Fragrance Reviews by Tovah

EDIT! I've recently received a sample of this with a JM order and, I tried it again. As is typical of me, one of the fragrances that's affected me most powerfully, is a fragrance I initially disliked on myself. After rereading my original review, I can't help but stress how much body chemistry, at any given time, affects the reactions of those of us who are extremely sensitive to our olfactory neurons. Fortunately, chemical change can be positive, and I think my norepinephrine levels must be in better shape. The first review was written a couple of months before I became pregnant with my daughter, who is now 20 months old. After having her, I guess I smell better! (Smell as an adjective, not a verb). In any case Pomegranate Noir is utterly, completely gorgeous; hypnotic, complex, and sensual. At first it smells like mulled wine, and it quickly transforms to a patchouli-resin warmth that's oddly reminiscent of my favorite Chanels. This pomegranate beauty is so perfect for enhancing the mood for the upcoming holiday; pomegranate is my favorite fruit to eat, and now Ill enjoy it even more. Pomegranate Noir comes across as a fragrance that would be perfect for sitting in front of a fireplace after a day of skiing. Our Southern California Autumns, with the Santa Anas in full swing, often are hotter than our summers. Even with its "cool weather" connotation, Pomegranate Noir is beautiful in our current 90 degree+ weather. The heat brings out a dry warmth in this fragrance (patchouli?) that I absolutely love.

Original Review: On me this is suffocating. It's strong, bitter, and harsh. I think the combo of frankincense and patchouli reacts badly on my skin. I'm with Mr. Quarry on the furniture polish aroma...The composition of Pomegranate Noir comes across as balanced mix of juicy fruits and and heavy woods, and it smells striking and deep when sprayed into the air. Unfortunately I don't find the smell appealing on my skin, but on someone with the right skin chemistry, I'd enjoy it.

I love Musc Botanique. It's one of those rare fragrances that makes me feel like I'm radiating a magical glow. It goes beyond wearing a nice scent, to causing a chemical reaction that elevates my imagination; maybe it stimulates dopamine... It simply smells beautiful. I love, love musk, but I'm picky about my musks, and this is one of my favorites. Maybe even my favorite. Fresh, yet warm, sexy, not sweaty, gentle, and unisex; and best of all it's got je ne sais quoi that all SIP fragrances possess. The SIP "Guerlainade", I suppose, and I've come to adore it. Strange Invisible Perfumes continue to intrique me, because they always wind up being "more" than I could ever expect. Upon application of several of these concoctions, initially I've thought, "Who would WEAR this?"; only to find myself mesmerized within minutes. Strange Invisible Perfumes are esoteric, which, for me, makes them special. They demand that you analyze them, experience them, and feel them. You cannot apply them as an afterthought as you're running out the door...If you try, within a couple of minutes, you'll find yourself stunned into motionlessness, while you're transported into an olfactory vortex. Next thing you know, you'll be writing a rambling, somewhat incoherent review on Basenotes, because you want everyone who cares to know how incredible you smell. How deeply you're affected. So, again, I really love Musc Botanique. Try it, if you like vortexes. But don't say I didn't warn you. (And, if you're really, really brave, do try Magazine Street and Narcotic. You'll never be the same.) There are still many fragrance lovers who haven't experienced the amazing perfumes being created by natural perfumers. If you're one of us life-as-olfactory-experience people, order samples from Ayala Moriel and Strange Invisible Perfumes right now. Now. (I'm not affiliated with either company, but, for purely personal reasons, I hope to smell more of both lines, everywhere.) I don't remember where I was supposed to be running off to today, but I have a feeling I'll wind up in Venice, at Strange Invisible Perfumes!

For years I've loved Premier Figuier, but, Wild Fig and Cassis has replaced it as my favorite fig. Wild Fig and Cassis smells like the experience of eating pure, fresh juicy figs, while sitting on a freshly mowed lawn, with the sun directly overhead. It's soothing, warm, and the lasting power is fantastic.

Pure, beautiful, clear floral. Utterly perfect for summertime. Fantastic layered with Dark Amber & Ginger Lily, but so very lovely on its own. Something about the mood of this one reminds me a bit of Chanel Gardenia...only I prefer Lotus Blossom & Water Lily! This is feminine, with a hint of mystery; the striking florals are almost juicy they're so rich. I've got a small bottle, and a large bottle...and I may hoard more because this is a limited edition...Hopefully this will be an annual springtime release.

I adore this. It's sensual, deep, woody, earthy...yet light... It's gentle for an incense-wood fragrance, with a clear, very dry, ambery base, Beautiful spices make this fragrance intruiging, because they are, somehow, both bitter and sweet. I do love to layer this with Lotus Blossom & Water Lily, but Dark Amber & Ginger Lily is absolutely gorgeous on its own. This fragrance was just what I needed to reignite my scent curiousity, which had dulled due to burn-out from my disappointment with countless new releases. WHY is this a limited edition? Now I have to hoard.

The perfect Egyptian musk for summer-time wear. It's light, yet sensual; reminiscent of Narciso Rodriguez edp on my skin. I love it. When I wear it I can't stop sniffing myself. Works well for both day and evening wear.

Un Jour Se Lève is beautiful, alluring, and bright, but, in addition, this smells like sunshine and joy. It's hard to describe the specifics notes of sunshine and joy...but whatever they are, when I wear this I feel feel energized, warm, and happy! It's delightful.

This is, obviously, a sweet almond scent; like almond extract for marzipan, plus sugar cubes. I've been utterly craving Sinfonia di Note Amande Sucree for a couple of months, but, at this time, I cannot rationalize spending $150.00 on one bottle of fragrance. I had hoped Ava Luxe Amande Sucre would quiet my craving a bit. However, on my skin it develops a rancid note in the dry-down (apricot?), which ruins the whole concoction. I gave my bottle to a friend, on whom this same Amande Sucre smells completely delightful, and makes the $26.00 fragrance smell better than the $150.00 fragrance! I'm jealous.

My 10 year old son loves when I wear this stuff. He says, "It makes me smile. I don't know why." Yes, this is a "common" sweet vanilla, but, really, it smells so GOOD. I've happily used this fragrance in body wash for years, but I'd never considered wearing it as a perfume until the recent launch of the edt version. On me, the edt isn't as sweet as the bath products, and it develops a distinct, warm sandalwood note that I just adore. The edt smells like Samsara drenched in Cream Soda. (Sounds disgusting...yet it works!) I like to wear this at bedtime, and to use it for spritzing on bed linens and lingerie. It's a happy, pretty fragrance that's fun to wear.

Amarige + Skin Musk = Velvet Tuberose. It's pretty, but there are so many superior tuberose perfumes, I'd never need to wear this. I suppose I'd consider the bath & body products, but only during one of the annual sales.

A nice, sweet amber fragrance. To me, it's a watered-down version of Sage Machado Amber. As with almost all B&BW products, I'd enjoy this as a shower gel or lotion, but it's generally too plain for my "perfume" taste. Ambra del Nepal ruined me for all other ambers when it comes to perfume, but the Sensual Amber products make for nice, cheap layering.

According to Osmoz.com, "John Gamba, Master Perfumer at Givaudan, created Black Amethyst with autumn’s deep, rich mysterious hues in mind." It's an autumn dream of me in a Beaux Arts mansion, sitting on a purple velvet window cushion, surrounded by a misty breeze wafting through white lace curtains, anxiously aware of approaching heavy footsteps...(think Brontë sisters or Daphne Du Maurier.) I adore Black Amethyst. Believe it or not, it's the first Bath and Body Works fragrance I've ever purchased! I have the brand new edt in the classy square bottle with a tall, frosted, stately cap. The top notes are somewhat sweet, consisting of predominantly dry, dusky vanilla, with slight hints of berry. What made me fall in a big way for this scent, is the base notes. On me the patchouli is light and honeyed, and the vetiver is deep and green. This fragrance contains my favorite base note blend: Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Vanilla, and Musk, and they're radiant with my chemistry. On me, this is one heck of a complex fragrance. It initially reminds me of Deep Red, and then I think of Ralph Lauren Notorious, and then Narciso Rodriquez edp. I've seen many comparisons between Black Amethyst and Black Orchid, which I'm sure delight the perfumer, who must have used Black Orchid for "inspiration". When the Black Amethyst is sprayed in the air, or on a scent strip, I definitely get the comparison. However, on my skin, when it reaches full development, Black Amethyst is reminiscent of Allure Sensuelle. It's alluring, and sensual. (Definitely not one of the dreaded "fruity body spray" scents that permeate junior high classrooms.) Plus, the price can't be beat. I hit a sale today, which allowed me to buy two fragrances and get one for free. A 2.5 oz bottle sells for $26.50, which is a major bargain even without the freebie! The lasting power of Black Amethyst is okay. Typical of, maybe even a little better than most edts, but, for the price and the size of the bottle, I can spray and spray and re-spray without guilt. Overall, an extremely positive purchase.

A light, lemony, sugarless green tea fragrance that's refreshing to wear in hot weather.

Nanadebary Classic Pink + my chemistry = one helluva sexy fragrance. Many years ago, CCB Paris had a wonderful fragrance called Love, Etc. Nanadebary Pink reminds me of this, but Pink is much more elegant. I've tried thousands of perfumes, and owned hundreds more, yet Nanadebary Pink remains outstanding, and rare. According to Nanadebary.com, Pink's notes are Bergamot, Ginger, Jasmine, Iris, Sandalwood, Vanilla, and Musk. The notes themselves aren't unique...but whatever magic the perfumer used in this blend makes it a multi-level olfactory experience. In the beginning of wear, Pink is almost innocent; a pure, clear, soft pink with a hint of sugar. As it develops, it becomes strikingly spicy, and an earthier, adventurous pink steals the show. It makes me crave a huge piece of sourcream frosted carrot cake. This is the part of the fragrance that dominates, and lasts the longest. The drydown is extremely unusual for such a spicy fragrance, because it's slightly astringent, and almost soapy; a glass of pink lemonade after the cake. Sandalwood and jasmine emerge as a soft, graceful woodiness, but the ginger note lingers in the back of my throat, like a memory. According to my fragrance friends, my skin makes fragrances smell "spicy", so the cinnamon-like, nutmeg-like "gingeriness" of Pink winds up being the most outstanding component for me. Nanadebary's recent reformulation of Pink, Classic Pink, is still dedicated to the goddess in every woman, but this tenacious edp format was inspired by the strength of the people who helped to save Nana de Bary's life during a devastating tsunami in Thailand in 2004. Nana de Bary's courage and inspiring tale of survival adds depth and enjoyment to my deep appreciation of this all-natural fragrance.

If is the epitome of "pretty". It's a very, very light, feminine, gardenia-laden soft floral. I may be slightly anosmic to the musk in this one...because this fragrance almost seem too light on my skin. But it's charming, and superb on hot summer days. To my nose, this is the scent of sweet, gardenia and jasmine petals, enhanced by yuzu rind and green leaves, floating on powdery, oceanic musk. If you are a fan of Mazzolari Marina, Sarah Horowitz Peace Comes From Within, Il Profumo Musc Bleu, or Serge Lutens Clair de Musc, I'll bet you'll like If!

Ingenius. Inspired by and named for Dorothy's Parker's morbidly exquisite poem, Lyric Rain is an olfactory deconstruction of the reality of death, and the implications of decomposition. "Oh, let it be a night of lyric rain/And singing breezes when my bell is tolled." Like Parker, this perfume cannot resist wit; and it knows better than to take itself too seriously. True to form for the exceptional Strange Invisible Perfumes, at the beginning of wear, I am damn near compelled to dress in black and roam a moonlit cemetery. Jasmine, patchouli, and lavender create a night spell; I can almost hear echoing footsteps and wisps of Chopin Nocturnes played by raindrops. "I have so loved the rain that I would hold/Last in my ears its friendly, dim refrain." In synch with the poem, Lyric Rain becomes wry, yet bitter, with notes of lotus and pink pepper; "Kinder the busy worms than ever love." Overall, the fragrance creates irony: the scent of old damp leaves, cold night air, moss-covered earth, and yet, somehow, prettiness emerges, like an afterthought; hindsight. "My bed made secret by the leveling showers,/My breast replenishing the weeds above./And you will say of me, "Then has she died?/Perhaps I should have sent a spray of flowers."

Lisa Hoffman's Variations Collections consist of four roll-on perfumes housed in buttery-soft, portable leather pouches. Each bottle is a variation of a scent theme, with individual scents designed to be applied (or layered) throughout the day: 1 ~ Morning 2 ~ Daytime 3 ~ Evening 4 ~ Bedtime. Madagascar Orchid's notes are Jasmine, Orange, Bergamot, Neroli, Pink Peony, Amber and Soft Musk. It's a lovely, elegant skin-scent that takes me to a private olfactory sanctuary. My favorite variation is "Morning" because of it's energizing citrus topnotes, and my second favorite is "Evening" which is sultry, ambery, and golden. All four formulations are beautiful, alone and/or layered, because they smell lush and alive. These scents stay very close to the skin, but their lasting power is excellent. They are completely appropriate for workplaces, nightlife places, and even cramped elevators.

Irresistible! This is a fun, easy-to-wear perfume oil that comes in a cool little leather case. The Carnival Wax fragrance line is designed by ubercool Agatha Blois, who creates custom leather clothing for iconic rock stars. Sugarwitch begins with a note of fresh-squeezed lemon juice, and warms into the smell of sugar cookies baking in an oven. It develops into a tobacco-woody fragrance, but it never looses the vanilla-cake sweetness. If you don't like very sweet fragrances, don't even bother to try this. But if you do, you won't be able to resist it! Lasting power is excellent, and even though the price seems high, there's a lot of product in the bottle, and a little goes a long way. The leather case is weirdly elegant, and perfect for bottle collectors (like me).

Feminine, romantic, and alluring, I love this seductive white floral. I was drawn to Aphrodisiac in Apothia, initially because of the heady, mysterious tuberose note I smelled in the air. I followed my nose to a counter, where it seemed like everyone in the boutique had been spraying Aphrodisiac onto scent strips. After one sniff on a strip, other fragrances seemed to fade to black. This is mesmerizing: tropical, heady, feminine, and intense. Aphrodisiac is a gorgeous pink-colored fragrance that's as sensual as an island garden in full bloom. It begins as a bright, sparkling rosy floral, but it develops into a temptress, with tuberose, and amber. Top notes:neroli, mimosa, orange blossom, white rose; Middle notes: lily of the valley, tonka, tuberose; Base notes: coffee flower, hibiscus seeds, patchouli, amber. Aphrodisiac is an "easy" scent for me, it's stimulating, and just incredibly pretty - perfect for anytime. If I can't decide which fragrance to wear, I'll reach for Aphrodisiac, confident that it will smell lovely and radiant all day long. This is one of my husband's favorites of all my fragrances; for once, we agree!

I was at Apothia the day the lovely Katherine Growney launched Nani. After one sniff I was in love, and I purchased a bottle on the spot. I've always been entranced by the fragrance of jasmine, so I grow several varieties in my garden. My favorite scent of warm summer evenings is that of "jasminum sambac", which is called "Arabian Jasmine" here in California, and "Pikake" in Hawaii. Before my introduction to Nani, I hadn't found a jasmine fragrance that truly captured the intoxicating beauty of the flower's aroma, and smelled good on me. Nani has several layers of moods, and extremely good lasting power. It begins as a fresh, sunny, sweet jasmine, evoking a fresh new lei on a warm morning. As the fragrance develops, it gets headier, and muskier. Eventually Nani becomes the scent of the lei that you've worn throughout the day. As the moon illuminates the white flowers, you place the lei on your nightstand so it will transport tropical sensuality into your dreams. And your dreams are beautiful. Nani is exquisite, and it's become one of my "top five" all-time favorites!

This fragrance is fascinating. On me, it smells like the Atlantic; cool, slightly gray, peppery, earthy, and smoky. On my husband it smells like the Pacific; warm, salty, green, and brisk with hints of citrus. I much prefer it on my husband, (I love it on him). The cardamom in this fragrance is especially complimentary to the grapefruit, patchouli, geranium, iris, ylang ylang, and vetiver notes. Sel de Vetiver calls to mind L'Artisan Navegar, although I don't think they share many notes. They do share a warm-skin freshness that's somehow sultry, yet light. Sel de Vetiver has become one of my favorite vetivers - and I adore vetiver.

This is very fresh, and cool, with mood-lifting ozone notes. It's almost perfect, but a sticky watermelon-like note (rhubarb?) spoils it a bit for me. This note seems strong on hot days, so I think this is going to be a cool weather fragrance for me. It really is transporting, and very Atlantic (as opposed to Pacific). Antonia's Flowers lists the notes as bergamot, cassis buds, rhubarb, orange, and lotus. This is very nice, and I will continue to enjoy it, but it doesn't come close to being as special as the unusual, hauntingly-beautiful Tiempe Passate.

For years I've been searching for a white ginger fragrance that really captures the fragrance of Hawaiian white ginger. Some fragrances had hints of its sweet and sultry scent, but 'Ume IS that scent. 'Ume is a subtle, mysterious floral with airy qualities in the topnotes, and an earthy, sensual oak moss base. Lasting power is very good, and it seems to rejuvenate itself on my skin over the course of the day. It's hard to keep my nose away from my wrists, because 'Ume makes me giddy. Those who love the indescribable beauty of the fragrances of Hawaii must try Saffron James, and 'Ume is a white ginger dream-come-true. Notes are ginger absolute, water lily, gardenia, yuzu, and mousse de chêne.

Only Michel Roudnitska could have created such a sensual, evocative fragrance and make it wear like a skin scent! Shiloh is warm and multifaceted like Amoureuse (by Roudnitska), woodsy like the dreamy Bois de Paradis (also by Roudnitska), with a lovely spiciness like the vivid Noir Epices (Roudnitska). It's a refined and gentle fragrance, that smells like dusk in autumn. Shiloh isn't dramatic or bold, and I think it may be one of those scents that simply has to "work with one's chemistry", but it does work with mine, and I love it.

I despise the name of this house, and the name of this fragrance. How can a tag-line like "Hostilities in progress" seem like a good marketing idea? We've all wanted to rewrite Shakespeare. And turning Juliet into a Tarantino La Femme Nikita is humorous, but this perfume is not. It's got the chutzpah of Cabaret, and the mesmerizing mystique of Voleur de Roses. From the viewpoint of a fragrance lover aiming to share excellent perfumes with other fragrance lovers, I endorse this because it's so gorgeous! One sniff, and WOW! Add the "wow" to multifaceted development and originality...and...hooked. I feel like I've found the rose scent I'd concoct myself if I had the talent and the skill.

moureuse is incredible. It is radiant upon application, and it's sultry, and extremely sensual as it develops. If you are a fan of Annick Goutal Heure Exquise or Vivienne Westwood Boudoir, you must try Amoureuse, which I think is a sort-of "sister scent" to these two. Amoureuse is a powerful, slightly sweet, very, very sexy fragrance, but it smells "expensive", elegant, and sublime. Lasting power is fabulous. I have a feeling this is going to be one of my all-time favorite fragrances!

