carolina herrera

Invictus Victory vs Bad Boy

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Invictus Victory is a flanker of the very popular Paco Rabanne cologne. Meanwhile, Bad Boy is the original of Carolina Herrera’s more recent best selling line. Since each of these fragrances has a similar style, they can be the final two picks that someone is deciding between.

On this page, I break down how Bad Boy and Victory compare and contrast with one another, after having tested and reviewed each. Which smells better? Lasts longer? Is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Bad Boy vs. Invictus Victory

Bad Boy

Notes include: white pepper, cocoa, sage, tonka bean, vetiver, pink pepper, grapefruit, and amber

Click here to try: Carolina Herrera Bad Boy EDT Eau de Toilette 3.4oz / 100ml For Men, Black

Read my review: Bad Boy EDT

Invictus Victory

Notes include: pink pepper, vanilla, amber, lemon, tonka bean, olibanum, lavender

Click here to try: Invictus Victory

My Full Review: Invictus Victory

Opening

The opening of the original Bad Boy EDT, strikes quite differently to my nose, depending on whether it is close to the skin or not. Up close, I get a honeycomb like aroma that is dipped in amber and dotted with various pepper notes.

From afar, I really pick up the sweeter and creamier aspects of this scent. Namely, the cocoa and tonka bean.

Invictus Victory starts a lot like the old Pure XS line that Paco Rabanne had put out some number of years before this. Victory has a lemon note up top, with pink pepper, and a dose of incense.

Kind of smoky, but it doesn’t dominate the composition. Up top, it’s a bit of that lemon with a spiciness and smokiness. As it moves on, Victory will start to have a greater use of the vanilla and amber notes.

Edge: Invictus Victory

Projection

Bad Boy has never been a heavy or very far-reaching fragrance whenever I’ve tested it out. It’s more of a moderate fragrance. Not weak, but it doesn’t blow the doors off.

Victory does start off strong and it has a heavier/thicker feeling to it. That more powerful projection will last for an hour or two, before settling into a moderate sillage itself.

Between the two, Victory is stronger at first and still has a slight edge after that. Not much, but it gets the win here.

Edge: Invictus Victory

Longevity

Invictus Victory takes this category as well. On my skin, the Paco Rabanne cologne will last for 8-9 hours, which is pretty good but not elite.

Bad Boy falls a few hours short. At it’s best, I get 7 hours from that fragrance. Again, the upper end of average, but nothing spectacular.

Edge: Invictus Victory

Versatility

Seasonally, they’re both the same with what they bring to the table. Autumn and winter wear mainly, with the ability to venture into springtime, on days where it doesn’t get too warm.

They do both skew younger, have more nighttime vibes than something that you might reach for daily. But, they can cover that base too, if you don’t have a very formal environment you need to go to each day.

Really, there isn’t much separation in this category.  So, I’m calling it a tie.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these fragrances is the one that I’d go with, if I had to decide? For me, it’s not too difficult of a decision.

Looking back over at what I like about Bad Boy. The sweetness, the amber, the late stage vetiver, and use of cocoa. It’s kind of messy, when you press your nose to the skin. However, I do enjoy the fragrance while it floating in the air.

It’s just never been much more than that. It’s performance is middling, but it does have a good deal of versatility and this Carolina Herrera scent is very wearable.

But, I’d take Invictus Victory.

Spicy and smoky. Better use of the vanilla note, with maybe a somewhat harsher amber not versus what I get with Bad Boy. The performance is also better.

This isn’t a massive preference for one versus the other. I’d just choose to wear Victory 6 or 7 times out of 10, if all I had were it and Bad Boy.

Winner: Invictus Victory

Bad Boy Cobalt by Carolina Herrera

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Bad Boy is a series that Carolina Herrera seems to be staying with, though without the million flankers its Bad Girl line seems to get. Nonetheless, we do have another flanker scent on the men’s line this year, Bad Boy Cobalt EDP Electrique. How does this one smell? How long does it last? Is it actually worth a try?

What does Bad Boy Cobalt Smell Like?

Notes include: pink pepper, geranium, lavender, black plum, truffle accord, vetiver

Click here to try: Bad Boy Cobalt

bad cobalt review

My Full Review

Here’s how Carolina Herrera describes it: Bad Boy Cobalt Eau de Parfum Électrique puts a bold new spin on the duality of modern masculinity – the concept that defines every Bad Boy fragrance. A fusion of mineral sexiness and wild freshness, this energizing and complex fragrance shows us Bad Boy at his most elegant, inspired to be himself and confident that anything is possible alongside his trusted friends.

