5 Colognes Similar to 1 Million Elixir

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1 Million Elixir is one of the more recent flankers of the long running and best-selling 1 Million line from Paco Rabanne. Now, maybe you like this scent a lot, but want something a little different. Maybe you’re looking for an inexpensive alternative that smells a lot like it.

Well, I’m going to present options on this list that have a similar style or give an inspired by take on the Elixir formula.

Fragrances that smell like 1 Million Elixir

million elixir review

Inspired Option

Error 419 by Dua– This is one of the ‘Error’ scents that Dua releases, where they don’t use the designer’s name in their ‘inspired by’ formula. 419 is a mimic of 1 Million Elixir.

Basically, if you want a cheaper alternative that tries to smell as close to Elixir as possible, this is currently the best bet.

You still get the apple, davana, vanilla, etc. It’s all there and in an extrait de parfum formula. I haven’t tried this one from Dua, but I have bought probably 12+ fragrances of this sort from them in the past. The usually hit the mark extremely close.

Absolutely a Similar Style

Stronger with You Absolutely– Sweet, warmth, and vanilla are going to be the main overlaps between Absolutely and Elixir. These two are not identical, but share a lot in terms of style.

With Elixir, I get plenty of the amber note. With this Armani, it’s a mix of the resinous elemi and the ‘glaze’ of that signature chestnut note. They both have a hint of smoke at times.

This one is spicier and has a boozy rum note in there too. Sweet, the dry down is where they feel closest to one another. Absolutely is close to being my favorite of the SWY series, but that’s currently a title held by Intensely.

Again, though, they never quite match perfectly. This is one to check out if you’re a fan of Elixir, but want to switch things up. I might slightly prefer Absolutely to Elixir, but it’s more of an even contest.  Stronger Absolutely Review

Royal Relation

1 Million Royal– 1 Million, Elixir, and Le Male Airlines are fragrances that I would use to describe what 1 Million Royal smells like.

I bought a full bottle of this when it came out. The main similarities with Elixir are the amber and the sweetness. However, this one really comes out with a spiciness provided by the cardamom note, ala, Le Male Airlines.

Lighter on the vanilla. But, that benzoin, cedar, amber and general 1 Million foundation is all there. But, Royal having a split in terms of fragrance influences, it’s going to have a different smell beyond those similarities.

The back half of the wear gives you a stronger lavender influence, with a fuzzy sort of vanilla, woods, and the remaining cardamom spice.

Another one that stands separate from Elixir, but some of you might prefer this edition to our target scent. Royal Review

Victory 

Invictus Victory– Victory or Victory Elixir are two alternatives by Paco Rabanne, that you might like more than 1 Million Elixir. These do have the sweetness, but the openings of each aren’t too similar to what we’re after.

The dry down is where its at. Vanilla, tonka bean, amber, wood. Both of these Invictus flankers have a closely related middle and finishing act to 1 Million Elixir.

I’m not even much of a fan of Invictus as a line, but these two are actually really good and are colognes you’d probably be into if you like Elixir.

Personally, I think Victory Elixir is a bit better than the original Victory. Smoother with slightly better performance than its predecessor. Not a massive gap between them, but a really good option, that isn’t like the original Invictus; but is closer to this 1 Million flanker.

Another Elixir

Le Male Elixir– Probably the least like our target, out of the bunch. But, it has style elements that make me put it on the list.

Vanilla, tonka bean, benzoin are the notes most reminiscent of 1 Million Elixir. This one has a strong mint, up top, with a powerful sweetness. Warm, somewhat cloying, and intense. Honey and tobacco also have a role to play here.

Not the number 1 pick, as an alternative that smells like our target cologne, but one worth considering in the same ballpark stylistically. Possibly, Ultra Male too.

After having a full bottle of this for a while, I think that I’d lean towards having 1 Million Elixir instead. I would have said I preferred Le Male Elixir at first, but these two have diverged somewhat in my enjoyment of wearing them. Le Male Elixir Review

1 Million Royal by Paco Rabanne

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1 Million Royal is the latest flanker fragrance of the highly popular line by Paco Rabanne. It was released in 2023 and slowly seems to be getting more attention. It took me a while just to get a hold of the bottle, since it was only recently released in the US a week or so before writing this. How does Royal smell? Does it last long? Is it actually worth a try?