Fresh, delicate, and very pretty. On me this is quite minty at first, and it remains minty for awhile. Luckily for me, this is not a chewing-gum, sweet mint. It's herbal and earthy. When the jasmine appears, it is striking; slightly rosy and very clear. The jasmine/rose notes are nothing like those in the old-fashioned type fragrances Honeysuckle & Jasmine and Red Roses. It's a clear jasmine, almost dry, without sweetness. The scent base reminds me of chamomile tea. Overall this fragrance is relaxing, laid-back, soft. One of the finest for hot weather.

I LOVE Blue Agava and Cacao. I like it best on its own, and it is nice for layering. Blue Agava and Cacao is a vibrant, energetic green fragrance that is sophisticated and sultry. The topnotes are citrus-floral and sweet. The sweetness calls to mind the Blue Agave Nectar I've tried in Baja California. Blue Agave (aka Tequila Agave) is a succulent (not a cactus) that's related to lily. Its "nectar" is extremely sweet, and tastes something like honey. My range of tequila expertise begins and ends with Jose Cuervo, which, to me, tastes like oily asphalt, so I can't personally say I get a tequila note in Blue Agava and Cacao. However, I can say I sense Blue Agave Nectar. If the incredibly beautiful, delicate cacao flower could have a scent, Blue Agava and Cacao would suit it perfectly. Blue Agava and Cacao is slightly sweet, with the acerbic, coffee-like note of cacao seeds. It's spicy, too, like Aztec cacao (sweetened with Blue Agave Nectar.) Its base is of green woods and musk, enhanced with cinnamon and dry vanilla. I've never smelled anything that comes close to this scent; it is unique and bewitching. Lasting power is excellent.

Armani Code is a sweet, slightly gingery, slightly powdery, orange blossom fragrance. The topnotes are honeyed orange blossom and seringa, which I like a lot, but after about an hour this smells strikingly like Kiss My Face Pear Soap. I don't particularly like to wear pear fragrances, so this won't be something I must have (even though it's orange blossom). I'd love this if my chemistry would let it work. I'll have to try it again in a different season.

How I've missed trying new elegant, unique fragrances that were created to be fashionable accessories; to enhance beauty, and set a mood. So many new fragrances have smelled like air freshener, antiperspirant, and/or soap, for so long, that I'd feared the launch of my concept of "elegant perfume" was something of fond memory. I read about Jasmin Noir on blogs, and all the notes sounded intriguing, except licorice. I hate licorice enough that its scent can completely ruin a perfectly nice fragrance for me. I can't smell any straightforward licorice in Jasmin Noir, so I'm relieved. When I first sprayed Jasmin Noir, I was skeptical. It smelled SO good, but I knew I had to give it just a little time to disappoint me. I assumed it would become linear, or chemical-like, or headache inducing, or plasticy, or hairspray-ish, or fruity, or just plain boring. My surprise, many hours later, was filled with happiness. Jasmin Noir is not only gorgeous, it's brilliantly multi-faceted, moody, striking, enchanting, and long-lasting. Rather than blasting individual notes, Jasmin Noir creates a spicy, woody atmosphere of its own. It smells luxurious, and blatantly sensual. It openly and confidently whispers Seduction: the kind involving Veuve Clicquot, Bulgari jewelry, and La Perla Black Label. When I read reviews, I like to see what other fragrances either smell like, or bring to mind, the fragrance being reviewed. Jasmin Noir is quite distinctive on me, but I'd categorize it as having a mood (not scent) similar to Allure, Boucheron, Samsara, Amouage Gold, Nuits de NoHo...perfumes created for glamor and intrigue.

Cocoon is a comfort fragrance for me, but it's assertive, too. It smells very woody, earthy, and natural, and the dry vanilla is tempting, but not sugary. Vanilla-patchouli blends generally work beautifully with my chemistry, so Cocoon, with it's touch of cocoa, is a definite winner. It's not complex: just cocoa, vanilla, and patchouli, but it has depth, and a gorgeous dryness that makes it unique in the gourmand category. It is similar to Serge Lutens Borneo 1834, but it also reminds me of Coco Mademoiselle edt. The base of Coco Mademoiselle, smells somewhat similar in the drydown. Cocoon seems to be marketed as a women's fragrance, but it's perfect for men as well. The lasting power is incredible, but don't overspray this: the sillage rivals legends.

I like it. A lot. Pleasures Delight isn't as foody on me as it seems to be on others. It's sweet, pretty, and very light. If you're looking for sugar-candy sweet, you may love Keiko Mecheri Loukhoum, or Pilar and Lucy The Exact Friction of Stars. Pleasures Delight has This is one of the few scents my husband has ever commented on, and he said, "You smell good." He usually thinks vanilla-based scents smell like "cookies" or "candy", but he said Pleasures Delight is "pretty". (This means he smells some flowers. Most of the fragrances he likes on me -sadly, very few- are florals.) I don't smell original Pleasure in Pleasures Delights, nor do I smell the kind of strawberry from Miss Dior Cherie. It's along the lines of Hanae Mori Butterfly, but the patchouli dry-down saves it from being as cloying and dessert-like. I used up a whole bottle of this when it first came out, didn't wear it for about a year, and found myself missing it. I repurchased it, and I like it even better than I did originally! It's a fun, easy, happy fragrance that's great for wearing on my adventures with my kids.

The Chrysler Imperial Rose, the only rose breed I've heard of that's named for an automobile (now vintage), was "launched" with the auto, and, so far, has long outlasted it. Better cars have come our way, but the Chrysler Imperial Rose is one of the finest tea roses grown in international gardens. It is an absolutely gorgeous hybrid tea rose with huge, vivid, rose-red flowers and a dewy, rich, classic tea rose perfume. Perfumer's Workshop Tea Rose smells like a bouquet of Chrysler Imperial blooms, cut early on a warm morning, and placed in a crystal vase. Its lasting power is incredible, (as is the amount of fragrance, esp. for the price!), and a full spritz of it can scent an entire room for hours. For lovers of the heady smell of fresh roses, this fragrance should not be missed. If you could take the aroma of Fleur de Thé Rose Bulgare and multiply its concentration by ten, you'd have something surprisingly similar to Perfumer's Workshop Tea Rose.

Pure White Linen is a very, very light scent that briefly calls to mind the classic White Linen, and then disappears. My skin simply cannot hold onto this stuff, which is faint to begin with. It's fresh and pretty. I don't smell any citrus or sweetness. With all the notes listed I thought it may be complex, but to me it's pure "air notes". It's been very hot here, so maybe this will be better in cooler weather.

Toluene is a chemical solvent produced catalytically from crude oil to make high octane gasoline. It can dissolve many substances, such as paint, glue, and rubber. It smells like benzene, whose odor is commonly associated with paint thinners. Toluene was first isolated from Tolu Balsam, which is a natural resin with a complex, warm aroma. The Strange Invisible Perfumes website describes Moon Garden as "luxuriant tuberose, jasmine, and pikake, bejeweled with African resins". After one whiff of Moon Garden, I guessed that the "resins" of the scent description must be Tolu Balsam, because my first thought was, "This smells like gasoline and paint thinner." I had my son sniff it, and he said, "It smells like minty ammonia." My husband said, "I can see why they named it after a garden on the moon..." The title actually refers to night-blooming gardens, redolent with the blossoms of Night Blooming Jasmine, tuberose, pikake, and other white flowers that take advantage of night pollinators. I adore these blossoms, so I was excited about trying Moon Garden. I hoped that, like the infamous but beloved Tuberose Criminelle, or the camphory Carnal Flower, the harsh, jarring topnotes would evolve into an enchanting perfume. Unfortunately, Moon Garden refuses to be what I'd hoped for. Rather than the mystique and romance of a moonlit garden, Moon Garden evokes the time I struggled with a gas pump, and lost. I'd been soaked to the skin, and I couldn't get rid of the acrid odor for days. On a happy note, Moon Garden is one less fragrance for which I have to pay $135.00 for a 1.7 oz. edp. I would love to smell this on a person for whom it works, because I think it can be a fascinating, gorgeous work, if one can make it bloom.

When I was a kid I got a tiny vial of "Orange Blossom Souvenir Perfume" while on vacation in Florida. The 1/8 oz. bottle came in a cute little wooden orange fruit, and the cap of the bottle served as the stem. At the time, I believed it truly elicited the smell of the blossoms I'd smelled in Florida. I loved this souvenir perfume, and I remember it as having the pure smell of Florida orange blossoms, (in contrast with my perception of California orange blossoms, which only Jo Malone has captured perfectly in fragrance form). On my skin Fair Verona is a scent illustration of orange blossom that immediately evokes my concept of Florida orange blossom. Fair Verona quickly develops into a scent reminiscent of neroli essential oil, which makes me recall that little wooden orange. (There's nothing technical about this comparison, it's purely my olfactory response stimulated by my imagination - there may not be a drop of neroli in this, for all I know). On me, Fair Verona overall, is a soft, smooth neroli (bitter orange tree oil) scent. There's a hint of minty green upon application, but it fades quite quickly and develops into a fragrance that jolted into my memory the little wooden orange I had more than 30 years ago. Fair Verona has a fresh, sparkly opening that morphs into a deeper, oilier scent. Like Tropical Vial, one of the top notes reminds me of Un Jardin Sure le Nil, but this note is fleeting. Fair Verona's notes are listed (on siperfumes.com) as citrus essences from Italy, cardamom, green myrtle, Egyptian jasmine, Sicilian lemon, and bergamot. Fair Verona is a lovely fragrance, and I enjoy it throughly for as long as I can smell it. After about 20 minutes I have to sniff my skin, just to get the faintest whiff of powdery orange oil. It leaves a hint of scent on my skin that gets rejuvenated if I got outside in the heat, and it doesn't wash off easily in the pool or with sweat, but I wish it had a teeny bit of sillage. If this fragrance was as unique, unusual, and compelling as, say Magazine Street, I would spend $135.00 for an edp, and treasure it, but this won't be a purchase for me. If you love orange blossom/citrus/neroli, or you're enamored with Romeo and Juliet, you must try Fair Verona. As with all the ingenious Strange Invisible Perfumes, imagination and personal chemistry are the keys to unlocking their secrets.

Magazine Street is the kind of fragrance that makes me remember why I fell so in love with perfumes in the first place. It's an olfactory incarnation of how life really smells, if you're lucky. I haven't yet been able to visit New Orleans after Katrina's devastation. New Orleans was one of the most fascinating, and definitely the most haunting, preternatural city I've ever visited. I could almost see the ghosts of Lestat, and Ignacious Reilly, and Blanche Dubois in the gardens, and the cemeteries, and wandering the balconied streets. Magazine Street, in its current paradigm, is an enchanting shopping area filled with antiques, artisan jewelry, excellent cafes, and comforting spas. Magazine Street was not completely destroyed by Katrina, so in the aftermath of the hurricane, "the show went on", allowing the city to have at least a little bit of economic recovery, and a lot of inspiration. Its shops have become a model for sustenance and positive community relations through their vital examples of "staying local" with all provisional and recreational purchases. Through vigorous work and immutable hope, Magazine Street is helping to soothe New Orleans. Magazine Street, the mesmerizing perfume, is a striking tribute to the spirit of the eponymous neighborhood. On a poetic level, it's the scent of air on a hot, sweet Southern evening, right after a vigorous rainstorm. You smell the flowers, dampness, greens, mustiness, and even the ghosts, filled with pain and joy. I get a hint of the French Quarter the - beignets at Cafe Du Monde, from a deep vanilla note. On a literal level, Magazine Street perfume is a magnolia-vanilla version of Frederic Malle Carnal Flower. It begins with a camphor quality that I find irresistible, and its layers reveal magnolia, vanilla, vetiver, and musk, as lush, and assertive redolence. I think this fragrance is what mainstream marketing would call "unisex", because it smells more like a traditional "men's" cologne rather than a "feminine" perfume. This is an evening scent for me, mostly because I prefer dark vanillas when its dark outside, but it can be worn comfortably day and night. It's sensuous, beautiful, and singular, and all true fragrance lovers will probably at least appreciate it, if they don't fall head over heels in love with it, which is more likely.

I've been hearing about, and reading about Strange Invisible Perfumes for years. If I had heard more positive things, I'd have rushed immediately to the boutique and tried every scent. However, the majority of opinion on these fragrances has been so negative, I've actually been afraid to try them. I love the website, and the fragrance descriptions are fascinating. Yes, they're a bit melodramatic, but they're lyrical, and rich with atmosphere; which is what I want from perfumes. I've been disappointed with hundred of fragrances that sound preternaturally astounding, but wind up being air fresheners to cover cat litter box odor. Recently I've gotten so extremely sick of sniffing new fragrances that cause absolutely no emotional response, and so tired of smelling Dream Angels Heavenly EVERYWHERE, that I wanted to try new scents even if their aromas were so awful they knocked me unconscious. I'm excited and thrilled to report that Strange Invisible Perfumes appear to be the kind of fragrances I've been yearning to explore, and not in the "knocked unconscious" way! Those of us who are "scent addicts" understand that our link to everything we remember in life comes with a scent association. Our remembered scents evoke an atmosphere, rather than a rendering of perfectly pleasant smells. Alexandra Balahoutis, the perfumer of SIP, clearly feels this way as well. These perfumes aren't manufactured for people who want to smell as fresh and clean and balanced as their antiperspirant. These are perfumes for those of us who FEEL, live, and remember our lives through fragrance. As for Tropical Vial...Tropical Vial creates a vivid, unique atmosphere that makes me think of a cave I explored on the Big Island of Hawaii. The individual notes don't really matter...this fragrance smells like that place on that island. If I sniff hard and try to pick out notes, I get something that, for a second or two, makes me think of Un Jardin Sur le Nil. The scent then reminds me of jasmine and green teas flavored with fresh citrus rind. It's uplifting, and mesmerizing. Unfortunately this fragrance is very weak on my skin. There really isn't any sillage, which would be all right if it lasted longer. But after about two hours, I can't even smell this when vigorously sniffing my wrists. I'm going to see if this works better depending upon my body temperature, because I have a feeling it's going to bloom in extreme heat. I definitely recommend trying Tropical Vial if you like the mystery of the tropics!

I like it a lot. I wore it on my wedding day, (it was brand new back then, so no one was sick of it yet). Happy is energetic, sparkling, fresh, and pleasant. Often I find myself complimenting others on their fragrance, which I find out is Happy. It smells quite different on others. My skin brings out the wood notes, but I smell the citrus notes on lots of other wearers. As long as it's not overapplied, Happy is perfect for any environment.

KenzoAmour is a delicate, sweet, gentle fragrance. It is tender, and serene, and feels like that incomparable first love. It smells like cool white tea with floating plumeria blossoms and vanilla pods, set upon a bamboo table, with powdery incense burning, as the sun sets. It's sensual, calm, and evokes a sanctuary, with the timeless emotion of a lover's embrace.

Beyond Paradise Blue is to an island beach what Paris Las Vegas is to Paris, France. Like Paris Las Vegas, it's a completely contrived rendition of programmed preconceived expectations, with very little to do with reality. BPB is much too choreographed to connote a real beach to me. That's not to say I don't like it. In a Disneyland-Make-the-Fantasy-Reality kind of way, Beyond Paris Blue is a lot of fun. To me it's a vacation at a resort (Mirage in Las Vegas, maybe, or Mandalay Bay?); reading a hard cover novel by the chlorinated pool, surrounded by perfectly maintained landscaping, having drinks served. For some reason, the smell actually does remind me of pool water, even though it doesn't smell like chlorine. PBP is not an overtly feminine scent, and its floral notes are heady rather than sweet. (Must be the "Eden's Mist Water Flowers" ??). The orange flower note brings to mind the Coppertone of my childhood, (or maybe that's the "Sun Kissed Skin"? LOL!), which may be why I'm reminded of s swimming pool. PBP is rather like a combination of Bobbi Brown Beach and Michael Kors Island. I cannot smell any of the individual notes the Estee Lauder website lists for this fragrance. It's not a scent with many facets. What you get at the beginning, you get at the end. Also, it's not very long-lasting. If it lasted longer I'd have given it 4 lippies, because it does smell attractive. The bottle is lovely - it just glows among my other bottles. I'll enjoy wearing this on very hot days, maybe when I'm gardening or doing errands, but I don't love it enough that I'll repurchase it. I probably won't even use up the whole bottle, and soon it will become a clean-smelling air freshener.

Sensuous is multi-facted and multi-dimensional. Unless you've worn it for a full day, several times, you may have missed an aspect of this intricate fragrance. If applied heavily, Sensuous is jarring in its spiciness; its subtle black pepper note escalates to a scalding smog. If applied judiciously, Sensuous continuously changes over hours of wear; sometimes wafting a sugary note, sometimes exuding hints of lily, and sometimes projecting gentle, balsamy woods. In recent years, I found vanilla-less, dry-warm-wood fragrances only in niche lines. If you love the incense/spice/woods fragrances that have been popular in boutiques, Sensuous might turn out to be a very reasonably priced, gratifying addition to your wardrobe.

Love's True Bluish Light is a sensual, vivid amber-vanilla that gets compliments every time I wear it. It's one of those irresistible scents that makes you feel warm, and sexy, and soft. I love to spritz it on my bedsheets.

Broadway Nite is an extremely potent diva of a fragrance on me, with heavy-duty aldehydes and pungent florals. Although there are times when these notes are enjoyable, and even fun, in Broadway Nite they miss the mark with my chemistry. Broadway Nite has 1980s sillage + 1920s aldehydes. Elegant and classy, yes. Intimate and subtle, no.

It's quite similar to Light Blue, minus the cedar, and Eclat d'Arpege, minus the apple, but the lily note makes it distinctive. This is an extremely lovely, uplifting fragrance that exudes joy. Lovely bottle, too!

When I see the name, all I can think of is Leather Fish Eggs...so it's no wonder it took me so long to try this. Actually, trying it wasn't even my idea. A friend gave me a generous decant after I sniffed from her bottle and nearly fainted. This fragrance is absolutely stunning! The prominent notes for me are amber, aldehydes, vanilla, and what I think of as a "cashmere" accord. Cuir Beluga has a vintage feel, calling to mind classic, womanly aldehyde scents like No. 5, Shalimar, Emeraude, Arpège, Bois des Iles, etc. Cuir Beluga is a soft, gentle, airy scent even though it's so warm. I don't smell a bit of leather in this, and the most prominent note on me is "burnt sugar", not unlike the burnt sugar note I get from Flowerbomb. Cuir Beluga is romantic, gentle, and almost snuggly. I sniff myself and swoon.

What a boring, trite name. I love the eponymous Vera Wang fragrance. I think Princess smells adorable for a young lady. Even though neither Sheer Veil nor Truly Pink work for me, I appreciate their lovely, elegant femininity. I was excited to try Bouquet, and my first impression, on a scent strip, was positive. So, I sprayed some on my skin, and waited to see what the scent would do. After a few minutes, it smelled like crisp, tart, cool green apple. That's it. Maybe it was the day, maybe it was a bad tester bottle, maybe I'm going nuts, but Bouquet smelled like a pungent green apple cologne. I'm going to test it again, and update my review. After reading the list of notes, unless "dew drops" smell like green apple, I'm sure I missed something!

