Creed Aventus vs. Absolu Aventus Comparison

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Aventus is in its second decade now of being one of the best selling men’s fragrances on the planet. Creed brought out Aventus Cologne a number of years ago as a flanker, but have now followed that up with 2023’s Absolu Aventus. I bought a sample of it in order to test it out, review, and compare it to the original. Which is better? Which lasts longer?

Tale of the Tape: Aventus vs Absolu Aventus

Creed Aventus

Top: Blackcurrant, Italian bergamot, French apples and pineapple

Middle: Rose, dry birch, Moroccan jasmine, and patchouli

Base Notes: musk, oak moss, ambergris, and vanilla

Click here to try Aventus: Creed Aventus Creed 4 OZ Millesime Spray For Men

My original Review: Creed Aventus

Absolu Aventus

Notes include: citron, bergamot, blackcurrant, vetiver, grapefruit, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, pink pepper, patchouli

Click here to try: Absolu Aventus

Read my review: Absolu

Opening

The original Aventus’ opening, is honestly not my favorite. It does get much better, but to my nose, it strikes me as being quite sharp with the pineapple and bergamot. Plus, it has a dry woodiness.

Together, it takes on a somewhat kitchen cleaner, type of scent. The pineapple, bergamot, and birch are just a lot to deal with, at the beginning.

Absolu Aventus opens with a slightly different mix, while still being familiar. It isn’t as sharp, the pineapple is gone, as is the birch smokiness.

Replacing that, is a smoother blend of citrus. Including added citron and grapefruit. Still bergamot heavy, with some lighter black currant, but I like the citrus here more than the original.

Also, I get a good amount of vetiver early on with Absolu. That with some spiciness from mainly cinnamon and cardamom. Ginger is pretty faint on my skin, early.

Which is better? I like the Absolu version better. It’s just more pleasant to me and I like the added notes here. Just comes across well.

Edge: Absolu

Projection

Aventus has always been a strong fragrance. It’s not on the top tier of sillage, but, it can certainly make itself known in a room. Very good initial projection and a steady and slow decline.

But, noticeable for a vast majority of the wear.

Absolu Aventus starts off about the same. However, it seems to decline at a much faster rate than the original and descends into skin scent territory after a few hours of wear.

They may be close to equal at their peaks, but Aventus is the better performer.

Edge: Aventus

Longevity

The original Aventus has always lasted 8 or 9 hours on my skin, no matter the batch. It’s really been consistent over the years, in my experience.

Absolu hits about the same mark. Again, however, it doesn’t maintain the same level of strength and projection as the original. Absolu Aventus will spend more time as a skin scent, than does Aventus.

But, there’s no real difference in terms of how long they last.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Aventus is pretty much a year round fragrance, except for the high heat of summer. To me, it is much better in spring or autumn.

Absolu actually seems to work better here in the wintertime. Autumn through early spring. I think the original is better in the warmer temperatures and this one has more appeal in the cold.

Both are equal in terms of the vast array of scenarios in which you can wear them. Day or night, casually or dressed up, etc. etc.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these scents do I prefer?

Honestly, they have an extensive overlap with one another, as Absolu stays very close to the original formulation, just with some tweaks.

More citrus, spice, less smokiness and depth. Very much a condensed and slightly better cold weather wearing version of Aventus. I do like the smell. I might even prefer much of the wear to the original.

However, I’d honestly just go with Aventus versus Absolu, if I were in the market for a Creed Aventus. The bottles of Absolu are going for over $500 each and unless you’re a collector, you’re not going to get much value out of it.

The original is stronger and has more depth in the later stages. Even if, I don’t personally care for that opening act. The birch, vanilla, and moss are really good in the original. Once everything has balanced out, it’s a great fragrance.

Absolu is very nearly the same, but lacks certain elements. I do like the spices, such as cinnamon, but that’s not enough to justify paying for it in my opinion. The performance is lesser and the smell doesn’t really break new ground.

It’s a limited edition. So, unless that appeals to you, just stick with the first one or Cologne.

Winner: Aventus

5 Best Smelling Miu Miu Perfumes

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Miu Miu has only been in the fragrance game for less than a decade, as of writing. Their influence is felt more in the rest of the fashion world, but they have been coming on strong with some increasingly popular perfume releases. On this page, I want to keep track of my favorites from this brand, and share what I like about each.

