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Versace Eau Fraiche vs. Dylan Blue Comparison

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In this match up, we have two options from Versace, Man Eau Fraiche vs. Dylan Blue Pour Homme. Which of these two best sellers from the Italian designer, smells the best? Which lasts longer? In this post, I am going to break down my thoughts on each, comparing them between categories. I have worn and reviewed both fragrances on this site, so, I’m familiar with the pros and cons of each. Is there a clear winner here?

Tale of the Tape: Eau Fraiche vs. Dylan Blue

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: Dylan Blue

Versace Man Eau Fraiche

Notes include: Lemon, Rosewood, Carambola, Cedar leaves, Tarragon, Sage, Musk, Amber, Sycamore

Click here to try: Versace Man Eau Fraiche By Gianni Versace For Men Edt Spray 3.4 Oz

Read my review: Man Eau Fraiche

Opening

Dylan Blue opens up with bergamot and grapefruit at the top. These two citrus ingredient sit within a watery aquatic aroma, with an increasingly strengthening ambroxan. It has hints of being like Sauvage, but at the start, Dylan Blue adds a fig note to the citrus aquatic scent. This sets it apart and also creates what is one of my favorite aspects of this fragrance.

Eau Fraiche also starts out with citrus top notes, paring lemon with the bergamot, and then adding starfruit. It is bright and very attractive. Then there is a slight herbal kick, added to the cologne to give it more depth.

Which is better? The opening act of Dylan Blue is quite good and I am tempted to give it the nod, but I really do like how that Versace starts out. Normally, the citrus opening might not be enough to impress, but that lemon and starfruit combination really grabs my attention. It is ultimately what I prefer.

Edge: Eau Fraiche

Projection

Dylan Blue is pretty strong at the start and for an hour or so, before the sillage shifts more into the moderate end of things. Upon spraying, it is one that can fill a room, and then quiets down. Meanwhile, Eau Fraiche, starts out more moderate and becomes light and airy.

There isn’t a huge difference in the sillage of each of these two. However, Dylan Blue does have a bit more power, in my experience.

Edge: Dylan Blue

Longevity

Dylan Blue is the stronger of the two contenders, however, both of these colognes last 6-7 hours while wearing. That is what I get out of both of them pretty consistently. In my experience, there is no edge.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Both of these scents are very versatile, in their application. They can work year round, but I like them each for the warmer weather. Eau Fraiche is great in summer. They can both work casually, at work, school, or wherever.

I think Dylan Blue has the edge, as a nightlife scent, and that’s the only real distinction I make between them.

Edge: Dylan Blue

Overall Scent

So, when I first tried out Dylan Blue, I was pretty indifferent toward the fragrance. Since then, I’ve worn it a bunch of more times, and now have a bit more of an appreciation for it.

I really like how it opens with the aquatic citrus vibe, but am still pretty indifferent to the dry down period. It’s citrus and fig notes are the highlights, but after that, I really don’t care for it.

It becomes more about the ambroxan, pepper, and violet leaf; as it moves forward. It’s not as enjoyable, at that point, but still nice.

Between these two, I would rather wear Eau Fraiche. The citrus opening is awesome, with the inclusion of the starfruit. Then, it also has an amber note in the dry down, but not as dominant as Dylan Blue and a woody base.

The wood they use is rosewood, which does have a distinct and different aroma, which I rather like. I like the opening act of this one better than its dry down, but I think the entire experience is simply more enjoyable.

It’s cleaner, less of the ambroxan note which can create too much of that synthetic ‘blue’ aroma. I don’t hate Dylan Blue, Fraiche just takes this one.

Winner: Eau Fraiche

Versace Man Eau Fraiche

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I am a fan of Versace fragrances. Versace Eros, while it can be a bit heavy if overused, is still one of my choices to wear during the cold winter months. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Versace Man Eau Fraiche. This isn’t a cold weather fragrance like Eros, rather, it is one which shines during the heat of summer and invokes images of day’s spent along the beach.

In this review, I want to delve into this scent a little bit deeper and see what makes it such a great summer cologne for men. How does it smell? What are the ingredients? How the sillage and longevity? Is Eau Fraiche worth a buy?

What does Versace Man Eau Fraiche Smell Like?

versace man eau

Notes include: Lemon, Rosewood, Carambola, Cedar leaves, Tarragon, Sage, Musk, Amber, Sycamore

Click here to try: Versace Man Eau Fraiche By Gianni Versace For Men Edt Spray 3.4 Oz

Eau Fraiche Full Review

What I notice right off the bat with this fragrance is that it has such a fresh and citrus based opening note that really grabs one’s attention and draws you in for more.

It’s always a good sign that a cologne has a good opening note and doesn’t require 20 minutes of wear before it even begins to get good.

