By Designer

Women EDP by Calvin Klein

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So, Amazon randomly sent me a sample of the latest Calvin Klein women’s fragrance (note: I’ve updated this since), titled appropriately enough: Women. Released in 2018 Yeah, sure. Beyond the highly original name, I was actually curious to know how this one smelled, and whether or no there was a good perfume inside the sample vial.

As usual, I have worn it, and now have shared my thoughts below on everything Calvin Klein Women.

What does Women by Calvin Klein Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, grapefruit, bergamot, cedar, black pepper, eucalyptus, orange blossom, musk, ambroxan, tea, and more

Click here to try: Calvin Klein WOMEN Perfume For Women 3.4 fl.oz(100ml) Eau De Parfum Spray

My Full Wear Review

Calvin Klein Women starts with an ultra-sharp citrus mix of lemon and grapefruit. It actually reminds me of a more feminine Sauvage, in that respect.

It seems like after every designer put out their version of a Sauvage clone for men, the women’s side had to also start adding heavy citrus and ambroxan and pepper to everything.

It comes across as strange though. Super citrus with spice, kind of messy. All of this sits on top of cedar wood and has a slight herbal tinge, from the tea note.

However, that sort of aroma at the start doesn’t last too long before Women shifts into more of a spicy orange blossom fragrance. I feel at times, as though I’m smelling bits of Light Blue by D&G, within this perfume’s DNA, but it never fully commits to smelling exactly like that fragrance.

As it dries down, I get more grapefruit than the lemon note, to go along with cedar and some floral notes…mainly, the aforementioned orange blossom, but a few others also.

The cedar seems to grow stronger the further along in the wear you are and the citrus still has that super sharp quality to it.

Once that initial blast wears off, Women becomes a very wearable, albeit not spectacular scent. I like the citrus, orange blossom, and fresh cedar pairing. Not too sharp anymore, but has a great cleanliness.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Calvin Klein Women starts off really strong, and then dries down soft to moderate. It was weird how much it settled down from that huge sillage it has at the beginning. So, it’s ultimately a fairly moderate fragrance.

It’s one of the quickest turnarounds that I’ve ever experienced. Seriously, it bombs at first, and it settles into something lighter in record time.

Longevity was pretty good, somewhere in the 6-7 hour neighborhood on my skin, not great but usable. CK fragrances, tend not to be ones that go on for double digit hours. Depending on the price, the value of having this scent can vary a loot.

The citrus and floral notes makes this one seem like it’s suited to be worn on the warmer days of the year. Though, it could be safely worn whenever. It just really feels like a spring/summer sort of fragrance.

I’d call it a casual, everyday wear. One could probably wear it to work, but it’s not a nightlife or date kind of perfume.

Overall Impressions of Women by CK

Overall, do I recommend, Calvin Klein Women? Ehhh, it’s okay. I hate how this perfume starts out but I think it gets better as it goes along. Although, even then, it never blows me away. You get a citrus/woody fragrance with floral and herbal spice undertones.

I feel like it strays more towards unisex, than something designed specifically for women. But whatever, I didn’t design their marketing campaign. It’s decent, though. This Calvin Klein isn’t anything special.

The one strength that it really has is how easy to wear and versatile it is. It does everything else decently, but this one isn’t original, nor will it knock your socks off.

If you’re a big fan of Light Blue or similar scents, this might be one to check out. Goes in a different direction with the orange blossom, but has a style that is reminiscent of that popular D&G perfume.

Libre L’Absolu Platine by YSL

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Libre L’Absolu Platine is the latest version of this YSL line for 2023. I really hadn’t heard about it, but I saw an ad with Dua Lipa, and so ordered a sample of this a few weeks back. I’ve been testing this one out, to see how it stacks up versus other entries in the Libre series. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is L’Absolu Platine worth a buy?

What does Libre L’Absolu Platine Smell Like?