1 Million Royal Overview

Notes include: mandarin orange, bergamot, cardamom, lavender, violet leaf, cedar, sage, benzoin, patchouli

Buy from Sephora: Royal

million royal review

My Full Review

Here’s how Paco Rabanne describes it: Powered by your inner confidence, enter the 1 Million Royal kingdom with the ultimate fragrance of defiant self-expression, made for you by Paco Rabanne. Unconstrained by convention, find the freedom to live by your own rules with 1 Million Royal: a flamboyant fresh woody blend that collides with a distinctive sensuality to unleash what makes you uniquely you. Claim the stage; you’re the king. It’s time to rise.

1 Million Royal opens up with a blend of notes vying for your attention. The mandarin orange and bergamot citrus are sitting on top of the mix, giving this an initial lightness and brightness.

Underneath, the warm spiciness of the cardamom and benzoin notes are already coming through. Royal will have more of a cardamom spice versus other notes here, but early I get a decent amount of sage and a touch of patchouli.

The latter, is only noticeably if I really focus and basically press my nose up against where I sprayed.

In comparison to 1 Million Elixir, this also has a sweetness and amber-like heart thanks to that benzoin. However, Elixir is much sweeter, floral, and vanilla based.

Royal seems to have something giving it a light vanilla effect, but the note isn’t actually listed (probably benzoin, creating that sensation).

Royal also shares plenty of similarities with Le Male Airlines by JPG. I have a full bottle of that fragrance and they definitely overlap.

Notably, they share notes of: cardamom, lavender, citrus, and cedar. But, they aren’t exactly the same in terms of smell. Airlines is sweeter and much more cardamom dominant. The cardamom itself seems to be a different type in Royal, spicier with less of the citrusy facets.

I like Royal more than Airlines thus far.

As we move along, the spiciness will tone down. I start to get a greater ratio of the lavender versus the cardamom and the benzoin will also begin to claim the top spot.

That’s mostly what the dry down is all about. A sort of fuzzy vanilla amber aroma of the benzoin, lavender, the remaining cardamom, and a generic fresh woody cedar note.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Royal isn’t a heavy fragrance. Though, it has a lot more power than you think that it does. It’s kind of diffuse and the cloud that it creates around you is much more like a mist for most of the wear.

3-4 hours into the wear I can still smell it on me and I’ve had one other person comment positively on it during my first initial test. This was hours after I had sprayed it on my arm, not even on the usual pulse points.

I’d say at its peak, Royal is probably a 5-8 foot radius cologne, in terms of its projection. After that, it’s going to spend a ton of time in that 3-4 foot range. Not bearing down on you, but I’ve noticed it hanging around without having to press my nose to my skin.

On me, this lasts somewhere in the 8-8.5 hour range. Good enough for most uses, but not incredible either.  Royal is actually a parfum concentration and the performance basically reflects that higher level of perfume.

It does fall slightly short of what I got with Elixir. Almost the same sillage, but Elixir lasts up to 10 hours on me.

Seasonally, probably going to be more of an autumn and winter wear. It’s actually nice in moderate temperatures, so, spring will be fine in most places. That’s especially true in the evenings.

It’s about to officially be summer here in a few days, which has limited a lot of my testing to indoors, as it’s not a fragrance that is built for the heat. It’s actually not terrible, since Royal isn’t overly thick and heavy, just not ideal.

1 Million Royal does skew more towards being a nightlife fragrance, but it isn’t completely out of place in a variety of other situations. It’s just not really a formal type of cologne.

It can really be worn by a man of any age, since it doesn’t have the same level of candy-like sweetness that some other fragrances in the 1 Million series can. It’s very much like 1 Million Prive, in that regard.

As I wrote earlier, I’ve already gotten a complement on Royal and this one indeed feels like it’s going to have mass appeal. I think that I’ll use my bottle mostly for casual and nightlife wear.

Overall Impressions of 1 Million Royal

Overall, do I like 1 Million Royal? Yes, to me it’s on par with Elixir. I do notice the similarities, but these are ultimately different fragrances. Royal is warmer, spicier, and doesn’t have that Elixir sweetness.

