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Bright Crystal EDT by Versace

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In an effort to satisfy a larger percentage of this site’s demographics, I thought that I’d begin to do more reviews of women’s perfumes. As a man, it can feel a bit out of place wearing something that is so overtly feminine, but some of these fragrances are just so pleasant that it works out in the end.

In this post, I want to take a closer look at a scent from the house of Versace, Bright Crystal. This one was released back in 2006 and has been a massive seller ever since. I want to explore what makes up this perfumes, how it performs, how it smells, and whether or not it is worth getting a bottle. Please continue reading below for my full impressions.

What does Versace Bright Crystal Smell Like?

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Notes include: yuzo, peony, pomegranate, musk, magnolia, iced accord, lotus, amber

Click Here to try Bright Crystal: Versace Bright Crystal Eau de Toilette Spray for Women, 3 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The initial opening of Bright Crystal is a blast of juicy pomegranate, a citrus scent provided by the yuzo, and a heart of floral notes which provides it with balance. I totally get why the word ‘bright’ was added to the name because this perfume does have a very pleasant and upbeat kind of feel to it.

Yuzo has a similar, albeit distinct aroma from other citrus fruits, and pomegranate is almost always a pleasure to smell in perfumes.

Versace did a great job at not letting it become too floral or too fruity and instead let the juicy/aquatic elements gradually fade a bit into the background to provide Bright Crystal with that extra bit of something that makes it so attractive.

The top of the composition is tart while being juicy, while there is a watery-like smell that sits underneath it all. Then, the floral notes begin to emerge, and take away some of that tartness.

Out of the floral notes, I can detect the peony, most distinctly. The lotus note is also present but doesn’t come through as strong for me and the magnolia, I don’t really pick up at all. Maybe that’s just me?

As Bright Crystal wore on my skin, I became more and more attracted to this scent. Frankly, I think its beautiful and never gets bogged down by being too complex.

The latter stages of this Versace EDT, consist mostly of peony and yuzo, to my nose. Outside of that, it is the watery lotus flower, and a light bit of wood in the base. The wood doesn’t draw much attention, but I can pick it up, if I focus in.

Sillage and Longevity. How Does it Perform? When Can it Be Worn?

Projection wise, it is a soft to moderate scent. It isn’t weak but it isn’t going to choke people out either, with its sillage. Initially, it will project somewhere around 6 feet from the skin or thereabouts. After that, it’ll be 3-4.

However, while it isn’t a heavy scent, it does last all day. In my testing of Bright Crystal, I got over 8 hours out of it and close to 10. The performance for an EDT, is very good, especially one with citrus as a main draw.

This perfume could honestly be used on just about any occasion, I wouldn’t say it’s a ‘sexy’ fragrance, but it is very attractive and I wouldn’t mind smelling this on a woman at all.

Update: Yeah, this is one that I’ve really come to enjoy over the years. However, it is better suited for daily wear, and isn’t a bold nightlife type of scent.

It’s brightness and fruity/floral scent, make Bright Crystal an ideal fragrance for the warmer days of the year. Yes, it’s fine in the cold of winter, but feels right at home in spring/summer.

Overall Scent. Does Versace Bright Crystal Smell Good?

Overall, Bright Crystal is a fantastic option for women who want something that is light, elegant, and pretty. I enjoy this Versace offering much more than Versus, which I actually liked and I think that it has a much more ‘universal’ appeal than some of the other fragrances on the market.

I would rate Bright Crystal as a buy and its straightforward simplicity is one of its best attributes.

While the opening act, can be pretty tart, I do love the yuzo and pomegranate combination. It’s juicy and delicious. The performance here is really good and I like how it doesn’t just become a bouquet of flowers.

The peony and yuzo form a solid dynamic duo, which sticks around for the rest of the wear. It’s still a best seller, and for good reason, Bright Crystal is a wonderful perfume.

Update: Coming back to this one years later, Bright Crystal is probably among my favorite mainstream designer women’s perfumes to smell. It has always done everything well, from that opening act to the use of peony to the performance.

It’s just a perfume that fits in so many places and is extremely easy to like. Nowadays, it feels like more of a capture of that late 2000s era with so many other perfumes that fell by the wayside like Dior Addict 2. Bright Crystal is still going, still super clean, and a great daily wear pick up.

Bleu de Chanel EDP vs Versace Eros Comparison

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In this edition of the head to head men’s fragrance comparisons, I wanted to take a closer look at two very popular scents for men: Versace Eros vs. Bleu de Chanel EDP.

