By Designer

Alien Goddess vs. Intense Comparison

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Alien Goddess is the latest flanker series from Mugler utilizing the Alien name and style. Even if, it is a fairly different wear from the original classic Alien. But, the first Alien Goddess has now gotten a flanker of its own, Alien Goddess Intense. I’ve tested both of them and am going to compare the two in this post to see, which is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Alien Goddess vs. Alien Goddess Intense

Alien Goddess

Notes include: bergamot, coconut water, jasmine, vanilla, heliotrope, cashmeran wood

Click here to try: Alien Goddess at Macy’s

Read my review: Alien Goddess

alien goddess review

Alien Goddess Intense

Notes include: coconut, bergamot, jasmine, jasmine tea, benzoin, vanilla, cashmere

Click here to try: Intense at Sephora

Read my review: Goddess Intense

Opening

Alien Goddess opens up with coconut and bergamot. But, the bergamot is quite light, and the coconut is more of a watery one. The jasmine and vanilla also begin to come through early.

It is a bright, sweet, and creamy perfume. The heliotrope will come on soon after to split some of the duties with the jasmine note.

Alien Goddess Intense is more substantial and ‘thicker’ than the original. Here, the coconut isn’t watery, but more of the fruit itself. It is also joined by vanilla and benzoin early, which further add to it.

But, early it’s the coconut, jasmine, and vanilla notes mainly. It does also have that bergamot, but it doesn’t play much of a role in Intense either.

Which is better?

They do have a similar aroma, but I think I prefer that of Goddess Intense more so. The earlier vanilla emergence and the fuzzy amber-like qualities of the benzoin are nice additions. I do like the original too, so, it’s not a complete blow out victory here.

Edge: Intense

Projection

Intense does come across as being a heavier scent and one that has more projection than the original. A bit more of a scent trail too.

I don’t think Intense massively outperforms the original, in this regard. However, it does have the edge for sure.

Edge: Intense

Longevity

The original Alien Goddess went 8-9 hours for me, on skin. It’s actually got some really nice performance and wasn’t a disappointment.

However, Intense will go 9-10+ hours of wear. It’s not a massive difference, but I can detect it for an hour or two past, what I got with the original EDP.

For a mainstream designer fragrance, Alien Goddess Intense is borderline elite, with how long it lasts.

Edge: Intense

Versatility

The only real difference here is the the climate each is worn in. Sure, there is overlap. Though, the original is a better bet for the warmer spring and summer weather. It’s lighter and not as cloying in the hotter temperatures.

That being said, Intense is the better bet in colder weather. Both can fit in on moderate days. Outside of that there really isn’t much distinction.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these perfumes do I prefer? It’s a closer call than it may seem. I consider them both to be good smelling fragrances, though, neither blows me away. But, each is bolstered by its general likeability and performance.

With the original, I like the lighter coconut, the sweetness and the heliotrope which comes through in the middle act. It’s a very nice and wearable perfume.

But, Intense is slightly better to me, across the board. The vanilla, amber, benzoin combination isn’t wholly different from the original. It’s just more of an enjoyable mix overall.

Plus, the performance is better. Not a huge win, but I’ll take Intense.

Winner: Alien Goddess Intense

11 Best Tom Ford Perfumes for Women

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Tom Ford fragrances fall into the more very expensive designer category of perfumes. They tend to be less synthetic and contain more ‘rare’ notes than other mainstream scents. However, Tom Ford also produces some really great scents for women. These perfumes tend to stand out and make a statement, which can be a good or bad thing depending on the person wearing it.

The scents on this list will be more along the lines of a signature perfume for the right lady and not all of them will have universal appeal.

What are the Best Smelling Ladies Fragrances by Tom Ford?

Popular Fragrance Choice

Tom Ford Black Orchid By Tom Ford For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4-Ounces– Dark, rich, and spicy. A loud and sensual gourmand fragrance featuring notes of black truffle, black orchid, plum, and patchouli.

Not quite feminine nor is it over to the masculine side of fragrance either. This one can be loved or hated, but it is bold and sexy, nevertheless.

Black Orchid is not only a top level fragrance with its sillage, but it seemingly lasts forever. Yes, Tom Ford fragrances are priced on the higher end, but you get every penny’s worth with this perfume’s performance.