I wasn’t sure that I was going to like this and was worried that I’d have a full bottle of the stuff just languishing on my shelf. Royal turned out to be better than I expected and I will get plenty of use out of it.

It’s actually much closer to Le Male Airlines than the other 1 Million scents. It’s like they fused that Gaultier cologne’s DNA with some of the 1 Million fragrances’ and then added more benzoin. All resulting in 1 Million Royal.

I think that the opening is really great. The citrus gives it a nice energy and the balance of the spiciness, benzoin, and lavender is near perfection at that point. Enough sweetness to not be overwhelmed in either the spicy or sweet direction.

Performance is solid. Not a monster projector, but Royal does have a nice ability to project and leave a scent trail. Longevity is about what you’d need in most scenarios.

I recommend giving this one a try, if you’re a fan of the 1 Million series. It’s different of course, but that same sort of vibe and style is present here. I’m glad that I bought it.

16 Best Men’s Colognes from the 1980s

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The 1980s was a decade in which men’s fragrance not only got bolder, but the selection really start to expand with the market. Cologne was now starting to become more than a niche aspect of perfumery and designers really began to focus on creating memorable scents for men.

So, what are the most popular or best smelling scents from the 80s? Which stood the test of time from this decade? Here’s my list.

Favorite Men’s Fragrances from the 80s

The list is going to consist of best-sellers and what I think are some of the best smelling scents (and fragrances that land in both categories).

Here are my lists for other decades: The 1970s and 1990s

Overlooked Reinterpretation 

YSL Pour Homme Haute Concentration– When talking about 1980s colognes from Yves Saint Laurent, most people will mean the next entry on my list. However, this remix of a 1971 classic, is just overall a more enjoyable fragrance to me.

The opening is a concentrated Amalfi lemon that is quite intense with a sour quality to it. But, that will be toned down into a ‘dustier’ sort of lemon smell when the oakmoss, petitgrain, and rosemary coming through. Rosemary, is actually quite strong in the composition.

It’s citrusy, spicy, and somewhat green and herbal in the opening stages. Then, it settles down into more of a soapier fresh kind of fragrance. I really enjoy the dry down of this one.

I do hate the splash bottle that this fragrance came in. But, for a 30+ year old gift set scent (complete with ancient soap), this one still holds up and has been getting plenty of use from me. YSL Haute Concentration

Kicked off the Decade

Kouros by YSL– Really, Yves Saint Laurent had a run from 1981 to about 2005-ish, which was unreal in terms of producing classic fragrances. Just banger after banger. That run started out with the release of Kouros.

The modern version? It’s still pretty good. I have a bottle of the Fraicheur version from 1993 and it is much stronger than the current bottles of Kouros…and that was designed as a ‘lighter’ summer edition of this formula.

Much more tame and wearable for the times, while still having the charms of the original. Kouros Review

Classic Jazz

Jazz by Yves Saint Laurent– Jazz is one that has been discontinued and reinstated many times over the decades. Last I checked, it is now discontinued again. But, this late 1980s fragrance really helped to cap the decade for YSL and continued its leadership in this space.

Note: The Dua Brand has their own inspired take on this scent: The Blues.

Coriander and nutmeg kick things off as the main spices. You do also get some slight use of cinnamon and basil notes.

The spice is a nice opening act, but this one is a lavender-led cologne that is dry and has a classic barbershop sensibility.

It does become less spicy, cleaner, sweeter, and more floral. This is super versatile and a modernized take on this older style of scent. Jazz Review

Big Ego

Chanel Egoiste– Egoiste was technically released in 1990. Though, its predecessor Bois Noir was brought to market in 1987. Essentially, they’re the same thing.

Regardless of when you want to date it from, Egoiste is still an amazing fragrance, and absolutely holds up in the modern environment. This is one I wore a lot over the autumn and winter months and got plenty of complements on.

Dry and spicy up top. Coriander and cinnamon really hit hard in the beginning. A bit fruity with mandarin and a sweetness brought about by the pink Damask rose, which plays a fairly large role here.

Tobacco and rose will play plenty of support, but the woods here are the star. Sandalwood, in particular, with some rosewood and light mahogany. Seems like Egoiste will live on in perpetuity. Egoiste Review

1981 Again

Antaeus by Chanel– The other big French release of 1981. Antaeus has some mild similarities to Kouros, but really does its own thing. Leathery, masculine, rose, with an animalic quality that is present in the beginning.

