Bvlgari Aqva vs Aqva Marine Cologne Comparison

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Alright, when dealing with flanker fragrances, there can often be a lot of overlap (by design) between two scents. Sometimes, a designer will go completely in another direction, and a new iteration of a scent will smell completely different than its predecessor. Bvlgari’s Aqva line, takes the former route.

This is especially true with Aqva Pour Homme and Aqva Marine, these two are very close relatives of one another. However, which one smells better? In this post, I am going to compare these Bvlgari fragrances and try to separate a winner.

Tale of the Tape: Aqva vs. Marine

Aqva

Notes include: mandarin, seaweed, cedar, orange, lavender, petitgrain

Click here to try Aqva: Aqua By Bvlgari Eau De Toilette Spray For Men 3.4 oz

Read my Full Review of Aqva Pour Homme

Aqva Marine

Notes include: grapefruit, seaweed, neroli, cedar, rosemary, mandarin

Click here to try Aqva Marine: Bvlgari Aqva Marine Pour Homme by Bvlgari 3.4oz 100ml EDT Spray

Opening

The opening of the original Aqva Pour Homme, is a mix of the orange, cedar, and seaweed notes. This is when you’re going to get the most citrus-y aroma of the bottle before it moves on into a more salty aquatic.

This period lasts for 10-15 minutes on my skin.  Aqva Marine, on the other hand, starts off with a citrus blend of orange and grapefruit. The seaweed note is ever present but the cedar doesn’t seem to be as strong in Aqva Marine.

It really comes down to which you prefer, more or less citrus, but neither opening aroma lasts long at all.

Edge: (Slight) Aqva

Projection

Both are about the same, in my opinion. These aren’t super strong colognes but do have strong starts and stay noticeable for a good amount of time. For much of the wear, they’re essentially lighter moderate fragrances.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Again, we are dealing with extremely similar creatures here. Five or maybe six hours is about all you should expect from either Aqva scent. Both are just okay, in this regard.

Edge: Push

Versatility

To me, they are both casual summertime fragrances, that I would prefer to wear out and about versus the office. These aquatics are good to wear when the heat and humidity is up during the summer or when you live in a year-round tropical climate. Not any distinction here.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

There is really so much similarity between these two but there is just enough distinction to set them apart. Aqva will deliver a salty marine blend of lavender and cedar, with the orange notes eventually fading into the background.

You will get a strong orange opening which transitions into a much softer smooth marine/woody aroma.

Aqva Marine has a different citrus edge to it. It is much more oceanic in my opinion, with a watery saltiness to go along with the seaweed. The cedar is scaled back and there is a slight floral scent provided by the neroli.

If you want more of the oceanic scent, go with Aqva Marine.

I personally like the blend of the original Aqva Pour Homme a bit more than its flanker fragrance. The difference isn’t dramatic, but I do have a preference, and I go with that as the top dog.

Winner: Aqva Pour Homme

3 Colognes that Smell Similar to Tsar

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Tsar has been a popular enough fragrance for 30-plus years for it to have developed a fan base of adherents. As such, people want to find alternatives to this scent that can offer something similar but with a different feel or strike a close chord. In this post, I want to present 3 cologne options that smell similar Tsar by Van Cleef & Arpels.

Which Fragrances Smell Like Tsar by Van Cleef & Arpels?

Best Designer Option

Jazz by Yves Saint Laurent– Jazz is a YSL fragrance which dates back to the 1980s and strongly favors what you get with Tsar. It opens spicy, with notes of coriander and nutmeg, with some hints of basil early on.

Lavender is quite present here, along with drier and woodsy notes, when the initial spice fades. Tobacco, oakmoss, and a hint of leather. Once it gets to the floral heart, they are very similar, with artemisia, lavender, and geranium being big players in both.

With Jazz, I get 9-10 hours of performance, so if you want a near match with Tsar that gives you what you pay for…this is a great choice. My Full Review

Woodier Aroma from Cartier

Cartier Pasha De Cartier Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.3 Fluid Ounce– This doesn’t have the same level of lavender (still plenty), when compared to something like Jazz, but it has the woodier notes that make up Tsar.

Pasha is a great performer and sits beautifully in the colder months of the years. Oakmoss and mint, give it a dry freshness, and then the caraway for some added spice. The scent warms up, while retaining its green outdoorsy depth, and the coolness of the mint.