What are the Top Smelling Miu Miu Fragrances?

Greenish Lily Woods

Miu Miu EDP– The 2015 release that has classic aromas met with a contemporary style. Fresh and crisp in the opening, with a gathering of white floral notes including a stemmy-greenish scent coming from the heart.

It opens up bright and juicy with citrus and some small amount of peach. More of a bergamot to my nose versus the lemon. Plus, some blackcurrant. But, what really is going to be front and center is the lily of the valley note.

The opening, just as a warning, can be pretty sharp. Those fruits tend to do that, especially when combined with the punch of the lily. But, it’ll mellow out.

What you’re left with is a lily-led floral perfume, with a generally fresh and slightly sweet aroma, with a woody base. Jasmine is the second in terms of strength, with only a pinch of rose.

Twist It

Miu Miu Twist– Red berries and apple blossom make Twist a rather unique experience. It’s sweet, fresh like Miu Miu EDP, but more of a balanced floral overall.

The berries are joined by that same bergamot note as above. Luckily, I don’t get the same level of sharpness with this one. The citrus is still bright, but with the other two notes, nothing seems to get carried away.

As you move further into it, it becomes softer and laden with a musk and powdery tonka bean coming from the base. Sweet, amber, floral, woods all coming together for a pleasing and well put together scent.

Not super powerful, but the performance is pretty darn good, in terms of longevity.

Tuberose Woods

Fleur d’Argent by Miu Miu– Feels like the revamped the formula of Miu Miu EDP in some ways, with Fleur d’Argent. But, I think there are more than enough differences to warrant it having a place on the list.

So, this one is going to be quite a musky floral blend. The flower? Tuberose instead of lily of the valley. But, early on it shares the stage with that musk a lot. Less of a greenish freshness than EDP, though.

Sweet tuberose, probably not the best or most natural that I’ve come across, likeable however. The woods come on gentle in the dry down and the aroma starts to taken on a slightly powdery finish.

Kind of basic, pleasant, and can be a great pick up at the right price.

Tropical Edible

Fleur de Lait by Miu Miu– Laconic and tropical with notes of coconut milk, mango, and an awesome osmanthus that is reminiscent of the one in Flowerbomb’s opening act.

Yet, this one definitely gives off dessert vibes. Seems like there is some vanilla and more of a baked goods kind of aroma in the middle act versus the juicy tropical start. Still has some milkiness, but not to the same extent.

The coconut and the rest of it in the dry down, feels more solidified, and has a powdery aspect to it (again, vanilla?). I don’t think I’d go full price on a purchase for most people. Try to wait for it to hit the discounters and it might be a good pick up.

You’re going to have to like this sweet tropical sort of perfumes. Not the most sophisticated aroma, but likeable.

In Your Eyes

Eyes on Me by Miu Miu– Eyes on me has gotten attention, as it really seems to share a great deal with Thank U, Next. It’s become more widely available since I first came across it a year or so ago.

Though, actually trying it, it’s not at all a one to one match. In fact, it’s a better scent than the Ariana Grande release.

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 versus Thank U.

Lots of raspberry and rose, with a sweetish baked goods scent from the macaron. Not too heavy on that note, though. Amber with a somewhat caramel? aroma. A sweetish rose perfume with fruits and hints of delectable dessert.

5 Perfumes Similar to Jazz Club

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Jazz Club is one of the most beloved best sellers from Maison Margiela’s Replica line of fragrances. The scent is great, but it an be kind of pricey. As such, many people are looking for cheaper alternatives that smell similar to Jazz Club.

Or, you might be wanting something with a close style, but ultimately a different perfume. In either case, this is my page for keeping track of fragrances which fit the bill.

What fragrances smell similar to Jazz Club?

Jazzy Inspiration

Jazz by Dua– The Dua Brand’s take on the Jazz Club style, trying to be inspired by the original, and come as close to the target as possible.

This warm retelling of the Jazz formula, hits you with the same rum and tobacco embrace, while being softened by vanilla and amber notes. Don’t worry, as the pink pepper and sage still liven things up for you, in the early stages.

Simple and easy for those who want something inspired by and a near perfect match for the popular target fragrance. Very affordable, as well.