Now, of course, BdC has multiple variations to compare; however, I chose the eau de parfum version because I think that it’s the best.

While Eros, has it’s own set of flankers (not counting Flame). I’ll go with the original. Which cologne smells better? Which lasts longer? Read below for my full break down.

Tale of the Tape: Eros vs Bleu EDP

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

Bleu de Chanel EDP

Notes include: grapefruit, sandalwood, amber, vanilla, tonka bean, ginger, mint, and more

Click here to try: Bleu De Chaneⅼ Eau De Parfum Pour Homme Spray 1.7 Fl. OZ. / 50ML.

Read my Review: Bleu de Chanel EDP

Opening

Versace Eros starts off with a bold mix of mint, apple, and lemon. In some newer bottles, the lemon seems stronger to my nose, and the vanilla doesn’t come on as early.

Update: But, with my most recent travel sprayer it’s more of a balanced blend again.

Eros is a interesting mix of a warm cloud of sweetness and a cool crisp freshness.

Apple and mint, bring on the latter. Tonka bean and vanilla, create that cloud-like effect.

Bleu de Chanel EDP also starts off with citrus, including lemon, but the grapefruit note is actually the stronger of the two.

Bleu also brings on its mint note, but the ginger and pink pepper, have a stronger spice. A little later, you get a smoky incense, and warm amber.

Which is better? I do enjoy the opening of Eros, a whole lot. I liked the original batches the best, however. Now, the lemon does seem stronger, which throws off the balance a bit (not too much, but noticeable).

The opening of Bleu EDP can be sharp, but I enjoy the citrus notes, and the spicy freshness which comes through. I think I’ll give the Chanel the edge.

Edge: Bleu

Projection

Eros has always been a loud fragrance, on my skin. The sillage will project itself pretty far and wide; it totally has the ability to take over a room.

Bleu EDP, is strong, but doesn’t have a crazy powerful projecting ability. In fact, as it wears on, it’s pretty moderate. Bleu never touches the capability of Eros.

Update: Newer bottles of Eros aren’t as strong, as they used to be, in my opinion. I still think it has the slight edge, but they are now almost equal.

Edge: Eros (slightly)

Longevity

Bleu de Chanel EDP, gets me about 8 hours of wear. For me, Bleu Parfum, has the best longevity in the BdC family (10 hours).

Eros still gets me 10 hours, even with the newer bottles (swear, they are different from the originals). Both of these scents, have the staying power, Eros just goes a bit further.

Update: I’m changing this one from Eros to a tie. The power with Eros has retreated over the years, as has the longevity. Now, it also stands at about 8 hours or so.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Versace Eros is good as a casual scent for younger men, and also as, a nightlife powerhouse. It is best worn in the autumn/winter months and can completely fall apart in the high heat. Springtime, it’s decent.

Meanwhile, Bleu EDP can go year round, but is just okay when it’s really hot. Nonetheless, Bleu is better in a variety of climates than is, Eros.

Beyond that, Bleu is much better as an office scent or a formal-type of fragrance. It isn’t just limited to that, though, as it also fits while wearing a t-shirt and jeans.

It’s the more mature of the two, but not an ‘old man’ cologne, by any means. BdC EDP just has many more applications, than Eros does.

Edge: Bleu

 

Overall Scent

All right, we’re tied up going into the final category. I really do enjoy both of these fragrances and have no problem recommending either. Versace Eros has been a favorite for a long time, since I first had a sample, upon its release.

Back then, it was so bold and enveloping, with a fresh mix of sweetness and spice. The sillage was crazy, as was the longevity. I started wearing it on a regular basis, for a year or so.

However, I have a more recent mini bottle, and it seems different. It’s still very nice, but again, the vanilla/tonka bean isn’t the same.

The lemon feels amped up and it’s not the same powerhouse it once was (it’s still strong as hell, but it was once monstrous). Legend Night, has taken on the role, that the older bottles of Eros used to occupy.

I do still love the mint and apple. Plus, the dry down is still great, in my opinion. I’m not bashing Eros, it just doesn’t do much for me any longer. The formula is still good, but it doesn’t have that same level of greatness.

Bleu de Chanel EDP is a better fragrance, though. It is more refined, balanced, and versatile. It doesn’t have the same crazy performance levels, but it’s still very good across the board.

The smoky citrus and sandalwood, in the dry down is great. For me, it’s not a big win, but Bleu does get the nod. Eros, really isn’t even similar to Bleu de Chanel, and they aren’t substitutes for one another.