The lavender is most noticeable in the latter stages, along with sandalwood and rosewood.

pasha

 

 

A Polo Classic

Safari by Ralph Lauren for Men, Eau De Toilette Natural Spray, 4.2 Ounce– Safari isn’t an exact copy of Tsar, but it is another option for those who enjoy this style of fragrance. It is also a delightfully masculine smell with a sweetness that many other fragrances lack. The main thrust of it is an outdoorsy, green herbal plant and woods mixture.

However, that’s only the beginning as Safari is a complex, and unique aroma. It’s masculine but tempered by citrus and floral notes. That’s the main difference, is Safari seems a bit brighter and not nearly as green and woodsy as Tsar. It still has plenty of that, just to a different amount.

Herod vs Tobacco Vanille Fragrance Comparison

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Herod and Tobacco Vanille are two popular high end fragrances for those who want a tobacco scented fragrance with some sweetness. Both have their strengths and admirers, but ultimately, which one is better? Which lasts longer? Which should you look to buy?

Tale of the Tape: Herod vs. Tobacco Vanille

Herod

Notes include: tobacco leaf, musk, cinnamon, vanilla, vetiver, cedar, patchouli, pepper, incense, and labdanum 

Click here to try: Parfums de Marly Herod Men’s EDP Spray, 4.2 oz.

Read my Review: Herod by PdM

Tobacco Vanille

Notes include: tobacco, vanilla, dried fruit accords, cocoa, tonka bean, wood sap, spices

Click here to try: Tom Ford Beauty Tobacco Vanille Private Blend Spray/3.4 oz.

Read my Review: Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford

Opening

Tobacco Vanille opens up with a sweet tobacco, as the main player. It is bold and joined by vanilla, cocoa, and creamy tonka bean. Also, there is a spiciness, which I take to be the cinnamon note. This can start off really powerfully and a bit overwhelming.

Herod also has a sweet tobacco note, but the profile is overall much spicier than the Tom Ford fragrance. Cinnamon and incense give it a different feeling. While these two get compared often, they have much different scents at times.

Herod takes on a aroma closer to something like B*Men or Burberry London. Not that they are exact, but I can definitely pick up the similarities.

Which is better? Honestly, Herod comes across much better in the opening. Darker, spicier, while still retaining a sweetness. 

Edge: Herod

Sillage

Tobacco Vanille comes across as stronger, at the start. I think that they are somewhat equal for a while, but the Tom Ford edges out the PdM fragrance overall. It’s not that much better at projecting, but it does have a bit of lead.

Edge: Tobacco Vanille

 

Longevity

Both of these lasts for over 10 hours, on my skin.  Really well beyond that, too. I don’t see one as being better here since they both go all day. Great performers.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Herod and Tobacco Vanille sort of occupy the same space. Both are cold weather wears all the way. They have enough personality to be worn out, but enough style to be worn in the office, more formal occasions, or casually.

There’s really no separation from my perspective.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I like Tobacco Vanille, particularly as it dries down and becomes less in your face. The tobacco is more of a greenish variety, not toasted or processed. Vanilla and cocoa still give it its sweetness and it comes across as very well put together. 

The performance also lives up to the price tag.

Herod is darker with more of spicy/sweet blend than Tobacco Vanille has. Also, the tobacco is smokier and cured, with a resinous aroma supporting the entire thing. It’s a close call between these two options, but I prefer the Parfums de Marly. The incense and resin is great and I love the tobacco note here. 

Winner: Herod

Bright Crystal vs Chanel Chance Comparison

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Chanel Chance EDP and Bright Crystal by Versace are two best selling fragrances for ladies on the market today. They aren’t exactly duplicates of one another and offer quite different experiences from one another in the floral perfume space. Which is better? In this post, I will break down each before declaring my ultimate winner between them.

Tale of the Tape: Versace Bright Crystal vs Chanel Chance

Chanel Chance

Notes include: vanilla, jasmine, iris, patchouli, pink pepper, and musk

Click here to try: Chanel Chance EDP

Bright Crystal

Notes include: yuzo, peony, pomegranate, musk, magnolia, iced accord, lotus, amber

Click Here to try Bright Crystal: Versace Bright Crystal Eau de Toilette Spray for Women, 3 Ounce

Read my original review: Bright Crystal Review

Opening

Bright Crystal kicks off with its fruity notes taking center stage. A delicious blend of yuzo and pomegranate peak through with a cold and icy demeanor, as there is a so-called iced accord in this perfume. Once that initial phase passes, the peony and other floral notes start to really come into their own.

Chanel Chance EDP has much less of the patchouli note, than the EDT version. This one is a floral scent with clean vanilla highlights. It is led by both jasmine and iris, as its main floral notes.

