Santal 33 vs. Baccarat Rouge 540

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Santal 33 by Le Labo and Kurkdjian’s Baccarat Rouge 540 have been two of the most popular and best-selling perfumes of the past few decades. The type of fragrances that you can detect almost anywhere, when walking through a crowd.

Because of this massive success, it often becomes a two way race for many people, as to which on they’d want to buy. A bit odd, considering how different these scents are from one another. However, which of these actually is the better perfume? Continue below for my full comparison.

Tale of the Tape: Santal 33 vs. BR 540

Santal 33

Notes include: sandalwood, violet, iris, amber, cardamom, leather, papyrus, cedar

Click here to try: Santal 33 on Amazon

Read my original review: Santal 33

Baccarat Rouge 540

Notes include: saffron, hedione, cedar, ambroxan, fir resin

Click Here to try: BR 540 at Saks

Read my full review: Baccarat Rouge 504 EDP

Opening

Santal 33 starts off with a blend of cardamom, sandalwood, papyrus, leather, and violet. It has a slight spice, but nothing too much.

People do talk about a dill or a pickle juice sort of aroma with Santal 33. I’ve never gotten too much of that, personally. For some, it may be more prominent, but I doubt it for most people.

Leather and the papyrus are the two interesting notes here to me. Otherwise, this opening act is kind of uninspiring, in my opinion. Later, the development becomes softer, woodier, with a powdery finish. That’s much better.

With Baccarat Rouge, we begin with the saffron note and the jasmine. It’s clean with a resinous and woody base. To me, the jasmine note has a bit of a lemon sort of finish to it. Nothing massive, but it’s always there on me.

Somewhat spicy at times, but the ambroxan notes are really going to start coming through very early in the wear.

Which is better? The opening of Santal might be its weakest point. Going head to head versus BR 540, I’m going to take how the latter of the two starts off.

Edge: BR 540

Projection

Santal 33 has the lighter sillage of the two. However, it’s certainly not weak and has a pretty darn good projection for the first hours of the wear. I’d say it projects to about a 7 foot radius, at it’s peak.

Not amazing. But, good enough.

Santal doesn’t hit the same level as Baccarat. It’s not a super heavy scent, but it’s always projected well above average for me. It settles down into something more moderate, but it’s peak and sustained power is greater than that of the Le Labo.

Edge: BR 540

Longevity

On my skin, Santal 33 lasts for 7-8 hours. It’s fairly good performance, but nothing elite by any stretch of the imagination.

It’s a fairly easy win for Baccarat in this category. It has a wider range of outcomes for me, but it has a much higher ceiling than does the Le Labo.

I get a minimum of 8 hours of wear out of BR 540 and up to 12 hours. Somewhere around 10 is what I expect, of course that can fall short or exceed it by a good margin.

Edge: BR 540

Versatility

Here’s a category where I will give an edge to Santal 33. I do think that it’s a bit more versatile in warmer weather. Closer to being a year round perfume versus the autumn and winter dominance of BR 540.

The Le Labo is also closer to a more genuine unisex. Most guys would rather wear Santal 33 versus Baccarat (though some can pull off either).

Edge: Santal 33

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these perfumes do I prefer? In terms of how each smells, it’s a closer race than you might expect from the outcomes of the categories. The scent of each of them is pretty much dead even, in my opinion.

So, a lot of this is going to come down to the performance. Also, the fact that Baccarat has a better start.

With Santal 33, I really enjoy the dry down. It’s what saves the perfume from just being pure hype. Slightly sweet, powdery, and woody. The violet, amber, iris, leather, and woods are really good.

I actually prefer the dry down period a bit more than Baccarat. Those notes are more appealing than the cedar and ambroxan which come on stronger in the tail end of Baccarat (which isn’t bad at all).

Each of these perfumes, does feature something that can be bothersome to a certain percentage of people, which is why I’d recommend sampling before a full purchase to see if you’re one of them.

With Santal 33, it’s the so-called ‘pickle juice’ smell. With Baccarat, it’s the ‘dentist office/plastic’ aroma that some get. Neither is present on me, but I guess some people can get some odd smells out of these perfumes.

I give a very slight edge to Baccarat for the win. It’s really a neck and neck battle between them. I suppose you could also say that Santal 33 has more value based on price, but both of these are expensive fragrances.

