Dior Sauvage Elixir Vs Initio Oud for Greatness: A Fragrantic Showdown

Our subject of matter today is a bit of an unorthodox comparison. I’m drawing parallels between Dior Sauvage Elixir and Initio’s Oud for Greatness. Someone who does not own both might say this comparison is just not compos mentis but what I will discuss today is the fruit of a compilation of feedback from more than one owner and reviewer of both fragrances.

Starting off, Dior Sauvage Elixir was created by Francois Demachy, Dior’s in-house perfumer, and released in 2021. On the other hand, Initio’s Oud for greatness was released in 2018. Both releases captivated the hearts and minds of the frag heads around the world thanks to their unique smell and great performance.

Upon release, Oud for greatness received some unmerited comparisons to both Maison Francis Kurkidjan’s renowned Baccarat Rouge and Tom Ford’s luxurious Oud Wood. Both comparisons are feeble and ungrounded, at least for me. However, No one could refute the beauty and the herculean performance of Oud for greatness.

Oud for greatness starts off with fresh lavender, cozy nutmeg and mysterious oriental saffron, the latter is the key to the beautiful blending with the Oud (Agarwood) in the heart notes. The dry down is mainly Oud with some sweet musk, hence the comparison with baccarat rouge. Having said that, the Lavender will still be implicit in the dry down with the Patchouli hidden in the dark, further emphasizing a strong classical and elegant vibe from a vintage time.

As for Sauvage Elixir, It starts off with Elegant Grapefruit along with some spicy notes to pave the road for the prominent Lavender in the heart. The dry down is woody with lots of Ambroxan, Liquorice and, of course, the same very well blended Patchouli. I would like to mention that Sauvage Elixir has no Oud whatsoever in its composition.

So, for green frag heads or those who smell Oud for Greatness or Sauvage Elixir from a sample or decant, both smells may seem off, but once you start wearing both for some time, you will feel the appeal I’m trying to explain. The dry down in both perfumes is so similar that people would confuse one with the other on you.

 The opening of course is totally different, the heart starts making ends meet and then voila! The dry down is in effect. Just remove the Oud from Oud for Greatness and you get Sauvage Elixir. I believe it is probably the Lavender, Nutmeg, and Patchouli combo that evokes the similarities in the dry down of both fragrances, but what amazes me the most is how both perfumes start so differently and end so much on the same path.

Unfortunately, both are not for someone on a budget since both cost quite a lot. Also, I do not think they can be redundant to each other If you are willing to spend a hefty amount of money, it is better to grab both and enjoy many compliments as you mingle with people. Tell us your experience with either and if you own both, or if you “just tried them”. Do you detect any similarities between both, especially in the dry down? Tell us in the comments section.