Sauvage by Dior was launched in 2015 as an Eau de Toilette for men, available in 60 and 100 ml. The nose behind the perfume is François Demachy.
This Eau de Toilette was launched as part of the Dior Sauvage collection. It was a huge hit when it was first released, but although interest waned a bit in the years after its release, it’s still a cult favorite. It’s an Aromatic Fougere fragrance with fresh, citrus, and woody keynotes.
A note from the perfumer:
“To create Sauvage, I used man as my starting point. A strong and unmistakable masculinity. Like the image of a man who transcends time and fashion.”
| Perfume Name | Sauvage |
| Brand | Dior |
| Year Released | 2015 |
| Concentration | Eau de Toilette |
| Scent Family | Aromatic Fougere |
| Gender | men |
I’ll admit I wasn’t so excited to try the Sauvage EDT at first as so many people have told me it’s not really unique or one of Dior’s best scents despite it being so super popular after it’s release. I’m always looking for something more unique, so the fact that it was known to be such a crowd-pleaser didn’t really inspire me. My curiosity finally got the best of me, and I got a sample. This is what I think of it.
What does Sauvage by Dior smell like?
Sauvage EDT is instantly recognizable by its fresh zest mixed with that peppery note and the earthy muskiness. A complex and sweet citrus fruit, Calabrian bergamot, is the top note. It reminded me a lot of Prada’s Luna Rossa Carbon. Luna Rossa Carbon doesn’t have that strong peppery note. Instead, it has more Lavender.
| Top Notes | Calabrian bergamot and Pepper |
| Middle Notes | Sichuan Pepper, Lavender, Pink Pepper, Vetiver, Patchouli, Geranium and elemi |
| Base Notes | Ambroxan, Cedar and Labdanum |
My Experience
As I first sprayed the scent, it first felt very strong and heavy. The Sichuan pepper feels very pronounced, but at the same time, I didn’t dislike it as I would’ve expected. Even two hours later, the smell was still heavy with a pretty good projection. As the peppery note settled, I started picking up more of the lavender.
After about three hours, I met up with a friend for a coffee, and she commented on how nice I was smelling – fresh and crisp.
When I later bumped into my neighbor she asked what I was wearing. It’s not often that a scent gets this many compliments just in one day, so I feel it lives up to the hype of being such a well-loved fragrance.
Sillage & Projection
I was really surprised by the sillage and projection for this scent, especially as an Eau de Toilette. Personally, I would give the sillage an 8/10, maybe even a 9, and the projection an 8. It was pretty heavy the first few hours but then settled into something a bit more moderate.
Longevity & Versatility
Not only does it perform well on sillage and projection, but I think it’s also a super versatile perfume. I guess this is another reason why it’s become so iconic. I think it’s a pretty versatile scent, and I can imagine wearing it during all seasons. Perhaps, I’d want something different for the colder months personally, but I can still imagine that someone would also wear it throughout winter.
It’s definitely an Eau de Toilette that can take you through the day, and in terms of longevity, I’d give it an 8.5. You can wear it to the office and on a date, and it will be an equally appropriate scent.
Closing thoughts
I think Sauvage is definitely worth a try. Because of its initial surge in popularity, I suppose it’s become a scent people loved to hate because gurus said it wasn’t cool anymore. And although I didn’t bother to try it when it just came out, I have to admit it ticks all the boxes when it comes to an almost perfect fragrance.
It’s not super unique, in my opinion, and definitely a crowd-pleaser, but it gets you plenty of compliments. If someone is looking for a versatile all-around scent, you can’t go wrong with Sauvage.
I’m seriously contemplating adding this to my collection. Overall, the quality of the scent and what it does for you definitely make this well-priced, in my opinion.