Eau Sauvage Dior 1966 Eau de Toilette

Bottle Design:
Pierre Dinand

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Ranked 97 in Men's Perfume

8.2 / 10 1234 Ratings

A popular perfume by Dior for men, released in 1966. The scent is citrusy-fresh. It is being marketed by LVMH.
Pronunciation

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Main accords

Citrus

Fresh

Spicy

Green

Woody

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Lemon

Bergamot

Basil

Lavender

Rosemary

Cumin

Fruity notes

Heart Notes

Carnation

Coriander

Jasmine

Patchouli

Sandalwood

Orris root Rose

Rose

Base Notes

Oakmoss

Musk

Vetiver

Amber

Perfumer

Edmond Roudnitska

Ratings

Scent

8.21234 Ratings

Longevity

6.5983 Ratings

Sillage

6.3986 Ratings

Bottle

8.0993 Ratings

Value for money

7.1471 Ratings

Submitted by DonVanVliet, last update on 07/18/2025.

Interesting Facts

Eau Sauvage was the first Dior perfume for men. Edmond Roudnitska is generally believed to have been the first to use the synthetic fragrance Hedion (methyldihydrojasmonate), which gives perfumes a jasmine-like, transparent and fresh note. The concentration is 2%. "Eau Sauvage" is also said to have served Roudnitska as a model for "Diorella", in which the hedione concentration was increased to 8%. Hedione has become a true phenomenon in extrait perfumery, as it is now almost impossible to find a formulation without it.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

Eau Sauvage Lotion Après-Rasage

Eau Sauvage 100% Glaçon

Eau Sauvage Lotion Avant-Rasage

Putting Green

Eau Sauvage Fraîcheur Cuir

Eau du Sud

Reviews

41 in-depth fragrance descriptions

08/24/2014

10
Bottle 5
Sillage 7.5
Longevity 10
Scent

MasterLi
375 Reviews

MasterLi

Top Review 8

Elegance in Simplicity...

This is an example of something very basic and simple done to perfection. The concept of the classic, citrus "eau de cologne" has been taken here and has been refined, simplified and elevated to a timeless status.

Basically it is a lemony citrus type cologne, but done in a way which sets it apart from many others. Released in 1966 from Dior, it quickly achieved legendary status in France (thanks in part to use of Alain Delon, the iconic heartthrob of 60's French Cinema).

The perfume itself opens with a very simple lemon-citrus blast which stays mostly linear throughout the fragrance. It is coupled with soft lavender and a lingering indolic jasmine accord (hedione) in the dry-down.

This may sound simple, but it works in a way which makes you feel fresh, clean, sexy and also daringly adventurous at the same time. Perfect after a swim or a shower on a hot summer day, but also perfect with a crisp white shirt and business suit.

It is all of these things at once, and still has a place even today. Daring, crisp, elegant and refined, but also pleasingly inoffensive.

Timeless!

01/08/2012

10
Longevity 9
Scent

PBullFriend
310 Reviews

PBullFriend

Top Review 11

scent of a dream man

Oh, my. I had tried ES before and thought of it as a simple, lemony scent, not really worth considering. Then, today, I thought I'd use up the sample by wearing a spritz to yoga class. The hint of heat & sweat transformed it totally and, by the time class was over, I couldn't stop fantasizing about sniffing the neck of a handsome, distinguished gentleman while we both got ready to go to the opera, and enjoying the possibilities of what would happen after the opera. In other words, very manly and very civilized. I can only hope to find myself a man worthy of Eau Sauvage. (012810)

01/13/2012

5
Bottle 5
Sillage 5
Longevity 8
Scent

DieNase
20 Reviews

DieNase

Top Review 9

One for all!

Some parfumistas seem to associate Eau Sauvage with "old man", old school etc. Well I don't. Maybe because I'm a girl or because my Dad did not wear this scent (or any scent at all). I don't get this old man vibe at all. Doesn't seem more dated than A scent by Issey Miyake or Bigarade concengtrée.
Why these two scents? Well, let's start from the beginning.
How does Eau Sauvage smell at all?
Some people call it a pure citrus scent, I don't get that. Yes, there is lemon in the top notes, a beautiful lemon indeed. But that's just the beginning. It exhibits a slight skanky note. I would ascribe this to the hedione and some indolic jasmine. Hedione was first synthesized in the 60's - and I believe it occurs in natural jasmine as well. If my nose is to be trusted this stuff is to be found in Chanel Cristalle (especially the EdP) and in A Scent by Issey Miyake - in this last one far to much of it I think. Diorella, the female version of Eau Sauvage, doesn't convince me at all. Certain notes (white flowers and too much of the green stuff) are too strong for me. In its brother scent Eau Sauvage however, there is a magic balance: lemon with a very light flowery (rose!!!+jasmine)-green-skanky touch. When I say skanky in this context don't think of Miss Dior with its heavy civet note or even Jicky. Just a tiny little bit, which gives flesh to this EdT and makes it luscious, gives it a feel of something carnal and "not too clean". So, in a way this justifies "sauvage" = wild in the name.
A scent that inspires confidence (that's the daddy vibe?) but in a very erotic manner.

