Do you think Dior Homme is the best men’s fragrance ever? An analysis of 2022
Dior Homme has been hailed as one of the best men’s fragrances ever by many reviewers, perfume & fragrance experts, and perfumes themselves. There are, however, some critics who state that Dior Homme is nothing more than a nice masculine fragrance.
Conversely, Dior is known for reformulating its fragrances and playing silly – whenever they are asked if something has changed (such as with Dior Sauvage), their response is always “no”. However, they are unable to justify the change in performance and the scent itself.
In the case of Homme, the original was released in 2005, and Olivier Polge was the perfumer behind it. Dior redesigned and reformulated the entire line of fragrances in 2020 following numerous speculations that the perfume was no longer what it used to be.
There are three flankers of Dior Homme: Dior Homme Intense, Dior Homme Parfum, and Dior Homme Sport. I personally think they are all fantastic, but are they worth the money?
Having personally used the old formulation for years, I have already consumed four bottles of the new formulation since it was introduced. As a result, in this review, we will discuss how it smells today, what it performs, and what the actual differences between the old and new Dior Homme are.
Dior Homme: What Does It Smell Like?
A true cavalier should possess universal masculine characteristics, which Dior Homme conveys with its modern, masculine, and classy aroma. Despite its fresh and sensual nature, it does not possess any aggressive or punchy notes.
The notes pyramid is something we would expect from Francois Demachy, who was at the time Dior’s head perfumer.
The top notes are:
- The bergamot fruit
- The pink pepper plant
- The Eleme
The heart note is:
- A patchouli fragrance
- Cedar of Atlas
- The cashmere fabric
- A sandalwood fragrance
The base notes are:
- A white musk scent
- Vetivère
- The Super Iso E
The first time you smell Dior Homme, you will realize that it is very different from the original batch of 2011. It will be evident if you take a closer look at the note breakdown of these two fragrances that they have very little in common.
Dior Homme 2020 lacks the powdery, lipstick-like iris nuance that made the Dior Homme line so recognizable, which makes it unique.
At the very start of the store, you can pick up an ISO E Super with a cashmere mixture that creates a modern woodsy feel – a fuzzy, almost effervescent type of woodiness.
Also, there is a slight citrusy-sweet note that comes from the bergamot and elemi, but it is not as pronounced or distinctive as it could be.
As the scent moves into the middle, it becomes fresh and sparkly with a hint of sweetness in the background while Iso E Super appears as a fuzzy nuance throughout the whole duration of the fragrance.
In addition to the cedarwood, you can also detect cashmere, which is a synthetic and musky note.
When the scent dries down, it retains a mid-phase of warmth, freshness, and cleanliness before taking on woody notes over the course of two or three hours.
As Dior Homme dries, musk and vetiver provide a beautiful backbone to the prominent cashmere and Iso E components.
Also, I perceived a slight powdery smell, almost as if an iris nuance was included (which I believe they did not) but it may simply be my nose playing tricks.
In creating this fragrance, Francois Demachy had in mind the modern man – a man who is not afraid to reveal his weaknesses. To emphasize the woody heart, he sought a controlled strength with much more tender wood notes that are simultaneously engulfing in contrast to the top notes.
Francois Demachy is a perfumer who connects music with scent – for Dior Homme, he drew inspiration from Leonard Cohen’s “I’m your man”, which is exaclty how Dior Homme smells.
As a whole, Dior Homme 2020 is a pure woody aroma with hints of freshness, cleanness, modernity, and masculinity, as well as a light sweetness.
Does Dior Homme last for a long period of time?
In general, Dior Homme lasts between six and eight hours, depending on how your skin reacts to the scent, while the scent will be most noticeable within the first hour or two of application.
As with its anchor from 2011, Dior Homme does not have a spectacular performance, but it is still above average.
Dior’s Homme 2020 longevity has been the subject of a lot of different comments, and they are pretty contrasting.
Dior Homme has a solid longevity and projection, but keep in mind it’s not one of those fragrances that is average for the first 30 minutes, then disappears.
I can still smell it after a few hours, so basically it won’t introduce you before you speak, but its average projection will stay with you for a while.
There are a lot of factors to consider, but if you want to try out some tips and tricks I usually recommend for getting the most out of your fragrance, check out our guide!
Dior Homme: When Should You Wear It?
Dior Homme is ultra-versatile – you can wear it in any season, at any temperature, and for any occasion. As a signature fragrance, it’s perfect for every day.
My favorite thing about Dior Homme is its versatility.
Stop searching and buy Dior Homme if you’re looking for a pleasant, compliment-getting scent.
There aren’t many fragrances that can be used in different situations. Usually, we get a winter scent or a summer perfume, which is frustrating if you want an all-rounder.
No matter when you apply it, this fresh-woody fairytale won’t disappoint. Dior Homme will do its magic on hot, summer days as well as frosty, winter nights; in the gym or on a romantic date.
Due to its mass appeal, it’s also a great compliment getter, not the best, but high on the list.
Dior Homme: How Many Sprays Are Enough?
Dior Homme 2020 will open up properly and live up to its full potential after five to six sprays.
It’s an eau de toilette, a fresh scent that needs more sprays than you’d expect, but if you want maximum projection, these steps will help.
Even if you apply 10 unnecessary sprays, the fragrance won’t last for 10+ hours, and you’ll only waste precious liquid.
