Avignon or Cardinal? Why?

[arwen_elf]

My husband has taken an interest on my perfume collection. He asks me to spray him with something different every day. One day he tried Avignon and loved it. A few days later I let him try Cardinal and he did not like that one. I could not understand, since they are similar to me. He thinks Avignon is rawer and earthier (his words).

Which one do you prefer and why?

[Shiny Beast]

They smell nearly identical to me. I'd pick Avignon though, because it's CdG and I like their quirkiness.

[hednic]

Cardinal because it's better IMO.

[alfarom]

Avignon is overal darker, thicker and with a strong cedarwood (iso E super) base. Cardinal smells very similar but it's more transparent, kinda fresher/cleaner end, most of all, definitely lighter. Two great fragrances though...

[hedonist222]

The only difference I can tell between the two is that Cardinal is simply lighter and less synthetic (the high quality synthetic accord CDG is renown for). Another one to consider is Around Midnight by Mark Buxton.

Out of the three I prefer Avignon (only because its more intense) then Cardinal then Around Midnight.

[arwen_elf]

Thank you, gentlelmen. I like them both, but prefer Avignon because it is stronger. I had a sample of Around Midnight some time ago. I think that was my favorite of Mark Buxton's line. I hear they are being re-released with some additions.

[jasonx]

To my noise Cardinal is much more complex and has many things going on in it than Avignon

[MysteryBuff40]

Another reason to prefer Avignon may be the price point. $80 gets you in the game with 50 ml of Avignon. You'd have to spend $150 for a bottle of Cardinal, as they only sell 100 ml bottles.

[timdoeswell]

I prefer the cold, stark incense of Avignon - it pulls no punches, and doesn't care if you like incense or not.
I find Cardinal to be a bit more forgiving, and to use a somewhat cheesy expression, I see Cardinal as a perfume-lover's incense, where Avignon is an incense-lover's fragrance.

May I suggest trying Montale's Full Incense? It has the super-strong, stark Catholic mass incense of Avignon, but adds a little bit of warmth and spice.

[dollars&scents]

The sharp, somewhat gothic intensity of Avignon is more intriguing.

[danny1967]

Avignon is overal darker, thicker and with a strong cedarwood (iso E super) base. Cardinal smells very similar but it's more transparent, kinda fresher/cleaner end, most of all, definitely lighter. Two great fragrances though...

+1 on alfarom's comment! & also the price is an issue, cdg avignon's a lot cheaper.

[alfarom]

I hear they are being re-released with some additions.

Yes...a new bottle

[mikeperez23]

I think I am in the minority in that Cardinal smells more synthetic, to my nose (I'm not saying it is less synthetic, just that it smells this way), which is why I prefer Avignon.

Gosh, I need to get a new bottle of this, one of these days. I miss having it in my wardrobe.

[Freedom Factory]

One more vote for Avignon.

[Daze]

Initially i was very disappointed with Avignon, as you can read here, but something happened that changed my view on this fragrance completely. Recently I went to the South of France and visited the city this fragrance was named for: Avignon.

I was sitting in the beautiful sun on a terrace on the big square right in front of the impressive Palais des Papes when I noticed a very familiar smell. I immediately recognized it as the smell of CDG Avignon. At first I thought I must be imagining things but no it was pretty clearly the smell of CDG Avignon and it fitted that particular moment so very perfectly. Now there could be several explanations for this, either someone else on the terrace or the waiter was wearing CDG Avignon, or perhaps they sprayed the terrace with this fragrance to set the atmosphere, or could it possibly be that CDG has managed to capture the scent of the city of Avignon so perfectly in their fragrance? I don't know and to be honest I don't really want to know. From that moment on whenever I smell CDG Avignon it reminds me of and will forever be associated with that particular moment and the wonderful time I had in Avignon...

I've worn it a couple of times after my trip and my view of it has changed a lot. I still think it's not an easy wear and I still have some issues with projection and longevity, which I can slightly solve by a few more sprays, but the wonderful memories and feelings it evokes for me has given me a whole new and special appreciation of it.


About Cardinal, I liked that one a lot. It's pretty similar to Avignon but less harsh and more 'rounded' and I think it's more versatile and easier to wear.

[pawful]

i find them quite similar too! though i prefer cardinal, don't know why. i'd proably buy avignon if i bought one, just because the cost diffference and how little i can distinguish between them

[neal]

Avignon is overal darker, thicker and with a strong cedarwood (iso E super) base. Cardinal smells very similar but it's more transparent, kinda fresher/cleaner end, most of all, definitely lighter. Two great fragrances though...

Agreed.

[arwen_elf]

May I suggest trying Montale's Full Incense? It has the super-strong, stark Catholic mass incense of Avignon, but adds a little bit of warmth and spice.

