Over the past few years, Versace Eros has been one of my go-to fragrances for when I need need a boost at the bar or on a date. It’s a masterclass in seductive scent.
It’s incredibly well-balanced, straddling the line between sexy and serious to perfection.
A vibrant, youthful party-banger cologne that women can't resist.
Masculine woodiness in the base (cedar) paired with sweet fruits and mint.
Beast mode performance- will last a full 8-hour day with no problems.
- More attention-grabbing than the EDP, and better for a party atmosphere.
- Not as expensive as the EDP – about 60 – 70 % of the price.
A vibrant, youthful party-banger cologne that women can’t resist.
Masculine woodiness in the base (cedar) paired with sweet fruits and mint.
Beast mode performance- will last a full 8-hour day with no problems.
Cons
Not the most unique fragrance out there. Most people have an Ex that reminds them of Eros.
A little unsophisticated. Eros is fun and vibrant, but not remarkably nuanced.
Not the pick for a job interview, let’s say.
Plenty of colognes designed to attract ladies can come off as either aggressively dark and broody or sickly sweet – but Versace Eros is far more sophisticated in its approach.
There’s enough fruity mint freshness to feel exciting and energizing, a powdery vanilla and tonka bean heart, grounded by a woodsy, masculine base.
If you’re looking for something that feels simultaneously seductive and classy, Eros is pretty much a must-try.
With top-tier projection that will cut through crowded rooms and impressive longevity of 10 hours, it’s a must-try if you’re a younger Gent looking for a cologne that will win hearts.
In this Versace Eros review, I’ll step you through everything you need to know to decide if Eros is right for you.
Versace Eros Review: Need to Know
Versace Eros First Impressions – Packaging and Presentation
The Versace Eros bottle feels like something you might find in a treasure chest in Uncharted. It’s got a real Atlantis-esque quality that adds some theatre to applying the cologne.
The piercing turquoise color represents the crystal clear mediterranean sea, while the head of Medusa is woven into the bottle and cap to remind you of the mythical power that the fragrance can bestow.
It’s worth noting the price structure for Eros. The bottles come in a range of sizes (50, 100, and 200ml), and it pays to buy in bulk. The 200ml variant, for example, costs the same amount as 2 50ml bottles. So, twice the price for four times the fragrance.
What Does Versace Eros Smell Like?
This fresh, woody blend marries a masculine base of stiff cedar with fresher inflections of mint and fruits for a fragrance that will drive women wild.
This apple-vanilla flavor bomb is delicious. It is creamy, rich, and sweet to the perfect level. The vanilla is neatly weighted against tonka bean – and the result is remarkable.
That smooth, sweet sense is punctuated by a sort of pointed spear mint that cuts through. It’s really fresh and vivid, and adds a sense of cleanliness to an otherwise quite gourmand palate.
If it sounds like a bit of a weird combo, just think about your favorite mint choc-chip ice cream without the chocolate. It works really well. The interplay of freshness and dessert flavors is just as addictive as it is unusual.
Girls love it, and I love wearing it.
| Top Notes: | Mint, Green Apple and Lemon |
| Middle Notes: | Tonka Bean, Ambroxan and Geranium |
| Base Notes: | Vanilla, Cedar, Vetiver and Oakmoss |
How Long Does Versace Eros Last For?
So, Versace Eros is pretty loud. You’d expect that from a cologne that has made its reputation on the party scene. It has to compete with plenty of other aromas in the room, some more pleasant than others.
In my experience, you should get a decent fragrance bubble of a couple of meters for your first 3 hours after application. Beyond that, you’ll have intimate levels of projection for the remainder of the 10-hour ride.
A vibrant, youthful party-banger cologne that women can't resist.
Masculine woodiness in the base (cedar) paired with sweet fruits and mint.
Beast mode performance- will last a full 8-hour day with no problems.
- More attention-grabbing than the EDP, and better for a party atmosphere.
- Not as expensive as the EDP – about 60 – 70 % of the price.
It’s one of these colognes that you still smell on your wrists when you wake up from the night before. When you are spending a decent chunk of change on a designer cologne, you want something that has a bit of staying power.
Plus, it means you need fewer sprays per application, extending the lifespan of your bottle.