Notes include: citrus, lavender, orange blossom, white lavender, vanilla, amber

Click here to try: Libre L’Absolu Platine

My Full Review

Here’s how YSL describes it: The iconic structure of Libre, a tension between cool Diva lavender heart from France, crafted for Yves Saint Laurent Beauty and sensual orange blossom absolute from Morocco, reinterpreted in vibrantly metallic way. A juice with an exclusive concentration within the Libre range, enriched with a unique aromatic white lavender accord fashion by the master perfumers.

L’Absolut Platine starts off with cold and slightly metallic aldehydes coming through. Citrus, lavender, and orange blossom are all in the mix from the start.

It sort of reminds me of the beginning of Soleil Neige by Tom Ford. That one is a snowy cold with citrus and orange blossom. Platine is a metallic cold with an additional lavender note. Oh, this one is much more influenced by the classic aldehyde floral perfumes of the past.

Early, the orange blossom strikes me as being slightly stronger in the mix. That will quickly reverse and this one will have its various lavender notes coming in to dominate the blend.

I do like this cold and refreshing start. It’s pretty captivating, in that first hour or so.

After that, the lavender really comes into its own. That feature note, with the orange blossom still sticking around, and Platine smells a lot like the original Libre. Different, but strong similarities.

To my nose, L’Absolu Platine has less of the vanilla in the dry down. It is there, but not as much as what I got with Libre. Plus, the aldehydes still give this one a chilled brightness versus the original. Sort of soapy clean.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

L’Absolu Platine does start off very strong, with a powerful projection and a nice cloud around you, as you go about your day. Quite in line with what you get from the rest of the series.

However, I don’t think it maintains it’s strength as well as Libre or Intense. This YSL is a tad weaker than its predecessors.

The longevity here is somewhere in the 7-8 hour range, on me. On a t-shirt, this is like most everything else, and will go forever.

I do find it to be a step below both Libre and Libre Intense, in terms of its performance. Not bad, by any means, but both of those were great for mainstream designer perfumes.

Seasonally, autumn through mid-spring would be best for L’Absolu Platine. It’s a bit much for the summer months, but I like it in the cooler temperatures that I’m experiencing right now.

It is like Libre in its use cases. Daytime wear that can transition into evening. Has an attractive quality, not sexy, and isn’t a nightclub sort of scent. But, can be a signature or daily wear for many people.

So, L’Absolu Platine is a pretty darn unisex fragrance. Seriously, if you’re someone who though Libre EDP was ‘masculine’ this might seem even further in that direction.

Personally, I think the use of aldehydes keeps it more in the middle, but I can see how some who like more standard ‘girly’ perfumes might be put off by this.

Overall Impressions of L’Absolu Platine

Overall, do I like Libre L’Absolu Platine? I do like it more than Libre, but less than Libre Intense. I have a Le Parfum review to finish, but I’m not sure that Platine passes that one either.

I do think the start is interesting and it’s the highlight for me. I like that chilly and metallic sort of aroma that I get with the citrus and emergent floral notes.

The rest of the way, has a lot of the DNA of the original with a boosted lavender note and the remaining aldehydes helping to set it apart.

That being said, I’m not sure that you need this one, if you already have Libre. I think it’s at a higher price point too, so, no real need unless you’re a collector.

For others, I think that it is worth trying, especially if you’re a lavender fan. It’s a somewhat different take and one that I enjoy more than Libre EDP.

L’Absolu Platine isn’t one that I’d recommend on a blind buy. More of a test and see if you vibe with it.

10 Perfumes Similar to Burberry Her

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Burberry Her has become a popular ladies’ fragrance in its own right, as well as smelling quite a bit like some other best sellers. Because of this, people will often be searching for perfumes with a similar style or come close to the aroma at a cheaper price. Well, on this page I am going to present options like Her and continually update it as I find more.

What Fragrances Smell Close to Burberry Her?

Cloud Connection

Ariana Grande Cloud Eau de Parfum Spray, clear, 3.4 oz– Cloud often gets compared to Burberry Her and there is plenty of overlap. But, they for sure aren’t the same as one another. I wrote a comparison of them, here: Her vs. Cloud

The main difference comes with the intense and fairly sour fruits that the Burberry brings early on, especially. Meanwhile, Cloud is lighter with its pear and lavender combination. Plus, it has a creamier and muskier finish than does Burberry Her.