It’s sweet, it’s dark and dry, it’s smokey, and then powdered. Black Orchid has a lot of personality and the composition has a very well done complexity. Marvelous.

Best Overall

Tom Ford Noir Pour Femme Eau De Parfum, 3.4 Ounce– A more moderate gourmand than Black Orchid. Noir has an alluring vibe created by the smooth vanilla notes, the floral notes like rose, and the sweetness of orange.

A beautiful fragrance that is soaked in amber, has a creamy tone, on top of smooth sandalwood. Noir Pour Femme is much more of a cold weather fragrance and hangs in the air wonderfully without being too in your face about it.

Noir Pour Femme has a lot of overlap with Noir Extreme for Men. Less intense at the start, but that beautfiul dry down is pretty close to one another. Noir Extreme is one of my favorite men’s offerings from this brand, so, it makes sense that I would enjoy this too.

This is probably my personal favorite and what I’d say is the best smelling. That being said, it is a fragrance for the colder months, which isn’t going to work well in heat. So, if that really applies to your living situation, I’d go with something else.

Cherry Delicious

Tom Ford Lost Cherry Unisex EDP Spray 1.7 oz– Lost Cherry has become recently very popular and it’s pretty easy to understand, once you smell it. Well, assuming you like sweet cherry.

The newer releases like Cherry Smoke and Electric Cherry, weren’t nearly as good as this one which kicked off the use of this note.

It starts off with that sweetness, but warm and with a thicker aroma. The cherry at the start, is very much like a liqueur or the syrup from Dr. Pepper’s Cherry flavor.  Amaretto and cherry syrup, yep, really reminds me of that Dr. Pepper.

Then, that will subside and the almond note will move in. The cherry liqueur seemingly gets replaced by a more naturalistic cherry aroma. Less thick, more fresh with some added spices.

The sillage however, is pretty light to moderate. Some folks have had a problem with performance, but it lasts 7-7.5 hours, on my skin. Again, not with a massive projection throughout.

Nonetheless, this one smells delicious, and for sure one to test if it sounds like something you’d like. Lost Cherry Full Review

Best Summer Tom Ford Perfume

Tom Ford Eau de Soleil Blanc Spray, 3.4 Ounce, Eau de Toilette Spray– Soleil Blanc features floral notes: jasmine, ylang-ylang, and tuberose. Also, a unique pistachio, and enough amber to make it inviting.

Soleil opens with that coconut note, and a very juicy bergamot, with an underlying tuberose floral note.

These ingredients pair well and add the sweet creaminess of the perfume, but this is made spicier by the cardamom and just a hint of warm pink pepper.

As it moves along, the floral notes really begin to emerge and blend with a creamier and less sweetened coconut note. A very light warmth and spice is there from the cardamom. It has really good performance and delivers that day at the beach vibe to perfection.

The sillage isn’t super strong, but Soleil Blanc will last for 10+ hours. Eau de Soleil Blanc is the flanker to this. It has more of a citrus opening and sun tan lotion dry down. I only tried that one, once. So, I’m not positive which I prefer, as of this update.  Soleil Blanc Full Review

Most Interesting

Tom Ford Velvet Orchid Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce– Citrus sweet, smooth, and floral at the start. This is a great and seductive perfume which lightens and brightens as a scent during the dry down period.

Similar to Black Orchid? Yes. However, it is less intense, and has a sweeter and boozier profile. Warm rum with thick honey, creamy vanilla, and the floral bouquet led by the orchid note. Quite rich with a dark depth.

Top Woody Perfume

Tom Ford Santal Blush Eau De Parfum, 1.7 Ounce– Woodsy and spicy fragrance that airs towards Oriental. Santal Blush is pretty unisex and a fragrance designed for sandalwood lovers.

It’s very clean and fresh with powdered elements and the aforementioned spices sitting underneath. Mostly though, Santal Blush is a woody fragrance, first and foremost. At times, it is creamy. Other times, it’s musky. Overall, it is simply great.

Easy to Love Citrus and Floral

Tom Ford Sole di Positano Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 oz– The Acqua version is the more recent release. It’s much lighter and slightly different to this one. However, I think the original Sole di Positano is the better of the two.

Zesty citrus blend up top that is dominated by a mix of orange notes. Slight greenish and herbal spice sitting underneath that, but not to the same extent as other Tom Ford citrus offerings.

