Polo Red vs Polo Red Rush Comparison

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For this cologne comparison, I am going to take a closer look at two men’s fragrances from the Ralph Lauren lineup, Polo Red vs. Polo Red Rush. Which scent does it better? The original or one of its many follow up flankers. Which has the edge in performance? Which is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape

Polo Red

Notes include: grapefruit, italian lemon, cranberry, saffron, sage

Click here to try: POLO RED by Ralph Lauren, 4.2 Fl Oz

Read my full review: Polo Red

Polo Red Rush

Notes include: mandarin, grapefruit, pineapple, lemon, saffron, orange flower, spearmint, red apple, lavender, red coffee, cedar, musk

Click here to try: Polo Red Rush by Ralph Lauren EDT Spray 4.2 Oz.

Read my review: Polo Red Rush

Opening

The opening of the original Polo Red is a whole lot of cranberry, citrus, and some saffron. It is very warm and hyper-sweet, the cranberry note is tart, but overall I find it intriguing and enjoyable when I’m in the mood for such a scent.

It can hit the nose pretty hard, but it’s a nice experience to spray on when in the mood.

Rush opens in a similar manner, but instead takes grapefruit, mandarin, pineapple, and apple. This produces a similar sharp/tart opening to how Polo Red does it. After 10 minutes or so, Rush comes into its own with spearmint, and musk. It becomes much more of a greenish scent and less like the original.

Which is better? I think Red does a better job with the fruity opening and Rush seems like a simple imitation, that doesn’t quite hit the same note. I do like Rush, when the mint comes into play more, but I still enjoy the original more.

Edge: Red

Projection

Polo Red has always started out strong for me and then faded into something that is light to moderate, staying power was never its forte, but the sillage did have a big opening.

Red Rush is of similar strength ultimately to that of Red, but I think that the original starts off stronger, and that peak is never really matched by Rush.

Edge: Red

Longevity

Neither of these scents has great longevity. Depending on how much I apply, I can get 4-6 hours from Red. Rush gets about six hours also. There doesn’t seem to be a clear edge in this category. I usually have to spray more of either, to get fairly basic

Edge: Push

Versatility

Seasonally, both of these colognes can be worn pretty much any time, but I like them in the spring/summer mostly. Both are mostly casual fragrances, that can be worn at work, or formally. Neither is super ‘sexy’ but both are pleasant and attractive. They serve the same role essentially, not surprising considering they share a name.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

To me, I still think that the original Polo Red is better than this particular flanker. I appreciate that Red Rush added some new things to the Red name, but it also shares many similarities with the original, and doesn’t exactly improve on any of them.

I’m not too sure of its purpose. Red Rush is enjoyable to some extent, but doesn’t do anything all that well.

The original Polo Red, while it has so-so performance, does feature a unique cranberry note that isn’t found in too many men’s fragrances.

I do think that the other Red flanker fragrances improved upon the original, but Rush is a step backwards and doesn’t offer much that is worthwhile for the price. Maybe by now, it has been put on clearance at some stores. If it’s super cheap, I wouldn’t be opposed, but I’d still pick the original.

Winner: Polo Red

Mr. Burberry vs Dior Sauvage Cologne Comparison

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For this comparison, I want to breakdown two very popular eau de toilette scents for men: Sauvage by Christian Dior vs. Mr. Burberry. Which one of these colognes is the better bet for most guys to try out? I am only comparing the EDT versions of these fragrances (which are the best sellers) and not the EDP’s, so keep that in mind. As usual, I will cover what’s inside, how each smells, performs, which is more versatile, and which is ultimately the winner.

Tale of the Tape

Sauvage

Notes of Sauvage: bergamot, ambroxan, lavender, pepper, wood notes

Click here to try: Christian Dior Sauvage for Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

My Original Sauvage Review

Mr. Burberry

Notes include: tarragon, cedar, birch leaf, grapefruit, cardamom, sandalwood, vetiver

Click here to try: BURBERRY Mr Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 1.6 Ounce

Read my original review: Mr. Burberry EDT

Opening

Sauvage opens up with a bold and rather sharp bergamot note that is joined by calming lavender and a peppery kick. Within about 20 minutes, the warm smoothness of the ambroxan, takes the edge off of the pepper and the citrus notes settles down as well.