Midnight Poison, on me, bears a striking resemblance to DKNY Delicious Night, if I layered Delicious Night with Mentholatum. I like Delicious Night on its own better. This Poison has none of the striking originality and creative genius of the original Poison, or the unusual cedar seductive sweetness of Hypnotic Poison. The bottle is beautiful, but the scent disappoints me. No intrigue or attraction for me from this Poison, even after several tests, (but at least it's not as awful on me as Pure Poison, which makes me appreciate my memories of Primo).

Pretty in a predictable, polite way. Very ladylike and subtle. I love the first Marc Jacobs (gardenia & white ginger), but Daisy is not for me. Daisy is a nice daytime fragrance that can be worn with ease in any workplace. It's fresh, clean, and flowery, but it's not distinctive to me. It's very "safe" for young ladies, and women who enjoy discreet, unlikely-to-cause-reaction fragrances. If you like Amazing Grace (I love it) you may want to give Daisy a try! I'm not sure I'll recognize Daisy when I smell it again, even though its sales statistics indicate it's everywhere. The lasting power is okay, but not great, and the bottle is adorable.

That ugly, unsuitable bottle put me off for way too long...but recently, while desperately trying to find a fragrance that seemed remotely interesting, I tried this at Kohl's (of all places). I fell for it immediately...it may even be love. Rush is confident, elegant, sensual, and, best of all, distinctive. Many fragrances smell so similar that I get bored with them. I love fragrance beyond reason, so I truly appreciate a fragrance that intrigues me. Gucci Rush is great with my chemistry, and, based on compliments it receives, it seems to be attractive to people of all ages. It's truly radiant. I cannot imagine why it comes in the plastic, bright red, tacky bottle that gives me '80s nightmares. If it were up to me, I'd put it in an Opium-style bottle, and make the liquid amber colored. Rush makes me think of a desert night, illuminated by a bright moon, redolent of hot, dry air and lush white flowers. Purplebird7 hit the nail on the head with her analysis of the base-notes. And it's the same for me; whatever unpronounceable chemical concoction it is that rounds out Rush, it really works with my chemistry! This fragrance is exciting, and uplifting.

Way back in the 1970s my mother got free purse-spray bottles of Lauder fragrances when she purchased her Estée Lauder makeup. She'd give these bottles to me. As a child, I was already fragrance-crazed, so being gifted with a Real Woman's Perfume was thrilling. Over the years I'd been given cast-off EL minis of Youth Dew, Private Collection, Azurée, Estée Super Cologne, and Cinnabar,etc. I loved having the little bottles, but it never occurred to me to wear any of these fragrances. I believed they were obviously for Older Sophisticated Women. I was 12 when White Linen was launched. I remember watching my mother test it by spritzing the purse-spray she'd gotten with her makeup. She crinkled her nose, and claimed it would give her a headache. I recall that when she smelled White Linen on me, she was astonished at how pretty it was. "You wear perfume well," she said. I agreed happily. I was thrilled with White Linen. I thought it smelled like lilac and crisp green leaves. None of the familiar woman's fragrances had smelled so natural, and summery. I treasured my White Linen because it made me feel vivacious, and quietly elegant. As a scent, it was like wearing a white eyelet blouse, and fresh flowers in my hair. I think White Linen was the groundbreaking forerunner of many popular clean-floral fragrances, but it doesn't smell outdated to me. The aldehydes in the top-notes give it a timeless refinement, and add sparkle to the unique blend of flowers, and the dewy-yet-airy feel that makes White Linen a classic. If you like YSL Paris, Calèche, Clinique Wrappings, Calandre, and/or Nocturnes de Caron, you should not miss giving White Linen a test run.

If you liked Miami Glow, Dianoche Ocean is definitely worth a try for you. Dianoche Ocean is a bright, fruity, flowery mix that smells like a summer vacation on a tropical beach. The attractive bottle is really two bottles that snap into each other like Legos. The top bottle is the "night" fragrance, and the bottom bottle is the "day" fragrance. The "day" fragrance is candy-sweet, with lots of sugary vanilla and pineapple. It's a little too heady and cloying if over-sprayed. However, the "night" fragrance is deeper with dry coconut, and rich with amber and light patchouli. When layered with the "day" fragrance, the "night" version tempers the whole blend into a very wearable, extremely long-lasting, classic "beachy" fragrance. It's a feel-good scent that's full of fun, and highly unlikely to attract the attentions of the Fragrance Sensitives. It's sold at Kohls, reasonably priced, and in a very pretty bottle. The ridiculous sounding notes listed on the Kohls website are: "Day"- mojito accord, bitter orange, "watery splashes" (??), orange flower, jasmine sambac, tiare, sandalwood. "Night" - bergamot, bitter orange, "dewy greens", vanilla orchid, jasmine sambac, gardenia, "beach flower" (?), "unique merinque accord" (?), coconut water, amber, patchouli.

This is a very rich and sensual amber-vanilla-incense perfume. At first it smells so much like Shalimar parfum, I'm not sure I could tell the difference between Olive Flowers and Shalimar on my skin. After it sinks into my skin, however, Olive Flowers develops in a very different way from Shalimar, and it eventually becomes enchanting, with no need of comparison. Olive Flowers starts out lemony and sweet, and hints at seduction. As it dries down the warm, slightly powdery amber notes get deeper, and enhance the haunting incense notes, adding drama and unabashed sexiness. The price is incredible. I'd expect to pay much, much more for such a beautiful, high quality perfume.

I fell for this within the first 1/2 second of a sniff. It's a jewel of a perfume in an amazingly attractive bottle. When I fall for a fragrance I often read blogs and such for reviews, and the reviews I've read so far about West Side are fascinating. West Side seems to bring out a lyrical spirit and a poetic aura in its reviewers.

Aside from feeling kinship to the artistic air of the analyses, one review made me giggle a bit. The reviewer feels that West Side smells like the "child" of Tocade and Organza Indecence. The reason for my smile was that the thought was so similar to my own reaction: West Side seems like of "child" of Tocade and John Paul Gaultier Classique. I think West Side will bring many, many new fans to the Bond No. 9 line.

Alma de Alma is the epitome of how I imagine the alluring fragrances of antiquity. It's the consummate fragrance of seduction: deep amber, dry vanilla, skin musk, and resins. It's sensual, exotic, and evocative of a middle eastern desert. This perfume oil is very beautiful.

Kinmokusei, like all of Moriel's fragrances that I have tried, is outstanding, and unique. I own Kinmokusei, and I enjoy it very much. Moriel describes Kinmokusei as an "osmanthus soliflore", but this comes across on me with a complexity that is extremely rare for a soliflore. Konmokusei is a citrusy green tea fragrance which has a strange, alluring tobacco-like drydown. It begins in a zesty and summery way, but the drydown has a darkness that adds melancholy and quiescence. The deep base notes cause this fragrance to split from bright and light into a heavy, resiny scent. When I am in a contemplative mood, this fragrance works perfectly. It's fascinating.

If this was a body spray or lotions at Bath & Body Works, I'd probably buy it. There is no way I'd pay $110.0 for an ounce of this stuff, though. Virgin Island Water is so much like Ananas Fizz on my skin, that I've actually confused them. Virgin Island Water is heavy on the coconut, though, while Ananas Fizz highlights pineapple. Virgin Island Water has fabulous lasting power. It's a refreshing, sugary, coconut-citrus, rum cocktail of a fragrance. This is nice for men and women, especially in hot, humid weather. If I didn't already have a huge bottle of Ananas Fizz I might be tempted by Virgin Island Water, but I doubt I'll be purchasing this scent.

Maybe the problem is that I don't get ANY gardenia, and I wanted gardenia. The "cruel" thing about this gardenia, it its absence. It's as though the base of the scent shows up, but the heart never appears. Cruel Gardenia reminds me of vintage face powder, Coty Airspun, maybe? I smell aldehydes, powder, musk, and aluminum. I don't know how to classify this fragrance in my mind...it's not a floral...it's not a chypre...and it's not sweet...It's subtle, and musky, and talcum-y, and metallic. If it's supposed to give the "impression" of gardenia, rather than the scent of it, it misses the mark by a mile for me. With a dramatic name like Cruel Gardenia I thought this fragrance might be, at the very least, interesting. For me, it's, well...boring.

Alluring, sexy, and magically tropical. If you love HEADY gardenia and tuberose with dry, woody coconut, you will love this. It's a fabulous, head-turning, hyperconfident floral with outstanding lasting power and striking sillage. The bottle is fabulous, too.

WHEN will this return? I am so excited to purchase a full bottle! This is utterly gorgeous. It's warm, elegant, feminine, sensual, and it doesn't develop the mothball accord on my skin that inevitably emerges from Chanel No. 5 edt. Instead, the basenotes radiate a dry vanilla that works beautifully with the lush topnotes, and balances the aldehydic notes. Eau Première smells the way I've always dreamed Chanel No. 5 would smell on my skin. It melts into it, and becomes something magical, and irresistible.

Chanel No. 5 may be the classic fragrance of fashion, but Shalimar is the quintessential fragrance of LOVE. Shalimar is probably the finest vanilla-based perfume of all time. I've never met anyone who doesn't find it to be dreamy and alluring; whether it conjures up Roaring 20s haute couture, 1950s glamour, or 21st century independence, it's one of the greatest perfumes ever concocted. Elegant, sensual, and unforgettable, Shalimar is the fragrance by which I rate any other romantic scent I wear. I like this best in parfum, but it's lovely in all concentrations. This is a scent of mystery and warmth. I've loved it for as long as I can remember, and it's an olfactory treasure. It's one of the finest, most beautiful, and deeply complex fragrances ever made.

An iconic classic, which has become the supreme tuberose fragrance, by which all other tuberose fragrances are compared. It's confident, lush, and daring; a heady pungent tuberose with a strange woody-mossy drydown. It seems like a happy scent when first sprayed, with bright citrus, and orange blossom notes. This is deceptive, though, because Fracas quickly becomes a bolder, dark fragrance, that can be downright disturbing. It's like the DeChirico painting, Melancholy and Mystery of a Street, where the carefree girl is unaware of the dark shadow that is about to cover her. Don't expect Fracas to be pleasing to others at work, and when wearing it, don't expect to be stopped in the street and complimented for how clean and fresh you smell. It's not going to happen. But do expect Fracas to add drama to your life, and make your moments wearing it, into adventures. Everything is intensified within the bizarre and hypnotic atmosphere created by Fracas!

I bought this at TJ Maxx for around $12.00, and that price suits it. It's an extremely light floral that smells very pink and clean. To me, it's actually hard to smell unless I spray a lot of it. It's pretty and very "Avon-ish" in a mass-market, never offend anyone kind of way. If it had a little more "oomph" in the basenotes, it would be a very nice fragrance, but, on my skin, it smells like it's missing something. The marketing for this scent calls it "beachy" but I don't get this at all. More like "Miss Marple's Garden." A certain element of Matthew Williamson reminds me a lot of The Pink Room (which I adore). They do share many similar notes, but MW has none of Pink Room's drama or presence. If you want a pretty clean scent to wear to the office, Matthew Williamson is one you'll want to try.

I have edp, edt, lotion, and leg shine. I love this fragrance. It smells of tropical tuberose, and it creates a feminine, joyful atmosphere. I don't think it's heavy, nor do I think it has much sillage. Actually, I wish it was a bit stronger; it fades somewhat quickly and I have to refresh it during the day. The incense notes are very, very faint on me, as well. I don't mind, because this is a beautiful, elegant, and radiant take on tuberose, and this fragrance suits my chemistry perfectly. It's a very "me" fragrance, that I'm sure has a permanent part in my fragrance wardrobe. The bottles are gorgeous, too.

Tuberose-Gardenia is one of those fragrances where I say, "This is beautiful. But it hates me." I got a decant of this, and the day it arrived my 17 year old goddaughter was visiting. I've turned her into a Perfumista, so she couldn't wait to try my newest prospect. We applied the Tuberose-Gardenia in the same places on our arms, at the same time. On her, the scent started out very green, became a full, rich gardenia, and disappeared within the hour. On me, the scent smelled like the freeway air in August, with a touch of carnation. (I hate carnation). It lasted all of two hours on me; an unpleasant two hours, because it gave me a headache. I love tuberose, and gardenia, and I wear as many fragrances with these notes as my chemistry will tolerate (not all at once), but something about my skin brings out the piquant smell of asphalt from gardenia and tuberose essences. So this one's not for me. It's too bad, because this is reasonably priced and in a very pretty bottle.

L'été en douce is shockingly, perfectly beautiful. If I could make the perfume of my happiest summer memories, it would smell like this. L'été 's most striking note is linden, which crowns a blend of heady orange blossoms and freshly cut green grass. I know it's melodramatic, but this fragrance makes me hear birds singing and bees buzzing in still, warm summer air. L'été en douce is quite similar to my beloved D'Humeur Réveuse (Lazy Mood from the Sautes d'Humeur coffret). Also, it has the unique linden note of the beautiful D'Orsay Tilleul, with elements of limpid air and lush land. The lasting power is fabulous. Its scent becomes a part of my chemistry and radiates for hours and hours. This tenacity is surprising in a scent that comes across as soft and relaxed. L'ete en douce is one of Olivia Giacobetti's masterpiece fragrances; it does justice to the beautiful smells in nature.

My testing of this was with the body lotion, not the edp. Sometimes scents in different forms react in different ways on my skin; so this review could be inaccurate for the edp. Anyway, I like this smell, but it's not something I would wear. I don't mind smelling it on others, but it gets overwhelmingly sweet on me. And it smells so...clean...definitely has that infamous "dryer sheet" accord to me. I was hoping it would have a mysterious air, or something that connotes "night" to me, but it smells like a berry fruit smoothie to my nose. Berry fruit smoothie + Tide Laundry detergent. The drydown is sugary, and light patchouli, and is, by far, my favorite part of the fragrance. At the beginning, it's the kind of fragrance smell I've noticed when chaperoning my son's junior high dances; not what I've smelled in NYC clubs. But when it dries down, it's good enough that I would consider purchasing it. I really like this after it develops into a creamy, seductive, but still very sweet scent. It's interesting because, where I'd expect to smell vanilla, there is patchouli, and possibly amber; giving this a similarity to Flowerbomb. Delicious Night's color is gorgeous and the bottle, like all the "Delicious" bottles, is adorable. If you like juicy-fruity, sweet scents, you may enjoy this very much, and you should give it a try!

A sparkling, lush floral bouquet that leaves a lovely sillage of stephanotis jasmine. Great for daytime and evening and a husband-pleaser! Feminine, and all-around beautiful.

Whew! The notes and description of Sands of Aqaba made me imagine it as a very different scent. I was expecting a dry, vetiver-green, floriental (probably because the name called to mind "Dior Dune"). I wanted it to solve the mysteries hidden in the deserts of the Holy Land. Instead, Sands of Aqaba is a heavy, strong, powdery floral that, oddly, reminds me of that old drugstore favorite, Jontue. I don't mean this as a put-down; every once in awhile I used to wear Jontue in high school, (it was a gift), and I have very happy memories of it. I haven't smelled it in over 20 years, though, so don't think Sands of Aqaba smells like Jontue, based on my shaky memory. Every once in awhile a hint of Sands reminds me of Chanel No. 19 (the original masterpiece), as well. (If it happened more often, I'd probably have to purchase this.) Sands of Aqaba is a beautifully crafted perfume of obvious high quality and the finest ingredients. I was hoping it would be more exotic, and, frankly, sexier. Heavier on incense. This is a very formal fragrance, that I cannot associate with any romance, let alone an ancient secret romance. I think I dislike Sands on myself because I'm not a fan of iris, (now I'm dodging bullets!). Some notes of Sands are Florentine Iris, Vetiver, and Tuberose. I was hoping for lots of Tuberose, noticeable Vetiver, and a mere hint of Iris. Alas, that's just not how this works on my skin. Even though I won't be pining for Sands of Aqaba, I recognize that it's a very fine fragrance.

The seemingly endless assembly line of fragrance flankers, poised to sell because of a previously successful name, made me apprehensive about trying Aqaba Spring. I was afraid it would be some nasty "light:", "fresh", "summer", "purple", "pure", "white", or who-knows-what version of Aqaba. It is, indeed, a version of Aqaba, but it's brilliant! Anyone who knows Aqaba would recognize it in this heady, spicy blend. The addition of bright, flowery notes makes this a Spring fragrance...at first. As it dries down, it's sultry Aqaba, maybe a little less potent. I prefer the drama of Aqaba, but this is a thoroughly beautiful, enjoyable, fine perfume.

Upon first sniff I thought, "Wow, this is too MATURE for me." Then I cackled a bit and reminded myself that I'm 42 years old. So I dabbed on a drop from my sample. And then I dabbed it again. Before long I was wearing it again, and again. Wearing Aqaba, for me, is a fantasy of playing the part of The Queen of Sheba with all the excess of Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra, Vivien Leigh as Blanche Du Bois, Lauren Bacall as Vivian Sternwood. Opulence, mystique, intelligence. The key player in a dangerous game. Mirani's website lists Aqaba's notes as Eqyptian jasmine, Bulgarian rose, cinnamon, clove, cardamom, damask rose, frankincense, peach, tea leaves, white cedarwood, and oak moss. As it blends into my skin the basenotes are almost chocolatey; lush and tempting. Aqaba is deeply beautiful, and incomparably elegant. It gives off the air of having been created especially for someone very powerful, and exceptional. This has dramatic sillage, and outstanding lasting-power. If you are a fan of Biagiotti's Venezia, Chanel Coco, MPG George Sand, EL Cinnabar, and/or deep, incense fragrances, you will probably want to swim in Aqaba.

Exquisite, elegant, and strikingly gorgeous. This fragrance definitely satisfies my romantic hopes for the Aqaba line. Midnight Sun is the sexiest out of all the Aqabas, and it's also sensual, and mysterious. I definitely associate this fragrance with Mirani's themes as the olfactory evocations of the ancient secret love of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. The first blast of Midnight Sun reminds me (oddly) of Passover wine, which may not be something one would want to smell like. However, it connotes festivity, and appreciation of life, for me. This initial blast of booze doesn't last more than a few seconds, and then the fragrance becomes its unique, seductive self. Midnight Sun has sandalwood like the classic Bois des Iles (parfum) sandalwood, which stays throughout all stages of wear, and enhances all the other notes. A spicy gardenia blends beautifully with a deep, dark rose, and bright, heady orange blossom. The tuberose haunts in unison with the sandalwood, making this unusual perfume irresistible. A beautiful creation. Like all the Aqabas, the packaging is exquisite: a woven cane box containing a tinted glass, jeweled bottle; a collector's delight.

