Fragrance Reviews by ubuandibeme

Dad used to smoke a pipe when I was a wee little tyke...he kept his 'pipe collection' in a wooden display sort of holder. They were gorgeously carved wooden pieces of art to my little eyes. I used to pick them up, and visually admire them. Then, as a small child would do, I'd put one in my mouth and pretend to smoke it just like my father! It did'nt quite smell the same as when he lit it and puffed, so I'd put my nose into the opening where the tobacco goes. THIS is what the cigarette part of Jasmin et Cigarette smells like! The remnants of already smoked sweet pipe tobacco - and it's amazing! When I first sampled this scent, my expectations were at about zero. Never in a million years did I ever expect to purchase a full bottle - but I did! The jasmin here is perfectly paired with the ashen & smokey tobacco, lightly sweetened with notes of hay and apricot. The blend is fantastic, a real work of art. Quality ingredients, craftsmanship and the finished product is not only one of a kind - it is completely wearable! Thumbs up, without hesitation!

This one has actually had some discussion on the fragrance boards...for one, it smells like a complete rip-off of Tom Ford's Black Orchid. Another point that's been discussed is the random 'cucumber' note, which I attribute to the 'waterfruits' and 'crisp melon' listed in the pyramid. All in all, not a horrible scent. But hey, it's just a cheaper version of a higher quality original...so...a neutral is the best I can give.

I've been gifted with a bottle, and will re-evaluate soon! 10/28/2009

My passion is NOT leather, but I'll tell you ~ this is the most balanced, wearable, interesting leather I've tried! The first spritz comes off all citrusy, but only for the first 2 or 3 inhaling breaths. It immediately gets smokey. The deep kind of smokiness that makes you pull back and go "WHOA!" ~ it's that strong. But just like the citrus topnotes, those heavy smokey notes mellow in very speedy fashion. Now things begin to settle into themselves, creating a comfortable leather chypre that is somewhat bright - not brooding or dirty at all. Only very slight animalics here, at least to this nose. This leather is polite! I think the blending is brilliant, and give high marks to Ms. Becker and Ms. Zanoni for an excellent composition. Cuir de Lancome is highly recommended as a solid quality leather fragrance.

Herve' Leger is plain and simple : Jasmine, Heliotrope, Sandalwood. You might presume it to be merely another run-o-the-mill designer frag, but you'd be missing out. This perfectly blended trio is mouthwatering, sweet, and sexy too. Extremely feminine and a sure fire compliment getter. The jasmine is subdued, and really feminine here. It is exactly the right flower to pair with the gourmand feeling of cherry/almond heliotrope. Let's not forget a luxurious and creamy sandalwood for warmth. Herve Leger radiates exquisitely off the skin, with fine sillage and excellent longevity...I read somewhere that it's creation has been credited to Alberto Morillas. Ladies, the next time you go sniffing, seek this out!

Truly a "reference" fragrance. Classic in composition, I consider it simply the benchmark of colognes!

Where's the leather? I get lots of vanilla-ish, almond-y notes here, but cannot detect the leather. The offerings I've sampled thus far from "L'Art et la Matiere" by Guerlain are so very similar...I don't see the point in owning more than one. Angelique Noire is the vanilla/almond I've chosen, and can therefore easily due without Cuir Beluga and Bois d'Armenie. Smell them all folks, then choose the one closest to your liking. Really, one will suffice. Thumbs up - for quality.

For my nose, Cuir Mauresque is Daim Blond on steroids. Extremely fruity. This 'amped up' version loses the subtle charm of DB...making me turn a neutral thumb.

Lavander at the top, absolutely gorgeous and true. Dries down to a simple, dry, incense. This one is plain and simple, which makes it wearable - but a little boring too...thumbs up, but just barely.

Jemimagold and Asha have given extremely accurate detailed descriptions of this cheerful cologne. The only point I wish to add is regarding the iris note...it is presented with a light hand, which adds just a hint of powder to this blend, I find it quite clever. Bourdon has turned out an excellent composition!

After a thorough test run of Affection, it still comes off as an Angel rip-off...after only about 45 minutes on the skin, it fades into your basic barely there powdery base I've experienced in dozens of cheap perfumes. I must still turn my thumb downward on this one.

Iris Nobile is, as MonkeyManMatt has stated, more about star anise ~ in the opening. With anise being such a love it or hate it type note, your appreciation for this frag will certainly depend upon how you take to star anise! I personally enjoy it, so you can guess I really like Iris Nobile! After the initial blast of anise, the rest of this scent is truly a partnership of orange blossom and iris. The notes waft back and forth from creamy to powdery, and the overall impression is totally feminine. Lightly fresh and slightly sweet, I can't imagine anyone finding IN offensive. Along with Prada's new Infusion d'Iris, Acqua di Parma has produced another winning iris perfume for us to enjoy! * 8/2009 as an update to this commentary I'd add that Iris Nobile is more about the orange blossom than iris...I'd liken it to Giorgio (of Beverly Hills) - you know, the one with the gold & white striped box. It is on the sweeter side of florals, and perfectly powdery too!

Discontinued? Has the perfume world gone mad? This is truly one of the most luxurious, well crafted fragrances ever to grace my pulse points. Theorema is a spicy oriental of classic composition possessing a sweet & creamy character in a "Luten-esque" sort of way. I smell nutmeg and cardamom for sure, along with cinnamon. Orange blossom and most likely some carnation - I get a 'clove' vibe here. Not too strong, but evident. Ambery woods and some patchouli in the base. This mixture is so rich and well crafted there are probably a dozen other notes living here that I cannot discern. It is my opinion that fans of Coco by Chanel, Opium by YSL, or even (possibly) Musc Ravageur under the Frederic Malle label would take kindly to this gorgeous perfume. Thumbs up, now I'm off to find a bottle...

I would call this 'Medium Oud Rose'! It is not to my liking, but a worthy composition nonetheless. Buffalo_Gals' commentary has captured my feelings on this one perfectly. BTW ~ the best part of this frag is the dry down...it's stunning!

Fruit salad served in a handcarved wooden bowl. Sweet & juicy, too fruity for my taste in frags.

Cucumber, Sage, floral and musk...a little tonka in the base. Sage is a scent that is true to its' note pyramid! It smells exactly as it is written - I love that! Bright in character too, I can see why this is popular, it is fun to wear! Would make a good energizing masculine fragrance as well!

Bitterly effervescent, this unique combination of weird yet wonderful notes is compelling. I'm not a complete fan, but admit there's something delightful about DKNY Women. What I love about it is the way the topnotes stay "fizzy" smelling - for a long time. If I didn't know any better, sniffing this blindly, I might suspect it to be a Keiko Mecheri frag. To my nose the blood orange citrus comes off a bit like grapefruit, which includes the pith. Obviously one could never pinpoint "freshly laundered t-shirt" or "wet pebble" accords when trying to deconstruct this mix. Definitely not sweet. Not soapy either. Impressive for a 'designer' offering, I must give a thumbs up!

I truly don't believe this scent is marketed strictly as masculine, but if it is, don't let the gender designation stop any of you from trying this travel exclusive from Kenzo. I own 7:15 a.m. in Bali, which was the travel exclusive from 2008, and the basic breezy vacation formula found in 5:40 p.m. in Madagascar is just the same! In Bali the defining notes are brighter, with orchid & citrus accompanying a slight vanilla. In Madagascar we're talkin' more definite vanilla, the kind that smells like vanilla extract - a little bourbon-ish, and some tonka thrown in for good measure! Wears lightly, like air - light and very wearable!

Yep, trashy packaging with a crisp and fresh scent! The beginning of this scent smells like fizzy fruit flavored sodapop! My only complaint is this fragrance fades quickly...kind of like a summer fling! Quite fun though.

Acqua di Gio is the embodiment of "fruity floral". If you are unsure about this genre', in any way, shape, or form, merely sample this fragrance and the definition will instantly clarify! Sure, there are plenty others - good ones too - but this one is the queen. The fruits smell full, ripe and heavy with juices, like during the peak of their growing season. The springtime bouquet of flowers are well blended, added with the most discerning touch. This combination sings in the highest octave, and sustains in upper register for the duration. I've read alot of praises for Estee Lauders (Calice Becker) creation Beyond Paradise, but that mixture is so intense my nose can't take more than an hour of smelling before it wears tired. Acqua di Gio is much friendlier to my senses, and I love for it to last the day! This fruity floral is an under-rated, under-appreciated treasure. Two thumbs, way up!

The smell of coconut reminds me of either a tropical drink or suntan lotion. Suprisingly, Susanne Langes Vanilla Coconut fragrance reminds me of neither! Slightly sweetened, with a musky base, it is more wearable for me than any Comptoire Sud Pacific frag! Comes off clean & fresh while feeling cozy at the same time. Fun, and definitely thumbs up!

Just when I thought Donna Karans GOLD possessed the biggest & boldest lily...here comes the queen giant of all lily's - from Ava Luxe! Beautiful!

This one starts off really green and damp. Earthy. Time sweetens Nemesis. After a short while it sort of reminds me of L'Artisan's Voleur de Roses. A nice, dark, masculine rose scent. Mild ~ esp. for BPAL! Thumbs up!

A dark, wet, earthy green violet and violet leaf. It smells at first like the scent is too concentrated. As Violet Empire warms on the skin, it mellows and brightens a bit. Wet earth & a sprig of mint 'root' is detectable as well. It would make an excellent masculine violet!

Firstly, I'm no huge fan of Lily of the Valley soliflores. Now that's out of the way, I'm not loving this Floris rendition either. It reminds me of when I was a little girl, in the mid to late 1960's. There were these tiny dolls called "Lil Kiddles". A series of them came packaged inside cute plastic perfume bottle pods, and the dolls were flower scented. The one I had smelled just like Floris Lily of the Valley. For a 5 year olds' little toy doll, it was a fun scent. For a grown womans perfume, not so pleasant.

This 'Exclusif' from Chanel really suprises me. The notes here are interesting and seamless, in true Jacques Polge fashion, but the suprising part is the high pitch to which the florals climb and hold steady for the lifespan of this scent. I adore frangipani, and the freesia lends a clean & fresh vibe. Cool, and classy for sure, but what Chanel isn't? Refreshing too, that this fresh floral doesn't smell "flowery", if that makes sense. I would say if you are leary of bold floral frags, or don't care for soliflores very well, or even if you are bored with the current wave of springtime offerings, give this outstanding beauty a try. Beige has no borders in regard to age. Beige is cool - but not cold. Hard to believe LT & TS don't have anything good to say regarding this particular Chanel...Beige does not disappoint me in any way! Two thumbs up!

Reviewing from a second sample

Tiare-Mimosa is my least favorite, thus far, of the Aqua Allegoria range of fragrance put out by Guerlain. I think it is supposed to be a crisp, breezy floral bearing a pseudo-sweetness. My nose perceives it as cleaning chemical...kind of like those scented Clorox or Lysol all-purpose wipes in the plastic canister. If a crisp, breezy floral is what you're craving, I'd go with L'Artisan's La Chasse Aux Papillons - which has no resemblance to cleaning fluid whatsoever!

Like Asha, I find Miss Dior Cherie L'Eau more user friendly than the original! The original Miss Dior Cherie's super sweet strawberry topnotes hit my nose with such impact and brut force, I cannot enjoy the smell. The L'Eau version is far more toned, tamed, and contains only half the sugar of her older sis! Mild in character wears pleasantly and stays fresh. This one is likeable, but L'Eau isn't really a 'stand out' fragrance. In the end, maybe it could use a stronger punch of sorts.

I wanted to like this one, but found it to be a synthetic mess. BTW, what the heck is 'fluffy musk'?

Strictly by chance this sample ended up on my wrist and if not for the printed fragrance notes, I'd never be able to deconstruct Aod! It is supremely blended and completely fresh as the seaside. It has a soapy character very similar to "E" by Princess Jelisaveta Karadjordjevic - whose perfume creation was assisted by Sophia Grojsman. A unique and wearable take on gardenia! Lian & bbBD have eloquently captured the personality of this scent. I highly recommend sampling this beautiful blend.

A fusion of Ysatis and Youth Dew...wears a bit heavily on my skin, smells outdated. The funny thing is, I can't bring myself to turn the thumb completely downward!

Mikeperez has so perfectly described my perceptions of this AA (and my disappointment) I can only say: DITTO

WOW, I'd never guess Iles d'Or's age! This exotic fruity gourmand could have easily been plucked off the shelf of a 2009 fragrance display! After the initial sweet and juicy burst of fruits, a slight breezy floral wafts by as she settles into a warm and wooded vanilla base. A wonderful suprise!

Personally, I am not enamored with the combination of incense and amber. Amber is a fave of mine, in many forms, but my nose sometimes experiences difficulty with incense. There is a dry/somewhat smokey aspect to L'Ombre Fauve which seems in conflict (rather than compliment) to the sweet, rich amber accord. Fortunately the incense used here quickly dissipates, this phase of development passes and in the end I'm enjoying this Bestial Shadow. Thumbs up, because this frag is interesting & creative - and ultimately wearable too!

An aromatic and compelling take on tobacco. I agree completely with lilybelle's impressions! An interesting and intelligent presentation of unusual notes. Wearable too, I give it two thumbs up!

Omnia Green Jade is the fraternal twin of Omnia Crystalline - bordering on identical. It is so similar, I cannot see how this fragrance is even warranted. Thumbs down for cloning!

At first spritz, this smells like Guerlains' Glittering Cherry Blossom, which is basically Bulgari's trademark tea note, and then takes an indolic turn. After reading Asha's review, I 'get' the hairspray smell she's referring to - her commentary is very good (as usual!), but I will give this one a neutral. Mostly because it has a distinct evolution which is creative and it is suprisingly wearable.

Super citrony in the opening, this verbena frag is refreshing! I agree with foetidus, and feel it is absolutely wearable by women as well.

I get some lavander, sweet with vanilla and an accompanying amber accord. Would make an excellent masculine.

Soapy rose. Rosewater, with a slight tea-like character. If you like roses, it's okay.

It figures, Guerlain would discontinue THIS one! I love it! In fact, my fingers have been flying furiously over the computer keyboard trying to locate a bottle. Lo and behold one turned up for sale in the marketplace! Lucky me. Now I can douse myself in the potently indolic jasmine yet ever so sheer sweet neroli that stays fresh & light during the most hot, humid dog days of summer. A sprinkling of incense here is like icing on the cake - the perfect accent! Thumbs up.

If you prefer your garden sans flowers, White She will delight! A fresh garden blend, without being green and without a bloom in sight...it is extremely smooth. Perfumer Annie Buzantian possesses a light hand when it comes to blending, and the result is winning. Perfect summertime clean woodsy/musk and/or 'go to' fragrance sure to please a wide variety of noses. Two thumbs up!

The bottle of Fleurs de Nuit is one of the most stunning I've seen. Gorgeous! The fragrance itself though...kind of bores me. I'm a huge floral fan, but this one just doesn't have anything special worth latching onto. Non-descript floral, in the same vein as Dior's J'Adore... I suppose if you are put off by most floral frags, Fleurs de Nuit might be wearable for you.

Wishing that Mukhallat evoked the feelings & lovely memories expressed by jenson, I must (sadly) give this potent mixture a thumbs down... for my own associations, the strawberry/almond topnotes smell like a public restroom freshener commonly used in the midwest. Artificial smelling. I sprayed one very small squirt onto a tissue and left it on my kitchen countertop for about 6 hours. When I returned to re-sniff it, the sickly sweet berry smell had died down quite a bit and a more vanillic sweet almond was the dominant note. At this later stage Mukhallat seems tolerable, yet not what I want to wear. In the end, my thumb is neutral, as I seriously believe my cultural associations imparted a tainted viewpoint. If not for that, I would say others may enjoy this Montale...but not me, nope, not this one.

Rich fruity topnotes of tangerine and yuzu quickly give way to a softly blended floral bouquet. The floral notes are muted, like a photograph taken with a soft-focus lense, fuzzy and gentle around the edges. A little bit powdery. Other D&G frags I've tried have a distinguishable musk in their base, and it is present here too. Completely pretty! Extremely wearable.

Libertine begins with a fresh and frosty lily floral, reminiscent of Estee Lauder's Pleasures or even Ralph Lauren's Pure Turquoise. As it warms on the skin, an amber accord appears, sort of fleshy, like Chantilly. Libertine sweetens and sparkles, remaining feminine and interesting throughout it's duration. For my own taste, it gets a little bit cloying, but don't let my quirky nose put you off this one, it's definitely worth trying!

Initially, this reminds me so much of Mitsouko. Could be wearable by men or women...the drydown morphs it into a powdery vanilla base ~ softer and sweeter than Mitsouko, and more like Shalimar! Very subtle in the beginning, then it swells with intensity to a sweet vanillic opoponax. Ligea is a shape-shifter, and like SirSlarty said, can create a darkened mood. Funny, because Mitsouko does that on me too! I find this fragrance highly intriguing. The way it ends up on my skin is like a much more wearable, vanilla version of Montales' Sweet Oriental Dream.

This one has gotten such great press - not to mention great wear - from several esteemed basenoters. I ended up buying a bottle blindly, and don't regret it one bit! Having read somewhere that Folavril was Goutals' first creation, I wish I would have tried it years ago. It is soapy and fresh. Not sweet, but not dry or bitter either. Delicate, yet has quite good sillage & longevity, particularly for it's genre. Folavril reminds me of the childrens' bubble blowing liquid that comes in a plastic bottle with the circle wand. Pucker up, blow, and giggle with delight at the array of fairy like bubbles floating around! Uplifting and light hearted, I cannot imagine this fragrance being worn without a smile as an accompaniment!

Sweet-ish but not candy sweet. I love the iris/orange blossom/violet trio here. Powdery iris lends a dry, chalky feel and the slightly indolic orange blossom contributes a bit of 'flesh'. So this violet is not pure innocence at all, it is all grown up and would be wearable by a man (IMO). Also worth noting, Violette Precieuse is not a powerhouse frag. It is more on the quiet side, but does have decent longevity. Hard to believe it's almost 100 years old!

A mass market amber fragrance that is 'middle of the road' but get this: the price is cheap, and it's available at Kohl's. So if your'e looking for a decent amber that won't run you broke, twilight is nice enough.

I've been racking my brain, trying to figure out the motivation behind the name 'Vanille Galante' and I'm completely stumped! Why? Because I don't smell any vanilla in this mix! I do, however, associate it directly with Fleur des Comores by MPG. It's the ylang-ylang ~ featured in this and FdC ~ beautifully done. Ylang-ylang is one floral note that many times smells just plain stinky to me. In Vanille Galante the presentation of this flower is extremely delicate, sheer, and surrounded by diffused greens. Spices and sandalwood balance this blend, like an opaque veil just barely connecting and softening each note. If I compare the two, Vanille Galante showcases green notes and ylang-ylang whereas FdC comes off less green and more 'mouthwatering', almost gourmand-ish. I adore Mr. Ellena's interpretation.

This commentary is written based upon a side by side wearing of Teatro Alla Scala and Coco edp - to which it has been compared.

Before spritzing, I took a preliminary whiff of each perfume's sprayer. The similarities are immediate, although not identical.
One squirt of each, and we're off! TAS instantly comes across with a bold rose note. A much stronger rose than is in the Coco. It also seems to possess a considerably less spicy character overall. I would say the floral blend of TAS is resonating at a slightly lower pitch. As I switch back to smell the Coco, I'm struck by a clearer, crisp floral blend, and there is orange blossom quite evident. Lactonic and 'bright'. The Coco is also noteably spicier. TAS loses it's assortment of flowers, except the rose. It is predominant, and lovely. The major difference between the two is TAS's inclusion of civet. I own, and adore, the civet rich vintage formulation of Shocking. There is plenty of civet in TAS, and I would say it is even more comparable to vintage Shocking than the Coco - overall!

In conclusion, I would classify Teatro Alla Scala as a civet rich floral built upon a chypre base. The Coco is clearly an oriental. Funny though that I love Coco & vintage Shocking. Now I'll add Krizia's TAS to my list of wonderful & wearable fragrances! Thumbs up.

If you enjoy the pikake flower, this frag is sure to please. I agree with SirSlarty about the over ripe banana in the top notes, kind of pungent and fermented. Punono is strong, and somewhat exotic. I personally don't care for pikake, as it reminds me of a bad public restroom freshener. Difficult to wear. As for the Saffron James offerings, Nani and L'ea are much more to my liking and equally unique.

Mikeperez23 has written my thoughts on Serge Noire very accurately! I will add to his review, that SN reminds me of how the final crackling embers of a bonfire smell, and for all the notes of smoke, spices, and honeyed woods it possesses a remarkable balance! After giving this one some quality wear time, I can tell you it is extremely dry and the wood notes dominate. I would also suggest this particular fragrance be worn a minimum of 3 times before casting judgment.

VERY FINE! The previous reviewers in this forum have my complete agreement! Angelique Noire is heavenly, I even detect traces of it 12 hours after application. Also, not listed but I swear it's in there...just a touch of tonka, more noteably at the very end of AN's lifespan. Love the balance here, between the bright bergamot/powdery sweet angelica/deep vanilla-tonka notes Fresh, sexy, mouthwateringly sweet. It is 'MY GUERLAIN', I adore it!

Elegant, chic and modern ~ this white floral/patchouli combo is winning in every way! For starters, the white ribbed bottle with gold accenting is stunning. It is also a great vessel in which to preserve the integrity of this juice while giving us the option to display the bottle as a work of art. This perfume contains all the glamorous flowers too ~ rose, peony, jasmine, along with ambrette seed and the perfect amount of patchouli. For those discriminate in sillage and longevity of their fragrance, I'd say Ford has attained perfection there as well. I'm secretly hoping this one will remain under wraps for awhile, so I can be the head turning one smelling especially fabulous!

As an update, I bought a bottle of White Patchouli and wore it a few times. It ended up smelling plastic or chemical like to my nose, and sadly, it is with a new owner. My review is changed from a thumbs up to a neutral.

I adore Antonia's Flowers signature frag, so I had high hopes for this beautifully named scent. Sorry to say my hopes were shattered. Sogni del Mare is a citrus/bergamot/seawater fresh eau de cologne that truly smells like my husbands deodorant...you know, the one that's called "fresh scent". Absolutely un-original in the most dull and predictable way. Don't get me wrong, this scent won't offend anyone. There's just no reason to use it. Unremarkable.

Bulgari consistently puts forth relevant and wearable fragrances, and this aquatic charmer is no exception. Historically, Bulgari has also enlisted some of the perfume industry's most gifted "nose's" to create their classy potions, I'd love to know the 'nose' behind this blend! Their website discloses the olfactive notes as:

Top: Mandarin
Petit Grain
Heart: Santolina
Posidonia
Base: Mineral Amber
Clary Sage

I believe the sage infuses the subtle spicy quality here. The amber likens the drydown to it's predecessor - Bulgari pour Homme. My overall impression of this marine is sexy and virile! A manly acquatic.

It's been awhile since Coco has graced my pulse points. Having just re-purchased yet another glorious bottle, I'm here to tell you; Coco is the ultimate classic. Specifically, the EDP. There is a world of difference between the EDT & EDP versions. Coco Eau De Parfum is a multitude of precious essenses fused seamlessly into a single luxurious golden elixir. In comparison, the EDT seems stark - lacking some of the stunning sweetness & warming quality of it's sister. If you are looking to try a timeless classic fragrance, one that exudes strength and femininity; please try Coco, and let it be the EDP! THUMBS WAY UP!

I've since added the EDT to my collection as well, it is perfect for when a lighter/brighter form of the fragrance is desired ~ I'm learning!

Bath & Body Works makes another vanilla that I prefer - Fresh Vanilla. It comes across more like vanilla extract. This particular version is much sweeter. If I use any of these vanillas, it is strictly for the shower gel to start a vanilla base for my chosen scent of the day. My young son loves this one just like it is ~ sugary sweet!

Before sampling the newest child of fragrance industry icon - Tom Ford - I read all the reviews, checked out the listed notes, and then sampled away! At first I was on the look out for a reason to hate this scent because there was so much seemingly undue hype around T.F. After spritzing this one on though, I must concede and concur ~ Mr. Ford has earned his accolades! Black Orchid is a well thought out, finely crafted perfume. At the top: Black Truffle, Ylang Ylang, Bergamot & Black Currant. I love this initial blend. The Florals, Fruits & Lotus Wood in the middle didn't particularly thrill me. In fact, I became slightly annoyed by a little tickle in the back of my throat while those middle notes hung around. After that, my most favorite part of Black Orchid...the drydown to the basenotes! Noir Gourmand, Patchouli, Incense and Vetiver! Sexy! For me, this is not a dark or heavy fragrance. I find it fresh, yet deep & mysterious. Actually, it is somewhat airy until the top & middle notes settle down. Black Orchid is unique and satisfying, I will eagerly anticipate future releases by Tom Ford; right along with the rest of you!

