I used to love the musky, woody tone of Fierce by Abercrombie & Fitch, as it was my man’s signature summer scent during our college days.
Unfortunately, its recent formulations couldn’t seem to create the same addictive ambiance as it used to.
So, I looked up and collected a couple of fragrances that smell similar but in a better and more unique way. I also found some praise-worthy clones that stay within the budget.
Now, to widen your options, I’m going to describe these amazing Fierce substitutes.
Stay put!
What Does Abercrombie and Fitch Fierce Smell Like?
Fierce by Abercrombie & Fitch offers a clean and refreshing aroma with fir, petitgrain, and citruses at the top. While the core exerts the pleasant smell of rosemary, sage, and some floral accords, the soft, musky, woody base evokes pure nostalgia.
This all-time famous woody aromatic fragrance is a creation of Christophe Laudamiel and Bruno Jovanovic.
Now, let’s take a look at the note profile of this mesmerizing blend:
Top Notes: Fir, Lemon, Orange, Petitgrain, Cardamom, and Sea Notes
Middle Notes: Rosemary, Lily-of-the-Valley, Jasmine, Rose, and Sage
Base Notes: Musk, Vetiver, Oakmoss, Brazilian Rosewood, and Sandalwood
Its bright, youthful opening with fir and citruses will lift your mood from the moment you spray Fierce. There’s also a spicy aquatic vibe in it that adds a refreshing undertone.
As it develops, you’ll feel a clean, soapy aroma of lily-of-the-valley and jasmine mingling with rosemary. It stays fresh and cheering for a while, and after that, it settles with a mossy, woody, and somewhat musky base.
Overall, this is a mass-pleasing, soft, woody cologne that lasts around 7 hours.
But, the newer batches of this scent are quite low in quality and performance. And, if you feel the same as me, don’t miss out on the next segment, where I’m going to discuss some high-quality fragrances with a Fierce-like aura.
What Colognes Smell Similar To Abercrombie and Fitch Fierce?
Seeing the massive craze for this Abercrombie & Fitch cologne, many brands tried to launch their own version of Fierce. But most of them were not up to the mark.
Hence, I tried out several similar compositions and selected the closest-smelling ones.
Here are the smell-alikes of Abercrombie & Fitch Fierce:
1. Legend Montblanc
Top Notes: Lavender, Pineapple, Bergamot, and Lemon Verbena
Middle Notes: Red Apple, Dried Fruits, Oak Moss, Geranium, Coumarin and Rose
Base Notes: Tonka Bean and Sandalwood
Legend by Montblanc is not really a clone, but its alluring, fresh, spicy scent profile is very close to Fierce.
Actually, it’s more like a sweeter, more refined, and less spicy alternative.
It opens with a soft, fruity, slightly tangy blend of lavender, bergamot, and pineapple. Lavender’s smooth, licorice nuance balances the citrusy notes so that you feel a balanced freshness from the very beginning.
The aroma gets fruitier and gradually settles with some earthy, floral heart notes.
I love its dry-down, which conveys a rich, seductive, and masculine aura with tonka bean and sandalwood. Oakmoss stays prominent, giving a dark, mysterious finish to the composition.
To state the best part, this solid woody cologne is affordable and stays on the skin for over 6 hours with moderate sillage.
When To Wear
Montblanc Legend carries a versatile aroma that goes nicely with both casual and formal events throughout the year. In my opinion, its fresh and appealing tone would be best to use as a signature summer or spring scent.
Why Should You Buy
- Classic, fruity, fresh, masculine fragrance.
- Get attention from women.
- Works well for men of all ages.
- Offers a great value for the price.
- Classic, fougere masterpiece.
2. Ed Hardy Skulls & Roses by Christian Audigier
Top Notes: Bergamot and Cardamom
Middle Note: Lavender
Base Notes: Musk and Oakmoss
Ed Hardy Skulls & Roses for Him by Christian Audigier is a clean and refreshing cologne that resembles the invigorating smell of Fierce. I think it would be a great fit when you need an alternative with lighter and simpler notes.
The opening offers a refreshing bergamot aroma with a little hint of spicy cardamom.
After a while, the striking citruses mild down, and you’ll start to feel a smooth, airy, and refined tone of lavender. Instead of the fir-rosemary duo, prominent lavender will give you the clean, breezy feel that you get from Fierce.
Finally, musk and oakmoss take over the whole composition and set a smooth, rich, and utterly masculine tone that lasts around 6 hours.
