Basic Instinct (2004)
by Victoria's Secret

Basic Instinct reminds me of D&G's "Light Blue" and I like how it is clean and sexy, obviously, but sort of masculine, at the same time. Smells kind of peppery and spicy, too, which I like.

When I smelled it in the store, on the scent strip, I adored it. I brought it home and put it on, and it smelled like the sort of fragrance they use in a high-end tube of lipstick. It screams "Cosmetic" to me, and little else. Sad, sad.

This is a stiletto-heels style fragrance, no-holds-barred sexy and voluptuous verging on, well, a little dirty due to the patchouli note buried deep in the base of the scent. It's not to everyone's taste, apparently, but I think it's a satisfying divergence from Victoria's Secrets lighter, more "girl next door" type fragrances. It's big-girl sweet - lots of orchid-y vanilla - and big-girl floral - tuberose and gardenia - topped out with plummy, woody port wine. Admirers of Kors by Michael Kors may find this scent appealing because of the port note they have in common, though aside from the opening accord they're fairly different. Basic Instinct is sweeter than the Kors and a little less refined; that patchouli at the base lends it that distinct body-heat type earthiness whereas Kors' defining basenote is incense (which can sometimes come off as a little ash-trayish at times, particularly up against the booziness of the port.) One other thing to note about Basic Instinct: some people get chocolate notes from this and I do as well, sometimes. It seems to be a chemistry thing; when I apply it in the morning, no chocolate, but as the day and the drydown wear on, it sometimes appears. And it's lovely when it does!