Got the Blues

California Blues by Alexandria– The Alexandria version of inspired by perfumes of Jazz Club. This brand is slightly more expensive, but you do get four size options to choose from, and the quality from them has always been great.

Each of these inspired takes is going to have a slightly different formula from the others. The weighting might not 100% percent match the Replica perfume, but you will get very very close, just with some notes being favored over others.

Alexandria is one of the better brands in the designer inspired fragrance space. Delivering potent extrait de parfum versions of some classic perfumes. The Jazz Club entry, is no exception.

Tobacco and Jazz

Woody Tobacco by Dossier– Here’s a third inspired take, this time from Dossier. The top is lemon, pink pepper, dry fruits, with the tobacco note coming in as a centerpiece.

Around the same price as the Dua version, but going to run a few bucks more (at time of posting). I’d probably go with Jazz by Dua as my first pick, if I wanted a near matching inspired take on Jazz Club.

But, that being said, I also like the fragrances that Dossier comes out with. This one is only available currently in the 50mL size, but it’s a pretty good value play, and can be worth a shot.

Vicious Name, Nice Smell

Death by Killer Oud– Not going to be the ‘same’ as Jazz Club, but this has a similar style to what we’re looking for, with some changes.

The good news, is we get spice and the tobacco note, just like in the Replica perfume. The rum note isn’t here, so, it’s just a spice without the booziness. The biggest difference? The oud and leather notes.

What’s surprising here, is that the oud, actually isn’t the dominating force. It’s around, but it’s seemingly tempered by the smoothness of tobacco, leather, and an ambery finish.

Softer and smoother than Jazz Club, it evokes a closely related vibe, but has enough distinction to stand alone as a fragrance.

Oud and Tobacco

Oud Malaki by Chopard– Similar to Killer Oud above, but has way more of the oud versus the leather, and a smokier spicy/sweet formula, which lends itself to Jazz Club comparisons.

Again, this is another perfume that is not trying to be the same as our target. It’s one that should appeal to you, if you like the Maison Margiela fragrance.

It’s actually a really nice tobacco and oud blend with an initial warm spiciness that gets sweeter and smoother, in the dry down.

Oud Malaki does its own thing, but if you want a good warm and smoky blend with that same sort of energy you get from Jazz Club; then this is an excellent stand alone and distinctive alternative option.

4 Fragrances Similar to Miss Dior

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Miss Dior is a sprawling line from Dior which has ended of creating a ton of flankers over the past few decades, under this title. However, sometimes you want to get something similar for cheaper or find an alternative that is in the same vein as Miss Dior, but slightly different. This is my page for keeping up with scents that are alike this best selling fragrance.

What Perfumes Smell Like Miss Dior?

Classy Cherie

Miss Class by The Dua Brand– The Miss Dior line is extensive with different versions and flankers having been released. Miss Dior Cherie is an extremely popular fragrance under this banner and Miss Class is Dua’s ‘inspired by’ take on this formula.

Cherie is the Miss Dior that featured notes such as: cherry, pineapple, and popcorn. There all here in this Dua re-interpretation of the 2005 vintage scent.

Now, this is one that I have not tried out from Dua. But, I’ve owned over 10 perfumes from this brand that have been inspired by other designer wears, and they’ve been on point with each. This one, looks to be the same, with a ton of reviews attesting to it.

Blooming Inspiration

Citrus Peony by Dossier– Citrus Peony is Dossier’s take on the Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet stye. It was actually one of my favorites from the Miss Dior lineup. Simple, but really quite pretty.

Bergamot and musk are key players in the opening. Then, it’ll switch into becoming more floral. Peony is heavier than the Damask rose in this blend. And that’s what Dossier is trying to recreate with its Citrus Peony.

A fresher citrus top with the peony blend coming on in the middle. To me, Bouquet never had much of a greenish aroma to it, either. The Dossier is currently available for under $30, so, you can get a great daily wear without spending too much.

Signoria Cherie

Signorina Miele by Fragrenza– Here’s another Miss Cherie inspired scent, this time from Fragrenza. This is a brand that I bought a bunch of samples from last year and found them to be high quality and true to what they were trying to recreate.

The price currently is higher than the Dua version listed above. However, sometimes they will sell out and not have it in stock when you want to buy. As such, this can be a great second option for those who want a cheaper Cherie.