Winner: Bleu de Chanel EDP

bleu parfum review

Dylan Blue vs Versace Eros Cologne Comparison

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OK, so today, I’m going to do a head to head comparison between two Versace fragrances: Dylan Blue and Eros. These have been two extremely popular scents as of late and so there are a lot of guys wondering which one is the right one for them. Which of these two smells better? Gives the best performance? Please continue reading below for my full take and comparison.

Eros vs. Dylan Blue: Tale of the Tape

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

Dylan Blue

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

Read my Full Review of Dylan Blue

Opening

Dylan Blue opens much like a less spicy/smoky version of Aqua Di Gio Profumo. It is a strong initial blast of grapefruit and bergamot, that gives it that citrus/acquatic vibe. After a bit of time it then transforms into something akin to Dior Sauvage, but not quite the same.

It has a similar citrus/ambroxan combo as does Sauvage, but not the spiciness. Plus, the aquatic notes set it apart. Beyond that, Dylan Blue features a really great fig note, in the opening stages.

I think that has become my favorite aspect of wearing this scent, the way the grapefruit and fig notes blend.

Eros, is an absolute monster from the start. The main players at the beginning are the mint, tonka bean, and vanilla. The green apple and lemon provide support and give Eros that juicy/gourmand quality.

Newer bottles of Eros, seem to be more about the lemon note in the opening, than the previous efforts. Maybe it’s just the batches that I got. It’s still nice, but it can come across fairly different. The vanilla, mint, and tonka bean are the best notes, to my mind.

Update: After coming back to even newer batches, Eros EDT really does favor that lemon note early on, nowadays. It’s a bit closer contest between it and Dylan Blue. I’d still give a decision towards Eros, but not by very much

I actually like the start from Dylan Blue and feel that it is one of the cologne’s strongest qualities. However, Versace Eros really makes an impression, and that’s what I’m giving the edge to.

Edge: Eros

Projection

This category isn’t even a contest. The clear edge goes to Eros, without question. Versace Eros is perhaps one of the loudest and most bold fragrances on the market (at least in the mainstream).

That’s one of the reasons, it enjoys such a popularity. However, it can also be a bit much for some folks.

Update: Again, the newer bottles of Eros don’t hit exactly the same way. Still bold and ahead of Dylan Blue, but they’ve taken a step back in terms of power.

Dylan Blue has a fairly strong opening and then fades after about an hour. After that, it’s pretty moderate for the most part, before it becomes a weak skin scent. It’s not terrible but not in the same realm as Eros.

Edge: Eros

Longevity

Again, complete domination. Eros lasts seemingly forever. When I would wear this regularly, a few years back, I could spray in the morning and still detect it towards the late night before showering. It’s a total beast.

Are the latest batches weaker? It’s tough to say, a recent mini of Eros that I purchased didn’t seem to hit the same strength as it used to. I put it up against Eros Flame, and that one lasted forever, while Eros was a notch below. Again, it might just be a bad batch.

Update: It’s around 8-ish hours now. Maybe more, depending on the day.

Dylan Blue is a pretty average performer. I get a solid 5-7 hours of wear from it. Coming back to this fragrance, after a year or so, it pretty consistently hits 6 hours. So, I expect 6-7, but sometimes it’ll quit at 5.

Edge: Eros

Versatility

Dylan Blue gets the nod here, I think. It can be worn year round with no problem, be perfectly fine in a casual environment, and still has the ability to perform in the nightlife.

Since Eros is so strong, it has it’s time and place. I would wear it to the office but limited it to one spray only. This is more of a nightlife powerhouse, than strictly a casual cologne. Add to that, I like it in the cold to moderate temperatures, as I think it gets messy in the heat.

Edge: Dylan Blue

Overall Scent

I like Dylan Blue, I’m just not that into it, though. It’s a pleasant but fairly generic kind of scent and is like an amalgamation of several other popular colognes. That’s not to say it’s bad and you wouldn’t enjoy it, but it’s not that incredible in my eyes.

Blue has a very nice opening act, but it turns into an ambroxan heavy fragrance, without much personality. The fig, light pepper, and citrus top are the peak of its creativity and the enjoyment I get from it.

Versace Eros is a special kind of animal. Yes, it’s insanely popular, but it still has a unique quality that Dylan Blue lacks. It’s not for everyone, but, it not only performs better…it also smells much better than Dylan Blue. That’s why it’s the winner here.

