Run Wild by Davidoff

Total disappointment. I thought it smelled different from Invictus, but Fragrantica was right: it’s almost identical. Maybe a tiny bit less citrusy and aquatic, but otherwise spot on. Soon detergents will be releasing this ‘Invictus-like’ scent. Ideal if you want to smell just like everyone else—even it smells like Ariel. It had its moment, but today… if you’re looking for something cheap or want to gift a joke to a perfume fan, this is your option.

Undoubtedly, no hype at all. But it’s a beast of a fragrance. Over time, it will become a hidden gem. Even though it smells like the same formula, it’s super delicious.

Sweet, fresh, and green cologne, very pleasant, in the style of Wanted and Invictus. Short longevity and average sillage. Very affordable price and perfect for daily wear.

Run Wild seems born with the ‘ugly duckling’ label alongside its sister ‘Cool Water Intense’. It feels like Davidoff is asked for originality as often as other cool brands. In an era where 99% smells like Invictus or Aventus, Davidoff always offered exciting proposals: Classic, Cool Water, Good Life, or Zino as ‘elite’, and others that are modest but appreciable like Echo, Relax, or Adventure. Run Wild belongs to that second group. I like it, even though it’s not original. It smells like Invictus from the start. The first day I tested it on my arm and smelled it the whole way on the train; it projected strongly. But it’s not quite that: it comes out loud and rowdy, but calms down quickly, mutating from Invictus to Chanel Bleu, turning into another trendy fragrance. Clearly for a more adult audience, not just due to potency, but because they polished off the canty edges and kept only the essentials, making it daily wear for men over thirty. It’s the mature and serious version of Invictus, for those who find Paco Rabanne perfumes too scandalous. It won’t go down in history, but it’s perfectly enjoyable for those who don’t always seek something unique.