To get the most out of any perfume, spray it on your pulse points where the skin is warmer and it will last longer.
Apply two sprays behind your ears, one spray in the dip of your collarbone, two sprays on your wrist, and one spray behind your head.
Don’t spray more than once on the same spot because it’ll stop the natural opening of the fragrance.
Check out this post to learn about the best places to spray fragrance for maximum performance!
Comparing Dior Homme 2011 and 2020 – Differences & Similarities
I thought there would be more similarities between Dior Homme 2011 and 2020, but they are almost completely different.
Homme’s 2011 release presents a very unique and interesting composition; top notes are lavender, bergamot, and sage, middle notes are iris, amber, and cacao, and the base notes are leather, vetiver, and patchouli.
I personally wouldn’t agree with the stigma that Dior Homme 2011 smells like lipstick or make-up bags.
Iris is prominent in Dior Homme 2011, but it comes out as a woody, powdery, earthy nuance that is blended well in the composition and doesn’t seem aggressive.
There’s only one thing in common between the 2020 and 2011 releases: they’re both woody-oriented, but their woodiness is different.
Homme 2020 has a strong, modern, woody scent, whereas Homme 2011 has iris-woody juice with a great combination of cocoa and powdery, earthy, and aromatic notes.
Performance-wise, they’re pretty much the same, so that might be the second thing that formula didn’t change.
The overall uniqueness crown would go to Dior Homme 2011, while Dior Homme 2020 is a modern interpretation of the woodsy freshness, it has more versatility and would be more complimentary.
Both perfumes are breathtaking and incredible, but they target different audiences, so in the end, it just comes down to what your nose prefers.
Is there a store where I can buy Dior Homme?
If you want to buy Dior Homme online, you can do so on Amazon, FragranceNet, Sephora, Dior’s official website, and some other places that are authorized resellers of Dior.
You shouldn’t have any problem finding Dior Homme in either local perfumeries or online shops since it has been on the market for a while.
Getting yourself an older batch will, however, be more challenging if you want one from 2011.
It is safe to say that Dior Homme 2020 has a very low chance of not finding its way under your skin considering it is a risk-free fragrance. In any case, it’s always wise to go and test it on your skin before making a final decision.
The FragranceNet website is my personal recommendation when it comes to buying Dior Homme online. Personally, I get all my fragrances from FragranceNet, and I have never had any problems like broken bottles, fake fragrances, or deliveries that failed to arrive.
One of the best fragrance discounters out there, they’re a trusted source.
I’ll always link to authorized resellers or the perfume houses themselves on Amazon. If you do that, you can rest assured that you’re getting an original.
Besides Amazon and FragranceNet, you can also get it at FragranceX, Sephora, and Dior’s official website, as I’m sure you’ll get the original.
All websites have different prices, but they also have different shipping times.
It’s always a good idea to be careful when buying fragrances online since there are a lot of scammers who sell fake perfumes that haven’t been tested on people. Buying from a trusted source is always best.
It’s packaging
With a black label that has the fragrance’s name engraved on it, Dior Homme comes in silver, glossy packaging.
It’s a very classy, recognizable Dior Homme design once you take the box off. It’s a transparent bottle with slightly rounded edges and an interesting black cap with Dior Homme on it.
There is a yellowish color to the liquid that compliments the whole appearance in a very pleasant way. Homme has yet again delivered a stunning packaging design that is a combination of class, elegance, minimalism, and beauty.
You can choose from three different sizes of this product:
- The bottle contains 50ml (1.7 ounces) of product.
- There is a 100ml (3.4 oz) bottle available.
- It contains 150ml (5 ounces) of water
Please accept my apologies for this bad photo – my box is a bit beat up, but you can still get a good idea of how it looks!
Does Dior Homme really deserve its high price tag? Let’s find out!
There is no doubt that Dior Homme is a worthwhile buy when you take into account the price, scent, uniqueness, performance, but also complement factors.
The Dior Homme collection should be a part of every fragrance collector’s collection, regardless of how experienced they are or how new they are to the world of fragrance.
There is no doubt that this fragrance represents the ultimate designer fragrance for men, and you will be able to understand niche fragrances after it much better, since it can easily serve as the foundation for many other scents for men.
It came with a lot of fanfare when it was released as the 2011 version had a lot of fans, but the final verdict is that the 2020 version did not disappoint in any way.
My favorite go-to fragrance is still the same one, and I would definitely recommend having it in your collection. Almost all of the Dior Homme formulas have an exclusive and notable scent that could be the beginning of a new era for the brand.
While I am passionate about perfume, I live in a rural area of the Bronx, New York, far from any perfume stores that are close by. It is straightforward: I do not have any credentials to provide as the author of this blog. I just love perfume, that’s all I have to offer.
In addition to wearing male, female, and unisex fragrances, I also enjoy wearing perfumes containing woods, incense, citrus, flowers, spices, vetiver, and green notes. As well as chypre perfumes, I enjoy fragrances with oakmoss, especially chypres. Patchouli and amber are not particularly appealing to me, and with some notable exceptions, perfumes that smell very clean, oceanic, or are too sweet are not particularly appealing to me.
I also have an addiction to expensive chocolates and teas, and I spend a great deal of time browsing the Internet, reading blogs primarily written by others.