Having tried the better portion of his fragrance range, I can confidently say that Black Orchid is my favorite Tom Ford creation - hands down!

Violets, soapy & sweet! Les Meteorites is one fragrance that should have never been discontinued. Smells like I just stepped out of a luxurious bubble bath. Timeless, ageless, feminine, demure yet confident. Although it's been discontinued, you can still find some bottles here and there at a reasonable price.

15 reviews so far and ALL are thumbs-up! With good reason, Caron's Parfum Sacre' is absolutely gorgeous. I'm in complete agreement with every single commentary already posted. Parfum Sacre is the original incense rose and I can only encourage any perfume lover to sample this treasure, Parfum Sacre' will not disappoint!

While spring cleaning I found an unused sample of Eau The' Blanc in my drawer. I love Bulgari fragrances and excitedly sampled this one. It is very plain, in fact, generic "white tea". It also smells like the signature 'white tea' fragrance of the Westin hotels. The notes are subtle and wear close to the body. This composition emits an aire of quality and class. It is completely suitable for a man or woman, and is one of those "all purpose" frags. Seriously, you could wear it ANYWHERE you go and be perfectly in place! A staple in any fragrance wardrobe.

First whiff to the last lingering note, this fig fine! So many reviewers have described this fragrance perfectly. For me, an underlying musty green adds the raw & natural vibe. The drydown is sweet powdery sandalwood which the fig note accompanies the entire way through. It is an awesome scent. I think the blending of notes here is brilliant. In fact, it's very fine!

After reading all the wonderful reviews on this scent, I was so eager to try it! This house puts out some mighty fine fragrances. It is a fruity floral that starts off somewhat citrus/spicy and dries down to a sweet and spicy woody fragrance - VERY WOODY. For me, it's lovely, sweet and feminine. Dolce Vita also comes off very warm and cozy - an excellent cool weather scent. (I can't imagine it on a man, but to each his own!) Definite quality and most certainly worth a try.

My daughter's 20 year old (ex)boyfriend used to wear this. He used to strut around all cocky and whatnot...leaving me with an obviously bad impression! I've since put that image to rest and returned to this fragrance once again. It is wonderfully wearable. Acqua di Gio is uplifting & fresh. The notes in this frag are intriguing for a male marketed designer scent, and it's success in sales is proof that it pays to produce pleasing quality fragrance. Despite the neigh-sayers, I give it an enthusiastic thumbs up!

Nobody - and I mean NOBODY - does tea notes like Bulgari!!! I'm always pleased, if not completely satisfied, with the high quality & smoothly orchestrated elixirs created by this fragrance house. Au the Rouge is satisfying and very unique as well. Tangy overtones perfectly balance the sweet fig and dry tea notes here...and yes, there is a nutty finish as well! I'd say this blend is very wearable by men or women. I'm lovin' this one!

The bergamot and orange blossom notes in this blend strongly remind me of Bulgari's Au the Verte. Starts out fresh. The drydown of Un Jardin en Mediterranee is somewhat dry. On the negative side it loses some of it's initial freshness ~ while on the positive, it remains rich with class and sophistication. I imagine either male or female will be able to wear this scent with no problems. This is my favorite of the "Un Jardin" series, I love it's composition and staying power. This Hermes is top notch!

The tonka bean base gets me - every time! Just LOVE it! At first spritz, was not too sure about this one... it wasn't until about 15 minutes later I kept re-sniffing my test wrist. The more I sniffed, the more I liked this fragrance! In the end I would say it's intriguing. Light. Ultra-fresh. Wears close to the body. My husband's on his second bottle.

A very musky scent with fruit in the mix. Not particularly feminine to my senses. I think the original Poison is better by far.

As I was shopping the Super Walmart this morning, I happened by their fragrance isle...couldn't help myself you know?! I was amazed at their full stock. Looks like they carry all of the Coty and Dana products still in production, as well as some current suprises! My eyes browsed through their grocery display of scents, discovering a sample of Emeraude. I readied my wrist and pushed the pump ~ deeply inhaled ~ and was instantly back in my early childhood, sniffing mother's scarf and gloves I was playing dress-up with! To me, the formula still smells virtually the same, although it has been reworked. It's tenderly warm, sweet and a little spicy. Slightly powdery; timeless!

At the time of its release, this glorious scent was groundbreaking! Over the years it has influenced SO MANY other fragrances...which is quite a compliment in itself! I still wear it, although not often. As time moves on, so do I ~ and my tastes of scent & personal expression move forward. L'Eau D'Issey was a turning point in the modern history of perfumery - forever to be praised!

This scent is advertised as a floral-oriental which gave me the notion it would be a heavier complex mix...but not so! This is a simple, light blend of passionflower & vanilla absolut with an airy sort of vetiver base. In fact, it's the nicest & most wearable feminine vetiver I've ever had the pleasure to spritz! I really like it! It's classy, refreshing, subtle - extremely wearable in any temperature...I would highly recommend giving this one a try.

Petite Cherie is a disappointment. I found it quite bitter. After applying this scent, I smelled like a extra dry vodka martini...not being a martini lover, I was totally put off. Would rather a margarita or glass of reisling.

This was my review, from a sample gone bad...I've since sampled a fresh bottle and find Petite Cherie to be a light, bright, fruity refresher! It is simple and youthful. Resonates at a high pitch. I still don't care to wear it, but am glad to have clarified my opinion.

Shalimar is a timeless wonder. I have smelled it on others, and taken an extra deep breath for it's beauty. To my nose, the modern formula smells like the scent used in disposable diapers. Sort of a light, powdery vanilla. Ew, gross! Fortunately, I did not stop my sample quest there. I obtained some mid 1960's vintage Shalimar Extrait and it has made all the difference! The scent of that 40year+ extrait is completely gorgeous! Rich, warm and intoxicating. I cannot imagine what has happened to the original over the years, if you ask me it is a crime! My thumb is turned upward - but for the original only.

Givenchy has produced many of my favorites, and L'Interdit is certainly one! Originally created for Audrey Hepburn in the mid to late 1950's, it was re-released (slightly altered I believe) in 2002. The top notes are definitely ALDEHYDE!!! They dominate - speaking loudly as if to say "Hey, pay attention here, something wonderful is brewing!". The reward for your attention is a multi fruit and floral blend with spice - probably carnation, which I love. This symphony of flowers and fruits (maybe even some vetiver?) crescendo into a powdery softness, that never loses it's spice. When wearing this scent, I have always received compliments! From men & women, young & old! I haven't found many who choose to wear it though...I guess one would have to have a distinct preference for the blend of this unique elixir! (as an added note, I prefer the original, but also appreciate this reformulated version)

Being the first Lauren fragrance for women, it seems to have the best composition effort put forth from this design house (in my opinion). It is an unusual combination of 'old fashioned' florals like violet, carnation and rose paired with top notes of green and base notes of wood. It is quite representive of the later 1970's when designer fashion really took hold amongst the masses! To this day I enjoy revisiting this scent. It 'wakes me up' and refreshes! I also love the bottle! (I must add, the newer reformulated juice is nowhere near the quality of the original - snag a vintage bottle, if you can!)

Ernest Daltroff had extreme talent, as is proven in Nuit de Noel. This fragrance is everything the previous reviewers have written - and then some! The many notes (and there are many) in this complex creation are utterly seamless, as they transition one to another. It really doesn't matter if you choose to wear it, you should experience for yourself Daltroff's artistry and keen craftsmanship as Nuit de Noel is superb! I have tried the current formulation and the vintage stuff. The vintage stuff is what catapulted this fragrance into stardom as a Caron masterpiece...the newer juice - meh, only a speck of the original.

Should have added carmel, vanilla and almond to the apple note (instead of all those flowers) ~ now THAT would Be Delicious!!! I've smelled this on some younger women, and it's fresh & fruity - just not very distinctive.

Tropical fruit, sweet and juicy! (Not a personal fave but I can certainly appreciate the fine skills used to devise such a scent.) Top notes are bright and fresh. Authentic fruit aroma. The drydown brings a soapiness that sends this fragrance into the "shampoo" category. If this one comes in a shower gel it would be wonderful! I would love it as a body wash. As for a personal fragrance - I'll pass.

Eternity for Men in my mind is an all-purpose sort of scent. It's a manly blend that doesn't shout at you...more subtle, like - 'hey, I'm clean and put together, ready for whatever' - a good ol' standby! I especially like the assorted herbal notes that drydown to a solid trustworthy base of sandalwood, vetiver and amber. Very nice and dependable indeed.

Still a little too sweet. Angel Peony is still the nicest of the garden IMO

Still too sweet...almost as sweet as the original Angel, only in a bizarre floral way.

This Peony Angel is wearable!!! The original Angel, along with the Violet and Lily versions are simply too sweet for my chemistry or liking. Taking out the overpowering chocolate, caramel berry notes and adding the gentle flower bouquet makes this scent GREAT for me!

This is a very straight forward light floral. It is very "nectar-like", sweet without a firm base. I believe it has some musk, which is not readily apparent...wished it had something more to offer on the drydown. If you are attracted to sweet florals - plain and simple - this might be nice for you.

I love this stuff! Tabu is one of my most favorite fragrances of all time. It is best in it's original vintage form, and in the cologne concentration - which amazingly has sillage & longevity to spare! It is dusty/musty and honey sweet, with a world rocking patchouli in the base. Funny thing too, is of all the scents I've worn over the years, Tabu never fails to garner compliments! True, it can come across a bit "loose" or even "whoreish" ~ but it is stunningly attractive. I'm quite certain my fragrance wardrobe will never be without it!

In my opinion, Obsession is one of the all-time best American fragrances ever created! I don't particularly jump out of my skin for most other Calvin Klein scents...but this one is truly a jewel! It is the essence of 1985 and has captured that special place in time the way no other fragrance possibly could. I remember wearing it faithfully throughout the later 1980's. It always garnered compliments from men whenever I wore it! It just so happens my mother fell in love with Obsession too! Actually, she wore it exclusively for about 15 years! Her signature scents over the years have been Tabu, Ciara, Charlie (original) and - Obsession. If it didn't have such a dated place in my mind, I might spritz some on today. It's quite good, especially for a designer scent.

Samsara is exotic! A brilliant combination of spicy sweet floral and woods, it reminds me of burning incense. After wearing Samsara, the sandalwood overpowers my senses and I wish it were more subdued. My husband likes this one more than I do. A man could easily pull this one off. I believe it is a scent worth trying.

The bottle of this givenchy gem is quite elegant, as is the perfume itself. Honeysuckle and gardenia gently sweeten its smoldering sultry base of nutmeg vanilla and amber. I find Organza to be absolutely an evening fragrance. Rich and very different. I have noticed people occasionally wearing this as a daytime/casual scent which totally puts me off! There is a time and place for everything ~ including Organza!

The modern formulation of this scent reeks in a very pungent way. Everytime I've tried it, it smells like it's 'turned bad'. I have never been able to enjoy it. With that being said, I have had the good fortune of smelling the original Youth Dew - courtesy of a fellow basenoter - and it is rich, warm, and compelling! I do not know how such a poor evolution has been allowed to take place...maybe that's why Lauder put out Amber Nude...so I have to give a thumbs down for the current fare, and two thumbs way up for the original!

The first time I tried this scent evolved into a 'gamey' sort of baby powder on me...weird. I've since re-visited Angelique Encens and find it quite unique & interesting. It is powdery, with the vanillic/almond overture of angelica. There is a subtle incense in the base that doesn't exactly 'trip my trigger', and blame it as the culprit for my not purchasing this frag. AE is difficult to find as well. For my own personal taste/chemistry, Guerlain's Angelique Noire is a better presentation of angelica - sans incense. I cannot fault this Creed though, it is at least worthy of a test run!

FYI, I am the number one fan of A La Nuit by Lutens, which is my 'gold standard/benchmark' jasmine frag for all others to be held against for comparison. With THAT being said, you must know that Donna Karan Essence: Jasmine has brought me to my knees! JASMINE! Non-embellished, raw and real as I've ever smelled, which is how I like to smell this flower. A perfect replication of nature! As I smell both jasmines, side by side, the Lutens' top notes seem acetone heavy, and need some time to settle. A La Nuit also possesses a touch of green and is far more fresh than indolic, with longevity & sillage to spare. DK Essence Jasmine is still fresh, but not so green, and the indolic properties of the natural flower are far more evident. I've been using the DK Jasmine body lotion along with the edt spray and have no trouble whatsoever with longevity or sillage. (BTW, the lotion is high quality and true to the scent as well!) Now I have two 'gold standard' jasmines! The downside to this perfect jasmine by DK is the high price and low availability...but this is one flower essence I'm willing to hunt down & empty my wallet for! Highly recommended.

Mariah Carey has now officially branded her name onto one of the pink cattle whos' herd is stampeding the current feminine fragrance market. Does anybody own a tranquilizer gun?

If you have Hermes taste on a discount shopping budget, Ambre de Cabochard might work for you! This one smells like a great substitute for Ambre Narguile of the Hermessence line of fragrances. Fruity and very sweet, when the sugar burns off after the first couple hours, the amber shows itself. Strikes me as the amber base of the old Emeraude by Coty. I found a bottle of this at a local discounter for $9.99. A bargain if you like your amber super sweet.

Jealousy, the 'green eyed monster'...so you can guess this one is green. Not your everyday leaves & herbs. This is the green of tomato leaves and stems. Bitter, yet interesting. I think there may be some iris and cedarwood hiding in the base, but any other notes living within this blend are overrun by the 'monster greens'! Fun frag, exciting to my nose. Makes me wonder how the rest of the L'Artisan 'moods' range smells. Creative!

Green and grassy, Miller Harris' Jasmin Vert is a spritely garden variation on the everpopular jasmine flower. This is not the indolic, pungently floral variety of the delicate white bloom. It is the green sort, the kind found in Keiko Mecheri's Jasmine. After the initial blast of green-ness subsides, a bright lemony burst suprises my nose - and makes me smile! I wasn't expecting it, but that citrus moment satisfies! The drydown reveals what my nose perceives as petitgrain...and then a light musk at the very end. Unfortunately, the lifespan of this wonderous scent is short, alas - it's an EDT. It is also difficult to come by. Wherever it is listed for purchase, the price is quite steep. There are other jasmines far superior IMO, but I'm very happy to have found this little "jasmine suprise"!

Chanels' exclusifs line is a dream for me! Each of them is like a branch grown from the same quality rooted tree trunk, together forming the most glorious range of foliage one can imagine! Upon sniffing an 'exclusif', it's Chanel upbringing is quite obvious. Bel Respiro's opening notes candidly reveal it's sisterhood with #19, and even Cristalle. Crisp, green and fresh, BR goes on smelling like a well manicured garden basking in the morning sun. Not sweet, or flowery. It retains a cool garden freshness throughout, although it does fade in intensity. Completely wearable by man or woman, this Chanel is a summertime delight!

Plush, full bodied even, a fragrance worn by worldly men of good taste. This composition is smooth. I'm in love with the perfect presentation of lavender, and the drydown of tonka & vanilla. It stays sweet, yet never loses it's manliness. Two thumbs way up!

"7:15 am in Bali", what a crazy name! Ah, no wonder, it's a 'travel exclusive'. This basically means it is only sold at duty free shops. Well, lucky for me my daughter went traveling and bought her perfume lovin' mama a bottle! This Kenzo is a very light edt. It wears like a body spray. Aside from that, it's a great little scent! Fruity opening, orchid floral heart and a thin vanilla drydown. Pretty much smells like a watered down Tocade ~ but less reminiscent of say, dreamsicles or childrens' medicine. 7:15 am in Bali is perfect for the beach, pool, amusement park, or anywhere else you may be sweating this summertime! I like that it's NOT LEMONY, and NOT COCONUTTY. It is breezy, light and refreshing - without smelling like a cocktail, suntan lotion, or too perfumey - it is just right!

While browsing an antique mall, I happened upon some fragrances and this Fire & Ice Cologne was one of them. For a mere $4.00, the bottle went home in my bag! At any rate, here are the notes as listed on the Revlon website:

Top: Orange Flower, Tangerine, Osmanthus
Middle: Orchid, Magnolia, Tuberose, Narcissus
DryDown: Exotic Woods, Incense, Amber, Musk

The opening is really non-descript, your basic fruity floral if you ask me. The middle notes are what really stand out. The orchid, magnolia, tuberose trio are the heart and soul of this pretty perfume. Sweetly spiced and slightly powdery, these flowers are perfectly perched upon a sturdy base of amber, woods & musk. I don't detect the incense as a distinctive note, but it could definitely be lending some powder & spice to this composition. In fact, Powder & Spice may be a more fitting moniker for this potion! As colognes go, and a drugstore cheapie at that, Fire & Ice lasts a good couple hours with decent projection. Not bad for four bucks!

Missoni Aria is like a first cousin to Dior's original Poison! They are both a spiced fruity floral, with Aria's dominant trait being the floral, Poison's is more fruity. I'm shocked at the resemblance! Sure would like to know the nose behind this one. Pure 1980's big & bold.

Sure wish I had tried this one sooner! Hypnotic Poison is a wonderfully wearable gourmand, with a tantalizing juxtaposition of bitter and sweet. Although not listed in the note pyramid, there is a heliotrope like effect, maybe from combining the bitter almond top and the vanilla base...at any rate, it is slightly powdery - simultaneously soft & sharp. Interesting. It reminds me very much of KenzoAmour - the "inedible vanilla". At it's heart, the jasmine and moss keep the entire potion from being too sweet. Worthy of a test run, for sure!

I'm already a fan of Anisia Bella so it's no suprise my nose is happy to smell Lilia Bella too! True enough, it is predominantly lily of the valley (muguet) but it lives here in the good company of a pale rose and touch of indole. Another reviewer previously mentioned jasmine...I don't really get jasmine, but yes - the indole is there! It's the 'smells like mothballs' variety, which lends an authentic fresh garden aire to this fragrance. The entire Aqua Allegoria line is fun and very wearable by a wide range of people, and I also find they make an excellent introduction to Guerlains - and perfumery in general.

Okay, this perfume is one I wore in 1988, shortly after my first baby was born...so, I paid an unbelievably high price to have myself a mini bottle for the sentiment. Those were dollars well spent! This intoxicating blend begins with a green introduction that quickly warms, becoming a lush amber. It is sweet with vanilla, and firmly grounded with rich wooded notes. To my nose it smells just like I remember from over 20 years ago. There is something special about the green topnote...although it fades, it's presence is always felt. Somehow that perfect green keeps the sweet character of this fragrance in excellent balance. This is the same effect found in Fleur des Comores by Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier, and why I love it so! SUPERB!

24 Faubourg Eau Delicate is a dry and understated floral bouquet. The flowers here are delicately arranged and lightly dusted with a pinch of spice. An excellent choice for the heat of summer. This Hermes fresh floral is so polite, a man interested in a sheer summer floral could pull this one off with ease.

VintageVogue has described this gorgeous perfume perfectly! It is a close wearing well crafted and ladylike leather - better snag a bottle before they're all gone.

I've been on a bad run with cumin lately, and it's not stopped with Nirmala! Here's what it smells like:
Don't shower for 3 days, then stick a ripe mango under each armpit. That's pretty much it folks.

A candy coated, fruit juice dipped, barely leather.

The bitter smell of tomato plants, then bell pepper, weird for a fragrance.

According to Tania Sanchez in Perfumes The Guide, this one has probably undergone a re-formulation-transformation. I certainly hope so, because I obviously got a sample of the original stuff - the stuff she says smells like 'dirty mens underwear.' It stinks. Yeah, it's just plain BAD! I am married well over 20 years and have sorted & washed alot of laundry in that time...dirty mens underwear?...yes, that's what Rose Poivree smell like - EXACTLY!

Sexy, nah...fresh & clean, yep! I've passed this one over for many years now, but finally broke down and gave it a trial run. A soapy pale rose with a white musk base. Plain and simple. Not bad.

Without expectations, this juice hit my wrists and boy oh boy it's a nice suprise! I am amazed at how the modern re-working of a 90 year old fragrance is so pleasing! The name for this long delayed flanker is perfect too. Quelques Fleurs Royale is an orris powdery floral that really enhances the rose/jasmine heart. Topped with citrus & bergamot, QFR grabs onto the possiblity of a masculine floral...I don't get too much indole, if any, and the musky base is a perfect ending. Undoubtedly worthy of a test run!

Have Chanel & Guerlain been fooling around behind our backs?! Guet-Apens begins just like 31 Rue Cambon, a modern lactonic oakmoss free chypre, mouth watering and richly blended. The opening is incredibly Chanel like. As it wears on the skin, its' lineage with Mitsouko becomes evident, and begins to reveal a Guerlain personality. Rose, Iris & Jasmine are among the flowers in this delicate arrangement. Guet-Apens sweetens as the hours pass, and after awhile the vanillic amber base proclaims to the wearer without question ~ "I am a Guerlain!" The composition is flawless. I have a difficult time imagining anyone not appreciating the beauty of this gorgeous perfume. Stunning!

A couple years back I sampled Pink Sugar by Aquolina, and thought it was sickeningly sweet. Now I find the Blue Sugar under my nose, and it is equally sickening. I get bergamot and carmelized sugar, none of the other listed notes ever make an appearance. If you love your fragrances extra super sweet, you should try this one.

Sweet & dirty (ew!) lacking longevity with little to no sillage. Not appealing.

Vegetal ambre, not sweet enough for my personal preference. (My favorite ambres are Ambre Extreme by L'Artisan and Ambre Precieux by Maitre Parfumeur Gantier.) This may be a better masculine ambre.

I would classify this one as unisex. It is a common feeling lemony/lavender Eau de Cologne, but for what it is worth...Jicky's got this one beat by a mile.

Creative? YES! Wearable? Not for everybody! I'd classify this one in the same ranks as Tuberose Criminelle. It opens with powdery aldehydes - which I rather enjoy - but the myrrhe here is definitely medicinal and 'organic' smelling, and ends up camphorous/rubbery. I think Galamb Borong has described it best. I consider La Myrrhe an interesting & artistic scent, but don't personally feel it suits my tastes - I have no desire to wear it.

A sharp, high pitched fruity-floral featuring osmanthus. It is rounded and softened (over about a 4-6 hour time span) with notes of clean white musk. I enjoy this one on occassion, but do not consider it a "stand out" for Lutens. I'm about 50-50 with it, overall.

I'm lucky to be sampling the original vintage Casaque, by Jean d'Allret ~ it is truly a floral delight! The character of Casaque is along the lines of A La Nuit. Not that they smell the same, but they share a starkly fresh and clean personality! Bold yet delicate, this stunning floral has me in a trance, it's one of those frags that keeps you snorfling throughout it's lifespan. Comes off a little soapy, but in a polite manner. If I ever have the opportunity to snag a bottle of this out of production gem, I'll snap it up faster than you can imagine!

Smells like more of the same "Falling in Love".

Foetidus has described this one to a tee! My only disappointment ~ it fades away too quickly!

Classic perfumery in a bottle, it is as kasae says: "warm, powdery, gently aldehydic". If not for the rose becoming cloying on me I'd snap up a full bottle immediately, Parfum d'Hermes is exquisitely rich. The spices are mouthwatering. It's even got that milky lactonic drydown that I love! I'm giving this one a thumbs up, although I won't be wearing it due to that rose.

My first experience with No.18 was pretty much love at first sniff. Fresh and slightly vegetal, 18 boasts an iris note like no other! It is an arresting beauty. As the hours wear on, the paper card carrying this scent is enriched by ambrette and a slight musk. I'm so loving this one, and ready to empty my wallet, but my (very wise) friend recommends WEARING it on my skin before committing to purchase. After this juice is on my wrist, I'm horrified to smell cumin! Somewhere underneath the glorious iris/ambrette/musk trio is the hideous and quite out of place smell of body odor. My heart is broken and my nose is disgusted. I keep snorfling my wrists in hopes of the body odor note being a false perception...alas, my nose is true, and the underlying skank is coming from the Chanel. Still refusing to accept defeat, I ordered a small spray vial to wear a few times - just to make sure. Well, the cumin note ended up not being as bad as originally thought. Yet, as I wear #18, it leaves me completely unsatisfied. So in the end, I close my wallet and keep Chanel's No.18 only as a fantasy.

