luna rossa

Prada Luna Rossa vs Luna Rossa Sport Comparison

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I’m back with another head to head match up, to determine which is the best fragrance from the Luna Rossa line: Luna Rossa vs. Sport. I’ve already compared each scent to Carbon and these two came out as the winners. Now it’s time to pick between my two favorite Luna Rossa’s. Does the original smell better or does Sport exceed its predecessor?

Tale of the Tape: Luna Rossa vs. Sport

Luna Rossa

Notes include:  lavender, sage, spearmint, ambrette, ambroxan, and bitter orange

Click here to try: Prada Luna Rossa Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

My Review: Luna Rossa Review

Luna Rossa Sport

Notes include: vanilla, lavender, tonka bean, juniper berries, ginger

Click here to try: Prada Luna Rossa SPORT Eau de Toilette Spray 3.4 oz

Read my review: Luna Rossa Sport Review

Opening

Luna Rossa opens up powered by bitter orange to give the fragrance its citrus tone. It is blended with calming lavender and a refreshingly cool spearmint note, that adds a nice contrast to the bright citrus.

I like how bright and great the bitter orange blends with that fresh spearmint note. It honestly has a sporty aroma of its own.

Sport gives you an enveloping opening of tonka bean, lavender, and vanilla. It has some juniper berries, but lacks the citrus burst of the original. It’s actually really clean and fresh.

Which do I prefer? Ehhhh, it’s a tough call because they both share that lavender note, but I tend to lean toward Sport, as the tonka and vanilla combination is more appealing than the bitter orange. Even if I do thoroughly enjoy the spearmint kick in the original.

Edge: Sport

Projection

Neither of these fragrances have huge sillage. The radius of each is going to stick close to the person that is wearing it. Luna Rossa is on the lighter side, it is a moderate fragrance, but sticks toward the more airy end of the spectrum.

Initially, it seems much more loud, mostly due to that sharp citrus opening. Luna Rossa will settle down.

Sport isn’t heavy either, but it is pretty much a typical moderate, and has more projection than does its Prada compadre. It sustains it better, at least.

Edge: Sport

Longevity

With both of these scents, I can hit the 6-8 hour range. Sport is stronger, but it doesn’t last any longer than the original. No winner here.

Both of them are solid, for what they are. But, neither are going to be all-day marathon type of wears.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Again, both of these colognes match up well in terms of when they can be worn. Luna Rossa is pretty much a year round fragrance and has a better ability to hold up in the heat and humidity of summer than does Sport. Sport doesn’t completely fall apart or anything, it’s just not as good in those months.

Each can be worn casually, at the office, or in a more formal environment. Sport is probably better for date nights or evenings spent out on the town.

I’m tempted to give the edge to Luna Rossa, but it’s really not clear cut at all.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

These are the two best Prada Luna Rossa fragrances that have been released, in my opinion. Which one is better?

Luna Rossa is a very simple fragrance. Clean, bright, and quite linear in its presentation. It’s a light and inoffensive cologne, that can be worn pretty much whenever. I like the citrus, lavender, and mint blend but it can feel kind of boring at times.

Luna Rossa Sport is the best, in my opinion. The creamy tonka bean/vanilla paired with the lavender is the main attraction, but, it doesn’t stop there. Ginger adds a spicy undertone, which keeps it interesting, and juniper gives it a touch of fruit.

It like, the original, is really crisp and fresh. Sport just took it to a higher level.

My rankings for the Luna Rossa lineup. 1. Sport. 2. Luna Rossa. 3. Carbon.

I’ve worn all of them a dozen times or more and I keep coming back to the same conclusion. I do, however, waver between these two. Some days, I’m feeling Luna Rossa more, but mostly it’s Sport that takes the crown.

When I’m not in the mood for tonka bean, that’s usually when I’d reach for the original. I just slight prefer the flanker to the first one.