Here’s my posts on cheaper alternative to each, if you want to save some money: Baccarat Rouge Alternatives, Santal 33 

Winner: Baccarat Rouge 540

Guilty Eau Pour Homme by Gucci

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Guilty Eau is one of the older scents from the Guilty line, being released in 2015. Since then, the fragrances under this banner, have taken things in a different direction from the original. Guilty Eau Pour Homme, is one that definitely takes its cues from the older compositions.

I picked up a travel sprayer full of this cologne, since I’d never actually tested it for the site. How does it smell? Is it long lasting? Is Eau worth a try?

What does Guilty Eau Pour Homme Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, lemon, orris, snowberry, musk, orange blossom, patchouli

Click here to try: Gucci Guilty Eau Pour Homme 1.6 oz Eau de Toilette Spray

My Full Review

Guilty Eau opens up like a less spicy mix of Intense and the original Guilty EDT. Early on in the wear, I get a greater impression of Intense, which then moves more towards the original.

It the top two citrus notes, toned down with a blend of the signature orange blossom note and the slight powdery quality of orris root. It’s fresh, bright, and cold.

The interesting note here is snowberry, which is apparently in the honeysuckle family. The aroma is somewhat of a cool and minty variety. It and the orris root are what really separate it from its predecessors.

It’s bright and cold early on, but it will settle into a more powdery version of the original. A sweet white floral with touches of musk and patchouli. The lemon note will still be there with the orange blossom, orris, and the base notes.

One noticeable difference that I should mention, is the lack of lavender here. Usually, I would welcome that, all things considered. But, I enjoy the lavender in the EDT version. Here is wasn’t replaced well enough, even if I like the snowberry.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

In terms of how it projects, I get 3-5 feet from skin, at its peak. It’s a fairly moderate sillage, right in line with Guilty EDT. So, a few hours of moderate wear, before it is an airy and pretty much skin scent type of cologne.

On my skin, Guilty Eau will hang around for 5-6 hours before disappearing entirely. That might not be too bad, if you can get it at a discount. At full price, I would want a bit more from a Gucci scent than what this gives.

Seasonally, it can go year round like EDT, but the greatest use will be a wear for spring or early summer. The colder quality of the fragrance, really sits well in the warmer air and adds a crisp freshness that is distinct from the other Guilty’s.

Guilty Pour Homme is kind of an all-purpose fragrance, as it can be worn casually, is safe enough for work, and attractive enough for a date.

Honestly, if a guy just wants something simple and one that can pull complements, Gucci Guilty can do the job. Performance is ehhh, but the versatility is darn good.

Overall Impressions of Guilty Eau

Do I like this fragrance? I like it, but it isn’t something that I really want to wear. While it has elements of the Guilty EDT and Intense, I prefer both of those to this one. The distinctions in the scent, don’t really give me anything that I find all that intriguing.

Plus, you get about the same level of performance as the EDT. I don’t personally want a bottle of that one, nor this one. I like Black, Intense, Love 2020, Absolute, and even EDP more so from this Gucci line.

The snowberry is an interesting note, I would like it to be featured in some other colognes. I would’ve utilized that and the orris more, to really give this a distinct cold and powdery aroma to separate it from the others.

As it stands, it’s too similar to the EDT and not any better. It is one that if you happen to really enjoy the smell of, that you can pretty much wear it anytime. The versatility is great. If you’re a big fan of Guilty Pour Homme, give this a shot.

If not, I’d go with one of the others in the Guilty series.

Update: Coming back to this post in 2024, it seems the Guilty Eau has been discontinued. I’m not currently seeing too many bottles left for sale online. So, if you want it you should probably grab a bottle now. Again, I don’t think it’s probably worth paying up for, but if it’s pretty cheap, go for it.

4 Perfumes Similar Smelling to Thank U Next

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Thank U, Next has become a very popular release from Ariana Grande. It actually smells familiar and like other perfumes on the market, yet, it has unique points which keep it distinct.

For a good portion of people, this scent doesn’t particularly work on their skin, and has a so-called ‘pickle’ aroma.

I never got that during testing, but it seems to be a problem for some. Anyway, I wanted to present some similar alternatives to Thank U, Next that might be a better substitute.

Which perfumes smell comparable to Thank U, Next?

I haven’t found an exact match of the Ariana Grande scent, as of now. So, if you’re looking for a cheaper super close smelling perfume of it, I’m not sure it yet exists. But, I’ll update the page over time if that changes.

