More Than Words vs Alexandria II
Side by side. Scored honestly.
← Compare different fragrances
Side by side
Comparing the originals — price, breadth, listed-note depth.
Bergamot lifts the opening with a clean citrus brightness that fades quickly, making way for a dense, rosy heart that reads simultaneously romantic and resinous. The rose here isn't powdery or delicate — it's thick, almost waxy, pressed against a dark oud that smolders rather than shouts. Sandalwood and vanilla pull the dry-down into something creamy and warm, with amber deepening the base into a skin-close sweetness. Sillage is moderate; projection is intimate by the second hour, leaving a soft musk trail. — Best worn on cool evenings by anyone who wants depth without aggression.
Honey and rose open together in a thick, almost syrupy accord — warmer and more resinous than floral — before lavender pulls things briefly cooler in the heart. It settles quickly into labdanum and patchouli, which anchor the whole thing in a dark, earthy sweetness that vanilla softens without making cloying. Projection is confident but not aggressive; sillage trails rich and close-worn by the dry-down, leaving a skin-warm amber-honey base that lingers for hours — fall and winter evenings, for anyone who wants to smell expensive without smelling loud.
How they overlap
More Than Words and Alexandria II share 2 notes (rose, vanilla). The same note name doesn't always mean the same scent — different houses use different vanillas, different woods, different musks — but a multi-note shared spine usually does indicate genuinely-comparable wear character. The remaining notes (5 unique to More Than Words, 4 unique to Alexandria II) are where the divergence happens.
The buying decision
More Than Words is the cheaper original at $395 compared to $540 for Alexandria II — about 27% less. Both wear best across the same fall/winter — they're interchangeable on weather fit.
Recommendation
If you're price-sensitive, More Than Words delivers comparable territory at $145 less than Alexandria II. If you want the specific character of Alexandria II — the prose above is the better guide than the price — the premium is what you're paying for.