I think the Ariana Grande perfume is the better of the two. Unless, you’re just a huge fan of those loud fruit notes. Cloud Full Review

Kurkdjian Creation

Baccarat Rouge 540-This is another scent that is often associated with Burberry Her as a being similar. But, Baccarat is pretty different and of a higher quality than our target.

BR 540 kicks off with a jasmine and saffron combination, instead of the strawberries and citrus of Burberry Her. Once again, the dry down is where these two are the closest.

That’s when the jasmine, wood, musk, and amber notes really come out in both. Her is a lighter fragrance than is BR 540 and also has a more playful/youthful sort of smell.

If you want a high end alternative, the Francis Kurkdjian is the way to go. Oh, he also designed both of these perfumes.

Inspired by Her

Nebula by Oakcha– Prior to this update, I hadn’t found an ‘inspired by’ perfume that could near match what you get with Burberry Her. Mostly fragrances that are very similar, while having differences.

But, Oakcha has since put out their take on the Burberry Her formula, called Nebula. The tope notes are a series of the same types of berries and cherries.

The rest of the notes are all there, as well. Just a matter of getting the weightings correct and you have a cheaper alternative.

Now, I have yet to try this one out. So, I cannot speak to the results. However, Oakcha has a good reputation, and the price is competitive enough to make it worth adding to the list.

 

Better Option That’s Similar

Wild Rose from Coach– Wild Rose is a 2022 release from Coach and it has a very similar smell and style to many other popular fragrances out there. The main one is Burberry Her. But, throw in Delina and BR 540, as well.

Up top, you get a bergamot citrus and red currant blend. It gives you that same sort of fruity pop that comes with the Burberry, but it isn’t a sharp or loud. The soft floral touches, mainly rose early is like what you get with Delina, just much less of that rose.

As you dry down, that’s when it shifts more towards being like Her or BR 540. Ambroxan and moss come in and the fruitiness is more balanced with the floral notes. At this point, I get more of a jasmine.

Overall, this smells better than Burberry Her, in my mind. The performance is good and Wild Rose is around the same price point. Wild Rose by Coach Review

wild rose review

 

 

 

Sol de Janeiro

Cheirosa 68 Body Spray– This is kind of an odd one, that somehow has a resemblance to BR 540 and Burberry Her, but not entirely…and also is a body spray. So, performance isn’t going to be great with this one.

BUT, it still is rather nice, especially for the price point. It gives you a sweetness that is akin to Burberry Her, but also more tropical with dragon fruit and litchi leading the way.

While also, giving you a musky/aquatic base to work from that can also have that metallic-like aroma that you sometimes pick up with BR 540.

So, this one does lean more in the direction of our Burberry target, though. Plus, it doesn’t have the depth of the MFK or Burberry, but it can be a nice cheapie pick up. 

 

Similar Fruity Floral

Kate Spade New York– So, this isn’t the same or one that is going to be another example with a similar style to BR 540. But the fruitiness and floral notes, give another option to those who like that sweetness in Burberry Her taken in a somewhat different direction.

Both of the fragrances have a prominent strawberry note and a rose floating around. Kate Spade New York also starts out tart, with its citrus notes, but less so than the black currant of the Burberry.

Cashmere and ambroxan in the base. There is a bit of creamy finish here. The citrus and strawberry notes really are delightful here and not nearly as sharp as in the Burberry. The floral notes are light and it’s actually more woody than it ever is floral.

Rose essence and freesia are the flower aromas, but not the main attraction. The early stages have more floral highlights. 

It’s kind of a youthful and energetic scent, so if you want something ‘serious’ or formal, this won’t be the one. The longevity is good, even in its lighter state, around a full work day.

Close in Style, Better in Smell

Beyond Romance from Ralph Lauren– Ralph Lauren’s Beyond Romance is another one that has a similar style to Burberry Her. It’s for sure different, but I honestly think that it is a much better perfume overall.

