versace

Versace Eros vs Invictus Cologne Comparison

by

It’s been a little bit since I’ve done a cologne comparison on the site and I really don’t know how I haven’t weighed in on today’s two competitors, head to head: Versace Eros vs Invictus by Paco Rabanne. These are two of the most popular fragrances out on the market today, especially with younger men.

In this post, I will cover which one smells better, performs better, has more versatility, and which is the best buy. I have linked my original reviews of each cologne below, so check those out too.

Quick Overview

Versace Eros is the overall winner because it has more depth, stronger performance, and the more interesting scent profile. It opens with lemon, green apple, and crisp mint before warming into tonka bean, vanilla, vetiver, and woods, giving it more character than Invictus.

Invictus is still a solid choice, especially for younger wearers who want something sweeter, fruitier, and more aquatic. Its grapefruit, mandarin, and sea-note opening has an upbeat, candy-like freshness, and it becomes easier to wear in close quarters once the initial projection settles down.

Eros projects more strongly and lasts longer, with newer bottles reaching around 7–8 hours compared with roughly 6–7 hours for Invictus. Invictus gets the edge in versatility because it works better across different climates, but Eros wins the head-to-head for scent and overall performance.

Category Versace Eros Invictus Winner
Opening Opens boldly with Italian lemon, green apple, and crisp mint. Fresh and intense at first, before the warmer vanilla and tonka character starts to emerge. Starts with sweet grapefruit and mandarin mixed with marine notes. Youthful, upbeat, and candy-like rather than naturally juicy. Versace Eros
Projection Still projects strongly, even though newer bottles are not quite as powerful as older versions. It maintains its scent trail for longer. Has a big opening hour, but settles to moderate projection fairly quickly and does not maintain the same level of sillage. Versace Eros
Longevity Newer bottles generally last around 7–8 hours. Older versions could reach roughly 10 hours, but current performance is still solid. Usually lasts around 6–7 hours, which is enough for most situations but still falls short of Eros. Versace Eros
Versatility Best suited to cooler weather, nightlife, and younger wearers. It can work in closer settings, but requires a lighter application. Works across a wider range of climates and becomes easier to wear around other people once the opening settles. Also very good for nightlife. Invictus
Overall Scent A sweet minty-citrus fragrance with vanilla, tonka bean, vetiver, and woods. More depth and character make it the more interesting scent overall. A very sweet aquatic-citrus fragrance with an upbeat and fun personality. Attractive and easy to like, but simpler and less distinctive. Versace Eros

Tale of the Tape: Invictus vs. Eros

Versace Eros

Notes of Eros: mint, green apple, tonka bean, madagascar vanilla, vetiver, Italian lemon

Click here to try: Versace Eros Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 6.7 Fluid Ounce

My original Versace Eros Review

Invictus

Notes include: grapefruit, sea notes, mandarin orange, bay leaf, jasmine

Read my review

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne Invictus Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

Opening

Invictus has a very nice and youthful citrus opening that is highly sweet and pretty candy-like in its aroma. Less of a natural juicy fruit and more of synthetic candied one.

This is paired with sea notes to give this Paco Rabanne fragrance, a summery and marine vibe. It’s all quite upbeat and sunny. The grapefruit and mandarin here are synthetic, but the aroma has grown on me over time.

Meanwhile, Eros is loud and bold, right from the start. Invictus can be that way too, but the Versace can be really strong.

Italian lemon is joined by green apple and a crisp and cool mint note. This is the intense period before Eros fully develops its masculine warmth and envelopes the wearer. In newer bottles of Eros, I get way more of the lemon note than I did with original batches.

Between the two, I like how Eros opens a bit more. Invictus is quite nice, but I like the mint note in Eros better than what its competitor can offer. Eros doesn’t seem as good to me as it used to, but I think it still takes this head to head.

Edge: Eros

Projection

Invictus really does put up a fight. It is a good clubbing scent and has quite a big opening hour or so. However, I don’t think it ever matches Eros in its level of projection, and certainly doesn’t maintain the sillage throughout.