In fact, if you’re looking for Versace fragrances, I’d put the following ahead of Dylan Blue: Man Eau Fraiche, Eros, The Dreamer, and possibly even Pour Homme (depending on my mood).

Update: Yes, I still like Eros more than Dylan Blue. From Versace, I think Eros Parfum is the best of the Eros line now. I’m not really into the Eros formula as much as I was back when it came out in 2012 and the years after. That being said, it’s still a solid pick up. I’ve recently reviewed Greatness by Dua, which is based on the older formula of Eros EDT, and I think that’s a good bet for those who want the classic Eros EDT sort of smell.

Winner: Eros

Light Blue Eau Intense vs. Versace Pour Homme

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Light Blue Eau Intense and Versace Pour Homme are two of the more popular citrus based men’s fragrances over the past decade. Because of this, these colognes can often get compared to one another as potential buys. The question is, which fragrance smells better? Which lasts longer? Which actually is the top cologne option?

Tale of the Tape: Eau Intense vs. Versace Pour Homme

Light Blue Eau Intense

Notes include: mandarin, frozen grapefruit, juniper, aquatic accord, amber woods, musk

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Intense Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 1.6 Ounce

My review: Light Blue Eau Intense

Versace Pour Homme

Notes include: bergamot, bitter orange leaves, geranium, sage, oud wood, mineral amber, tonka bean, musk, neroli

Click here to try: Versace Pour Homme Eau De Toilette Natural Spray 3.4 fl. oz.

My Review: Versace Pour Homme

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Opening

Light Blue Eau Intense starts off with citrus notes, bringing out a mandarin orange and frozen grapefruit note that is slightly different from the one in the original. It actually does have a great cold feeling to it, that is refreshing to wear.

The aquatic note is less of a salt marine type, but is joined by a nice juniper note. Colder synthetic water with plenty of that amberwood note coming from the base. I like it.

Versace Pour Homme opens up with a bitter orange leaf and bergamot note. It is a purer citrus distillation than is Eau Intense. Very fresh and neroli comes in, to pump that up even further.

Tonka and the greenish floral notes will emerge more later. Initially though, it is a very citrusy cologne.

Which is better? I actually like the way that Light Blue Eau Intense begins. It’s not a massive advantage, but I do have a slight preference towards the Dolce, early on.

Edge: Eau Intense

Projection

With old bottles of each, I would say that these two are pretty equal with their sillage and ability to project off of the skin.

But, with the latest batches that I’ve tried, I’d give the edge to Eau Intense. It seems to have held up better over the years

With that, Eau Intense is going to be in the 4-6 foot range, for most of the wear. Stronger at the start, but well ahead of newer bottles of Versace Pour Homme.

Edge: Eau Intense

Longevity

Light Blue Eau Intense remains a great performer for me. Other Light Blue’s only seem to stick around for 5-7 hours. However, Eau Intense will still hit over 9 hours for me. This formula really nailed this aspcet.

With Versace Pour Homme, I do only get 5-6 hours of wear out of it on skin. Not great. But, since I use both in the summertime, it’s not too concerning to not have it be an absolute beast.

Yet, Eau Intense wins this category easily.

Edge: Eau Intense

Versatility

Both of these fragrances are at their best in the warmer weather. But, I think that Versace Pour Homme is the more versatile of the two.

It’s a cologne that is a signature scent for many guys out there. It can be worn casually, out at night, even as a daily wear to work or school.

Eau Intense also has plenty of versatility, but it can feel too casual and too limited to the summertime versus Versace.

Edge: Versace Pour Homme

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these colognes do I prefer?

While I like the start of Eau Intense a bit more than Versace, and it’s better performance is something worth considering. I actually like the overall smell of Versace Pour Homme slightly more than I do Eau Intense.

I will gladly wear either of these, but the dry down of the Versace is better to me, especially once you get that tonka bean fully engaged and the citrus tones down some.

Eau Intense becomes musky and has that amberwood note, which can be bothersome to some. It can get annoying, at times, for me too.

Versace Pour Homme probably has a greater broad-based appeal for that reason too. Sure, you need to sacrifice some on the performance end, but it’s an easy scent to plug into anyone’s rotation. It gets the nod here.

Winner: Versace Pour Homme

Versace Pour Homme by Versace

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Versace is a brand that I can have mixed feelings about. On the one hand, they have fragrances such as Eros and Eau Fraiche, which I enjoy and then also have one’s such as Oud Noir, which I find repulsive. Recently, I received a sample of Versace Pour Homme, as it’s been a while since I’ve last smelled it and as such, I thought that I would go ahead and review it.

