Burberry Brit vs Burberry London – My Experience

I love Burberry fragrances – they’re my go-to for long-lasting cold-weather colognes that smell far more expensive than they actually are.

Burberry Brit and Burberry London are the two I’ve found best for Fall and Winter. I have both of these fragrances running in rotation: Brit on brighter days, and London steps up when the night draws in.

It’s a cadence that works for me – although you might decide to just pick the one fragrance that fills the gap in your collection.

So what’s the best way to compare Burberry Brit vs Burberry London?

03/07/2023 10:22 am GMT

Basically, London is a deeper, more overtly masculine blend that will cut through the cold with spice and dark woods at nighttime. It’s for your typical “man’s man” – elegant with an eye for tradition.

While Burberry Brit is a lighter, more modern fragrance that is better for daytime walks in the crisp winter sun. It beautifully balanced an alluring rose accord against a powdery backdrop, producing a more intimate frosty date scent that still retains its masculinity.

Let’s work out which scent from the British brand is right for you.

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Burberry London vs Burberry Brit – Which Smells Best?

Burberry London and Burberry Brit are boat excellent colder-weather fragrances, with a warming, woodsy palate that cuts through the cold.

The differences are best summed up by saying that Burberry Brit is a lighter, brighter fragrance best for daytime, while London’s deeper, boozier palate lends itself to evening wear.

Opening

London opens up with aromatic spice, as warming cinnamon and touches of pine conjure a Christmassy feel.

While there are touches of spice in Burberry Brit’s opening, it’s in the form of energizing and bright ginger, like a modern Old Spice.

Top Notes:	Cinnamon, Lavender and Bergamot
Middle Notes:	Leather and Mimosa
Base Notes:	Tobacco Leaf, Opoponax, Guaiac Wood and Oakmoss
Designer:	Antoine Maisondieu
Year launched	2006

Brit feels immediately fresher and sweeter, led by its key rose note balanced by powdery tonka bean. This floral thread is seductive and light, compared to the richer tobacco brightness that drives Burberry. 

Dry Down

In the dry down, Burberry London brings in some soothing and clean-smelling lavender to add a soapy sense and a touch of maturity.

Brit also adds in some greener patchouli notes as it evolves, shifting the romantic bouquet of roses feeling into more of an outdoor, rose garden sense. It balances out the sweetness with freshness really nicely.

Top Notes:	Ginger, Cardamom, Green Mandarin and Bergamot
Middle Notes:	Wild Rose, Nutmeg and Tonka Bean
Base Notes:	Cedar, Gray Musk, Oriental Woodsy notes and Patchouli
Designer:	Antoine Maisondieu
Year launched	2004

Both Brit and London employ weightier bases of wood to keep them smelling masculine and confident, and these are the notes that persist the longest. While London uses a darker Guaic Wood (given musky character through Oakmoss) Brit uses a brighter cedar that has a little smokey bite to it.

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Longevity and Performance – Burberry Brit vs Burberry London

Which Scent Lasts Longest?

Both Burberry Brit and Burberry London last between 7 and 8 hours per application. That’s a really impressive longevity for two budget colognes in the $40 – $60 range, and plenty to carry you through a full day at the office or a night on the town.

I get that sort of life from 3 – 4 sprays to my neck and wrists, but you could even stretch that by another hour or two if you add a couple of sprays to your jacket or scarf.

03/07/2023 10:22 am GMT

Which Scent is Strongest?

Because of the stiffer spiced notes and deeper woods in the base, Burberry London feels more powerful than Burberry Brit.

For the first 4 hours or so, Burberry London will kick out a strong scent bubble that will turn heads and draw compliments.

Brit is more intimate. It starts out with a range of a meter or so, but after a couple of hours, it’s more likely to be noticed by those standing next to you than when you enter a room.

Because of this disparity in power, it can feel like Burberry London lasts longer than Burberry Brit – but I think that’s more a case of nose-blindness than anything else. I’ve had people notice it long after I’ve stopped smelling it – it’s there to be discovered, rather than smacking people in the face.