Purplebird7 says it perfectly ~ "Riot of sweetflowers..." so true! Frangipani Absolute is an intricate blend that comes off with a soapy freshness, reminiscent of Antonia's Flowers namesake fragrance. Antonia's Flowers is tauted as a "living freesia" scent, but I think it possesses the same character as this Ormonde Jayne Frangipani rendition! Floral lovers NEED to sample this gorgeous bouquet ~ it is a riot of sweetflowers, and I love it!

Jade is a sparkling scent that reminds me of Bulgari's Blv Notte Pour Homme & somewhat of Azzaro's Chrome. I get a slightly metallic feel - which is not off-putting in the least - it keeps this composition bright and edgy! Because of the two previously mentioned associations, for my taste I'd say it leans toward the masculine...but in truth it is completely unisex. On a woman, it seems more 'fresh' than metallic. Not florally or aldehydic. Interesting. I'm enjoying the bergamot/neroli blend, sort of compelling - thumbs up!

The yuzu fruit is an Asian citrus fruit resembling a small orange. It's smell is uplifting and comes to the nose in a similar manner as bergamot. It is widely used in body treatments and baths.

Upon first sniff of this refreshing elixir, it gives an overall impression of a well blended citrus tea...reminding me of Bulgari's Au the Rouge and a bit of Au the Vert. Yuzu Rouge possesses a slightly effervescent quality, but doesn't get powdery or cloying at all. Yuzu is citrusy, but not any particular citrus fruit. (for ex. it is not 'lemony' or 'grapefruity') "Gentle" would be the most appropriate adjective to describe the smell. Yuzu Rouge also remains completely linear from the initial application throughout the entire wearing. It's kind of pricey, from memory I believe it was over $100.00. - and THAT was for the edt.! As a side note, when searching on the computer, I found the edp., and the bottle is EXACTLY the same as the new Keiko Mecheri's Not exactly sure what that means....but it feels as though I've stumbled upon some sort of perfume discovery!

I'd definitely suggest sampling this fine fragrance, and would personally like to try the edp. version. Yuzu Rouge is easy to wear, very enjoyable, could make a perfect 'go to' scent for the hot & humid Midwestern summer days!

I tend to shy away from vetiver, as it usually brings the masculine gender to my mind when I get a whiff. What a nice suprise to find this Vetiver Tonka! It doesn't have the usual "masculine" feel to my nose, which makes wearing it a dream! bbBD's commentary is thorough and accurate. VT's sillage & longevity are superior, especially for such a sheer scent. As it wears on my skin, it becomes a bit 'acidic', but not to the point of disdain. This entire range of Hermessence fragrance is simple, quality & fun, I'm lovin' it!

If you love Victor & Rolf's Flowerbomb, this one will suffice as a "wallet friendly" substitute! Tried this one on at Kohl's Dept. store, it is a slightly more honeyed & vanillic take on Flowerbomb. I will give it a thumbs up because it smells good ~ is wearable ~ and is reasonably priced.

Chloe' (the 1975 original) is a treasure from its' time. I don't personally choose to wear it though...mostly because to my nose it shares the same character as Dior's original Poison ~ which I prefer. It doesn't carry the frujty aspect of Poison, but the spiced floral punch are equally dominant & satisfyingly good in both! This is a rich and bold floral, with a spicy sandalwood drydown. It is VERY pretty & VERY feminine, and shares only the same name with the new release.

This new Chloe' is a potent lady! It lasts forever on me and, I sadly admit, it can wear me down. This Chloe is completely different from the original, and I'm irritated that KL didn't come up with a brand new moniker for this flower...even the color scheme leads one to believe they are related, but the geneology is in name only. This new release is heavy on the peony & cedar. I've recently learned that cedar comes to my nose in the form of "pepper" ~ and there's plenty here! This one feels like a 1980's creation, big & bold. I like to use the scented shower gel and lotion, they seem to be enough for my taste...adding the edp is for the brave only! I have to give it a neutral, because over a couple of hours my nose tires a bit...it's not for the meek.

YIKES! At first sniff, the presence of ylang-ylang is distinct. For me ylang-ylang comes across as stinky. A potent stink weed. In Un Matin d'Orage; it is a major player - which is the first problem my olfactory detects. The next, and maybe more obvious offender, is shisho. (Never heard of it before now, so took a quick glance through wikipedia.) Apparently this is a genus of annual herb that is a member of the mint family. Grown in India & East Asia, a chemotype oil is extracted from the leaves. It has a terpene like quality, which explains the chemical bomb personality of UMdO. At times it smells 'indolic', in a dirty/chemical way. Not at all pleasant. I also sense a mushroom/fungi note that some may perceive as earthy...for me it is...mushroomy. Maybe that's the champaca. At any rate, I haven't anything positive to say here. This is one of the most unappealing scents I've smelled in a long time.

I've been on a wearability kick lately, and this Brit Sheer by Burberry fits the bill! True enough, there is nothing groundbreaking or particularly different about this fruity floral, but it is satisfying to wear. There are days, mostly in the heat of summer, when I'm not sure what fragrance to choose. Brit Sheer works well for those days! Omnia Crystalline by Bulgari used to be a real 'go to' frag for me, and I think if you are a fan of OC you'd probably enjoy Brit Sheer for a change of pace. Brit Sheer is similar in very character. The fruity notes are slightly tangy and 'Asian' feeling, drying down to a lightweight white woodsy musk. Wears like a scented veil, "sheer" is the perfect adjective!

Notes listed on the Now Smell This blog review are:

ginger blossom, lime, jasmine, heliotrope,
shea fruit, amber, ebony & ginger

My Afrika opens with a bright citrus that is very lemony to my nose. I don't detect the florals, with the exception of heliotrope - which gives a vanilla like essence to this warm weather refresher. The ginger is fizzy & tingly, adding vibrancy to that already lively citrus. I'm amazed at the lifespan of the lime (lemon) note here...and unlike Goutal's Eau d' Hadrien, it doesn't ever become predominantly woody. I haven't found this available for purchase in the US, but believe it can still be found in Italy. A clever and well done twist on a citrus scent, I'd say it's worth seeking out.

Found out by doing the "3x3 blind sniff" here at basenotes, Scent Factory - Parfum 3 : Cardamome has only 2 fragrance notes. Cardamom and Cedarwood.
To my nose, it is the smell of freshly cracked cardamom pods...the seeds have been smashed and the aroma is stunning! My impression of the cedarwood in this pairing is of black pepper. Beginning with an almost camphorous/medicinal aura, it settles into an extremely dry and spicy character - with an incense feel. While others may think differently, I found this frag to have big sillage and unusually long lifespan. Leaning more to the masculine, it is interesting and modern.

Shisha ~ OMG ~ I accidentally got some of this on my fingertips, from opening a tiny sample vial, and couldn't get rid of it! It is vile. It smelled something like aged/rotting spicy sausage. Honestly, I hope my nose is never exposed to this again. Undoubtedly one of the worst frags ever created.

Gorgeous chypre! Herbal, yet powdery soft. Really reminds me quite alot of vintage Miss Dior (sans the leather effect), although Vivara is kinder and gentler. It has nothing in common with the "new" Vivara. You bet I'll be keeping an eye out for a vintage bottle of this!

Vintage Le De = bare, soapy, astringent VIOLETS! I would'nt suspect this one came from Givenchy. Not flowery or sweet, which is strange for such a violet predominant fragrance. Worth a try, even if just for reference!

Hey, a reasonably priced fresh floral, with a few flecks of greenery thrown in! Jasmine is detectable, but more prominent is a 'just right' dose of bright tuberose flowing through this modern bouquet. As Wonderful Indulgence blooms on my skin, it reminds me alot of Coachs' first fragrance. Very pretty, and a nice suprise!

Can a fragrance be fresh AND dirty? If it's possible, I think Terra de Siena has accomplished just that! A juxtaposition of fragrance notes, that come together suprisingly well! Kind of like mixing up the clean laundry with the dirty clothes. It's herbaceous opening is attention getting, yet mild. The orange blossom here is creamy rich and when combined with lavender creates a rose like character. Although I'm no huge fan of cumin, it is presented with restraint and somehow melds with the note of cinnamon in an amazing fashion. As this perfume wears on, the wooded base takes hold to give this elixir staying power. I find TdS enchanting, and look forward to sampling more undiscovered treasures from this house!

I'm a bit anosmic to musks, but from what I do smell, this perfume is softly sweet and sexy! Very pleasing, close wearing too. Probably my favorite of this house so far!

Clever stuff indeed! This darkened incense is full of interest. I get a sweet honey note in the opening, and am suprised no other reviewer has mentioned that. There is also something "spacial" about Re, kind of like brandy in a huge snifter...only a small amount is required to surround a large space with it's essence. I also find the top notes in particular to be similar in character to vintage Tabu cologne. If you are a fan of incense frags, this is a must try! BTW - Foetidus' commentary is exceptional!

Grass oil and cedar are the two most prominent notes. I wish the jasmine and violet had a stronger presence, or any presence at all. I'm just "meh" about this one. Gets on my nerves, kind of boring as it wears on...I really don't find it to be anything special.

Well, odysseusm has hit this one on the head! In addition to his accurate description, I have to comment upon the "lightness" of Sous le Vent. For all the grand herbs, florals, and woods - this one will never weigh you down!

Terre d'Iris reminds me of Sake by Fresh. It is extremely sweet to my nose, and extremely strong. The actual note of iris doesn't come through for awhile, and even then, I have to strain to perceive that doughy, powdery smell. For iris, I'll stick to L'Artisans' Iris Pallida and for Miller Harris, I'll take the Fleur Oriental!

Vanilla/Almond/Amber. Very much like Angelique Noire, but without the bitterness. More sweetened and gourmand...almost boozy. I get tiny breaths of Shalimar too. Deep tonka in the base cinches this one for me...I'm drooling!

Bright lemony grapefruit! I understand about the 'detergent' reference, it is a very 'clean' scent. Really great for summer, and very uplifting. I'll have to see if there are other body & bath products available...FRESH!

Smells plummy, with lots of cedar, pepper, spices, water flower, vetiver, and who knows what else. This very beautiful fragrance is presented in a red cartoon woman bottle - which is the emblem of this Brazilian designer. (Her website is amazing!) But the juice itself is like the love child of Serge Noire and Feminite du Bois. Thumbs up!

Diorama has Roudnistka's signature all over it! To my nose it smells VERY much like his Le Parfum De Therese (Frederic Malle label) and also bears genetic resemblance to Diorella. What sets Diorama apart, at least to my nose, is the noticeable addition of cumin/coumarin. This makes Diorama wearable by both men and women, moreso than the previously mentioned Roudnistka frags. Beautiful.

Effervescent citrus opens this extroverted frag from Ineke, and it is vibrant and lemony. An immediate reference combination of Keiko Mecheri's Sanguine and Damask Rose come to mind. However, this Chemical Bonding is all about the peony. Like foetidus says - larger than life! I have a so-so feeling about peony in my perfume, and although this one is very good, it isn't something that connects my nose to my heart. This peonys' most likeable quality is its' lightness. Sometimes highly fragrant florals like peony or rose can 'lay heavily', but not this one! A tea like character wafts in and out on occassion. Blackberry is a difficult note for my nose to detect, and I don't smell it in this compostion. The musk is subtle, and appropriately present, very polite. I don't 'get' the name though...possibly a self-indulgence by the creator?! Nonetheless, a uniquely creative springtime scent.

I am fortunate to sample Vol de Nuit in its' vintage extrait form, due to the generosity of another basenoter, and am completely stunned by Jacques Guerlains' luxurious blend of notes. Tantalizing spices come alive from the first spritz and are sprinkled throughout the entire evolution of VdN. They add interest, but never overpower. Vanilla is also an everpresent force, creamy, rich, and binding to the greens - softening any potentially sharp or bitter edges. Galbanum, Oakmoss and assorted greens come exactly as expected ~ bold! Iris, wow, it is more pronounced than I would have guessed. Doughy, powdery, yet soft and plush like velvet. I'm anxious to sample other strengths of Vol de Nuit, and am curious to try more current formulations as well. A single whiff of VdN transports my soul to an era of perfumery long forgotten. It is a treasure, a masterpiece, a privilege to experience. Utterly gorgeous!

What I really get from Coney Island is Lemon * Acquatic * Woods. I did not detect any of the carmel, chocolate, cinnamon or vanilla - but that's okay. This stuff is breezy island fun that lasts and lasts and lasts...2 thumbs up, with a smile!

Fire Island fragrance is appropriately scented fun! A dab of floral within a melange of musks creates a lovely and wearable beachy perfume! At first, I was sort of 'meh' on it...but after a couple hours I was sniffing and re-sniffing my wrist. As it wears on my skin I'm reminded of Barbasol shaving cream! Beyond beachy, it smells fresh and moist. I think it's unique and wonderful.

Initially, Amir smells to my nose exactly like the opening of Tabu (vintage cologne). It is a bit dusty/musty - probably some incense notes in the mix - leading into a gorgeous amber. In short order Amirs' evolution veers away from Tabu completely, and really gets completely lost in rich golden amber. Just when I think the amber is going to maintain, I must take another whiff. It actually subsides and gives way to a minty sort of note...which I don't love, but it's not off-putting. At this stage of the game my feeling for this juice is that it would make a fabulous masculine. I ended up spritzing some Ambre Extreme over it - to revive the amber note, which worked out just fine. I will give Amir a thumbs up, but will not purchase a full bottle, because of the minty ending.

Metallic, yes. Vegetal, yes. Chemical, yes. Purchase, no.

What I like best about Rose 31 is; it does not try to smell like a real rose. Weird, I know. Like a richly fragrant rose boutonniere, worn by a man, the smell of rose is accompanied by notes of wood and touch of green. Maybe even a touch salty. As this one wears on, the woods are more prominent...and smells like there's cedar in the base. I hate to use the terms 'animalic' or 'musky', as they seem too much. I prefer to say Rose 31 exhibits a slightly mysterious character. Finding myself repeatedly sniffing at my wrist, I have to say it is compelling and interesting. Suprising to see it classified as a masculine ~ for me, it's most definitely unisex! Like Foetidus puts it, "an inspired (masculine) interpretation of rose", for sure!

If you love Serge Lutens Un Lys, and are either unable or unwilling to pay the big bucks for it, Flower by Cynthia Rowley is the next best thing! The lily is straight forward from the get go, and dries down into a wooded musky base with a delightfully powdery softness. I'm completely shocked at how much I like this one. The bottle is adorable too, hobnail milkglass in a cute rectangular-ish bottle - complete with silver toned cap and black ribbon. It is sold through Avon (yet another shock!) for less than most of us carry around in our wallets.

Before commenting on this fragrance, you need to know I am a bit anosmic to musks. For the most part, I do get the smell, but it is muted and I have to concentrate to detect the actual musk notes. That being said, my first impression of Maurice Roucel's Musc Ravageur is warm and richly spiced and lightly powdered vanillic musk. The spices and vanilla come across more prominent than the musk, but that could just be me. Comforting - yes - but sexy too! This one makes me want to go skin to skin, absolutely lost in time...Never having been caught up in any hype over this one, sampling it seems like I've discovered a treasure! Definitely unisex. Very wearable, unless you have an aversion to vanilla. Two thumbs way up!

Where have these lovely Laura Tonatto fragrances been hiding? Several different people have recently 'gifted' me with generous samplings of LT creations, and I have to say; they're knocking my socks off! This Dama for instance, is a well crafted blend of notes arranged in a not so usual manner. At the top of the pyramid - SUPRISE! - amber and vanilla! Smells kind of like the opening of Anna Pliska. The middle of the pyramid houses a combination of powdery iris and soapy violet. This pairing lends an aire of femininity and light. These flowers give bouyancy to the heavier topnotes, so the amber/vanilla duo floats on a cloud. Listed too, is opoponax in the base. Giving a good grounding to the entire mix. There's not much evolution happening here, but that's just fine, because the entire composition is incredibly interesting. Dama is a fabulous 'amber' scent to wear anytime of year! Thumbs up!

First blast is lots of ginger, which is great for me! Refreshing and tea-like. Soon after that mildly spicy ginger settles there is a distinct and sweet juicy peach note that lasts and lasts. The jasmine is in there, mixing with that excellent combo of ginger/peach...I really like this fresh and very fruity floral, comes across bright, it will be great in the heat of summer!

There seems to be a general concensus here, and I have to jump on the bandwagon and agree. The Pour un Ete shares a distinct similarity with Bulgari's Au The Vert, that is until the jasmine kicks in. At first, the jasmine note is subtle and grassy fresh, then gently builds, transforming into a very indolic nightblooming variety of the flower. I'd have to classify this one as a jasmine soliflore, with only droplets of green tea remaining in the end. Refreshing!

Patchouli Pure is a very dry interpretation. The first spritz is clearly bergamot - which seems to be the trademark of this house. Suprised to see orange listed in the notes, as I did not detect it at all. The ginger and cinnamon add to the 'herbaceousness'. Nice combination. This is so remarkably dry in character, it gives a sage like impression. An excellent masculine. Finishes clean and slightly soapy.

Clover that's been rained on and powdered! What a fun fragrance, it reminds me of summertime and making flower chains from wild patches of clover that grow in parks and fields throughout the Midwest. As a young girl, I would tie them head to stem and make necklaces, crowns, long chains...they have a very faint, clean, grassy green aroma which is what I get from Terranova's Rain. This scent seems like it belongs in the Demeter line of frags ~ more of a fragrant memory than a wearable perfume. I still like it though.

This bright and refreshing chypre one of the most wearable you'll find! True enough, it is soft, pale, delicate, gentle, etc. Precisely the characteristic that makes this chypre a stand-out in its' class. I personally have trouble wearing Mitsouko, and also a few other classic, heavier chypres. Chant d'Aromes joins the ranks of "modern chypre" (alongside Chanel 31 Rue Cambon) in spite of the fact it was launched in 1962! Ayala has superbly deconstructed this fragrance in her commentary, I cannot think of any better words to Dd'A. Thumbs up.

Tovah speaks the truth! Nani is a vibrant, magical jasmine fragrance. Pushing the indoles to the max, it is one of those scents that compels you to keep on sneaking a whiff. Truth be told, I still hold A La Nuit as the top jasmine for me, mostly because it doesn't possess a wooded or musky drydown, but this Nani is a tropical wonder all it's own, wooded musk and all! If you are a lover of white florals, tropical flowers, or jasmine, you MUST experience this one for yourself. I would also describe it as elegant and sophisticated, which for a tropical bloom is amazing! It lasts an eternity. Thumbs up.

Initially, I was very leary of a "new #5". I mean, how do you re-invent the wheel? Much to my suprise, this #5 Eau Premiere is a great fragrance. Retaining the basic genetics of it's mother, EP is born unto a new generation - sans aldehydes and tweaked on the fresh/citrus topnotes. Yet it remains, clearly and undoubtedly #5. Worthy of a full bottle, no question!

Lilybelle's got Fleur Oriental pegged - Amber * Vanilla * Heliotrope - comforting, powdery sweetness. I don't get much spice either, and frankly I'm shocked to read anyone has found this to be strong or even slightly overpowering at all! These notes perform with restraint. From my perception, I would consider this to be an oriental/gourmand - if there is such a thing, and it comes across decidedly feminine. I'm lovin' this one!

Moltening, Asha & Jenson have said everything I could want to say about this one. It's really a fabulous scent, well crafted IMO.

I'm already a fan of the 'rose - vanilla - patchouli' trio, and it is very nicely presented here. It has the same feel as some Rosine's I've sampled. Well blended, the rose is not cloying at all. Almost comes across a little fruity/boozy ~ very rich. Thumbs up.

Oh to be a princess! Not of the Disney variety, a real life princess, as in HRH. She has the opportunity to create fragrance, and obtain the guidance and advice of Sophia Grojsman - now THAT's royalty! Upon first whiff, "E" is bright and fresh, slightly flowery. As the day wears on, this perfume remains fresh as a daisy! Clean, soapy florals here folks, not a drop of sweat, spice, or any off color accords. E holds it's regal form throughout it's lifespan, which is long and beautifully lived! Iris in this bouquet lends a powdery softness, to round any sharper edges that might be lurking. This is the kind of scent I had in mind when I sampled Vera Wang's Princess - which BTW was a disappointment. E smells like a princess should smell;
like the freshest, cleanest, prettiest flower in the kindgom!

I'm with lookinglass on this one. A single puff of delicate sweet incense, delectable vanilla, powdery almond, and even a whisper of pipe tobacco. The edt is what I'm sampling, I find it to be a comforting gourmand. My nose is enjoying the banquet! Dries down to a soft powder which is mild and pleasing. For some reason, in the drydown it brings to mind L'Artisans' Ambre Extreme. Interesting and creative! Nope, no play-doh here.

Jasmine and honeysuckle introduce Jitterbug. They are of the green grassy variety, like the jasmine found in Keiko Mecheri's brand. No detection of lemon essence whatsoever. Orange blossom distinctively enters after the 5 minute intro is complete. It is fresh, light, a bit unremarkable. The listed basenotes have my mind wandering as I wait for their appearance...which ends up a bit 'un-finished'. My overall opinion of Jitterbug is un-finished as well. Neutral. Just can't be budged one way or the other.

The combination of ylang-ylang, orange, coconut, jasmine, lime, cedar, pepper, & mint literally turn my stomach. I'd much prefer JM's French Lime Blossom - the one that smells like the 70's Bain de Soleil orange tanning gelee.

As with real apples, I prefer the green! This 'red' version lives on my skin like any run of the mill cheap fruity floral.

WHAT? Olivia Giacobetti? No way. If I had to guess, I would have pinned this one on Serge Lutens/Christopher Sheldrake! There are plenty of apt reviews of Idole. For my nose, it comes across as a love child of Feminite du Bois and Serge Noire. Idole also bends the gender, it's completely unisex IMO. It also smells hot. The spices give it that kick. I love it on myself, and can't wait to drizzle some onto my husband! Thumbs up.

A gentle breeze in the fresh night air, sweet green grass, moist earth, aaahhh one of the best smelling memories I have!

Quarry has written an absolutely fabulous commentary on Hindu Kush! For me, I get the initial blast of green - almost camphorous - which disappears almost as mysteriously as it came...yet somehow, it leaves a residual green that combines with dry woods and incense. Maybe because I'm sampling it during a 18 degree blustery winters' snow, it feels like the dry & cozy warmth of a small cabin whose only source of heat is a woodburner! I find this association quite charming. It's character reminds me somewhat of Juozas Statkevicius' fragrance, sans flowers. My personal preferences don't usually run in the direction of incense based fragrances, but I find myself intrigued and impressed!

Rose and cumin. These are the only two detectable notes, as they overpower the others. Especially the rose. Ends up smelling like "sweaty rose". Sorry.

Hello, CLOVES! The clove note is so dominant in this fragrance, I really don't sense the rose and jasmine floral that foetidus writes of smelling. A bit sharp and slightly thin, reminds me of a (cheap) scent I smelled about 25 years ago called White Witch - from Jamaica. After about an hour or so, the cloves calm and become less assertive. I would say Comme des Garcons version of carnation is a realistic representation of the flower. I personally prefer a blend, with creamier depth, such as Caron's Bellodgia. Personal taste aside, I must give this flower a thumbs up ~ it's quite good.

A light citrus/musk with a flowery overtone. That's how I can describe IF. It completely reminds me of Keiko Mecheri's Sanguine. In choosing between the two, I'd most likely go with the Mecheri ~ sans flowers ~ a bit more wearable. If you are in the mood for a light and refreshing change of pace, IF would do nicely.

My first impression of Coromandel is of a soft and lovely powder. It reminds me of the vanilla powder essence in Kenzo Amour and even moreso of Guerlain's Angelique Noire ~ which is actually an almond/vanilla. In fact, my nose convinced me to check them side by side, and sure enough, the Angelique Noire and Coromandel are kissing cousins! Yes, almond/vanilla it is! There is a playfulness of fruited notes that prevent the composition from becoming dark or brooding. Amber comes across rich, and the entire blend is wrapped with a perfect patchouli. The partnership of Polge and Sheldrake is a dream team if ever there was one!

JPG has given us the first male contraceptive. I swear, I wouldn't be able to stand within ten feet of any man wearing this fragrance, it's THAT bad. Nasty.