Jasmine and ylang-ylang really emerge later on. But, with the orange blossom and neroli, this one still retains a balance with its citrus beginnings.

A great spring and summer option with decent, but not amazing performance. Sole di Positano Review

Just Peachy

Tom Ford Bitter Peach by Tom Ford Eau De Parfum Spray (Unisex) 1.7 oz Men– Bitter Peach is a newer edition to the list, but I think that it’s well worth putting on and gives a different experience from the other options.

I was also tempted to put Soleil Neige on, but that while enjoyable, never reaches a higher level.

You get a lot of the peach as expected, early on. However, it is flanked by orange and patchouli notes, as well.

It is a ripe peach, with that bitterness, and a great gourmand package of vanilla and patchouli. The former gives the juicy fruit a creaminess and is joined by floral notes including heliotrope. The peach is the main star and the scent is quite bold and provides a very long lasting wear.

Top Floral Perfume

Tom Ford Jasmin Rouge eau de parfum for women 1.7 oz– Jasmin Rouge is a jasmine sambac led floral perfume with warmth and underlying spices from notes like cinnamon, ginger, and sage.

The jasmine is mostly paired with ylang-ylang and this is wrapped up in a nice amber on top of smooth wood.

Jasmin Rouge has a moderate and refined sillage, which won’t overpower, but does have a terrific modern floral aroma. This Tom Ford is very well blended and at times the supporting notes won’t really stand out from one another.

Though, this is one of the top fragrances for those who love jasmine. Jasmin Rouge Review

Sweet Wintertime Scent

TOM FORD Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum 50 ML(1.7 OZ)– One of the absolute classic presentations of a fully developed tobacco note blended with sweet elements, like the namesake, vanilla. It’s warm and bold and extremely pleasant to wear.

Tonka bean, dried fruits, and cacao join some spices to help round out the main tobacco/vanilla combination.

Tobacco Vanille is another beast performer by Tom Ford. It will last all day and doesn’t take much to have it be noticed.

I used to enjoy this one more, in the past. It’s still good, but doesn’t capture my attention in the same way it once did. Very worth checking out, though. Tobacco Vanille Review

Best Leather Fragrance

Ombré Leather Eau de Parfum Spray, 1.7-oz.– Ombre Leather is a new 2018 release, but one that I’m really enjoying. It is unisex, maybe slightly masculine, but from online store reviews plenty of women are wearing this one.

This fragrance is very dry and warm, with leather being the main star.

However, it is joined by amber and moss, that play the background. Jasmine is quite noticeable and plays amazingly off of the leather note.

I do personally like this Ombre Leather more than the Parfum version. That edition utilizes a violet leaf note, giving things a slightly different vibe. It is still very good, though.

Super smooth and rich leather, like an enveloping jacket. A moderate wear with an overall clean aroma, but with an earthy dirtiness underneath. Awesome. Ombre Leather Review

Riverside Drive by Bond No. 9

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This is going to serve as my inaugural review of a Bond No. 9 fragrance and I hope to cover them all in the future. However, since I’ve gotten a new vial of Riverside Drive wrapped in the bon-bon style this house’s samples are famous for, and it is fresh on my mind after wearing around…it’s time to write this out.

Riverside Drive is classified as unisex but it is slightly more towards the masculine side of things, though not overly so. In this post, I want to give my impressions of this scent, what it smells like, how it performs, and whether or not it is worth a buy.

Update: This is an older review from many years back. I’ve come back and made changes to it since. Also, Riverside Drive is now back in stock, after being gone from Bond’s lineup for a time.

What does Riverside Drive Smell Like?

Notes include: oakmoss, basil, pineapple, sandalwood, and violet

Click here to try: Bond No. 9 Riverside Drive by Bond No. 9 For Men. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3 0z

riverside drive

My Full Review

The opening of Riverside Drive immediately strikes me as familiar. It is crazy how much this is like a blend of Creed’s Green Irish Tweed and L’Homme Libre by YSL.

On the Creed side of things, it’s the violet note and pineapple (GIT has lemon), which gives it a similar vibe…it also sort of seems like an Aventus style fragrance. Not the same, just a comparison.