Winner: Luna Rossa Sport

Luna Rossa Sport by Prada

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This is the first time that I have gotten to a Prada fragrance on this site.  No particular reason for that but I really wanted to write about this fragrance because it caught my attention. When I saw the name, I must admit that I thought it would be a different type of fragrance profile…you know, something ‘sporty’ or outdoorsy but it was something else all together.

Luckily, it wasn’t a disappointment to smell this Luna Rossa flanker, and whatever my expectations were; they went out the window. With that in mind, please continue reading below for my full take and breakdown of Luna Rossa Sport.

What does Luna Rossa Sport Smell Like?

Notes include: Vanilla, juniper berry, ginger, lavender, and tonka bean

Shop on Amazon: Prada Luna Rossa SPORT Eau de Toilette Spray 3.4 oz

My Full Review

The first thing that I really noticed about this scent was how sweet and clean it was. I really dug the opening of the tonka bean with just an underlying hint of vanilla, which really begins to emerge later.

It’s got an aromatic powdery scent to it, but unlike something such as Joop!, it isn’t accompanied by a heavier spice. It’s a sweeter and more airy scent like Kouros Body (again without the spice) or Eros by Versace (without the heaviness).

Ultimately, it reminds me most of Armani Code Profumo, in how it presents itself, and the two notes it has in common. While the opening is delicious and reminiscent of other fragrances, I think its unique qualities emerge with time.

Beyond the vanilla and tonka bean in the opening, there is also a nice juniper, and a clean ginger spice. These two really contribute to the fresh and mild spicy profile.

This does create a dynamic feeling to this edition of the Luna Rossa line, that the original just didn’t have, with its bright citrus and lavender paring.

The one thing that is very familiar about Luna Rossa Sport, is its use of the lavender note that is prevalent throughout the series. I don’t feel like it’s as heavy as it is in Luna Rossa Carbon, for example, and seems much more subdued by the tonka bean note.

It’s utterly refreshing with a bit of a crisp bite lying underneath, which I guess is the ginger note, at play.

Versatility

Again, this isn’t a sporty scent in the usual sense of the word, I would categorize it as a sexy and versatile fragrance. You could definitely wear this out on a date or to the office or school.

It has an ability to be worn by all ages, but probably best for mid-20s and up. It’s a well put together, ‘sport’ fragrance, and doesn’t have a cheapie youthful aroma.

I actually like it the best during the colder months of the year, it hangs so well in the crisp night air of both autumn and winter. I’d give it a go in the springtime, but summer around here is much to humid.

Luna Rossa Sport is pretty linear and what you get at about 10-15 minutes in, is what you should expect from the cologne thereafter.

Sillage and Longevity

The projection is decent. I don’t find it to have as much sillage as Carbon but around the same amount as the original Luna Rossa. Sport has more depth than the original and can therefore seem heavier than it actually is.

That tonka bean and vanilla creaminess/smoothness can make it have thicker aroma, but the sillage isn’t as powerful as it might lead you to believe.

It’ll be noticeable around 8 feet from the skin, at first, before moving in closer to the 3-4 foot range. That initial burst, is pretty short lived, while being a pretty high peak.

The longevity is more stable, and I can pull 6-7 hours from this one, without a problem. This fragrance, isn’t an absolute workhorse. Though, it does give a solid enough performance to be useful

Overall Impressions of Luna Rossa Sport

Overall, do I like Luna Rossa Sport? Yes, it is quite an underrated fragrance in my mind. I think it gets overlooked because it is so simple and there are so many other Luna Rossa variants out there now, that Sport can get lost in the shuffle.

It is more of a subtle fragrance, that isn’t weak, but doesn’t overpower either. Sport features a crispy freshness and a rush of aromatic clean. I dig it and have absolutely loved wearing it around as of late.

The juniper and tonka bean pairing, isn’t always something that I’m in the mood for. Some days, it can feel annoying. Nonetheless, it really does have an appeal, which keeps bringing me back to this scent.

The whole Luna Rossa line has been great. Eau Sport is another one that really gets no love, but should be checked out.