Same bottle shape, same house, two very different fragrances. 212 Men NYC is the fresh, clean one, and 212 Sexy Men is the sweet, warm one. If you remember a 212 from school or university and cannot say which, this is usually how to tell them apart.
Both were composed by Alberto Morillas and Rosendo Mateu, with Ann Gottlieb also credited on the original.
The difference at a glance
- 212 Men NYC (1999): a woody floral musk. Fresher, greener and cleaner. Better for daytime and warm weather.
- 212 Sexy Men (2006): an oriental fougère. Sweeter, warmer and more vanilla. Better for evenings and cool weather.
212 Men NYC: fresh, green and clean
- Opens: green notes, grapefruit, spices, bergamot, lavender, petitgrain
- Heart: ginger, violet, gardenia, sage, green pepper
- Dries down: musk, sandalwood, vetiver, incense, guaiac wood, labdanum
Grapefruit and green notes come first, then a soft, slightly soapy heart of ginger, violet and sage. The base is clean musk over light woods. It smells freshly showered and polished, which is why it has stayed in fashion for more than 25 years.
212 Sexy Men: sweet, warm and easy
- Opens: mandarin orange, bergamot, green notes
- Heart: pepper, cardamom, flowers
- Dries down: vanilla, guaiac wood, sandalwood, musk, amber
Citrus opens it, but only briefly. Pepper and cardamom warm it up, then vanilla, amber and sandalwood take over. It is soft, sweet and approachable, a fragrance built for going out rather than the office.
Which one should you buy?
- For work and the Egyptian summer: 212 Men NYC.
- For evenings out and winter: 212 Sexy Men.
- If you like sweet fragrances such as Stronger With You Intensely: 212 Sexy Men.
- If you prefer clean, fresh fragrances such as Dylan Blue: 212 Men NYC.
Why a decant makes sense here
Many people want these for the memory as much as the fragrance, and a smell remembered from years ago does not always match today. A 4 ML decant settles that cheaply. Trying both also shows you which side of 212 you actually liked.
Questions
What is the difference between 212 Men NYC and 212 Sexy Men?
212 Men NYC is green, fresh and woody. 212 Sexy Men is sweeter and warmer, with vanilla, amber and spice.
Which 212 is better for summer?
212 Men NYC. Its grapefruit, green notes and clean musk hold up better in the heat.
Is 212 Sexy Men sweet?
Yes, it is noticeably sweet, with vanilla and amber in the base.
Are the decants original?
Yes. They are poured in Cairo from original Carolina Herrera bottles when you order.