So, off the bat, if you like any of those scents, you’ll probably like Riverside Drive. The basil note is quite prevalent as well, which is why Libre comes to mind.

I’d say it’s most similar to those fragrances in the initial phase of wear, the basil/woodsy/floral notes hit pretty hard at first, and then this Bond cologne mellows out into something fruitier. It does have a slight vegetal aroma, in the early stages before it dries out completely.

The oakmoss is more at play from the start and then becomes more of a background player. Riverside Drive just comes off as a very dry smelling fragrance (ala Azzaro Homme, which shares the oakmoss note), as the pineapple isn’t a ‘juicy’ scent when combined with the other notes.

A fresh and still somewhat mossy sandalwood with a light patchouli and violet earthiness underneath. The basil isn’t too prevalent, towards the end, but the pineapple’s effect does seem to stick around.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it strikes me as a moderate. It isn’t a heavy fragrance, more than intimate though, and definitely noticeable. Maybe a 3-4 foot radius around you, after it has settled down.

It also has very good longevity and sticks with me as the day wears on. Maybe 8-9 hours of wear, in total. Not completely amazing, but I wasn’t disappointed with how Riverside performs, as you’ll get plenty of time with it.

Riverside Drive is a good scent for the warmer months, it really doesn’t have that nightlife appeal, however. I like it as a daily wear option for spring, mainly. Maybe the early part of the autumn too.

It is an attractive scent and girls seem to enjoy it. Again, I’d wear it during the daytime in more casual situations or for work, versus it being something to wear out on a date.

Overall Impressions of Riverside Drive

Overall, is Riverside Drive, worth a buy? That depends. I enjoy the scent but much like GIT, it isn’t really my style. As such, I don’t want to pay for a full bottle.

However, plenty of people would really like this stuff. It is a fine fragrance in my opinion and if any of the aforementioned colognes are one’s you really enjoy, I’d say go for it.

The smell itself is nice and if this is your style, you should at least like it a lot, if not love. The performance is good and this can easily become a signature fragrance for the right guy.

Flowerbomb Midnight by Viktor & Rolf

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Midnight is another Flowerbomb flanker. This entry into the long-running series, was released in 2019. I grabbed a sample of this and Flowerbomb Dew, with my last order of fragrances that I bought online. How does Midnight smell? Does it last long? Is it actually worth a try?

What does Flowerbomb Midnight Smell Like?

Notes include: blackcurrant, pomegranate, Night blooming jasmine, peony, white musk, vanilla

Click here to buy: Flowerbomb Midnight

My Full Review

I guess they gave this one the title of ‘Midnight’ due to the jasmine note, being night blooming. But, the reality is that this isn’t a dark kind of fragrance.

Actually, it’s actually quite upbeat and has a playful sort of vibe to it. Yet, it develops into something much more mature.

The opening is fruity and juicy. A sweet and somewhat tart blend of pomegranate and blackcurrant. Initially, it’s a juicier pomegranate, before this takes on a jammy kind of fruitiness that some others in the Flowerbomb series have.

Not overly heavy. In fact, Flowerbomb Midnight has a definitely light freshness to it.  Not quite aquatic, but a somewhat similar effect.

The fruitiness is pretty short-lived, in its dominance. Midnight will then shift into a musky floral fragrance.

The rest of the way is basically a balanced blend of the peony and jasmine. With touches of vanilla, some of the remaining fruity sweetness, and a solid amount of musk.

At times, the jasmine really stands out on my skin. Others, I get more peony, but still very balanced between them.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This does have a lighter sillage. The freshness hangs gently in the air, but I actually find the projection to be pretty good. At least for the first, 1-2 hours of wear.

Thereafter, Flowerbomb Midnight will be a more intimate fragrance sitting within 3 feet of the skin, until it fades away completely.

The longevity here is okay. Don’t expect it to be great or anything approaching it. On my skin, Midnight will go for 6-6.5 hours in totality. Again, not bad, just nothing impressive.

Seasonally, this is going to be at its best autumn through spring. I’d say slightly chilly to moderate, is when Midnight peaks.

This is a versatile and pretty sort of scent. Again, it doesn’t seem to be dark or anything like that despite the name. Not really a sexy nightlife scent. However, the rest of the time, Midnight can fit in very well.

It’s a musky floral blend for much of the wear, so, it’s never going to stand out in a negative way.

