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Luna Rossa Ocean by Prada

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Prada is continuing its releases under the Luna Rossa line and its latest addition is called Ocean. This is one that I wanted to try out for a while and so I finally got a hold of a sample, to put it through some testing. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it actually worth a buy?

What does Luna Rossa Ocean Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, iris, pink pepper, artemisia, lavender, sage, suede, saffron, musk, vetiver, caramel, patchouli

Click here to try:  Luna Rossa Ocean at Macy’s

My Full Review

Before we get into my review, let’s see how Prada describes Ocean: Prada Luna Rossa Ocean has a unique neo-fresh olfactory signature that reinvents the emblematic fougère family. Sublimating notes of aromatic freshness mixed with the sophisticated sensuality of bergamot, a contrast is created with the sophisticated essence of vetiver. Everything intertwines in the heart notes with an elegant iris accord.

Ocean opens up with what I would term an impression of a ‘light blue’ color. It uses bergamot and some other light citrus notes extremely well in the opening. It’s fresh and juicy.

The usual Luna Rossa lavender note, is actually lighter in this composition. You get a smooth sweetness of suede, caramel and tonka bean. I don’t think those notes are officially listed, but their aroma is definitely in there. Perhaps, as a part of the ‘saffron accord’.

The main floral note here is the iris. Along with that suede quality and juicy citrus, you will get a fresh and aromatic aroma, with a touch of the lavender.

Smooth, sweet, spicy, but don’t expect an aquatic based on its name. Less of the ocean and something that would smell very pleasant while on the boat or shore.

Pink pepper gives it a nice warmth, but isn’t all that heavy. Personally, I don’t really get much of the artemisia note, not too much of an herbal bitterness to my nose.

That’s what much of the initial wear will consist of. Then, Ocean will begin to shift away to a drier and muskier clean.

Iris and lavender take on a larger role, along with vetiver and the musks. The opening citrus fades by a lot, and so does much of that initial sweet character. It has a certain soapiness, not over the top with it, maybe call it a ‘general cleanliness’.

The dry down is nice, a basic dry floral and musk. Yet, Ocean seems to retain some of its own unique character.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Ocean starts off with pretty good power. The sillage trail is there and it will project itself with a nice radius off of you. I’d call it the upper end of moderate sillage, at its peak.

The problem is that doesn’t stay near that level for all that long and this is a softer cologne for the rest of the way.

In terms of how long it lasts, Ocean only hits the 4-6 hour range, on the skin. It’s not great and that’s this fragrances, biggest weakness.

Beyond that, the power is really only sticking around for 2-3 hours of that, while quickly declining. The rest of the time, this Luna Rossa scent will be very close to the skin.

As far as what season to wear Ocean, pretty much any. Probably worst in the colder weather by moderate to warmer temperatures, this one pairs very nicely with.

One good thing is, that it can be worn pretty much anywhere, by anyone. Maybe not the most formal scent or one that’s going to be a night club banger. However, it is super versatile outside of that.

Other people seem to enjoy this one and it’s already gotten itself a mass appeal vibe to it. Ocean is an east to wear and easy to like cologne. It does seem familiar in many ways, but I cannot think of any scent in particular that it smells like.

Overall Impressions of Ocean

Overall, do I like Luna Rossa Ocean? Yes, but it does have its issues.

I think the opening hour or so is absolutely beautiful. I love the way that is smells early on. After that, it’s nice, but a pretty standard soapy clean kind of fragrance. Not bad, but doesn’t capture my attention to the same extent.

Though, overall the aroma is something that I’m certainly attracted to and I dig the experience as a whole.

The main problem with this one, is the performance. Ocean becomes a skin scent much more quickly than the other Luna Rossa fragrances. I don’t mind a softer scent, but this is one the makes you spray a lot, just to get any sort of projection and sillage.

The longevity when you do spray a lot, will get around six hours. Again, that’s not great, in a world wear there are designer colognes in this price range that can hit double digit hours.

Luna Rossa Ocean is a great fragrance at the start, that turns into a rather middling kind of cologne. Which, can make it a tougher decision, as to whether or not one should buy a bottle.

I lean towards yes, because I do think the start is great. Plus, I’ve already seen it go on sale a few times. At a discount, it could be a solid pickup.

It does have very positive aspects, a pretty unique take on the Luna Rossa concept, and is a crowd pleaser. Full price might be too much, but if you can get a discount, it’s worth a shot.

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

Dior Sauvage vs Prada Luna Rossa Carbon Comparison

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For today’s head to head cologne comparison, I am going to do two popular fragrances from higher end European designers: Sauvage by Dior and the flanker fragrance by Prada, Luna Rossa Carbon. Which of these scent’s smells the best? Which one lasts longer? What are the differences? Which one should you buy?