Invictus moves more towards a moderate after an hour or so, while Eros stays beasty for much longer.

Update: Newer bottles of Eros, still seem to have better sillage than Invictus, it’s just not a complete monster anymore.

Edge: Eros

Longevity

Again, not only does Invictus fail to match the sillage output, and falls to a moderate in short order. Invictus also doesn’t last as long as Eros. I will say that, Invictus is quite solid, and actually lasts long enough for most all purposes or occasions. I’ve always gotten 6-7 hours from it on my skin.

Versace Eros, gets me 10 hours pretty easily. Do you always need that much? No, but it can do it.

Update: The last batch of Eros that I tried was around 7-8 hours. Still better than what I get from Invictus, just not nearly as much of a discrepancy. Eros used to be complete beast mode, but it gets the job done nowadays too.

Edge: Eros

Versatility

Both of these scents trend towards the younger set. Think teens through mid-20s. Not to say, an older guy couldn’t wear it, but that’s most of the age range. I do actually feel that this is one category, in which Invictus takes the edge.

Because it calms down and isn’t as loud, it can be worn in close quarters without dominating the room. Eros can do that sort of, as long as one doesn’t spray more than two times max.

Also, I think Invictus performs well in many different climates, while Eros is more of a cold weather scent. Both are great for the nightlife. Though, Invictus just seems to check more boxes in this category.

Edge: Invictus

 

 

Overall Scent

Without a doubt, I’m going to give the nod to Eros. The Versace is just the better scent all around for me. It has so much more depth and character. Both are sweet colognes, but Eros has further woods and vetiver, that makes it more interesting to me.

I actually do like Invictus, though, not nearly my favorite scent. It is super sweet and has an attractive profile, but doesn’t touch Eros’ level, in my opinion. The opening is the highlight of Invictus, but even then I still prefer Eros.

Invictus is a very nice choice for younger guys and women around that age seem to enjoy it. It has a nice aquatic vibe with the citrus notes, that is simply upbeat and fun to wear. But push come to shove, I’m riding with Eros almost every time. You can also try the cheaper ‘inspired by’ alternative: Greatness by Dua.

If you need one of them to be more of an all-around wear, in warmer climates, then it can make sense to go with Invictus instead.

Winner: Versace Eros

Dylan Turquoise vs Blue by Versace

by

Versace released its Dylan Blue series for men and women more than a handful of years ago now. On the women’s side, they followed it up with Dylan Turquoise, which share similarities with the initial release. The question is, which perfume is better? Lasts longer? Is the better buy, between them?

Quick Overview

Dylan Blue Pour Femme is the very slight overall winner because, while its opening is sharper and less immediately enjoyable, it develops into the better fragrance over the course of the full wear.

Its black currant, apple, floral notes, musk, and woods settle into a clean, sweet floral profile that feels more approachable after the first stage.

Dylan Turquoise has the better opening. Black currant is joined by orange, lemon, guava, and an aquatic quality, giving it a fresher and slightly more tropical start than Dylan Blue.

Performance is fairly close. Dylan Blue projects a little more strongly and for slightly longer, while both usually last around 5–6 hours. Versatility is essentially equal, with both working best as clean, casual spring and summer fragrances rather than formal or nightlife scents.

You might also try the ‘inspired by’ alternative: Her Bleu Welsh Sea by Dua

Category Dylan Turquoise Dylan Blue Pour Femme Winner
Opening Opens with black currant, orange, lemon, guava, and an aquatic freshness. The guava is short-lived, but gives it a slightly tropical and more enjoyable start. Starts sharply with black currant and apple, joined by fresh florals. It has a clean, shampoo-like quality and becomes sweeter as it settles. Dylan Turquoise
Projection Begins with moderate projection and a decent scent trail, but becomes much lighter after roughly the first hour. Follows a similar path, but reaches a slightly higher peak and maintains its stronger projection for a little longer. Dylan Blue
Longevity Usually lasts around 5–6 hours. Overall performance is acceptable, but fairly basic. Also reaches around the 6-hour mark and generally does not push much beyond that point. Push
Versatility Best for spring and summer as a clean, fresh daily fragrance. Works well for casual situations and easy everyday wear. Occupies essentially the same space, working best for casual spring and summer wear rather than formal events or nightlife. Push
Overall Scent Has the better opening, with aquatic citrus, guava, freesia, musk, spice, and cedar. The later dry down is pleasant but not especially exciting. Starts more sharply, but develops into a sweeter floral freshness with musk and a clean, soapy quality. More enjoyable across the entire wear. Dylan Blue