Juicy and summery, yet deep. The topnotes, unmistakably, are sweet peach nectar, and fleshy, syrupy apricot. Pink pepper (rose de mai) adds a very subtle kick, that doesn't come through for very long. The heart of the fragrance is a calm, very "blue" smelling jasmine, not unlike Ralph Lauren Blue. Please don't think I'm suggesting Blu smells like RL Blue; it's just that its jasmine is watery, and cool. Jewels of Blu is far more complex than RL Blue, and instead of being a soft floral, it's sultry and exotic. Vanilla and patchouli are blended so perfectly, and are integrated so exquisitely into the other notes, that they remain secretive. If patchouli isn't to your liking, you will never know it's in Jewels of Blu; it's used to support the other notes, not to take the stage. A sensual musk rounds out Jewels of Blu, ensuring that it cannot be a cheerful fruity floral. This is an intriguing perfume that's bound to get many comments and compliments. Like all the Aqabas, the packaging is exquisite: a woven cane box containing a tinted glass, jeweled bottle.

A beautiful, clear, pure gardenia that doesn't get sharp, and lasts a long time. If you love creamy, not peppery gardenia, you should try Gardenia Musk. Kai is one of my favorite fragrances. Gardenia Musk doesn't smell like Kai, but it satisfies my need (caused by Kai) for more tropical gardenia in my fragrance wardrobe. Gardenia Musk is a very lovely, well-blended, fresh floral. It's refreshing and uplifting.

Completely wonderful smelling, fun fragrance. My 13 year old son compliments it (and Be Delicious). Red Delicious is a definite pick-me-up that can be worn day and/or night. It smells airy and juicy, yet classy, and the bottle is adorable. I don't find this scent to be "sexy" or even particularly sensual. The overall smell is what I can describe only as "sparkling" and this must come from the champagne note. The apple note is definitely red apple, like a McIntosh; sweet and juicy. The drydown is dry vanilla bean and soft amber - warm and inviting. This is a fruity fragrance for cozy winter holidays and it makes me think of hot cider and fresh cool air.

I've gone through several bottles of Falling in Love, and I will continue to repurchace it. I feel feminine, pretty, and cuddly when I wear this sweet, light fragrance. It's been my younger son's favorite fragrance for years (he's now 8), and he still asks me to wear it all the time "for him." Falling in Love is a burnt-sugar-blackberry-vanilla-musk that somehow manages to be fresh and lovely in the summertime and warm and cozy in the winter. I can't stop smelling my own wrists when I wear this! I also love the body wash, especially before bed. Falling in Love is a comfort scent in a soft, natural, pretty way. It's a great, easy daytime scent, but it's wonderful sprayed on bedsheets, too

A fun fragrance that comes in a precious little apple-shaped bottle with a chain of silver leaf charms (1.0 oz. bottle). It looks adorable with my other bottles. This is a creamy, slightly syrupy sweet fragrance that is the kind of thing I wear when I take my kids to Disneyland. It's pure sugary fun and brightness. If you're looking for something seductive, don't look here. Nina is for those times you want to smell sweet and bright, and natural. It's clean and cuddly and feminine, but not little-girlish. Nina starts out with a citrus burst, but the toffee apple notes (mostly toffee, the apple is weak on me) emerge very quickly, and stay put. Nina is by no means unique, but it's enjoyable, and if, like me, you're crazy for bottles, this is worth the asking price on discount fragrance sites. I've read some reviews that say this calls to mind the original Poison, and, as far as a note in the drydown goes, for some fleeting moments, I agree. There is definitely a note, or a feeling I get that calls Poison to mind. Nina, however, has none of the darkness or cloying oddness of Poison, and the impression doesn't last long. But there's some sort of juicy note in there that brings back a very old memory..The lasting power of Nina is very good, and the fragrance stays close enough to the skin that no one in the workplace will be reporting their perfume allergies to HR because of you.

The sample I tried is called Un Parfum d'Ailleurs & Fleurs, which gives a completely different meaning to what the fragrance is supposed to evoke (flowers, rather than leaves). I can't find a fragrance with the name listed by Basenotes, so I think the name is a typo. Un Parfum d'Ailleurs & Fleurs is a very pretty, watery fresh floral, but it's pedestrian. I was expecting a dewy, haunting floral that might last awhile, but it's weak on me. This fragrance has a beautiful rendition of orange blossom, but the tuberose and other florals never quite emerge. The drydown is a gentle musk; the kind that's perfect for crowded elevators and allergy-sensitive co-workers. I'd love this if it had more "oomph" but it smells like it's trying to be careful not to offend anyone. In my opinion, tuberose fragrances should never do this. This is a pretty fragrance, but it doesn't beg me to buy it, and the bottle is boring.

For years, I've been reading negative reviews about Aqua Allegoria Pamplelune's "b.o." and "cat urine" notes. Well, I've found a fragrance that evokes such odors for me. Smiley, of all things! I found this revolting; like cheap, obnoxious aftershave. I try to be open-minded about fragrances, but this one just repulsed me. (Please don't be offended if you love this. It just hates my particular chemistry, unfortunately.) On me, Smiley's blend of notes is cacaphonous and utterly annoying. I'll try it again in six months...maybe I've having a negative hormonal reaction or something. Sadly, I can't smell any orange, chocolate, praline or Curaçao. I get bergamot and patchouli, and something incensey. These notes sound good, but they're not good on me. In fact, Smiley smells okay when I sniff the sample. The positive thing (for anyone else) about this scent is that it's as strong as pure patchoulli oil on a hot humid day. I could not wash the stuff off.

To me, Voile d'Ambre smells classically beautiful, sensual, and elegant. It's a very "womanly" fragrance, like Chanel No. 5, Obsession, or Must de Cartier. If you like warm, ambery, seductive fragrances, do try this one. It's of very high quality, and its lasting power is excellent. It reminds me a lot of Estee Lauder Intuition, but Intuition gets a "maple sugar" note sometimes on my skin, and I don't like it. Voile d'Ambre just stays warm, ambery, and smooth; it smells like amber-colored silk would smell, if it had a fragrance. Yes, in the past Yves Rocher has had some downright "cheap" products, but this is not one of them. Even though the price is reasonable, there's no mistaking the quality and craftsmanship in this sexy and lovely fragrance.

*Updated review* Light Blue is an energetic, positive, lovely fragrance that manages to be uplifting, fresh, and sexy at the same time. It works well in hot weather, but it's a perfect pick-me-up on a cold gloomy day. Oddly, it starts out with heavy cedar notes on my skin and seems to get more apply and citrusy as the day goes on. When I wear it, I continually get whiffs of something that smells fantastic, and then I smile, because I realize it's me! Love it!

Artemisia is absolutely exquisite in a delicate, ethereal, very feminine way. It smells like a Victorian garden, filled with pink and white and yellow flowers, and white wicker furniture, on a soft, warm day. It's very summery, light, and sweet. I wish it were a bit stronger and had better lasting power, but it's so pretty it's worth applying a lot. Notes are nectarine, jasmine tea, lily, green foliage, vanilla, woods, and amber. The tea-vanilla-amber drydown is especially wonderful.

If you love Chanel Gardenia, you're sure to love Ellenisia, (at least, if your chemistry is anything like mine). Ellenisia is a lovely, feminine gardenia-jasmine-dry vanilla concotion that smells like a warm summer breeze in a garden filled with white flowers. There's a tiny hint of white rose as the fragrance develops, but the drydown is similar to the white floral opening, with stronger dry vanilla. Ellenisia is somehow "happier" than the Gardenia, regardless of their similarities. Chanel Gardenia's garden has a ghost, but Ellenisia's garden lacks all haunting, despite its otherworldly name.

Wearing this is like crawling into the branches of a big fat fully blooming gardenia bush and getting intoxicated by the beautiful fragrance that's surrounding you. I have 3 kinds of gardenia in my yard, and YR Gardenia manages to smell like those pure gardenia flowers. I can honestly mistake it for the scent of gardenia in the air in my garden! Terrific stuff!

Coco Mademoiselle has been a favorite of mine for years. I used to wear only edp, but lately I've switched to edt, and I prefer it. This is, to me, the best bourbon vanilla based perfume I've ever worn. It's so rich, and enticing. I think Coco Mademoiselle is seductive, sweet, and very classy. It always gives me a boost of confidence and it collects compliments everywhere I go. Coco Mademoiselle smells very different on individual wearers, and I've noticed that it has different "moods" in cool weather and hot weather. The spices come out in cool weather, while the burnt-sugarlike bourbon vanilla just radiates from my skin in heat. I love this, and it, along with many Chanels, will always be part of my fragrance collection.

Guerlain Insolence is the scent-embodiment of Hamlet's beautiful but doomed lover, Ophelia; doe-eyed, filled with passion, overcome by madness. Gertrude adorns Ophelia's grave with violets, saying, "Sweets to the sweet"; a simple phrase that, combined with the symbolism of the violets, manages to evoke both love and tragedy. Insolence is a watery, very sweet violet fragrance, with notes of tart raspberry, pink and red roses, very blue iris, and a balsamy drydown. In 2007 I wouldn't expect or want Guerlain to release a L'Heure Bleue or Après l'Ondée, but, dare I say it: Insolence calls both to my mind. There is a romantic, melancholic beauty to Insolence. It's not apparent in the light, fresh topnotes, but give Insolence an hour, and you'll find yourself with an intricate, deeply emotional fragrance. The name and the marketing seem so "off" that I wonder if Guerlain came up with the concept and the "face" before Roucel actually presented this unusual, unique creation. I find the marketing for this fragrance almost hilarious: "The irreverent scent of youth, daring, and freedom..."?? Velvet Rope may fit this description, but the nearly fragile Insolence simply does not. Insolence is more "Mélancolie dans le printemps," or "Féminité aigre-douce". This fragrance is an extremely feminine, graceful scent; delicate, and almost ethereal. If I'd smelled Insolence, and then been told that Hilary Swank was going to be the "face" for this scent, I'd have laughed and thought it was a joke. Nothing against Swank, but her persona is just not the embodiment of this haunting, crystalline perfume. Diana Vishneva as Giselle would have been perfect for the Insolence I know and adore. (I'm no marketer, obviously. I'm just thrilled that I gave this fragrance a chance, because I would have missed out on something truly beautiful if I'd overlooked Insolence based upon its advertising. Plus, it is a Guerlain, after all!) My husband says he loves Insolence on me, which makes it extra special. The color of the jus, and the pretty bottle suit this fragrance well. Insolence is absolutely lovely.

Sultry, hauntingly beautiful, perfect redition of the air of a dry desert wind! I love, love, love this evocative, sensual fragrance. It's beautiful: dry, spicy, warm, elegant, and extremely long-lasting. It reminds me a little of POTL Luctor et Emergo sans cherry liqueur...because it has that outstanding "dryness" that must be terriby hard to capture. I am a lover of the desert, so smelling like desert air never fails to transport my senses to a place of happy moods and energy.

Rich, sensual, confident...gorgeous! I love it better than original Allure - and that's saying a lot. This is one of the most perfect cool weather perfumes, ever. It's a sexy, slightly spicy vanilla-patchouli that has that special Chanel sweetness. It's so warm and inviting, and as it develops on my skin, the fragrance becomes more sultry.It's just bewitching. This collects compliments constantly. The lotion is fabulous as well

A clear, spicy rose; reminiscent of Frederic Malle Une Rose. Cinnamon topnotes are delightful, and the overall rose is pure, and very natural. This isn't a sweet rose scent, nor is it powdery. It's rich and elegant, and quite distinctive. Some perfumes just smell expenisve, whether they are or not, and Rose Absolue smells expensive. It's obviously of high quality, and masterful blending. It's alluring, and the lasting power is excellent. Don't let the "rose" scare you away if you're normally not a rose fan - this is not a violet-rose, or a powdery-rose, or a rosewater rose...it's along the lines of Gres Cabaret, or a spicy Stella...sensual, and striking.

Oh how I wish this one was around when I got married. It would be a perfect wedding day scent. Eclat d'aprege is the ultimate feminine, bright, refreshing, uplifting perfume. To me, it blows Vera Wang right out of the water. Notes of lemon leaves and lilac blend beautifully into florals of wisteria and orange blossom. A very slight cedar drydown rounds it off perfectly. It's gorgeous. The lilac- colored liquid and the beautiful rendering of mother-and-daughter on the bottle make it perfect for bottle collectors as well as those who love the juice inside. This fragrance can be purchased relatively inexpensively on discount sites, so it's more than worth every penny. If you enjoy scents like Bond No. 9 Scent of Peace and D & G Light Blue, you will certainly love Eclat d'arpege.

A gorgeous, elegant gardenia...Even if you hate gardenia (which I don't), there's a chance you'll like Marc Jacobs - it's so rich and smooth. There's no peppery note here for me; the gardenia is mellowed by a fresh clear honeysuckle, and light, yet sultry ginger. This blend is tempered beautifully and never becomes a harsh, loud floral. It's feminine, warm, and very sexy. I think this is one of the finest fragrances of the 2000s, and I feel it's a classic in its own time.

Délices frustrates me! I'm a bottle collector, and I want that bottle. But I haven't been able to rationalize purchasing a fragrance that bluntly refuses to be cohesive with my chemistry. (At least, in its current price range...when it gets cheaper...I'll probably cave). Aside from my attraction to the bottle, the fragrance itself is very weird for me. Upon initial spray it smells terribly familiar, but I can't call to mind what it's reminding me of. Then I get a blast of Baie Rose (pink pepper), afterwhich I get a tonka-ambery feel, and then a cherry drydown that smells similar to Grenadine...but at no time does it all blend together on my skin. The Grenadine note is odd for me, because my chemistry usually highlights deeper notes, especially tonka, therefore the cherry note winds up smelling artificial; overtly synthetic. The lasting power of Délices is mediocre, too. I'm in my third trimester of pregnancy right now, so my hormones are wreaking havoc with my scent chemsitry. I plan to try Délices in about six months, just to see if I still perceive its notes as cacaphonous. I want to like this fragrance because that bottle is really lovely.

Cashmere Mist, for me, is one of the most outstanding fragrances that has emerged in the last 15 years. It's immediately recognizable, but always impelling. I bought my first bottle when it was released in NY (1994?) and it was unheard of here in CA. When I wore it, it seemed like everyone I encountered was mesmerized by it. Cashmere Mist sales distribution caught on quickly, and, although the fragrance became ubiquitous, its ability to personalize kept it from becoming cliché. Cashmere Mist doesn't smell like a "fresh" or "airy" fragrance on me. And, fortunately, it's never once brought to mind baby wipes, (I must buy the wrong brand of wipes!). Upon first spray, Cashmere Mist has airy qualities, but it quickly becomes an ethereal woody scent, with gentle sandalwood and suede notes. It smells mysterious, and balmy. This fragrance is absolutely beautiful, and its exquisite bottle is the perfect compliment for its luxuriousness. For me, this is not a fragrance that suits working out at a gym, or grocery shopping, or other mundane activities. I wear it when I need touches of beauty and elegance to boost my confidence and calm my spirits with lovliness.

Gold is a beautiful fragrance; very much along the lines of Marc Jacobs, with lily instead of gardenia. It stirs my imagination into thinking its a penthouse-in-Manhattan-then-weekend-in-the-Hamptons kind of scent. I'm wearing Gold right now, and as it develops, I'm smelling less lily, and more of a smooth, somewhat spicy "gold" smell that's warm and sensual. The bright lily notes are great for morning rush, and the spicier, golden tones are perfect for evening...and the morning after. The bottle is gorgeous - truly a perfume-bottle-work-of-art. To me, this fragrance comes across as a well-done, feminine, sultry fragrance. It smells "high quality" and it's very classy. I love that it's a lily-woody-musk, because that's refreshingly unique and so creative. This fragrance is suitable for a work environment, but it makes me envision it in an office with a panoramic view, solid cherry furniture, and Italian leather chairs. The Gold-wearer sits behind a large desk in this office, the view of the city at her back. At dinner-time, the Gold wearer has a table reserved for her in an exclusive restaurant that most people don't know exists. In the evening she goes home to a scented bath that has been drawn for her, and a bed that has been turned down. The mood of this fragrance is that of a highly independent, very successful woman who shows no vulnerability, but can be quite sexy when and if she chooses to. Gold brings to mind Glenn Close's character, Patty Hewes, on the TV drama, Damages, or Linda Fairstein's dynamic DA, Alexandra Cooper. Gold embodies the kind of woman that NEVER loses any game she plays, and when (not if) she wins, she has record-breaking scores.

Exactly as the name implies, this is a very light musk that's clean, and fresh, and it's great for those days when you can't decide what fragrance to wear. It's also a lovely bedtime scent.

Stunning! This is one of the best chypres I've ever worn. Silk truly smells like silk feels; smooth and elegant. A gorgeous spicy accord, a sort of secret surprise, develops as the fragrance dries down. This is a perfume for a strong, confidant woman.

Appropriately named, Vamp is a luxurious, elegant, complex fragrance that's irresistibly beguiling. Notes: Oriental spices, Amber, Sandalwood, Labdanum, Vanilla, and Cashmere Musk. If you're a fan of Coco, Bois des Iles, Opium, and sexy Orientals in general, be sure to give this gorgeous scent a try!

This is a great, refreshing citrus fragrance that has great lasting power and smells irresistible!

Gorgeous! Sweet Amber Wood is a rich, resiny amber fragrance that projects sensuality and elegance. Notes are sandalwood, patchouli, spices, and benzoin. It smells expensive, and it's beautiful!

Opoponax is a nice fragrance, but I was hoping for something with a striking resiny accord. This is a very, very sweet Oriental with a light woodsy base. I get hints of a subtle spice, kind of peppery, as the fragrance dries down. I enjoy this fragrance, especially in cool weather, but I prefer Ava Luxe Opoponax Intense when I crave opoponax.

Citrine is a soft gourmand with vanilla, cream, and citrus. It reminds me of 50/50 bars, but, instead of the sugary synthetic orange smell, the topnotes come across as a tangy citrus blend. Citrine is lovely and alluring all by itself, but it's also great for layering with musks and ambers. Another nice thing about this warming perfume is that it would never be confused with candy or body-spray fragrances. It's tempting, and sweet, and works well as a daytime scent.

This is a beautiful, unique, oceany fragrance. The notes aren't uncommon, but this fragrance is one of the most outstanding marine-type perfumes I've ever smelled. It's perfect for inspiring an excited, adventurous mood. It doesn't smell like a sweet cocktail, and it doesn't smell like ocean water... somehow it manages to smell like both, yet it's alluring and womanly. Overall, a wonderful fragrance for celebrating life!

Mmmm...dreamy. Perfect Veil is an alluring, sweet musk perfume that smells serene, and provocative. I've seen it compared to Sage Pearl, but it's distinctly different on my skin. Pearl and Veil are both considered to be "skin" scents, and Pearl is sweeter, and delicately feminine, while Perfect Veil is muskier, with a deeper essence. It makes me think of a sweeter, lighter Narciso Rodriguez For Her. Perfect Veil is a warm, yet mysterious, fragrant temptress...who doesn't intend merely to tempt. It's long-lasting, and it stays close to the skin, making it very personalized, and perfect to wear in crowds. A wardrobe staple for perfume Shangri-La.

