Quick answer: Mykonos Conquer and Mykonos Nautilus share more than their seasons suggest: both are strong extraits with bergamot and ginger at the top, orange blossom in the heart and musk, vanilla and amber at the base. Conquer adds cardamom, orris and patchouli and is made for autumn and winter; Nautilus adds pear, jasmine and guaiac wood and is made for summer. Seen that way, they are less a choice than a pair for opposite halves of the year.
Mykonos Conquer vs Nautilus looks like an odd pairing at first: one is a warm, spicy citrus labelled masculine and tagged for autumn and winter, the other a unisex pear scent tagged for summer. Yet on paper they share five notes, plus an amber in each base. That makes this a useful comparison if you like one and wonder about the other, or want two bottles that feel related across the year. We sell both, so we are not neutral about Mykonos, but we have nothing to gain from steering you either way; and notes on paper never tell you exactly how a scent will wear on your skin.
What they have in common
Five notes appear in both pyramids: bergamot and ginger at the top, orange blossom in the heart, and musk and vanilla at the base. Each base also has an amber, listed as modern amber for Conquer. Both are citrus-family extraits de parfum, both are rated strong in intensity, and both are tagged for daily wear and evenings.
They come from different starting points. Mykonos Conquer is inspired by YSL MYSLF L'Absolu; Mykonos Nautilus is inspired by Ex Nihilo Blue Talisman Extrait and Eau de Parfum. If those lines are new to you, see what "inspired by" means on a perfume.
Mykonos Conquer vs Nautilus: the notes side by side
Both pyramids come from the Mykonos brand handbook. Mykonos gives sillage, projection and longevity figures for Conquer but not for Nautilus.
| Mykonos Conquer | Mykonos Nautilus | |
|---|---|---|
| Top notes | Bergamot, ginger, cardamom | Pear, bergamot, ginger, mandarin orange |
| Heart notes | Orris, orange blossom | Pear, orange blossom, jasmine |
| Base notes | Patchouli, musk, modern amber, vanilla | Amber, musk, vanilla, guaiac wood, ambroxan |
| Concentration | Extrait de parfum | Extrait de parfum |
| Character (accord) | Citrus, fresh, warm spicy | Fruity, floral, woody |
| Stated intensity | Strong | Strong |
| Sillage / projection | Strong / strong | Not listed |
| Longevity | 12+ hours | Not listed |
| Best season | Autumn, winter | Summer |
| Best for | Daily wear, evenings, work; labelled masculine | Daily wear, evenings, special occasions; unisex |
| Sizes | 50 ml, 100 ml | 100 ml only (Sunforged collection) |
The opening: cardamom or pear
Both start on bergamot and ginger. Conquer adds cardamom, a cool, aromatic spice, so its opening is fresh with warmth already underneath. Nautilus adds pear and mandarin orange, which make its opening juicy.
The heart: orris, or pear and jasmine
Orange blossom is in both hearts. Conquer pairs it with orris, which gives a powdery, refined feel; Mykonos describes Conquer as controlled, grounded and quietly powerful. Nautilus pairs it with pear and jasmine, which keep it fruity and floral.
The base: patchouli or guaiac wood
Musk, vanilla and amber are in both bases. Conquer adds patchouli, which makes it darker and earthier; it sits in the woody-vanilla family as well as citrus. Nautilus adds guaiac wood and ambroxan, and the brand describes it drying into warm guaiac wood and amber. Both finish warm; the finish of Conquer is the deeper and earthier of the two.
Where they differ
- Season. The biggest gap: Conquer is tagged for autumn and winter, Nautilus for summer. See choosing a perfume by season.
- Spice and powder, or fruit. Conquer has cardamom and orris; Nautilus has pear, in both its top and its heart, plus jasmine.
- Occasion. Conquer is tagged for work, Nautilus for special occasions.
- Audience. Conquer is labelled masculine; Nautilus is unisex.
- Sizes. Conquer comes in 50 ml and 100 ml; Nautilus, part of the Sunforged collection, in 100 ml only.
Which one should you choose?
- Autumn and winter: Conquer. Our best winter perfumes guide has more cold-weather picks.
- Summer: Nautilus.
- The office in the colder months: Conquer, tagged for work.
- A summer occasion: Nautilus, tagged for special occasions.
- A bottle to share: Nautilus, which is unisex.
- You want two bottles that feel related: both. With bergamot, ginger, orange blossom, vanilla and musk in common, switching from one to the other with the seasons keeps a familiar thread.
Wearing them: sizes and sprays
Both are rated strong, so go easy. Conquer has strong sillage and projection and a listed longevity of 12+ hours: one or two sprays for the office, two for an evening. Nautilus is part of the Sunforged collection and comes in 100 ml only; one or two sprays on the chest are plenty in summer heat. Our guide to how many sprays of perfume explains why extraits need fewer.
At the time of writing, Conquer has 3 reviews averaging 5.0 out of 5, so it is early days, and Nautilus has 15 averaging 4.47. For each one on its own, read our Mykonos Conquer review and Mykonos Nautilus guide. For a lighter spring and summer counterpart to Conquer, we compared it with Mykonos Constantine in Constantine vs Conquer. If you also look at other houses, we compare Conquer and Nautilus with perfumes from other houses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mykonos Conquer stronger than Nautilus?
Both are rated strong in intensity, so on the one measure they share, they are level. Conquer also has strong sillage and projection in the handbook; Mykonos lists no such figures for Nautilus.
Which lasts longer, Conquer or Nautilus?
Conquer's listed longevity is 12+ hours. Mykonos gives no longevity figure for Nautilus, so we cannot compare the two on paper.
Which is better for summer?
Nautilus. It is tagged for summer, while Conquer is tagged for autumn and winter.
Can I wear Nautilus in winter?
Mykonos tags Nautilus for summer only. If you like its orange blossom, vanilla and amber and want something in that direction for the cold months, Conquer is the one tagged for them.
Is Conquer only for men?
Mykonos labels it masculine and Nautilus unisex; the labels are a guide, not a rule.