Yes, I had almost forgotten aboujt the Montale. I tried it once at Scent Bar and I almost bought it on the spot.
Thanks for the recommendation.

- - - Updated - - -

I was sitting in the beautiful sun on a terrace on the big square right in front of the impressive Palais des Papes when I noticed a very familiar smell. I immediately recognized it as the smell of CDG Avignon. At first I thought I must be imagining things but no it was pretty clearly the smell of CDG Avignon and it fitted that particular moment so very perfectly. Now there could be several explanations for this, either someone else on the terrace or the waiter was wearing CDG Avignon, or perhaps they sprayed the terrace with this fragrance to set the atmosphere, or could it possibly be that CDG has managed to capture the scent of the city of Avignon so perfectly in their fragrance? I don't know and to be honest I don't really want to know. From that moment on whenever I smell CDG Avignon it reminds me of and will forever be associated with that particular moment and the wonderful time I had in Avignon...

I would love to go to Avignon. I have read about the history of the time and I find it very interesting. Thanks for your story. I like when fragrances remind me of times and places.

[forfreddie]

I much prefer Cardinal but own Avignon.
Avignon to me is colder yes - but also spicier - it is this spice that puts me off. It has this uncomfortable open-ness to it that I'm sure for some makes it appealing - I find it uncomfortable (not because I don't like it's gothic quality - in fact I don't find it gothic at all - more that it feels half empty). I also have been told numerous times that whilst it does obviously smell like frankincense, percieved by others it is merely a spicy cologne.
Cardinal is warmer and brighter (which is why I initially thought I wouldn't like it and bought Avignon), but it is far more peaceful, serene, representing the churchy quality more so too me. I find it meditative and really beautiful. Not that it's the most important thing to me - but I also find longevity better, but it does wear close to the skin.

[MJM_77]

Avignon is hands down the best incense based fragrance I have ever tried. If you are looking for a more reasonably priced incense based fragrance than Cardinal try Full Incense. Full Incense is a far better option than Cardinal IMO. However, nothing compares to Avignon if you are looking for a incense based fragrance.

[conkhi]

still....wish there was a great <$40 incense fragrance.

[Bonnette]

They're both excellent, but I prefer Avignon. Cardinal opens with a fresh citrus blast and it maintains a freshness that I could do without. Imagining a gothic cathedral, Avignon for me embodies the gothic spirit and Cardinal, the sweep of vault and buttress. Both fragrances are church-y, but Cardinal makes me think of light slanting through clerestory windows; Avignon, dusk and shadows and cold stone walls.

[Man Of The World]

I think they are quite different. I respect Avignon but it is too straight up church for me. It is the more raw of the 2. I prefer Cardinal as it has a freshness to it. I really like incense but not too in my face.

[DAMNTHATSGOOD]

After a bit,Avignon tends to smell like straight up chamomile on me.I much prefer cardinal.

[remik]

+1 for Avignon from me. Stark, cold, on point incense. Synthetic, yes, like practically everything from CdG, but it's done so well you really don't care how they got the end result working so vividly.

I see Cardinal as a perfume-lover's incense, where Avignon is an incense-lover's fragrance.

BEST description ever for the difference between these two!! Kudos. Totally sums it up, and I agree with this assessment 100%.

Montale Full Incense is definitely worth a try, btw. It's strong and unapologetic, much warmer and nuanced than Avignon, more resinous... Avignon is a *cold* fragrance, while Full Incense feels enveloping and like a cozy incense blanket.

[lovetribe]

are alle two very soft...try full encense by montale.

[Nastka]

I prefer Avignon's top notes, because Cardinal is a little lighter and more forgiving in that department which is something that I'm not necessarily after. However, the harshness of the drydown in Avignon really bugs me. That's where Cardinal is much more refined and smoother.

So overall, I prefer Cardinal. I own a full bottle of it and a 10ml decant of the CdG.

[Francolino]

Cardinal has better performance!

[mgrigoriev]

I prefer the cold, stark incense of Avignon - it pulls no punches, and doesn't care if you like incense or not.
I find Cardinal to be a bit more forgiving, and to use a somewhat cheesy expression, I see Cardinal as a perfume-lover's incense, where Avignon is an incense-lover's fragrance.

May I suggest trying Montale's Full Incense? It has the super-strong, stark Catholic mass incense of Avignon, but adds a little bit of warmth and spice.

And without the overload of ISO-E Super of Avignon. If your husband sensitive to it, Avignon is a night mass nightmare... I switched to Full Incense at the end.

[DuNezDeBuzier]

And without the overload of ISO-E Super of Avignon....

Same. Much too much and much too noticeable. Cardinal gets the nod, but I eventually gravitated to Profumum Olibanum which isn't so churchy.