Does anyone remember Flex Balsam & Protein hair shampoo and conditioner from the 70's? Strangely, this L'Air du Desert Marocain reminds me of Flex! From Tauer's lovely creation I smell incense, and balsam, and vanilla. Dry woods in the base. I can understand the wonder of this gem, but for my own taste ~ it is not particularly wearable. I do find it leans more toward the masculine. If it's incense I'm craving, I'm more likely to reach for Juozas Statkvicius that offers up some jasmine in the mix.

A seasonal wonder! This is one time the note pyramid can be trusted...if you imagine (in your olfactory memory) each of the listed notes you will practically know the smell of this fragrance! It is like mikeperez23 has said ~ ...feels like Christmas in a bottle!

"They just don't make 'em like this anymore", was my initial thought upon sniffing precious drops of vintage Miss Dior. I couldn't wait to get this stuff onto my skin. Cool chypre leather. A brilliant composition forever lost to unavailable ingredients...like real oakmoss and high quality labdanum. The opening is only slightly sharp, then a flood of mossy greens wash through, introducing a careful blend of carnation, iris, jasmine and rose. Leather too, and plenty of it! Not aggressive ~ but steady, deeply womanly. To my nose it smells aged and dry, very pleasant. This quiet treasure is among the greats like Mitsouko and Coty's Chypre. Dated? Maybe. I see it more as a timeless classic of monumental worthiness! (* djuna and purplebird7 have written excellent commentaries on Miss Dior)

Suprise and delight! A chypre, in the modern sense of the genre', that has completely blown me away. As bbBD, I too am captivated from start to finish. Part of the suprise here is 31rC's longevity...true enough, it is an EDT - wearing close with minimal yet ample sillage - but this stuff is tenacious! As far as the notes in this gorgeous blend are concerned, I'm at a loss of words to describe what I'm sniffing! This is one chypre that is completely wearable - which has delighted me to no end. Without the current use of oakmoss, the chypre genre' has suffered greatly. That being said, 31rC is a miraculous masterpiece. Even the most ardent lovers of oakmoss will be able to appreciate 31rC. It is decadent and luxurious - but remains ethereal. Lactonic and rich, an absolute dream. Honestly, I could almost drink this perfume...Jacques Polge + perfumery = genius!

Keiko Mecheri's LOUKHOUM meets Chanel's NO.5! Aldehydic almond powder with a sheer floral backround, that's about the best description I can give! I have also tried Sweet Oriental Dream from Montale and find Powder Flowers more wearable, not overly sweet.

As Zibeline has so aptly noted, this Notorious is retro in feel (and presentation - the bottle is the cat's pajamas!) as a lovely cool and woody floral. What I love most about this elixir is it's wearability. While there are plenty of scents with distinct notes and bold characters, Notorious is one that begs to be recognized up close. It's beauty draws you closer...I find it compelling!

Undoubtedly the most "soapy clean" male fragrance I've smelled to date. It is true what others have said, about it being weak and lacking longevity. A point to consider: I have a friend whose wife hates fragrance on men, and this one doesn't bother her at all! I guess every product has it's place. Anyway, it reminds me instantly of Philosophy's Amazing Grace. Gentlemen, if you are going to visit a friend and hold their newborn baby in your arms...or perhaps comfort someone with closeness and hugs...this fragrance will not offend! I also find it to be unisex. Citrus + verbena = freshness in a bottle. (BTW, I get no leather here - even though it's listed.)

When I sniff my wrist I imagine marshmallows being toasted over a slow burning campfire ~ comforting and yummy! I'm really into the burning wood aspect of this fragrance. Simple, and I'm lovin' it!

I get a very sweet, overly indolic ylang-ylang. This is not for me. Also fades quickly.

Opens with strong green geranium, a touch of booze, and then becomes a cloying rose. The kind of rose grandma wears because her sense of smell is so very weak...yuk.

There is only one word to describe this perfume...COCO (and the Chanel IS superior).

Toasted hazelnuts, caramel and licorice open this stunning gourmand with flair! Not too sweet either. Enticing and amazing, just can't help but snorfle my wrist! Soon after these sweets have tickled my palate, the warmth and smokiness of incense & spice slowly come forth. Underlying is a constant wafting of balsam, keeping balance with vetiver and 'dried grass' accord. If ever there was a scent offering "tidings of comfort and joy" - this is it! Clever, well crafted, bottle-worthy!

Poivre Piquant is a unisex scent featuring white pepper. Notes of milk & honey add a mild sweetness, but for the most part, it's all about the pepper! Dry, which I love on my husband! I can't help but draw comparisons with Hermes Poivre Samarcande - which is superior in my opinion. (But the Hermes is also more than double the price!) Somehow Jean Claude Ellena's light-handed genius is showcased beautifully in the Hermessence line - sheer, transparent lasting beauty. It's almost impossible to beat THAT! L'Artisan's Poivre Piquant is a bit more 'dense' than the Hermes. Worth a test though, especially if you enjoy a good solid note of pepper!

Many years back, when I was a young girl, my father used a product called Skin Bracer by Mennen (at least I think that's what it was!). Anyway, this aftershave was marketed with a slogan something like, "...a cold slap in the face...". When I first smelled Central Park, all I could think of was watching my dad slapping that lime scented green juice onto his face and neck after his morning shave! Cool, refreshing too, lime and bergamot for sure! 'Bracing' is the only suitable adjective for the bright citrusy green topnotes! Although not listed, the middle portion of this tonic clearly contains rose. Not heavy or spicy, more like rosewater - serving to soften the sharper edges as Central Park transitions into it's base. The drydown is oh so smooth, and soft too. Cedarwood in the base preserves the cool character of this frag and nicely compliments the rest of the composition. The patchouli is clean, like in Bond's Nuits de Noho. I would suggest if you are a fan of Eau d Hadrien by Goutal, Central Park might be right up your alley. Also, if you enjoy a bright and refreshing fragrance - this Bond is more than worthy of a sampling!

Kashaya suspiciously smells like a twin sister of Lagerfeld's Sun Moon Stars. Did a little search and found out they were both created by perfumer Sophia Grosjman. Guess what else, they were each created in 1994 - or at least launched in '94. Another coincidence is the list of fragrance notes for each:

Kashaya-

Bergamot, Clementine, Apricot, Hyacinth, Wild Rose
Jasmine, YlangYlang, Muguet, Cattleya, Coriander, Plum
Incense, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Amber, Musk

Sun Moon Stars-

Peach, Mandarin, Freesia, Waterlily, White Cloud Rose
Heliotrope, Jasmine, Orange Blossom, Narcisse
Sandalwood, Amber, Musk

Hmmmmm, Fruity/Green floral/Rose variation/Indolic whites/Sandalwood-Amber-Musk. Sort of leaves me scratching my head. From reading these fragrance notes my mind would probably never have put them together (as being essentially the same)...but my nose does not lie! They are twins ~ even if fraternal, this discovery is actually disappointing. I do like this fragrance, as well as the Lagerfeld, but will give it a neutral to reflect my attitude about fragrance cloning. I just feel duped.

Glad to smell Bulgari putting forth a fragrance outside the Fresh or Tea genres! Jasmin, mmmmmmmmm, definitely indolic. A bit dirty and fleshy here in this juice. Sexy. I'm not getting any licorice or almond here, but that's okay. Along with this fine sexy jasmin is tonka. Rich, full, and grounded. The tonka contributes another dimension to this scent, and it's really a nice pairing! Overall, Jasmin Noir reminds me of the indolic orange blossom/night queen flower/tonka combo of Dior's Addict - only simplified. This is the perfect winter jasmin, love the bottle too!

GREEN is the perfect name for Nanadebary's spritely fresh fragrance! When it comes to green notes, they seem to run in a very wide range from higher pitched citrus type brights to the lower, deep and resonating bass tones of galbanum & moss. Nanadebary's Green is of the upper register. Opening with a breath of freshness, this one holds onto that high note the whole way through. Gotta love that! It also has a tea like quality, although there aren't any tea notes listed. Upon first whiff I'm instantly reminded of Bulgari's Au The Vert. They have a similar feeling, feature bergamot in their opening phase, and strangely, they also share the note of cardamom! NG ultimately is brighter and more lemony in character than the Bulgari, and overall a bit less complex. If free wheeling freshness is what you're craving, Nanadebary Green just might satisfy.

Ahhhh, the quirky sweet and powdery note of violet...I adore this version, and it is very appropriate for the cooler midwestern Autumn weather! Decidedly feminine, smelling reminiscent of Carons' champagne bath fragrance. You know, these "splash" series frags from MJ are meant to be light. Refreshing. Not like a perfume or extrait. They softly impart a hint of fragrance, and I for one am glad to own a few! Thumbs up, for achieving what it was created to achieve.

Foetidus is exactly correct; Mecheri's is a softer, gentler patchouli. Which is precisely why I love it! I'm ecstatic to have found a patchouli that leans more to the feminine. A bit less raw, yet still dry and earthy - slightly sweet. Thankfully, there were no florals added to this elixir, now Patchoulissime can play together with a slough of floral fragrances! If you are a 'patchouli devotee', this one may disappoint. For some men, this one may be too mild. For me, this patchouli is just right! Full bottle on it's way ~ two thumbs up!

Damascena is a pretty and extremely feminine rose scent. It is fruited and tinged with spice. What I really like about the Keiko Mecheri range of fragrances is they are not sugary sweet, yet they are sweeter than say Annick Goutal's creations. For some odd reason, the roses in Damascena remind me of the mild rose notes within Rive Gauche by YSL. This perfume exudes an aire of class, but youthfulness too. Not your grandmother's rose ~ very wearable!

Venturing outside my flowery 'comfort zone', I've found that Sanguine is quite pleasant. Citrus and musk are not at the top of my wish list, but in this blend they are delicate and refreshing. Applied to the skin, musk dominates and the citrus fades too quickly. When applied to clothing, Sanguine's soapy fresh blood orange citrus lasts and lasts! I did say soapy. The citrus here is extremely clean, and bright, yet it remains subdued and lives in harmony with the musky base. Well balanced and user friendly, I'd recommend trying this for an easygoing change of pace.

Notes from Luckyscent website: Jasmine, Peony, Pitaya, White Rose, Amber, Myrrh, Patchouli & Sandalwood.

Though not listed, the opening of Marcadam comes off as a blast of licorice! I adore anise/licorice notes in my fragrance and this one not only suprises, but satisfies! My only complaint is the topnotes fade much too quickly. After that attention getter, the flowers burst forth in a creamy bouquet, drying down to an ambery sandalwood base. This fragrance ends up on my skin almost exactly like Casmir by Chopard. Rich, cozy & classy.

Mint, mint and more mint. Then a bit of minted jasmine. Then, a little more mint.

This was my JM White Jasmine & Mint experience. As a fragrance note, I don't personally enjoy mint. I think this is why many Creed's have been off putting for me, as many of them seem to contain that blasted herb. Bulgari's Au The' Verte also seems to possess the dreaded mint - but for some reason the Bulgari is likeable. Well, at least the jasmine here is beautiful. It is dry, which is to say "not sweet", and very fresh smelling. All prejudices aside, this is a unique and lovely combination. Close wearing with decent staying power. Easily unisex, I actually might prefer this one on a man.

Fleur de Liane is a vibrant green patchouli, fern-like and verdant! I detect a floral heart, bright in character and somewhat similar to lily of the valley yet non-descript. Slightly acquatic as well. Patchouli in the base for sure! In fact, the patchouli outlives the green essence of this edt by a mile. At first I thought it boring, but after wearing it for the day it leaves me feeling refreshed as I catch a whiff every now and again. Thumbs up, but still not completely certain if it's full bottle worthy.

What an interesting creature! First impression: This must be a cross between Tabac Blond and Shalimar.
Well, if there's going to be any crossbreeding, those are two of the finest. Olive Flowers is an 'oriental perfume essence' that begins with a bit of an "off" note, for me at least. It comes across as cinnamon, but paired with oppoponox, very different. As it dries down, I'm enjoying it soooooo much better! It is deeply rich and leathery, like Ernest Daltroff's 1919 creation (Tabac Blond) yet it possess a smooth and ambery warmth akin to Jacques Guerlain's 1925 treasure (Shalimar). It's been so long since I've sniffed a "new" frag that has such substance, Olive Flowers is exciting, gutsy, dramatic & mysterious.

Bond No.9 has completely copied:

Christian Dior's Dolce Vita
Shiseido's Feminite du Bois
Serge Luten's Bois de Violette

Mostly, Dolce Vita - as this Andy Warhol Lexington Ave. favors the sweet in the spectrum of sweet/fruity/woods.
It is nice, but I can only give it a neutral as it is a clone ~ several times over.

This is a fairly unique take on citrus! I adore the grapefruit/floral blend here because the grapefruit remains the star, even as the rest of this bright, fruity composition reveals itself! As it wears on my skin, I'm reminded of Ralph Lauren's Pure Turquoise - I believe it's due to the patchouli mixed with brighter topnotes...mmm it's good. Funny too, how the grapefruit notes are described as 'acidulous', because there is a definite acidic tone, which adds to the realistic impression of the grapefruit. For a lighter fragrance, the lasting power of AAPamplelune is very good, and somewhat unexpected. I'm not sure if I'd buy the full sized bottle, but I do have a mini that suits my citrus needs just fine.

Odd. I do detect the smell of cold cream...you know, the old fashioned kind that smells of lanolin and rosewater. Plasticky and synthetic for sure. Sorry, I just cannot wrap my senses around this frag.

Gave this one an obligatory sniff at the department store counter...it smells like Juicy Couture's original fragrance. My daughter immediately declared it "a complete Juicy rip-off", so there you have it.

KM's Loukhoum smells like almonds dipped in rosewater then rolled in confectioners sugar! There is a powdery sweetness that rests better on the skin than Montale's Sweet Oriental Dream - which like Trebor says, is toooooooo sweet! Mecheri's Loukhoum is more like Annick Goutal's Vanille Exquise to the 10th power, or at least to my nose! I love that this parfum possesses the warmth and closeness of a vanilla based fragrance without coming across as a traditional vanilla. Upon repeated sniffing & snorfling of my wrist, there is also an association in my memory of the original formulation of Heaven Sent. I think it's the powderiness and touch of rose. This is undoubtedly a winner, and one of the very best blind buys I've ever made!

Bought this blindly, due to Quarry's review, and I'm here to say ~ she's right on the money! I'm quite finicky about the scent of roses. Paris by YSL was a longtime favorite, but now seems a bit dated. Guerlain's With Love is easy to wear, especially nice too, that it is an eau de toilette. Extremely polite, not cloying whatsoever. Grab some now, while you still can!

"This smells familiar" was the first thought in my mind after sampling Calvin Klein's newest offering. The opening of Secret Obsession is fruited with the scent of plums. Now, from my own personal olfactory experience, many times notes of plum, peach and apricot smell very much alike to me. In this case, SO's plummy top note smells like a twin to the note of apricot found in Daim Blond by Serge Lutens. After observing the fruit, some flowers burst forth. The floral heart of this blend is very pretty. It is gentle and well blended. In fact, I'd say it's a stunning cool weather blend of jasmine, orange flower and tuberose. Secret Obsession's base also suprises me. It is very much like Shiseido's Feminite du Bois, and also the rich woods in the 'bois series' of Serge Luten's range. I think it's alluring and memorable. Since I already own Daim Blond and Feminite du Bois, I will hold off on purchasing SO until my supply of those two dwindles. For those of you who enjoy the Lutens frags, but haven't yet purchased them, I'd say hold off on doing so until you try this perfume. It is not just a 'substitute' - it is completely comparable! Absolutely bottle worthy, two thumbs way up!

This perfume is strong! Imagine the lovely, sheer Narciso Rodriguez for Her reaching puberty. DY is like a full grown, full blown NRfH! This stuff does have a sort of 80's vibe, as it is extremely potent. The waterfloral opening is quickly overrun by the Rose/Wood/Patchouli trio - which also gives off hints of Lady Vengeance by Juliette Has A Gun. The musk here makes everything stick, and let me tell you, it holds on forever! A bit overbearing for my senses...kind of like a wicked step-mother. The best part of this scent is the bottle. It is very attractive and accurately reflects this jewelry designers' trademark style. I'm 50/50 on this one. Be forewarned: this perfume could very easily take over the wearer.

Viva La Juicy! is a nice follow-up (timed well too) to the original Juicy Couture fragrance. This company really knows how to hit their target market, which by my estimation is the 18-25 year old girly crowd. Overall this one's a fruity floral with gourmand undertones. I'd call it a " gourmet bouquet "! Here are the listed notes:

Top - Wild Berries & Mandarin
Middle - Honeysuckle, Gardenia, Jasmine
Base - Amber, Caramel, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Praline

The fruited topnotes are pretty non-descript, other than the fact they do come across juicy. As far as the flowers, I get the Jasmine note as the most prominent. It smells alot like the jasmine in the original Coach fragrance, bright and somewhat vibrant. The basenotes are what gives this juice it's flavor ~ caramel, vanilla and praline add just the right comforting touch to the lively fruits and flowers ~ warmth and depth provided by Amber and Sandalwood. I also adore the grafitti style script on the packaging, it feels spontaneous and fun! I'd say give it a try.

The reviews posted here, of Un Jardin Apres La Mousson, are among the most thoughtful and accurate I've read! My first impression of fragrance notes within UJALM is salted water, assorted greens - maybe even some linden - pepper, cardamom, and melon. It is sheer in character, like the others in the Hermes Jardin series, and dry too. Can a fragrance be dry and fresh simultaneously? If so, UJALM fits that description. It is interesting to smell notes that seemingly oppose one another, working together in harmony. For example, an acquatic note taking on a dry feeling. Or, juicy melon combined with pepper. That is the "fire & ice" sort of tension that makes this fragrance captivating. To my nose, this elixir is most intriguing! I'd call it a work of art.

Not Pleasures, not intense...more like 'watered down'! I just don't get this one.

Violet comes first to my nose, and wow, it's pretty! Perfectly sweetened by juicy ripe plums, I am reminded of the rich fruited notes of Christian Dior's Dolce Vita and also YSL's Yvresse(Champagne). The flowers, spices, grass, fruits, wood and leather are a symphony for the nose. Seamless and utter beauty...this is exactly how I'd expect a perfumers wife to smell!!! My favorite of the Malle label!

This is an interesting spicy floral! It's more of a spicy iris than anything else. The opening is spicy like the retro fragrance Tigress, at least from my memory. It quickly evolves into a powdery floral ~ iris ~ with hints of sandalwood and cinnamon in it's base. I'd also say it leans more to the feminine, but some imaginitive risk taking fellows could pull this off as well! Nice for cool weather wear. Distinctive.

Creativity abounds! This fun gourmand from Neil Morris represents the smells of an outdoor cafe'. Beside the sweets and dark roasted coffee, there is the smell of late summer heat and touch of greenery. The later reminiscent of Ralph Lauren's Safari! I'm with Nukapai, don't think it's in for regular wear, but it is an enjoyable olfactory delight!

It is with extreme sadness I type this commentary, as my hope for this jasmine has been crushed. I adore indolic florals. Never have they come to my nose smelling like "mothballs", that is, until now. Jasmin 17 begins sweetly, and similarly to Diptyque's Olene. Within only minutes after spritzing, starts to give off that mothball/ashtray sort of smell. The prettiest components of this juice vanish too soon, leaving the mothball/ashtray odor to morph into it's final repugnance: the smell of gingivitis. I know, it's not nice, but it's true. The smell of unhealthy (almost rotting) gum tissue. It permeates. I have never smelled a perfume quite like this one.

Watery and weak, definitely not worth the pricetag. For a mild fragrance, there are sooooo many others to choose from that won't run you broke!

The first time I sampled this fragrance I thought, "hmmm, I bet Vibert would like this one." Then, lo and behold, I find his review with a thumbs up ~ how funny! The opening for me was kind of medicinal. Looking through the listed notes within this blend, the specific offender eludes me. Well, fortunately those topnotes fade rather quickly, and we are onto better things! The jasmine here is weak. Bummer, because I adore jasmine. The nicest part is the base, which reminds me of Belle en Rykiel by Sonia Rykiel. Rich, but not cloying. Complex yet easy to wear. I'm half & half on this one. Once the first 20 minutes pass, I'm enjoying it, sort of.

I'm pretty much loving this perfume! Let me confess, notes of incense have never really been my sort of thing. Usually I find incense frags either 'churchy' or 'musty/dusty', making me feel solemn and sneezy. In Juozas' blend, the incense is top-loaded with jasmine (one of my faves) creating a brighter character overall. The basenotes are luxurious heavy hitters, giving staying power and overall balanced longevity. This is clearly a winning scent, for men and women alike. Also, this is one fragrance you won't smell on every Jack or Jill who passes by, very unique!

A fruity floral that smells acquatic/lactonic (say that 3 times fast!). I would never know there is any vanilla in this blend, I really cannot detect it. A beautifully balanced feminine scent, with a definite De la Renta feel! The name is absolutely appropriate, as this perfume conjures images of elegant gowns sewn of the finest fabrics accented by perfect ruffles & pleats. I will have to get at least a small vial of So de la Renta to have on hand should I need to feel especially pretty!

Such inconsistant comments here. Be forewarned, I'm going to add to the confusion.
For me, the florals in Cinema are light and powdery, when combined with the predominant vanilla base, creates a fragrance almost identical to Kenzo Amour. "Almost", because Cinema is slightly sweeter. It is close wearing and comforting to my senses. If I didn't already own Kenzo Amour I'd purchase this in a heartbeat! Love the bottle too.

Acquatic fragrances are not usually appealing to my senses, but this Rain scent by MJ is wearable and pleasant. It is very light, but not lacking. There are certain occasions when I don't want my fragrance to be noticed...such as when closely holding a newborn baby, or visiting a sick friend. It is those times when the splash series comes in handy! As far as the actual "Rain" smell, well, it is acquatic with notes of lightly powdered greens - delightfully opened with the help of some citrus, which fades almost immediately. Fresh, but not perfumey, and not a flower to be detected. For me, this eau fraiche fills a vacancy in my wardrobe perfectly!

The sweetest and most flowery of the Tom Ford collection, this orange blossom is fantastic! That tiny little flower opens this frag with a bang, and then a nice little suprise of citrusy lemon joins in for a fresh & bright white floral treat! It gives me the impression of Goutal's Eau d'Hadrien being infused with neroli ~ completely beautiful! Did I mention it is sweet? Even so, it isn't a bit cloying IMO! Excellent sillage and longevity for a citrus/floral. I highly recommend trying this little gem.

Candied violets and patchouli? Yep, that's what you'll get with Tom Ford's Purple Patchouli! Must say that I love it though, and find the patchouli base to be just the right potency.

Mikeperez23 has written accurately about Tobacco Vanille! When I first sniffed this perfume, my nose was highly impressed by the authentic tobacco notes. Tobacco marries well with vanilla too, so this combo is an easy winner. I must add though, that in preparing to 'share' some of this frag, about 2ml spilled onto my countertop. Because of this mishap, I got a clear cut, no holds barred whiff of this stuff and was overwhelmed by the smell of cloves! Now, when I sniff TV I can only detect cloves...For a boozy tobacco vanilla frag I would insist upon trying Guerlain's Spirituese Double Vanille ~ IMO it surpasses Tom Ford's version, just a bit!

Smokey tea with a slice of lemon...then settling into a smokey, spiced wood. Very comforting, dry and warm. For me, it leans toward the masculine, although it is completely wearable by either gender.

Wow, this is a very different gardenia! The opening is camphorous, like the topnote with that same effect in Tuberose Criminelle by Serge Lutens. Heavy on the indoles, Velvet Gardenia is not a sweet or green girly flower, it is definitely wearable by a man. One could acquire a taste for the close wearing raw floral component in this juice, as it is a unique representation of gardenia. As it warms on the skin, the slightest tinge of sweetness appears, but I would never think of classifying it as 'sweet'. Also, it is creamy. Maybe that's where the velvet part comes into play. The drydown brings another Lutens association: Sarrisins. I don't get any cheesy note whatsoever, nor any plastic. But then again, I am a fan of indolic white florals! My advice is to give this one a fair shake, I love it for it's bold & different portrayal of the gardenia flower.

Antonia's Flowers is a sleepy little niche house that puts forth some gorgeous floral frags, but sadly, this one is not one of my faves from them. The opening is sharp, almost pure rubbing alcohol, but fades fast into a clean and soapy scent. It smells like a fabric softener dryer sheet! This reminds me of a fragrance Avon used to make years ago called Clean Cotton in their comfort scent line...in fact, it smells VERY much like Clean Cotton! If I concentrate hard, I do smell the rose here. With the combination of sage, cedar and vetiver in the base, I feel it would be best highlighted as a masculine floral. As my sample wears on, I find myself tiring of this scent...