I've heard this compared to Après L'Ondée, and I definitely understand the comparison. Lullaby is a dreamy, light, violet-heliotrope fragrance framed by powdery dry vanilla. I don't smell the topnotes on this one, at all, which is a compliment to the balance of this composition. It's rare for me to find a fragrance with heliotrope that continues to smell like heliotrope if it's not a soliflore. Lullaby is the outstanding exception: it's definitely a heliotrope gem - heliotrope is the violin soloist and the rest of the blend is the orchestra, in perfect harmony. Lovers of Après L'Ondée must try this.

Rich, gorgeous, sensual. It's somewhere between Obsession and Shalimar...but better. This is truly an unforgettable fragrance. It makes me feel special; elegant, rare.

Sage is a rich, fresh, leafy fragrance that smells like the stunning smell of blooms that suddenly permeates the air with the first rush of Spring. The sage note is distinct, but it's sweetened and mellowed by the sweet pea. The base of musks and tonka is the perfect enhancement to the intensity of the floral-herby greens. I've read that this is Sage's best-selling fragrance, and, although it doesn't top my love of Pearl, I had to own it.

Sahara is a beautiful, sensual ambery fragrance with a warm, slightly powdery feel. There's a hint of spice on my skin, too, and a gorgeous resiny note that just melts me. Sahara reminds me a lot of both Dune and Addict. It's almost as though each of those contains Sahara in their ingredients. I prefer this to Dune, or Addict, or even Shalimar. This is a unisex scent in the way that Musc Ravageur is unisex, and it smells just as complex and irresistible.

In a nutshell, Sage Amber is the silkiest, richest, sexiest amber I've ever smelled. Absolute luxury.

Lovely! Soft, pretty, and feminine, with pink rose, caramel and Egyptian Sandalwood. I ordered this unsniffed, based on the notes, and I was completely prepared to be disappointed. Exactly the opposite occured, and I'm thrilled with this gossamer scent. It reminds me of poems of Emily Dickinson because it has delicate rosebud topnotes and a deep woodsy base. U is a lovely summer scent that's ethereal yet tenacious. I really enjoy U and I'm looking very forward to exploring the rest of Lily Lambert's fine line of perfumes.

I have a feeling that Voluspa's Victorian Collection perfume oils are going to be a huge hit, and I predict that Pink Fatale will be the superstar of the line. Pink Fatale's notes are pink grapefruit, mandarin, and arum lilies, on a base of sensual cashmere musk. It's hard to imagine anyone being able to resist Pink Fatale. This is an enchanting, magnetic scent, if ever there was one. It's very feminine, and while the notes may suggest a scent for young girls, Pink Fatale is womanly and provocative. The cashmere melts into the citrus and flower notes, making this a very sexy floral; perfect for a date on a warm summer night, or a Honeymoon evening. If you can't try all the fragrances in the Victorian Collection, do try Pink Fatale. It shouldn't be missed. It really smells divine!

Vanity is a lovely, refined, seductive perfume oil. It has notes of mimosa, amber resin, sugar cane, and raspberry. I rarely purchase a fragrance on-the-spot. I like to try it on my skin, let it soak in, and see what it does to my mood. That didn't happen with Vanity. After one sniff from the bottle I knew I had to have it, and I was paying for the pretty little bottle as the liquid from the Tester developed with my chemistry. Vanity is a jewel in my collection; it's elegant, feminine, delicate, and it smells expensive, (even though it's not!). It reminds me a little of Chanel Chance, but it's very reasonable price makes it a fragrance I'm comfortable with applying to my heart's content, knowing I can replace it at any time.

If you like Mediterranean-inspired fragrances you must try Voluspa Corsica perfume oil. Corsica has notes of frangipani, orange rind, white peppercorn, and musk. It's a bright, sparkling, citrus fragrance that warms to an exotic floral. The price is great: $19.95 at Planet Beauty! Voluspa's Victorian Collection bottles are lovely and look great with my other perfumes. The lasting power of the oil is very good, too, and it moisturizes my skin. Corsica is a mood-lifting, sun-filled scent.

Fans of Sage Pearl, Perfect Veil, and Etro Heliotrope may adore this beautiful fragrance. Cult of Helios has notes of heliotrope and buttery vanilla musk. Its a warm, sweet, skin scent with sexy hints of night-blooming heliotrope. In Greek mythology, Helios is the sun god, and a real Cult of Helios existed on Rhodes. My knowledge of Ancient Hellenist cultures is quite limited, so I have no idea what inspired the name for this feminine, soft perfume oil. The price is great: $19.95 at Planet Beauty! Voluspa's Victorian Collection bottles are lovely and look great with my other perfumes. The lasting power of the oil is excellent, too, and it moisturizes my skin. I keep thinking I smell something sweet, soft, and mysterious, and then I'm thrilled to realized it's me!

Fans of Kai will adore this beautiful fragrance. Tuberosa Agave has notes of tuberose, orris, coconut milk, musk, and vetiver. Its heady topical fragrance is romantic and intriguing and the price, ($19.95 at Planet Beauty!), can't be beat. The Victorian Collection bottles are lovely and look great with my other perfumes. The lasting power of the oil is great, too, and it moisturizes my skin. I keep thinking I smell something seductive and hypnotic, and then I'm thrilled to realized it's me!

There is no vanilla fragrance more perfect than Midnight Orchid. This is one of my all-time favorites, ever. It's a stunning, bright floral vanilla with pure fresh tropical floral topnotes, and a warm, dry vanilla drydown. The lasting power is fabulous, and this scent layers well with every other fragrance I own - seriously! If I didn't own this one I'd think it was too good to be true. It's a permanent member of my collection. Midnight Orchid is beautiful, but it's also a kind of comfort scent. It provides a relaxed kind of aura; the one that surrounds you on a happy day, when everything feels just right.

The Pink Room has become one of my favorite perfumes. It's elegant, and complex, sweet, yet confident, and utterly lovely. At first it reveals a deep heirloom rose aroma, and minutes later it becomes a bright, citrusy, rich rose blend. Just as it seems to center on rose, pink and white jasmine flowers and leaves make a grand entrance and, eventually, the Pink Room seems to create an aura of pink - like smelling the world a rose-colored scarf...This pink is not cotton-candy pink. It's the velvet, blushed pink lilac of a Pompon de Bourgogne rose. The Pink Room is a truly stunning and much too obscure perfume. If you have the opportunity you must try it.

The patchouli and tendency toward "heaviness" that is characteristic of Angel suggests that it would work best as a Winter scent, yet, I much prefer wearing it in the Summertime. I'm not sure I even like it in the Wintertime. When my skin is warm and my body temperature is high, Angel is one of the most beautiful fragrances I could ever imagine. It's dreamy, feminine, magical, and comes across as a vanilla with light florals (a la Susanne Lang Midnight Orchid). In the Winter...well...I have to agree with some of the previous reviewers who find this fragrance to be, ahem, unpleasant. Angel needs to be applied with DISCRETION and it helps if it's worn where there's a lot of ventilation or some nice strong breezes. I worked with a woman who wore Angel heavily, every day and I swear the smell of it, ignited by indoor heating, used to seep through the walls. People would think she was in a room she'd vacated 1/2 hour before because her sillage was so...potent. But applied with just the right touch (too much is nauseating), Angel is really, really beautiful. I find La Rose Angel to be easier to wear, and much more versatile. I'd love to own it as well. In the meantime, Angel is such a classic, her beautiful bottle deserves to adorn my collection in all its groundbreaking glory. Works of genius aren't always enjoyed, or understood, but they can be admired and appreciated. Angel deserves this from me, at least. And I love wearing it, lightly, on a warm Spring day.

Perfect Nectar IS the perfect peachy, blossomy, heady, hot-weather blend. It smells cheerful and rested, and conjures the feeling of a summer day spent outdoors.

It's been many years since I've worn original Angel, so it's hard for me to compare La Rose with its inspiration. I can definitely say that La Rose is unmistakably Angel, and that I utterly love it. The difference I notice in La Rose vs. Original is that upon initial spray, and for the first hour or so of wear, there is a noticeable rosy warmth amongst the familiar Angel accord. As the fragrance develops, La Rose does not have a certain "melon" note that always turned unpleasant on my skin. Also, La Rose seems to be much lighter on the patchouli as well. I may be inaccurate about the melon and patchouli, because, as I stated previously, it's been years since I've worn Angel. I may understand it in a different way at this time. (Actually, I love Angel and I think it's one of the most superb perfumes ever formulated - I didn't like it on myself). I've always wanted to be able to wear Angel, but I felt it didn't work well on my skin. Well, La Rose Angel works like it was created for me! It's just gorgeous.

This beautiful perfume seems to have attained legendary status in the world of perfume addicts...and most deservedly so. To put it simply, there is nothing, absolutely nothing, like Sage Pearl. It's a warm, soft, vanilla-sandalwood-musk that somehow manages to shine like crystal and glow like the moon (both in the olfactory sense). It's enchanting, addictive, and superbly sensual. This perfume is lovely at any time of day or night, but I know for a fact that it's perfect for romantic encounters.

Hamptons is great on my husband and very good on me. I want to buy a Bond for my husband's upcoming birthday and I'm torn between Hamptons, Bleecker Street, and Wall Street. Of the three, I think he likes Hamptons the best because it's so clean and outdoorsy. It's perfect for wearing while playing golf or relaxing by the pool. I catch a whiff of Hamptons and can't stop myself from slinking toward that sexy smell...wearers - don't say I didn't warn you!

Sage Onyx is a rich, sultry perfume that's nothing like your ordinary coconut fragrance. It doesn't evoke island vacations or the beach, but it does transport me to a blissful state. This warm scent centers around dry, almost bitter coconut, that's sweetened with a luscious, yet dry vanilla, and resonant, mellow tobacco. I love to wear this as a sexy evening fragrance, but I have to be careful in public places, Onyx makes me unconsciously, compulsively sniff my own wrists! Anyone observing me must surely think, "That crazy lady smells amazing."

To me, Fire Island is the ungainly monster that Dr.Frankenstein created from my Coppertone suntan lotion childhood memories. It's toooo much; strong, and headache inducing. The worst thing about it, is that it has a note that reminds me of the smell of the lubricant used in doctors' offices. After sniffing a scent strip at the Bond No. 9 counter, I thought Fire Island smelled summery and warm, like orange blossoms and the beach. I sprayed one squirt on my arm and I was stunned at how suddenly it became oppressive. After about 5 minutes it became an extremely heavy, musky, siliconey scent, and the pretty orange blossom note turned into a piercing, unnatrual white floral accord. As luck would have it, I couldn't quell this stuff for anything. At the counter, I sprayed testers over it with nearly every Bond I like. Nothing subdued it, and nothing outlasted it. I smelled Fire Island on my arm for at least 34 hours, even after scrubbing with Noxzema, isopropyl alcohol, coffee grounds, and Zest. This one's not for me.

Absolutely stunning tuberose! I love tuberose deeply, so my appreciation of this soliflore is immense. To me, there isn't another fragrance house that captures the true essence of florals as well as Jo Malone. Jo Malone Tuberose smells exactly like sultry, rich, white tuberose flowers. These flowers bloom at night, giving the Tuberose fragrance a signature air of sultry enchantment. I love to wear this Tuberose at any time, in any place. It makes me feel adventurous, intense, and confident that exciting days are coming soon.

Velvet Rope is interesting. It's not unpleasant, but on me it becomes sickly sweet. At first it smells like a Gin & Tonic that somebody spiked with vanilla liqueur and topped off with a few mint springs. After about an hour it smells like a whiff of cold air when you're skiing while chewing peppermint gum, and wearing cherry chapstick on your lips. Then it smells Juicy-Fruit gummy and musky-sweet, and very slightly powdery. I don't get any tobacco, smoke, or sex from this one. It's a fruity-vanilla musk with an initial unusual note that smells minty. This fragrance is okay, but I get tired of it really quickly on my skin. It loses its initial spark in the way the gum loses its initial flavor, and then just tastes sweet.

Purple Water is a fabulous fragrance for refreshing the mind and spirit on a very hot day. It's mostly a soft floral, and the notes I detect are blossoms of citrus trees,(lemon and orange), white ginger, and aromas of the sharp, bright juices of lemon and orange fruit. Purple Water has a note of the purest, most true-to-life Lemon Blossom that I've encountered thus far in a fragrance. My dwarf lemon tree happens to be in bloom today, so I sniffed it to make sure the comparison isn't just wishful thinking. (It's not). Jacaranda flowers are a vivid lilac purple. They grow everywhere around here, and their scent carried on a breeze is zesty and linen-like. I haven't yet stuck my nose into a blossom, so this scent association may be inaccurate. The jacarandas aren't in bloom yet, or I'd have climbed up one today to smell the flowers. Purple Water is extremely clean; neither sweet nor sour. I've worn it all day and it still smells fresh and outdoorsy. I'd buy it in a heartbeat if the price was reasonable, but this fragrance isn't complex enough, or unusual enough, to seduce me into spending $75.00 on a 1.7 oz. edt.

Bryant Park is a flirty, bright fragrance that's positively enticing. This clic concoction begins with a bright burst of fresh, tart raspberry. The raspberry becomes juicier, but not syrupy or sweet, as the fragrance warms with rose, white blossoms, and rhubarb. It sustains a tart feel, which is quite unusual on me when a fragrance has any type of berry. Bryant Park is clever, and radiates an aura of confidence. Even with heart notes of patchouli base, it's light, with an airy, amber silkiness. The raspberry note is prominent, and lasts throughout wear, but this never comes across as a run-of-the-mill fruity-floral. Overall, Bryant Park is a summery, feminine, stylish fragrance that I'm sure will be one of the stars of Bond's prolific line.

I LOVE Park Avenue. I sampled it at the Bond counter at Saks last Saturday, and then sampled it again, and then again...and finally I had to admit this fragrance had completely captured my heart. I purchased it on the spot. Park Avenue is an elegant, perfectly lovely, hypnotic balance of fresh blossoms on a subtle vanilla base. I sense what I call a "tea" note, but that's probably my personal reaction to the chamomile. Park Avenue has the rare, and extremely desirable trait of smelling "alive". It has great lasting power, and satisfying sillage. I adore it.
Park Avenue is special to me for another reason: it was the catalyst of one of those serendipitous, surreal life occurences that seem to be impossible, statistically. At the Bond counter, another woman was bewitched by Park Avenue just as I was. We sniffed, and oohed and ahhhed to each other for about 20 minutes. We each decided to purchase a bottle at the same time. While the SA was ringing up our purchases (and overloading us with samples), we began a converstation. After several minutes, we were simultaneously stunned into silence as we...recognized each other. It turns out she's an old dear friend with whom I used to communicate via another fragrance board; several years ago. We'd never met in person, but we'd always wanted to. A tragedy in my life took me away from my fragrance hobby for awhile, and, unfortunately over the years, I'd lost touch with this friend. Yet, across time and space, there we were on Saturday - buying a Bond and reviving a bond! Yet another amazing Perfume Moment. So...Park Avenue is lovely, and if you like to smell like a new garden on a balmy day, this one's for you.

This is the most radiant and happy scent of any vintage fragrance I know. Its orange blossom is bright and sunny and its amber kick is timelessly sexy. I love the roll-on deodorant as well as the fragrance spray. Something about Chantilly always cheers me up, and I think it's lovely, feminine, and summery.

Christiane Celle Calypso Violette is one of only two violet fragrances I've tried that I can wear well; the other being Penhaligan's Violetta. Others smell syrupy-sweet after about 10 minutes and give me a headache. Calypso Violette is a fresh violet, and it's the least powdery violet fragrance I've ever smelled. It has a deep rose undertone that emerges as the initial airy violet notes warm into my skin. The beginning has a raspberry note as well, which transitions to dark violets and dewy leaves, and a hint of white tea. Violet scents usually smell innocent and sweet to me, (possibly because the first fragrance I ever owned, at age 6, was Devon Violets), but Calypso Violette is sexy! The lasting power isn't great, but it's not bad for an edt. In cool weather I refresh it after about 4 hours of wear, and it lasts about an hour longer in hot weather. Violette is quite lovely, and I recommend giving it a try even if you despise violet. It's a really intriguing creation that's also priced reasonably for a boutique fragrance: $55.00 for a 3.4 oz. bottle.

Coquette Tropique is a fun, happy tropical fruity-floral that lets you wear the mood of a California beach in the summertime. Very enjoyable, but I wish it lasted longer on my skin.

This smells pretty in the bottle and it smells pretty for about 1 minute on my skin. Then it smells exactly like a cheap gardenia candle, wax and all, masking the smell of stale cigarettes. I don't enjoy this smell. Fortunately the lasting power is awful on my skin, so I don't smell like a bad memory for long.

Amazing Grace smells like feeling good. It's just a wonderful, clean, bright fragrance that creates a pleasant aura. My husband thinks its sexy!

I adore Rose Essentielle, and I rather like Voile de Jasmin, however, it doesn't particularly like me. When I sniff the liquid it smells lovely, but there's a strange note in the air when I spray it (dare I think "hairspray"?) and the fragrance is somewhat bitter on my skin. It's also remarkably light and pithy. I like Voile de Jasmin very much as a layering fragrance, though. It works nicely with Rose Essentielle, and it's pretty with Jo Malone Orange Blossom, and also Kai. Maybe I don't wear jasmine soliflores well, because I haven't found one yet that works for me.

Enchanting! "After My Own Heart" is a very fresh green scent with bright, true-to-life lilac and hints of fresh spring-water. It's En Passant without the bakery or the rain...En Passant on a sunny, lazy day...(My love for En Passant is unmatched, however)...

The staying power is all right, but not great.

But - both of my sons and my husband really like After My Own Heart, which allows me to rationalize the necessity of buying a bottle.

Beautiful - airy, cool, fresh. Nymphéa is true to its name through it's pure, white waterlily notes, but it's the hints of orange, jasmine, and light peach that make this outstanding on my skin. I swear I smell mint in the topnotes, and neither the fig nor the honey show themselves as individuals, but they're undoubtedly responsible for the dreamy sweetness in the drydown that makes me just love this fragrance.

I've read that the notes in Blush are: Jasmine Petals, Fresh Jasmine Notes, Italian Bergamot, Star Jasmine, Jasmine, Orange Blossom, Japanese Honeysuckle, Pink Musk, Cashmere wood, and Sandalwood. This fragrance, as the notes promise, is a consummate jasmine, and it's delicate, without a bit of sharpness. The drydown has a tiny bit of honeysuckle, but overall this is a pure, sweet jasmine perfume. If you're enticed by the smell of pink jasmine in the late winter/early spring, you must, must try this. Its likeness to the flowers is impressive. This is a lovely, clean, very feminine scent.

Lucky Number 6's notes are something like Lotus, Tiger Lily, Cashmere Woods, Jasmine, Lychee, Jasmine Tea, and Lotus Leaves. Sounds nice, huh? I tested this because the notes are appealing, and I rather like the bottle. I can say one positive thing right away: this stuff has marvelous lasting power. Amazing really. Nothing seems to wash it off. Antibacterial lotion fails to neutralize it.