No worries with Versace Man. Lemon, bergamot, and carambola (starfruit) lead the way. The aroma is great, very bright, and utterly captivating to my nose. I really do dig the opening.

The lemon is definitely the star of the show here in the opening and everything else it just in a support role.

The next striking thing about this cologne is how much it smells like a summertime fragrance. It’s warm, clean, confident, with a bit of elegance sprinkled in. Plus, it’s projection actually gets better with some heat, unlike all too many fragrances which wither in the warmer months.

While I find this feature to be a positive, one could argue that this narrow usage acts as a strike against it. If you are looking for an all-weather and daily wearer, then this Versace cologne isn’t for you.

However, depending on the climate of where you live, you could get 3-6 months use out of it.

The citrus becomes less pronounced after about 45 minutes or so and some spicier notes begin to emerge which adds a layer of energy to this fragrance that brings the intensity up a notch.

The spice is pretty herbal in its feel, you have sage, tarragon, and cardamom among other notes.

The base notes really help to bring out the personality and sexiness of this scent. At times, it really begins to remind me a lot of Light Blue, but I think I prefer this Versace (but Light Blue Eau Intense is better than both). More in the style, than the exact smell of the fragrance.

Finally, once the citrus has calmed down from its powerful beginnings, the woody base is on full display. Sycamore, rosewood, and cedar. It kind of blends into a generic ‘wood’ aroma, but you can detect the differences at times, if you’re paying attention.

So, from Versace Man Eau Fraiche, you get: a lemony aroma with a slight aquatic quality, bits of herbal spice, and a woody dry down.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Versace Man Eau Fraiche has decent projection, which as I said, gets better with a little bit of heat. Overall, I would say it is moderate in that regard. This doesn’t need to be too loud, but it projects itself well when compared to other summer scents, in the same vein.

Also, it’s not a marathon runner in terms of how long it lasts on your skin but it does seem to perform adequately, usually about 6-7 hours in my experience.

Not great by any means, but good enough for most usage. I am basing this off of a batch of 2014 fragrance, so, I can’t speak to any reformulations that may have occurred thereafter that effected performance.

It’s kind of an all-around wear in the summer months. Things are generally more casual during this time anyway, but this is a safe scent to smell fresh and pleasant. Not really a club beast, nor super sexy, but it is attractive.

Overall Impressions of Eau Fraiche

All told, this cologne is a very good option to wear during the warmer months. It’s not spectacular, but it smells pretty damn good and delivers good performance on my skin.

There are definitely some cheaper options out there, but I wouldn’t be opposed to owning a smaller sized bottle of this, because I do find it enjoyable. Although, this one has become more and more affordable over the years, since it’s so popular.

Personally, I have so many different autumn and winter fragrances, that I like colognes like this one, to switch up the pace for the summertime. Eau Fraiche is a solid choice.

To me, that star fruit and lemon opening, really hooks me in. Star fruit is one of my favorite summertime notes and this is a great rendition.

The herbal spice is attractive and the woody base is fine, but probably not the most intriguing part of this Versace.

But, all told, you get an awesome scent with decent enough performance for what it’s going to be used for. As far as hot weather colognes from mainstream designers, Versace Man Eau Fraiche still does rank near the top of the list.

Blind buy safe? Absolutely. Unless you really don’t like citrus based colognes, one shouldn’t have a problem finding enjoyment out of this one.

6 Fragrances Similar to Versace Pour Homme

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Versace Pour Homme is a best seller and a favorite cologne of many guys. But, sometimes you may want a change of pace or to find something that is close to what it brings to the table for a better price.

In this post, I am going to cover (and update when necessary) other colognes which can fit the bill and strike close to the Versace aroma. Some will be fragrances that are trying to replicate, while others will be colognes with a close style to the Versace scent.

Scents Similar to Versace Pour Homme

The Similar Chanel

Chanel Allure Homme Sport Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 5 oz– I have to include Allure Homme Sport on the list, as it does have a lot of similarities with Versace. Not exactly the same, but they really do strike a similar chord.

I actually enjoy the smell of the Chanel more so than I do Pour Homme. However, newer bottles of Allure Sport don’t have the same performance level as they used to. Since it is also more expensive, I would probably go with the Versace instead.

The main difference to me, is that Versace has more of a citrus start. Also, the Chanel has the traditional Chanel aldehydes and a somewhat oceanic freshness to it. I love this fragrance, but the performance has become pretty meh. Allure Homme Sport Review

More Aquatic, Vanilla Creamy

Missoni Missoni Wave Men EDT Spray, 3.4 Fl Oz – This one is a really nice entry from Missoni. It does smell more like Allure Homme Sport than it does Versace, but the overlap is for sure there between the three.