The floral and cleaner notes really come through towards the tail-end of things, along with a pretty powerful musk note.

Really, this is my full recollection of testing out this scent a few years back. It’s not one that I’m super familiar with and do need to acquire it for further review.

I will say, Antaeus is one that probably needs to be tested by guys before they commit to purchasing a full bottle. It can be pretty divisive, but ultimately, I think it’s highly wearable for the right type of guy.

Woody Zino

Zino Davidoff by Zino Davidoff for Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 4.2 Ounce– Another one that gets lost in the shadow if its much more popular label-mate. Zino Davidoff doesn’t get the same love as Cool Water, but it still has its place in history.

It’s a total 1980s fragrance, that provides something different from most modern releases, while note feeling out of date itself.

Masculine with enough sweetness in vanilla and floral notes. Yet, it is mainly a deep woody/patchouli fragrance that sits beautifully in the colder air of late autumn and winter.

Very well done. Smooth and not too heavy, but with enough performance to get through a standard work day.

Earthy with a dry woods, it comes together as clean, but definitely has an underlying dirtiness.

The Famous Davidoff

Davidoff Cool Water Edt Spray for Men, 6.7 oz– Ahh, Cool Water. The fragrance will probably never go away, has spun off a ton off different flankers, and continues to be a popular seller with the public.

Greenish blue opening act, with tobacco and mint really playing a major role. The tobacco feels more like an unprocessed plant, rather than pipe tobacco.

Neroli and lavender round out the start along with the feeling of an aquatic accord. Though, this is way less oceanic than you might expect.

Later, it does start to feel more aquatic. Lavender, mint, and the general aquatic accord that this one has. Minty aquatic, less of its soapy phase from the early to mid point of the wear. Still worth checking out nowadays. Cool Water Review

Mr. Giorgio

Giorgio by Giorgio Beverly Hills– Giorgio definitely comes with that old school vibe. Last time that I tried it, the fragrance was an absolute bomb on my skin for at least a couple of hours. Then, it moderated somewhat.

But, this 1984 cologne does give you something different from almost all of the newer releases. Patchouli is the centerpiece. It’s earthy and somewhat dirty in its entirety, but still well put together.

Bright with aldehydes in support, some citrus, a handful of other spices and rose heading up the floral accord. Yet, it ends up being mostly about that patchouli, moss, and a honey touch overall. Not for everyone, but it slides into a place on this list.

Early Versace

Versace L’Homme by Versace for Men – 3.4 Ounce EDT Spray– Admittedly, I overlooked this 1980s classic, the first go round with this list of top Versace colognes. L’Homme really is a fantastic scent and is now available at a great price.

Beyond that, it has so much depth, and a varied character. It opens up with a bold blend of citrus notes, headlined by lemon, and supported by bergamot.

Then, it dries down with leather, a cinnamon spice, and a mix of floral/woodsy notes. It’s got a clean aroma, with the citrus and leather. But then, the patchouli and other dry earthy elements come in, and dirty things up a tad.

It ends, as a smooth and dry citrus, with an air of absolute fresh spiciness. The longevity is good and the sillage can be pretty powerful, especially in the opening half hour or so. Very masculine and not really a teenager type of fragrance, at all.

Two Diors

Eau Sauvage Extreme Intense– So, I’m going to combine two different Dior fragrances into one post.

Reason being, I haven’t tried the 1980s editions of these fragrances, and both have been reformulated but are available in these newer forms (well, one is and the other on secondary  markets).

Eau Sauvage Extreme and Jules are two from the first half of the decade, that preceded the next entry on the list.

I’m much more familiar with Eau Sauvage Extreme than Jules (which I remember trying, but don’t remember much of the smell). Extreme has a citrus, basil, and mint blend which is cool and fairly herbal early on in the wear.

Lavender and cedar come in to join the citrus as much of the initial fresh spiciness wears off. Extreme is good and supposedly pretty close to the 1980s edition.  Eau Sauvage Extreme Review

Temps Rising

Fahrenheit By Christian Dior For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 6.8 Oz.– Fahrenheit hit back in 1988 and it’s still going strong today, having spawned a ton of flanker fragrances based on this original formula.