Unfortunately, for me, the smell of Lucky No. 6 won't beguile me, nothwithstanding its cute packaging or its exceptional tenacity. On my skin, Lucky Number 6 takes on an uncanny resemblance to whatever concoction would result from the blending of Avon's Skin So Soft Oil and Off Mosquito Repellent. (I'm thinking it would be great to wear if I ever decide to spend some time in Malawi). Every once in a while a waft of it smells rather pretty, and black tea-like, but if I inhale deeply, I am subdued by an aroma that connotes the scent of bug spray on my skin.

Lucky Number 6, based on very old memories, reminds me of another Avon scent called Imari. It has a similar flowery-Oriental essence. Unlike Imari, though, it's got a soapiness that lingers (even after multiple washings and applications of anitbacterial lotion...). This one's not for me.

Well, three years after its launch, I've finally smelled Curious. After reading several positive things about it, I decided it should be tried. I noticed it was $14.99 at CVS so it wouldn't break my budget if I had to have the stuff. While shopping in CVS this morning, I sprayed some Curious from the tester bottle on my wrists, then sniffed. Immediately, I was reminded of Ralph Lauren Blue, albeit, a watered-down version of it. I think RL Blue is lovely, so initially there was some hope for the delicate Curious. However, as it dried down, the scent faded into the kind of smell that lingers on my hands after I've washed them with slimy, diluted liquid soap in public washrooms. Within the hour, the fragrance weakened so much that the only way to smell it was to intensely sniff my wrists. Now, several hours later, it lingers very, very timidly on my skin, and there is zero sillage. If I sprayed Curious zealously, it probably would be more detectible throughout its wear, but I'd squirted only once on each wrist. Even so, I've decided I won't be purchasing Curious, regardless of it's being only $14.99. I just don't enjoy it. It's almost nice, but it falls short. It's as though it's missing something (character?), in addition to, paradoxically, having too much of something (magnolia, which hates me). The gaudy blue bottle, complete with tacky pink bangle, clearly is designed to appeal to the aestheticism of very young ladies, and this light, simple fragrance is perfectly appropriate for this market niche.

This is all that I love in Olivia Giacobetti's work. It smells like ocean air and ocean water at dusk in late summer, and it makes me feel so alive. It's similar to both En Passant and Navegar (two loves) yet it's outstanding all by itself. Very unisex, but I prefer it on my husband rather than on myself. He likes it better on himself, too. Putnam Préparation Parfumée is magnificent.

I've loved Samsara since its introduction. I think it's elegant, sensual, mysterious, and very provocative. Very few fragrances reach the sandalwood-vanilla apex that Samsara epitomizes for me. So beautiful.

I find the fast-paced stimulation of large cities to be comforting. I know that's unusual. Atmospheres typically considered to be "comforting" give me anxiety attacks. I had one sitting on a beach on Maui, staring at the ocean... After that trip, when my plane landed at LAX, I felt like kissing the asphalt in the gritty parking lot. My last trip was more my speed (pun intended). I visited the city that's been my lifelong favorite - New York. I was inspired to give Eau de New York another try, and I'm glad I did. Eau de New York doesn't smell like New York. It smells citrusy, clean, and bright; all notes which I find to be energizing and stimulating. So, for me, Eau de New York is a comforting fragrance, even though the notes do not connote a specific olfactory memory.And I love that fabulous bottle.

Why I would pay $120.00 for a 1.7 oz bottle of Little Italy:
1. I love New York with all my heart. Nostalgia and affection for Little Italy causes me to feel delight through this olfactory tribute to the famous neighborhood.
2. I love the bottle. I'm a bottle collector, and this one is striking.
3. This is the purest, tangiest, cleanest orange fragrance I've ever smelled. Previous to this, I'd thought L'Artisan Mandarine tout simplement fit this description, but Little Italy is even better. Peel a very fresh orange, inhale the scent of the juice, and the rind, and the air surrounding the fruit, and you've got Little Italy. Yes, it smells like Orange Gelato, too. Yum. The lasting power is fabulous.

So - while Little Italy is not a complicated fragrance, it is a happy, energizing, mood-elevator. For me, that's great.

Update: Now I love this one instead of merely liking it. The notes are, indeed, some of my favorite. This fragrance used to seem too dramatic to me, but either I've grown into it, or I was wrong about it in the first place. When I first tried it, this particular type of vanilla-gourmand saturated the fragrance market, so I don't think I gave it a truly honest try. I've been sniffing a lot of chypres lately, so Nuits de Noho smells outstanding, provocative, and expressive.

At last...A floral without sharp notesm powdery notes, or migraine-inducing traits. This is sparkling, flowery, delicate, and tastefully subtle; it stays close to the skin. It smells like a spring garden. When I first spray it I smell citrus and flowers, and, as it develops on my skin, I smell more flowers and light musk. NYFling is an elegant fragrance that works for eveningwear with a little black dress, or daywear with a crisp white sundress. It's charming, and easy to wear.

Bleecker Street smells soooooo good. It's much to heavy for me to wear (unless I combine it with something) but it smells fantastic on my husband. This is a perfect "date night" fragrance. And I just cannot resist that beautiful bottle.

I love Wall Street! It's fresh, clean, warm, and sensual. I'm definitely getting this as a birthday gift for my husband.

Eau de Noho is gentle, soft, pretty, and long-lasting. It has lots of green notes, and it smells light and clean. It stays very close to the skin, so it's great for private enjoyment, and it won't offend anyone in close and crowded places like elevators. Eau de Noho is an all-around pleasant, almost relaxing fragrance. Bond says its for a "hip and cool downtown seductress." It invites, at the very least, a big hug.

Revised Review: I wrote my original review on Prada over two years ago. It was written after using up a sample of Prada that I had acquired. I now believe that sample was either a fake, or it was polluted somehow. There was a distinct melted-plastic, rotten-almond accord in the drydown that was awful on me; so it was probably not real Prada. [Incidentally, I had a weird sample of Le Baiser du Dragon from the same place, and it had the same gross drydown...] Over the last two years I've complimented about 30 complete strangers who were wearing Prada, and now I have my own bottle. I love it. For me it's the "Shalimar" of its time. It's sexy and alluring, elegant and en vogue. I'll bet Prada will be a classic.

You're walking along a rainy NY street, hidden beneath your black umbrella, winding through people dressed in dark clothing. You sigh. You feel as though you'll never see sunshine again. As you traipse along the sidewalk, your gaze catches something bright and you stop. Through a plastic marquee, you see buckets of beautiful bouquets of perfect, perfect flowers. You decide that one of those bouquets will completely erase the mood of the rain. You enter the shop to buy yourself this uplifting gift, and you immediatly smell joyous, ambrosial perfume in the air. That smell is Chelsea Flowers.

Heure Exquise is the dream fragrance that I would create if I added the powdery green topnotes of Ralph Lauren Safari to the warm, humid drydown of Chanel No. 19. Heure Exquise is mysterious and haunting, like the hour for which it is named, and it possesses a timeless, feminine beauty that invites analysis and contemplation. I recommend this to those who love Boudoir, Tocade, and Bourbon French.

Rose Essentielle is beautiful. It's no secret that I love rose fragrances, but I love them only when they're true to the flower. The fragrance in Rose Essentielle is what keeps me planting rose bushes (I have 30+) and always craving more. There are light hints of citrus, jasmine, maybe a bit of violet leaf, all on a light, clean patchouli base. I, like Shycat, smell what I would swear is Green Tea, and if that's what "citronchemicals" smell like, I'm all for them! I love this sparkling fragrance.

I was in Takashimaya sniffing around when two young ladies (mid-teens) bungled off the elevator and giggled their way toward where I was standing while testing various Parfums Delrae. One of the girls was intent on buying a fragrance that was recommended to her, and, apparently, very special. (It was Truly by Stephen Burlingham.) The girls ooohed and ahhhed over the pretty bottle, sprayed the fragrance on their wrists, ooohed and aaahed some more, and went to get an SA. After a couple of minutes the girls returned with an SA, and both resniffed the fragrance. They asked the SA if there were other fragrances in the line. The SA said there weren't, and walked away. The girls clearly had expected the fragrance to have a momentous effect on them but it hadn't. One of the young ladies took $200.00 from her bag, and sighed, resigned to buy the fragrance she'd come for, but she was clearly disappointed. She sniffed her arm again, and asked her friend, "Is it me or does this smell kind of...plain?" The friend sniffed deeply and said, "It smells exactly like Davidoff Cool Water." (Having been forced to eavesdrop because of their loud voices, I quietly nodded in agreement). Then, the would-be purchaser set the bottle down, and the girls quietly entered the elevator.

Truly's bottle is a beautiful, emerald green color, but otherwise this fragrance isn't unusual or outstanding at all.

Rumeur is a light, dry, chypre that could be undetectible in a crowd unless someone's nose was pressed up against your skin. I bought it because I'd read comparisons to Narciso Rodriguez but neither my skin nor my nose is affected by Rumeur the way they are by NR. NR boldly seduces, spellbinding its audience. Rumeur is shy, underconfident, and has a persistent floral note (magnolia?) that ruins the chypre feel. I think of chypres along the lines of Cabochard or Mitsouko, so to me, Rumeur absolutely doesn't come across as a chypre. To my nose, it's a light floral. When I bought it I was in a hurry, and Rumeur smells nice right after it's sprayed. It has a champagne-like topnote that's quite attractive. The bottle was under $20.00 so I purchased it quickly, hoping the drydown would be even more impressive. Sadly, it's not. I like my chypres to be dramatic and sensual, but Rumeur is proper and a bit frigid. Its lasting power isn't very good because the scent itself weakens so quickly. This is a fragrance that would be nice for very young ladies, but if you're a big girl looking for a seductive, memorable scent, I don't think you'll choose Rumeur.

This is fresh, sweet, cold tea with lots of sugar and a tiny bit of lemon. It's a wonderful fragrance for a very hot day, especially after a bath or a swim. It makes me crave a nice glass of tea!

Sira des Indes is completely different from what I expected it to be, and I enjoy it enough to be the proud owner of a large, beautiful bottle of it. I expected, from the notes, a rich gourmand like Serge Lutens Arabie, Keiko Mecheri Gourmandises, or even Angel, but Sira des Indes does not fall into this category for me. It's definitely pleasant smelling, and I'd surely like to taste something that smelled like it, but it's not oozing with spices, or sweetness, or vanillas, as is typical of scents known as being "gourmand." SdI reminds me of both Joy and EnJoy in its top-notes, and the base notes echo Joy, but I don't know why. SdI starts with a burst of citrusy-fruit that's very clean smelling, and it warms into a floral, ambery, woody scent. It's highly unusual, though. The notes don't sound as distinctive as the actual fragrance. It's exotic, very sexual, and it has a certain "dirtiness" I notice in Angelique Encens. SdI would be outstanding if it had better lasting power. Unfortunately, on me, the lasting power is lousy. I spray on enough to asphixiate a small village, and it still fades very quickly. An interesting aspect of its staying-power is that it smells more like it comes from my skin rather than something applied to my skin, but I wish it had sillage. I will enjoy this often, and I really look forward to seeing what it does on my skin in hot weather.

Update: I recently repurchased Tocade, and I love it more than ever. My previous review compared it to Tresor, but I disagree with myself now that I've expanded my olfactory palette. Indeed, the rose in Tocade is like the delicate, yet creamy tea rose in Tresor, but Tocade, overall, is so much deeper and sexier than Tresor I can't believe I compared them to each other. Tresor, is a floral, while Tocade is an Oriental-Vanilla. There's no fruit in Tocade, or blatant flower notes, outside of the sweet rose blend. Tocade has the incredibly sensual amber note of perfumes like Musc Ravageur (also created by Maurice Roucel), in addition to the warm, sexy vanilla from classics like Shalimar or Must de Cartier. If you like Vivienne Westwood's Boudoir you're very likely to love Tocade. In addition to the outstanding ambery fragrance, Tocade's beautiful bottle,inspired by the works of Venetian master glassmakers, is a delight for a bottle-fanatic (like me). I'm hoping to buy Tocade edp or parfum someday because it's found it's way into being one of my favorite fragrances.
Notes: Bergamot oil, Freesia, Geranium, Green Note,Jasmin, Lily of the Valley, Orchid, Orris, Rose, Amber, Cedar, Musk, Patchouli, Vanilla.

This is NOTHING like Joy to me. Enjoy is:
1. Underrated
2. A fun, sexy tropical floral that can be worn anytime, anywhere.

If you're looking for Joy-Legere, this is not it. If you're looking for a sultry, tropical top-note, sexy woody drydown scent - do give this a try. It's wonderful!

Revised review: I love it. I just love it and I can't live without it. Pamplelune hasn't turned into cat pee or b.o. while wearing it for the last two days. It's beautiful, uplifting, cheerful, and best of all, unique. In fact, I don't care if others think I stinks (yes I do, I'm kidding), because this makes me so happy! It's the most uplifting fragrance I've ever smelled.

This smells great on me at first, when it smells exactly like Hypnotic Poison. As it dries down, to me it smells exactly like Poison. I love Hypnotic Poison, and I hate Poison. In my opinion, there is nothing original about this scent, and I'd turn to Hypnotic Poison or Addict if I wanted to wear a deep warm vanilla.

The bottle is nice, and the snake cap is really cool. The lasting power is awful. Overall, not for me.

Upon first sniff I swooned and my jaw dropped. "Where," I wondered, "has this been all my life?" Okay, so it's been around only since 1998, but how did I manage to miss it until 2006? I have no idea. Everything about it, from its hypnotic notes to its beautiful bottle is irresistible to me. Clearly I've been in an olfactory bubble. Thanks to suggestions and reviews here on Basenotes I've been able to burst the silly thing! Cristobal is a fragrance I had concocted previously only in dreams. Its sweet ambery dry-down is seductive, and the green, warm, fig and bergamot topnotes are absolutely uplifting. It's perfect; perfume paradise. I'm in love.

Sublime is a womanly, golden-feel fragrance that seems to radiate its presence. It reminds me of the "grande dame" fragrances of past eras in that it has a singular, unmistakable personality. It's sensual, sexual, and rather controlling, but it's also "dressy" to my nose, and definitely a romantic evening scent. When I first spray this I find it to be intimidating, strong, and too elegant for me. But when I walk away from the fragrance blast and let Sublime melt into my skin it's absolutely beautiful. It's so complex. Unlike many other fragrances I wear, I can't judge from its beginnings how it will end on my skin. It's moody, and I like that. I have it in a gold, limited edition bottle that came in a blue velvet pouch, and it looks romantic, classic, and refined. Sublime isn't an "everyday" type "fragrance", it's a special "perfume" that's meant to be experienced during finer moments in life. In my opinion, it's a work of art.

Chanel Gardenia is exquisite. To me it doesn't smell like a gardenia at all. It smells like green tea, dry vanilla, and jasmine blossoms. My husband loves this one, and so do I. It makes me feel like I'm in a warm Savannah garden.

I haven't found a fragrance so alluring since the appearance of Poison in the 1980s. Before that it was Opium. For me the predecessors of that je ne sais quoi, are the likes of Chanel Bois des Iles, Fracas, FM Musc Ravageur...those fragrances that turned the olfactory world upside down. Black Orchid does not smell like any of these, it's that it's so different, so unusual, and so exotic. Black Orchid is daring, darkly sensual, and completely intoxicating. Don't even try this unless you're prepared to be bewitched into buying it!

Caline is a seriously underrated fragrance. I'm not sure if it was ever officially released in the US, and that's a shame. It can be hunted down on various discount websites, but it's not easy to find. In France, it has its own website, www.jesuiscaline.fr. Caline is a fruity-floral, which is my least favorite fragrance category, but I really like Caline. It's got a depth to it that reminds me of Aqua Allegoria Pamplelune. It doesn't smell a thing like Pamplelune, however, it's got the same sort of happy, grapefruity top, with a deeper, vanilla base that really appeals to me. Caline is a very, very pretty fragrance that's perfect for daywear: light, pretty, and classy.

I love roses. I grow roses and I'm utterly mad about them. These days I have 40 rose bushes, and I can't get enough of their fragrances.

Jo Malone Red Roses smells strikingly like my rich, red Mr. Lincoln bush. Mr. Lincoln is the classic, deep red "florist" rose that smells gorgeous for weeks. JM truly captured the cool, sharp, dewy fragrance of the real thing. Indoors, I've had people expect actually to see a bouquet of roses in a vase somewhere after getting a whiff of my fragrance! And outdoors, people have assumed they were smelling my garden, not my perfume.

If you love rose, it doesn't get much better than that!

This used to be very, very pricey. When I finally got a bottle in the 80's I used it sparingly and felt that I smelled "expensive." Ombre Rose is a beautiful rose perfume that evokes powdery aldehydic classics, but its floral and fruity notes are very rich. On me, Ombre Rose is strikingly similar to Mariella Burani Mariella Burani, and it smells exactly like the original Lutèce by Houbigant. (The reformulated Lutèce is a disaster).

Ombre Rose's Art-Deco bottle is absolutely beautiful. This fragrance provides an elegant sniff of nostalgia for me.

"Eau des 4 Reines" sounds so regal and formal that I expected this to be a sort of new Nahema. Not so! This is a bright, fresh rose with fruity undertones. This is unmistakably a rose perfume, but the tea, mandarin, and blackberry in the blend provide a take on rose that I've seen before only in the great Rosines. I honestly prefer Eau des 4 Reines to Roseberry!

I have the edt and the lasting power is shameful. I can smell it for all of a minute, and then it completely disappears. I look forward to trying this in edp, because it's such a beautiful fragrance. If the edp doesn't last, I'll surely buy the bath products so that I can layer for better lasting power...

Even though this scent is fresh and lively, I like to wear it at night, and to spray my bedsheets with it. It's a lazy romantic kind of fragrance that smells warm and sweet.

Cabotine Rose isn't "rose" flower. In this fragrance, the "rose" is the word for"pink" in French...Cabotine Rose is a bright, pretty cherry blossom fragrance that, to me, blows B&BW Cherry Blossom out of the water. This is a more complex blend in the quaintest little bottle...If you like cherry blossom and you happen to find this somewhere, do give it a try.

On my skin this is so similar to Marc Jacobs Island that I don't have to buy Island! This is fresh, marine, watery, and clean. Great for cooling down on a hot, humid day.

Cabotine is perfect for my skin on hot summer days when I want to smell bright, cheerful, lovely, and classy. This is one of my favorite scents, and it's definitely my favorite "green" fragrance. It never fails to make me feel joyous. There have been lots of "happy" scents on the market since the emergence of Cabotine, but, in my opinion, not one has topped the beauty of this one.

Cabaret is a knock-out, sexy fragrance that comes across with the kind of beauty of someone like Catherine Zeta-Jones. It's refined, outstanding, and really appealing. It's a fragrance that might be born from combining Narciso Rodriguez For Her with L'Artisan Voleur de Roses...If you're looking for subtle and sweet - don't look here. But if you're looking for a dark rose, sexy chypre, don't miss this. The bottle is absolutely gorgeous, too.

Wonderful! Enjoyable, fresh, and warm. I much prefer this in edt as the zesty lime notes are more apparent. The edp is much heavier on amber. This is a wear-anywhere, feel-good, uplifting fragrance that I look forward to wearing. Brit is perfect for any season and everyone seems to enjoy it on me.