Another lively fresh floral from Antonia's Flowers! I adore the perfumes of this house! The EDP opens with a quick burst of grapefruit, slightly soapy, clean. As the topnotes fade, my nose detects sweet pea and peony flowers. This gorgeous juice rests upon my wrist sweetening as it ages, and projecting well in spite of it's delicate bouquet. The sillage and longevity is amazing. My personal feeling is that it shares a bit of character with Clinique's Happy ~ particularly in the drydown. I would also hold this one well above Lauder's Beyond Paradise, if you like your frags fresh, clean and bright. Difficult to find, but well worth the search!

I've found no satisfaction in the limited edition spin-offs of the stunning original Opium. Some things are better left alone, like the Mona Lisa, how could it ever be improved upon? Impossible. It is what it is...leave the masterpiece as it was created!

Not gardenia. "Candied tuberose" is more likely to describe this super sweet Goutal. I almost bought this one unsniffed, and was relieved after having the opportunity to sample it first. Although I adore sweet frags, this one just doesn't move me...

This heady perfume, of the 'purple patchouli' persuasion, is excellent! I love the sparkling manner in which bergamot opens this stunner! Given it's name, the main flower here should be iris...but my nose keeps getting rose instead? Not a bother though, this rose is extremely pretty. A dry, almost peppery-chypre-ish rose...if that's possible! Love the rich basenotes too, patchouli, tonka and styrax. Perfect for the cool fall days right around the corner. Oh yeah, this one won't break your budget either. A winner in every way.

From the beginning, notes of lemon, bergamot and freesia burst forth! Yes, it does remind me of opening the door and walking into a florist's shop! Fresh, bright and a touch soapy - in a good way! I don't detect any anise here, as others have mentioned. The drying phase brings the most lovely muguet fragrance I've ever smelled...not too sweet, definitely not cloying...the green notes presented here are along the lines of Sheldrake's greens in his wonderful floral creation (for Serge Lutens) A La Nuit. The tenderness of Antonia's Flowers reminds me too of L'Artisan's La Chasse Aux Papillons, extremely polite in it's floral presence. I cannot imagine this scent offending anyone...even those who don't love flowery fragrances! In the category of "fresh/floral" this one ranks right at the top!

I never actively seek citrus type scents...citrus top notes seem prominent in too many frags, I don't usually find anything special about them...usually! Until now. Comme des Garcons has created an AMAZINGLY good citrus frag here! I clearly smell grapefruit, right from the opening. Juice from the pulp, oils from the peel, lively & bright - absolutely fresh! Appropriately named, it is energizing too! It evolves into tangy brightness, with delicate florals and tinge of greens to adhere to the skin. I am enamored with this citrus, and feel a purchase coming on!!!

Found notes listed as:

Top: Green Tangerine
Middle: Cardamom, Pepper, Nutmeg
Base: Leather, Musk, Amber

I regularly wear Serge Lutens' Daim Blond - which I classify as a slightly fruity/soft suede fragrance.
Histoire d'Eau by Maubboussin is incredibly similar! The leather note is soft and subtly infused with gentle spices. Delicately sweet. This can also be found for purchase on-line at about 1/5th the cost of a Lutens...I definitely recommend this sleeper!

A wintertime wonder! Warm, rich, mouth-watering, comforting and compelling - simultaneously! What a gorgeous blend, slightly reminiscent of the deep fermented fruits found in Badgley Mischka, or even Frapin's fragrance...a slight vanilla here, and the base comes across with a touch of cedar, creating an aromatic finish. Could easily be unisex.

From the EDP ~ An extremely sweet version of linden...reminiscent of Redken's Pique from the 80's. Not my sort of fragrance, but for sweet linden lovers ~ this one would quench your desire!

Osmoz lists the notes of Vol de Nuit Evasion as:

Top: Rose, Peach
Heart: Jasmine, Iris
Base: Vanilla, Amber, Precious Woods

From the first drop on my wrist, rose is the most prominent note in this blend ~ and it's spicy! Almost like a clove or carnation character to it...balanced by peach, just a touch, and it's not very sweet. More subtle, and dry. The jasmine and iris peek through, but the rose never leaves center stage. The drydown comes off a bit generic, and slowly fades away...VdNE would make a nice introduction fragrance to someone just getting into the world of perfumes, and may also be a "safe" gift to give. I'm giving a thumbs up because I think it is pleasing in general, but I won't be purchasing this one.

First off, I'd like to get it off my chest that I'm not a Guerlain-o-phile, Guerlain-a-holic, or fan of Guerlain frags in general...in fact, most offerings from this house that DO appeal to me are not the popular ones. Whew! Now THAT'S out of the way, let me tell you Chamade is an absolute masterpiece! Yep, the blend of notes here is sheer genius. Chamade's florals are singular, yet immediately form a bouquet, that evolves sweetly, with fluid motion. 'Balsamic notes' in the base just send me over the top for this juice! I am sampling the EDT version and find it possesses quite ample sillage and good longevity. After this, I may become a Guerlain lover after all!

In the same vein as Philosophy's Amazing Grace, or Dolce & Gabbana's Light Blue, or even Coty's Wild Musk or Jovan's Musk! Clean & soft skin scent (musk), with a bit of sandalwood in the drydown...for the price, any of the 4 comparables listed above would be a better deal and give just as much satisfaction.

Impressive! I'm not usually one for re-working originals...especially when they're wonderful already...but I adore the addition of jasmine to this gorgeous blend! It works very well with the base of amber, vanilla and nutmeg. In fact, the original essence of Organza is still completely intact here. I have purchased a full bottle without hesitation!

Ava Luxe's Turkish Vanilla is creamy, nutty, milky, warmly spiced and definitely unisex! Reminds me alot of Fragonard's vanilla fragrance...it also lasts a long time! I can see myself using Turkish Vanilla to give a boost of sweetness to other scents. This is one I will love playing with!

I can only elaborate upon Vibert's eloquent commentary by adding that to my nose, this L'artisan is a true "lipstick rose" - even moreso than Malle's! It is absolutely adorable!

Pookerella's right, about the cotton candy! Really, sweet vanilla is all, pure and simple. Not a frag for me...I much prefer my vanilla deeper, drier or much more embellished!

My first impression of this fragrance is that it smells like a vanillic version of Victor & Rolf's Flowerbomb! After giving it some time to develop, it showed a more chypre side, giving a unisex edge to the blend, which I'll chalk up to it's dry version of patchouli! Strangely, I like it! I may (hmmmm, maybe) even buy a bottle...even though it looks a bit cheesy.

As far as vanilla's go, this one's so-so. What I really smell here is cinnamon with vanilla, and it's sweet, like those cinnamon red-hot candies. Giving a neutral because I can't really think of an occassion when I'd like to smell like this! (Kind of low on the wearability scale!)

This fragrance is without a doubt genetically related to YSL's Elle - released in the same year. The main focus of this fruity floral are notes of peony and jasmine...wearing on the skin as the shy little sister of Elle, who is a bit more bold and outspoken! I'd love to know the perfumer here ~ if I were a gambler, I'd put my money on the same nose/noses that are credited with creating Elle! Cinema Festival d'Ete is a great choice for a lighter type frag, close wearing and fresh!

This sensual fragrance begins in a very sweet, vanilla-ish manner ~ seeming at first a bit timid and fleeting...but just give LTBL a little time to mature on your skin and you'll be amazed at her tenacity. I could still clearly smell that gorgeous musk nearly 24 hours after application! It is soft, close wearing and stays fresh too. Comforting. Truly a polite and beautiful fragrance.

Well, purplebird7 and I are on the same page...bought this blindly...big mistake! The galbanum is short lived, morphing into a sickly sweet spicy scrubber. Wish I could have smelled the original...

I agree with Tovah in that Eclat d Arpege is along the lines of Scent of Peace and Light Blue... but the first association I made was Bvlgari's Omnia Crystalline. A transparent blend of flowers, wood and musk ~ light and refreshing. I adore Arpege, and this version comes accross very youthful and modern ~ extremely wearable!

I think Wordbird has put it best. To me, Kelly Caleche definitely smells like the inside of a used leather handbag that has picked up the scent of tissues, face powder, fruit gum, lipstick, and other assorted frivolities that may be carried by any woman with a purse! For a lighter, smoother leather fragrance my preference still runs toward Luten's Daim Blond. Worthy of a test spritz for sure!

I hate to be the party pooper here, but I'm not crazy about this Liu.
It does have prominent aldehydic notes, likening it to Chanel's No.5, however, it is completely void of any sweetness. This is by far, the driest floral I've encountered. To my nose, it is more like Wind Song by Prince Matchabelli ~ a musty smelling frag. The drydown leaves me smelling...er...uh...not so fresh.

A real grown up floral. All about the sillage - it's just right! I really get the lilies and peonies here too! Pleasures is the snowy floral perfection that Gucci's Envy Me (pink) and McClintock's Number 3 failed to attain. The balance from top to bottom is exquisite! For the many floral notes this fragrance contains it never comes off too sweet, too powdery or too dry. Lauder fans and foes should give this one a try, it's very wearable.

The way I understand it, this 1999 version of Lucien Lelong pour Femme was re-worked from the 1950's original...which I have never smelled. Notes listed for this bold floral-oriental are:

mandarin, bergamot, magnolia, lilac, fig
jasmine rose, tuberose, ylang ylang, iris
variety of orchids
sandalwood, vetiver, oakmoss, musk

Fully loaded with womanly glamour, this potion is powerful! I liken it's potency with that of Givenchy's Amarige or Dior's Poison. The orchid notes come across clearly, even though the rest of the bouquet is dominant. A bit "soapy" on my skin. I applaud this blend, but doubt if I would ever be excited to wear it.

My first thought upon sniffing Iris Poudre is "Wow, this smells just like Chanel's No.5!" After it settles, and the basenotes become more prominent, I agree 100% with Cedriceccentric who said: "If Chanel would have made a No.5 for men this is what it would have been like." I attribute the slightly masculine vibe to the tonka in the base - although it is quite obviously a unisex frag. A smooth, wearable aldehydic floral.

From the very first sniff, Iris Silver Mist is all about the iris. I grow irises, and they need regular thinning. When the rhizomes (or 'roots') are dug up, fresh from the damp rich soil ~ this is what ISM smells like! Incredible! Earthy, moist and a bit vegetal. Soon, the powdery facet of this frag kicks in, accompanied by sweet violet. I love the distinct evolution this scent possesses. As it settles, the iris, earth and violets are grounded in spicy woods that slowly ease...calming into a magnifiscent base, which retains the best of each note within it's composition. It is luminous. Iris Silver Mist is so very worthy of a sampling...if not the whole bottle!

Vanille Exquise is the loveliest amber vanilla I've smelled! So very "Shalimarish" ~ which is exactly what makes it sophisticated. At first, the vanilla does seem a bit thin (as far as vanillas go) but after a short time, the subtle amber notes make themselves known, warming on the skin, and combining exquisitely with the vanille! It does wear close to the skin ~ and it's heavenly!

Very different...for my nose I perceive a green, lemony rose. It also smells wet. Strangely, it took a few wearings for me to decide that I like it...but it's just not a frag for me.

This lush floral is full bodied and potent! At first it's all fruity/floral madness, but when the roses kick in ~ the rest of the flowers in this bouquet perk up! The mid section of this lovely scent is making me think of Lauren's Romance. The florals here never give way; they hold my attention and then cleverly draw my nose into the decadent and rich base. The roses stay true and fresh, very womanly and gorgeous!

Pleasures Exotic is the fruity variation of the original. Since fruity notes are not among my most favorite, I'm still loving the original best. But, having said that, PE is one of the nicer spin offs I've experienced. The fruitiness is not too sweet (IMO), the florals and wooded base still shine through and hold true to their parent frag! I'll use my sample, but won't purchase a full bottle of this one. Oh yeah, my daughter gave my wrist a sniff and said, "...it smells like a hair product...".

A new scent from Estee Lauder that will surely appeal to the masses! This silky smooth fragrance is warm, sweetened amber in a creamy honeyed & peppery base that comes off as softly powdered musk...a skin scent for sure! It's almost got an addictive quality, compelling me to sniff and snorfle my arm where it's resting. (Hopefully, my husband will have the same reaction!) After a few years of pinkish-fruity-patchouli's, this scent is oh so welcome!

This blend of sweet spices and floral - AND vetiver - is magic! Not typical by any means. I must disagree with some of the previous comments ~ the anise and licorice notes are amazingly good. It comes off less sweet than Angel ~ not trying to be a 'clone' ~ and it's very wearable. What an ingenious blend! I've tried it several times now and grow to love it more with each application. This one is worth the full bottle. Which by the way is a treasure all it's own!

My husband does woodworking as a hobby, and this Chene is true to the fragrance of oak! Smells like oak boards being cut, sanded, etc. Original, authentic and attention getting. Nicely done!

Feminite du Bois with a healthy dose of soft musk! I actually liked this one better than 'fruits' & 'oriental' ~ still, my favorite in Luten's "Bois series" is Violette, but this one would suffice as a replacement - in a pinch.

3 parts Feminite du Bois, 1 part Arabie.

Purplebird7's got this one pegged! I would say it's 3 parts Feminite du Bois, 1 part Amber Sultan.

I'm with Sofresh on this one ~ FdB must be the biological mother of Lutens' entire "Bois series", they are virtually of the same genetics. For a dominantly woods fragrance, I was suprised how much I loved this one in the heat of summer! It's exquisite! I wish it were available for retail purchase here in the USA!

Poivre Samarcande can be summed up in three words:

Smooth
Peppery
Dry

I love it on my husband! It's an obvious JCE creation, blended with exquisite craftmanship. Mr. Ellena really knows when to pour it on and when to use only the lightest touch. Thumbs up!

I first tested Casmir awhile back, and I believe the bottle was "aged", and I didn't like it too well. After re-testing, I now own some of this warm & comforting scent! The 2 notes that stand forward are vanilla and sandalwood, coming off very unisex. The amber/vanilla/sandalwood/musk/patchouli base is quite rich. While inhaling the aroma of this well crafted blend, a fleeting memory of Coty's Emeraude tinged my thoughts. It's not exactly the same drydown, but something in it is very similar. Also coming to mind is NR for women. Considering the cheap price, you really can't go wrong if you like vanilla & sandalwood! Thumbs up for sure!

Truly a "skinscent", wearing extremely close to the body without noteable sillage. Nice for the beach or boat, but beyond that I don't see the point. Maybe if I layered it with the oil it would bloom better...

Olene is simply the most indolic frag I've ever experienced! Serge Lutens' A La Nuit is still my favorite, which just happens to be the perfect blend of indolic jasmine and touch of green for my taste, however this Olene is worthy too! Olene reminds me of the opening indolic phase of yet another Luten's - Sarrasins. Ink smell, for sure! (I guess some may think it more 'mothball' smelling, but not me.) Olene possesses a unique sweetness as well, which I personally find better suited to feminine wearers.
If you like 'em bold - fragrant white flowers, heavy on the indoles - this one's not to be missed! Thumbs way up!

I think this one is the orange bottle with the yellow cap...

At any rate, it is simply ~ Clinique's Happy.

Bright, fresh and youthful...but certainly not original.

F by Ferragamo begins with a blast of candy sweetness, then settles into a lactonic symphony ~ in the back of my throat! Fortunately, it fades rather quickly. The base is weak. It leaves a dusty, stale smell like a cocktail table that has sticky-sweet-drink rings stuck to it, and it hasn't been cleaned in weeks. This frag is touted as a floral, with notes of rose, jasmine, etc...I'm not getting it.

I cannot say it any better than JaimeB! To his eloquent review I can only add how perfectly the aniseed note is presented ~ breathtaking! A timeless masterpiece that any perfume lover should seek out, sniff, marvel and appreciate!

For me, Joy is initially very rosey, with a hint of jasmine. I really get an awesome civet tone from the pure parfum...exquisitely incorporated, only slightly fleshy/indolic, very, VERY nicely done! Presented with an almost soapy character, it is an exhuberantly gorgeous floral. Slightly dated, but absolutely a masterpiece!

Un Cedre is not pleasing to this Luten's fan. It opens WAY TOO SWEET ~ like the opening of MPG's Centaure, or Ted Lapidus in the grey bottle ~ actually makes me feel queazy. I don't get any tuberose or cedar wood. The drydown is powdery sweet, what I'd classify as oriental, but it's still a big NO for me!

I'm in agreement with most reviewers here...this is a lovely skin scent. Baked earth, spicy carnation, tinge of green (muguet???) Highly wearable. I prefer something sweeter, but this Guerlain is very underrated ~ give it a try for sure!

I'm thankful Ayala reviewed this one, she is always articulate and detailed...for me, Deseo was suprisingly good. A beach scent is how I'd classify it, and it is extremely enjoyable to wear. Also, the bottle is much more attractive in person than in ads.

I'll make this simple:

edt = citrus, lavender, oopoponax/tonka with vanilla.
I enjoy it very much. My husband hates it.
Fleeting in longevity.

The way I understand this Angel La Part des Anges is an aged re-worked version of Angel in extrait form. I've read that Francoise Caron toiled over this one, and that the aging process for this frag took 25 days. I'm not quite sure exactly what the "aging process" for extrait de parfum consists of, but the result is ever so sweet! And I do mean sweet. My first impression of the latest take on "Angel" is sweet chocolate, almost fruity and a bit 'boozy' in character. Burnt sugar carmel for sure! In comparison to the original extrait, which I tested side by side, the original has a more powdery and ethereal effect. The original also contains that glorious burst of patchouli that I adore! Both are smooth edged, creamy, dreamy delights! Angel is a masterpiece that has eluded me...at least until now...just my luck, I'll have to cough up the big bucks for an extrait version ~ which is the only way I enjoy this treasure! (On the plus side, just a slight dab lasts all day long. So my dollars may actually be well spent!)

This fragrance is so very unique! I am one of the unfortunates who cannot wear it well. When I get a whiff of Angel on someone else, it's intoxicating...however, after about 30 minutes of his on my own skin, I smell like I've stuck a chocolate bar under each arm ~ not pretty! It just seems 'too much' for me to wear for any length of time. If this original Angel is not to your liking, I suggest trying the floral Angel's. I'm in love with the patchouli base! The drydown is sexy - in an angelic way! Oh yeah, my husband really likes it too.

05/2008 update :

Finally, I have found enjoyment in wearing this treasure...it's called EXTRAIT! Just a dab, lasts all day long! Absolutely stunning! The great thing about Angel is there are so many options available ~ you just need to spend some time finding the way to wear it that works best for you! Now I can love wearing this one along with the rest of you!

Trebor's review is wonderful, and I agree with him that this Guerlain is very "Luten-esque"! Spiritueuse Double Vanille has substance and depth yet remains sheer. The vanilla here is rich and smooth, with a note of pure sweet pipe tobacco complimented by the slightest bit of booziness and smoke. I too was taken by suprise, SDV is very easy to enjoy, and completely wearable by a man or woman.

Aaaahhhhhh, this is scrumptious! Violet and wood. The violet here is absolutely succulent! It is deep, rich and dark (as opposed to bright/fresh/dewey). I actually salivate when smelling this Luten's masterpiece. It immediately reminds me of Dolce Vita - only better! The funny thing is, after reading Perfumes The Guide, I discover they are related! Bois de Violette pushes all the right buttons for me...including the woods blend, which does not strike me as dominantly cedar...it is crafted well and comes off as very wearable by either a man or woman. Maybe just a touch more feminine. In any case, I emptied my wallet for this one...and have not a single regret!

I've tested the eau de toilette version, which may be why it comes off weak to my nose...never the less, it is not all that interesting. The cedar is prominently above the other notes, rendering them ineffective in this blend. I wish the jasmine was more than an accent here, as it is lost among the woods. (Cedar and vetiver.) I detect only a tinge of rose.
I'll give this a neutral, until I re-test a more concentrated version...

A moist and fresh green paired with delicately sweet violet, mmmmmmmmmmmmm, it's lovely! This is one of my most favorite springtime floral frags. Despite it's cool freshness, it wears fairly close to the body, but lives a long life none the less! This is a L'Artisan boutique fragrance ~ only available in L'Artisan Parfumeur stand alone shops. It is worth seeking out, I believe I will always have a bottle of this in my wardrobe. Anne Flipo does fresh florals so well!

What a sleeper! This fancy little frag is simply fab! Heliotrope here gives Belle en Rykiel an uplifting, open/airy feel. Perfectly complimenting the rich base ~ which is reminiscent of Obsession, in a lighter and brighter way! When I sampled this one, my husband got a whiff and said, "Ooooh, what's that?!" He's not one to comment on fragrance unless his opinion is asked for....so I give Belle en Rykiel top honors for getting, and keeping, his attention! Thumbs up!

This one's odd. The intensity of Tumulte is crazy...it is full speed ahead, at least for the first few hours! (Yep, this stuff lasts forever, in fact after 12 hours I can still detect it on my skin!) It comes off initially like hundreds of other fruity florals, yet it is strangely different. I cannot distinguish the individual notes, but likewise cannot compliment on the blending or harmonizing of this juice. My senses are overwhelmed, maybe even leaving my nose feeling like it's been assaulted...ultimately, Tumulte receives a thumbs down. It is un-wearable, and unappreciated on my skin. (*I also asked my husband to give it a sniff...he wrinkled his nose at it.)

Maurice Roucel is an outstanding perfumer, Tocade is excellent in composition. It is an oriental, with a powdery/vanilla kick. The notes are smoothly orchestrated. For a powdery vanilla, I find my taste runs more in the direction of Kenzo Amour. It is brighter in it's overall character...Tocade has more warmth, and would be better suited to a cool climate.

Vibert's commentary on this fragrance is stellar! A masterpiece indeed, but let me interject....

I will never wear this scent. It is not at all what I wish to smell like. A thumbs up though, as it merits applause!

Wow, so many distinct impressions of this creation...for me, Rose de Nuit begins as a lush, velvety, fleshy, almost over-powering rose that kept my nose completely interested for at least a good 10 minutes or more. Then very slowly, the intense galbanum creeps into the limelight. It is green, and dark, becoming steely in the drydown. In smelling this fantastic rose fragrance, Chanel's no.19 kept coming to mind. I think they share alot between them, with Chanel's version as a bright rosy green chypre and Luten's a dark, more mysterious rose chypre. Very nicely done.

I'm not all that familiar with Kenzo fragrances. Kenzo Amour is a powdery sweet vanilla. At first, it comes off as an ultra feminine take on Bulgari Black. The vanilla powder has a certain "smokiness". I quite like it! It's not like anything else in my collection. Also resembling Montale's Sweet Oriental Dream - this Kenzo is extremely wearable and much preferred to the Montale. The balance is incredible, I don't get overwhelmed with any of the notes. If I could choose one word to describe this scent it would be 'harmony'.

Well, I'm in the middle on this one. A "medium" oriental/floral, opens with a fresh burst of fruitiness then drifts into a mild floral. Funny to read lillies in there, I cannot distinctly smell them. The heart notes are powdery sweet, then the base kicks in - which is what turns me off. It's kind of like Fresh's Sake. Something in it just sticks to the back of my throat. I'll give this one a neutral ~ but just barely.

ZZTOPP's commentary regarding this Creed is perfect! I will be purchasing Virgin Island Water come summer 2008!

Well, summer's around the corner and I've got my VIW ready to go! This stuff has gotten alot of undeserved bad press. I'll tell you this: it does not smell like suntan lotion. It does not smell like a drink. It does not even smell like B&BW Coconut Lime Verbena. Nope. What it DOES smell like is zesty citrus...lime...fresh and bright. The coconut is creamy and light, not too sweet, and definitely not like any lotion. The delicate florals are barely perceptable, but give balance so that this playfully classy elixir never comes off 'foody'. VIW is also completely unisex! My husband and I love it on eachother! Remarkably tenacious, and perfect for hot humid weather or a balmy summer evening. This is the only Creed I own, because it's worth owning!

While Luca Turin may be right about the composition of this blend being "technically tricky", and ultimately a masterpiece in composition...my nose tells me I don't want to smell like Beyond Paradise. No matter the level of difficulty in it's creation, when I sniff this juice it is slightly sharp, soapy, and a bit heavy on the peachy/apricot note. (I can also smell Tommy Girl.) True enough, BP holds it's shape and strength throughout it's entire lifespan, but if a floral symphony is what I desire, I'm more likely to head for Lauder's Beautiful...which is velvety smooth and more pleasing to my nose.