Mr. Burberry also opens up with a citrus note, this time, it is grapefruit. That is blended with woody notes, sandalwood and cedar, to create a subtle and super smooth aroma. There is also a cooling sensation from mint, that is brought in but isn’t too heavy. It’s quite clean and crisp. Plus, has an herbal undertone that emerges more later in the wear.

Which is better? Well, I’m not in love with either. Sauvage seems somewhat harsh to my nose at first but it settles down. Meanwhile, Mr. Burberry is pleasant, but isn’t all that interesting. Sauvage definitely captures my attention more and just has a better smell.

Edge: Sauvage 

Projection

I’ve always felt that the Dior fragrance was on the upper end of the moderate scale in terms of sillage and at times it can definitely be quite strong. With Sauvage, if you spray too much, it does have the ability to consume a room.

Mr. Burberry doesn’t do that. It is moderate and really completely average in how it projects off of my skin, definitely not as strong as Sauvage. I actually wish that the Mr. Burberry fragrances had more power, I don’t find either of them to be great.

Edge: Sauvage 

Longevity

For me, they are almost the same in terms how long they last, but Sauvage is just a little bit better. I get 5-7 hours from Mr. Burberry. Sauvage is usually 6-7. However, plenty of folks say they get all day wear from Sauvage, so it’s got the edge versus Mr. Burberry.

Sauvage EDT isn’t great but it’s a winner, in comparison. Sauvage Parfum and EDP are much better in this regard.

Edge: Sauvage

Versatility

There’s no real separation between these two fragrances in this category. Both of them are highly versatile and can be worn in a wide variety of situations and climates. That is one of the main selling points of each, is that, they aren’t limited to one specific time of year or situation.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Mr. Burberry is a pleasant scent to wear. It is low key and has a nice freshness from the grapefruit, woods, and herbal blend. It is a solid everyday wear and a totally non-offensive fragrance. I like it, but it never interested me, whenever I wore it. The whole thing felt rather flat and uninspired. I always wanted to wear something else before reaching for this.

I’m also no Sauvage fan boy, as I’ve made that clear in other posts. However, I do like it more than Mr. Burberry, and would prefer to wear it between the two of them. I think the overall fragrance smells better, has more energy, better performance, etc.

If it came solely down to price, I might pick Mr. Burberry, if I could get a better deal. But even that’s not a guarantee. Sauvage is the winner in this contest. If you want something that smells quite similar to Sauvage, that can usually be purchased for cheaper, try Luna Rossa Carbon.

I think Sauvage EDP is better than either. Mr. Burberry EDP smells good, but the performance is bad. So, I’d go with any of the Dior offerings before Mr. Burberry.

Winner: Dior Sauvage

Dark Rebel by John Varvatos

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Another sample that I’ve had lying around the house, is a 2015 release from John Varvatos: Dark Rebel. Both the name and the description of the fragrance interested me, which made me think that is one I’d definitely want to try out.

After wearing it for a while, does Dark Rebel actually meet expectations? What does this cologne smell like? How does it perform? is it worth a buy?

What does Dark Rebel Smell Like?

Notes include: tobacco, rum, fir, leather, vanilla, black pepper, cardamom, sugar cane, sage, nutmeg

Click here to try: John Varvatos Dark Rebel Eau de Toilette Spray, 4.2 fl. Oz. mens cologne

My Full Wear Review

Before we get started into my review, let’s see how John Varvatos describes Dark Rebel: is a blend of sweet tobacco leaves, intoxicating spirits, and warm sensual woods.

The opening of Dark Rebel is a harsh blast of pepper, rum, and tobacco. Immediately, this cologne brings to mind, Man in Black by Bvlgari; in terms of how it smells. These two colognes have extremely similar ingredients, however, the arrangement and intensity of their commonalities are different. You get a similar smell, just with a different blend.

Dark Rebel has that intense black pepper smell for about ten minutes at the start versus Man in Black having a boozier and less intense cinnamon from the jump. Both have rum and leather, but Dark Rebel has a greater use of tobacco throughout.

Anyway, after about ten minutes, you begin to get deeper into the composition of this John Varvatos scent. I start to get way more sweet tobacco and a slight sugary vanilla, after the pepper has been pushed out. It smells much better to me, at this point versus the hyper-peppery opening.

Even further along, the fragrance is mostly composed of the leather and tobacco and the slight spiced rum. But, there is also an added woody and herbal element.

Fir, sage, and cardamom are playing in the background and giving Dark Rebel a smooth outdoorsy appeal.