I’m not a huge fan of either Bad Boy or Le Parfum. They’re both fine, but never blew me away. So, I really had no expectations of Cobalt. However, I saw plum and truffle listed as notes, which did intrigue me.

Cobalt starts off with a fresh spicy punch, that is boosted by the tart sweetness of the plum note. Pink pepper and geranium, really start this one off with a bang. Can kind of be too much, but this Bad Boy flanker will settle.

Geranium has an edge on my skin, early. But, that flips with the pink pepper and it will begin to diminish. Nice cool freshness.

The next phase sees the plum note really come into its own. It’s less tart in this stage, sweeter, and I do get the comparisons with 1 Million Lucky. These aren’t the same however, the plum is much more tolerable in Cobalt, also.

For me, the truffle here is much earthy and dirty versus having a sweeter or chocolate-like finish to it. I like it, gives the aroma a more naturalistic feel than it otherwise would. This and the vetiver really help to temper the blend and keep it from going completely in that 1 Million Lucky direction.

At some point, about an hour in, the lavender takes over as the lead note for the plum. This is about what I get for the rest of the wear.

It’s an sweet, woody, earthy lavender led mix. The plum doesn’t stay too powerful, but it is there.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, Cobalt is pretty moderate. On me, it’s never entirely weak, either. I get a nice trail and scent bubble out of this one.

The projection is decent, but this one doesn’t seem as strong as the other Bad Boy colognes.

I get about 6-7 hours of wear. With, Le Parfum, that number hit the 8-9 hour mark. Again, a slight step back from the others, but still pretty solid.

Seasonally, this is a versatile fragrance. Outside of the extremes of hot and cold, Cobalt would work just fine. Not going to melt when it is warm and can stand out on chilly outings.

It’s more of a casual, daily wear, nightlife, semi-formal fragrance for men. Not a super formal fragrance, but it can fit in for most other uses.

It’s attractive and mass pleasing. Leans more towards being for younger guys, but not totally limited to that demographic by any means. Date night? Yes. Maybe not the sexiest cologne out there, but it’ll do the job in most instances.

Overall Impressions of Cobalt

Overall, do I like Bad Boy Cobalt? It certainly has aspects of it that I enjoy. On the whole, it’s something that I like around the same extent as the others in the series. Fine, but not a cologne that I’m personally going to buy.

The plum and truffle combination is nice. Cobalt has its time as a sweeter type of fragrance, while also going pretty hard with the lavender and earthiness, later on in the wear.

With my nose pressed up against the skin, Cobalt does seem all that great. However, when it hits the air, I do find myself liking it much more. It seems to have periods of being very good, then maybe above average with how it smells.

The performance is run of the mill for a scent of this type. You do get a pretty unique aroma, it doesn’t smell exactly quite like anything, but just don’t expect Cobalt to be completely beast mode.

This should be a good option for younger guys and fans of the other Bad Boy colognes. I’m not sure that I prefer this to either of the two, but it’d probably fluctuate between that first and third spot depending on the day.

In the end, Bad Boy Cobalt is worth trying out to see if you like it. Not a bad fragrance and one that certainly already has its fanbase.

Very Good Girl by Carolina Herrera

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Good Girl has been a big hit for Carolina Herrera, and so, of course a ton of flanker editions have been spun off from the original. In 2021, the brand released, Very Good Girl. I got a sample of this perfume with a Macy’s fragrance order and have been testing it out. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does Very Good Girl Smell Like?

Notes include: litchi, rose, red currant, vetiver, vanilla

Click here to try: Very Good Girl 30 ml Eau de Parfum, 1 fl oz

My Full Review

Very Good Girl opens up with litchi, as the main attraction. Quite sweet and loud, with red currant, giving an added tartness to the aroma.  The red currant is much weaker than the litchi from the get go and will soon be replaced by the strengthening rose note.

After the initial blast, this one does get a more powdery aroma. Not overwhelming so on me, but the litchi and rose do have that effect. That’s a good thing, as much of the tartness up top will subside and it will be more of a fruity sweetness.

As it moves along, you will get more of the vanilla note and a general freshness to the scent. It’s not a thick or heavy feeling, rather, lighter and pleasant, which gives Very Good Girl some great versatility in its uses.

This is a pretty straightforward blend. The changes over time, are more towards the rose and the fresh feeling. Nonetheless, the rose and litchi are in control the entire time. Vanilla comes and goes and you will pick up the additional vetiver note.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Very Good Girl starts off with a nice bit of power, but it isn’t too extreme. Call it the upper edge of what could be considered moderate. From there, the sillage will become lighter and fairly average after the first hour or so. Solid, but not monstrous.