I would say its sillage and projection are quite strong. Whenever my husband wears it, I can smell its addictive aura even from 4 feet away.
When To Wear
Much like the Fierce, this cologne also offers a refreshing and clean tone that smells great on any day of the year. Though you can use it casually, I think its aroma would be perfect for formal gatherings.
Why Should You Buy
- Cheaper dupe for Fierce.
- Classy masculine aroma.
- Likeable composition.
- Versatile and attractive.
3. Parfums de Marly Percival
Top Notes: Lavender, Mandarin Orange, Bergamot, and Geranium
Middle Notes: Hedione, Violet, Coriander, Jasmine, and Cinnamon
Base Notes: Ambroxan, Amberwood, Musk, Balsam Fir, and Clearwood
If you are looking for a smoother, richer, and high-end Fierce alternative, Parfums de Marly Percival is your best option.
It has a bright and luminous opening with juicy orange and bergamot. Meanwhile, lavender grounds the citruses while adding its clean, licorice nuances to the composition.
The core is almost powdery with violet and hedione but also carries a smooth, divine jasmine aroma with a spicy undertone.
Finally, it settles, turning into a rich, musky, woody base aroma. Here, the cozy mix of ambroxan with some woody, amber-like accords will make you fall for it.
Besides, the attractive aromatic journey of this PDM cologne lasts for about 12 hours with strong projection.
Anyway, this fragrance is like an elegant, aromatic experience to me. But I still think it’s pricey. And if you’re on a budget, you can try affordable colognes similar to Parfums de Marly Percival.
When To Wear
Percival leaves a fresh, aromatic scent trail that brilliantly complements formal or special occasions in the warmer seasons. It also has enough coziness to make your fall or winter days filled with elegance and sensuality.
Why Should You Buy
- Luxurious and expensive quality.
- Longer-lasting than Fierce.
- Richer and much more refined.
- You can use it all year round.
- A big compliment puller.
- Mass-appealing composition.
4. Mercedes Benz Man
Top Notes: Pear and Ambrette (Musk Mallow)
Middle Notes: Cedar and Geranium
Base Notes: Oakmoss and Palisander Rosewood
Need a charming blue fragrance with an evident Fierce vibe? Opt for the popular Mercedes Benz Man. Introduced in 2015, this Olivier Cresp formulation will never let you down.
When I first sprayed this cologne, I could smell the freshness of the pear with a musky, soft touch of ambrette hovering around me.
Actually, I felt the beginning of Mercedes Benz Man was a bit different than Fierce as it has a different note formation. But it does give a similar refreshing vibe.
The core has a smooth and more rounded woody aroma with cedar, while geranium gives a floral kick to it.
Dry-down is the part where it gets identical to Fierce. With powerful oakmoss and rosewood accords, the closing has an extremely rich, woody, and earthy tone.
Though its performance wasn’t that satisfactory, it could be a great deal if you’re looking for a budget-friendly dupe.
When To Wear
From friendly brunch to casual parties, you can wear the fresh, woody, musky Mercedes Benz Man on any kind of occasion. Plus, it’s extremely adaptable and can be your signature scent for the whole year.
Why Should You Buy
- Versatile and cost-effective alternative.
- Around 6 hours of longevity.
- Perfect for casual use.
- Smooth and intense musky aroma.
- Refreshing fruity opening.
- Sexy, masculine dry-down.
5. Playboy New York Playboy
Top Notes: Vinyl, Aldehydes, and Lime
Middle Notes: Green Apple, Elemi Resin, and Black Pepper
Base Notes: Vanilla, Vetiver, and Tonka Bean
Well, when a super cheap Fierce dupe is what you need, Playboy New York is your best call. Though it’s not the perfect interpretation of what we are looking for, this cologne gets its job done by giving you a similarly pleasing experience.
The opening presents a fresh, clean, and uplifting aura that stands out with a unique vinyl-like undertone. It gets smoother, sweeter, and a lot more pleasing when the core appears.
Here, you are bound to fall in love with the apple-elemi blend the heart offers with subtle spiciness.
In the end, rich, creamy vanilla leads the base, along with the fresh, woody vetiver nuances. Finally, the spicy smell of tonka bean adds a rich and seductive quality to the fragrance.
Plus, it offers around 5 hours of longevity with moderate projection.
When To Wear
Due to its refreshing, woody nature, Playboy New York works best when the days are warm and clean. To get the best experience, wear it at any casual or daily activities during the summer or spring.
Why Should You Buy
- Incredibly low price.
- Refreshing, pleasing, yet alluring aroma.