Tale of the Tape: Dylan Blue Femme vs. Turquoise

Dylan Blue

Notes include: blackcurrant, apple sorbet, styrax, wild blooms, musk, white woods, patchouli

Click here to try: Dylan Blue Pour Femme

Dylan Turquoise

Notes include: mandarin essence, lemon, pink pepper, blackcurrant, jasmine, freesia, guava, cedar, vibrant woods, and musk

Click here to try: Dylan Turquoise by Versace

My Full Review: Dylan Turquoise Review

Opening

Dylan Blue begins with its black currant and apple notes in full swing. It’s sharp, fruity, and already fresh from the accompanying notes. Very much a body wash or shampoo-like aroma.

Blue is joined by floral notes including forget me not, jasmine, and a mix of others. It becomes a slightly sweeter perfume after the initial spray.

Turquoise starts off with it’s own sharp blend, that also includes that black currant note. But, it also comes across as more aquatic and a bit tropical versus Dylan Blue.

Orange, lemon, and guava accompany the black currant. The apple note isn’t here and the black currant is reduced.

Which is better? I like the start of Turquoise a little more than Blue. The guava is short-lived but that and the watery aroma with the citrus gives this one a nice beginning.

Blue isn’t bad, but I don’t enjoy the opening to the same extent.

Edge: Turquoise

Projection

Turquoise starts off leaving a moderate scent trail with a decent projection off of the skin. After that first hour or so, it’s much lighter and will only project a few feet from where you sprayed it.

Dylan Blue follows a pretty similar path to Turquoise, except that it has a bit higher peak in its strength early on. So, with Blue you’ll have a higher level of projection for slightly longer.

It takes this category.

Edge: Blue

Longevity

The longevity of Turquoise only hits about 5-6 hours, on my skin. It’s not great in this department, but also not absolutely terrible. Performance on the whole, is just okay.

With Dylan Blue Femme, it is about the same. It will hit the same 6 hour mark, but doesn’t seem to go beyond that at all for me.

This category is a draw.

Edge: Push

Versatility

These two basically exist in the same space. Both are best served as spring and summer wears.

Neither is very formal or built for nightlife. More clean and fresh daily wears. Think casual or just an easy grab that you don’t need to put much thought into.

I don’t really see a clear winner here.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

So, this is a very close matchup between these two Versace perfumes. I have to say that, I’m not entirely in love with either, but they’re both pretty good fragrances.

With Turquoise, I like it’s opening act. It’s more tolerable to me and the guava and aquatic touches is something that I gravitate towards.

After that, there is some muskiness and spice. But, overall its a fresh citrus, floral, and woody combination. Freesia and just a general sharp/sweet fruitiness with a cedar base.

The dry down doesn’t particularly excite me and the performance is basic.

With Dylan Blue Pour Femme, I don’t like the opening as much, but I think that the latter stages are better than that of Turquoise.

Update: They have also since released Dylan Purple, which I like about equally to Blue.

Yes, it is sharper at first, but it will settle down into a more sweet floral freshness. The cleanliness is much more approachable after the opening act, with a good mix of the floral notes and a musky quality.

Sure, soapy clean, but it is an attractive fragrance. During the entire wear, it is better than Turquoise, even if that has a better opening.

All things considered, I’d give a very slight win to Dylan Blue. Also check out: the cheaper ‘inspired by’ alternative fragrance: Her Bleu Welsh Sea by Dua

Winner: Blue

Eros Parfum by Versace

by

Versace Eros continues its string of popular releases, with Eros Parfum. This one was actually released in 2021, but it didn’t seem to get the same level of fanfare as the others in the series.

