Choosing between two fragrances can be quite confusing – especially when they are two bestsellers from different brands.
This is why I have decided to jot down this article and find out the best cologne between two very famous perfumes Aventus by Creed and Invictus by Paco Rabanne.
While Creed is one of the most popular niche brands, it can be quite tough to beat their high quality and excellent performance. So, will Invictus beat this iconic scent?
Read till the end to find out.
Clash of Scents: Aventus Vs. Invictus
Creed Aventus
Main Notes: Pineapple, Bergamot, Black Currant, Apple, Birch, Patchouli, Moroccan Jasmine, Rose, Musk, oak moss, Ambergris and Vanille
Aventus by Creed was launched in 2013 and created by Jean-Christophe Hérault and Erwin Creed. It has been one of the top-selling fragrances by the brand – and for a good reason.
Aventus is a very complex and nuanced scent that makes it tough to evaluate it right out of the bottle.
Some perfumes change more over time than others, and this one does. It is a brilliant chypre, musky, fruity men’s fragrance.
It stands out and exudes a strong, masculine vibe. Even in the bottle that it comes in, it looks stunning.
Paco Rabanne Invictus
Main Notes: Sea Notes, Grapefruit, Mandarin Orange, Bay Leaf, Jasmine, Ambergris, Guaiac Wood, Oakmoss and Patchouli
Invictus by Paco Rabanne was launched in 2013 and created by Veronique Nyberg, Anne Flipo, Olivier Polge and Dominique Ropion.
Invictus has a wonderful scent that is fresh, oceanic, and woody. Much like Aventus, it has a fan base of its own and gave rise to a bunch of flanks, many of which received great responses.
Excellent for everyday wear, it has just the right amount of boldness and strength to it.
So, between these two chart-toppers, which one is the better option? How do different aspects of these scents vary?
Well, I am here to answer just that.
Below is a thorough comparison between Creed Aventus and Paco Rabanne Invictus:
Opening
The opening of a fragrance is very important in telling if you like a scent.
I don’t enjoy the opening of Aventus; the citrus opening may be somewhat harsh to deal with. The pineapple, blackcurrant, and birch dryness can be overpowering at first.
However, the aroma softens into something far more pleasant and refreshing. The following wave has less pineapple, more birch/oak moss, and some sweetness from mild vanilla and French apple.
On the other hand, what I enjoy about the start of Invictus is how the fruity notes catch the senses and focus exclusively on you.
However, unlike Aventus, it’s not loud or aggressive but certainly exudes confidence.
Invictus’ fruit notes, ambergris, bay leaf, and aquatic ingredients mix to give the smell a bubblegum-like aroma at the top. It is sweet and has a mild powdered sugar aroma for a short while before eventually settling down.
Even though the opening of Invictus isn’t very complex or layered, it is quite pleasant and not as overwhelming.
So, which one has a better opening?
I would say that the opening of Invictus is much more refreshing and citrus, yet not as overpowering as that of Aventus. So, it has a superior opening.
Projection and Longevity
Next, I will assess how well each scent performs in terms of projection and longevity.
Both perfumes perform admirably in terms of projection. Invictus provides a good sillage. Aventus, on the other hand, offers more intense and detectable fragrances of these two scents.
Aventus keeps me conscious of my presence at all times, whereas Invictus does not quite impart the same effect. Simply put, Invictus has a more subdued fragrance overall than the Creed scent.
This makes sense, given Creed’s reputation for potent, high-performance perfumes.
The case with longevity of these two fragrances is also quite similar – both of them perform really well and last a long time, but Aventus lasts much longer than Invictus.
To be more specific, I have noticed that Invictus lasts up to 8 hours, whereas Aventus is still detectable for almost 10 hours at times!
So, Aventus is the undisputed superior fragrance when it comes to performance in terms of both sillage and longevity.
Compliment Factor
It seems reasonable to compare the compliment factor because we all appreciate hearing how good we smell.
