DIOR Homme, Homme Intense, and Homme Parfum: BlindTests Year 2014.

...and finally, after so many requests, here it is: the "Year 2014 Review" of almost all Dior Homme classic versions and batches (including DH, DHI, and new DHP).

Recap: from its launch until year 2013, there were no apparent changes on DH.
However, there was a noticeable difference in DHI during years 2011 and 2012. In 2013 DHI was "restored" to a large extent to its original aspect.

In this quick review we'll examine many "year 2014" batches of DH, DHI and the "new" DHP. 
( for explanations about Dior batch-codes, see here )
( for previous articles about DH and DHI: see here )
Many thanks to Gianni Ambrosio and Laura A., for providing bottles.

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DIOR HOMME
1 bottle year 2005
1 bottle year 2013
6 bottles year 2014

Batch 5H02, year 2005,
one of the first bottles produced, a sort of "golden standard"

Batch 3X01 = 2013, October

Batch 4N01 = 2014, January

Batch 4S04 = 2014, May

Batch 4T02 = 2014, June

Batch 4U01 = 2014, July

Batch 4W01 = 2014, September

Batch 4X01 = 2014, October

RESULTS

All six "year 2014" batches are similar each other. There is no difference between "Year 2014" and the "Year 2013" sample.

Most interesting (see below at the end of the page), is the fact that there isn't any valuable difference between the first bottle produced in 2005 and the last one.

(Please note I'm perfectly aware many people claim "new is better than old" and/or "old is better than new". In this case, I honestly affirm "old and new are pretty the same", at least about DH) 

BLIND TEST : DIOR HOMME 

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DIOR HOMME INTENSE

1 bottle year 2007
1 bottle year 2013
8 bottles year 2014

Batch 3X05 = 2013, October

Batch 4P01 = 2014, February

Batch 4Q01 = 2014, March

Batch 4S01 = 2014, May

Batch 4T01= 2014, June

Batch 4U01 = 2014, July

Batch 4V02 = 2014, August

Batch 4X02 = 2014, October

Batch 4Y01 = 2014, November

RESULTS

All "Year 2014" DHI bottles are similar each other. No apparent reformulation happened during this year, even with the year 2013 sample.
The most interesting fact is the comparation between the first bottle produced in 2007, and the last one in 2014 (see at the end of the page): first batches appear to be *slightly* better than most recent ones.

BLIND TEST:
Dior Homme Intense.

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DIOR HOMME PARFUM

Here is the big news. During year 2014 Dior launched another Homme version, namely a "Parfum" edition ("Dior Homme Parfum")

Putting it side-by-side with DH Intense, the most interesting element is that DHParfum is NOT a stronger version of DH Intense. 

When you put side-by-side DH and DHI you can say DHI is the "more concentrated" version of DH, and it's basically correct.

In the case of DHParfum, you are smelling a different scent.

DH Parfum is NOT a "more concentrated" version of DHI. Since first sniffing you can say the difference: DHParfum seems "DHI with strong woody/leathery notes". 

More correctly you could define DHParfum as a "flanker" (or "an alternate version") of DHI.

Personally, I prefer DHI over DHParfum because wood and leather don't "blend" perfectly with a vanilla-iris-cocoa background. 

Anyway I heartily recommend not to "blind-buy" DH Parfum, since it's very expensive. Try it before buying: it may happen you prefer DHParfum over DH Intense, or its contrary.

DH Parfum, batch 4U01 = 2014, July 

Confrontation between DHParfum (left)
and DH Intense (right)

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a final note....

THE FIRST AND THE LAST

The Golden Standard: due to a technical mistake,
first bottles of DHI were launched without the words
"vaporisateur spray" on the front of the box (year 2007)

What about a confrontation side-by-side between the first and the last bottle produced? Is any difference noticeable? 
Here is Dior Homme Intense. A sample dated Year 2014 aside with a sample of the Golden Standard (batch 7J02) produced in 2007.
And yes, a small difference is noticeable. First bottle appears slightly richer, deeper and more "intense" than the last one. It seems as there was a slow, very slow decay during the years.
Obviously it's noticeable only when you put the two samples side-by-side.  Interestingly, it's hard to notice differences when you smell "intermediate" samples from years 2013 and 2014.  I can't explain this fact, maybe it's a "ageing", or "watering down" the scent, or "cheaping" the ingredients. 
If intentional, it's a long, slow, smooth process, to not to make it immediately recognizable.
Anyway, differences are easier to notice when you smell "the first and the last". 

Confrontation between DHI samples Year 2014 (upper) and the
"Golden Standard" (year 2007, lower).. Small differences occurred.

About Dior Homme: thankfully, there isn't any difference in Dior Homme. The sample from Year 2005 and the one from Year 2014 smell exactly the same. I would say, if you buy Dior Homme, pick any bottle you find. All bottles are fine.

Confrontation between DH year 2005 (upper)
and year 2014 (lower)

(article ended on December 23rd, 2014)