Versus Uomo by Versace

Versace Uomo’s urban punk-rock aesthetic absolutely drives me crazy. It’s designed for a young, party-ready guy with a gay-friendly, very ‘nightlife’ vibe. Back in the late 80s and early 90s, Gianni tried to create an exclusive line with Versus to attract youth, something the brand hadn’t done before since its audience was more mature. The marketing was brutal: accessible prices without lowering the premium level, courting new generations. Versus Uomo is a ‘relaxed citrus’ but with character; I thought they’d go all out aromatically, but at least with this first men’s launch, they took the spirit of the 1984 Versace L’Homme and ran it through a youthful filter, stripping away the animal, spicy, and ‘aged’ elements. It opens with sweet bergamot, hints of tangerine and peach; the citrus is definitely the standout. As it evolves, it turns into musky, vanilla, and amber tones. The clove stands out, which it shares with its father. We could say it’s a rejuvenated Versace L’Homme: yes, no doubt. It doesn’t have the complexity of the original (nor did I think it tried to), but both are perfect. The philosophy is ‘less is more’ with quality. I expected something different, but I still like it. In my case, I’d give it a bit more strength to project more, nothing else.

Versace Versus is a beautiful, under-the-radar sweet citrus composition, yet strangely the prices are going up. Its scent is a friendly blend of woods and lots of lime, followed by peach adding that sweetness, moving between the 90s and 80s influences. It’s very versatile and perfect for dates and work. Sometimes it reminds me a lot of Boucheron Homme EDP due to the citrus, but with more punch. It’s one of the best fragrances from Versace, and it hurts to see them releasing Eros Elixir, Dylan Blue, and that detergent Pour Homme… well, better not continue. If you get it at a good price like I did, don’t let it go. You have one of the house’s treasures and a true classic from the 90s.

But which Versus are we talking about? Versus Uomo was my cologne in the 90s when it first came out. It wasn’t very well-known then, but it suited me perfectly; back then they said it had pheromones. I used it until the early 2000s when it disappeared. I found the last bottles in lost perfumeries in Las Palmas when it was already retired. That’s why I don’t know what perfume people are talking about today since it’s impossible to get; it simply doesn’t exist anymore. If you want to remember that scent, smell Obsession by CK for women ODP; it’s identical, at least on my skin.

Versus Uomo is a timeless fragrance despite its semi-fougère launch. After the first 10 minutes, it settles into a linear set of masculine accords with a slightly annoying musk in my taste, derived from amber and benzoin, though it owes all its virtues to it. Versus is a fragrance that carries that established masculinity from the 50s until the late 70s in the chest, on a purely conceptual plane. However, it was very coherent and dignified in its birth in 1991. It’s a worthy rival to YSL Jazz and all those born in that era that had one foot in the past and another in a rupturous, perhaps desperate search for innovation. Among them, Versus has a unique spirit, perfectly uniting the past with those aspirations. It seemed like an extraordinary fragrance that mixed notes without giving special prominence to any. In this conception, notes like vanilla and peach only play their role in building a whole; if anything, the coriander seed sits slightly above the rest, while lavender and clove reach one of their greatest heights here, not as protagonists but very necessary, as they add energy and vibration to this Versace. The whole is masculine with a slight vibration reminiscent of the amiable, outrageous, and brutal Ungaro I. It took me five days to understand the beauty of this magnificent Versace, and I feel it will be one of my favorites from now on. I recommend digging through the dust, getting into the corners to find this fragrance if you like the vintage world, as it truly and artistically assembles an timeless, tremendously masculine, and sexual aroma. Note: requires over-application to reach the 8 hours without issues. Average projection. Update (31/03/2021): This perfume has had an effect on women that surprised me; I don’t know if it’s due to its immense masculinity or the comment about pheromone use. Whether true or not, it seems to have a narcotic effect on them.

Let’s open the time tunnel but don’t go, let the memories come; theoretically, it’s healthier to make mistakes in the present than to try to fix those of the past, so honoring that theory, I will irrevocably err by reviewing a memory. My 90s were my 20s, and this fragrance was like a slap in your first fight, the one that tells you you are no longer a hurried, clumsy teenager, but a Man, a Male, a Stud. This fragrance separated you from the herd; you were the Alpha. As the name anticipated, you were Versus the rest, of your childish past, of future machinations, of the world. It reaffirmed your virility with salty woods from the sea, stones that were once something else, humors from beasts, and the leather of those beasts; dried tears of well-bred girls and the bitterness of the uncertain; only the mediocre are sure of everything. I used it all year, but always at night, as I started to know formality and made my best effort to show I wasn’t entirely convinced (formal shirt, open collar, dark jeans, or black suede pants). It wasn’t for anyone, it was for young people with adult energy, like chosen ones to star in a Sofia Coppola movie (cute, elegant) but they decided to shoot in black and white with Jarmusch and Tom Waits. Close the tunnel.

I bought it at Fragrance.net. It’s not bad, but I wouldn’t buy it again. Too much lavender for my taste and very weak. Out of all the Versaces I’ve tried, my respects go to the 2003 Versace Man.

I also recommend it; it’s one of the best fragrances from Versace, very masculine and fresh, recommended for young people. Its scent is exquisite, slightly citrusy, but sweet notes predominate… it doesn’t go unnoticed.

It’s very masculine, a masculine and yet unique scent; wherever you go, you leave a trail… I recommend it.