Parfums de Marly Layton vs Creed Aventus

For a decade Layton and Aventus topped every men's recommendation list. Both have fruit up top, but they lead it in opposite directions: Layton towards vanilla and spices, Aventus towards smoky birch.

Property	Layton	Creed Aventus
Profile	apple, lavender, bergamot, mandarin · geranium, violet, jasmine · vanilla, cardamom, sandalwood, pepper, patchouli, guaiac wood	Pineapple, birch, musk, apple
Gender	Masculine / unisex	Masculine / unisex
Longevity (community rating)	8–12 hours	8–12 hours
Sillage (community rating)	Strong	Moderate to strong
Occasion	Everyday, office, autumn/winter	Everyday, office, business
Season	Autumn, winter	All year
Our decants	5 ml – €21, 10 ml – €37	not in our range

Layton is in our range: apple, lavender, bergamot and mandarin up top, geranium, violet and jasmine in the heart, vanilla, cardamom, sandalwood and patchouli underneath. It's warm, sweetish and versatile. Aventus stands on pineapple and blackcurrant, which smoky birch takes over in the heart — so it comes across sharper and more masculine in the classic sense. Layton costs €290 for 125 ml (€2.32/ml); a 5 ml decant is €21. We don't carry Aventus, and its price is considerably higher than Layton's. If you want a fragrance you'll wear to work and to dinner, Layton is more practical; Aventus is more seasonal, for spring and summer.

Which is more versatile?

Layton. Its warm, sweetish base works all year, while Aventus is at its best in spring and summer.

Do you carry Aventus?

No. The closest to it is Armaf Club de Nuit Intense Man, which also has pineapple up top and smoky birch in the heart, and is considered the best-known cheaper interpretation.

Is Layton too sweet for a man?

The sweetness comes from vanilla and apple, not caramel, so it stays manageable. If sweetness in fragrance bothers you, Layton won't suit you either.

Which lasts longer?

We don't measure longevity ourselves. According to community ratings they're close, though batch variation is often mentioned with Aventus, which isn't an issue with Layton.

Which is the better first big investment?

Layton, because it's cheaper, more versatile and has no batch-variation problems. Aventus only makes sense once you know smoky fruit suits you.