Raspberry and citrus notes are present at the top, with the raspberry being the strongest of the trio, which also consists of bergamot and mandarin. It’s fruity and sugary, less sharp than the Burberry fragrance.

With those fruity notes, you get black vanilla and cashmere. At times, the aroma comes across somewhat like a powdery sugar/marshmallow combination. Then, it’s more of the musk and cashmeran supporting the vanilla, with the raspberry just being a fainter impression.

This one doesn’t go down that Baccarat Rouge route with how it smells, it’s more like the first half of Burberry Her with similarities throughout. Beyond Romance Review

Fun Fruity Tropics

VIP Private Show by Britney Spears Eau de Parfum Spray 100ml– VIP Private Show is a good option for those who want the fruitiness of a Burberry Her aroma, with a slight tropical twist. It too gives you the raspberry, orange, violet, musk, amber, and woods.

But, the top fruity notes also give you some light apple and a delicious mango note. It’s sugary fruity sweet, with touches of powder, floral aspects, and the musky latter stages.

VIP Private Show gives you the same fun personality, perhaps not as sharp, but an experience that occupies the same sort of space as Her. Performance is solid and this was one of my favorite Britney perfumes, when I tested them out. VIP Private Show Review

 

 

Sour Candy, Floral Finish

Circus Fantasy– Circus Fantasy is another Britney Spears perfume that can simulate aspects of Burberry Her, while also not exactly duplicating. Sour candy raspberry up top with a sugary apricot hanging around the edges.

It does have that same sort of sharp opening act that the Burberry does, so, if you enjoy that part of our target…this can deliver.

Very girly with a nice floral middle and dry down. The violet note is probably stronger than the one in the Burberry. It gets paired with peony, when the initial notes are being toned down into more of a general sweetness rather than sour candies.

It’s like part original Fantasy by Britney, Burberry Her, and its own thing completely. 

The Bond Option

Greenwich Village by Bond No. 9– Greenwich Village is a great release from Bond and one of the best that they’ve put out over the past few years.

This one starts out with a fresh fruitiness, with a somewhat tropical aroma. Lychee and mandarin orange with a bit of watery/aquatic feeling from the waterlily note. Cassis is also present up top. It’s both fresh and sweet.

The dry down gets warmer with praline, vanilla, and musk. The latter stages give you a nice creamy gourmand perfume.

Greenwich Village has a sugary vibe to it at times, but also a floral heart and a really fresh kind of scent…all at the same time. Very interesting, nice performance, but not super powerful.

Goddess EDP by Burberry

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Goddess is one of the newer releases from Burberry, that came out in 2023. It wasn’t a perfume that I had heard much about going into testing, but I bought a sample anyway to check it out. How does this one smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Goddess EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: lavender, vanilla, cacao, ginger, vanilla absolute, vanilla caviar

Click here to try: Goddess by Burberry

My Full Review

Here’s how Burberry describes it: Burberry Goddess is a unique gourmand fragrance led by a confident and powerful multi-faceted trio of vanillas. Enriched with a luminous lavender top note, the scent exudes a rich, layered personality that’s instantly memorable.

So, upon spraying this one I’m immediately hit with a wonderful gourmand aroma. Fresh and not overbearingly heavy, however. The ginger does a nice job at breaking up the vanilla dominance.

Ginger and a cacao note add a great mix to the aroma early. Goddess feels cold with a lightness that I enjoy. I’ve seen this get compared to Mon Guerlain, but they’re are not the same, while having a similar style.

I mean, in the dry down, both are all about that lavender and vanilla. Still, smell differently. But, this one  also doesn’t have jasmine, tonka bean, or patchouli. Cacao and tonka bean, play a similar role…but aren’t exactly the same and don’t have the same aroma.

The lavender also begins to show itself early on. It’s really tamed by all of the vanilla. I was worried that this might take a Libre path, with the lavender, but the note is balanced quite well in Goddess.

It’s interesting that there are three types of vanilla in this perfume. Can I tell them apart? I mean, not really. The ginger burns off and the middle is more about the lavender and vanilla pairing.