On my skin, Very Good Girl lasted in the 7-plus hour range during testing. It did manage to hit 8 hours, but most of the time, it will be around 7. Pretty good, but you shouldn’t expect a marathon length of performance.

Seasonally, is where you do get plenty of performance, as Very Good Girl can fit in pretty much year round. Probably best around the average temperatures, but cold and warmer weather, can do just fine.

This is more of casual, daily wear, or nightlife scent. It can fit the role of pretty much anything except for super dressy or formal affairs. It is subtle enough for most daytime applications, but also has enough personality for the night.

Overall Impressions of Very Good Girl

Overall, do I like this fragrance? I like it. However, I don’t like Very Good Girl as much as other similar scents (hello, Angel Nova) and the original Good Girl is a bit better too. It’s nice enough, has good performance, and is versatile.

But, it’s not an amazing perfume.

The tart sweetness of the litchi and red currant is a pretty big punch early on. The litchi might be the note which makes or breaks your own interest in this scent, as it is rather prominent. The rose is fine, I like it better during the dry down than when it is paired with the heavier fruitiness.

The dry down is a nice pinkish rose, fruit, some vanilla creaminess, and a light fresh feeling. Honestly, it’s a good perfume, but it never screams that it is a must have.

It is worth giving a try, if it sounds like your style. It’s still somewhat a perfume like Good Girl. Very Good Girl has its strengths, but as a whole, is a slightly above average scent.

Good Girl vs Very Good Girl Perfume Comparison

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Good Girl’s success has allowed Carolina Herrera to come up with more newer and newer versions of this popular perfume. One of the more recent one’s released in 2021, is Very Good Girl. As such, these two often get compared or can be the final decision as to which a woman wants to purchase. How do they smell? Which lasts longer? Which actually is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Good Girl vs. Very Good Girl

Good Girl

Notes include: jasmine, coffee, bergamot, tuberose, almond, rose, tonka bean, cocoa

Click here to try: CAROLINA HERRERA Good Girl Eau de Perfume Spray, 2.7 Fl Oz

Read my Review: Good Girl by Carolina Herrera

Very Good Girl

Notes include: litchi, rose, red currant, vetiver, vanilla

Click here to try: Very Good Girl 30 ml Eau de Parfum, 1 fl oz

Read my review: Very Good Girl

Opening

Good Girl is about the white floral notes and citrus up top. Lemon, jasmine, and almond are the main attention grabbers, but some tuberose will come through.

That opening is short-lived, the citrus fades, and you get coffee to pair with the almond. At first, it’s more of a nutty gourmand, but cocoa and tonka bean will play a greater role.

With Very Good Girl, the litchi is a powerhouse up top. Yes, I do get the comparisons to Angel Nova, but that was even fruitier and sweeter with the raspberry. The red currant doesn’t pack the same punch.

Quite sweet and tart with the rose becoming more prominent, as things move along. Litchi and rose are going to be your main stars.

Which is better at the start? While I like the fruity sweetness that Very Good Girl provides, I actually think I prefer the citrus and jasmine of the original up top. 

Edge: Good Girl

Projection

Neither of these fragrances are super strong. They each project themselves above average for the first hour or so and then gradually become softer. The sillage overall is moderate.

I will say, neither is weak. They actually do a nice job at hanging around without feeling completely obtrusive with normal amounts of spraying. 

But, I really don’t notice a distinct difference in this category.

Edge: Push

Longevity

With the longevity, Good Girl lasted on my skin for around 8 hours during testing. It was pretty much like clockwork, in this regard. No more and really no less, either. It’s a solid performer among the more mass appealing options.

With Very Good Girl, it’s close to that. But, I’d say it leans more towards the 7 hour mark than 8 hours. 

Good Girl is just a tad bit better than its flanker, but not a major difference.

Edge: Good Girl

Versatility

Seasonally, Good Girl is best served in the autumn and winter months. Much more of a pure cold weather perfume, that can sort of venture into moderate temperatures. Meanwhile, Very Good Girl is good pretty much year round. It doesn’t have the same limitations.

Good Girl isn’t strictly a nighttime fragrance but leans that way or for more casual situations. It’s built more like an attractive or sexy sort of perfume.

Very Good Girl isn’t formal either, but it is soft and doesn’t scream to be worn on a night out. It’s a versatile day or night wear.

So, Very Good Girl takes this category, as the more versatile of the two Herrera perfumes.