Over the years, Estee Lauder has marketed some fantastic fragrances...Youth Dew, Cinnabar, White Linen, Pleasures, Beautiful, the list goes on endlessly. Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia is undoubtedly one of their finest! This is a high quality-high class floral! It holds it's own up against the likes of Carnal Flower (Editions-Frederic Malle created by Dominique Ropion). For comparative purposes I wore the two together for a side by side testing. Ultimately, CF - being straight forward tuberose, came off to me as decidedly more masculine than PCTG. PCTG possesses the authentic dewy sweetness of a delicate white gardenia flower, which in my opinion pushes this frag into the realm of femininity. Being a Lauder, I expected it to have a good amount of projection and staying power - I was not disappointed! A floral lover's dream, this is a must have - the bigger the bottle, the better!

My friend across the street has a patch of delicious mint growing wildly in her landscape, she lets me swipe some whenever I need it...Chevrefeuille smells like when I rub one of those fresh mint leaves between my fingers. It is lemony and bright! Slightly herbaceous with an everlasting type freshness. As for the honeysuckle ~ I don't get much at all - it is extremely subdued. This is a winning unisex summertime elixir! In fact, I might prefer it on a man.

With all the "living" notes in Versace, this fragrance cannot help but smell "ALIVE"! The opening here is fresh & juicy. I love that it's not too fruity. There is a thread of aquatic/ozonic sensation that ripples through, just enough to keep the livliness in tact. The base is primarily musk, balanced by cedar. It ends up powdery on my skin. Decidedly feminine, with a feeling attached to it that is reminiscent of RL's Romance. Moderate to bold sillage, excellent staying power. Can be worn easily by any age group! It's not my personal choice of fragrance to wear, but I think it's wonderful and wearable! Thumbs up!

Powerhouse of an opener! No kidding, I sparingly spritzed a small amount of this juice onto the back of my hand and WHOOSH ~ a cloud of Guerlain permeated the entire shop! It was the good fortune of everyone within a 100 foot radius that I chose My Insolence to try! If an explosion of perfume is innevitable, make it a good one. Almost right from the start I could sense the patchouli/vanilla/tonka base begining to simmer as the attention grabbing raspberry cloud shifted. I say that in a good way ~ the raspberry note here is as beautiful as it is potent. The sweet/tart fruitiness melds into the floral heart effortlessly, and is in perfect balance. Not too sweet, which I applaud. The jasmine shares an equal spotlight with the almond blossom, one not standing in front of the other, completely side by side. As an hour passes this fragrance stays close, which suprises me...it settles into a powdery oriental that keeps me sniffing!!! My Insolence is gorgeous, I highly recommend giving it a try. That goes for you adventuresome gentlemen too!

This is a strange one...the topnotes come off like English Leather. As the drydown progresses, mild incense notes waft in & out, reminiscent of L'Artisan's Passage D'Enfer but not as high quality. The strangeness is that after those two associations have cleared through, this scent is kind of nice. Wait just a minute...another two associations have come up - Fierce by Abercrombie and Dunhill (brown). Yep. That's all folks!

Very original! I love the geranium leaves as a tempered green among the bright clean lemon, sweet floral honeysuckle and aromatic lavender. Excellent balance - smooth too. For me Covet is neutral in gender, and fairly easy to wear. Another perfumery success for SJP!

I was all set to trash this television show fragrance, but after pressing the pump on the sample bottle, this juice hit my wrist and I was a changed woman! Not that Forbidden Fruit is any earth shattering concoction, but it is quite suprising. Apple is definitely part of this blend, pomegranate too, as well as a variety of florals...possibly gardenia, hyacinth, wisteria and jasmine for good measure! It is fresh and flirty. Don't hesitate to try it, and enjoy this hidden little secret for yourself!

Personal chemistry is really key with this Love at First Glow. For me, I love it on paper, but on my skin it doesn't work at all. The florals come off very sharp and soapy, not clean and fresh, just sudsy ~ like I need to rinse! I'm giving a neutral as I believe others will find this scent very refreshing and wearable.

Osmanthus is the star fragrance note here in Precious Heart. It is a delicate golden flower native to China, and posseses a fruity-apricot floral aroma. Osmanthus dominantes this composition. I have read Precious Heart also contains light cardamom and cedar. I never get the cardamom. The cedar is barely there after a long drydown. This mix has an overall tinge of powdery green, which brings a feeling of spring ~ youthfulness ~ life. IMO this limited edition fragrance would be best suited to a younger wearer...maybe someone just discovering the fabulous house of Guerlain!

Heady, yes! Sweet, yes! Huge white flowers, yes! Big 80's floral with the volume cranked up all the way. If White Shoulders made an extreme version ~ this would be it! Suprisingly enjoyable and value priced too.

Growing up Catholic, the smell of frankincense & myyrh always struck me as 'stinky'. It still does. Yet, this Passage d'Enfer - stinky notes and all - amazes my senses! Rach2jlc mentions spicy sausage which I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH! Panfried Italian sweet sausage bursting with fennel seeds! And get this - beneath those heavily incensed notes there is a light sweetness - like grandmother's prayers floating directly up to heaven on angels wings. How ironic, considering the name. Remarkable, this scent. For creating such vivid imagery I must give Pd'E thumbs up. How few fragrances have this ability.

Elegant, golden, creamy. This is how I can best describe this precious elixir from MPG! One of my favorite offerings by this fragrance house. With my chemistry, it is what I always hoped Guerlain's Shalimar could be! Lovely.

This fragrance is very different for the house of Chanel. By the name, I excpected to sample a soliflore ~ which was not the case. Actually, this juice is light and green in composition...notes beautifully blended, not sweet at all. The name Une Fleur is fitting because it is mild...unlike many other florals out there that sort of 'throw the whole garden into the mix'! When sampling this scent, it was as though I was sniffing a single nameless bloom ~ soft & demure. The scent itself is reminiscent of Anais Anais. If you don't typically choose florals this one might please you!

A fresh floral/oriental from one of my favorite fragrance houses! Lotus blossom, nashi pear, bamboo, balsa wood and amber notes...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm good! This mix is bright & light with excellent staying power. It's easy on the flowers, seamlessly blended, classy too! I'd call this one a 'head turner'. Lots of complements received when wearing this fine fragrance. Would make a lovely introduction into the world of Bulgari scents!

I'm in agreement with Margareta, this fragrance begins with very generic top-notes...then dries down to a warming powdery amber/woodsy base that wears close to the skin. Sexy in an understated fashion. I find the notes in Bright Crystal true to the basic composition of Crystal Noir. I might describe it more LIGHT than bright though...As usual with Versace, the bottle is a work of art. Lovely modern vanity accessory!

As far as jasmine frags go, I have been forever ruined by Lutens' A La Nuit! With that out of the way, let me say for a light soliflore, Voile de Jasmin is very user friendly and absolutely wearable!

WOW! I just love this Flowerbomb! Everything about it is remarkably unique. The bottle, the name, the fragrance notes...the way they "explode & smolder" ~ simply brilliant! There has been so much extreme opinion on this one, but I personally find it attractive and wearable!

Waterfloral - like water lily - and woodsy...reminds me of a Bath and Body works scent.

If ever there was a cloying "old lady" smelling concoction - this is it! I just don't 'get' all the hype of this Amouage brand. I have also tried 3 of their other fragrances and find them all very off-putting. This goes for Ciel, Dia, and Silver. Each one oily, heavy, overpowering. These perfumes smell like something one would wear as a potent attempt to cover an unwanted odor. Disgusting.

Not my favorite Chanel. Quality, yes. But on me it never develops as eloquently as calchic's review. My preference within the same type of fragrance is Christian Dior's "Diorella" - the female version of Eau Sauvage. I chalk this one up to a matter of personal taste.

This was my grandma's signature scent! Even as a small child, I have a distinct memory of her smell. The spicy floral sweetness of Chantilly is delicate, and intricate - just like chantilly lace. Suprisingly well blended, and possesses a distinct amber base! My favorite product in this fragrance line is the after bath dusting powder. Using it is like traveling back in time to the 1940's! So glad it's never been discontinued.

Reminds me of McClintock's Number 3, maybe not quite as sweet. Florally freshness done in a very couture way! Did I mention it is clean as well? Not waterfloral or soapy clean - just fresh and crisp. A bit more green than I care to deal with in 8 hours though...

SPARKLING! The topnotes completely interface with the heartnotes showcasing the springtime flowers bursting forth from this juice! My initial impression is similar to that of Guerlain's classic Champs Elysees. The green notes breathe freshness into the rose and peony, inducing a slightly watery aire. (Maybe a little reminiscent of L'eau D'Issey - albeit softer and not as woody on the drydown.) If you're a fan of either CE or L'ED'I - give this fragrance a try!

After sampling this, and thinking it was wonderful, I bought a bottle. After 2 days, I did'nt like it anymore. I found it stark. I also had trouble giving it away...didn't work for me at all.

Sorry, this is a mish-mash of notes that really don't work well together...waterflorals, spice, and patchouli...it's a mess, by far the worst Chanel I've ever tried.

Sophia Grojsman - marvelously talented! I LOVE 'Nude' and 'Tresor' and 'Paris'...BUT...I do not like 'Christian Lacroix'. This CL scent comes off very bitter to me. For some reason unknown to me, this mix is completely un-attractive! Sorry.

An odd, stale smelling scent, obviously not a fragrance for me.

Heaven Sent is a lost - but not forgotten - treasure! A spicy floral with a dry and powdery dry down...it makes me think of sparkling fairy dust, glimmering perfumed particles gently falling to earth ~ sort of magical! (I don't know what the re-vamped 2001 version smells like, I'll be sure to try it when I find it.) There is also an understated sweetness in this potion. Bath and Body currently makes a scent called "Moonlight Path" which is reminiscent of Heaven Sent. To me, it is ageless!

Champs-Elysees is a masterfully blended floral who's popularity has withstood the test of time. Top notes of rose come across sweet and light, not heavy at all. This floral is quite transparent and yet has excellent staying power. Perfect fragrance choice for warm weather ~ bring on the heat! Another odd point to be made: when I apply Champs-Elysees, my spirit is lightened. Happiness and smiles come so easily...how can you not love that!

I've never really been a fan of Cacharel fragrances. Promesse is wearable though! It's subtle notes are well blended and fresh. Beginning with citrus and floral then muting them a bit with a woodsy base - just right for spring. As far as it's staying power or sillage, I think it would be the best type of floral for a scorching hot summer day or even a sticky humid evening.

For me, this deep rosey potion is not good. I must give credit for a very complex and interesting evolution, as it does have several distinct phases. (Because of this, I suggest you sample Stella awhile before deciding if it's "you".) On my skin, each series of notes was offensive with the heart notes being the least disgusting. On a more positive note, Stella Rose Absolute is a more wearable rose fragrance ~ I would recommend it above the original Stella.

This smells exactly like a car air freshener my friend used to hang on the rear view mirror of her 1980's Pontiac Sunbird! Because of that association, I really can't imagine wearing it as a perfume. The only thing I can say is it's not completely offensive.

30 years ~ must be something to it! I liked this one on a boy when I was in high school. On a recent trip to the grocery store, I saw it was still being sold so I sneaked a little sniff. I still sort of like it! Great memories!

This casual scent is watery and sharp. It is simple and straight forward, bearing no complexity or depth. Smells fresh scrubbed and squeaky clean. If you're looking to purchase a gift for a girl aged 12-17 this might be just right.

This fragrance leaves me flat...nothing special here. Begining Middle and End ~ Blah Blah Blah. There are many other scents with distinct personalities, Ja'dore is mediocre at best.

Ladylonestar and calchic have both written accurate reviews of this underrated treasure. This scent somehow reminds me of YSL's Rive Gauche ~ probably the aldehydes ~ although the drydown is just ever so slightly sweet and very crisp. VERY fresh and clean. The staying power is incredible as well. Mossy but not green. I wore this for many years. Close friends and family members thought 'I just always smelled nice'. (As if my own chemistry could smell so good!!!) They never new it was NUDE until I switched fragrances!!! Suddenly they said 'you smell different...' My point being: Nude is a potion that compliments one's own personal chemistry. It is sort of "all American" in the clean & fresh genre. If you have the opportunity to try this one, please do.

JHL is one of my all time favorites ~ Any man interested in wearing a floral frag, or interested in a note of cinnamon, JHL is it! I interpret it as the male version of Cinnabar.

Rive Gauche (2003 version) in my opinion is not much different from the original, launched in 1971. The current product lists Aldehydes - Rose - Oakmoss - Vetiver in its notes. For some reason I can never isolate the rose in it! Rive Gauche is not a recommendation for anyone having a serious aversion to aldehydes...you would most definitely not appreciate this scent...now that's out of the way, to the rest of you I say "dive right in" this mix of softness is actually sharp!?! Very clean. I would also think of this as a unisex fragrance...kind of suprised they bothered with a male formulation. Wonderful year around scent. It takes heat very well.

Like a bowl full of blackberries drizzled with honey, this potion is nectar sweet - and men just seem to be attracted to it! I always come back to a little Poison now and again. The most wearable formulation is the Esprit de Parfum, and only a dab - Brilliant!

Years back, I used to like this one alot. Since becoming familiar with superior floral frags, I cannot stomach this smell anymore. If I want a crisp, bright floral with tenacity I will definitely choose Lauder's original Pleasures over this!

The "Celebutante". The girl who wears this is dolled up and looking for some attention! She chooses her clothing, shoes, hairstyle, handbag, cocktail and lipstick based upon who will be watching! Needless to say, a bit superficial, but still unique and well turned out - a sight of beauty to behold! I like this aldehydic candied rose, but Drole de Rose by L'Artisan comes off with a touch more class.

More jacinthe than bois here...this hyacinth is green, fresh and raw. Much like mother natures's own presentation! If I had less experience with florals, this one would captivate me, but since floral frags do entice this nose - I've smelled Luten's and been spoiled! I'm going to suppose that Anne Flipo created this lovely scent...as her signature is delicate, and I'm reading Jacinthe des Bois as such. If you are in the market for a light, fresh, authentic floral this shouldn't disappoint. This soliflore interpretation is along the same lines as Verte Violette - also from L'Artisan, which I prefer. Thumbs up for a springtime flower ~ well done!

THIS IS TUBEROSE! Carnal Flower is one of the most wearable flowers for men...not too sweet, it's actually quite stealth for a delicate flower! In fact, I prefer this one on a man, and suggest Estee Lauder's Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia for a woman. I would love to smell a groom wearing this CF (and his bride wearing ELPCTG!) what a garden wedding!

The notes for this parfum are:

Top: Wild red berries, Peach, Creme de Cassis

Middle: Osmanthus flower, White peony, Jasmine

Base: Musk, Indian sandalwood, Amber, Patchouli


I gave a quick spritz to the back of my hand as I passed through a very crowded Nordstroms. In a matter of 1 hour I received 2 compliments - from complete strangers! This shocked me, as I didn't think the scent was THAT unique or appealing...very strong. On me, the amber and sandalwood basenotes lasted forever. A very classy scent, rich and heady. Reminds me of another fragrance that I can't put my finger on...at any rate, this one's sure to be a success! Based upon the general response (of complete strangers) go give yourself a spritz!

Update: I've come back to this one, and am very glad I did! IMO THIS is what a 'celebrity' scent should be ~ worthy of an Oscar. The fruity opening is dense and rich, sweet but just right. When the middle floral notes roll in, they lay delicately on the skin, releasing a 'just right' vibe. Peony can be difficult...but this one is nicely paired and balance with the other notes. A fruity floral that's different, high quality and bottle worthy ~ It's truly a winner.

First off let me state I do not feel this is a 'watered down' version of the original Shalimar.

Opening with bergamot, this shape shifting beauty begins with the scent of lemony custard. Velvety smooth, bright and citrusy, with some vanilla in the backround...as this blend evolves I'm reminded of how Jean Nate used to smell, clean and bright. More time passes, the citrus dissolves, and the vanilla simmers up to the top. Here is where the "Guerlain" becomes unmistakeable. At this point in Shalimar Light's development, I can easily recognize the genetic match between this version and the original.
I find this rendition to be quite a nice fragrance, extremely wearable and modern.

I tested the edp with high expectations, only to crash and burn! This one lost it's punch on me after the first 5 minutes. It rapidly weakened into a sharp, non-descript eau de cologne...I did'nt hate it, but I didn't enjoy it either.

Wow, powerhouse is right! Calchic nailed this one dead on. My initial impression of this rich, heady oriental by Margaretha Ley; is Christian Dior's Poison - the original. It is spicy and sweet, with womanly sillage to spare. The flowery part of this Escada is like that of Givenchy's Ysatis...soapy, heady & also a powerhouse frag! The orange blossom here is front and center throughout it's extra long life! Less is more with this juice - if you over apply this stuff, it will end up 'wearing you'. I do like it, on occassion!

Juicy and tangy/sour opening ~ in a very good way! I cannot recall a single fragrance that has actually smelled tangy and sour; like a real citrus fruit. AMAZING! The initial burst of topnote lasts for mere seconds, then a more rich orange note infuses with ginger. I haven't read this anywhere but I distinctly detect cardamom. For my entire life mom baked scandanavian type breads using this spice and I tell you: that cardamom note exists here in this blend! Mandarine Tout Simplement is probably one of the most original fragrances I've ever encountered. I adore it. * as an update ~ I did purchase this scent, but found it very difficult to wear...I never felt that it was suited to me or appropriate for any occassions in my life...I'm still enamoured by this one, but sadly, have no desire to put it on.

This is a gorgeous rose fragrance! To my nose it is like L'Artisan's Voleur de Roses ~ only with a fresh living rose! The rose/patchouli/vanilla trio here is excellent! A simple formula plus quality ingredients equals a winner. I literally cannot stop sniffing my wrist. After about 4 hours, I'm a bit annoyed that LV is still strong as ever on my skin. It has worn my nose down. I read that this frag was designed intentionally to be very linear...well...it is. Which is what prevents me from buying a bottle. (I would most likely buy Cleopatra by Tocca instead) If you are looking for a rose/patchouli/vanilla frag with exceptional staying power ~ that remains intact from the very first spritz ~ this is what you are looking for, and may very well purchase without hesitation!

With a name like Cleopatra, this fragrance has to be exotic! For me, this blend which starts off with juicy grapefruit then heads straight to the base - the tuberose and jasmine show up, but seem blended into the strong base. The musk, vanilla, patchouli combo here is sensual and reminds me of Narcsiso Rodriguez for Her, and a little bit of Lady Vengeance by Juliette Has a Gun. At the end of the day, Cleopatra is a pleasant scent, maybe not so exotic but most definitely womanly. It's mediocre on longevity...LV is much more tenacious...but I find myself occassionally craving this one!

This is a beautiful floral blend! Light, fresh, and close wearing. The most obvious floral note is linden, which is crisp. I much prefer this version to the 'extreme' version - because I don't get the overload of pink pepper! For me, La Chasse Aux Papillons is bottleworthy and would be a very safe gift.

This rose is fresh, lush and clear, with accents of candied violet dancing off each petal! A stand out among a multitude of rose fragrances. I like it particularly for its' non-cloying authenticity ~ Thumbs up for sure!

This fragrance is very much about tuberose! (Purplebird7's written an excellent description!) White creamy tuberose and spicy vetiver rest upon a base of vanilla & sandalwood. It is so true that just when you think the topnotes are going to be too much, they calm, then ease skillfully into an extremely desireable oriental. Mahora seems as though she may be the illegitemate offspring of a Samsara-tuberose affair! I'm glad to have found this wonderful frag!

The notes here include:

Bergamot, Melon, Heliotrope leaves, Hibiscus, Ylang, Freesia, Jasmine, Sandalwood, Flamboyant wood, Vanilla, Amber, Musk

Wow, what a list! When I close my eyes and smell Flowers Of The Caribbean...I smell vanilla. Lots of it. Beyond that, there is a floral mix that merges well with that potent vanilla. It almost has a "Guerlain-ish" tone! A very likeable summer/resort fragrance. A CSP creation that doesn't smell like dessert...nice change!

Begins with a very bold and fresh blast of lemon/mandarine/grapefruit ~ then dries down to smell like Fresh's Sake. It ends up on the sweet side. OK, but not that special. I guess if you find it for around $15.00 at an outlet it might be worth a purchase.

BOLD! Lots of rose, patchouli, vanilla, incense and woods in this blend. As previous reviewers note, it is a deeply European styled scent well suited to cooler weather. I can't say it's for me, but I LOVE to catch a whiff of this on some passer-by. Which is fairly easy, it's got incredible sillage!

I'm sampling the edp of Jala, and it's potent. (I understand there is an edt version, which could be more my taste.) At any rate, frangipane is definitely in this blend, and it is very loud! I much prefer a softer take on that note. This Jala gives me a feeling like something is stuck in the back of my throat. Plasticky. Sorry, I don't like this one at all.

Berry and plum compote drizzled with honey followed by a few sniffs and sips of brandy! A tinge of leather, vanilla and wood rounds out this upscale gourmand. I agree with all the previous commentaries and find ROBYOGI's to be most accurate. Heavy, different, intoxicating!

Un Folie de Rose is heavy, thick, rich and powerful. I compare it to the likes of EL's Youth Dew. For my own selection of fragrance, I cannot enjoy either one! Way too much for me, smells like the "cloying old lady" perfume on my skin - however, I am giving this one a thumbs up because when I washed it off ~ the remaining 'core' of this frag was gorgeous. Yeah, the true essence of it's composition is worthy of praise. So if you like 'em strong, with full speed ahead type sillage, give this Rosine a try!

Breathtakingly feminine! An absolutely gorgeous soft white floral blend! Not cloying whatsoever. Fresh, powdery, soft, very wearable for most any occasion or season. Comes off slightly oriental for me, exquisitely blended! I might even say the powdery musk contains a form of iris. This one's going on my wish list for sure!

Florence really comes off more like an old world Parisian fragrance instead of old Italy! The opening of violet petals and vivacious bergamot is lively, young and fresh! Sweet as well. IMO you have to like violets to enjoy this scent. While I'm not a big violet fan, I do think this is a very good product...the dusty iris compliments the sugary topnotes just fine! Excellent sillage and longevity.

Dusty iris and dry oakmoss nestled within the signature Creed base. It's definitely not as sharp as most florals from this house. Unisex, and easy wearing in the heat of summer. Given it's birthdate of 1968, I find it timeless in presentation ~ especially now with the current influx of iris frags. I'm actually suprised how much I like this one!!!

I'm sort of in-between SHYCAT & TOVAH on this one...yes, the lemon/camomille combination come off as 'tea' for sure.
I don't personally care for the blend of notes here, but I love TOVAH's personal anecdote! (And her description of Park Ave. makes me want to love this scent!) But at the end of the day, I just don't care for it very much at all.
My chemistry is in conflict with PA. Maybe it's the rose, or even the paperwhite...but something's off kilter.

Just as in L'Artisans' Mandarine Tout Simplement, Timbuktu makes great use of my most favorite spice note - cardamom! I absolutely adore it, and am very pleased to find it so prominently displayed. Timbuktu is really a masterpiece fragrance. I say that because of all the vivid imagery it creates for each individual, including this wide array of perceptions...

'...Irish Spring soap'
'...angular beauty'
'...a fave L'Artisan'
'...sophisticated drydown'
'...Arabian bazaar'
'...fart to cover it up'

...and a few reviewers changing their minds about this frag after spending more time wearing it. For me, it is more of a masculine scent. A clean incense with perfect pitch! Put this one on your list of fragrances to try - definitely!

Tacky bottle, filled with liquid vanilla combined with a cheap wood notes...I couldn't be more turned off.

A sprite white floral, drying down with a healthy dose of greenery. As I first applied Chelsea Flowers it brought to mind Tommy Girl. As the initial topnotes eased, CF remained an ultra fresh bouquet of white flowers with loads of green sprigs - much better than Tommy Girl could ever hope to be!
This is one of Bond no.9's better offerings!

This is what Goutal's Petite Cherie tried to be, but failed. Peau de Peche by Mecheri is a remarkable rendition of the actual white peach, skin, pulp and stone included! Well done!

For some odd reason, I sort of like this scent?! I really don't want to wear it, but sniffing it from my wrist is kind of enjoyable?! An enigma!

O.K., tell me I'm not crazy...this smells like NUDE! (Which was created by Sophia Grojsman for the Bill Blass label.) I think it's the aldehydes in the opening and the oakmoss in the drydown. Sparkling and fresh floral - very light and clean, I'm lovin' it!