Even Thank U, Next 2.0 doesn’t exactly do the same thing as the original. You can read my comparison here: Thank U, Next vs. 2.0

The Closest Thing

Malibu Night by Dime– This is the best option that I’ve found so far, if you want something that smells quite a lot like Thank U, Next. The problem is, it’s not any cheaper. Basically, a lateral move.

However, Malibu Night also doesn’t smell exactly the same as the Ariana scent. So, there are a few differences.

This does have a good amount of juiciness of raspberry up top. But, the coconut will take control. Quite tropical at times, in it’s presentation, but settles down into something with more of a musky aroma.

Still has that creaminess in the finish. But, I think that Malibu Night uses it’s rose and peony notes a tad stronger than what you get with Thank U, Next. Lighter with a very nice coconut aroma, less of the pure sweetness, but still quite similar.

More Floral, Great Pear

Donna Acqua by Valentino– Donna Acqua is a great fragrance that shares some overlap with Thank U, Next in terms of its notes and overall style. The pear is what is really going to stand out, as their shared commonality.

This Valentino scent is more floral and less sweet when compared to the Ariana frag. The frangipani adds sweet creaminess (along with sandalwood), that mimics aspects of the coconut in our target scent. Plus, the almond provides an additional nuttiness, and furthers the gourmand quality.

The pear gives this the ‘Acqua’ title and it’s a pretty similar experience to Thank U. However, it is probably stronger in this one and doesn’t have to split duties with the raspberry. Donna Acqua takes on more floral characteristics as it dries down, with an additional jasmine note.

Bolder and Better for Cold

Classique Intense by JPG– This Gaultier scent has similarities that many fans of Thank U, Next should enjoy. It’s not a smell alike, but shares aspects with both Thank U, Next and 2.0.

This is a creamy and fruity white floral fragrance with tropical hints peaking through. This one is better in the colder months than the more spring/summer friendly Ariana perfume. Classique Intense is sort of an inversion of much of the Thank U, Next style.

Pomegranate like 2.0, without the sheer juicy quality of the pear note. The pear is a note that may be giving some people the odd smell or one that some simply do not enjoy. Instead, you get tiare, vanilla and orange blossom along with the rose of the original Thank U.

Powerful, sweet, and great for the winter months. Think of it as a Thank U, Next’s slightly more mature and sexy cousin.

Potential One?

Eyes on Me by Miu Miu– Now, this is a newer release and I haven’t gotten to try it yet. But, the overall structure and notes seem to really share a great deal with Thank U, Next. So, I’ll link to it and update, if and when I get to try. As of now, you may have to order it from Japan.

Raspberry, macaron, and rose. It looks like this one lacks the pear and the musk note. But, you get benzoin in the base, which actually might be an improvement. It is pricier than the Ariana Grande perfume, but who knows how much better it might be.

Just on the face of it, Eyes on Me looks like an exceedingly close match. Sans pear note, it just might work better for people, also.

YSL Comparison: Myslf vs L’Homme EDT

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Myslf and L’Homme EDT from YSL occupy a similar use case, as an easy to appreciate daily wear fragrance. L’Homme came outa few decades ago and so has established itself as a mainstay in the Saint Laurent universe. Myslf, is a more recent option, which has quickly become popular.

But, how do you decide between these colognes? Which of them is better? Lasts longer? Well, this is my page comparing and contrasting these fragrances, and break it down until we reach a decision.

Tale of the Tape: Myslf vs L’Homme by YSL

Myslf

Notes include: bergamot, orange blossom, woods, patchouli, ambrofix

Click here to try: Myslf by YSL

My Full Review: Myslf 


L’Homme

Notes include: Virginia Cedar, Ginger, Violet, Citron, White Pepper, Basil Flower, Ozone, Tonka Bean, Sandalwood, Vetiver

Click here to try: YSL L’Homme

My Full Review: L’Homme

Opening

L’Homme EDT opens up with a nice mix of citrus and spice. The bergamot and citron aren’t too sharp, as they’re really held in check by the other notes. I like the ginger and basil, here.

Again, the balance of the composition comes through, since the spice doesn’t overpower. The emergent tonka bean adds a creaminess and the violet brings a floral touch. There’s an herbal or greenish quality to the scent, but still enough of a kick to keep things interesting.

Meanwhile, Myslf opens with bergamot and orange blossom. It’s fresher than is L’Homme and it also has a slight creaminess to the aroma, thanks to the orange blossom note.

But, the very opening stage is definitely about the bergamot. That will flip a bit later, but for the start it’s a fresh citrusy cologne.