- Unique and interesting vinyl accord.
- Makes you stand out.
- Masculine and vanilla dominant dry-down.
6. #Fierce by The Dua Brand
Top Notes: Petitgrain, Fir, Lemon, Orange, Cardamom, and Aquatic Notes
Middle Notes: Rosemary, Jasmine, Rose, Lily-of-the-Valley, and Sage
Base Notes: Musk, Brazilian Rosewood, Vetiver, Oakmoss, and Sandalwood
In my opinion, #Fierce by The Dua Brand is the best you can get while looking for an exact copy of the masterpiece Fierce. Even though this version is a bit sweeter and sharper, it still gives an identical vibe.
It opens with a zesty, fresh aroma with prominent citrusy accords. I sensed an aquatic vibe in the background, but it was too subtle.
The core smells similarly clean and divine with fresh floral accords. Finally comes the dry-down, which is soft, musky, woody, and, at the same time, very seductive.
Overall, this is a decent Fierce replica to me, as I got around 80% similar aroma. Plus, it’s low-priced and lasts for the whole day with moderate sillage.
When To Wear
Just like the original, #Fierce is a versatile cologne and can be used seamlessly on all kinds of occasions throughout the year.
Why Should You Buy
- Affordable price.
- Classy, woody, masculine base.
- Addictive scent trail.
- Brighter and more intriguing opening.
7. Vodka on the Rocks By Kilian
Top Notes: Coriander, Aldehydes, and Cardamon
Middle Notes: Rhubarb, Lily-of-the-Valley, and Pink Rose
Base Notes: Ambroxan, Oak Moss, and Sandalwood
Vodka on the Rocks by Kilian is another gorgeous composition that comes with a comparable aroma to Fierce. Sidonie Lancesseur created this luxurious cologne in 2014.
It starts off with a fresh, clean, spicy aroma that will surely remind you of Fierce. Cardamom stays quite noticeable, creating a seductive background.
The aroma smells more refreshing as time passes. When it reaches the core, an uplifting blend of mouth-watering rhubarb and divine flowers will enrich your senses.
The dry-down is even richer and more seductive than Fierce. Here, you’ll feel musky ambroxan beautifully mingling with oakmoss and sandalwood.
Overall, I consider Vodka on the Rocks as a longer-lasting and more sophisticated substitute.
When To Wear
You can wear Vodka on the Rocks throughout the year. Yet, I find its clean, masculine aura best suited for formal or special wear during the spring or summer.
Why Should You Buy
- High-end quality.
- Luxurious and alluring aroma.
- Well-balanced and crowd-pleasing.
- Over 10 hours of longevity.
- Broad projection.
- Garners compliments.
- Attracts ladies.
8. Egoiste Platinum Chanel
Top Notes: Lavender, Rosemary, Neroli, and Petitgrain
Middle Notes: Geranium, Clary Sage, Galbanum, and Jasmine
Base Notes: Oakmoss, Vetiver, Cedar, Sandalwood, and Amber
There goes a saying that old is gold, which I think suits Egoiste Platinum by Chanel the most. Launched in 1993, this cologne has such a mesmerizing aura that people still can’t get enough of it.
Due to its uncanny resemblance, I believe you can use this timeless fragrance as a premium and more balanced replacement for Fierce.
Smooth, airy lavender blends with spicy, green rosemary and petitgrain, giving the scent a mind-blowing start.
After a while, aromatic geranium takes over the core along with some fresh, ambery accords.
It finally settles into a mossy, woody base that I love the most about this composition. In the end, you’ll pick the smooth sandalwood, adding depth and maturity to the whole aroma.
Overall, this is a great option if you love to try luxurious colognes.
Egoiste Platinum is pretty expensive, but its 15 hours of longevity and room-filling projection are enough to justify the price.
When To Wear
Egoiste Platinum is very versatile and works great in any kind of scenario all year round. Personally, I find its classy aura ideal for dates or special meet-ups in the spring or fall evenings.
Why Should You Buy
- Super premium scent.
- Elegant and sophisticated composition.
- Well-groomed and smooth aroma.
- Incredible lasting power.
- Enormous sillage.
Final Thoughts
Not every cologne can evoke a nostalgic feel, as Fierce by Abercrombie & Fitch. Even after decades of its launch, people still crave this discontinued gem.
To make your job easy, I’ve given a list of high-quality fragrances that mimic the alluring Fierce aroma in the best way possible.
So, check them out and purchase the one you prefer the most.
Till then, take care.