I really enjoy the way that this smells. Obviously, it overlaps so much with another fragrance that I own, but it’s unique spots are still enjoyable.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage on this is moderate. The first ten minutes are strong, then a few hours at moderate, and finally it is light for the remainder of the wear. It really tapers off rather quickly.

In total, I get about four hours from it, before it is too faint for me to notice. The performance is pretty disappointing, as I have even sprayed this on a shirt, that is a few feet away from me and hours after…I don’t even catch whiffs.

Seasonally, strictly cold weather, just like Man in Black. It can be worn casually or on a night out. Obviously, the style is that leather jacket clad man, who is stylish without giving it much effort.

It’s a sexy fragrance and one that women will probably enjoy, as they have done so while I’ve worn the Bvlgari out for the past year plus.

It’s light enough to wear on other occasions, so, I wouldn’t expect it to offend anyone. It really depends if you can personally get any performance out of Dark Rebel

Overall Impressions of Dark Rebel

Overall, do I like Dark Rebel by John Varvatos? I mean, I do like it. However, I don’t like it as much as I like Man in Black.

That one just has a better overall composition, in my mind, and also has better performance (though, it isn’t great either).

So, ultimately, I have no need for Dark Rebel because it fits the same mold as another scent I already use. If you want more tobacco, leather, and wood rather than the heavier rum, leather, and spices found in Man in Black; then, this might be the better option.

There’s still tons of overlap, so, the cheaper option might decide between them.

I think that this may have been discontinued, as such it probably won’t be cheap for very long, in the online stores.

Dior Poison Girl vs Unexpected Perfume Comparison

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Back here with another perfume comparison, this time between two Dior offerings from the Poison Girl line: the original Poison Girl EDP vs. Poison Girl Unexpected. Which of these two great fragrances smells better, the flanker or the first of the line? As usual, I will compare each scent based on different metrics and then ultimately declare a winner. I have also linked to my original review of each below.

Tale of the Tape: Poison Girl vs. Unexpected

Poison Girl

Notes include: Damascus rose, tonka bean, bitter orange, vanilla, almond, sandalwood

Click here to try: Christian Dior Poison Girl Women’s Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce

Read my original review: Poison Girl

Poison Girl Unexpected

Notes include: ginger, salt, tonka bean, Damascus rose, lemon, blood orange, hazelnut, almond, vanilla, and cashmeran

Click here to try: Christian Dior POISON GIRL UNEXPECTED EDT Spray Sample Vial .03 oz / 1 ml Womens NEW

Read my original review: Poison Girl Unexpected

Opening

Poison Girl Unexpected opens up with a creamy candied aroma, which was the intention of the perfumer who developed this fragrance. Lemon and blood orange are two of the top notes which give Unexpected that bright citrus aroma.

This is paired with tonka bean, vanilla, and ginger which creates a delicious quality to opening of this perfume. A dash of salt is added to the ginger to further solidify the edible-like properties of this scent.

Meanwhile, the original Poison Girl, opens with Damascus Rose, tonka bean, and bitter orange. You can see that the two scents definitely share a similar DNA, however, the original Poison Girl is less citrus while being more floral. It shares that creamy quality with Unexpected but with almond instead of ginger.

Between the two? I actually really enjoy how both of these perfumes open up. They are both pleasant and gourmand. Though, I think that I have a slight preference for Poison Girl Unexpected, in this regard.

Edge: Unexpected

Projection

Poison Girl starts off strong and then becomes much more of a moderate sillaged perfume, as it dries down. Nevertheless, it is still a stronger fragrance than is Unexpected.

Unexpected isn’t weak, it’s just a lighter type of scent, and never reaches the same power as its predecessor. I’d call it a lighter moderate, while Poison Girl is at the upper range of what could be considered moderate.

Edge: Poison Girl

Longevity

While Poison Girl has better projection, than does Unexpected. They are about equal in terms of how long they last on my skin. I get 9-10 hours out of both of them, sometimes more. What’s more, they both perform well during the extent of the wear, and aren’t just some weak smell after a few hours. There’s no clear winner here.

Edge: Push

Versatility

The original Poison Girl, is much more restricted in when it can be worn, in terms of the climate. It’s, to me, a cold weather wear that might be able to make it into spring.

Unexpected, is much more of a year round fragrance, thanks to the ginger and citrus notes. These ingredients give Unexpected a different dynamic and one more conducive to warmer weather.

Both are however, very versatile as to where they can be worn. Each of these is safe enough to wear at work, casually, but are also quite sexy and great for a night out.

