Marc Jacobs Splash Gardenia (2008)
by Marc Jacobs

A very light and fresh gardenia floral melange. A bit watery so feel free to really "splash." A kinder, gentler gardenia; easy to wear. I like.

20th February, 2011.

Smells limpid & fresh in the vial, for the first 20 minutes on the wrist it's mainly orange blossom & neroli, with that metallic quality l usually get from neroli. You sense other florals in the background, but that citrus note dominates... then suddenly it mutates into a cross between Un Matin d'Orage & Ophelia, with a delicate, rain-soaked-garden effect that l like. l prefer those two to this one however, as l don't have to live through those top notes to get there. As someone who smells real gardenia blossoms fairly regularly, l can state that this bears only a fleeting resemblance to the true scent, & it only lasts around three hours on me, hence the neutral rating.

3rd September, 2010.

It starts quite floral and a little bit fruity, and is sweet and fresh at the same time. Wonderful top notes in the initial blast... but then it smells very average. For example, if someone were to choose one fragrance that embodied the word "perfume" to most peoples' perspective, then this could quite possibly be it. On me it dried down to something very soapy (thankfully, not overly harsh), and quite clean. It's nothing extraordinary, it's just nice. Good longevity and sillage however.

When thinking about a fragrance which might be similar to this, Chanel No.5 Eau Premiere came to mind. They aren't identical by any means, Eau Premiere is sweeter and more tangy for a start, and a better scent overall. But I would imagine that on a day where I would feel like wearing gardenia, Eau Premiere would satisfy my craving for "whatever it is that gardenia offers" just that little bit better.

29th October, 2009.

LOVE IT. I think the fruit notes keep it from being matronly (like many gardenia frags) and adds a freshness that makes it perfectly suitable for men. I actually get compliments on it from guys at the gym. Really nicely done and a great value. Highly recommended for guys who are tired of all the formulaic juices out there right now.

21st August, 2009. (Last Edited: 28th September, 2009.)

The gardenia note is nice (albeit a bit thin) and surprisingly long-lasting, but it was accompanied by a prominent melon note. I'm not a fan of melon notes (hence the neutral thumb), but if you're O.K. with it, you might enjoy this as an easy-wearing floral.

17th December, 2008.