As such, any 1980s list pretty much has to include it. While it’s not my personal go to, since violet leaf is one of my least favorite notes, I still appreciate this Dior scent versus many others that feature it so prominently.

Greenish, grassy, and that famed description of Fahrenheit smelling like gasoline. Sure, to some extent, but it’s overblown, and this one absolutely has a masculine refinement and great leather note.

It’s one that you have to vibe with, but for the right guy, this is signature cologne worthy. Fahrenheit Review


A Cartier Throwback

Cartier Santos De Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce– A definitively masculine scent from Cartier, which has plenty of unisex type of offerings. Spicy and woodsy with notes of amber, pepper, and sandalwood.

Santos starts off with a bit of a different tone, than what it’ll eventually settle down into. There is citrus at the top paired with juniper, along with prominent basil, and lavender. It’s got a upbeat and bright freshness to it, that invigorates.

As it dries down, there is a smoky woody aroma, led by sandalwood and the pepper/basil combo. The spice here is prevalent, but not annoyingly in your face, because it gets subdued by the trio of sandalwood/lavender/amber.

santos

Joop!

 Joop Pour Homme Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 4.2 Fluid Ounce– Joop! is a fragrance that is pretty polarizing, but has continued to be pretty popular since the 1980s.

For this list, I’m adding it mostly for that reason, as I’m not too much of a fan anymore…though, I still sort of like it.

Cinnamon and patchouli bomb, up top. An intense spice that fills the room, Joop will become sweeter and a masculine floral. It just has always been a loud and pretty obnoxious cologne. I would wear this back in the day and get mixed reactions from other people.

Mostly, this is going to be a cinnamon and vanilla floral perfume. Honey and sandalwood help to flank the two main notes. I’d probably still wear it on occasion, if I had a bottle nowadays. But, I’m also not in the market for one. Joop! Review

Obsess Much?

Calvin Klein Obsession For Men Cologne, .5 fl oz– Obsession is one that had a very strong presence back in the late 1980s. It is still around, but doesn’t get the same play, that it once did.

Obsession has a lovely spice to it and features notes of mandarin, sandalwood, and amber. It’s got a great cinnamon led warmth and spice, that is supported by the nutmeg.

The amber creates a sort of an envelopment around the person wearing it and this is one of the reasons, that Obsession is so good during the winter time.

This is such a rich and enticing scent, good for everyday wear, but can also pull double duty as a date night go to. There is sweet vanilla and nutmeg, which help to round out the fragrance, and create a memorable wear.

Spicy and warm, yes, but also a smoky balsamic element that peaks through at times. The classic formulation of this was amazing, but it is still holding up well today.

Obsession has a good sillage and the longevity is decent, as well. This is a fragrance that can be worn in a variety of situations and has enough maturity for guys 30+.    My Obsession review

Drakkar

Drakkar Noir– Drakkar has to be on the list. It’s funny nowadays how this cologne has become somewhat of a punchline for ‘bad’ or ‘unwearable’ fragrances, while there’s nothing inherently offensive about it.

It’s actually pretty safe, so long as you don’t bathe in it, which is true for just about every other fragrance.

Personally, I’ve always found it to be just fine. I’ve never wanted full bottle, but also don’t hate the stuff. Drakkar is a dry and darker take on the classic soapy clean cologne.

It opens up with oakmoss and lavender already out in front, taking control of the structure. You get some cinnamon spice, a light citrus accord, and leathery facets. I tend to get a good deal of mint early, as well.

As it dries down, it becomes a woodsier aroma. A bit herbal, with the leather starting to come into play quite strongly. Again, it’s not bad and I somewhat like the scent. Yet, it still remains a best-seller, so there a plenty of guys who dig it. Drakkar Review

Love and Passion

Passion for Men by Elizabeth Taylor– Been a while since I last came across this one. Not sure if it has been completely reformulated, but the old stuff was good, and the current batches are super cheap.

I remember a bold spice early on of cinnamon, that was somewhat tempered by a lavender and the emerging vanilla note. Sweetness from some light fruity notes and citrus, all on top of a woody floral base of various ingredients.