You get a mix of sweetness, with musk, and enough earthy spice to make it pop a bit. There are some light fruit notes, but it isn’t very prominent. The patchouli, will develop more in the later stages of this fragrance.

Which is better? I think I enjoy the opening of Bright Crystal more. I love the yuzo and pomegranate, very cool and juicy. Chance is nice, but I just get drawn into the Versace.

Sillage

Neither of these has a monster ability to project themselves. Bright Crystal is much more of a moderate fragrance than Chance EDP. The Chanel is strong, but on the lower end of that spectrum. However, it definitely is stronger on me than is Bright Crystal.

Edge: Chance EDP

Longevity

Meanwhile, that strength doesn’t seem to give Chance a longer lasting wear. For me, they both fall into the 8-10 hour range, which is what you will want in most any situation. Nonetheless, they are equals in this regard.

Edge: Push

 

Versatility

Both of these are highly versatile. Can be worn year round, in a variety of situations, perhaps, the Chanel is a bit more formal. Nevertheless, they pretty much assume the same space in terms of use. 

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Which is better? It’s a tough call, as they are both great fragrances.

Chance gives you more of a fresh and floral wear, with an awesome pink pepper note. Patchouli, jasmine, musk, and pink pepper are prevalent in the dry down. It does everything that you want well. You can’t really go too wrong with this one from Chanel.

Bright Crystal as more of a fruity/floral balance, with the fruit notes really taking hold at the start. Then, the peony, magnolia, lotus, and musk notes reveal themselves more. 

Between the two? It really depends on whether you prefer the fruity notes and peony or jasmine, spice, and patchouli. Also, consider that Bright Crystal is a lot less expensive than Chance EDP. For me, I tend to enjoy the smell of Bright Crystal in comparison. I like both, but the Versace gets the edge to my nose.

Winner: Bright Crystal

Ultra Male vs Stronger With You Comparison

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Armani’s Stronger With You and Jean Paul Gaultier’s Ultra Male are two very popular picks for guys who want a bold nightlife fragrance. They have plenty of similarities in their composition and styles. Which one smells better, though? Which is more powerful? Last longer? I have worn both plenty and in this post will break down each by category before declaring a winner.

Tale of the Tape: Ultra Male vs. Stronger with You

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

Stronger With You

Notes include: vanilla, mint, cardamom, chesnut, amber, pink pepper, sage, violet leaf

Click here to try: Emporio Armani Stronger With You for Men Eau de Toilette Spray, 1.7 oz

Read my full review: Stronger with You

Opening

Ultra Male starts out with its candy-like sweetness and spicy intensity. Pear, mint, cinnamon, and vanilla are the main stars. Mostly, it will be the pear blended with the spices, at first. It comes across as smooth and super bold upon first spraying.

Stronger with You takes a warmer and slightly less intense tact up front. It also has mint, but also, pink pepper and cardamom. The mint gives it a similar freshness and it too has the sweet vanilla aroma coming through.

Somewhat similar, I think it will come down to whether or not you like pear. For me, I think that I prefer the start of Ultra Male more so, but it’s not a clear win.

Sillage

Which of these is stronger and projects better? While Stronger With You is definitely strong, it doesn’t hit the same level as my bottle of Ultra Male. Both are well above average and won’t disappoint.

Ultra Male just has another gear.

Edge: Ultra

 

 

Longevity

Ultra Male gives me 8-9 hours of wear. Stronger with You hits 9 hours. They are pretty darn close, but while Ultra Male has stronger sillage, the Armani has a very slight edge here. It hits 9 hours more consistently for me.

Edge: Stronger (slightly)

Versatility

Both of these fragrances should be limited to colder weather. Also, more suited for younger guys and casual or nightlife situations. Not office wear scents. Not too much of a difference.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Stronger with You is a good cologne. I enjoyed my experience wearing it. The opening is my least favorite part and I wasn’t too enthusiastic at first. However, the dry down is very nice.

It became a great vanilla scented fragrance, with cardamom, some nuttiness, and later hints of herbal notes/woods. The performance is outstanding and I have no major qualms with this scent.

I kind of go back and forth between which of these I prefer. I seem to gravitate more towards Ultra Male. Neither of these is a daily wear for me, but more a once in a while, when I want something bold.

The cinnamon, mint, lavender, and vanilla can be fun to wear. Honestly, it overlaps so much with Stronger with You. Ultimately, I do like the pear note, when I’m in the mood to spray on Ultra Male. So, it eeks out the win.

Winner: Ultra Male