Both Invictus and Aventus have great projection and sillage, and they will garner as much attention as possible. However, the complementary potential of the two smells may differ.
Some people find the smell of Aventus to be harsh when they walk into the room because it is so strong and can be overpowering at times. Invictus, on the other hand, is less invasive yet still potent.
However, because the legendary Aventus has a very rich and well-developed aroma, I’ve observed that people enjoy it more and that wearing it brings more compliments.
So, which one is the better scent in terms of getting compliments?
Between these two, Aventus will earn you more praise than Invictus.
Versatility
I think spring and fall are the ideal times of year to wear Creed Aventus. I don’t think it holds up very well in the heat, but I think it’s fine for the beginning of summer.
On the other hand, Invictus by Paco Rabanne is a fragrance that works well both throughout the warmer months of spring and during the warmer months of summer.
Aventus, on the other hand, maybe pulled off pretty successfully throughout the winter months, while Invictus would appear to be out of place in the chilly weather.
When it comes to the question of where and when each of these fragrances could be worn, I’d reply that, in theory, they could be worn anywhere and for any occasion.
But I wouldn’t really call Invictus the type of cologne you’d wear on a date night, and even if I would wear other scents except for Aventus on a night out, it’s possible to pull it off successfully.
Invictus is the brand that I feel most comfortable wearing during the day and in less formal settings. In general, I’d say that Aventus has a wider range of adaptability.
So, when it comes to versatility, I think Aventus is better than Invictus in this aspect.
Value For Money
Now that we’ve gone over the fundamentals, let’s talk about the money business: how much do each of these perfumes cost, and which one is the best deal?
If you have been comparing perfumes, then you should know by now that Creed fragrances are on the high-end side; they are an authentic niche brand, and their perfumes are much more expensive than designer ones.
To ensure an accurate comparison, I have compared their costs using the same legitimate website, which is Nordstrom’s website.
As per the website, 100 ml of Paco Rabanne’s Invictus Eau de Toilette costs $100. I would say that this is quite a good price for the scent, performance, and brand value.
On the other hand, if you want to get a 100 ml bottle of Creed Aventus, it is going to cost you $495. Needless to say, it is very pricey, so it’s probably not everyone’s cup of tea.
If you have the budget, then you can go for Aventus, but I would say it is quite overpriced.
When I compare the prices, qualities and performances of the scents, it seems to me that the Paco Rabbane fragrance is much more cost-effective and offers much greater value for the money.
Hence, between these two, Invictus offers greater value for the money.
Overall Scent
Even though Aventus has a rather sharp opening, it develops beautifully, creating a pleasant overall scent.
As the fragrance develops, Aventus transforms into something that is more leathery, masculine, and woodsy, and the citrus notes become more of an undertone.
On the other hand, Invictus is a woody and fresh fragrance that features sea grapefruit and guaiac wood notes, which blend their ingredients’ sharp freshness and animal-like allure.
I enjoy both of these fragrances, but I can’t say that I’m very enthusiastic about either one, even though they are among the best men’s colognes in today’s fragrance market.
Nevertheless, if I had to choose just one to put on, I would go with Aventus. In my perspective, it is just of higher quality.
So, in terms of overall scent throughout the stay, I would prefer Aventus over Invictus.
Final Verdict
Both Creed Aventus and Paco Rabanne Invictus are, without a shadow of a doubt, among the very best fragrances available today.
Because all of these fragrances share similar characteristics and are not very complex, selecting the ideal cologne from this collection can be challenging.
If I were forced to choose, I would say that Aventus is by far the superior fragrance in terms of its performance and overall scent.
However, if you are unsure which of these two to choose and you’re on a budget, you should go with the Paco one because it offers a great scent at a far more affordable price.
I would highly recommend Aventus by Creed, but I’m not sure if it’s worth it due to its high price.
Therefore, my recommendation is that you go for Invictus.
In spite of this, if you get the chance, you should test some samples of both of them to determine which one you prefer the most.
Have you found this article to be helpful? Please let me know what you’d like me to talk about in the comments below.