Sa Majeste' la Rose! This is by far the biggest boldest rose fragrance ever created, but that's just Lutens' for you! Vibert's commentary is extremely accurate. This scent has a very regal aire to it, and suprisingly unisex as well! Simply magnificent!

Datura Noir merits every comment posted by previous reviewers! It does lean more toward the feminine side ~ TVLAMPBOY's right, I really don't know ANY guy who could wear this one. Once the sweetness subsides, the powder takes over. I mean IT TAKES OVER!!! It's actually too much for me.

Starts off hard candy sweet - like a Charms pop. After the sweet comes the powder, then it fades away...

This one dries down like Bond no.9 Chinatown! The opening blast of jasmine is authentic, but fades quickly. It is nowhere near the quality or stunning beauty of Lutens' A La Nuit. For a jasmine scent I find it 'middle of the road'.

I think this scent is FABULOUS! However ~ I don't want to wear it! My enjoyment of Safran Troublant will be limited to a mere sampling. Previous reviewers FOETIDUS, TOVAH, & ROBYOGI have described this scent perfectly.

Mild and juicy, with prominent notes of cedar. I like this one, but agree with previous reviewers that the drydown smells very much like D&G's Light Blue. I actually sampled them together to verify this coincidence and sure enough - they are cousins! IMO, Scent of Peace comes across softer, and better quality...but for the money...

I like FOETIDUS' review! For myself, I enjoyed quite a brisk citrus note in the opening of Eau de Campagne, which seems to be the perfect accent to this foliage filled frag! I adore the mossy drydown. This eau de toilette is truly unisex as well.

Creed's Jasmal is certainly no cheap smelling air freshener! It is a beautifully blended emulsification of jasmine, rose, iris, and assorted greens. While I prefer Lutens' A La Nuit - whose jasmine truly stands as a soliflore - Creed's rendition is very user friendly, as the jasmine is well supported by the roses' softness. For me, the rose was very obvious, as well as the iris in the drydown. These two authentic flowery notes are responsible for Jasmal's "roundness" and slightly powdery kick. I love when perfumers pair fresh greens with jasmine, and other heavy hitting flowers, because the natural green notes really keep those fragrant blooms fresh smelling. That effect is here in Jasmal! Fresh floral - with a definite thumbs up!

I agree with PURPLEBIRD7's commentary, especially that the notes here travel a circular path. I also find it to be a 'dry floral'. Soir de Lune is a bold, womanly fragrance. The sillage is extreme, as well as it's longevity. I usually don't have limits as to the 'wearability' of a scent but I think SdL is far too luxurious for daytime wear - it is best reserved for a special event or evening fragrance. Stunning!

Notes for this floral chypre are:

Mandarin, Grapefruit, Syringa, Rose of the Orient, Egyptian Jasmine, Iris, Juniper.

Wow! 'Exquisite' is the expression of this beautifully crafted eau de parfum. Juniper is the star here, it is cold, blue-green, and magnetic. The other notes in this blend seem to wrap themselves around the juniper, then gently unfold - like a flower in bloom. I'm so glad it doesn't come off like gin... juniper usually smells like gin to me but not in EdS! After awhile, the powder of iris softens and warms Eau du Soir. I must say, I think the craftsmanship of this fragrance is superb! Kudos to Hubert and Isabelle d'Ornano!

Vanilla extract. After I wore this for about an hour, I asked my husband what he thought...he said "smells like vanilla extract". That's all, nothing more.

Never having visited Bryant Park in New York, I can't help but wonder if there are rose gardens there...this fragrance contains as much rose as it does raspberry! In fact, the rose note is the most prominent to my nose. I like that the pyramid is sort of 'mixed up' from the standard fruity floral. Tovah is right when she says it's not your "run-of-the-mill" scent. I love it's uniqueness. The tart raspberry and patchouli here bring to mind SJP's Lovely, with the apple martini/patchouli combo. Worth a try for sure.

"Daisy" ~ I love that name! The scent itself is sunny and free spirited! Look at that bottle, it's cute as cute can be! It's 'kitchy' rather than 'cheap'...OK, OK, it's your basic fruity floral, no different than at least 20 other department store fragrances. So why do I love it? I'm a marketing advertisers' dream. Yep, if you give it a great name, a cute bottle, a fun ad campaign - so long as it's not offensive to my nose, I'll fall for it. Well, almost. Ultimately I won't be making a purchase, unless my daughter falls for it...

Daim Blond is the leather of desire. Sensual skin on skin. If you are going to sample this one, you must - I repeat, MUST wear it on your skin! No sterile white paper ribbons please. I don't wear leather fragrances, but DB is the best you'll find in quality. Highly wearable, modern, close wearing and just plain sexy! This magnificent potion seems to melt and combine itself with human DNA when activated by body heat. Let me take it one step further by suggesting you sample this one along with your partner, then as PLURAN would say:

GET TO IT! (I doubt you'll be disappointed!)

Bitter orange & pink pepper...hmmm...sound special enough but delivers more like Lawry's lemon pepper food seasoning. The bitter orange/cinnamon combo in L by Lolita Lempicka is a far more compatible pairing! Once past the top notes, the green tea is clear and bright, fresh like Bulgari's Au The Vert. After the green tea, this one goes straight to the cedarwood. It is not as pungent a cedar note as in Moschino Couture! yet overpowers the remaining base notes. Most definitely for the younger crowd...I'm not lovin' it OR hating it...thus a neutral rating from this middle aged finnicky nose!

In the late 1970's Vidal Sassoon went retail with their hair care products. Their original salon shampoo was packaged in a brown cylindrical bottle and smelled of almond and maraschino cherries...this is how SL's Louve smells to me! It is sweet and powdery. I do detect a bit of rose in this mix. Dries down a bit like Chergui on my skin. Interesting.

Very green and fresh at the opening. The florals here are extremely well blended, and definitely not sweet or heady. Soft and light. For me, the pink pepper is too dominant. If not for that, I'd say LCAP is a keeper. Wears sheer, and reminds me of Keiko Mecheri's Jasmin & also Chantecaille's floral fragrances. Quality!

VIBERT speaks the truth about this fragrance! There are only two additional points of interest I'm compelled to add:

Fleurs de Citronnier is very powdery, especially throughout the heart notes. (I actually sneezed each of the 3 times I sampled FdC!) In the drydown, I detect vetiver pretty distinctly. In fact, the latter stage of this fragrance's development gives FdC it's unisex rating. Enjoy!

YSL consistently puts forth uncompromised, relevant and uniquely wearable fragrances. In fact, I am a YSL devotee! Elle is one scent I feel has been aimed at the younger parfum wearer. A bit on the trend with notes of lychee, peony, vetiver and patchouli - Elle also contains a healthy dose of cedarwood, which is very direct from the first spritz. There are no suprises here. What makes this fruity/patchouli/floral superior to the slough of it's mass market competitors is balance. Blending, balancing, and quality of ingredients makes Elle stand out above the rest. I don't mean to imply this is a groundbreaking scent ~ merely a higher quality composition in a sea of mediocrity. I give Elle a thumbs up, but just barely.

Acqua starts off like thousands of other basic fruity florals. When the flowers kick in it's time to break out the oxygen mask...a powdery green fog chokes off the air supply, leaving me drowning in Acqua. It's just too much.

A dry, "modern woman's" chypre, containing only a tiny bit of sweetness. The progression in the opening is distinct - which I love. I'm fascinated by the way a particular note can open, then completely close allowing yet another totally different note come forth. The top and middle notes in Vivara do this - in full force! This is not a soft pink girly-girl type fragrance. (By the same token it may not be all that distinct on a man's skin.) I feel it's for the confident woman, such as Sharon Stone or maybe Glenn Close and/or Meryl Streep. Do you get my drift? Vivara comes across as a more up-scale version of say Coco Mad. or Miss Dior Cherie. It is a fragrance of wealth and good taste.

Being a fan of Bond No. 9 ~ I hate to say it, but, this one is no good. FULLCIRCLE is right, sickeningly sweet. The gardenia/tuberose combo is way over the top. Those are the only two notes I could smell. I get a plastic note too. SFAforHer reminds me of the old 80's Redken's Pique, and also of Coty's Sand & Sable. I couldn't be more disappointed.

I like this one alot! scents containing wood notes are typically difficult for me wear, but this warm, coconut milk & honey Un Bois Vanille gives me the chance to wear those comforting smells with no trouble at all! True enough, there is definitely more bois than vanille ~ but that's fine by me.

Maybe it's just dumb luck that I sampled this one on a cold wintery day -it is lovely and perfect to my senses. While this composition is fairly straight forward, I cannot recall wearing any other fragrance that smells the same! The foody elements are sweet but not too much so. As for the notes of wood, Lutens is the master! I'll be emptying my wallet for this one!

This floral is thick! So thick, it may be applied by using a spatula! Honestly, the orange blossom, jasmine, tuberose, rose, musk and spices all come out at once and the effect is smothering. The closest comparison I can draw is if there was a super concentrated extreme version of Fracas. But even then, Fracas has a certain garden freshness ~ Fd'O has an underlying note of B.O. Yeah, when I caught a whiff of THAT I had to check my own armpits...sure enough, my anti-perspirant hadn't failed me, it was the Fd'O.

Gardenia, jasmine & lily. This blend is fresh! If you love fresh florals, particularly gardenia, this is a wonderful choice of fragrance for you! The entire variety of body products are quite nice as well - especially the newly released body butter. Thumbs up - enthusiastically!

Outstanding! Thank you Prada, for this magnificent fragrance! It is with great joy I announce to you all that Infusion d'Iris does not follow any current trends in fragrance...it is an original - with a capital 'O'! It is everything POOKERELLA, FLEURSDUMAL & CLEMMIE have said, and then some. The iris here is extremely wearable, with a drydown like no other. I love the fact there is no vanilla or patchouli in the base, a refreshing change from the status quo. And guess what else? I would be perfectly happy to smell this on a man as well. The sillage is moderate, but the juice itself is quite tenacious. It is not deep or dark. On the contrary, Id'I is a veil of light. There is a combination of notes in this blend that vaguely remind me of the original (1957) version of L'Interdit by Givenchy. I think it's the combination of a brighter type iris note with vetiver in the base. The current re-mix doesn't have it, just the original. Smelling this makes me long for that 1957 version...at any rate, I just bought a bottle of Infusion d'Iris ~ be prepared to do the same!

I'm back and forth on this one...
In a nutshell Unforgivable Woman is a fruity floral with a slightly powdery kick. Very feminine in the traditional sense of fragrance. Kind of reminds me of the way old fashioned cosmetics used to smell. You know ~ powdered rouge, cakey lipstick, french milled face powder. The blending of notes is pleasant - sweetly subtle, but just doesn't "wow" me.

Cobalt-purple is the vibrant color of Sarrisins and it is audacious! Upon first sniff I smell ink. It brings an instant memory of my early childhood, when classroom worksheets were printed by mimeograph with the same cobalt-purple colored ink! The intoxicating scent of that freshly printed page compelled students to deeply inhale the smell of that wet, blurred print!

I also smell insulin. Most of you reading this will not relate, but if you are familiar with Novolog you'll know 'that smell'. These top-notes last only for a few minutes before making their segue' into the delicate and transparent floral heart. Yes, I did say delicate and transparent! A complete departure from the intensity of fragrance that has become Lutens' signature.

Because I am so ridiculously attached to A La Nuit, the Lutens jasmine note is plainly obvious ~ fresh, raw, and authentic ~ although it is quite tempered! There is a milk & honey sweetness as well. Creamy and rich. I also get the slightest hint of buttery tuberose, which makes me feel a bit 'teased'...compelling me to put Tubereuse Criminelle on my list of frags to test!

Sarrisins is unique. Fresh, progressive, wearing clear and sheer, completely new territory for this house. I have a feeling this creation is only the first of many new & inventive parfums yet to come. Now that Lutens has ventured out of their comfort zone, the possibilities are endless!

Oooops, I did it again! (Ha, couldn't resist!) Yep, I tried another Britney Spears frag...well...I actually didn't know it was BS. At Sephora the geometric bottle and cute boxes on display caught my eye, so I spritzed a test strip. Initially there is a short lived note of citrus, and before this juice even hits the paper I detect patchouli. There is some sweet honeysuckle and linden that hover around for awhile. Believe rapidly ends it's progression with a very dry patchouli. The sales associate tells me it's amber based, but my nose doesn't agree. Smells more like cedarwood and patchouli, somewhat dry and aromatic. There is no detectable depth or warmth, it's very much 'on the surface'. When I reflect upon Britney ~ the shaved head, divorce, rehab, losing custody for neglect of her 2 babies, the MTV flop ~ I just can't get enough positive feeling going to consider this purchaseable or wearable. This is one instance where the celeb name has murdered the potential of the product. It's a shame too, because it's a half way decent scent.

Falling In Love is pure fairytale clean, sweet & innocent. Lemons and blackberry burst forth then quietly calm to a comfortable light musk tinged with vanilla. Frankly, it's a little too clean for my taste. (Amazing Grace from this same house is preferable to me, it's less fruity.) What draws me to this scent is the 'philosophy' of the brand. Little life lessons/beliefs are written for each product and printed on the labels ~ which I love! Especially nice for young women, who seem to appreciate these neat & clean aromas too! While I won't be wearing this fragrance, I will be purchasing it to give as gifts this Christmas.

Try as I may (and I have tried many times!)to enjoy this seasonal wonder - for me, it will never be the lovely scent described by previous reviewers. Wrappings comes off heavy & dense, basically containing way too much of every note listed! A single whiff hits me like a punch in the face! As my young son (almost 9 years old) says "Oh man! That burns my nose!"

An oldie but goodie for sure! I thought it came about in the 70's, how suprising to find out it's been scenting women for almost 90 years! I consider this one comparable to the likes of Tabu. Toujours Moi is a true oriental. It is sweet, with a definite sandalwood base. I cannot detect if the formulation has changed over the years, as my nose isn't that familiar with this juice. A drugstore suprise that won't disappoint ~ so dig out the change from the bottom of your purse, pockets or sofa cushions and give this classic a try!

Notes of blackcurrant, jasmine and patchouli ~ as the Diesel website has listed. The blackcurrant note appears to me as 'fermented'. I don't particularly care for that pungent opening...as the scent progresses it clearly improves. The jasmine is seductive and wears close to the skin. Patchouli in the base keeps the rest of this scent clean & grounded in an veil of earthiness. I'm 50/50 on Fuel For Life pour Femme, I'll need to give it another test...

Keiko Mecheri's take on Jasmine is very, very green. The first flower note I actually smell when spritzing this scent is honeysuckle! I do get some tiny bit of jasmine, but the tone is overwhelmingly green. Reminds me of Gucci's Envy Me (the pink one). Petitgrain comes through minimally as a woody base - but still extremely green! I wore this for about two weeks and never received a compliment, nor any inquiries...most importantly, I didn't really enjoy it. Sadly, this jasmine leaves me flat.

Interesting. Opens with a tangy sparkle, bright and juicy. Sweet rose and peony grab my attention and hold it for quite awhile! The florals here are not particularly fresh or authentic, but they come across quite modern and very youthful. Slightly soapy. This will probably sell very well, but it's not for me.

My expectations were along the lines of Voleur de Roses by L'Artisan, sadly I was disappointed. I don't think Midnight Poison is a 'bad' fragrance. It is a simple scent. Read the listed notes. Bergamot, orange, rose, patchouli, amber. Imagine them in your olfactory memory. That's it, plain and simple. No embellishments or subtle nuances here...all in all it is very mainstream. I'm lukewarm on this one.

Peaches & champagne. That's all. I'm about 50/50 on this one. Maybe for the younger crowd...

Hey everybody ~ hold on a minute! (I am now jumping up and down with hands waving furiously.) This Brit by Burberry comes in two presentations. The EDT: Clear bottle, white plaid, light golden juice, smells like insect repellant...AND...The EDP: Clear bottle, Red & Black plaid, champagne colored juice and smells heavenly! MMMMMMMMM!!!

Never gave this one a second thought after having the misfortune of sampling the edt about a 1 1/2 years ago. I'd already written it off as junk. Just so happens, I was shopping in the Burberry store and caught a whiff of Brit EDP on another shopper scooting past me. The scent was rich and warm, vanilla with tonka and woods. So fitting a fragrance for this blustery November evening ~ immediately, I spritzed this one on and was completely scent-ually satisfied!

In it's edp form, Brit shows true class and character. The top notes come off like the chill in the November air as it commands your attention. Quickly it melds into your skin, gaining depth, sweetness and warmth as it progresses. Brit has almost a smoldering effect, and the sillage is supreme!

If you have been exposed to the disgusting edt of this fragrance, I beg you to give Brit another chance in it's edp form...I promise, you won't be sorry!

Earthy! Hence the name "Terre d'Hermes" couldn't be more appropriate! This dry, aromatic blend is sun-kissed by citrus and wears close to the skin. It is very fine quality perfumery, just what I'd expect from this house!

VIBERT has accurately penned this one! The notes here seem familiar yet new at the same time! This house has never been a favorite of mine, however, this Sugar Lychee is impressive.

You've got it QUARRY, this one's on a quest for sales. I imagine the concept came about something like this: "Hey, since Angel was such a big seller, and the Angel sequels 'innocent' and 'garden of stars' also sold well, why not take the dollar generating base of Angel and throw a fresh spin on it...yeah, that's it...another version of the basic Angel...

Well, that is pretty much my impression of this very boring, predictable yet crappy offering. Oh, and by the way, the bottle is a re-run as well. Spare me.

While waiting in the checkout line at the local Marshall's, I spotted an inconspicuous display of Demeter fragrances. Right next to the bottle of Play-Doh scent I noticed this Bulgarian Rose and took a little sniff. I was shocked at the decent quality, and delightfully authentic rose fragrance that eminated from this cheap juice! It was really cheap too - only $7.99 for a 1 oz. bottle. I believe it could hold its' own in a blind sniff against other "Bulgarian Roses" in much higher price categories. For a bottle of decent fragrance under ten bucks - this one's worth scrounging the discount shelves to find! PS ~ I'm going back tomorrow to purchase this...even if I end up using it to scent my bed linens the price is totally worth it!

An extremely light and user friendly amber, that doesn't really contain all that much...well...amber! Autumn is the perfect season to breath in this scent. Marc Jacobs Amber smells like the fall breeze and tons of dried leaves! I also get a faint note of suede ~ which may be an illusion, but comfy cozy just the same. Wears close and sheer. The only bottles I've found are huge! Hopefully I'll find a small bottle to use during the next few weeks as Thanksgiving approaches.

Firmenich's Jean-Claude Delville is the supposed creator of Can Can PH. I was suprised to find this tid-bit of information as not many parfumers openly associate their name with a celebrity scent ~ they seem to merely create the mess, take the money & run! In this case, the fragrance is somewhat decent. Miss Hilton's ad campaign for her latest name-sake frag is obviously 'post boob-job' and makes for some pretty photos. The bottle is kind of plain, but sort of attractive at the same time. The juice itself is also plain and yet attractive...top notes include clementine flower, cassis and nectarine, which is the least appealing part of Can CAn. The initial blast comes off a bit cheap, if not tawdry. In the heart are notes of wild orchid and orange blossom. I will say they are OK. Orchid always seems to 'stick in the back of my throat' but in this particular blend it is tolerable. Most enjoyable is the final phase consisting of musk, amber and woods, and while not listed, I clearly smell vanilla.
In comparison with the overall selection of newer department store perfumes, this one is nice enough and different enough to be a contender.

Jasmine is a floral note that lives within many fragrances spanning time and even gender. When a parfumer introduces this abundantly fragrant flower as the focal point of a scent, I'm all set to try it! Many times my nose meets with disappointment as so many of these so called "jasmines" contain a multitude of other notes that either overrun the jasmine, or flat out steal the jasmine's spotlight. With that said, you can tell I'm just a little bit picky!

In MPG's rendition Jasmin, the opening note of this flower is authentic, delicate and beautiful. It is accompanied by a touch of green, which IMO always compliments jasmine and enables it to sustain a certain quality of freshness. It is clearly sustained throughout the entire wearing, thus earning it's 'jasmin' name. Also living in this blend is a healthy dose of oakmoss. Oakmoss imparts a serious dry feeling, cutting away any excessive sweetness that may exist. It's enjoyable; a unique pairing. If you normally don't care for the scent of jasmine, this is truly a different presentation ~ completely worth trying. After sampling this juice on my body for a couple days, it is what some refer to as 'indolic'. I call it 'fleshy'. My recommendation is to give this one a serious trial - then decide for yourself. It is worthy of a fair wear!

While browsing Sephora I decided to test a fragrance far away from anything I would normally be attracted to...and L'Eau par Kenzo ended up on my wrist. Shockingly good! This watery lotus flower scent is dewey fresh. I get a hint of soft pepper and watermelon seeds! Initial cool and refreshing water notes evolve into a lightly wooded - amber tinged base, which adds more depth than warmth to this blend. I'm intrigued by the unusual essences of nature here in
this divine combination of notes; a very impressive fragrance. Youthful and in good taste!

Musk isn't really my sort of thing, but this Kiehl's is truly classic. PURPLEBIRD7's comments still have me snickering! She's right you know, this is a funky musk, and it's everything else she said too! I personally classify it as being masculine, although it is clearly unisex. You can find this stuff just about anywhere and it's very affordable. 44 years and still going strong, how can you argue with that?!

Wine and Roses, the stuff Kors is made of! CALCHIC's got this one pin-pointed & detailed. I will look for just the right occasion to wear my sample of this luxury frag. It's special!

O.K. QUARRY & FOETIDUS, Three's a charm...I couldn't agree with you more!

This is the first Goutal (aside from Eau de Hadrien) that receives a thumbs up from me. It's not really my cup of tea - as Annick's creations usually are not - but Songes is bare and beautiful! A blend of ylang-ylang, jasmine, vanilla and frangipane - without any extra added sweeteners! Having recently tested Chantacaille's Frangipane, I was ready for this one. First off, ylang-ylang is not a note I've ever enjoyed BUT in Songes I not only clearly smell it, I also like it! Weird, but true. The presentation of jasmine here is better than her 'jasmine' fragrance - go figure! The jasmine here is authentic, restrained, and married very well with the other components of this blend. The frangipane note is the slightest of all, and imparts a rich, dream like quality. Nicely paired with vanilla. I do detect that "rubber tire" element referred to by previous reviewers. For me though, it is more like a note of carnation paired with a non-sweet vanilla that gives that odd illusion...all in all I'm pleased, and will drain my sample vial completely dry. As for a full bottle purchase; we'll see.

Straight out of the bottle this basically smelled like Givenchy's Amarige. After about 30 minutes on the skin it turns dry and musky. Not what I had hoped.

My husband has been wearing this for about 2 weeks now. He instantly loved it! I'm finding a growing appreciation for the stuff. Right from the get go, Blu Notte is uplifting. My nose truly likes a dose of ginger now and again, so this blend satisfies in that respect. BN is a fragrance that sustains a high pitch for an extended period. It is not deep or rich to my senses. I love that it is truly different. I cannot think of another scent like it...except of course for Blu Notte for women! We haven't worn them in tandem but it could be very nice.

The first time I tried Nuits de NoHo it didn't seem like anything special. I used the tiniest amount from a sample vial and thought it a bit too strong. In a hurry, I did'nt have time to wash and apply something else, so I just 'went with it'. Lo and behold, heads were turning, compliments were flying, and I was forced to re-evaluate this frag with my own chemistry. Finally, able to get to the Basenotes website, how suprised I was to read TOVAH'S initial and then subsequent commentary on this scent!!! I feel pretty much about the same. After wearing this one a few times, I appreciate that it is provocative, and yes - expressive. The patchouli in this formulation is ultra pleasing to my nose. The top-notes of pineapple leaves, mandarin and bergamot are uniquely juicy, with just the right amount of sweet. "Clean" & "Sexy" were some of the compliments I received when wearing NdNH! Now truthfully, what woman wouldn't want to smell clean and/or sexy?! Two thumbs way up.

Award winning in every way ~ except I do not like to wear it! (What the heck?) I love to inhale Chinatown from a white paper test strip spritzed with this delicate juice. Ripe peach paired with bergamot is an uplifting opening. Each note in this blend fully enhances the next, and each are lucious and light. I especially appreciate the floral notes being subtley infused. If they were 'in your face', like some white florals can get, the whole composition would be ruined. The bottle is a cultural work of art ~ and accurately reflects the contents held within. Restraint and simplicity make this fragrance outstanding!