Which is better? I like each of them. Though, I would probably give an edge to L’Homme. There’s more complexity and thus more to appreciate versus the rather simple Myslf.

Edge: L’Homme

Projection

Both of these fragrances are fairly light. L’Homme is the more airy of the two. Not really going to have a monstrous projection and it will mostly sit quite close to the skin.

With Myslf, I think the first hour is actually pretty strong. Not heavy, but will create a scent trail in your wake. After that, it’s more of an intimate scent bubble. I’d say it sticks in that 1-3 foot range off of the skin, but it’s still noticeable.

L’Homme, by that point? Skin scent with very little substance.

Edge: Myslf

Longevity

YSL L’Homme has never been a performance beast. In fact, it’s gotten worse over the years, in my experience.

My latest bottle is from 2021 and now the fragrance only lasts for 2-3 hours. Whereas it used to be, 4-5, and sometimes longer. Really disappointing.

Myslf is much better than L’Homme EDT, but still nothing amazing. I got 6-7 hours of wear out of it during my testing. Still, even with that decent level of performance, it’s an easy win for the newer entry.

Edge: Myslf

Versatility

I don’t see really any difference here. They’re both best in moderate to warmer temperatures. Both of them can be worn in just about any environment or situation, without issue. These are fragrance that are designed to be extremely versatile and both do a great job at occupying that space.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these two colognes do I prefer?

While L’Homme EDT, has long been one of my favorites from the YSL lineup, it’s quality has for sure degraded over the years. The bottle that I purchased in 2021, will be my last. I’ve basically relegated to a gym fragrance or just something to spray on occasionally.

Mostly, it sits on my shelf.

Myslf, isn’t an amazing fragrance. I really like the opening act from it, though. It was close to edging out L’Homme, in that respect.

The citrus and orange blossom duo is great. There is a light spice, woodiness, and earthiness in the dry down. I do think the first half of the wear is better than its second half, however.

But, if I’m comparing these two scents, I’d pick Myslf as the one that I’d buy. The newer L’Homme EDP had promise, but ultimately fell flat with its performance too. ‘d pick Myslf over that one, as well.

If we were talking the original batches of L’Homme, it’d probably get the edge. However, nowadays, I’d definitely pick up a bottle of Myslf, before the older fragrance release.

Winner: Myslf

Ranking the Acqua di Gio Fragrances

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Acqua di Gio now has around a quarter century worth of history and sales. It is one of the most successful men’s fragrance releases in history. That initial EDT release is a classic, but is it the best of the bunch? What is the best AdG fragrance for men?

Here is my list, which I will update periodically as newer releases come to market from Armani.

What are the Best Smelling Acqua di Gio Colognes?

The Best Overall

GIORGIO ARMANI Acqua Di Gio Profumo for Men Eau De Parfum Spray, 2.5 Fl Oz– Profumo still takes the top spot in my book.

The usual citrus is still there, with dark mineral and marine notes, and sage/incense. The smokiness and spiciness here is pretty awesome. Profumo just has more depth than the others and I think that it smells slightly better than Profondo.

I enjoy its metallic-like finish and the performance is still very solid (even if I think newer bottles don’t have the same staying power, as the initial batches). AdG Profumo Review

Update: The newer Parfum is basically a slightly reworked version of Profumo with a new bottle. So, you can get that instead of paying through the nose for old bottles of this cologne.

A Very Close Second

GIORGIO ARMANI Acqua Di Gio Profondo for Men Eau De Parfum Spray 4.2 Ounces, blue– Profondo nearly took the crown from Profumo, but is just a notch below. I still do love wearing this cologne and will probably buy a full bottle for myself.

Profondo is a blue-ish type of cologne (more blue-green to my nose). It doesn’t have the same smokiness and darker qualities of Profumo and is less floral than the original. Profondo has a deep woody character, with a smooth somewhat resinous finish.

To me, the aquatic elements here aren’t salt water. More like the impression of fresh water. I like this the best on the hottest days of the year. Great release. AdG Profondo Review

The Discontinued Gem

ACQUA DI GIO ESSENZA BY GIORGIO ARMANI FOR MEN 2.5oz EDP Spray– With Essenza, I’m going off of my memory of what it smells like. It has been discontinued for quite a while now and bottles are selling for hundreds of dollars.

Note: The Dua Brand has their ‘inspired by’ version of this edition. Makes a lot more sense to get that versus trying to track down an old bottle.

To me, this is the third best AdG scent. It may be recency bias and if I had a bottle, it could move up the list. Either way, unless you’re already a fan, you probably won’t be getting this one.