- Check out our comparison of Versace Eros EDT vs EDP for more.
Occasion and Personality
Who Would Like Versace Eros
Versace Eros is designed for younger Gents looking for something engaging that still feels masculine. If you’re a Gent in his twenties or early thirties, it’s pretty much mandatory to have a bottle of Versace Eros in your rotation.
When Should You Wear Versace Eros?
Versace Eros is a seductive scent primarily for nights out. It feels designed to intoxicate those you come into contact with and make a statement about your personality.
It’s masculine, but in a way that is energizing and hints at the libido of youth, rather than exuding stoic confidence.
I’d consider this scent to be extremely versatile in terms of seasonality, wearable year-round – but it will kick out more in higher heat.
This is a loud and attention-attracting scent, so scale the number of sprays to the location/event. Eros is not the sort of fragrance you’d want to wear to an enclosed office space, for example
Versace Eros History
Versace Eros is inspired by the Greek God of love, Eros, who seeks to share the powers of passion and desire with us mere mortals. A lofty goal, but one Versace seems to have pulled off pretty comprehensively.
It’s for the man-gladiator who is capable of claiming what is rightfully his.
“This is a fragrance for a man who is his own master. He is a hero: a man who defends their ideas and goals.” –
Donatella Versace.
Versace Eros is a masculine club-banger best suited for youthful exuberance. It’s got mass appeal and is pretty much guaranteed to pick up compliments from girls.
Since its release in 2012, Eros has become one of the flagship Versace cologne and a common feature in many Gents cologne collections.
Versace Eros Flame
Such was the success of the Eau de Toilette that Eros spawned another popular flanker, Versace Eros Flame.
Seductive note profile with an attention grabbing peppery opening.
A compliment-grabbing scent with a warm and cozy dry down.
As the name suggests, Flame is a slightly warmer – and more mature – variant of the seductive Eros DNA. If Eros is a party boy who is all about fun, Eros Flame is the older brother with a little more experience.
| Top Notes: | Mandarin Orange, Black Pepper, Lemon and Rosemary |
| Heart Notes: | Pepper, Geranium and Rose |
| Base Notes: | Vanilla, Tonka Bean, Sandalwood, Cedar, Patchouli and Oakmoss |
Batch Variation
There are some pretty opinionated folks out there who are critical of the newer batches of Eros. They say that the newer batches are pretty weak by comparison, and don’t have as much projection and longevity as they did in the “good old days”.
Personally, I’ve never tried the original Eros, so I’m not going to offer anything groundbreaking here.
What I can say is that from the newer batches I’ve tried, I receive pretty consistent compliments – which would suggest that it’s doing its job.
I do spray relatively heavily if I’m headed out for the evening (4 – 5 sprays across my body, neck, and head), but I get a lot of mileage from that.
Is Versace Eros Worth It?
Versace Eros can be judged in two ways. Firstly, the fragrance itself. I find the blend of vanilla and freshness evocative and exciting and would give it a solid 9/10 for a cologne of this price point.
But more importantly, you judge a cologne on its results. Why are you wearing a cologne called Eros? You want to attract girls, and Versace will certainly do that for you.
There have been a handful of times where I believe Versace Eros has played a pretty fundamental role in “sealing the deal”, let’s say.
A vibrant, youthful party-banger cologne that women can't resist.
Masculine woodiness in the base (cedar) paired with sweet fruits and mint.
Beast mode performance- will last a full 8-hour day with no problems.
- More attention-grabbing than the EDP, and better for a party atmosphere.
- Not as expensive as the EDP – about 60 – 70 % of the price.
Where to Buy Versace Eros Online
Amazon is my favorite place to buy colognes online. They tend to offer the best prices, with a multitude of vendors to choose from keeping prices competitive. I love that there are always plenty of public reviews so I always know exactly what I’m getting before I order.
They’ve also got shipping down to a fine art. If you order a cologne available with Prime delivery on a Thursday, there’s a good chance it will be in your hands by the weekend. It’s that rapid.
If you don’t like shopping through Amazon, you can also go via FragranceX. Those guys use a lot of creative stocking techniques (like selling testers) to keep their colognes really competitively priced.