The citrus top is closer to the Versace. While the aquatic and aromatic qualities are closer to the Chanel. However, Wave has more of an aquatic aroma versus either of them and also dries down with a creaminess provided by vanilla orchid and vetiver.

The performance is pretty good, at least close to par versus what we get with newer Versace Pour Homme bottles. For the price, this is a really solid and affordable wear, that gives you an easy reach during summertime.

A More Floral Based Citrus Cheapie

Nikos Sculpture Homme for men Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounces– Sculpture is a really nice cheapie and has been around for multiple decades now. It isn’t a complete match, but the citrus notes do remind me somewhat of Pour Homme.

It’s in the same style, I’d say. Actually, it is sort of like a mix of Versace Pour Homme and Dreamer. The citrus opening, prominent orange blossom and floral notes, and at times bitter herbal qualities. Like a synthesis of those two Versace scents, with its own added flair.

Woodier and Light Freshness

Hatem for Men EDP – Eau De Parfum 75ML (2.5 oz)– Hatem has a ton of overlap with our target, in terms of notes. Rose, citrus, geranium, cedar, sage. So, right from the bat you are going to get a very similar structure.

The difference is going to really be with the weightings of the notes. This has a bit more spice and some added woody notes. Fresh and clean with a toned down amount of citrus.

Hatem has okay performance, but the sillage is pretty light. Depending on the price, it may be worth a look, but if it is close to the Versace I’d go with that.

Similar Aquatic Blue

Desire Blue By Alfred Dunhill For Men, Eau De Toilette Spray (3.4 Ounces)– Lighter on the citrus, but a good deal, and some amped up general blue aquatic notes.

This one is sweeter, more floral, with some tonka bean and amber finishing things out. Again, this is another one that won’t be an exactly the same as Versace Pour Homme, but in the same general style for very cheap.

The marine/aquatic aroma in this is stronger than the others on the list and the citrus is also paired with a nice lychee fruit early on in the wear. Crisp freshness and fruitier rather than just being a citrus dominant cologne.

Dua Dua

Homage Pour Homme– This is The Dua Brands inspired version of the original 2008 formulation of Versace Pour Homme. This is one to try if you want something that’s trying to match the Versace experience.

Now, I haven’t personally tried this one out, but I’m including it on the list. I’ve gotten other scents and blends from them and they usually strike it pretty darn close.

Add to that, you get an Extrait de Parfum concentration, and in my experience with Dua…the perfumes tend to perform well. Also, they usually have discount codes on the site; so, it could end up being somewhat cheaper than new bottles of the Versace.

The Dreamer by Versace

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I can’t believe that I haven’t done a review of The Dreamer by Versace, up to this point in time. It has long been a go to fragrance on occasions, when I want to wear something different from the usual fair.

I found a mini bottle mixed in with a box of sample fragrances recently and I had to check the site, to see if I actually had written about this Versace cologne before. Nope.

So, in this post, I want to take a closer look at the 1996 release from this designer and give my thoughts on how it smells and performs.

What does Versace The Dreamer Smell Like?

Notes include: tobacco, tonka bean, lavender, sage, rose, cedar, geranium, and more

Click here to try: Dreamer By Gianni Versace For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces

My Full Review

The opening of Dreamer can be somewhat intense, compared to the rest of the wear. From the start, the tobacco note is present, it is more of an uncured tobacco than one which has been toasted.

I think that the intensity of the start stems from the sage, fir, and rose notes interacting with the tobacco. It is quite green with a sharp herbal spice and lavender poking through at times. That rose note with the tobacco, certainly lends a green-ish sensibility.

Now, Dreamer does settle down pretty quickly into something that is much better, than you initially get. As it dries, down Dreamer becomes sweeter and more floral. Yes, tobacco still is the top dog here, and will be throughout the entirety.

However, rose, carnation, and geranium show up to flank the tobacco for a really fresh heart. At times, this one reminds me of Burberry Brit. They don’t smell the same, but they share plenty of common notes, and can have a similar vibe. Just Brit, is more of a powdery cologne.

The rose really settles from a greener sort of smell, to the floral note, that we’re all pretty much familiar with. Nice mix of herbal, woody, and floral. Dreamer is such a unique fragrance, especially for a mainstream designer.

The base of this Versace fragrance, is a drier, woody one. There is a solid cedar note, fir, and vetiver. Ultimately, Dreamer is tobacco with a big does of lavender (and tonka bean) with floral/herbal notes supporting those two and a green woody base.

It’s really gets smooth and has a slightly spicy freshness during the dry down. Really great deep tobacco aroma.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage on this one starts out moderate, but turns lighter in short order. It’s never been weak for me, but this isn’t a super heavy fragrance. It doesn’t hang close to the skin but rather floats around in the immediate air around your body.

