Reviews of Fuel For Life pour Femme (2007)
by Diesel

Diesel Fuel for Life

Notes: Cassis, Pink Pepper, Jasmine, Indole, Patchouli, Ambry Notes (from osmoz.com)

Many people know that I am a complete patch-head. So, give me a patchouli-centered fragrance, especially a decent one, and I'll pay attention. I first tried Fuel for Life when it debuted, went through two spray samples, enjoyed it very much, but did not buy a full bottle. Fast forward to today, and I still really like the astringent, slightly camphoraceous patchouli which is melded with some kind of indolic tropical flower, fermented, half-rotted melon and sour fruit notes. Overall, the fragrance is quite linear, and is definitely not the most artistic scent out there. But, what can I say? Sometimes a fragrance does not have to be a masterpiece in order to be satisfying. Perhaps if Guerlain had bottled this, it would not have been relegated to the bottom shelf.

Positive Rating

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Diesel Fuel for Life Unlimited

Notes: Lemon, Mandarin, Pear, Guava, Violet, Aloe, Sambac Jasmine, Lily, Anise, Licorice, Sandalwood (from sephora.com)

After trying Fuel for Life, I half expected Fuel for Life Unlimited to be an ultra-special rendition of its namesake. In reality, I can't say it does much to enhance the aura of the original. However, it is rather pretty and feminine, perhaps a bit more rounded for times when the patchouli and funky fruit combination of Fuel for Life is a bit too weird. Indeed, FFLU pulls back from the edge, and falls smack into a land of plentiful and ordinary fruity floriental fragrances. Having said that, FFLU is definitely not the worst of the bunch, and thankfully has not taken a ride on the grapefruit, soap and air freshener bus as do many "clean and fresh" flankers to oriental bombshells. The sour citrus notes of FFLU are subdued, and the fluffy marshmallow cloud of vanilla woods is allowed to be mostly that--soft and creamy, sweet with a bit of an astringent edge. FFLU is nice but nothing outstanding, and definitely not as daring as the original.

Neutral Rating

I’m not all that taken with Fuel for Life pour Femme’s sweet fruity topnotes. They’re a bit artificial, and there is a certain sourness about them that has me wrinkling my nose if I sniff deeply. Happily, the top notes calm down very rapidly, and the scent mellows and rounds out into something much more pleasant. Its torso is an abstract sweet, green, fruity blend, with a very smooth wood and iris skeleton that provides a solid structure to sustain its soft, yielding texture. A little less wood, a little less depth, and Fuel for Life pour Femme would flirt with fruit-flavored bubblegum, but the scent’s substance and complexity more than suffice to make it wearable.

My overall impression is of a brightened, lightened gloss on the now classic Calyx. Fuel for Life pour Femme echoes the older scent’s neon fruit voice, but tuned up from mezzo to soprano register. In general style I’d class it with the “modern” chypres exemplified by scents like Azzaro Couture and 31 Rue Cambon. Which is to say that while I don’t detect an actual moss note in the composition, the powdery iris, the fruity notes, and a touch of labdanum allude to the classic chypre structure, but without casting the same depth of forest green shadow.

Fuel for Life pour Femme grows more floral and continues to soften with age, eventually revealing a warm, indolic white flower accord that projects a welcome sense of animal mystery. Without it the scent might become too prissy and powdery, but its presence keeps my nose engaged through the second and third hour of wear. By the four hour mark Fuel for Life pour Femme fades into a soft ambery drydown before disappearing altogether.

The greatest critical points I can lodge against this scent are its borderline unpleasant (albeit short-lived,) top notes and a certain blandness in its overall demeanor. On the plus side, it is a cheerful, comfortable fragrance that I can imagine being worn with ease on any number of occasions. It also strikes a fine balance in intensity, projecting just enough to make itself known, but never obtruding. So while not in the end groundbreaking, I’d have to rate Diesel Fuel for Life pour Femme a successful composition, and especially promising as an informal, yet never childish, everyday fragrance.

Oh dear. I rather like this. I agree it's bland and generic, shallow and commercial...all of that, but I like its bubblegum fruitiness (it reminds me of that fruit stripe chewing gum from childhood). I thought I was getting some mint at first, but that must be the mandarin/pepper mix. Actually, as it dries down it does exhibit a bit more sophistication and interest as the bubblegum dissolves. I enjoy its powdery quality. It has an airiness that is working well on this warm day. So this is a powdery, airy, fruity scent that seems pretty nice for summer. Intuitively, I would say that if you like Alien, you might like this as a de-ambered, airy, feather light (comparatively) summer alternative. Also, if you're a Coco Mlle lover you might like this. I was a first timer with the unusual sample design, you have to pull a tab and squeeze, but make sure you're not aiming for your eye. ;-) I'm giving it a thumbs up because it's a friendly fragrance that seems easy to wear; and also because, as Vibert notes, its projection is well balanced, not too obtrusive, yet it has presence and some substance.

This one smells so warm and sensual. At least it does for me. I was not expecting much but I find it comforting. i love to spray it on right before bed. I have not received any compliments on it though so maybe it does not smell as good as I think. I do think it is powdery and reminds me of a subdued Organza indecence.

very strong willed scent. the pepper and blackcurrant do the trick. not for every woman. sort of like michael, not in smell but for strong willed independant women.

I love patchouli, musk and jasmine, so the fact that I found this fragrance so deeply unappealing is a surprise. The initial burst of this on my skin was simply rank; it reminded me of car freshener. I'm not sure if it is the blackcurrant note that is contributing to the "off" sensation I get from this. Worst of all, this did not last well on my skin and went pretty much from awful to non-existent in the space of 30 minutes.

Oh, dear, this is my style! I am trying really hard not buying this one! If it wasn´t for a number of chypres already being in my wardrobe, I would have bought this one already. Fluel for Life is a nouveau-chypre, if I have informed myself correct. It is a pitty it is so strongly market, it doas not feel exclusive at all! I have a 7 mL sample-bottle of it, so I can really make my mind up on this frag.

I only got the top notes and then it dries down to a powdery base that hardly registers with me. The scent itself I found rather unimaginiative, shallow and very commercial.

It seems very hip and trendy to take a berry note and mix it with other stuff and create some fruity oriental..it's getting dull.

Notes of blackcurrant, jasmine and patchouli ~ as the Diesel website has listed. The blackcurrant note appears to me as 'fermented'. I don't particularly care for that pungent opening...as the scent progresses it clearly improves. The jasmine is seductive and wears close to the skin. Patchouli in the base keeps the rest of this scent clean & grounded in an veil of earthiness. I'm 50/50 on Fuel For Life pour Femme, I'll need to give it another test...

This is not bad. It has a powdery soapy smell similar to Hugo Boss (Woman?). It also has some element of fruit - a fragrance i'd like on someone else as I dont like soapy scents.

I kept sniffing at the card and its really good, just not my style.