Nonetheless, I wanted to do a deeper dive on this flanker. How does it smell? Does Parfum have that Eros performance? Is it even worth a try?

Quick Overview

Eros Parfum is a fresher and somewhat more mature take on the familiar Versace Eros formula. It opens with muted lemon and mandarin alongside clary sage, pepper, geranium, and resinous notes, giving it a colder aromatic freshness rather than the mint-heavy sweetness of the original.

As it develops, the fragrance becomes warmer and smoother. Amber, vanilla, cashmeran, vetiver, and woods take over, creating a creamy, resinous dry down that is less harsh than Eros EDP and remains enjoyable through the later stages.

Overall, this is arguably the best current Eros formulation: not especially unique, but consistently strong in both scent and performance, and worth trying if you already enjoy the Eros line.

🔥 Eros Parfum by Versace — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Fresh Aromatic Amber Woody
Key Notes Lemon, Mandarin, Clary Sage, Black Pepper, Geranium, Vanilla, Benzoin, Elemi, Cashmeran, Vetiver, Patchouli, Tonka Bean
Season Fall, Winter, Spring, Mild Weather
Occasion Dates, Nightlife, Casual Wear, Evening Wear, Social Events
Longevity Around 8.5–10+ hours, usually landing toward the upper end of that range
Sillage Very strong — projects heavily and leaves a large scent trail
Rating ★★★★☆ 8.1 / 10
Quick Verdict A fresher and more mature interpretation of the Eros formula, opening with sage, pepper, geranium, and restrained citrus before drying into creamy amber, vanilla, cashmeran, and vetiver. The scent is smooth and resinous rather than heavily minty or citrus-driven. Excellent projection and 8.5–10+ hour longevity make performance a major strength. Not especially unique within the Eros family, but probably the best current formulation for overall scent and performance.

What does Eros Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, mandarin, black pepper, elemi, tonka bean, Madagascar vanilla, litsea cubeba, pomarose, geranium, lavender, clary sage, benzoin, cashmeran, patchouli, vetiver

Click here to try: Eros Parfum

My Full Review

Here’s how Versace describes it: Eros Parfum. The fragrance. Cool citrus sparkles: mandarin and lemon, with litsea cubeba. An aromatic heart with an oriental profile made even deeper and more delightful. Mystic woody notes bring richness and addiction to the fragrance for a real, intensified sensuality. The liaison among the ingredients is vibrant and strong. The magnificent perfumer’s calligraphy created a luminous trail to contrast the mysterious woods. A melody enhancing each and every single note and bringing the fragrance to its climax.

Eros Parfum actually opens up being more fresh than citrus. Yes, the citrus does pop at the top and its sparkling quality is nice. But, it’s actually more muted in the blend.

The usual lemon, mandarin, and that verbena-like litsea cubeba. Pepper and sage are more apparent, as is the base of amber and resinous notes like, benzoin and elemi.

Clary sage leads things early on. Noticeably, there doesn’t seem to be much, if any of the mint note. Actually, it seems like it’s been replaced by a beefed up geranium and sage, to produce a similar effect.

Also, the green apple is lighter in its synthetic appearance as ‘pomarose’, in the notes listing.

Eros Parfum has a colder freshness early on, that will give way to the warmth of the latter stages. The amber influence definitely grows, as the pepper/sage mix loses its grip on the lead.

The next phase, gives me more of the geranium and the amber notes. The pepper is basically gone, at this point. Patchouli and vanilla begin to emerge more as well. The patchouli is short-lived and I personally don’t notice much lavender here at all.

Drier, earthier freshness with woody undertones. Amber and vanila. The citrus notes are still around but not major at all.

Parfum ends up being a amber, vanilla, cashmeran, and vetiver blend to finish things out. Yes, there is still some sweetness and whatnot. Though, it’s more of a creamy amber woods type of scent.