Mostly, that citrus and lavender combination in the dry down phase with touches of the remaining sweetness, spices, and woods. If it is still anything like the older bottles, it’s a steal at the $20 or so that it goes for nowadays.

5 Best Smelling Katy Perry Perfumes

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Katy Perry has been putting out hits, in the music arena for over a decade now. So, like many other celebrities and pop singers, she moved into other branding opportunities. Most notably, the world of perfumes, with which she has enjoyed a lot of success. Some stars, never get beyond a few releases, but Katy has stacked up plenty of them.

In this post, I am going to give my opinion, on what the five best smelling fragrances that she has released up to this point in time. Update: No new scents have been released since 2018, so it may be done completely. I’ll continue to update as needed.

Favorite Fragrances by Katy Perry

Fruity Floral for Summer

Katy Perry Mad Love Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce– This one didn’t seem to generate quite the same level of popularity, as the other fragrances on the list. But, it is still quite a nice gem.

It is a sweet and fruity perfume, with a coconut/strawberry blend sitting on top of a creamy undertone. It actually shares some overlap with the earlier Ariana Grande perfumes such as, Sweet Like Candy. Though, I like that one more than Mad Love (this is a lower price, however)

Then, there is a light and crisp apple. Hints of floral notes, emerge during the dry down, but this is mostly a fruity affair.

Good warm weather fragrance, for the price, with solid performance.

Youthful Styled Perfume

Katy Perry Meow Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce– Meow opens up with pear and tangerine citrus, which is quickly joined by a wonderful vanilla. This one is definitely a youthful and sweet sort of fragrance, so, don’t expect something refined and ‘grown up’.

However, in its innocent sweetness, Meow is still utterly enjoyable. It’s light and pleasant, with a bit of musk, but an overall sweet and creamy profile. This is probably the best bet, for the younger set from Katy Perry.

The vanilla is the strongest note here. I enjoy the sparkling pear note up top and that lovely citrus touch. What’s also good, is that I can pick up on the individual floral notes at different times in the wear.

So, it’s not just a generic floral aroma. Honeysuckle, jasmine, and gardenia actually show up and are distinct. Meow Full Review

Sweet Gourmand

Katy Perry Killer Queen Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce– You get a sweet gourmet top, with praline and fruits, mostly its berries. However, there is a light citrus aroma at the start, from bergamot.

While this is another sweet scent, Killer Queen, adds in a solid bit of patchouli to rough things up a bit. It’s still sweet and girly, but the patchouli note and some jasmine, gives it more maturity than something like Meow.

But, the floral notes are lighter in this one. While that one is more bright, creamy, and sweet. This is dark and fruity sweet.

Killer Queen does bear some resemblance to Flowerbomb, while not being fully the same. You get a very similar style, some of the same aromas, just at a much lower price.

Most Popular Katy Perry Perfume

Kate Perry Purr Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce– Purr is still the most popular of this line of perfumes, after almost ten years, or so. It opens up with apple and peach, with some floral notes and coconut, also peaking through.

Apple really pops out after the initial spray and takes that early lead. But, peach will be the stronger note, once that apple quickly wears off.

As it dries down, it becomes a bit more floral, but still retains a tropical coconut vibe with some vanilla creaminess.

Purr also contains a really interesting bamboo note, which pairs with gardenia. Ultimately, it’s about the peach, coconut, bamboo, and gardenia. Less of the bamboo versus the other notes. Clean and light scent. My Review of Purr

Underrated Perry Fragrance

Katy Perry Royal Revolution Eue de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce– Royal Revolution feature pomegranate and blackthorn, which looks like a blueberry, but has a more tart aroma and taste.

Those two notes combine, to give this a candy-like fruitiness, but the dry down features more patchouli and creaminess. Fresh and fruity up top, with a general woody/floral/sweet finish.

There is just enough freshness and a slight spice to not let Royal Revolution get bogged down. It’s actually a fairly light sillage for this style of perfume. Pretty close to RiRi by Rihanna, in terms of style, just not the exact same scent.

With vanilla orchid and freesia, this one has enough unique notes, to set it apart from the rest of the scents on this list. Juicy, warm, and then floral and woody.

So, that’s the list of my five choices of the best perfumes, from the Katy Perry line. I’ll come back as needed, to add or subtract from this list, as I see fit. For now, this will get you started, with your exposure to this brand.

