5 Best Colognes Similar to Versace Eros (2023) Full Review
Versace Eros dupes.
Alluring vanilla creations.
This review will describe the five best colognes similar to Versace Eros. I will detail their smell, performance, and anything else you need to know. Dupes are commonly frowned upon for lack of inspiration, but all these are worth it.
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Table of Contents
#5 – Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male in the Navy
The opening is led by a cold and fresh mint note. It takes the forefront for the first few minutes of wear. In the background, it pairs well with a light water accord, which gives it a more marine nature. Within a few minutes, more vanilla and ambergris come through.
Mint fades in the mid, leaving room for a heavy dose of vanilla and ambergris. From the initial opening, the marine accord loses its oceanic freshness but gets warmer and saltier.
The dry-down finishes with watery vanilla and amber. This is a close fragrance to Eros with an additional aquatic accord and no woody base.
This lasts six hours on the skin with moderate to light projection. The first one to two hours pushes out two to three feet. After this period, it recedes to a soft ambiance and eventually a skin scent. This is spring and summer wear for casual and going out.
I think this is a much better choice than Eros in the summer while retaining a similar smell and quality.
#4 – Vince Camuto Terra Extreme EDP
Citric juiciness sits atop a fresh, boozy, and spicy accord. The citruses paired with orange blossom give the opening an initial sweetness and brightness. In a way, this combination is gourmand-like.
The citrus weakens in the mid. More prominent rum fills its void, bringing warm and spicy geranium.
The dry down is similar to Eros. A decent dose of tonka bean and vanilla rests on an ambroxan and benzoin duo. These notes mix and mingle for a while. The rest of the wear finishes with a prominent vanilla and benzoin duo atop a sandalwood base.
The longevity is in the eight-hour range with above-average projection. The first hour is an arm’s length or more. After this period, it slowly recedes. At hour six, it sits close to the skin.
#3 – Mont Blanc Legend Night
The opening starts with citric bergamot on top of candied apple, mint, and vanilla. In the background is a present sage and cardamom duo. It helps amplify the spice nature and gives it a more aromatic character like Eros. This would be another apple and vanilla-based fragrance without the aromatics and spices.
When things settle after the first few minutes, it is sweeter than Eros but smooth and cool with the cardamom and sage spice. There isn’t much of a mid because this fragrance lacks depth in the base.
The citruses fade, and herbal spices take the backseat in the dry down. You’re left with a more floral lavender and violet coming through. There are hints of wood and the same vanilla depth. The vanilla is most prominent in the opening and remains present the entire wear.
The opening is one of the most similar to Eros on the list, but the mid and dry down drastically deviate.
I only get about four hours of longevity. This is all attributed to the lack of depth in the dry-down. The projection is light as well. It’s present for the first half an hour. After this period, it becomes a skin scent. This is spring, fall, and winter wear for all occasions.
#2 – Guess 1981 Los Angeles Man
Mint is prominent from the get-go. It will retain this prominence in the heart. There are black pepper and slightly fruity plum nuances in the background. They are spicy and fruity but, more importantly, help temper the strength of the mint.
Late opening and into the mid, a warm, ambery sweetness is added. It gives the fragrance depth and will linger into the dry down. Once in the base, sandalwood rounds off the scent with smooth woodiness. There’s still an ambery depth and remaining spices. This is what you’ll get for the rest of the wear.
This lasts six to seven hours on the skin with moderate projection. It has an arm’s length projection for the first three to four hours. After this period, it recedes but maintains a one-foot ambiance for the rest of the wear.
#1 – Oxford Bleu English Laundry
The opening starts with a synthetic and smooth green apple and mint with a supporting vanilla and tonka bean combination, all atop a sandalwood backbone. In this case, the syntheticness is noticeable but not off-putting, like Nautica Blue.
There is little development in the mid. I smell soft florals that lend cleanliness and an aromatic nature but not to the degree of greenness and aromatics in Eros.
The base finishes with candied green apple and a solid oakmoss and vetiver base that never becomes too woody. This is what you’ll smell for the rest of the wear.
The scent development is the same as Eros; Oxford Bleu only differs in the quality of notes and has some minor tweaks. This lasts in the seven to eight-hour range with above-average projection. The first three hours are great; then, it recedes to a mild ambiance. This is all season and occasions wear.
Final Words
These are all great replacements for Eros. Oxford Bleu is the best dupe and the only one on this list. It’s a great way to save $30 and get a similar aroma. 1981 Los Angeles Man will be your best cost for value.
Le Male in the Navy’s biggest plus is its Jean Paul Gaultier quality. On the hottest summer days, I actually wear this instead of Eros because its aquatic accord is more fitting for the time of year.
The other two are quality but solely draw inspiration from either Eros’ opening or dry down.
After you try a cologne similar to Versace Eros, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.