Body By Victoria by Victoria's Secret, 2002

Despite being seriously underwhelmed by the name of this fragrance - sounds like the name of a gym or else one of those "slimming tonics" that come out every so often - I went ahead and gave this fragrance a try and have been impressed with it more than I would have ever thought possible. It's very much a fruity-aquatic floral, a category of scent that doesn't thrill the socks off me - but unlike other fruity-aquatic florals I've had and been less than blown away by, this one possesses (a) remarkable staying power and (b) a stunning drydown. The top and middle parts of the scent tend to the bland - crushed leaves, freesia, mandarin, water hyacinth, cucumber. Nothing thrilling, though there is also stephanotis, which I love for its dry spiciness. Perhaps that helps spark up the composition somewhat. But it's the simple-enough sounding basenotes of white musk and sandalwood that make for a drydown that is creamy, a touch powdery and almost praline-like without being sweet. I'm guessing it's the white musk that smells so lovely and brings out the best in the rest of the fragrance. What Body by Victoria reminds me of most is Trussardi Skin, which smells very similar at the top and in the middle but is ruined by a hugely cedar base that reeks of "eau de hamster cage." Body by Victoria gets it right with the white musk; this is a fantastic really casual scent for hot or warm weather.