It was very much like the original EDT release, but greener, and with a great dose of basil. Which as a note, can be absolutely amazing when used well. Really a fragrance that did everything well and can be worn pretty much whenever.

Instinct

AdG Absolu Instinct– This one is actually discontinued, but I bought a sample recently, and it’s actually a really good edition from this line. Absolu is further down the list, but Absolu Instinct, grabs this spot as an under the radar gem.

I actually saw this on sale right before Armani discontinued it, but didn’t grab a bottle for myself. Maybe a mistake, because I quite like it.

Again: Dua’s Water Primal Essence is also an option, as a replacement.

It doesn’t have the same level of a resinous smell that Absolu has, features a well executed seaweed note, and probably shares the most overlap otherwise with Profumo.

Woodier with a marine profile that is kept in check by the amber wood and citrus. A spicy opening act to go along with the citrus and oceanic influences. Somewhat salty, but has a sweetness that Absolu lacks.

Absolu Instinct won’t be for everybody, but could end up as the favorite of the bunch for some percentage of people.

Profondo Parfum

Acqua di Gio Profondo Parfum– It’s better than Profondo Lights, certainly. Though, I still like the EDP more than this one overall.

While Profondo Parfum is likeable, I’m not sure what the point of it is. It’s somewhat different from the EDP, but not too much. It’s more of the oceanic aroma, some added mimosa, and less of the fresh wood of the original.

Still, this is fresh and smells great while I have it on. The resinous smell from the labdanum is warm and inviting during the dry down.

If it’s the same price as EDP, I might give this one a go. However, the current difference in price at retail, is a bit too great for me to want to buy a bottle for myself.

Eau de Parfum

Acqua di Gio EDP–  The Eau de Parfum version is a new release for 2022 and thus far I have been enjoying it. It doesn’t do too much that’s new, but it has a lot of overlap with others in the series, making it quite good all around.

It opens up with its green mandarin and sea notes. Actually smells pretty close to Profondo and Profondo Lights, minus the potent cardamom of the latter. Quite bright and upbeat. Early on, it’s like the Profondos and the original AdG.

Then, it will shift to smelling more like Profumo, accept less dense and smoky. Patchouli, sage, and geranium will chip away at the mandarin’s citrus dominance.

It’s maybe a notch below the other two current releases, overall. Maybe a notch above the original based on performance. The aroma? I might still lean the EDT, but it’s close. Acqua di Gio EDP Review

Update: I finished my bottle of Eau de Parfum. I became less enamored with it, as time wore on. It’s fine. As I say below, I’d probably switch this with the original, if that one still had any staying power.

gio edp review

The Original

Acqua Di Gio By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces – The original EDT takes the 4th spot on the list. I received a sample of this, when I recently bought a bottle of Profumo, and it was still very enjoyable.

It doesn’t have the same strength or longevity, as it once did. Though, the fresh citrus and floral notes really come through for that classic Armani experience. Nowadays, does it really have a place?

Maybe. For me, only at a big discount, and I might still go with Just Me by Paris Hilton. I like it, but it has been surpassed. If it had the same performance of old, I’d probably have it higher on the list. At least above EDP. I think that one provides more value, though. AdG Review

Interesting, but Not the Best

GIORGIO ARMANI Acqua Di Gio Absolu Eau De Parfum Spray, 2.5 Fl Oz, Beige– The last that I saw of Absolu, it was being heavily discounted by retailers. I guess it never caught on with the public, much the same case with me.

It really isn’t a bad fragrance, just there are now four better releases in the Acqua di Gio line. The more time I spent with it, though, the less I liked it. This is probably the most unique of the bunch and actually quite similar to Invictus Aqua, but better than that.

It’s a resinous and woody aquatic with pear and apple. Really an amber-like aroma that permeates much of the wear. You do get good performance with this, again, it’s just not nearly as good as the others. AdG Absolu Review

My Least Favorite

Profondo Lights– This has now been discontinued, but I never got into it. Yes, while it shares a ton of overlap with Profondo, I never saw the point of this flanker either. It’s worse than both of the other Profondos. So, it’s getting the last spot here.

I do enjoy cardamom, as a note. Here, I don’t enjoy it, within the confines of the rest of the Profondo composition. And since that didn’t improve the formula, what’s the point of owning this?

There wasn’t one for me. I’m sure there are still bottles floating around out there, if you personally want to try Lights out. Profondo Lights review