit for the designer, and has seen more releases under the banner for more than a decade.

On this page, I wanted to keep track of the colognes that have come out with the Eros tag, and rank them in terms of how much I enjoy each (after testing and reviewing them). So, this is my list.

Favorite Versace Eros Colognes Ranked

Note: This is all of the Eros for Men fragrances as of posting, except for Najim. Since that was a special release, that I didn’t track down a bottle of.

Top Pick

Eros Parfum– This actually opens with more freshness than the citrus emphasis, found with the others. Yes, the citrus does appear at the top and its sparkling quality is pleasant, but it’s actually more subdued in the overall blend.

The familiar lemon and mandarin appear alongside that verbena-like litsea cubeba. Pepper and sage become more apparent, as does the foundation of amber and resinous notes like benzoin and elemi.

Clary sage takes the lead early on. Notably, there doesn’t appear to be much, if any, of the mint note. It seems to have been replaced by enhanced geranium and sage to produce a similar effect.

Parfum ultimately becomes an amber, vanilla, cashmeran, and vetiver blend as it reaches its conclusion. 

All in all, I think that this is the best experience out of all of them. I don’t think that it blows the others away or anything, but after coming back to each, I did slightly enjoy this more. Eros Parfum review.

Original

Eros EDT– The original Eros was one of my favorites when I was younger. Now, it’s not something that I return to all that often.

The latest bottles seem to be more like how they once were (just not as strong), after having (to my nose at least) more lemon than usual. I did pick up a bottle of Greatness by Dua, which is inspired by the 2012 batches of Eros.

Anyway, this one opens with a zesty Italian lemon note, joined by crisp, juicy green apple and the cool spice of mint leaves. 

Tonka bean and vetiver also make their presence known. Later in the dry down period, Eros truly becomes an enveloping fragrance. The ambroxan amber and a subtle geranium emerge to complement the main trio of notes.

It’s a smooth, creamy, and freshly sensual fragrance with the vanilla note reaching its absolute peak.

For this list, I still think that it’s the second best offering. Eros EDT review

Another Revision

Eros EDP– At the start, Eros EDP feels colder, sweeter, and smoother than the original EDT. One notable change is how much weaker the vetiver is in this version

The tonka bean has also been removed. While I typically enjoy tonka bean paired with vanilla, I actually prefer the vanilla standing alone in this particular fragrance.

The cedar notes receive significant emphasis and really emerge after 30 to 45 minutes of wear. This next phase brings out those woody elements while the geranium and sage begin to recede.

At this point, the citrus becomes quite faint.  Finally, the mint and vanilla take center stage, accompanied by some apple and the cedar. The most significant change throughout the remaining wear time is how much the Ambermax begins to develop.

When I first tried this, the opening act almost made this my favorite Eros. But, that was short-lived. The back half was kind of disappointing, the Ambermax ruins it for me. Still pretty good, but it never took the top spot. Eros EDP review

Burning Red

Eros Flame– I considered swapping this ahead of the eau de parfum, because they’re basically interchangeable to me. I purchased this as soon as it was released way back when and never became too big of a fan of Flame.

It’s solid. The initial formulation’s performance was insanely good, also. Last few times that I’ve tried it, it wasn’t nearly as strong.

The tangerine and lemon combination creates a very bright and juicy opening. More tangerine, than lemon. This becomes especially apparent when the emerging vanilla and tonka bean create that smooth, creamy aroma.

Versace describes the citrus pairing as part of a chinotto accord. The pepper here isn’t intensely spicy and probably doesn’t match the strength of the mint in the original. 

Overall, I really like the opening sequence here too. The citrus and vanilla/tonka bean combination feels familiar and there’s a certain effervescent quality to the entire experience.

As it develops, Flame adopts many outdoorsy and woody elements, sharing some characteristics with the original even during this stage. Cedar, vetiver, oak moss and geranium all carry over from the original formula.

But, as with Eros EDP, I’m not too in love with this one past the opening. For some people, this is their favorite Eros. I think the reviews of this have gotten better over time, but it just doesn’t fully click with me. Eros Flame review

Summer Vibe

Eros Energy– Energy is another of these Versace fragrances that I bought, as soon as it came out. And…it’s my least favorite of the bunch.

It’s not terrible, it’s just okay.

Eros Energy is as a heavily citrus-focused fragrance. It incorporates numerous fruits: lime, green mandarin, orange, lemon, grapefruit, and bergamot, plus the tart blackcurrant berry.

For me, Energy presents its aromas in distinct waves. Initially, I get a blend primarily of lemon, grapefruit, and bergamot. Then lime, orange, and some blackcurrant emerge. When it finally settles, it becomes more of a lemon/bergamot/grapefruit/orange grouping.

Is it purely citrus? No, there’s subtle spiciness from the pink pepper note. I detect some patchouli as well, though that appears more after an hour or so of wear.

The main attraction beyond the citrus elements is the musk note.

But, it’s nothing special. I’ll wear it once and like it. Then the next time, I find it annoying. It’s a good enough summer scent, if you get a discounted price, though. Energy review