Which Scent Gets the Most Compliments?

Because of those better projective qualities, it tends to be Burberry London that collects the most compliments for me. It’s powerful enough to be noticed as someone brushes past you in the street, or is standing next to you at the bar.

That said context matters, too. Burberry Brit is the winter fragrance I turn to for dates, and in those more intimate moments, it often collects compliments.

When people notice this subtler fragrance in close quarters, like the office or while driving, it still gets really positive feedback.

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Versatility and Occasion

Both Burberry London and Burberry Brit are bonafide cold weather fragrances. Both London, with its spice, and Brit with its sweetness, have an element that would feel out of place in summer.

I would break it down to Burberry Brit offering freshness and class during the day, while Burberry London’s depth, warmth, and light booziness lend themselves to night excursions.

Burberry Brit is a more subtle fragrance, and for that reason is probably a better pick for winter office wear in close quarters.

The rose note also makes it a great pick for date night if you’re a classy gent that’s confident wearing something with a floral element. It’s neither too deep and brooding, nor overly sweet like other seductive fragrances like Paco Rabanne’s 1 Million. Brit feels more professional and confident that “playboy vibes”.

If you’re a mature Gent in his forties or above, I’d lean more towards Burberry London. It uses more traditionally masculine notes like deep woods and tobacco, while the floral balance in Burberry Brit smells a little more modern.

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Bottle/ Packaging

Burberry London has an iconic, plaid fabric design that looks just as cozy as the scent feels. It hints toward a traditional, gentlemanly scent that mirrors the sensibilities of the British brand. This budget cologne looks like something you’d reserve for special occasions, and this presentation is a nice touch if you’re looking to gift Burberry London.

Similarly, Burberry Brit’s sleek monochrome appearance points to a more urbanized and contemporary masculinity that reflects its modern scent profile. It looks smart on the shelf, if a little less immediately recognizable compared to the iconic tartan of Burberry London

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Is Burberry London or Burberry Brit Better Value?

Both Burberry London and Burberry Brit are excellent value for money. Both offer an expensive-smelling, long-lasting signature scent for around $45 per full-sized, 3.4 oz bottle.

Both colognes are firmly in the budget cologne category, and you’ll struggle to find a better cold-weather scent with comparable firepower longevity for less.

If you’re strapped for cash, you can pick up 1 oz bottles of either fragrance for around $25. Just be aware that the cost per spray is around double compared to the larger bottle, so it makes sense to invest in the 3.4 oz in the long run.

All prices courtesy of FragranceX

Size	Burberry London Price	Burberry Brit Price
3.4 Oz	$48.72	$43.04
1.7 Oz	$33.29	$30.05
1.0 Oz	$24.36	$25.18
0.16 Oz	N/A	$9.73

In terms of price, there’s really not much in it. Burberry Brit is about 10% cheaper, but for the sake of a few dollars, it’s best just to pick the cologne you prefer.

Where is the Best Place to Buy Burberry Colognes Online?

If you’re looking to buy colognes online, you need to make sure you use a reputable retailer.

Burberry colognes are cheap enough to not have to skimp on using a dodgy site to just save a few dollars.

If you’re looking for the best price, FragranceX is the way to go. These guys use a variety of clever methods to offer designer colognes for a cut price – and they’re the best value vendor I’ve been able to find.

If fast shipping is your priority, you can’t do any better than Amazon. With Prime, you can have your Burberry cologne in your hands the day after your order.

I recommend shopping through Amazon for the best shipping times. Just make sure you check the individual vendor reviews on the product page so you can buy with confidence.

Where Can I Get a Sample of Burberry Colognes?

If you want to try a bit of Burberry London before you commit to a full bottle, maybe consider getting a sample decant from Microperfumes.com.

You can order 2ml vials of fragrances for just a few bucks so you can try out designer colognes without blowing the bank.