Basenotes - Reviews by AnonymousNose

United States

Showing 1 to 11 of 11.

DKNY By Delicious Fresh Blossom by Donna Karan

Admittedly, I was a big fan of Be Delicious when it first came out. It was the first mainstream department store fragrance I ever really "dug", and it was my signature scent for nearly two years. Unfortunately, the big, heavy, sweet white florals that accented the green apple/grapefruit/cucumber accord were too loud and cloying during the opressively hot and humid summers of the South, and I found myself reaching for it more on our rare cold,crisp winter days. Not to mention that it became so popular that everywhere I went I smelled someone wearing it, and often wearing too much of it (the curse of department store frags!)
There have been many variations on the famous "delicious apple" accord since then, and while many perfume houses have a variety of frags under the same label (ie, the Poisons) that don't actually share a common quality, at least the "Be Delicious" line includes variations on a theme.
Fresh Blossom is the first to come along that is truly similiar to the original, not just sharing that apple note. The opening is similiar enough that you might almost mistake the two for one another. However, when you smell the two side by side, "FB" is much more soft and feminine. The opening is big and bold and sweet with lots of grapefruit and jasmine (akin to the grapefruit and tuberose in the opening of the original) but the heart and the drydown is where this one identifies itself. A kiss of tart green cassis makes an appearance right before rose and apricot arrive (reminding me of peach & rose combinations I have smelled before). All of the smells then mingle together and do begin to smell like apple, but instead of a red or green apple, this reminds me of the newly popular "pink lady" variety. (I don't know if this is intentional or not, but either way, it works.)
From there it settles into a very soft floral, with muguet playing softly in the foreground while rose and jasmine only whisper softly in the background.
The drydown is all fleshy skin musk that sits very close to the skin, pleasant and soothing but hard to detect. This perfume is a lot like the month of March - it goes in like a lion and out like a lamb, but it's much easier to wear in warm weather than its parent fragrance.
Overall: Interesting development for a fruity floral. Not bad.

10th May, 2009.

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Black Orchid by Tom Ford

This is what I imagine that a fairy would wear. Not a cartoon, Disney-Princess fairy with glitter and sparkles, but the true-to-its-origins, mischievious, elven, seductive,woodland creature - fluttering around up to no good.
The opening smells, to my nose, like fresh mushrooms and room-temperature sangria that's been out all night. I then smell earth and dirt, and rich, dark, dry cocoa powder. The musty, boozey, fruits linger as the mushrooms and dirt loosen up to reveal incense-like lotus that almost smells like it's sprinkled with tart,juicy, cassis. After awhile, this softens into a resinous vanilla/incense/sandalwood/musky dry down, which sounds quite commonplace in fragrance, but it's very well executed - rich, creamy, and seductive.
Funny the other reviewers got notes of fig and "wet wool", there are moments reminiscent of those smells, as well, although I think that the "wet wool" is what I interpret as dirt and earth and the fig notes may very well be the association of cassis with fig, which are often paired together.
Dirty? Yes. Raunchy? Perhaps. Wearable? You bethchya, but maybe not for everyone, and that's okay.
As I always say, when I smell a fragrance, I want it to capture my imagination or even scent-memory in some way, and Black Orchid does just that - and I can say this with confidence and without bias because I am not necessarily a "Tom Ford fan".

23rd March, 2009.

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Armani Attitude by Giorgio Armani

Okay, I admit it. I like this fragrance. I hate the bottle. And I rarely use the word hate. The combination of lavender and coffee absolute notes are very refreshing, and the soft amber drydown is very seductive, in my opinion. And this is from someone who usually prefers more classic men's fragrances as opposed to trendy.Maybe it's the lavender? I do wish more contemporary men's fragrances would make an effort to do interesting things with lavender. I do agree that Attitude could easily be a unisex scent, but there's no harm in that, and I've always believed in "if you like a fragrance, and it works for you, wear it.Never mind the gender label." So there's my confession.
And for gosh sakes, Armani, sell that stuff in a different bottle.Really.

2nd March, 2009.

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Spring Flower by Creed

I like Spring Flower. Emphasis on like. Although, like another reviewer posted, I have something of a knock-off that I like better. The interpretation of the original has less of that metallic, sharp after smell. I probably like Spring Flower because it's apple and lily of the valley with just a hint of rose and musk. It does, however, go a little too sweet on me sometimes. I have to reserve this one for spring like days - the kind when the weather is warm but not hot. Not the most unique or complicated fragrance,but just okay for sometimes when I feel like wearing something girly and upbeat.