How does it smell? What’s the sillage like? Does it last a long time? Is Pour Homme actually worth a buy? Note: I am updating this review, years after the original, to add further thoughts on this scent.

What does Versace Pour Homme Smell Like?

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Notes include: bergamot, bitter orange leaves, geranium, sage, oud wood, mineral amber, tonka bean, musk, neroli

Click here to try: Versace Pour Homme Eau De Toilette Natural Spray 3.4 fl. oz.

My Full Wear Review of Versace

Versace opens up with, a clean and citric quality, that really captures one’s attention. The bergamot and bitter orange leaf notes are very prominent upon that initial smell and it stays that way on my skin for around 30 minutes.

Pair these two notes with neroli and you get an idea of how much citrus cleanliness, you should expect. Also, the initial opening is much stronger than a short time later in its life cycle, so just be prepared for that.

The sillage of Versace Pour Homme was really strong on my skin for about an hour.

That initial freshness can be intense, but it doesn’t really strike me as being super tart or anything. Actually, leans a bit more towards the sweeter end of the spectrum, but not completely that either.

After the initial hour, the tonka and green/floral notes started to emerge more and balance out this fragrance. It’s ultimately a citrus based, semi-aquatic cologne, which based on your preferences may or may not be your thing.

It’s still got that bright citrus demeanor, but you do get stronger undertones of floral notes and a musky herbal spice. At times, it can feel fairly soapy. I do get the comparisons to Allure Homme Sport by Chanel, but I like that scent better than this one. Not by a wide margin, just slightly.

Early on in the wear, it is less of a direct comparison between the two colognes. This is when Versace Pour Homme feels at its most distinct.

I pick up more tonka bean in the Chanel versus this Versace. That is probably why, I enjoy wearing that scent more. But, if you want one that leans into the citrus more so, and lacks the Chanel aldehydes this Versace could be a better bet.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

As I wrote above, Pour Homme really starts off strong for me. The sillage is pretty darn loud upon application. When the cologne settles down, it becomes more of a moderate fragrance overall.

You could definitely over-spray, within that first few hours time frame, but it should be tolerable to others thereafter.

On the whole, I’m not disappointed in what I get with its strength. The ability to sustain itself is a bigger issue than the sillage.

It isn’t super long lasting, 5-6 hours for me, but that is usually adequate enough for most daily purposes. Also, considering that this is a summery citrus fragrance, that time frame isn’t too bad at all.

It is sort of strange, after it started off so strong, that I can never get more time from this fragrance. Maybe some other people can get it to go longer, but for me that’s never been the case.

Seasonally, this one strikes me as a summer scent. I suppose that you could wear it anytime during the year, but it’s always felt out of place to me, in the cold temperatures of winter.

However, if you live in a hot and humid climate, Pour Homme is a fragrance option which excels in those conditions. It can be difficult to find a good daily wear in those areas, but this will absolutely do the job.

Another strength is just how versatile of a fragrance it can be. This is well put together, but not overly formal or buttoned up. You can of course wear it to work or formally and it works very well.

One could also wear this casually or for a night out no problems. It does draw complements, when I’ve worn it in the past, folks have seemed to appreciate its aroma.

Coming back to this one in 2023, I really do appreciate the versatility. It could very easily be (and has) a signature daily wear for a lot of guys. It’s just very wearable, not going to overwhelm a room, but it easily fits in for a wide variety of situations.

Overall Impressions of Versace Pour Homme

I like Versace Pour Homme, it’s just not the cologne for me. It doesn’t blow my socks off, but it does smell good. Women seem to like it, and for the right guy, it could be a very good option.

It’s enjoyable and is usually a solid performer in the right weather, so it might be one you have to be willing to give it a shot.

Allure Homme Sport is better to me than this one. It’s performance is also not great nowadays, so, it comes down to which smell you prefer. If you want a really tonka heavy version of this style, Eau Extreme, is another choice.

Pour Homme gives you a pretty straightforward clean citrus smell and is almost universally pleasing. For me, I’m not too wild about a scent such as, Versace Pour Homme. It doesn’t smell bad, but it really just isn’t my style.

There are aspects of it that I enjoy. Particularly, the opening act, where it is a brighter and semi-aquatic citrus. I’m not too huge of a fan of neroli and the later herbal/soapy elements. That’s pleasant, just not as good. Performance is just okay, on my skin.