Overall Impressions of Flowerbomb Midnight

Overall, do I like Flowerbomb Midnight? Yes, I do. I think that this is one of my favorite flankers of the series thus far.

It’s in my top four. The original is my favorite. Midnight ranks somewhere with Nectar and Ruby Orchid. I’m not sure any of them has an upper hand versus the other two.

I do really enjoy the pomegranate opening act. I wish that got more time to hang around. However, what you do get, is quite nice and a fun scent.

The dry down is more basic. Still, it does everything well. Good balance between the peony and jasmine, not overly musky, and with enough sweetness to keep me interested.

The performance could be better. I don’t mind the softer feel to this, but I’d like it to last longer than that six hour range. Nonetheless, Flowerbomb Midnight is worth checking out, if you get a chance. Not a ‘must have’, just a solid entry from Viktor & Rolf.

Alien Goddess Intense by Mugler

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Alien Goddess Intense is the follow up the very successful, Alien Goddess by Mugler. This flanker was released in 2022. I recently bought a sample of this perfume in order to test it out and see how it compares to the original. How does Intense smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Alien Goddess Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: coconut, bergamot, jasmine, jasmine tea, benzoin, vanilla, cashmere

Click here to try: Intense at Sephora

My Full Review

Here’s how Mugler describes it: Dazzling bergamot, a glorious infusion of jasmine and mesmerizing benzoin. When intensity meets extraordinary.

Goddess Intense has a more substantial feel from the start, than the lighter original. In that, coconut water and bergamot were the top.

Here, it is more of a regular coconut, that’s thickened by a substantial vanilla not and a touch of the bergamot. Neither editions, have much of the citrus, but it really doesn’t stand out here.

While the vanilla is around for the entire wear, it feels like it has more strength later on.

What it does have, is plenty of jasmine. Coconut, jasmine, and vanilla are the main trio in Goddess Intense. With the latter two, taking over the coconut influence as we move deeper.

Outside of that, benzoin. Sort of fuzzy and ambery coming through the base. There is a light wood, from the cashmere. Just not too massive.

Finally, this is a vanilla and amber blend with a somewhat soapy quality from the remaining jasmine note. Not really any coconut towards the end, on me.

Doesn’t have the same powdery heliotrope like the original Alien Goddess. Actually, comes across like the original Alien quite a bit. Not the same, but the similarities are very apparent.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The original was a lighter fragrance than this newer Intense version, but it still had above average projection. Alien Goddess Intense is somewhat thicker/heavy and has an improved projection radius.

However, it’s not that much stronger than the original. Again, certainly above average, but nothing that’s going to absolutely dominate a room for hours.

The longevity is borderline great. For a mainstream designer fragrance, it delivers plenty and more than what you get from many others. On my skin, it lasts at least 9 hours, with 10+ not being out of the question.

I don’t think it’s going to be a 12 hour performer, but it can come close.

Seasonally, this could probably work at any time. I might suggest using something else during the hottest days of summer, but Intense could probably work in the evenings then, too.

Really, it’s best when it’s slightly chilly out to slightly warm. Very versatile with the climates, that it can work well in. Personally, I liked it best on the colder testing day, that I tried this one out on.

It’s good as a daily wear perfume. Intense isn’t something that’s going to be totally formal or anything, but it’s put together enough to not feel childish or juvenile at all. Don’t expect some sophisticated masterpiece, just a nice smelling fragrance.

My Overall Impressions of Alien Goddess Intense

Overall, do I like this fragrance? Yes, I think that it is quite good and somewhat better than the original Alien Goddess release. Not miles better, but I do prefer this edition to the first.

This isn’t a complete 180 degree change from the original, but it is different enough to warrant a try, if you liked that one. The vanilla notes here are substantial, as is some jasmine and amber influence in the base.

The performance is good and what you should expect from most Mugler releases. I’m not at all blown away by this.

I do like the coconut note, with its more substantial aroma. The vanilla, benzoin, and amber are nice. Kind of basic, but fairly enjoyable throughout.

I don’t have too many complaints with Goddess Intense and think that it is a good release from Mugler. If you didn’t like the original, I wouldn’t bet on this version changing your mind, though.

To me, it’s a slight improvement versus that, and a nice scent on the whole.