Tale of the Tape: Carbon vs. Sauvage EDT

Luna Rossa Carbon

Notes include: lavender, ambroxan, metallic notes, pepper, patchouli, coal, bergamot

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

My Original Review: Luna Rossa Carbon

Sauvage

Notes of Sauvage: bergamot, ambroxan, lavender, pepper, wood notes

Click here to try: Christian Dior Sauvage for Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

My Original Sauvage Review

Opening

Now, these two scents often get compared to one another and for good reason, they are extremely similar on the surface. For me, the similarity is most obvious when first applying, and up through maybe the one hour mark.

The notes that these two fragrances share are the ambroxan, lavender, pepper, and bergamot at the beginning. Sauvage opens with much more of an ambery scent that is covered by a sharp citrus note.

While, Luna Rossa Carbon has a strong bergamot note, it doesn’t have the same intensity as the Sauvage and the ambroxan isn’t as prominent. There is also a bit of a metallic note to Carbon, as the name would suggest, but it’s not too strong. Mostly, the bergamot fades and you get a soapy emergence of lavender.

Between the two, I think I like Luna Rossa Carbon’s opening a bit more. It still has the freshness and the citrus but it doesn’t come across as sharp or in your face.

Edge: Carbon

Projection

Neither one of these scents are complete monsters in terms of their sillage. However, I think because Sauvage has that sharper citrus, it seems to fill a room more than the more moderate Prada fragrance.

Luna Rossa Carbon isn’t weak, it just seems much more subdued than does the Dior. The lavender has that effect and it is much more prevalent in Carbon.

Sauvage for sure has the edge earlier on in the wear. After that, the gap does close somewhat, but Dior takes this round.

Edge: Sauvage

Longevity

Sauvage gives me 8+ hours of wear, as does Luna Rossa Carbon. Again, Sauvage projects stronger throughout than does Carbon, but the Prada cologne is still present.

Update: A few years following this initial post, I do feel like I get more of a consistent wear from Carbon. It’s been like clockwork, whereas Sauvage, sometimes doesn’t last well on my skin for some reason.

The longevity is still about the same most of the time, just the consistency isn’t always there with Sauvage EDT. Sauvage has more sillage and can last longer, it doesn’t always do it. But, that could just my personal experience.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Both of these fragrances really do deliver value in terms of when you can wear each. They both fit in during pretty much all seasons. You can wear them casually, on a date, at work, or on formal occasions. Neither scent has an advantage here.

These fragrances are daily wears for men of pretty much any age group. I would say I would rather wear Luna Rossa Carbon in a formal situation, but unless that’s an everyday occurrence, it shouldn’t be a problem.

Sauvage is a best seller for a reason, it’s easy to wear and has mass appeal. Carbon replicates this in its own way.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I think for most people, the decision between these two fragrances would come down to the price. I will say, if you can get one significantly cheaper than the other, go with that scent.

These scents can smell extremely similar at times, from a distance, and most people won’t know which you’re actually wearing.

For me, neither of these scents is a personal favorite of mine. However, I’ve been liking Luna Rossa Carbon a bit more, and I think that’ll be my winner. It does have more of a lavender aroma to it than does Sauvage, so, if that’s not your thing go with the Dior.

Update: I originally wrote this comparison a few years ago. Since then, Carbon has become by far the better fragrance, in my mind. I couldn’t stand wearing Sauvage EDT, the last time.

I prefer other Luna Rossa fragrances to Carbon and Sauvage EDP, is way better than the EDT. The eau de parfum version is an amazing scent. Much more balanced and deeper.

Personally, I don’t plan on wearing either Carbon or Sauvage EDT, in the future. But, if I have to pick it’s Carbon without question. It feels more balance to me, less of that opening citrus pop, and a nice subtlety with the lavender and metallic note.

Still, Sauvage sells more bottles than Prada, so I guess most people don’t know about Carbon or choose to ignore it. Also, there’s a ton of smell-a-likes of Sauvage, looking to get a piece of its success…here’s that list Fragrances similar to Sauvage.

Winner: Carbon

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.

8 Best Smelling Prada Perfumes for Her

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Prada is a luxury Italian designer with decades of fragrances released under its belt. I’ve already covered the best smelling men’s colognes from the brand, on this site, and so needed to get around to the perfumes for ladies. There is certainly a lot of options to choose from, I’ve could’ve gone much longer with the list, but instead decided to settle on five that could be considered the tops. Below, you will find my eight Prada choices, which I will update and replace as time moves on. New scents emerge and older ones become reformulated or discontinued, but these are the current greats.

What are the Best Smelling Ladies Prada Perfumes?

