Valentino Uomo vs. Dior Homme

Dior Homme has been a very successful fragrance over the past 15 years or so. Yes, it has now (as of 2020) undergone 3 iterations, under the name Dior Homme. In this post, I am going to be comparing the 2011 version, and not the newest release which is just coming to market. Anyway, one very similar cologne series to the Dior line, is Valentino’s Uomo series. In this post, I want to compare Uomo vs. Dior Homme. Which smells better? Which lasts longer? Which is the best buy?

Tale of the Tape

Valentino Uomo

Notes include: myrtle, bergamot, leather, coffee, cedar, gianduja cream

Click here to try: Valentino Uomo FOR MEN by Valentino – 3.4 oz EDT Spray

My review: Uomo EDT

Dior Homme

Notes include: vetiver, iris, cacao, bergamot, amber, leather, sage, and lavender

Click here to try: Dior Homme By Christian Dior For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces

Read my Full Review: Dior Homme Review

Opening

Dior Homme opens up with its iris note, cacao, and a juicy bergamot. The bergamot is a really nice touch up top, to give it a different feel, from the rest of the wear. It is smooth and floral with some underlying dry elements of sage and vetiver.

Valentino Uomo starts of with gianduja cream, bergamot, and myrtle. Obviously, the floral and bergamot aspects, give a very similar impression as Dior Homme. However, the nutty gianduja blends insanely well with the citrus, and the result is an utterly divine smell.

Which is better? I love both. However, Uomo, has one of the best opening acts ever…to my nose, anyway. It’s so good, I cannot get enough of that first 30 minutes or so.

Edge: Uomo

Projection

The sillage of each, can start off pretty strong, but quickly venture into the moderate part of the spectrum. Neither is going to blow the doors off and I don’t particularly notice much of a difference.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Just about every time that I wear Valentino Uomo, I get 7 hours of wear. When I initially tested Dior Homme, it was a 5-7 hour fragrance. However, when I got my full bottle, it would hit 8-9.

Dior Homme has a bit better staying power. Not a crazy amount, but can reach for those extra two hours.

Edge: Dior

Versatility

These are both very versatile fragrances during the autumn through mid-spring (in most places). You can wear them formally, casually, on a date, or out into the nightlife. 

Both are probably best worn by men in their mid-20s and up. These scents are so similar, that there really isn’t a distinction, in this category.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Which of these two colognes is the better wear? This is indeed a tough call, because I will gladly wear either of them, without hesitation.

The strengths of Uomo are its great opening act. The hazelnut like smell, with coffee undertones, and bergamot is just so enjoyable. Add to that the floral notes, leathery smoothness, and woodsy base. The latter parts, are basically a close kin to Dior Homme, in every way. 

Dior Homme is my personal go-to. It’s one of my daily wears, when I’m not testing out fragrances, for this site. Iris and leather are the pairing, that ultimately have the most influence. With cacao and lavender taking the secondary level. 

Some guys don’t like the iris in Dior Homme, I personally really dig it in this composition, because the leather and woody base keep it masculine. If that’s not your thing, go with Uomo, as it doesn’t have that iris note.

Overall, I’m still riding with Dior Homme, most of the time. I think that it’s slightly better as a whole. If Uomo smelled like the opening act, during the entire wear…it’d be the winner. It doesn’t and most of the rest of it, is a less interesting rehash of Dior. 

Winner: Dior Homme

Best Men's Colognes

Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.