The One (2006)
by Dolce & Gabbana

Dolce and Gabbana The One

Notes: Bergamot, Mandarin, Lychee, Peach, Madonna Lily, Muguet, Plum, Jasmine, Vetiver, Vanilla, Amber, Musk. (from Sephora.com)

The One is a light composition of vanilla, mixed summer fruits, nondescript woods and pale amber. The vanilla is sugared and flavored with a bit of caramel. The effect is lightened with some lychee and other watery fruits such as peach or apricot. Overall the effect is extremely sweet, almost sickeningly so. I find it difficult to pick out many notes in this fragrance--the ingredients seem to blend together seamlessly. While this may be a desired trait, in the case of The One, it adds to the glossy one-dimensional quality that this fragrance evokes. I'd hesitate to call this a fruity floral, despite the heavy inclusion of fruits in the fragrance. In fact it is a pretty, albeit uncomplicated, feminine oriental fragrance that is not challenging in composition and not terribly loud or provocative. I like the way this one looks on paper, but on skin, it is formless and banal. Death by vanilla pudding. Neutral rating.

Dolce and Gabbana L'Eau The One

Notes: Bergamot, Mandarin, Lychee, Peach, Plum, Floral Muguet, Jasmine, Madonna Lily, Amber, Musk, Moss, Vanilla, Vetyver (from Sephora.com)

L'Eau The One opens a bit more tart and bitter than the original namesake, and as the original, features prominent sugared vanilla, light amber, woods and mixed fruits. The fruit blend, however, was reorchestrated with a heavier dose of citrus such as grapefruit or mandarin and a stronger, watery lychee. The published notes appear to be exactly the same as in the original The One, but perhaps are used in different proportions to achieve an overall more buoyant feel. The woods are more aggressive in L'Eau, and there is a touch of patchouli that was not apparent in The One. Considering the original is exceedingly polite, this little bit of edginess is quite welcome, and gives L'Eau some needed dryness to balance out the super sweet vanilla dessert notes. In the case of L'Eau The One, I definitely prefer the added personality that affords this fragrance some nice structure to keep the flabby pudding top notes from being suffocating. Positive rating.

I bought One from Nordstrom today for 70 bucks. Couldn't find Guerlain Spiritueuse Double Vanilla. so had to settle for this One. The sales lady let me take a sniff (not at her), and I really like the warm and fruity note. Well, at least I will have something to compare to (vanilla frag.) if I ever found Guerlain Double Vanilla.

I tried this accidentaly and liked it a lot. At a point, I have to admit, I was dissapointed when 2 minutes later I found out it was pour femme :)) Great scent ladies, I'd like to smell this on my girl!

I really like the One, even though it's not very original. It's warm and soft, not overly fruity on me. The heart notes remind me very much of Hypnotic Poison by Dior, but less cloying. For me - this is a cold weather, daytime scent.

The One reminds me of Casran by Chopard and the latter is a mens scent actually. This is a more subdued, feminine version of that fragrance to my nose. Their powdery base is almost the same only Casran is a bit more bitter and maybe sharp, and slightly heavier on woods and powder.

I am not a fan of Casran: I used a big bottle, but I think it is a strange blend that comes off as either too powdery or too cloudy. But it doesn't smell like anything else. That is its uniqueness and maybe it's only saving grace. On the other hand, The One -being very similar to Casran- is so average and mass-market that it is almost sad. I think the creators tried too hard for this to smell 'youthful' that it ended up smelling a bit on the cheaper side. Musky vanilla blends never smell young. 'The One' is light, and the light aroma in question must be a marketing ploy to attract the young customers. To my nose, the scent comes off as almost too silent to be taken seriously.

Supposedly the scent opens with mandarin, bergamot, litchi and peach, but I do not get any of that fruit basket. Maybe a little citrus, but that is about it. The sweetness of peach and the sharp exotic nature of litchi do not hit my nose at all. Then there is supposed to be some generous floral blend of jasmine, lily of the valley and luscious white lily, but all I get is a tired blend of some random floral sweetness. Maybe if one of those flowers mentioned were a bit more dominant, the scent had a better personality to talk about.

The One is not fruity, nor amber-y. It is a musky skin scent that is heavy on vanilla. I do not enjoy it to be frank. The ad campaign features lovely Gisele Bundchen all geared up in latest skimpy Dolce clothing acting like a spoiled fashion diva - or a brat in this case. It is lame. It is so 90s. The name is another source of utter agony. 'The One'... The one of what exactly? How vile is that?

Dolce&Gabbana is releasing one mediocre creation after the other with much publicized and expensive ad campaigns to paint a picture of faux glam-greatness, but all the brand is offering nowadays is just smoke-and-mirrors and nothing else. This creation and Light Blue for men are both over-hyped scents that are simply boring and redundant in today's already overcrowded market. Instead of trying to imitate the success of Light Blue(for women) by trying to re-work its formula again and again with only slight shifts, I think the label should aim to create one scent that is truly new and unique. Desirable with an unique edge.

And that scent is not this one. It is not 'The One.'

Soon I will have to purchase this one, regardless. Yes, it sits on a whopping lot of vanilla, and I am not one for food or fruit aromas on my person--however: whatever combination it is of muguet, amber, and musk that are woven into the vanilla bomb change it into something with enchanting appeal and sophistication. It's not that the scents are not discernible, it's that they are so well matched (I think it might be the muguet-amber that keeps pulling me to it--curious and seductive pairing) and properly blended. Very little staying power, but that shortcoming is offset by the complete absence of offensive notes. A charming fougere floral with fruit. I'll have another.