2nd March, 2009.

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Hypnotic Poison by Christian Dior

Hypnotic is the only one of the Poisons that I like enough to wear. This is another one of those scents that I overlooked in the past, but finally gave in and gave a chance. Hypnotic Poison is definately a cool or cold weather scent, and I only reserve it for the chilliest weather. The opening right out of the bottle smells a lot like a root beer float - not as pungent as pure sassafrass, but creamy as opposed to sweet. Apparently this is the scent you get when you mix caraway and bitter almond(?) The middle and base notes seem to sort of meld together instead of properly develop, but it's a cozy blend of musky jasmine vanilla and smokey woods, without being too dry.

1st March, 2009.

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Loukhoum by Ava Luxe

In my opinion, Loukhoum is Ava Luxe's masterpiece. As I have said before, I am not afraid to enjoy a gourmand or sweet fragrance - so long as it is just right.Loukhoum is soft and elegant and doesn't scream "food". The pistachio note is delightful, and the creamy/musk/rose base wears naturally. Loukhoum makes a presence and has good sillage while still remaining light. It vaguely shares something in common with Noa,which I also enjoy, probably due to the blend of a subtle floral with gourmand and green notes. I would say this is versatile enough to wear for day or night.

28th February, 2009.

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Magical Moon by Hanae Mori

I feel late to the game, but I only recently tried Magical Moon. I'm not sure why I overlooked it before. maybe it was the description of notes. I occasionally enjoy florientals and some fruity florals,but I'm very picky about my fruit notes - they have to be just right and there are so many listed in this one that I let that (along with the fact that original Hanae Mori was too sweet on me,) scare me away.
Magical Moon is creamy and sultry with a sophisticated kiss of sweet.As others have said, this is a romantic scent that would be wonderful for an evening out (or in, as it were.Something about this is seductively cuddly.) There is a great use of incense and woods in Magical Moon that is neither too dry nor too intense. This is a well-balanced, long lasting, sensuous delight!

28th February, 2009.

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Black Cashmere by Donna Karan

I want to love this. A whiff off of the bottle brings me a hint of warm, creamy incense with subtle spicy tones. Unfortunately, when I wear Black Cashmere, it becomes far too dry and almost raspy. Body chemistry aside, BC is a far more interesting and sophisticated fragrance in the moderate department store price range than most others, and can be wonderful on the right person. Definately a cool or cold weather scent.

28th February, 2009.

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Aqua Allegoria Anisia Bella by Guerlain

My favorite of the Aqua Allegoria's. I usually prefer parfums and pure perfume to colognes, but this is great when I want something to freshen up with. Anisia Bella is liqourice note as a skin scent, slightly herbal, with a tinge of delicate florals like little violets.Feminine but earthy and sporty, with good lasting power considering that it's a cologne and such a light scent at that.

24th January, 2009.

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Alien by Thierry Mugler

This is chic weirdness at its best. While I'm very particular about what I regularly wear, I will smell and even try anything just once, especially if it captures my imagination. Alien does just that.
The opening is an almost metallic green sort of smell, but not overpowering. It's enough to peak curiosity. As it develops, it becomes a lovely yet kooky sort of floral, dominated by a jasmine that is by no means indollic or cloying but still very recognizable. I then notice it becoming an envelope of warm, soft ambers and woods, all the while maintaing a glow of that metallic green note. The scent hugs the skin but still has some considerable sillage. This is at once inviting and familiar and yet remarkable.
A must try for jasmine fans as well as cashmere-type fragrance fans.
I am reminded of Led Zepplin's "Kashmir" (Or is it "Cashmere?") When I smell this. A definate must-buy, weird bottle or not, but be warned: it may not be for everyone.

24th January, 2009.

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Noa by Cacharel

Light, sheer fragrances can often be too singular, flat, or generic, but something about Noa stands out from the rest of the "skin scents". This is a perfume that truly changes and evolves with the wearer, and may smell different on one person or another. The opening is green and lightly aldehydic, but not over-poweringly chemical. I have heard it described as green floral, green tea, and even prune.
With my chemistry, it does wonderful things, at once becoming fresh, but never crisp or tart. If somehow fresh could be soft and creamy, this would be it.
I get compliments when I wear it, the kind of compliments when people think someone or something smells good, but aren't asking you what fragrance you're wearing, and that's a good thing.A highly under-appreciated little gem. (Pardon the pun with the pearl.)

24th January, 2009.

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Showing 1 to 11 of 11.