Basenotes - Reviews by fragrantone

Showing 1 to 24 of 24.

Jean Paul Gaultier Classique by Jean Paul Gaultier

Delicious! I prefer the edp. I agree with a previous reviewer; this has a tobacco quality on my skin as well, but I enjoy it. Warm, lush and sexy...I wear it for day and night. I will always have a bottle.

27th July, 2006.

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Ambre Extrême by L'Artisan Parfumeur

I got a sample of this, and was blown way. It is my first L'Artisan. The finest, most complex amber fragrance I have sampled. I would say it is a definite bottle, but first I must seek out more L'Artisan! Now I'm intrigued by all the buzz...

14th May, 2006.

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Chaps (original) by Ralph Lauren

My first serious boyfriend wore Chaps (back in the stone ages, 1987) and I LOVED it. I thought it was wonderful, manly and deep. Although he probably could have been smeared with rotten eggs and I would have loved that, too, 'cause it was on HIM. The man makes the scent.

14th May, 2006.

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Halston by Halston

I have had the same large bottle of Halston for well over 6 years, and it is still as fresh as it was the day I bought it. I should wear it more often!
Deep, woody and smooth, this is perfect for autumn. It was a 'power' scent for me, when I knew I'd be facing a tough day, or have to do something I didn't want to. I don't think I ever received one compliment on it, I wore it for myself only. Writing this has awakened my feelings for it; I will wear it again this next fall.

14th May, 2006.

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Fracas by Robert Piguet

I only recently discovered Fracas. I was expecting loud, over the top, obnoxious. To me, it is an exquisitely beautiful floral, nothing frightening here, though overapplication might cause headaches. I don't understand the big, bad reputation. I do admit that one spray is almost more than enough, and the scent seems almost sentient, with the sillage reaching out to caress people of its' own choosing. Lasts forever. I intend to get a bottle.

13rd May, 2006.

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Burberry London by Burberry

I was cornered on Sunday by the platonic ideal of a perfume SA, and liberally sprayed with Burbery London. This grand SA was an elegant and stunning older woman, German, with an enviable updo and the most delightful accent. She could have passed for displaced royalty. She charmed me into buying a small bottle.

Truth be told, it isn't really me, though I find it pleasant enough. Basically a brief bright citrus, followed by fairly intense floral. No one can say these floral notes aren't long lasting! The eventual drydown was warm, but not all I had hoped.

I admit that I crave vanilla bases lately, so someone else might really love this. I will use this, it is a nice spring fragrance, but I doubt I will use up the bottle.

11th May, 2006.

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A*Men / Angel Men by Thierry Mugler

My 16 year old daughter, the Angel for women devotee, bought this for her boyfriend for Christmas.

Boyfriend loved the gift, and applied vast quantities immediately, bringing the merriment to a grinding halt. Somewhere in the neighborhood of six or eight sprays, I believe.

Heavy. Stifling. Cloying. Sickly sweet. It is apparently a permanent fragrance commitment, since it cannot be removed from human skin, so use with caution.

The Scent That Ruined Christmas.

10th May, 2006.

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Dior Addict by Christian Dior

I love love love vanilla, and thought Addict would be right up my alley. Not quite.

Sometimes I like Addict, the blatant vanilla IS right up my alley. But sometimes, I find it nauseating bordering on repugnant. There is a note here that becomes so cloying. They list a couple of florals in the description that I'm not familiar with, one of them must be the culprit.

I almost bought it blind, thank God I didn't. I couldn't even finish my sample. Good one for the vanilla lovers, if you aren't done in by the mystery sicky note.

10th May, 2006.

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Tea Rose by Perfumer's Workshop

Classic rose, pretty, feminine, and very economical. I purchased a 4 ounce bottle of Tea Rose at TJ MAXX for $10 recently. It has great staying power, with surprisingly good sillage. I suppose I hadn't expected so much from a $10 soliflore.

I cannot smell this on myself after a time, but others still can, so I have to be careful not to reapply too often. As the previous reviewer mentioned, it is ideal for layering, but I enjoy wearing it alone as well.

9th May, 2006.

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Happy by Clinique

I had a bottle of Happy a few years ago, and it served me well as an occasional casual scent. It wouldn't have done for evening, but for errands or shopping, etc., it was nice enough. My husband liked it.

I didn't wear it very often, and it went bad in just under two years (properly stored, too!), with half the bottle left. The citrus deteriorated terribly and the scent just smelled 'off', it became a very chemical smelling mess. I wasn't very Happy, to say the least.

9th May, 2006.

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Imari by Avon

I got a very large bottle of Imari from my grandmother (who'd also bought me Sweet Honesty at age 8), for Christmas when I was 12. It was probably not appropriate for my age, but I loved it.

Imari seemed so grown up, warm and rich, with much more depth than the perfume I had been allowed to wear up until that point (namely the already mentioned Sweet Honesty and Muguet de Bois). I also loved the dark red plastic bottle, vaguely Middle Eastern in design; so mysterious and sophistocated to my adolescent self!

I'm tempted to buy a bottle for the nostalgia.

9th May, 2006.

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Sweet Honesty by Avon

I remember Sweet Honesty! I think every little girl of my generation probably had at least smelled it someone else, if she didn't own it herself. My grandmother gave me a bottle of it one Christmas, the bottle was adorable; in the shape of a gingerbread man. Wish I'd kept it.

I remember loving the perfume, and it smelling rather sweet. As I was allowed to keep the bottle in my posession and apply at will at age 8, it must not have been overpowering in any way.

Lovely scent for a young girl.

9th May, 2006.

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Kouros by Yves Saint Laurent

My father wore this in the late '80s, when I was an older teen. Mother liked it all right, in fact she'd bought it for him; but she'd become ENRAGED when they were going out, since he overapplied and his scent totally overpowered her Paris or Miss Dior. Good times.