Edge: Unexpected

Overall Scent

I find it hard to believe that one would go wrong by choosing either of these Dior fragrances, they’re both very good perfumes, all around. That being said, I think I prefer the smell of Unexpected over the original Poison Girl.

Unexpected has elements of the original, but also added layers, which I find both more interesting and attractive. The opening candied citrus, smells wonderful, and adds a different element to the gourmand profile.

Then, as it dries down, Unexpected gets that familiar Damascus Rose note, but paired with ginger. Finally, there’s a nutty final chapter with hazelnut and almond, being introduced fully.

Poison Girl is great with citrus elements, rose, a smooth and creamy profile, with more woodiness than Unexpected. Rose, vanilla, tonka bean, almond, and bitter orange are the biggest stars in this fragrance.

Both are sweet and super attractive scents, but Unexpected is more versatile, has a better aroma, and at least equals the original in performance.

Winner: Poison Girl Unexpected

Curve by Liz Claiborne

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One of the most popular fragrances for men on the market, always seems to be Curve by Liz Claiborne. Yes, this cologne always sits among the list of best sellers and has developed quite a following for itself since its 1996 release.

Why? Is it because it is the most complex scent out there? No, it’s a rather simple fragrance that blends its notes nicely. Is it the most masculine? Again, no.

Quite simply, Curve is just a great smelling cologne which is available at a very affordable price. In this post, I want to take a bit of a closer look at Curve and examine what makes it so good.

What does Curve by Liz Claiborne Smell Like?

Notes include: fresh greens, pepper, lemon, pineapple, neroli, lavender, sage, cactus, sandalwood, juniper, ginger, cedar, amber, mahogany and water

Click here to try: Curve By Liz Claiborne For Men. Cologne Spray 6.8 oz

My Full Wear Review

Curve became absolute legend when it was released back in the 90s. I remember that my dad used to wear this for a while and I thought it smelled fantastic.

It opens up with a blend of lemon, pineapple, and some neroli. It’s got a nice citrus zest, is a bit sharp, but flanked by spicy notes like ginger, pepper, and sage.

The opening is quite lemony and the pineapple is very noticeable as well, the spice notes are none too heavy, but are prominent during the early stages.

After that initial bit, Curve really gets going with the lavender note. That is probably the most important aspect of this fragrance and gives the composition its fresh and clean disposition. Curve smells sweet and warm, with bits of light coolness, breathing through the middle of the cologne.

Still, the citrus top notes are the main attractions, and when paired with that lavender note, it is great. This Liz Claiborne fragrance also features a cactus note, much like Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger, does.

It must have been a thing in the late 90s to add cactus to popular scents, perhaps, that is the secret to their success.

During the dry down, the woody base emerges, led by the mahogany note. There is also some non-distinct sandalwood and cedar lurking in the back, but mahogany is the strongest. So, you have a super fresh ctirus/green scent with light spices/musk and a woody base.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Curve never really had a huge sillage to me, it could start off fairly strong but would sink into a lighter moderate area. That’s about what one should expect. Not a powerhouse, but a very nice value play.

The longevity is around 5-7 hours on my skin, not much more than that. However, with a scent like this, it’s really all you need much of the time. If you want something longer lasting, you will most likely move to something more upscale.

Seasonally, it reminds me of spring, but really it’s a year round cologne. It can be worn casually, at work, school, or out on a date. This stuff will always get complements, I’m convinced of that fact.

It’s probably best for younger men, but all ages could wear it. If you need something fancier or more formal, Curve isn’t going to be the one. As a fresh aromatic cheapie? It’s great.

You can get it for cheap, but it will still get more positive reactions than many of the higher end fragrances for men. I don’t know what it is, but I cannot honestly disagree, as I love the way this smells.

That’s not to say that it will outshine all designer colognes, but it for sure punches above its weight class.

Overall Impressions of Curve

Curve is a great starter cologne for guys in high school up through college. Heck, I’d still wear it, if I had a bottle right now. It’s not my favorite fragrance of all time or anything, but you cannot really deny the power that this stuff has had for over 20 years.

Women love it. Like, it is unreasonable the attention that a simple cheapie like this brings, but it’s worth every penny. If you want something fresh, clean, and attractive for cheap…it’s not something you can go wrong with.

Less of a sexy smell and more of just something that is very attractive and pleasant to people. The performance is solid enough and the price is great. Curve is classic.