Nice accompaniment for chilly autumn & winter weather. Warm, dry and very woody. Although cinnamon is found here, Organza Indecence doesn't come off foody or gourmand whatsoever. Daring, with a friendly vanilla laced throughout; making it approachable.

This is my new favorite scent for hand soap! I bought a bottle to try and everytime I wash my hands, I keep having to sniff them - over and over again! I love the freshness of this floral blend. Inoffensive, it doesn't interfere with my choice of fragrance for the day. I liked it so much, I subsequently purchased the shower gel for that same total body effect! Excellent find.

Refreshing and light, pretty good staying power too! Everytime my daughter layers this scent I breathe a bit more deeply as she passes by!

Beyond amber! Lutens has given us the most resinous, spicy and aromatic amber known to man...Magnificent! I have intentionally waited for my nose to become a little bit more experienced before sampling this re-known creation, and it's paid off. I'm completely appreciative of the intensity that is Ambre Sultan. There is not a single weakness evident...the spices smolder, the resins are earthy, the woods dark, the musk deep, it's so warm to my senses I must describe it as steamy hot! As with most of my favorite's, there are mixed reviews. I adore this one ~ completely!

Wow, NEZ is right! This begins much like Chanel's Cristalle! Quelques Fleurs harbors the potentially cloying triple threat of rose-jasmine-tuberose, yet thankfully manages to keep that fragrant bouquet fresh and in tact. For me, the musk used here smells a bit "fleshy". For lilies I prefer the refined notes found in Lutens Un Lys, but considering the era of this creation and it's unwavering popularity I must give credit where it is due - thumbs up!

Vanisia IS clearly unisex - thanks for the heads up RUGGLES! No doubt a classic oriental! In the same vein as Caron's Parfum Sacre...although Caron's juice is far superior!

Smells like Bath & Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar with a touch of coconut in the finish. Mediocre.

I'm a sucker for ginger ~ I know, I know, so many others have issues with that pungent root, but I love when it's subtley used and in Pecksniff's Oriental Amber it is presented with the lightest touch. The chosen spices and flowers of this 'recipe' live well together. The spices transition easily into the floral heart, which also shifts smoothly into the earthy, wooded base. There is a distinct natural harmony here, and though these powerhouse notes have the potential to be cloying - they're not at all! They have a very light effect, with an underlying sweetness throughout. Oriental Amber is reflective of the longtime reputation of excellence by this fragrance house. I hope they continue with more creations like this!

Douce Amere is interesting, and I have to laugh at (and agree with ) VIBERT'S comment that "Sheldrake" and "transparent" don't belong in the same sentence...so true! For all the potentially heavy notes of milk and honey, musk, sandalwood, wormwood, cedarwood, vanilla - this one does possess a transparent personality! I find it to be gentle and bitter at the same time, and while others appreciate the balance here, it is a bit too woody for my personal taste. Douce Amere might please me more on a man...

Similar to Montale's Sweet Oriental Dream, only less intense - more wearable! (CALCHIC's got the details covered on this one!)

White Floral by Pecksniff can only be described as "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly". I'll begin with the good. High quality product here, potent too - with longevity and sillage to spare. The bad, for me, is the note of ylang-ylang. It is cloying here and pretty much what I call the death note of this bouquet. The ugly? Well, this one comes off like a public restroom air freshener. Almost toxic like in it's character. It's not nice.

Fresh and powdery with a touch of green. This expertly emulsified blend brings to mind the ultra luxurious frangipane note within Chanel's Coco. This fragrance is not the same as Coco by any means, but the frangipane is clearly recognizable in each composition. Vanilla in the base grounds the ethereal overtone of this fragrance perfectly. Frangipane would make an exquisite layering product, for it's unusual notes are unique, pure; well balanced. What a wonderful suprise!

The gentleest floral from Creed. I hesitate to describe this scent as soft or rounded, because I don't find those adjectives accurate. Better put, Fleurissimo is the least harsh in the Creed line of florals. When it comes to this house, I'm consistently disappointed. Not because they don't produce a fine product mind you, I simply haven't experienced a Creed that I love. Their florals for women are predictable, wearing stark and thin on my skin. This one is a bit more powdery than say 2000 Fleurs or Spring Flower, but make no mistake ~ it's not stunning. Not worth the money. The reputation of this age old family fragrance house is stellar, but I have yet to find a true winner from them. I know, I know...my disappointment is showing!

This one deserves acknowledgement for creativity - including the packaging. I was excited to try Silver Rain after reading the fragrance notes. I LOVE anise, as well as several of the other notes listed. Well, I was a little let down. The opening was "camphorous", a bit harsh. The floral middle reminded me of Ford's Black Orchid. As the drydown progressed I ended up with an ozonic sort of powder that sort of made me want to cough. After saying all this, I have to tell you it actually didn't smell bad...it's just not for me.

Yet another fragrance by this house, whose name is not particularly descriptive of it's actual smell! I do detect jasmine in this juice, but it's surrounded by notes that force your nose to take the long road home to the actual jasmine! Peach skin and peony tag team for the acidic/cloying, stick in the back of your throat feeling you must endure before even a subtle glimpse of jasmine is revealed. Even then, there is a lily of the valley-ish note guarding the gates to the elusive jasmine. Finally, if you aren't worn down thus far, you will get to the jasmine. The disappontment is: it's not THAT great once you get there...I'll take Lutens A La Nuit over this anyday!

The jasmine in Blush Intense is of the sweet/tangy variety. Bright and girlish. Reminds me of the jasmine note within Coach's fragrance. Very wearable.

I find this Yvresse to be a quenching fruity spritzer garnished with fresh slices of cucumber! It actually has quite a sophisticated character - which is sometimes difficult to pull off with juicy fruits! The first time I tried it, it was just 'meh'. The second time around is when I appreciated it's composition. That's Grojsman again, working her magic!

Rose Opulente starts off with a strong waxy rose note; like lanolin based rose scented hand cream. Heavy, almost greasy. What might be perceived by some as spicy rose, on my skin turns sharp and acidic. Fortunately, this opening is fairly short lived - about 30-50 minutes - as this edt morphs into a sweet, cozy sandalwood. In the end, only a trace of the formerly bold rose remains. Funny, I couldn't wait for that rose note to calm down, once it did, I sort of missed it! This scent wouldn't be a personal choice of mine. I much prefer a dewy fresh and delicately soft blossom like I find in Stella's Rose Absolute or Lancome's Mille et une Roses. YSL'S Paris or Lancome's Tresor get my vote for a sparkling/effervescent rose. Yep. Those 4 are the best roses I know - so far!

Magical Moon's eye catching cobalt blue bottle grabbed my attention and pulled me aside during a quick jaunt through Macy's fragrance dept., demanding a spot on my wrist. Of course, I complied! Guess what, this edp IS magical! Bright at first, with a multitude of fruit and flowery notes dancing off my wrist. After about 20-30 minutes it began to settle into it's dreamy cedar/sandalwood base ~ still sweet with crystal sugared fruits lingering. It ends up almost amber-ish on my skin. Perfect for an evening of romantic night sky gazing.

AYALA said it best ~ a handsomely done citrus. Bravo! Works nicely as a layering product IMO. (I might sneak a spritz onto my husband and see how that goes!)

The previous reviews of Anne Pliska are what made me seek out a sample of this velvety smooth amber! And this is one time I was not disappointed! This lush symphony of notes progresses into the most luxurious dry down! It's almost decadent! My least favorite part is the opening orange ~ reminds me of children's chewable aspirin! Thankfully, that part doesn't last very long and the rest is soooooooo silky, I'm loving it!

New Version:

Mild gardenia and tuberose. Not "stunning", like the gardenia in Gucci Rush or "intense" like the tuberose in Malle's Carnal Flower. Simply mild. A creamy sweet floral infused with tropical innuendo.

Mostly, I can relate to the review written by Goddess_Dreams! I call this perfume the "peek a boo jasmine"! Sometimes you smell it, and sometimes you don't. Well, the jasmine IS in there. It's just shameful how that poor little jasmine flower just gets overpowered by the plethora of spices found in this Cinnabar like foundation. Don't get me wrong, this juice is lovely, but I hold a distinct preference for the straight up, in your face, raw and unmistakable jasmine of Luten's A LA NUIT! If you take your jasmine fully embellished ~ you might like this one by Different Co.

Yikes! It's a cross between foot powder and Windsong...and I do get that "hairspray" note for sure! Like spray laquer. Cheap smelling, not worth the $$$$$!

A powerhouse woody oriental. Predominantly dry/bitter in it's overall impression. Could be the particular vetiver used here. I think I might prefer this on a man. A little more vanilla could soften this composition a bit, but the vanilla makes too late an appearance ~ about 1-2 hours after application. On my skin this is "MUSTY de Cartier". Not wearable for me.

Crisp clean cotton sheeting sun-dried by a lakeside breeze. Virginal - pure & completely innocent. The white floral's tendency here is clear, bright and delicate. On my own skin it dries a bit soapy, and harsh. Stark. Even so, I cannot say anything bad about this one! Wish I could wear it, I'll just have to enjoy it on some passer-by...

For me, Fracas is "The Garden of Eden".
Tuberose & gardenia, lily of the valley - just a touch, creamy white florals, a rich bouquet well put together. Superb balance! Intoxicating! Tempting! Naughty, but in the most innocent sort of way! Ultimately, irresistable!

Thankfully, this delicious fruity floral veers from the commonplace! Tangy rhubarb tops the heart with a morello cherry/jasmine combo making this a scrumptious treat. Amber and sandalwood anchor the base softly. Overall, this is a close wearing scent - free from patchouli. Yummy! Not over the top (like Pleasures Delight) Cartier has gotten this one just right!

FOETIDUS ~ you've nailed this one square on! The only thing I can add is that Or des Indes comes across as a Mitsouko wanna-be, but never even makes it out the starting gate...

Harsh is the opening of Eau de Mure for me. Bitter green notes upstage the would be sweet & succulent blackberry. I was irritated by this...also, the musk in this blend comes off raw and dusty. Truth be told, I don't enjoy any aspect of this one.

L'Occitane's Ambre is a real social climber! Slightly smokey and vanilic, this friendly juice is sure to please. I also get quite a generous note of cedar...warm, powdery, ever so lightly spiced. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm cozy. I'd love to get my hands on the oil or EDP of this stuff; although for an inexpensive edt it has suprisingly good sillage and staying power. Perfect for autumn!

I've been completely captivated and am totally enamoured by this exotic elixir! First off, yes ~ it does seem very much like L'Artisan's Vanilia. But the initial impression is truly the only commonality. Fleurs des Comores is full bodied, whereas Vanilia comes off thin and weak. The longevity and sillage of FdC are remarkable as well, leaving L'Artisan's creation waaaaaaaay behind. The vanilla, floral and green combo here is exquisite, delicate (but not at all weak)and is very wearable for most occassions. I must also tell you about the magnificent bottle and spraying mechanism...the bottle is heavy, thick, and shaped well to the hand. As for the sprayer ~ it gives the perfect wet mist. Generous too, not dribbly or sparse. The cap is a tad 'bling', sporting a giant faux diamond, but it's not too cheesy! For my finicky nose, Fleur des Comores satisfies and delights!

Gorgeous bottle! Really caught my attention, which is how I ended up trying Nina. I love it on paper, and on my daughter - who smells wonderful wearing notes of cedar - but on my own skin it was not as nice. The top notes like toffee-apple are succulent! IMO the woodsy base completely off-sets the sweetness and produces an exquisite balancing act with lasting power that will knock your socks off!

Goutal's fragrances are 'stark' to my senses. I suppose a minimalist would find her creations lovely, but not me. From the get-go Ce Soir Ou Jamais is waxy lemon furniture polish and ROSE! As LONEFISH said, it doesn't evolve - simply fades away. And where is the jasmine??? That's the reason I tried this one in the first place. It's non-existent here. Not offensive, but undoubtedly disappointing.

CLOYING! An overdone copy of YSL'S Opium or Lauder's Cinnabar. The cinnamon/carnation/rose trio is overbearing ~ upstaging even the heartiest of basenotes. The top notes of orange, pimento and bay leaves get completely railroaded by the middle. This blend is way out of balance.

The sandalwood here renders all others inadequate. Bois de Iles is truly, one of the prettiest olfactory creations from Chanel ~ or from anyone for that matter! Take a look at the listed notes...I dare your nose to single out any of the flowers listed, I honestly don't think you can do it! Why, you ask? Simply because BdI is supremely & seamlessly crafted. It is THAT FINE! Two thumbs up!

All Chantecaille's fragrances are transparent. The notes are sheer, clear and simply delightful to the senses. Not to say there is any lack of quality! No sir & no ma'am - these potions are top notch blends! Tiare is very green. I'm not a lover of outright 'green' in most scents, but here the green is mannerly. Notes: small tahitian gardenia, tuberose, mimosa and a touch of rosewood. Not too sweet either. Nicely done.

For me, the stand-out notes here are the pepper and cedar. This duo takes me back a few summers when I used to wear Lacoste Pour Femme...very similar! Actually, I don't find the nutmeg in Visit to be un-welcome at all. It comes off quite complimentary in it's relationship with the other notes. What I do pick up though is a slightly metallic undercurrent that baffles me...Overall, Visit is a bit bland and very safe. Certainly, there are many other stunning scents to spend your dollars on!

The energy of this fragrance is in the same genre' as Les Meteorites (Guerlain) and Amazing Grace (Philosophy). French Lime Blossom is squeaky clean; pure. This fresh and downright girly scent dries down to a sweet, slightly powdery citrus. In the early 80's Bain de Soleil made an orange tanning gelee' that had a distinctly similar smell...gives me a sort of "carefree" feeling! FLB is youthful ~ an enjoyable retreat.

There is one single note within this scent that I really like... suede. Yep, that smooth suede is the redemer for me! Softens and blurs some of the potentially sharper notes. Other than that, I'm with ZZTOPP's opinion completely. My overall impression of Euphoria is "Eh, no big deal." The only reason for my neutral rating is that yummy suede.

Jasmine lovers unite! Jasmine is such a common flower used in perfumery, until sampling A la Nuit I haven't been able to truly appreciate it's ability to stand alone as the starring note. This is one of those perfumes that when you first breathe it in, it's beauty stuns you, rendering your senses helpless with it's captivating presence. The jasmine here is fresh, raw, sweet, clear, delicate and yet firmly present - with excellent sillage and longevity to spare. I'm not one to wax and wane forever about the intricate nuances of each note within a fragrance...so I'll simply say, A la Nuit has made a jasmine lover out of me!

After spritzing this one onto my wrist, it took about 45 seconds or so before I could actually smell it. The fruited topnotes in this blend are subtle and ever so slightly sweet, mingling effortlessly with the mild, exotic floral center. After the entire fragrance 'emerges', I'm struck by the relaxing breeze like emotion of this perfume. Mediterranean is much better than I ever expected ~ what a welcomed suprise!

Reminds me of a somewhat more pungent version of the 1990's fragrance called VENEZIA. Markedly different. This Santal Blanc possesses a definite medicinal tone. If you can push your olfactory past that note, there lies a crisp oriental musky sandalwood. Not what I'd call easy to wear. I don't like this for myself, but SB could be a stunning formal fragrance on the right person!

Un Lys was the first Lutens scent I sampled, and much to my suprise, Arabie is crafted by the same perfumer! They are really nothing alike yet each is a remarkable creation! This Arabie is heavily wooded with cedar, mandarine bark & sandalwood. Russian leather and dried fruits notes give this fragrance it's warm and 'boozy' character. It is somewhat dense - which does bring about a fruitcake association. Aside from that, I also detect what can only be described as a scalded milk note. I wouldn't say burnt, just scalded, on the brink of burning. It is not offensive, merely present. A unisex blend for sure, with excellent sillage and staying power. Personally, I would consider wearing it for a winter holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas. Quality perfumery!

More is not always better. For example: Flowerbomb is a flower/patchouli scent. Angel is a confectionary/patchouli scent. This PD by Lauder is "ANGEL BOMB". A confectionary/flower/fruity/patchouli. Waaaaay toooooo muuuuuuuch of the indulgences our senses typically love. The topnotes are strawberry, cherry and vanilla buttercream iced yellow cake. The middle comes along with roses, jasmine & freesia, ending of course with the ever popular patchouli. Sounds innocent enough, but after wearing a sample of this fragrance, I'm reaching for the soap and water...and an Exedrin.

The general character of Romance for Men is so similar to the original women's version, yet the listed notes don't reflect any commonalities!? As with the women's Romance, this blend turns acidic. Wish I could pinpoint the culprit but it eludes me. I don't find this one very wearable, yet it seems popular. An enigma.

Bummer ~ for sure! After reading the listed notes and sampling the actual scent this is nothing more than a disappointment. The pyramid sounds so inviting, yet it simply falls flat. I don't enjoy this one at all.

Recently I tested Cool Water Woman by Davidoff, ironically, this Creed Spring Flower graces my wrist only a few days later...and I'm not finding much difference between the two! My impression of CCW was "sweet fruity floral top with a woodsy ozone marine drydown". SF is actually even less than that! As VIBERT points out there is not much flower in evidence here...he's absolutely correct, I don't get any flower notes. What I do smell is a fruity opening with a somewhat sickly ozone/aquatic base. Unfortunately quite a disappointment for me.

Rose, lilac, jasmine, magnolia, violet, iris...it's just too much for my nose! If a barrage of flowers is what I'm looking for, Beautiful (crafted by Sophia Grosjman for Estee Lauder) is far more rounded, balanced and wearable than this Creed bouquet ~ less expensive too! Not that this Creed is 'bad' ~ it's just got too many leading ladies in the mix, which happen to muddle the blend. Each flower is right in your face rather than one or two in the lead with others in the supporting backround. IMO this cheapens 2000 Fleurs into the "drugstore floral" category. There is a prominent green bite throughout, maybe from lily, but it's not enough to clarify the blend of notes. SilkandSteel gives an accurate perspective on this one.

Weird bottle. A manequin head...I wonder how it would look with the JPG manequin body?! Anyway, this scent is really cheap & sweet. Overall, I have to agree with STARBRITEGIRL on this one. Not a scent for introverts, or anyone who's reached an age of maturity. If you're playing "dress-up" go for it.

This fragrance is a miserable mess. Gardenia is the only note I could decipher at the top, for a brief moment, until the ylang ylang kicked in. I have never enjoyed ylang ylang in any scent. I find it stinky, and it stinks to high heaven in this 3121. After a long while, maybe 7-8 hours, the stink-weed smell subsides and I'm left with a stale mustiness which makes me feel...uh...'not so fresh'. Where are the delicate notes of orange flower, muguet, tuberose, jasmine? Where is the earthy patchouli or aromatic cedarwood? I don't know who crafted this disaster, maybe it should have been named "911" or possibly "666". Honestly, I think this is the worst perfume I've ever encountered.

Notes of mandarine and assorted berries send this spritely fragrance on it's way, but ultimately it's on a road to nowhere. The clean, sweet, vibrant fruit opening evaporates rapidly. What's left is iris, sandalwood and a touch of vanilla, which seems nice enough on paper, but come off frail, thin and weak. No sillage whatsoever, and as far as longevity goes - maybe 1 or 2 hours tops. Such a shame... the packaging is pretty, but nothing more than an empty promise. I'm not repulsed, but definitely disappointed.

19 out of 30 (2/3) of Davidoff fragrance is some variation of "COOL WATER". How many more re-runs must we endure? At any rate, this Cool Water Woman is simply a sweet fruity floral top with a woodsy ozone marine drydown. Yep, that pretty much covers it. I'm not sure why this bland (oops, I mean blend) has been so wildly popular with the general public...maybe after I lose my sense of smell I'll figure it out.

Surely one of L'Artisan's finest creations! Excellent composition. Unique & wearable. Manly. Perfect sillage. Steadfast in longevity. Cool name too! I'm in agreement with all the positive comments in this forum. What else can we ask for?

This parfum comes off as a combination of a citrus scented furniture dusting product by Pledge and 1970's fizzy candies called Zot's. Unique for a fragrance, but not my personality at all.

900 is "perfumed masculinity", a real manly man's scent! I know someone who wears it throughout the midwestern winter months, which I happen to think is perfect, he re-boots after lunchtime and I always try to catch a whiff! Love the smell of a man wearing this classic...thumbs up - with a wink!!!

Elegant & enchanting, this rose scented elixir is radiant! Damask rose, Turkish rose, Dune rose, Musk rose, Bulgarian rose, Tea rose, Apricot rose all combined and glorified into the most beautiful rose fragrance I've ever encountered. Like soft cool petals quietly in bloom, with a breeze to carry the sweetness gently passed your nose, tempting you to smell the flower just one more time. Addictive. Classy too! The amber/musk/woods base of this creation is intricately woven ~ seamlessly interfaced with the fragrant silken petals of rose. I'm so completely taken with this scent, I will be on a mission to add it to my wardrobe! Perfumer Christine Nagel ~ who already has quite a repetoir of successes under her belt ~ has created a real treasure here. I'm also shocked it's not been mentioned by more reviewers. This is a niche quality parfum, well worth the effort to find! The bottle is fantastic too. IMO it is also worth the hefty price tag! Two thumbs waaaaaaaaaaay up!

I'm not in agreement with the previous commentaries. For me, "W" is clean & green! Initially it smells soapy. Not like violet soapy...more like a childs plastic bottle of blowing bubble solution, gently clean. Green is the main character of fragrance here. Very uncomplicated, somewhat sharp, basic & plain. I imagine people who don't typically enjoy personal fragrance may like this for it's simple freshness. My own tastes don't run in this direction, as this scent is neither appealing nor appalling.

The concept here is really neat, and I think it works beautifully! The cedarwood jumps up fast in the begining but quickly and quietly mellows allowing a soft, clean patchouli time to shine. The peony note is present throughout, which is not cloying whatsoever. Quality for sure. I can't wait to try layering this one with the amber...I'm extremely excited to see a hot mainstream consumer market being encouraged to combine fragrance. Stella in Two Peony is an all around winner!

Since I am a perfume lover, of course I purchased this wacky doggie fragrance for my two shelties! I basically like this smell much better than the shampoo their groomer uses. The correct application is important, as the directions say: spray into your hands and run through the dog's coat. When applied in this manner, the pooches aren't bothered by it one bit! Leaves a nice fresh aire about them. Doggie chic!

Paris is a creation I've literally grown to love! When it comes to personal fragrance my opinions rarely change so dramatically, but here I am ~ a changed woman. The rose notes in this perfume are light and bright, not bitter in any way. Slightly dry, maybe - but in the most polite way. I also get a nice dose of sweet violet...reminding me of those square violet pastille candies of long ago. The drydown is clean, leaving only a trace of its earlier fresh cut summer bouquet as the musk & woods unify the entire blend. I truly believe my 'nose' has become better educated over the past year, and has acquired a greater appreciation of rose & violet notes in particular. Thankfully, I've been re-introduced to this gorgeous scent, it's a real beauty! I adore it.

I've admired this clean, fresh, almost aquatic fragrance on 2 different co-workers over the years...but on me, it just doesn't work. On my skin, l'eau d'issey is along the same lines ~ only much nicer.

Inside this modern fuschia colored glass bottle, artfully decorated with hand-drawn summer flowers, lives a sweet & sassy little scent. The bergamot/blackcurrant opening is fun, juicy, vanillic too. Reminiscent of a Britney Spears fragrance. As the drydown goes, I can't single out any particular flowers in the 'floral' middle notes. The base is what really keeps my attention. The woods combined with honey are a winning blend. I also detect some light musk & a slight bit of patchouli. It's a sexy combination!

This fragrance is a real sleeper! I'm very suprised at how pleasing this unique blend smells! Some listed notes are: vanilla, cassis, rose, almond milk, peony, amber, plum, muguet, iris & sandalwood. Although I can pick out each yummy note, the almond milk note is to die for - creamy, like sweet butter. This is a wonderful balance of tart, sweet, powder, spice, wood, green, well...a real symphony. Finally, a fresh floral that is different and wearable! Don't let this gem pass you by. Appropriate for summer day-into-night wear. My only complaint is the bottle, rectangular and chunky, not delicate, detailed or pretty enough to reflect the superb contents!

For my nose, a cross between VS Very Sexy and LC Curve Crush...it's kind of fresh/kind of not...IMO Very Sexy and Curve Crush are MUCH nicer and less expensive too!

How I ended up with this sample I'll never know, but it's actually a worth while scent! Right along side Opium, Cinnabar & KL, Perle noire is a nicely spiced floral. Rich essences of clove, carnation,