These are sampling recommendations based on the brands' descriptions and current product identities. They haven't been ranked by wear time or projection.
Four different starting points
| Fragrance | Exact version | Why I'd sample it | UK price reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montblanc Explorer | Original eau de parfum, 60ml | Citrus, woody and leathery description | £65, Montblanc |
| Prada Luna Rossa Carbon | Eau de toilette, 50ml | Lavender, geranium and mineral ambroxan | £75, Scentstore |
| Versace Dylan Blue Pour Homme | Eau de toilette, 50ml | Aquatic and aromatic description | £74, Versace |
| L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme | Original eau de toilette, 75ml | Yuzu, water and woods | £74, John Lewis |
Prices were checked on 29 October 2026, before delivery. Sizes differ, so the amounts are buying references rather than an equal-volume price ranking. Promotions and availability can change. The Prada bottle in the artwork is the 150ml pack; the table uses the smaller 50ml buying option.
Montblanc Explorer: my citrus-and-woods starting point
Montblanc places original Explorer in a woody, aromatic, leathery family. Bergamot, patchouli and vetiver are among the named notes. I'd use that as a reason to sample it if those broad scent directions already appeal. Official 60ml Explorer page.
The checked £65 price works out at £10.83 per 10ml. It is lower than the official Dylan Blue reference in this shortlist, but I'd still want to wear both before deciding that Explorer saved me money. A cheaper bottle I rarely reach for is not the better purchase for me.
My reservation is the amount of advice that treats Explorer's reputation as a substitute for checking the name. Ultra Blue, Platinum and Extreme are separate versions. Photograph the original bottle if that's what you sampled, then match the full listing when you buy.
Prada Carbon: the lavender option I'd investigate
Prada names lavender, geranium and mineral ambroxan in Carbon's official description. That gives it a distinct reason to be here. I'd put it on a blotter alongside one of the citrus options to see which direction interested me more. Prada Carbon.
Scentstore's 50ml price was £75, with 100ml at £97. The bigger bottle has a much lower unit price, but a sample should come before deciding whether another £22 is sensible. Scentstore's UK size options.
I'd check the refill question separately rather than assume the Carbon name makes every bottle compatible. We found conflicting clues in the retailer's bottle description and refill link. The full Carbon review explains what to confirm before paying for a refill.
Versace Dylan Blue: the aquatic comparison
Dylan Blue's official description includes water notes and citrus, with an aromatic family classification. I'd try it alongside Explorer to see whether I preferred that direction to the woody-leathery brief. The navy bottle and gold cap make the pack easy to identify, but the important words are Pour Homme and Eau de Toilette. Versace's 50ml listing.
At £74 for 50ml, it is £14.80 per 10ml at the brand's listed price. The page accessed showed an out-of-stock message, so I wouldn't describe this as a currently available direct deal. Check another retailer's exact size, total price and availability if it is the one you prefer.
I'd also ignore a confident rule that its EDT label makes it weaker than every EDP. We don't have a matched longevity test for the products in this list. The concentration label helps identify the bottle; it doesn't settle your personal preference or promise a number of hours.
L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme: a yuzu-led alternative
The original EDT offers another direction: Issey Miyake describes yuzu and other citrus notes, an aquatic heart and a woody base. I'd include it to avoid making the whole shortlist a choice between closely described modern woody scents. Issey Miyake's original EDT page.
John Lewis listed 75ml at £74, equivalent to about £9.87 per 10ml, in the research check. That is a price reference for the original EDT, not a blanket price for everything carrying the L'Eau d'Issey name. John Lewis 75ml listing.
The reservation is personal taste, which the note list cannot resolve. I'd want to know whether I enjoyed its citrus direction later in the day as much as at first spray, before choosing it for regular use.
Make a small sampling plan
Choose the two descriptions that interest you most. Ask a retailer whether samples or a skin trial are available, identify each one clearly, and compare them on separate days if possible. I'd record the complete name, first impression and whether I still wanted to wear it later.
Keep the trial close to your ordinary life. A fragrance you enjoy briefly in a shop still has to suit the places where you plan to wear it. If neither sample convinces you, the useful result is that you haven't bought a bottle yet.
Research and limits
We checked manufacturer descriptions and exact versions, then used UK brand or retailer listings for dated price references. We have not tested longevity, projection, compliments or formula equivalence. The Explorer versus Dylan Blue comparison provides the closest value comparison in this set.