Aromatic fresh early on, finishing with warm and resinous woods.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, it’s about what you’ve come to expect with the Eros line. Very strong, leaves a huge scent trail, and projects well off of the skin.

It’s doesn’t feel entirely beast mode, with how the notes are structured. However, it does give you maybe 1-2 feet off extra projection versus Eros EDP. Not a major jump, but a slight difference.

Testing out Parfum, the range of longevity seems to be 8.5-10+ hours. Mostly towards the upper end of that range. One time, it did fade at the 8.5 hour mark, but the rest of the way I could pick it up just over double digit hours in.

For me, it’s not a 12-15 hour scent or anything like that on skin. But, Eros Parfum is just a notch below being absolutely perfect in that regard.

Seasonally, it does well in the colder months of autumn and winter. Though, this also has the ability to shine in the spring as well. Just avoid hot and humid days and you should be fine with Parfum.

It has a better ability to venture into warmer days than does EDT or EDP.

If EDP was a more mature representation of the Eros formula than was the original, Parfum takes it another step forward.

I don’t think any of these colognes are super sophisticated, mature, or built for formal occasions. Just that Parfum, should have a wider appeal with men in older age groups when compared to the youthful original.

Overall Impressions of Eros Parfum

Overall, do I like Eros Parfum? I do. I guess it’s the best current formulation with the Eros name. Personally, I’m not really that much into any of them at the moment. But, this is consistently the best smelling and performing over the duration of its wear.

To me, the apex of Eros was the original 2012 release formulation. That was brilliant. Newer bottles don’t smell the same to me and the performance took a very noticeable step back.

Anyway, with Eros Parfum the amber and resinous notes feel more tolerable than in EDP. The latter stages of vanilla and cashmeran are nice and smooth and help to finish things out strong.

The citrus isn’t too strong here, but I do like that it isn’t overwhelming me with lemon and orange.

The performance is well worth the price of admission and if you really like the aroma, that aspect probably won’t be disappointing.

If you like the Eros line, Parfum is definitely worth checking out. If you’ve smelled the other fragrances in this series, you’ve basically smelled this one too. Really, just different weightings of the notes with minor new ingredients introduced.

Dylan Blue Pour Homme by Versace

by

This is my third entry of my one time wear reviews while traveling in Europe. Today, I am going to give my impressions of Versace Pour Homme’s, Dylan Blue. This has become a very popular fragrance.

In this post, I’m going to discuss how it smells, performs, my impressions, and whether or not I think that it is worth a buy.

Note: I have updated this post a few years after my initial impressions, after spending more time wearing this scent, and having a better feel for it.

My Verdict

Versace Dylan Blue is a youthful citrus-aquatic fragrance that opens with grapefruit, bergamot, fig leaf, and a watery freshness. That opening is the strongest part of the scent, giving it a bright and appealing character that stands apart from its later stages.

As it dries down, ambroxan becomes much more prominent alongside black pepper, violet leaf, woods, and a subtle touch of smoky incense. The result is pleasant and crowd-pleasing, though it starts to feel more familiar and less interesting after the first hour.

Overall, Dylan Blue is a versatile and affordable choice for younger men who want a simple, compliment-friendly fragrance for warm weather, dates, or nights out. It smells good and offers solid value, but it does not bring much originality if you already own similar modern blue fragrances.

What Does Dylan Blue Smell Like?

Notes include: black pepper, violet leaf, grapefruit, bergamot, tonka bean, ambrox, fig leaf

Click here to try: VERSACE Pour Homme Sealed Dylan Blue Eau de Toilette, 3.4 Ounce

🌊 Versace Dylan Blue — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Fresh Citrus Aquatic Woody
Key Notes Grapefruit, Bergamot, Fig Leaf, Ambroxan, Black Pepper, Violet Leaf, Incense, Tonka Bean
Season Spring, Summer, Warm Weather
Occasion Casual Wear, Daily Wear, Dates, Night Out, Clubs, Social Events
Longevity Consistently around 6–7 hours
Sillage Strong at first, then settles into average projection
Rating ★★★★☆ 7.4 / 10
Quick Verdict A youthful and versatile citrus-aquatic fragrance with grapefruit, bergamot, fig leaf, ambroxan, pepper, and light incense. The bright aquatic opening is the highlight, while the later ambroxan-heavy dry down becomes more familiar and basic. It offers strong initial projection, consistent 6–7-hour longevity, and plenty of warm-weather versatility. A solid affordable choice for someone seeking an easy, compliment-friendly scent, though it is not especially original.