And now please don't beat me up for this comparison: I find this highly delicious combination in a similar form in Bigarade Concentrée! Bigarade Concentrée is more intense in the beginning, it is even more luscious, more rosy. The lemon is replaced by orange. No herbs there (well, on my skin Eau Sauvage doesn't get that herbal anyway). They definitely belong to the same family. Those who love Eau Sauvage should try Bigarade Concentrée and vice versa!

My conclusion:

Audience:
---------
Although this scent is marketed to guys (and called a gentleman or old daddy scent by some) I think this is very unisex. To me it is not any more masculine than diorella. It is extremely well blended, so delicious, luscious, soft, flowery, sensual... I don't find it conservative at all. It is NOT a macho macho scent.

Occasion
---------
All the time! Best in spring and summer. Extremely suitable as a signature scent, but also suitable for special occasions (especially sensual ones).

Sillage/longevity
-----------------
both medium. It seems to be more of a subtle skin scent. But will be notices in your proximity. Longevity is ok, but could be better.

Having to chose between Cristalle (EdT/EdP), Diorella and Eau Sauvage, which all belong to the same family (and maybe the Miyake), I will always clearly prefer Eau Sauvage. Actually Eau Sauvage is the only one I would even consider out of this bunch.

Between Eau Sauvage and Bigarade concentrée: Hmm, maybe Bigarade would win. But when taking into account the enormous difference in the price tag, Eau Sauvage is a winner. I will use ES more regularly especially in spring/summer while I'll keep my decant of Bigarade concentrée for more special occasions.

05/28/2014

Platinum1
59 Reviews

Platinum1

Helpful Review 9

~ Dancing Dior ~

~ This is written from a newly discovered fresh perspective with no bias toward the legendary original formulation. Having Chanel Pour Monsieur as my vintage gentleman for so long I felt almost as if I had betrayed him by ordering Eau Sauvage but it was destiny to have this one as it was repeatedly recommended so often. This charismatic fellow opened brightly on my skin as I left for my daughters dance class the other evening. The obvious Lemon note turned both of our noses as we drove the five miles to our destiny. Fresh, clean and classy was what ES was projecting as we arrived fifteen minutes later at the studio. Then she said it as she always remarks "Daddy is that your new one? I like it....a lot!" As I sat crowded in the parents "Dance Mom's" waiting room with only the Dior and ladies gossip to entertain myself I detected the subtle wafts of herbs and faint florals dancing in the background all coming together in just the perfect amount of sillage for a crowded space. Already known light heartedly as the cologne Dad through the pirouettes and tap shoes the noses slowly started to detect my classy new companion....until eventually it came! My second compliment from a lovely lady within an hour....OK maybe the second wasn't quite so lovely but still her remark of "that one smells good Mr. B**!" was reassuring. All in all I am very pleased with my new purchase other than the obvious being by the time I got home eau sauvage was barely detectable on my skin! So the reviews were true longevity was definitely poor for me but the scent was "very" pleasant and classy....and perfect for this "cologne Dad"
Kind Regards, Plat~

Score ~ two compliments in one hour gets at least 9/10 for scent anytime! But longevity sorry, 6/10...but then that's what they make pocket size atomizers for ~

08/08/2015

10
Bottle 5
Sillage 7.5
Longevity 10
Scent

Kouros94
6 Reviews

Kouros94

Top Review 5

Simple Perfection

Dior Eau Sauvage is the reason I am fascinated with perfumes. No other perfume has left me so transfixed by the beauty and simplicity of its composition. I did not know a thing about fragrance when I first smelt it, yet I knew this classy flacon contained something very special and that it had to be the first perfume I would ever buy.

What was so exceptional with this particular fragrance was the clarity of the composition, which instantly made perfect intellectual sense to my naive and inexperienced nose. All credit to Edmond Roudnitska. Since then it has become my gold standard of artistic execution. Whilst I have smelt many other fragrances since that epiphany and have begun an olfactory journey through the realm of perfumery, I never cease to be amazed by the effect the fragrance has on me. Illumination. Needless to say, it has become my signature fragrance and a part of me.

Next year, Dior’s Eau Sauvage celebrates its 50th anniversary of legendary status in the perfume industry, that is of course if Dior refrains from killing its brand with the cheap flankers that continue to hit the market (whilst the Parfum version form 2012 was a great success, 2015’s Eau Sauvage Cologne was a bland and uninspired citrus, which had nothing to do with the original).

It is rumoured that a new flanker: “Dior Sauvage” is to hit the market in September 2015 with Johnny Depp’s face for the marketing; I must admit that whilst I am sceptical of Dior’s new tactics of aggressive marketing of flankers, I am intrigued by the idea of Francois Demanchy signing a Parfum version (I’m guessing given the name “Sauvage”), which hopefully respects the spirit and character of Roudnitska’s original chypre.

Whatever the future of this fragrance, I will always cherish a bottle (or two) in my collection as a reminder of the beginning of a journey and the companion of this adventure which has lead me into unchartered territory I never thought I would explore.

Thank you Edmond Roudnitska.

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