Great Iris Scent

Prada Milano Infusion D’Iris Eau de parfum Spray Women by Prada, 3.4 Ounce– A clean and fresh iris based fragrance, with plenty of bright citrus in support. Orange flower, mandarin, neroli, and cedar create a lovely aroma with a dry down that takes on a soapy quality.

Infusion D’Iris is woody and green to go along with the iris note, which create a soft and airy gem of a perfume. That is, for much of the wear. Infusion D’Iris isn’t really a sweet one. Cedar and incense give this fragrance a different base from many other floral fragrances. Very nice blend with an interesting amount of depth. This is one of the best iris fragrances out there.

Awesome Olfactories Les Mirages Perfume

Soleil au Zenith– I also put this one on the men’s list, since it is such a great unisex offering. Soleil au Zenith is a part of Prada’s expensive Olfactories Les Mirages line of perfumes.

While it is unisex, it does start off more like a ladies’ fragrance, since it’s led by ylang-ylang and peach notes. The base notes are warmer, deeper and richer.

The peach gets wrapped up with vanilla and sandalwood. You have spices including cumin, cinnamon, and nutmeg becoming more prominent as it wears on. It becomes a softer warmer spice with powdery flourishes. To me, the ylang-ylang all but disappears.

Most Popular Prada

Prada Prada Candy Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 2.7 Ounce– Prada Candy opens up with a warm, sweet, and somewhat salty caramel note. It is paired with musk and benzoin, the benzoin gives the scent a bit of a vanilla-like scent when put together with the caramel.

It is darker than the usual sweet candy perfumes, of this sort, and the benzoin and musk take more of a leading role as Prada Candy dries down. There is a slight spiciness which gives Prada a bit more than its simplicity would suggest.

A light option for colder weather, with good performance overall. In testing, I got about 6-7 hours from Prada Candy. This fragrance has become a best seller for the brand and has spawned many flanker perfumes using the Candy name. Prada Candy Review

Amber and Patchouli

PRADA AMBER For Women By PRADA Eau De Parfum Spray 2.7 Oz– An amber scent laced with benzoin and patchouli. At times, it is smooth and sweet, with vanilla and honey. Next, it is warm and spicy, with floral and green aromas.

Prada Amber could always come across as being quite strong, at first, before it settled down. Nonetheless, the perfume can stick around for double digit hours, depending on the climate that day.

Quite resinous and warm, not a scent for everybody, but can be amazing for amber lovers. This one got reformulated and I think that it started to have some additional fruity notes versus the original.

Beautiful Floral

Prada La Femme Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4 Fluid Ounce– A clean floral scent that is led by tuberose and frangipani, with a sweet warmth of honey and vanilla. Later, it still has the floral sweetness, but the woody base emerges, along with a bit of powder coming from the iris note.

What is interesting about this one, is that it develops a nice creaminess at points, while having a very light spice which peaks through. Rich, clean, with a really gorgeous floral profile overall.

Simple, yet quite beautiful daily wear, sort of fragrance. The performance isn’t as outstanding as the smell, unfortunately. However, it isn’t completely terrible and will be good enough for most daily uses.

Great Candy Flanker

Prada Candy Florale Eau De Toilette Spray, 2.7 Ounce– A flanker fragrance to the original Prada Candy, Florale, takes the basic formulation of that scent and adds peony for a floral kick. Also, limoncello sorbet, is brought in for that smooth and bright citrus smell which plays very nicely on a subdued caramel.

This version is light, but turns much more into a floral based scent rather than the caramel and benzoin, of the original. It’s still an overall simple perfume, with a soapy quality, but very attractive for a spring/summer wear.

The benzoin and musk doesn’t play as big of a role in Candy Florale. As such, it has less of that candy-like feeling. It still has enough sweetness and an added crisp aroma from the sorbet.

One or the Other Olfactories

Heat Wave and Pink Flamingos– These two perfumes, I couldn’t decide between, and both are expensive and difficult to find outside of directly from Prada itself. I wanted to include at least one scent from the Olfactories line, but you’ll get two instead.

Heat Wave is actually a sweet floral fragrance packed with a blend of ylang-ylang and jasmine notes. As Prada describes it, “Heat Wave is an exotic holiday, a voyage to an island at night…” It also has tuberose, as another floral note, and a somewhat tropical feel. Vanilla, coconut, and citrus add to the sweeter profile.

Meanwhile, Pink Flamingos is an interesting and bubbly summer scent. Citrus, cherry, and floral notes like iris. Really fruity up top, settles into a sugary fruity floral with the iris being joined by a light rose note.

Flamingos is powdery clean and sweet, with a effervescent summer aura. Probably not for everyone, but a fairly unique and upbeat experience.