My Full Review

Upon first sniff of this fragrance, I immediately want to place in the same realm as a fragrance such as Acqua Di Gio Profumo. It’s different mind you, but, it seems to belong to that same class of citrus/aquatics.

Between the two, Dylan Blue is a more youthful and lighter cologne, but as it dries down the similarities between Profumo fade and the ambroxan of Dior’s Sauvage begin to emerge.

Dylan Blue really is kind of an amalgamation scent of the aforementioned colognes, mixed with maybe one or two others, that I cannot think of at the moment.

Dylan Blue is aquatic at first, with the grapefruit and bergamot notes, sitting on top of that watery base. Plus, there is the ambroxan note, which is nice and warm but gets stronger as it moves along.

The fig note and citrus pairing at the top is actually quite good. I think it might be my favorite aspect of this Versace release. While the citrus and ambroxan, bring to mind Sauvage, this one isn’t nearly as spicy as the Dior. Plus, the fig and aquatic notes set it apart.

The initial burst is fairly short lived, less than an hour, and the Sauvage-esque spirit takes over. At that point, it seems much weaker than it had been, but the longevity isn’t terrible.

Not as bad as another grapefruit citrusy cologne I just reviewed, Lacoste Jaune. My biggest complaint with Versace scents is how chemical they can smell.

I liked the original Versace Pour Homme well enough but that has the same kind of faux-citrus smell.  There is also a woody-fig note that gives it another layer but it isn’t all that complex of a scent.

As it dries down, I start to pick up more of the ambroxan, some black pepper, and even a little bit of violet leaf. The citrus has settled somewhat and Dylan Blue becomes more wholeheartedly ambroxan based.

I should also mention the slight smokiness from the included incense note, during its latter stages. It’s a great little touch, that I picked up on the more I wore around the contents of my mini bottle of this cologne.

Sillage, How Long Blue Lasts, and Versatility

Projection is good at first and then dies out a bit. It’s pretty average overall. Though, the sillage can seem heavy at first.

The longevity of Dylan Blue has been consistently 6-7 hours on my skin. Seemingly no more, no less. It’s actually kind of weird, how quickly it goes from a nice amount of power to just completely gone.

At least, it consistently hits that mark, and I know what to expect from it beforehand. That’s not a short amount of time, but it’s not a monster, in that regard.

I think that where Dylan Blue shines is in its versatility. I think it’d be appropriate for almost any summer or warm weather occasion. It would also be more appropriate for young men, sub-25 years of age, and is sexy enough for date night/club wear.

This is one that will get positive attention out of it. It’s not an offensive scent and is generally crowd pleasing. Dylan Blue is popular and so it’s going to have plenty of fans, in public spaces.

It’s a really nice scent for younger guys, who want something stylish, and that can fit in a wide variety of situations. The performance isn’t top notch, but it is good enough for most purposes.

Overall Impressions of Dylan Blue

Overall, is Dylan Blue worth a buy? Not for me, BUT I could see how it could work for some guys. If you need a summer scent that is pretty basic and will draw complements, I don’t think you would go wrong here.

For me, it doesn’t really offer anything different from scents that I already own or have samples of…so it’s kind of pointless. I certainly don’t hate it, in fact, I have come to like it a good deal more than I had initially.

Mostly, I like the opening hour or so. Thereafter, Dylan Blue just seems kind of basic to me. Not particularly interesting or all that attractive. Decent.

I just with I got more time to enjoy the fig note and the initial citrus blend, that’s actually one great aspect of this cologne.

