Prada Luna Rossa Carbon vs. Dior Sauvage – Who’s The Best?
Luna Rossa Carbon vs. Sauvage.
Do you want the allure of Sauvage but with a twist?
Prada Luna Rossa Carbon is said to be the best clone of Dior Sauvage. Well… let’s see. I will review both and then, in the end, break down their similarities and differences. By the end, you’ll know which one is best.
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Table of Contents
Prada Luna Rossa Carbon
Smell
Right off the bat, it’s fresh bergamot with a slight pepper kick. In the background, there’s clean lavender and a warm amber. The first few minutes are all about the bergamot. It is authentic with bitter and sour tinges but never off-putting.
Now, the peppery kick is noticeably present for as long as the citruses are pumping out. It is slightly “abrasive” but never repulsive. Just know that this is black pepper in here. There’s no subtle sweetness or smoothness to it.
Either way, the first five minutes of citruses are very well-blended. They create a very attention-grabbing fragrance to “hook” you in.
In the background is the warm depth of ambroxan. It is all about warm amber but also has a metallic nature, hence why this gets the ‘Carbon’ name. As the scent develops comes the clean lavender. When combined with the metallic nature, it does have a barbershop vibe. Even though I wouldn’t consider this a barbershop fragrance.
Once the lavender comes through, the citruses and spice fade. The rest of the wear is metallic ambroxan, with lavender playing second fiddle.
Performance
Even though this is not a mega-performer, it is a very wearable fragrance. Luna Rossa Carbon always lasts through a typical day at work, but it’s gone by the time I’m home at night. As for the projection, it makes your presence known but doesn’t overwhelm.
You can wear this for all seasons and occasions. In the winter, you’ll only have to apply one or two more sprays. And for formal occasions, it’s sophisticated enough. Yet, it is also laid-back and subtle enough to fit into all other occasions.
Now, the best part of the fragrance. This has always been a great compliment-getter for me.
Dior Sauvage EDP
Smell
Two things are going on in the opening. Fresh bergamot and pink pepper nuances lead the first few minutes. They are bright and grab attention from the intensity of the citrus and the pepper kick.
It only took one to two minutes, but warm and smooth ambroxan support in the background. It is present but not as prominent as it will be til later in the wear.
Give Sauvage five minutes, and the citric bergamot weakens. A modern and uplifting lavender fills its void. Still retaining the same degree of freshness. The ambroxan is getting more intense for the entire wear. It has a degree of “sweetness”. It is faint but interesting. In the middle, it “pushes” the spices to the top.
You’ll smell ambroxan, fresh lavender, and faint spices the first few hours.
The scent simplifies after this period. The ambroxan washes over the base like a tidal wave, bringing a decent dose of musk. The rest of the wear is fresh ambroxan and musk.
Performance
Dior Sauvage is an excellent performer, lasting on the skin for ten hours and projecting well. It pushes out an arm’s length or more for multiple hours.
This is all-year-round and all-occasion wear. Even in the summer, it works. Some guys complain that it’s too much. But that’s only if you wear it in 90-degree weather with too many sprays.
It is the “just right” version of everything that can be worn for anything. Not much else can be said about its versatility. Lastly, Sauvage is likable and will get you compliments. The TikTok of girls fainting when “he” wears Dior Sauvage is accurate in the amount of attention.
Final Words
So, how do they compare? They both have fresh citrus and spicy pepper openings. However, Sauvage uses pink pepper. This may not seem like a big difference, but it makes a subtly sweet and smoother aroma. The black pepper of Luna Rossa Carbon is just louder.
The clean lavender is similar in both. But the base of each fragrance differs. Carbon is more metallic and “rougher.” This may not seem appealing, but it gives the scent a lot more character. Sauvage is just a blanket of warmth.
As for performance, both are so similar that it’s not worth comparing and contrasting. They will both last all day and get a ton of compliments.
Now, with all this said. Who’s the best? Because of the unique twist on a very likable DNA, Prada Luna Rossa Carbon.
If you want more dupes of Dior Sauvage EDP, check out my list of the top five.