The longevity on this one usually runs 6+ hours, depending on the climate. It can go 8 hours for me, on colder days. Yet, here in this warmer southern climate, I usually will get that 6-ish hours from Dreamer.

Seasonally, this is an autumn through early spring wear. Dreamer isn’t very good at all, in hotter weather, so try to avoid that. It can be worn casually, at work, or even out for an evening.

It is a really versatile and attractive cologne, that women usually enjoy. Not necessarily ‘sexy’, but a complement getter. I’ve worn this as a teenager and as an adult, it does have a more mature air, but is fine for a younger guy.

Now, from what I understand, Dreamer may have been reformulated and perhaps the ingredients were changed up in new bottles. I can’t confirm that, but this mini bottle that I have from a couple of years ago, is the same smell that I remember from vintage bottles.

Overall Impressions of Dreamer

Overall, is the Dreamer worth a buy? Yes, it is. Again, not sure if the newer bottles have been screwed with or not, but the price for a full bottle has been really inexpensive for a long while now.

Update: Also, the newer bottles I think have changed at least some of the notes too. At least from what I’ve read, I haven’t checked out a new bottle as of yet. So, this is a review of the original formulation.

Lots of great fragrances from the 1990s are really affordable, at the moment, and are an awesome way to get both quality and value. This isn’t for everyone, but Dreamer gives you a great green tobacco with floral sweetness and a bit of fresh spice. It’s always worked for me.

It’s not my favorite fragrance ever, but there aren’t too many cologne options like this. As such, when the mood strikes, Dreamer is a great daytime wear for me to have around.

Versace Eros vs Polo Red Cologne Comparison

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It’s been a little while since I have done a cologne comparison and so I thought that I’d present a head to head match up between a Versace and a Polo scent. Eros vs. Polo Red. Both of these colognes are highly popular fragrances that have been released in the past 3-4 years and usually occupy a similar pricing point. I like both and have owned (own) both of them before. Which one is better? Which is the better performer? Is one worth a purchase?

Tale of the Tape: Eros vs Polo Red

Versace Eros 

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

versace eros

Read my Eros review

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

Polo Red Tale of the Tape

rp_polo-red-300x259.jpg

Notes of Polo Red: grapefruit, italian lemon, cranberry, saffron, sage

Try Polo Red: Ralph Lauren Polo Red Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 4.2 Ounce

Read my original review: Polo Red Ralph Lauren Review

Opening

The opening of Eros is like a heavy, cool, and gourmand blast that then begins to warm up rather quickly. Polo Red is sweet and warm with a candy-like lemon and cranberry combo. I really like Polo Red in the opening but I feel that Eros is just more interesting, even if it can be overpowering.

Update: Eros now seems to have more of the lemon up top than previously, at least to my nose. It’s more of a citrus mint up top, whereas the was more balance and a creamier tonka/vanilla aroma, in the very early stages.

Polo Red starts with that citrus and cranberry sweet/sharp blend. It’s bright and sits on top of plenty of amber.

Which one is better? I’d probably still go with Eros, but it’s less clear cut than it had been previously.

Edge: Eros

Projection

Versace Eros is an absolute monster in this regard. Polo Red is on the lower end of moderate with how it projects. I often have to double up on the application of Red, just to make it stand out. Eros never has that problem.

Update: Eros is still better with the sillage than Polo Red, but it isn’t as strong as it was in the initial bottles.

Edge: Eros

Longevity

My biggest gripe with Polo Red has always been the longevity issues. It works rather well when I double up but can have the tendency to just give out sometimes.

Eros is not only loud and bold, it also has always gotten very great wear anytime I’ve put it on. Even if you don’t like Eros, it simply performs.

Update: Eros has also lost some of its longevity, but again, still better than Red.

Edge: Eros

Versatility

Polo Red is good in the spring and summertime. I think it works decent enough in the colder months also. Red is a nice casual wear that is safe for the office but can be worn on dates without problem.

Eros…I can’t call it an office scent (it could be done, technically), but it is an in your face type of fragrance. Eros is also a cold weather scent, it can get somewhat ugly in the heat. Gotta give the nod to Polo.

Edge: Polo Red

Overall Scent

I’m going to go with Eros. However, I really do like wearing Polo Red…it’s just got some performance issues. Eros isn’t really a cologne for everyone nor is it for ever situation but there are plenty of guys who will appreciate it.

It is a rich, bold, and very nice gourmand that is built for romantic wear. It’s the better of the two. However, nowadays I might go with Polo Red Extreme as my first choice from these line of scent. I’m still fairly high on Versace Eros, just not to the same extent.

Winner: Eros