FragranceX has also got a really generous returns policy, so you can try out new fragrances without worrying about wasting your cash
Similar Fragrances to Versace Eros
Guess 1981 Los Angeles – Best Versace Eros Alternative for Young Professionals
1981 Los Angeles is another one of my go-to picks for nights out with friends.
It’s the perfect budget-friendly fragrance for a gent who wants to be asked “excuse me, what are you wearing?”.
A well-balanced and masculine cologne that emphasizes a unique plum note. A worthy signature scent.
Ideal for Gents in their 20s or 30s. It's classy, but still sweet enough to feel playful.
Cheap! This is a perfectly good cologne for just 20 bucks.
Something a little more mature, with a unique plum note.
People will ask you what you’re wearing when you’ve got 1981 on.
Cons
Last 4 – 5 hours. For the price, that’s great. Compared to the other options on this list, it’s not.
Not the most formal or serious cologne in the world. Think “space cowboy” rather than “job interview”.
Compared to Eros, I’d probably pitch Los Angeles as something for slightly older gents. Let’s say late twenties/ early thirties.
After a couple of sprays, you’ll be oozing upper-class confidence that feels bespoke rather than “one-size-fits-all”.
The idiosyncratic plum note keeps things sweet enough for a younger crowd, but there’s plenty of maturity in the base from helpings of sandalwood, amber, and tobacco.
Overall it’s a well-blended fragrance where no specific note is too loud. It’s smooth throughout its respectable 4-5 hour lifetime, too. If you’re looking for better longevity, 1981 Los Angeles lasts 7-8 hours on fabric.
- Check out our guide to the best Guess fragrances for more.
| Top Notes: | Black Pepper, Plum and Bergamot |
| Middle Notes: | Ginger, Mint and Geranium |
| Base Notes: | Vetiver, Sandalwood, Amber and Tobacco |
Mont Blanc Explorer- Most-Stocked Alternative to Versace Eros
Mont Blanc Explorer is a fruity, warm, amberish concoction. It reminds me a little of Aventus by Creed, but without the smokiness (or the price tag!).
Bergamot is front and center, with touches of leather and amber lending masculinity and authority to the palate.
Montblanc Explorer melds invigorating bergamot with earthy clary sage and a robust, woody base. Bold and dynamic.
This fruity and warm blend reminds me of Aventus by Creed.
Masculine vetiver and leather on a woodsy base.
Great availability worldwide.
Cons
6 hours lifetime is decent, but not HUGE (like a 10-hour Creed for example).
If you’re around fragrance snobs, they might accuse you of looking for knock-off Aventus.
The woodsy, vetiver base helps to stiffen and round out the sweeter fruit notes and prevents Explorer from feeling too safe or summery, which is great.
Montblanc Explorer lasts a good 6 hours too, which is plenty for cologne in this price range.
It’s a popular fragrance that’s widely available, so well worth trying out if you find that Versace Eros is out of stock.
| Top Notes: | Pink Pepper and Clary Sage |
| Middle Notes: | Leather and Vetiver |
| Base Notes: | Ambroxan, Patchouli and Cacao |
Davidoff Cool Water – Best Mature Alternative to Versace Eros
This is the nightlife pick for a mature gent who is growing into his 40’s gracefully. Davidoff Cool Water was synonymous with the club and bar scene 15 years ago, and it’s having another “moment” now.
A mature sandalwood cologne with an aquatic, clean and fresh feeling.
Touches of lavender and rosemary help round out the bitter, dry sandalwood for a well-balanced fragrance.
The dry, bitter sandalwood is the main accord here, but it’s mellowed by an aquatic sense of seafoam and citrus vitality. It’s clean, laundry-detergent fresh, and brings to mind a pristine white t-shirt. Casual and proud.
It exudes confidence, status, and experience. They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but if you’re a mature professional looking for something easygoing, you won’t go wrong learning a thing or two about Cool Water.
| Top Notes: | Sea water, Lavender, Mint, Green Notes, Rosemary, Calone, and Coriander |
| Middle Notes: | Sandalwood, Neroli, Geranium and Jasmine |
| Base Notes: | Musk, Tobacco, Oakmoss, Cedar, and Amber |
What’s Changed?
We updated this guide in January 2024 to reflect the most recent pricing information.
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