I love this fragrance and it's one I've repurchased and it's been a part of my wardrobe for several years. If I had the restraint to have a signature scent, Burberry would surely be a candidate...

It's warm, sexy, original, ambery, elegant, and overall, beautiful. Something in the top notes reminds me of peach tea (in a really good way!), and the drydown is as sensual as can be. It's like this was custom-made for my chemisty, and it gets compliments every time I wear it. I've even known people who have purchased it because they enjoyed it so much when I was wearing it!

I think Romance is absolutely beautiful. I wore it almost exclusively for a time a few years ago, and after I finished my 4th or 5th bottle, I didn't repurchase it. It seemed like I smelled it everywhere I went, so it wasn't as special.

Now that the buzz has dulled a bit, I've repurchased Romance and I love it with the passion it originally evoked in me upon its launch. It's elegant, romantic, rich and, best of all, unique. This is certainly one of my favorite fragrances, and it gets compliments from everyone, everywhere!

Apricot, Bergamot oil, Green Note, Peach, Violet,

Damascene Rose, Heliotrope, Jasmin, Lily of the Valley, Orris, Ylang-Ylang,

Amber, Cedar, Musk, Sandal, Vanilla

I have a bottle of Comme Une Evidence in "elixir" format. This reminds me of Ralph Lauren Romance but it's greener, and heavier on the rose and lily. It's a very pretty, rather elegant smelling fragrance that would work well in an office environment, but it would be great to wear on a night-out as well. If you're a lover of chypres, this one is certainly worth a try. It's an attractive fragrance offered at a very fair price. I really enjoy the body lotion and bath gel in this scent, too.

[b]D'Humeur Reveuse[/b] has that shockingly beautiful airy accord, also captured in En Passant and Hiris, which brings the fragrance to the senses like a breeze carrying scents of the atmosphere. The first note on this breeze is freshly cut, very green, sweet grass. There's something floral mingling with the grass that warms to the smells of hay in sunlight, and shady trees. There are some flowers, too, but they are not yet in full bloom. The scent as a whole hypnotizes me into feeling like it's summer in Upstate New York and I'm a child who is thrilled by the possibilities in life that are foreshadowed by the incredibly beautiful smells of nature. It's a rush of joy. There's something supernatural, magical about the effect of fragrance on memory, and its ability to inspire.

D'Humeur Reveuse does indeed connote the mood of a lazy summer day, so, in that way I suppose it belongs in the Sautes d'Humeur coffret. But it's so much more than a complement to a coffret theme! This is a fabulous creation that deserves to be released on its own so it can be more widely enjoyed! It's one of those rare fragrances that smells [i]alive[/i].

Cielo is a beautiful fragrance that smells exactly like the fresh air in Napa Valley. It transports my imagination to sunny days surrounded by green smells of vineyards, figs, gardens, and a warm breeze. It's slightly sweet, and the fig is almost secretive. In my opinion, this is a terribly underrated fragrance that should not be missed. It gets compliments every time I wear it.

Navegar is a future full bottle purchase for me. I love it's freshness and it's depth. It's a perfect ocean fragrance that captures many moods of water, and earthy notes of plants surrounding water. I love this on my husband, as well, and he, for once, enjoys a fragrance. This is the only fragrance he's asked me to purchase for him!

Safari is one of my all-time favorite fragrances. It's sensual, multifaceted, and stunning. I've hoarded some of this, because it's getting frighteningly hard to find. It's beautiful, and I hope I never run out of it!

This is a somewhat realistic smelling orange blossom fragrance, but it turns remarkably bitter on my skin. I like the sweet side of orange blossom, but there's a harshness to this blend that I just don't enjoy. It must be the incense that doesn't work for me, because it really darkens what seems to be a bright scent.

Aqua Allegoria Lemon Fresca is a bright, refreshing scent that has summery topnotes of lemon and lemon blossom. As it develops, bergamot and woods join the lemon scents to make this a perfect fragrance for a lazy summer day. It's definitely not a run-of-the-mill citrus fragrance. Like all Aqua Allegorias, it is a fun fragrance with a lot more depth than is immediately realized. Lemona Fresca is fresh lemon with a mood of heavy trees, shadows, and a hot breeze.

This is a very, very pretty lilac fragrance that truly smells like a hybrid French Lilac. If you love lilac you must have this!

Dzing! is an example of the kind of work of art that you analyze again and again and come up with different conclusions each time. Sometimes it smells like burnt caramel, but as it mixes with my skin it gets more and more leathery. Sometimes it smells like skin, or sawdust, or, occasionally, black pepper. The burnt caramel note is there most of the time, but overall this fragrance is a perfect, delightful leather scent. Irresistible.

Bois Farine is interesting, and although I like to smell it, I don't like to wear it. It's very, very, very sweet. I like the wheat note a lot because it smells so natural and fresh. The powdery sweetness, probably from the iris-cedar blend, becomes too much for me, though.

Roseberry is a raspberry-rose along the lines of Patricia de Nicolai's Balkis, but not as syrupy sweet. It has pronounced notes of fresh, juicy berries, and the leaves of their fruit are present, mingling with scents of red roses. Roseberry is a little too powdery, and way too "berry" for my tastes, but if you're a lover of fruity fragrances you'll probably enjoy this unique fragrance. This fragrance smells relaxing, and warm.

La Rose de Rosine is a clear, vivid rose haunted by hints of violet, iris, and balsam. It's an absolute must-try for rose lovers, and anyone who admires a masterful blend. On my skin, Rose de Rosine in similar to Frederic Malle Lipstick Rose, but it's properly romantic, while Lipstick Rose is overtly lusty. Rose de Rosine is dreamy, powdery, and soft. It reminds me of an Edwardian lady who longs to travel to exotic places.

Rose d'Ete is sparkling and fresh with distintive notes of yellow roses, verbena, and tangy green apple. The apple isn't pronounced at first, and blends well with the lemon. The melon doesn't show itself until deep into the drydown on my skin, which is fortunate, because, for me, it ruins the near perfection of this fragrance. Melon always manages to smell rancid on my skin. However, the verbena and violet redeem Rose d'Ete, and overall it's a lovely, very feminine fragrance. It's perfect for a bride.

Poussière de Rose is a powdery, ghostly Victorian rose fragrance that conjures images of Agatha Christie-style suspense and Houdini's brand of magic. Poussière is a sophisticated, disciplined, rose that's careful to remain mysterious.

Ecume de Rose reminds me a bit of Stella, but where Stella has a sharp, lemony accord on my skin, this is richer rose with a clean, oceany background. Ecume is light and airy (dare I say "foamy"?), yet complex and evokative. It smells alive and real, like the perfumer managed to bottle the dusky scent of moss roses on a cliff overlooking the ocean.

'All Summer in a Day' by Ray Bradbury, is a short story about children on Venus who see the sun for only one day each seven years. When the sun shows its warm, wonderful self, the inhabitants of the planet are ecstatic, and the happiness given by the sun gives them reason to carry on for the next seven years. Un Zeste de Rose is the embodiment of that amazing, inspiring sun!

Rosa Flamenca is a mid-summer bouquet of radiant, multi-colored roses with overtones of orange blossom and honeysuckle. It is said to contain benzoin, which may account for the magical oceany breeze this scent conjures. Rosa Flamenca is absoluely beautiful and uplifting. My favorite Rosine - and I love Rosines.

Un Folie de Rose is very harsh and is so different from the other Rosines it's hard to believe the same nose created it. It's a heavy, strong, aldehydic chypre that reminds me very much of Flora Napa Valley Boheme, along with My Sin, Cabochard, Ma Griffe and other distinct chypres. It projects way too far for my personal wear, and I could taste it when I tried it. A quality I abhor. The staying power is great. Unfortunately, this smells awful on me, so I'm not happy about this great staying power. If you love Rosines, this may not be for you. If you love heavy aldehydic chypres, this is a must try.

Tilleul is fascinating. It instantly transports me to times of horsebacking riding on warm summer days. I smell linden, honeysuckle and honey, and something very green; but the predominant note, to me is hay. The hay note smells fresh and exciting, and beautiful. I love horses, so Tilleul is a kind of comfort scent for me, bringing with it happy memories and hopes for future fun. Tilleul just blows me away! The lasting power is all right, but I wish it were better. Still, the fragrance is so amazing and enjoyable, it's worth it to have to reapply.

At first this is a bright, sweet, pure lilac and as it dries down it's a clean, lovely muguet. This is a quintessential dewy garden fragrance.

Lovely and truly refreshing. This is sweet jasmine tea with a touch of lemon. It stays close to the skin so it's never overpowering and won't get too strong in hot weather. If you're prone to headaches from fragrances give this one a try. It actually helps my headaches to get better!

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm. Mûre et Musc Extrême is a beautiful, warm, sexy musk with just a touch of blackberry. This is perfect for cool weather and cuddling. I love this even more than Mûre et Musc!

This is nice, but I don't like it as well as Premier Figuier. Premier Figuier Extrême is figgier and sweeter, and gets a little cloying. It smells nice, but I must prefer Premier Figuier.

I love to smell Safran Troublant but I don't think I'd wear it often enough to warrant a purchase. It's a rich, romantic, gourmand fragrance that makes me crave eating Paella and drinking Rioja on a patio overlooking the sea. It's similar to Keiko Mecheri Gourmandises, but it's centered much more on saffron than rose. The dry vanilla and sandalwood add an utterly gorgeous dimension to this sensual fragrance.

This is a beautiful watery jasmine that's almost as seductive and true to night blooming jasmine as À la Nuit. If I had never smelled À la Nuit, I would have purchased this, for sure. But it misses the mark, ever so slightly. It is very, very beautiful though.

As a rose gardener I knew I had to find out about the Rose Thief. And like a masked, mysterious lover, Voleur de Roses is impelling and irresistible. It is, as described, a fragrance that captures the smell of damp earth, rose petals, dried and fresh rose leaves and petals, and huge rose blossoms. The fragrance has a dark, almost dangerous note that smells like sweet patchouli and dirt. I'm sure this note is the source of the delightful fragrance name. As this dries down, the rose disappears, and the fragrance becomes a dark and woody patchouli blend that's sexy and unique.

Tea for Two is instantly lovable and extremely wearable. It's nice in cool weather, but it works in warm weather, too. It smells like Chai tea with a little vanilla and it's as warming as a comforting cup of tea.

This is a captivating warm musk with hints of berry. It's one of the few musk fragrances I wear well, and there are times when I simply crave wearing it. My husband, who has a better ability to smell musk than I do, really enjoys this clean, autumn-like scent. It's an elegant take on the musks that were all the rage in the 1970s, yet it doesn't smell "retro" or "vintage." It makes me feel young and sexy, so I do love it.

If you love the smell of freshly cut grass you will enjoy L'Eau de L'Artisan. It's remarkable in its ability to capture the scent of the liquid that oozes from blades of grass when they're cut, and it transports me to childhood summer days when it seemed like somebody in the neighborhood was cutting grass every day. The sound of lawnmowers was the backdrop to everything and piles of cut grass blew on the breeze and scented the air. This isn't a fragrance I'd wear, but I definitely admire it.

I love figs. I could eat them until I'm sick, and soon I'd want some more. They are a wonderful, delicious fruit. And I love the fragrance of fig trees (the Common Fig, that grows abundantly here in Southern California). Premier Figuier doesn't smell very much like fig fruit, and it definitely doesn't smell like the figs in Fig Newton cookies. My first reaction when I smell it is "green!" It smells like freshly cut grass and fresh leaves enhanced by fig fruit, lime, and a something creamy. Premier Figuier is sweeter than I expected it to be, but it's also so refreshing that the sweetness never becomes cloying. This is a warm, soft fragrance that brightens any atmosphere and receives an abundance of compliments.

Even if you're not a fan of the smell of orange, this fragrance is worth sampling just for its utterly remarkable ability to capture exactly the scent of a fresh Mardarin orange. If I squeezed juice out of a fresh orange into a decant, it would be hard to distinguish from a decant of Mandarin Tout Simplement. In comparison to other fragrances, Mandarine Tout Simplement is to Mandarin what Thé Pour Un Été is to lemony sun-tea, and Ananas Fizz is to fresh pineapple: a glorious way to wear an uptifting scent and create a summer mood. It's so irresistible I wouldn't be surprised if it becomes a permanent addition to the L'Artisan line.

This is lovely and bright. It smells just like the lemon blossoms on my lemon tree! It's not a complex fragrance, but a delicate, airy scent perfect for hot days. If you enjoy lemon blossom, Un Zeste d'Ete is true to the flower, clean, and fresh. The lasting power is excellent on my skin. This fragrance makes me happy.

Une Rose is completely dazzling. The top notes take me to my garden where I'm pruning my Black Cherry rosebush and I smell the earth and the fallen leaves around it. Then this fragrance takes me to a winery and I smell oak barrels and musty air mingling with Cabernet. Une Rose is a mysterious fragrance that smells like it's alive. I have no idea what a truffle smells like, so I can't say if I smell it or not, but I do smell very, very strong, pure rose, woods, earth, and heavy, dark wine. Une Rose is a seductive fragrance, perfect for occasions when you want to be unforgettable.

L'eau de hiver is an extremely delicate scent on me. It stays close to the skin and seems to melt into it. The top notes, true to the fragrance's name, do connote the smell of fresh winter air. That watery note poised in the atmosphere just after snowfall seems to burst from this liquid. I suppose snow should smell "cool" but L'eau de Hiver is a "warm" fragrance to me. As it dries down it's all honey and heliotrope, and this mix brings to mind a "baby" scent for me. My skin must bring out whatever notes Hiver shares with Philosophy's Baby Grace, because these two are oddly similar! I enjoy L'Eau de Hiver and it will be a perfect fragrance for cozy winter evenings when all I want to do is read by the fireplace, cats at my feet.

It's interesting to sniff Tuberose Criminelle (what a GREAT name!) but I can't imagine wearing it. I don't think I'll ever put it on my skin to try it again. It smells like hot asphalt, antiseptic, rubbing alcohol, and tuberose. It's the smell you might encounter when stuck in a hospital room on a hot day, while visitors bring in the send of outdoors on their bodies and clothing. The hospital smells mix with the asphalt and tuberose, giving a hint of what's outside, but can't be experienced. That's my observation of Tuberose Criminelle. My six year old son's observation, with crinkled nose,was, "Eeewww. What stinks?"

Balkis smells like the rose used in lipstick products (in contrast to Frederic Malle's Lipstick Rose, which smells like fresh Double Delight roses and dark violets). Balkis is a very powdery rose and raspberry fragrance that smells like a jam my mother used to make. Balkis is the mythological name for the legendary Queen of Sheba, but I cannot make the association with this perfume and the intelligent, powerful woman who brought spices and gold to Solomon. This fragrance, to me, would suit Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden quite well, because it's so innocently pretty and unusual. I don't think I could wear this one often, though, because its sweetness gets cloying.

I usually don't like wearing lavender fragrances but I love Lavande Velours. Even though it's supposed to be light and refreshing, I find it to be rather complex and interesting, (in addition to being light and refreshing). This is the only lavender fragrance I've ever purchased and I really, really enjoy it.

Paris has been one of my favorite fragrances for years. It's elegant, stylish, sparkling, energetic, and just lovely. It's Post-Impressionist to me, because of its vibrance and bright sensuality. It's like Nocturnes de Caron with green, dewy rose. Paris is a permanent part of my wardrobe.

I find Le Parfume de Thérèse to be astonishing. It transports me to other places. If I wear it to bed I dream of romantic things like a Victorian summer home on a still, cerulean lake, or a courtyard of a Spanish villa at dusk...On my skin it becomes a manifestation of memories and desires. I don't want to describe the notes of Le Parfume de Thérèse, because, for me, wearing this fragrance is an experience and an enchantment. It's a work of genius; a masterpiece.

Iris Poudre is a striking fragrance. It's slightly sweet and almost powdery (aldehydes) but it smells damp and earthy as well. Iris Poudre must fascinate anyone who comes close to someone wearing it. It's an impelling, dazzling creation that makes you want to keep sniffing it; to experience it continually. I don't mean to be histrionic, but Iris Poudre is breathtaking.

Lys Méditerranée was a disappoinment to me. I was hoping this would be multi-faceted, but it's just lily. Obviously I knew it was predominantly a lily fragrance, because of its name, but I imagined that it would be more complex, or have more depth. Its notes sound wonderful, but on my skin this is merely a strong lily scent with a dry, green base. After awhile a camphor-like accord comes through (angelica?) but it doesn't last long enough to make Lys Méditerranée anywhere near as fascinating a floral as, for example, Carnal Flower, which shares the camphor-like accord, but projects it like a deep summer dream. If you're a big fan of lily fragrance you should not miss testing Lys Méditerranée, though. I'm not fond of lily, so I'm sure I don't appreciate Lys Méditerranée to its fullest. I found the lasting power to be excellent, and it's a very fine fragrance.

Une Fleur de Cassis is a masterful fragrance, in my opinion, because it's incredibly unique. But it smells cold and distant; strange. Its top notes evoke an elegant, vintage aldehydic floral, but the somewhat woody base smells like dead trees drenched with water. There is an ozonic, almost metallic smell that lingers throughout a layers on my skin. This fragrance is something that feels like Atlantic Ocean waters off the New England coast in winter. Fans of Hiris and Iris Poudre may enjoy this one, because it's such a cool scent. It's more Oriental than floral to me, probably because of the spices. I could really do without the cumin and clove notes. They just don't "fit" with the rest of the notes when on my skin. Une Fleur de Cassie is interesting, and intriguing, but very, very moody. I don't want a bottle of it.

The listing for the name of the fragrance is is incorrect: It's People of the Labyrinths Luctor et Emergo. Luctor et Emergo is the name of the fragrance and the designer is People of the Labyrinths.

Ahhhhh! This is the smell of a Southern California beach at sundown during the early spring. It captures the brisk air, the woodsy smells, and the refreshing mood of the ocean. Beautiful.

If I were foreced to have a signature scent to wear every day, Stella would very likely be my choice. It's multifaceted, elegant, uplifting, yet deep. Really beautiful. This is very rosey on me with just hints of amber. It's a bright rose, not powdery or rose-watery. There's also a somewhat lemony topnote that sounds like it would sour with rose, but actually adds a mellow tea-like quality. Even though this fragrance is perfect for day-wear it's a very dramatic scent. This one will definitely haunt your moods.

Intuition is lovely and sensual but not so sensual that it cannot appropriately be worn during the day. It has a warm, golden amber base but light, fresh floral topnotes that make it extremely well-rounded. My husband really likes this one. This is one of my favorite amber fragrances as its not too heavy or powdery.

I love this and plan to buy a full bottle. Peau de Peche has an elegant smell. It's not at all a sweet peachy body spray kind of fragrance. The peach is slightly sweet, but dry, and the fragrance smells light and fresh; not cloying or foody. The peach note reminds me a bit of the peach in Burberry London, and if I had to compare Peau de Peche to another fragrance London is the first that comes to mind. However, I've never smelled such a lovely peach that wasn't an actual fresh white peach.

Sha is a fresh lilac with a clean musk base that's lovely in hot weather. It's a soft, natural lilac fragrance that has good lasting power, and it's so pretty.