Miss Louis 

Attrape-Reves by Louis Vuitton– Attrape-Reves isn’t exactly like any of the Miss Dior scents. It has similarities to Absolutely Blooming and overlap with the others. However, if you like the Dior style, this Louis Vuitton scent can give you much of what you’re looking for.

First, the noticeable difference is going to be with the inclusion of the cacao note, in this one. But, it’s still not a major player, especially early. We get a fresh litchi and bergamot blend with some light ginger and patchouli coming through.

Later, rose and peony will emerge as the strongest notes in the mix. Fruity-patchouli, then, floral-patchouli with a touch of a powdery sort of cocoa aroma. Good mix of many of the same beats as Miss Dior, just presented a bit differently. One of my favorites from LV. Attrape-Reves Review

New York Nights by Bond No. 9

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New York Nights is a perfume which has gained a lot of popularity since its release back in 2017. It’s among my favorite Bond No. 9 scents, especially in the unisex part of this brand’s lineup. I bought another sample of Nights in order to finally do a proper review for the site. How does it smell? Does it last long?

What does New York Night Smell Like?

Notes include: gardenia, carnation, jasmine, patchouli, sea notes, sandalwood, caramel, coffee

Click here to try: New York Nights by Bond No.9

My Full Review

The opening here is interesting, as you get notes from every phase of the wear coming through to add their own statement.

To me, what stands out as interesting are: gardenia, aquatic notes, and the caramel. It’s a sweetish blend of flowers, with a smooth and somewhat thick blend of that caramel/coffee accord, and the freshness of sea notes.

Now, the sea notes here aren’t going to give you seaweed smells, like some of the others from Bond No. 9. However, it along with that caramel give you saltiness and just a general sense of freshness.

For some people, the sweetness mixed with the floral top notes, gives them a ‘banana’ or ‘banana bread’ sort of aroma. I get that somewhat, but on my skin New York Nights is much more of a distinct caramel with some roasted coffee.

That being said, that banana effect does pop up for me, from time to time.

Actually, I tend to get more of a spicy kick from the patchouli and carnation notes. This carnation does come across very much like clove here.

As we get into the middle act, Nights will become more of a standard floral. Most of the spice is gone, as are the sea notes. That’s kind of a disappointment, but I still like the result of this scent.

Gardenia and jasmine with sandalwood/patchouli, and a more equal mix of the coffee and caramel notes. The caramel loses some of its ground to its fellow base note.

The end of the line is a general sweetness with indistinct floral notes. Nothing too much stands out for me, at this point. It’s pleasant and wearable, but it all comes together into a mass.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

To me, this has a fairly strong start. It settles into something that is only a bit above average. But, I get good projection when I spray it on clothes and leave the room. I can certainly detect it from afar and it leaves a scent trail when I wear it.

That won’t be the case for the entirety, as Nights will start to be more of an intimate scent. I never find it weak, it just doesn’t have that beast in it.

On my skin, this will last somewhere in the 7-8 hour range. It seems to land more towards the former, rather than the higher number.

Seasonally, I do prefer this one the colder days and nights of the autumn and winter months. More nighttime, as the name suggests. I think it’s fine for most in the spring, also. I’d stay away from massively humid and hot days.

It’s not so heavy that it’s stuck to cold weather only. You can venture a bit with NY Nights.

This one is listed as unisex, as are a lot of others from this brand. It leans feminine, but still quite wearable by almost anyone. If you don’t like the sweeter scents or florals, then, you can probably safely ignore Nights.

Overall Impressions of New York Nights

Overall, do I like New York Nights? Yes, again, it’s one of my favorites from Bond. However, it won’t be for everyone, even if it is a popular perfume.

For some guys, this may be too feminine. For people in general, you might get too much of that banana and lotion kind of smell, and that could also put you off to Nights.

The performance for the price is decent, but definitely not spectacular. If it were cheaper, I’d recommend that people blind buy this one. Since it isn’t, I’d recommend trying it out if you’re really interested. New York Nights could be one that you absolutely love.

For me, the floral is blended very well with the caramel and coffee accord. Those two, along with the sea notes draw me into that opening act. Some jasmine and carnation are around as well, giving this some depth beyond being a one note gardenia perfume.

This is a really good scent for the right person. It’s still quite mass appealing, but there will always be a sizeable contingent that New York Nights just doesn’t mesh well with. For me, it’s a delight.