Edge: Very Good Girl

 

 

Overall Scent

This is kind of a close race for me. I’m not a super fan of either of these fragrances, but I do enjoy aspects of each, and think that they can be good selections for the right person.

With Very Good Girl, the litchi really lets itself be known early on. So, if you’re not a fan of that sort of tart sweetness (along with the red currant), then you might want to skip it.

However, it does soften up as it goes along. You will get more of the rose note, some vanilla, and a light powdery touch. It’s more pretty and low key than a sexy night club beast. Delina and Mugler’s Angel Nova are quite similar in many regards to Very Good Girl.

But, I actually like Nova better than this Herrera perfume. The raspberry is a nice offsetting note from the litchi, which can be intense here up front.

Back to this comparison, I think I like the original Good Girl more here. Again, not a major victory, but a pretty clear favorite. I like the balance of the gourmand ingredients and the jasmine/tuberose. 

It’s a warmer, more limited choice, but I think the fragrance itself smells a tad better. They’re not the same fragrance, which is a good thing, as it should be pretty obvious as to which you should try based on your personal preferences.

Me, I’ll pick Good Girl. Or, maybe you try one of the Good Girl ‘dupe’ perfumes and a bottle of Very Good Girl for not much more.

Winner: Good Girl

Good Girl EDP by Carolina Herrera

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Good Girl by Carolina Herrera has become a massive hit since its release in 2016. Since then, it has spawned a bunch of flanker perfumes in various decorated high heel bottles. How does it smell? When can it be worn? Is it actually worth a try?

What does Good Girl Eau de Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: jasmine, coffee, bergamot, tuberose, almond, rose, tonka bean, cocoa

Click here to try: CAROLINA HERRERA Good Girl Eau de Perfume Spray, 2.7 Fl Oz

My Full Review

The initial spray Good Girl gives me a blend of citrus and white floral notes for the first few minutes. It’s somewhat of a lemon and jasmine blend with hints of almond coming through. There is a secondary layer of tuberose.

Quickly after that, the citrus really fades away on my skin. Then, the gourmand notes begin to move in. Up first is the aforementioned almond, which is joined by coffee. Later, cocoa and tonka bean will play a greater role.

This perfume does have a sweetness to it, but it isn’t sugary or candy-like. Actually, it’s very well blended and there is a certain spiciness that is persistent throughout. That, mostly comes through if I press my nose to the skin.

On my skin, I do get a greater share of almond and jasmine with some lighter coffee and tonka bean notes. However, when I have smelled this on women, it comes across as more of a mocha latte with floral highlights.

In either case, the latter stages are semi-sweet, a bit powdery, and almost exclusively jasmine (in terms of the floral notes). Coffee, tonka bean, and jasmine are what I pick up during the absolute final stage. Though, it gets more difficult to distinguish, as no one note dominates completely.

It doesn’t have a ton of development past that transition to the middle notes. Doesn’t necessarily need it, but Good Girl isn’t a very complex fragrance.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Good Girl isn’t a super heavy scent or one that is going to fill the room. However, I think that it projects itself to a greater extent than people give it credit for.

It’s not a constant bombardment of my sense of smell, but I do keep getting whiffs and impressions of it throughout the day. It’s not fading fast, rather, it can be subtle.

Longevity is also quite good, at around 8 hours. I’m not saying this Carolina Herrera fragrance is elite, but it does a solid job for most purposes.

Seasonally, this is a colder weather wear. Autumn through early spring, is when it is going to be of use. Not the most formal fragrance, but isn’t so sickly sweet or overpowering that you cannot lightly use in a variety of situations.

Casual wear to a night out to a party kind of fragrance, would all work with Good Girl. Very versatile and mass appealing.

Overall Impressions of Good Girl

Do I like this scent? Yes, I do. It’s popular for a reason. Not the most original or greatest perfume on the market, but it does everything well, with an appealing presentation. It gets copied a lot and there are more alternatives to Carolina Herrera Good Girl than ever.

I like that it doesn’t go completely gourmand or sickly sweet. The floral notes and overall balance lend themselves well to its overall appeal. I really like the coffee and almond notes, the most in the composition.

It’s one most are already probably familiar with. It performs well enough, has a nice scent, and can be worn for a good chunk of the year in a multitude of scenarios.

There have been a ton of flankers released after this initial one and it doesn’t seem as if they’re going to stop anytime soon. Some are better than this one, while others are forgettable.

Nothing groundbreaking here, just an easy to wear perfume, that is sort of a jack of all trades. Though, it certainly has some charm.