Match #50 · Brotherhood Of Scent

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Match #50

Match #50 in my fragrance tournament is another elimination battle between two fragrances that couldn't be much more different: Chanel Antaeus versus Versace Eros EDT.

Antaeus (1981, created by Jacques Polge) is unapologetically masculine, with patchouli, oakmoss, castoreum, leather, and woods underneath an aromatic opening. It's very much a product of its era, but rather than simply smelling "old," I think it smells mature and sophisticated. More importantly for this matchup, it evolves throughout the wear and becomes more interesting as the hours pass.

Eros (2012, created by Aurélien Guichard) heads completely in the other direction. Mint, green apple, citrus, vanilla, and tonka bean make it sweet, bright, youthful, and immediately appealing. If I had to generalize, I suspect Eros would get more compliments from women, while Antaeus might be more appreciated by men—especially those of us with a few more years behind us.

Like yesterday's matchup, though, development makes a difference. Eros is fairly linear on my skin: what I enjoy in the opening stays pretty much intact. Antaeus keeps changing and revealing different facets.

Depending on my mood, I could easily choose either one. But today, subtlety, complexity, and sophistication win out. Chanel Antaeus survives another round, while Versace Eros is eliminated from the tournament.

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Match #50