However, at it’s price point and with it’s versatility, it would be a solid pick up for someone who wants a simple no-brainer. I like the aroma for the most part, not my favorite, but it does smell good.

Versace Eros vs Eros Flame Comparison

by

Versace Eros has been one of the most popular men’s fragrances of this decade. It really was only a matter of time before Versace, released a flanker fragrance of it, and did so with the late 2018 release of Eros Flame.

Obviously, I had to get a bottle of Eros Flame to try it out, and also to do a head to head with the original. Which of them smells better? Does Flame have great performance, like the original? Does it come close to or actually surpass Eros?

Note: I’ve been updating this page since 2018. Documenting the changes with each and my changes in preference.

Quick Overview

🏆 My Verdict

Versace Eros wins on opening, versatility, and overall scent, while Eros Flame wins on projection and longevity.

Buy Eros if you want the fresher mint-apple vanilla profile with stronger mass appeal and easier everyday wear.

Buy Eros Flame if you prefer the spicier citrus-pepper style with a warmer, more mature feel and stronger cold-weather performance.

 

Category Versace Eros Versace Eros Flame Winner
Opening Mint, green apple, lemon, vanilla, and bright youthful sweetness Mandarin, lemon, black pepper, rosemary, and spicy citrus warmth Eros
Projection Strong and loud, but smoother off the skin Even stronger early projection with heavier spicy presence Eros Flame
Longevity Usually around 7–8 hours Usually around 8+ hours with stronger late wear Eros Flame
Versatility Nightlife, dates, parties, but also easier casual daily wear Best for autumn/winter, nightlife, and more dressed-up wear Eros
Overall Scent Sweeter mint-apple vanilla scent with stronger mass appeal Spicier citrus-amber profile with a warmer, more mature personality Eros
Best For Those who want the fresher, more versatile crowd-pleaser Those who want the stronger, spicier cold-weather option —

Tale of the Tape: Eros vs. Flame

Versace Eros

Notes of Eros: mint, green apple, tonka bean, madagascar vanilla, vetiver, Italian lemon

Shop Amazon for: Versace Eros Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

My review: Versace Eros

Eros Flame

Notes include: lemon, tangerine, chinotto accord, black pepper, wild mountain rosemary, pepperwood, geranium, rose, cedar, patchouli, vetiver, oak moss, sandalwood, tonka bean, and vanilla

Click here to try: Versace Eros Flame 100ml 3.4Oz Eau de Parfume For Men

My review: Eros Flame

Opening

Versace Eros opens up with a zesty note of lemon that is paired with juicy green apple and a refreshing mint note. It is quite intense and fresh, later to be joined by vanilla, tonka bean, and a bit of vetiver.

The combination of these notes, gives Eros a slight, chocolate-like undertone.

Update: With modern bottles of Eros, I do get more of the lemon note in the mix, than I previously had. It kind of throws the balance off. It’s not as good to me. So, it’s a lot closer to a tie nowadays, versus being a clear cut favorite.

Eros Flame has a very similar opening to the original. However, there are distinct differences. Noticeably, the mint and green apple notes are not there.

Instead, the lemon is joined by tangerine, a chinotto accord, and black pepper for the spice. It also has the vanilla and tonka bean.

Which is better? While I really do like the addition of the tangerine in Eros Flame, as I think that it smells great, I still prefer the original and that awesome mint note.

How it plays off of the lemon and apple, was always intriguing to my nose.

Update 2: Here in 2024, Eros EDT is back to smelling more like it used to. Eros Flame is less citrusy than before, I’m getting more rose along with the chinotto. It’s nice. Almost made me flip this category to Flame.

Edge: Eros

Projection

Eros has become very well known for its sillage over the years. It’s always been a fragrance that you could spray a couple of times and be set.

Does Flame match up to that? It does actually.

The first time I sprayed in on my skin, I definitely noticed how strong it could be, and its ability to project was great. I really don’t notice a difference between them.

Update: Newer bottles of Eros don’t seem to have the same power. Flame now has the better performance. That power really came through with the initial Flame bottles. I don’t believe it has lost a step, as of this update.

