Soleil Blanc vs Virgin Island Water Comparison

In this post, I want to do a comparison between to popular unisex summertime fragrances, Virgin Island Water vs. Soleil Blanc. Now, these two perfumes get compared to one another a whole lot, but are they actually that similar? Which one is better? Creed or the Tom Ford release? As usual, I will compare them in different ways, and declare a winner. Plus, I have linked to my individual reviews of each below.

Tale of the Tape: VIW vs. Soleil Blanc

Virgin Island Water

Notes include: bergamot, lime, rum, sugar cane, coconut, ylang-ylang, and ginger

Click here to try: Creed Virgin Island Water by Creed for Unisex – 4 oz Millesime Spray

Read my Original VIW Review

Soleil Blanc

Notes include: coconut, bergamot, pink pepper, ylang ylang, cardamom, pistachio, jasmine, tonka bean, amber, benzoin, tuberose

Click here to try: Tom Ford Private Blend Soleil Blanc Eau De Parfum Spray for Unisex 3.4 Oz / 100ml

Read my review: Soleil Blanc

Opening

Virgin Island Water starts off with lime, coconut, and bergamot. This is my favorite part of the fragrance, when it is so tropical and juicy, at the top. I really enjoy how the citrus and coconut play off of one another.

Coming back to it after a while, the opening of VIW is truly great. Very beachy and delightful.

Soleil Blanc has a similar start, it is coconut and bergamot, but is flanked by floral notes including tuberose. It then, shifts toward including pink pepper and cardamom, and other floral scents.

Which is better? I prefer VIW, as it is less floral, and more of just that pure tropical juice that I like. Soleil also has that kind of start but the tuberose, distracts from it somewhat.

Edge: VIW

Projection

Neither scent has huge sillage. VIW is pretty moderate and gets lighter, as the wear moves on. I’d say that the Tom Ford perfume, is stronger and more consistently projecting itself throughout.

Edge: Soleil Blanc

Longevity

Virgin Island Water, lasts for 4-6 hours on my skin. It’s pretty disappointing, not useless, but not as good as it should be. It’s among the worst performing Creed fragrances, in my experience.

Meanwhile, Soleil Blanc will lasts for over 10 hours for me. It is a performer and won’t quit early. Really top notch.

I’ve tested VIW many times and it simply never sticks around on my skin for any great length of time. Blanc, crushes it.

Edge: Soleil

Versatility

So, do these scents occupy the same space? Sort of. They are both listed as unisex, but honestly, Soleil Blanc is pretty much a women’s perfume. VIW can be worn by either gender, much more universally.

However, both of these fragrances are spring/summer wears, mostly. VIW is much more of a casual fragrance.

Whereas, Soleil Blanc can venture into an office environment, for women at least. It’s tough to see a clear winner here, because of the nature of the fragrances, but I’ll say their about equal.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Which fragrance smells better? When I get down to it, I like Soleil Blanc more than the Creed. It is smooth, creamy, with tropical notes and a spicy undertone.

The start of VIW is better, but not by much, and that’s the best part. Soleil, on the other hand, gets better as it goes along and has more depth. Virgin Island Water isn’t one that I particularly enjoy, once the opening act has burned off. It’s fine, but Soleil is much better to me.

Each has that beachy suntan lotion aroma. VIW has it in a more prevalent way and has the boozy rum note added. Soleil is more floral and feminine.

I like Soleil, but I can’t wear it really, as it is much too feminine for me. It’s great, though. One of my favorite Tom Ford scents for women.

So, I’d say most guys should go with VIW (if you must have one of them). Women, go with Soleil Blanc, unless you really don’t like the floral notes.

Winner: Soleil Blanc

Best Men's Colognes

Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.