Dior Homme vs Sauvage EDT Comparison

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The House of Dior has produced a lot of amazing fragrances over the years for both men and women. Sauvage, has over the past decade, become the best selling fragrance on the market. The first men’s cologne to do so.

It has certainly been a best-seller for the company, but how does it stack up against other colognes from this brand? Today, I am going to do a comparison post of Sauvage EDT vs Dior Homme.

Which one smells better head to head? Which one is worth a purchase? Note: I am updating this post, for the newer edition of Dior Homme instead of the 2011 edition, which had been previously compared. They are quite different from one another.

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

Dior Homme

Notes include: bergamot, elemi, pink pepper, Haitian vetiver, Atlas cedar, musk, patchouli, cashmere, Iso E Super

Click here to try: Dior Homme By Christian Dior For Men

Read my Full Review: Dior Homme (2020) Review

Opening

Sauvage starts off with a really sharp kick of bergamot, pepper, and the ambroxan note. It’s bright, upbeat, and clean.

The Sichuan pepper is pretty strong early one as is the bergamot. The citrus here is much more noticeable and in your face versus what you’ll get with its competitor here.

The lavender will take on more of a role later on, but it’s presence is felt throughout.

Meanwhile, Dior Homme,  begins with a light citrus top note of bergamot. That’s a continuation from the previous entries in the series, but that’s most of what the overlap is.

Along with that, some fresh pink pepper spice, Hatian vetiver, and a bit of a resinous quality from the elemi note.

Dior Homme is very balanced. Not too spicy, not too citrusy, just enough sweetness to prevent it from being straight up woods throughout.

Which one is better? Homme (though, I’d say Homme Intense has the best opening of the three).

Edge: Dior Homme

Projection

Dior Homme is a softer scent than is Sauvage. Though, I don’t think Sauvage is some kind of monstrous fragrance.

Homme is much more moderate and Sauvage leans more towards the strong end of the spectrum. Other editions of Sauvage really do amp up the power.

Dior Homme isn’t weak by any means. You’ll notice it throughout and get a nice scent trail going. Though, it never reaches the same level as Sauvage.

Edge: Sauvage

Longevity

Again, if you’re talking single sprays, Sauvage wins. It’s not a crazy long-lasting fragrance but it will get you a solid 7-8 hours.

Dior Homme is usually around 6.5-8 hours with single sprays. It’s actually about the same as the 2011 edition, and sometimes, even better than I got with that.

Some other people seem to get more out of Sauvage EDT than I ever have. So, I think on balance Sauvage has the upper limit for the majority of wearers. Otherwise, it’s almost even.

Edge: Sauvage

Versatility

As far as the seasonal wear of each scent, Sauvage does have this ability to fit in during any season really. This newer edition of Dior Homme actually comes close to replicating that.

Dior Homme isn’t at its best in the depths of winter or height of summer. Though, it  wouldn’t be out of place entirely in either season. Mostly, autumn and spring.

Sauvage is good for casual wear, school, maybe some office wear depending on where you work. It’s good for a night out, but wouldn’t be my first pick. Although, I know I’ve smelled this on other people while walking through crowds.

Dior Homme is an awesome daily wear. It can fit in well for work, casual situations, school, dates, etc. It’s not a nightlife beast, but if you want to be low key, it’d work for that as well.

Dior Homme has the slight edge for me here, since it’s more of a well put together fragrance that can do it all.

Edge: Dior Homme

Overall Scent

Dior Homme smells better to me, hands down. I think Sauvage is pleasant to wear but it’s always struck me as a little bit boring and now there are so many clones of it coming out.

I don’t like this 2020 update as much as I enjoyed the 2011 version. Yet, I still think that it takes the cake versus Dior Sauvage. It’s simple and understated. Plus, more mature than is Sauvage.

The performance goes to Sauvage EDT. I like aspects of the aroma as well. I’ve never been too big on the opening act or the dry down, but there are moments in the heart of Sauvage that are really nice.

It’s really not a question to me, as to which one I would rather wear on a daily basis. If you’re younger, you might want to go with the more youthful Sauvage. Or, if you just want something that is energetic and stands out more.

Winner: Dior Homme