Update 2: Flame is now somewhat weaker than before. Still has the advantage, however.

Edge: Flame

Longevity

Again, these two share so much of that same fragrance DNA, that their performance is near identical for me.

I can get into the double digit total in hours of wear with either of these fragrances. Performance is not an issue for Flame.

Update: Longevity is also not quite as good with newer Eros bottles. So, Flame has a bigger lead here.

Update 2: Eros Flame still has the advantage. Neither hits double digits in terms of hours worn, for me anymore.

Edge: Flame

 

Versatility

Both of these fragrances are mainly colder weather scents. Springtime is viable for either but I would avoid the high heat and humidity of the summer months.

These are mostly nightlife or casual fragrances, but not bad in more formal settings, if you go light. This is another category, in which they occupy the same space, as to be expected.

Probably not going to be a daily wear for a professional, but either could do so for a younger guy.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

OK, so, are these two the same exact fragrance? No, not really. The distinctions become more pronounced during the dry down periods of each.

Yes, the opening for both are quite similar, with only the aforementioned alterations.

Eros Flame is actually a nice change of pace. The dry down of Flame is much more woody with a combo of cedar and sandalwood. Also, rosemary is a prominent part of the composition of Flame.

There is still a ton of overlap in the base notes, but the amount used of each changes. I think that the cedar and geranium are more heavily used in Flame, than in the original.

Plus, there is a very slight rose note, that peaks through at times in Flame; I find it to be a cool touch.

What you get ultimately with Flame? The citrus top led by tangerine with tonka bean and vanilla. This sits on top of a base of cedar, geranium, rosemary, and sandalwood. It reminds you of the original, but still separate enough.

Which is better? I’m still riding with the original most of the time, if I had to pick between the two. I own bottles of each of them and have been going heavy with Flame, as of late, for review purposes.

In the future, I will probably alternate between them, when I want to go with an Eros scent.

Update: Yeah, I’ll stick with Eros before Flame. Even with somewhat of a reformulation and weakening of the original it is still better. Flame has great performance, but after the initial citrus burst and  chinotto, it tends to give me a headache. I really started to never want to wear it.

Update 2: I like what I’m getting out of the modern Eros Flame, in terms of aroma. Feels more balanced and doesn’t have such an overwhelming dry down like my original bottle had. If Eros EDT, was still to strong with the lemon, I might have changed this to Flame. But, I’m still going with the original Eros.

If you liked the original, you’ll probably be into Flame as well. If you hate Eros, this one isn’t going to win you over.

Do you need a bottle of each? Probably not.

I don’t believe Flame does anything to surpass the original, but is a solid addition to the line, that can give you a bit of a different feel.

Winner: Versace Eros

Who Should Buy Each?

Choose Versace Eros if:

You want the better overall fragrance for most people
You prefer mint, green apple, lemon, vanilla, tonka bean, and sweeter freshness
You want stronger versatility for nightlife and casual daily wear
You like louder youthful fragrances with broad compliment appeal
You prefer fresher sweetness over heavier spice

Choose Eros Flame if:

You want stronger projection and better longevity
You prefer mandarin, lemon, black pepper, rosemary, vanilla, and warmer spicy woods
You like a more mature take on the Eros DNA
You mainly wear fragrance in autumn, winter, and evenings
You want the stronger spicy-citrus version with more depth

Versace Eros FAQ

Are Eros and Eros Flame too similar to own both?

No. These two are quite distinct from one another. The Eros’ in the blue bottles are very similar and its probably redundant to own all of those, but you could own EDT and Flame without issue.

Which one has better performance overall?

Eros Flame. Both of these have taken a step back in terms of performance from my older bottles that I’ve owned. Still, Flame has the edge in performance.

Which is the best Versace Eros?

To me, they’re all currently around the same in terms of enjoyment. My preference is toward Eros Parfum, if I had to buy one. Probably Eros EDT, second. Then, Flame. If I had to buy two, I’d get Parfum and Flame, just to have something different to wear.