8th May, 2006.

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Lolita Lempicka by Lolita Lempicka

I just bought a small bottle of this yesterday after using up two Sephora samples.

At first, I didn't care much for it, but that anise note is like a drug. The drydown (on me, anyway) is pure vetiver, here very dirt-like, and somehow so compelling. I've made a fool of myself many a time, snorfling the dry LL on my wrist in public.

8th May, 2006.

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Chance by Chanel

To me, Chance is a fresher, Allure-light. I also get the comparisons to Coco Mademoiselle, but to a lesser extent. I do like Chance, and consider it better than most fragrances out on the counters. I just prefer other Chanel scents.

I wear Allure (and sometimes Coco Mlle.) so often that I wouldn't buy Chance. But if I were gifted with a bottle of it, I would put it in the rotation.

I also think that the bottle design is uninspiring, even ugly. If you are going to pay Chanel prices, you deserve a pretty bottle.

7th May, 2006.

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Allure Sensuelle by Chanel

The original Allure is one of my most often used scents, so I was eager to sample this. I quite liked the spice. It seemed fresh and modern, and I think it will probably have a good following among young women.

For me, it is just a bit loud for daytime wear, and as I already have too many favorites for evening and occasions, I would not purchase a bottle. I would enjoy catching a whiff of it worn by other ladies, like any other Chanel fragrance. It is well done.

6th May, 2006.

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Allure Eau de Parfum by Chanel

Delightfully warm, beautiful floral, with just enough sweetness in the base. On me, this is rather more traditionally linear than the "Multi Faceted" descripton from Chanel.

Allure is my scent of choice, whenever I am in doubt as to what might be appropriate. It always gives me a lift, and often attracts compliments.

I've worn it day into evening, to weddings and festive occasions, shopping and out to dinner. I never tire of it. While it isn't actually my favorite scent, one could say it is a signature for me, as family and friends associate it with me and I'm often given gifts of Allure.

6th May, 2006.

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Cristalle Eau de Parfum by Chanel

Cristalle does not particularly agree with my chemistry, the green notes seem to take over and smother the scent. I would prefer a more defined floral on top, or some sweetness in the base, in order for me to be able to wear it well.

My sister, however, wears it very well, and has worn it often since it was launched. I bought a bottle the same day she bought her first, and gave mine to her almost immediately.

I will say that this scent is very long lasting, my sister applies modestly, yet her entire home smells faintly of Cristalle. I love to smell it on her, and it IS a Chanel, so it gets a thumbs up from me!

6th May, 2006.

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Angel by Thierry Mugler

My 16 year old daughter wears Angel, and it is truly lovely on her. Smells just like an upscale sweet shop with a very subtle, slightly spiced woody base.

But Angel, applied to MY skin? Unmitigated horror. When I tried it, I smelled just like Ye Olde Head Shoppe, plus burnt caramel.

I've enjoyed patchouli in other perfumers' blends, but as a component of Angel it clearly doesn't work for me.

6th May, 2006.

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Joy by Jean Patou

My beloved grandmother wore Joy, her signature scent. She wore very little, just a drop applied to a hankerchief, or on her hairbrush before her toilette. Somehow, on her, you actually got a hint of rose along with the heady jasmine. On everyone else I have ever met wearing this scent (myself included), it is jasmine so heady as to be unbearable. Perhaps it is all in the strength of application.

I have to give it a neutral out of respect for the dearly departed. If not for grandmere and beautiful memories, Joy would have been a thumbs down, classic or no.

6th May, 2006.

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L'Instant de Guerlain by Guerlain

My favorite Guerlain. So rich, dripping thick sweet honey and amber. I'm usually a Chanel girl, but I love L'Instant and own a bottle and the body cream. Very attractive.

6th May, 2006.

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Hypnotic Poison by Christian Dior

Well named fragrance...my husband is positively mesmerized by it. On me, the bitter almond, vanilla and musk linger to form a subtle narcotic haze that lasts and lasts. I can never detect the jasmine. It's never too heavy or overwhelming.

I found this to be a lighter scent for a Dior, the sillage is practically nil, but the skin scent lasts forever. I wear other scents much more often, but catch whiffs of Hypnotic Poison all over the house days after wearing it.

I do get compliments on it almost every time I wear it, always from those who get close; the doctor, manicurist, etc.

6th May, 2006.

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Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel

This is a modern classic, in my opinion. I enjoy the spicy sweetness, and I feel it is definitely worthy of Chanel. I wear this on casual evenings; at home, family gatherings, the movies.

I take particular delight in the long heavenly drydown; though I sometimes tire of the patchouli, so this does not get as much wear as my dependably pleasing Allure. It seems that I have to be in the right mood to wear Coco Mademoiselle, but when that mood hits, I love it and nothing else will do!

It seems that many, many women are wearing this now, which takes away a bit of the pleasure of wearing it, for me. I'll probably wait a bit until the hipsters have moved on, and make it my own again.

6th May, 2006.

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Coco by Chanel

I adore Coco. It is one of my favorite scents, if not THE favorite. It is one of the few scents I have purchased in the parfum bottle. Spicy yet sweet, rich, and with a depth and dimension all its' own; it is not for the timid! You will be noticed, wafting this decadent fragrance.

I strategically dab my parfum on for Christmas, my December wedding anniversary, and dressy occasions in autumn and winter. I also adore, and get more use out of, the body cream (a velvety delight, if you love Coco, please try it). The body cream alone, applied judiciously, provides the perfect level of fragrance, for even the most casual cool/cold weather occasion. You get to walk around in a very personal, ever so subtle veil of Coco, detectable to others only with a hug. Delicious!

6th May, 2006.

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