Gloria by Cacharel, 2002

I found this fragrance nearly ten years ago, before I discovered perfume on the internet. I was looking for an almond fragrance and tried this at the perfume counter in Boots. It was a complete revelation, most perfume I had bought before was floral or green, and didn't sit well on my skin and so I didn't wear often. Gloria is sweet and oriental, with amber and a touch of almondy amaretto. Utterly delicious. Gloria stands with many of the more expensive "high end" fragrances, and I still really enjoy wearing it on days I need a perfume "hug". The dry down is very comforting, sweet and almondy and it makes me feel warm and happy. This is definitely a fragrance for autumn and winter, it does not wear too well on me in the summer, it is too sweet in the heat. This perfume has been multi-bottle-worthy, and I am now onto my third (and have been trying to find it on Ebay since it was discontinued). I also have the bath oil (which also works great as a room fragrance in a burner!), the mist and the lotion. It's a crime that Cacharel discontinued Gloria. It's certainly the best scent that they have ever made, head and shoulders above the likes of the shouty, loud and brash Amor Amor and its ilk. The only other perfume I have found which smells anywhere similar to Gloria on me is Guerlain Spiriteuse Double Vanille which to me shows how good Gloria actually is.