Enchantees is my favorite of the Paris Premiere line. It's similar to the original Paris and the sparkling, bright quality can't be missed. Enchantees is much fresher though, and very clean (not soapy!). As it develops it smells like an outdoor garden, including the scent of fresh grass, and it's not as "perfumey" as original Paris (which I love). In Enchantees,the orange blossom mixes beautifully with the rose, and it smells less and less like original Paris, and more and more like Rosine Rosa Flamenca while developing on my skin. There are very subtle, but noticeable notes of warm lilac that give the fragrance as a whole a feeling of a breeze catching the scent of fresh flowers. It's appropriately named, too. If I had an enchanted garden I would want it to smell like this!

Beautiful and fun...a very feminine scent with hints of flowers and candy.. This is elegant like Drole de Rose or Paris, but there's some "rebel" in this (vanilla-amber) and some "mystery" (violet, musk). A fresh green note is present that keeps this from being too sweet, and staying fresh. I would wear this with a white lace mini dress and ankle-stap ballerina flats.

Hypnotic - knock you over sexy - unbelievably gorgeous - rich - warm - addictive...An oustanding musky-vanilla-sandalwood-spice dream.

I agree with a previous reviewer who described En Passant as "shockingly beautiful." It smells incredibly real, and perfectly lovely. I've never smelled anything that captures lilac so honestly. I'm enchanted and in love.

Instant Nostalgia! Devon Violets was the very first perfume I ever owned. My mother bought it for me when I was around 5 or 6 years old. Verte Violette smells exactly like my memory of the Devon Violets liquid in the hand-painted green bottle that adorned by dresser for about 20 years. Verte Violette is a beauitful lilac fragrance, that really is quite a bit nicer than Devon Violets. It has fresh green notes and doesn't get terribly sweet like other violet fragrances. I enjoy it.

AG Songes today and I've been wearing Songes since this morning. I am disappointed in it,(actually, I hate it). At first it smelled like a very, very close relation to Carnal Flower, and I got excited, but as it warmed on my skin a bit, it smelled like oakey Chardonnay. As it's dried down, it has the distinct smell of Moth Balls with a rather oppressive note of rubber tire. This is not the unusual camphor note present in Carnal Flower, which is rather hypnotic. This is definitely Moth Balls, straight from a mildewy closet in an old house, and rubber tire goo emanating from a car that skidded on a hot, newly paved road (must be the chemical present in jasmine and asphalt). I don't like to smell like Moth Balls and rubber tire, and I wish this stuff would wash off easily. It's got great lasting power...

The relief I feel is that in spite of my love of the beautiful bottle, I definitely don't want to buy this fragrance. But, of course, I'm sad, because I had high expectations for it. I hate that my body chemistry makes an unpleasant odor out of what is probably an amazing perfume.

Now here's a hidden gem if I've ever smelled one! Anglomania is definitely unisex and it's a rich, spicy fragrance that smells like silk and leather. It's unique and classy, but it has a sexy feel to it that is definitely looking for trouble (in a wild, fun way). If you like leather fragrances, you simply must try this one. I cannot believe it hasn't taken the market by storm. I agree with the previous reviewer that it takes about 20 minutes to a half hour for the spices to mellow a bit, and then you get a musky, pure leather. Don't miss giving this one a try!

Hiris is the scent of a fresh, cool spring breeze carrying the scent of iris blooms. It smells airy, and light, yet as it dries down it gains a greenness and the floral intensifies. Truly lovely. An usual fragrance that captures just a hint of mystery.

I've come so, so close to buying this, and I'm surprised that I don't own it yet. Unfortunately every time I've tried it I've gotten a raging headache, so I'm afraid something in Lovely causes it. I'm not ready to give up on Lovely yet, though. Lovely is often compared to Narciso Rodriguez For Her (I own NR edp) but they're not very similar on my skin. On me, Lovely has a clean patchouli base and bright notes of fresh lavender flowers and apple schnapps. The lasting power is terrific, and this fragrance feels classy. It may just be worth the headache!

If you look at the notes listed above you could easily guess that Live is a very different type of fragrance from what it is. I know I was quite surprised by it. Live is not a fruit punch/ tropical drink/wear-for-fun scent, as I expected it to be (based on its notes and other J.Lopez fragrances). I enjoy some dessert type fun fragrances, so I am confident in saying that Live does not belong in that category. It's a beautifully balanced blend that simply creates a lovely fragrance. To me, it's rather elegant. I couldn't resist it and I had to have it. I can smell some pineapple, and the way it blends with vanilla and sandalwood is amazing. The most stunning thing about Live for me is its uniqueness among other fragrances. I can find similarities in many fragrances, but nothing I know of smells like Live. It stands out, and attracts. If you're looking for something lovely and unusual, give Live a try.

This is a very, very pretty fragrance that will be especially nice with a white sundress and strappy sandals. I can see wearing this on hot summer nights, and also as a cheerful daytime scent. Jennifer Lopez seems always to hit the mark when it comes to "feel-good" fragrances, and Love at First Glow inspires a happy mood. To my nose this is an inviting, sweet, fresh floral that dries down to a peachy-jasminy-rosy blend. I believe it will be thoroughly enjoyed by many. Those who like Ibiza Hippie, Maybe Baby, Incanto Dream, Escada Sentiment, or Very Irresistible should give this one a sniff. I'm willing to bet lots of lovers will be buying this for their significant others. It's the kind of fragrance that invites a kiss and a bouquet of flowers.

Miami Glo is fun, warm, and happy. It smells like Spring Break in a warm climate after a cold, gray winter. It's bright, uplifing, and full of tropical fruit notes, but it doesn't smell like sticky Mai Tais. The lasting power is outstanding and puts other fragrances to shame. It's a wonderul fragrance that I'm really going to enjoy in the coming hot months.

I wore this when I met my husband, too! It was one of my favorite fragrances ever, when it first came out, and I wore it for a few years. I had the deodorant, shower gel, lotion, and all the fun stuff Avon makes for its scents. Avon has definitely changed the formulation of Rare Gold, and not for the better. The original Rare Gold was ambery-warm-sexy-orangeblossomy-vanilla, and was a beautiful fragrance. It's still pretty, but it seems watered down.

Pink Suede smelled like sweet peas rotting in a brand new car on a 110 degree day. I wanted to crawl out of my skin when I tried this, and, just my luck, the lasting power is great. I couldn't wash the stuff off. I like some leathery fragrances, but I don't like ones that smell like new shoes. I'm sure this is nice on others.

I've loved this fragrance for 32 years! When I was a young girl it was considered to be too "old" and "sexy" for me by my mother, but I bought it regularly from my teen years until I was in my mid-30s. Why on earth don't I have a bottle now? I need to get one. Timeless is ambery, sexy, slightly powdery, and actually quite elegant for an incredibly inexpensive fragrance. It has a Classic feel that I really enjoy.

Wanderlust is a beautiful, beautiful rose fragrance. Elegant, lovely, feminine, classic. Its lasting power is wonderful, its sillage is perfect, and it makes me smell the world through a rose-colored glow. Wanderlust is sweet, but in a fresh floral way, not candy-like or sugary. This isn't a Victorian-type powdery rose, or a role soliflore at all. It's along the lines of Ombre Rose, Quelques Roses, Caron Rose, Anna Sui Original, Victoria's Secret Victoria...just a beautiful, elegant rose fragrance. I am so glad I've found this one! If you enjoyed Ombre Rose, do give Wanderlust a try. I think you'll be thrilled!

Boudoir is one of my all time favorite fragrances. The Viburnum note is so sensual and bewitching. I wish I could find other Viburnum fragrances! I sniff the Viburnum in my yard so that I can get a hint of Boudoir for a "pick-me-up." On my skin, Boudoir is a very rich scent, heavy with rose, marigold, orange blossom, and a touch of tobacco. I find it to be more of sweet floral rather than an evertly sexual Oriental like Opium. I categorize Boudoir among fragrances like Nanadebary Pink, Fifi Chachnil,L'Heure Magique, Tresor, and Samsara. Boudoir has outstanding lasting power and a sillage that's perfect for romantic memories.

When wearing Kai, I close my eyes, inhale, and then I'm transported to paradise. Kai is an incredibly pure gardenia that's shockingly beautiful. Its lasting power is outstanding. Kai is a precious fragrance treasure.

One of the most beautiful rose fragrances, ever. It makes a symphony from the scent of roses, juicy peahces, and incredible, clear balsam. Nahema possesses the mysterious beauty of a Victorian mansion, elegant, ornate, and haunted.

This is the fragrance of carefree happiness and joy. It's so bright and uplifting I want to bathe in it. I wish it had better lasting power, but I must own this, even if I have to pickle myself in it to make it last. It's bright, fun, cheerful, and so pretty!

The notes tell me I should love it, but my skin refuses to believe them. Chinatown is very pretty, but it's not as fresh as it sounds like it will be. There's an undertone to it that reminds me of cooked vegetables. It smells like a dining room that has fresh flowers on the table, but the smells of food sneak through the florals. I think the note that goes off for me is probably the cardamom, which is a favorite flavor to eat, but not to wear. The bottle is beautiful.

I've tried most of the Bond No. 9 fragrances, and So New York is my favorite of them all. This is a fun, warm chocolate-coffee-patchouli fragrance that soothes me on cold days. Unfortunately, the lasting power is terrible on my skin. If it weren't for the lasting power, I'd buy a bottle in a heartbeat, but for now I'll stick to Blv Notte when I need a chocolate fix.

The is The Perfect Honey-Tobacco-Incense-Amber fragrance. It knocks Luctor et Emergo and Ginestet Botrytis off the top of this category's list for me, and I've both of these for several years. Chergui is sweet, rich, warm, woodsy, and, best of all, slightly mysterious. It has a lot of character and many moods. It'sfascinating, and a masterpiece, in my opinion!

Very nice deep coffee, smoky scent. Its richness and warmth is perfect for a crisp, cold day.

Carnal Flower (I love that name!) is, as stated in a previous review, an amazing scent! There aren't many fragrances that truly smell like real flowers in the outdoors; Carnal Flower smells like a fresh breeze carrying the scent of flowers wafting through a window at sunset on a summer day. I don't mean to indicate that this is a relaxing fragrance, though. It's exhilarating, stimulating, and so beautiful.

This is an outstanding, stunningly beautiful floral that truly smells like a garden redolent with jasmine, orange blossom, and linden. The first time I smelled this it took my breath away. Three bottles later I still love it madly. La Chasse is paradise in a bottle.

Gourmandises is not what I expected, as it's not sweet on me and I don't smell praline or jam. I think I expected Gourmandises to be a version of Loukhoum because of its notes but it's completely different. It's a fascinating, multi-faceted rose fragrance that is fantastically unique. It's a mood fragrance; slightly dramatic but possessing more of a warm, confident, alluring beauty. One of the best things about is that it doesn't remind me of any other fragrances. I've never smelled anything like it, and this makes it intriguing, and even beautiful.

After using up a few samples of this I've decided I definitely have to buy it. It has pretty, summery topnotes and an elegant yet fresh ambery base. I love this is at dries down.

Utterly, completely beautiful.

This is sweet and foody yet definitely perfumey and sensual. I adore its unique-ness. Some foody scents smell too much like a bakery...this one has its own personality. I just love it and I get oodles of compliments on it, all the time. One of my cats is particularly fond of it, so much so that he nuzzles the bottle on my dresser. This is a perfect nighttime fragrance for cuddling up or being downright seductive.

This scent is so well done that that when wearing it I became disoriented and thought my window was open, letting in the smell of fresh jasmine in bloom. Then I remembered it was winter, and that it was me who smelled so intoxicating and lovely!

This smells like Turkish Delight as I know it with hints of yeast or dough. That doesn't sound too attractive, yet this really is a great fragrance. There are times when I crave it and times when the cherry note is too cloying, but overall I really enjoy this scent.

Imagine yourself in a Victorian rose garden completely immersed in fresh, deep red roses on a cool spring day...bewitching.

This is so beautiful and sensual. It's the gentle seduction of The Dark Lady of the Sonnets. Despite being a definite vanilla fragrance, it's unique and quite grown-up. Absolutely one of my favorites.

Burnt vanilla sweet with a furniture polish drydown. It's all right, but nothing striking. I'll use my BLV Notte or Allure when I'm in the mood for this type of fragrance.

Beautiful. Romantic, heady, dewy, enchanting...a fragrance for my wildest dreams.

Mitsouko is longed-for beauty; The Heart is a Loney Hunter by Carson McCullers...deep, emotional, provokative, earthy, and beautiful. I cannot imagine a perfume world without it.

L'Heure Bleue is the smell of angst and sorrow. It depresses me, though I recognize its beauty. It's The Unbearable Lightness of Being in a bottle...beautiful, yet hopeless. The carnation note sets me over the edge as carnations carry sad memories. I truly appreciate L'Heure Bleue, because there's no other fragrance in the world with its particular influence on emotion, but I cannot wear it.

Angelique Encens is beautiful and haunting. I find strong vanilla notes beneath the smoky incense and ambery elegance. This one has to be worn and experienced before it can be rated appropriately. Angelique Encens creates a mood in me and everyone who can smell me when I wear it. It has the odd yet tempting beauty of a run-down mansion on a bayou.

Bois des Iles is captivating. It's Matisse's Fen'tre à Tahiti. Amazing. Unsurpassed.

While I think Le Baiser du Dragon is lovely, and striking, it's not a fragrance I can comfortably wear. It makes me feel like I'm wearing a mix of Coco and Hypnotic Poison that's too strong for my tolerance. The Amaretto note smells a bit rancid on me, which is odd, because I ordinarily wear almond well. I love the bottle, and I almost bought this unsniffed, but after using up two tester vials, I'm glad I didn't. This just won't work for me.

This smells so much like the Coppertone "suntan lotion" of my childhood that it creates an instant vision of very young me in Upstate New York in the 1970s, sunning myself by the pool during the longed-for warm weather. I wear this to inspire a happy, comfortable mood, and it's marvelous for cheering me up on gloomy days.

If you love chypres you must try Narciso Rodriguez For Her. This smells retro 1970s to me, and reminds me of another fragrance, which I cannot place. For Her edp is very different from the edt on my skin. When I sampled the edt I wasn't fond of it, as it turned quite bitter on my skin. The edp smells stikingly better on my skin, mostly because the musk notes seem mellow and smooth. The edt and edp are different enough to me that I feel they chould have different names! For Her is a rich, heady, elegant fragrance that is appropriate for occasions where you really want to dress to the nines. I don't think I'll wear this one in a work environment, but instead keep it for special occasions. The bottle is beautiful.

Chanel No. 5 is a fragrance every true perfume-lover owns (at least once in her lifetime) but many of us never wear it. I think it smells gorgeous and it evokes everything it claims to: independence, sensuality, femininity, class...diamond and minks...When I get a whiff of it on someone I think, "What a lovely smell," yet it's not a smell I really enjoy wearing. Once in a while I wear it when I'm desiring a "vintage style" mood, but it never feels like an extension of my personality.

Chance is a beautiful fragrance that many perfect strangers have gone out of their way to compliment. Something about it just works on my skin like an embellishment to my personality. Chance is elegant and it has a brightness as well as a sultry spiciness. Maybe there are some similarites to Coco Mademoiselle, but, on me, Chance is more attractive and has a freshness that never gets too heavy. Coco Mademoiselle has a bourbon-and-chocolate feel that goes well with leather jackets and knee-high boots. Chance seems to go with everything, including a bikini, and the bottom line for me is it smells great.

Deep Red is very, very pretty but it doesn't react on me the way it's apparently supposed to. I've seen this compared to Hypnotic Poison and other deep, sexy vanilla fragrances, but on me Deep Red has a very citrus beginning and it dries down to a fruity floral with little sweetness. It seems to have the citrus rinds notes and it reminds me strongly of the original Poison. I like the fragrance for a pretty daytime, very wearable scent, but it doesn't suit romantic or emotional times that would be colored by a "deep red" mood.

I'm definitely not a fan of most apple fragrances, but Be Delicious is an exception. When I smelled it on the test strip it reminded me of shampoo, but on my skin this is a really wearable, refreshing, and stylish fragrance. I'm going to purchase this one! I love the bottle, too.

Calvin Klein fragrances have never appealed to me, and Euphoria is no exception. To me it smells like a combination of Obsession and Cinema, and it's not as striking as Obsession or as bad as Cinema. This smells quite nice on the paper test strip, but on my skin it's just boring.

Lea is certainly a pretty fragrance, but it's utterly boring on my skin. It doesn't create any particular mood but it is one of the nicest vanilla fragrances I've owned. I prefer La Maison de la Vanilles, though, when I have vanilla cravings as their Bourbon Vanilla drydown is much more appealing to me than the kitchen vanilla extract smell of Lea. Lea smells like pure vanilla extract mixed with pure almond extract; definitely a nice smell, but not one I want to wear.

This smells great! At first it smells citrusy and fresh, and the deep woody drydown keeps me maniacally sniffing myself. This fragrance is a mood elevator, and it's unique. I swear I smell cinnamon in this and something about it reminds me a little of Dior Addict. It doesn't smell like Dior Addict though, there's just a note that my skin brings out that's common to Addict and Merveilles. This would be quite nice on a man or a woman, but because I know it as a scent I wear I don't think it would smell particularly masculine to me. It's not particularly feminine either, which is part of its appeal. If I hadn't blown my budget on Un Jardin Sur le Nil I'd buy this immediately. But I'm definitely saving up for this unusual "water of wonders."

This is incredibly clean, fresh, and uplifting and just radiates intense garden smells. A certain note in this smells quite a bit like lime in the beginning but I definitely notice the fabulous mango notes, too. I know this is supposed to be unisex, but I do describe this fragrance as "pretty." It's very floral on my skin; albeit not sweet. Un Jardin sur le Nil is exotic and refreshing; the perfect fragrance to cheer you up on a rainy day. It makes me want very much to visit a garden overlookikng the Nile.

Jo Malone Orange Blossom is one of the most beautiful things I've ever smelled. It smells like an orange grove on a warm night with just ripened orange blossom flowers and hints of sultry jasmine. This is perfect to lift my spirits and I love it in all seasons. It makes me feel like I can live the romantic, carefree days of summer all the time.

I fall for with nearly all Ralph Lauren fragrances. I wore Lauren in college, Safari in my 20s, Romance in my 30s, and now Blue (not quite 40). I didn't think any fragrance could top the wearability and lovliness of these earlier Ralph Lauren fragrances, but Blue has managed to do just this. It's utterly beautiful; flowery, feminine, watery, and cool, and it reminds me of the Pacific Ocean on a crisp spring evening. This is my most-worn fragrance right now, as it seems to suit all moods and all weather. I love, love this fragrance.

This is a strikingly attractive fragrance. It's rich and lovely but slightly playful. My sons say it smells like "candy" because their little boys noses must automatically focus on the chocolate notes; but the ginger and vodka make this pack one sexy punch! I love Chanel Allure and Chance but Blv Notte has topped both of them with overall compliments and the number of times I reach for it. I love it year-round.