The very tail end of the perfume is a vanilla-centric scent. Though, it feels like a standard creamy vanilla note. So, I’m not getting any real distinction between the types.

Burberry Goddess isn’t very complicated and there isn’t really any development here, after this point.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Goddess is not a massive projector or one that is super heavy. You’ll get an intimate scent bubble for most of the wear a decent radius of reach in the early goings.

It’s not weak, solidly moderate, until the last few hours of wear when it becomes a skin scent.

The longevity is somewhere in the range of average. For me, it was 6-6.5 hours of total wear from this Burberry. It’s okay, not great.

On clothing, you will get 3+ more hours, but it doesn’t seem to want to stick to skin. My skin, isn’t the type that ‘eats up’ fragrances either. I routinely get 10+ hours from other scents.

Seasonally, I do think that this fragrance isn’t too heavy or cloying, that it gets stuck solely in the autumn or winter. On a moderately warm spring day, I think that Goddess would hold up just fine.

I would skip out on wearing this in the heat, though.

It’s strength is with its versatility. It isn’t hyper sweet or too bold, so, it’s safe for most occasions. It’s attractive enough for the nightlife, even if you might want to go with something more dynamic.

It’s attractive and somewhat sexy, so, you could spray it before a date as well. Goddess isn’t the most formal fragrance, maybe have something else for really ‘dressy’ situations.

It also works for a wide age range. Not too mature for the younger set, but not too juvenile for older women either.

Overall Impressions of Goddess EDP

Overall, do I like Goddess by Burberry? I do like it. It’s not anything that’s crazy unique or complicated, but it is a mainstream perfume that is going to do well and have plenty of fans.

The name doesn’t really fit, what the actual scent is. You might expect something bolder, sexier, etc. Not to say this is a bad perfume, it certainly isn’t.

I like the opening and how it keeps things fresh and light. Not a heavy or overbearing use of the vanilla and lavender, just quite pleasant to spray on.

It’s not a great performer, though. For me, it’s okay, pretty standard issue. On skin, it’s probably not going to go past six hours for most people.

But, if that’s not too much of a problem for you, Goddess is worth trying out. Maybe test it in store or wait for the price to hit discount levels, over the next year or so.

If you’re not a vanilla and/or lavender fan, I don’t think there’s anything here that would change your mind. As such, you can also probably skip this initial Goddess release.

Prada Paradoxe vs YSL Libre

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Libre and Paradoxe are two perfume series which have gained popularity over the past handful of years or so. Paradoxe is the newer of the two, having only spawned one other flanker, as of writing. Libre is a bit deeper in the game, with a few more scents released under its belt.

Since these two are so popular, I wanted to do a direct comparison posts of the original releases of each. Which smells better? Lasts longer? Is the better buy, Libre or Paradoxe?

Tale of the Tape: Paradoxe vs. Libre

Paradoxe

Notes include: neroli, pear, tangerine, bergamot, orange blossom, white musk, jasmine, vanilla, amber, benzoin

Click here to try: Paradoxe by Prada

Libre EDP

Notes include: lavender, white musks, orange flower, vanilla, orchid

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau De Parfum Spray for Women 90ml/3oz, clear

Read my review: Libre EDP

Opening

Libre kicks of with a strong burst of the orange blossom (maybe some additional citrus fruit spritzed in) and the lavender, which will only grown more powerful. It’s soapy, somewhat musky, and has a definite creaminess throughout.

The main change that I get during the rest of the wear is the lavender becoming dominant and the musk coming out more. Very little orchid when compared to Intense and the vanilla isn’t a front and center.

Paradoxe opens up sweet, fruity, and luminous. The neroli is going to be a major factor in that first half of the hour, as the floral note.

But, on me, that quickly shifts more into the orange blossom’s direction, as we enter the middle act.

The fruitiness comes across more like an artificial candy versus a pure natural fruit. Some sparkling pear is in the mix, but lots of citrus influence (tangerine is the most powerful fruit, early) for the start of Paradoxe.

This will become more floral after the opening burst. Again, for me I get more orange blossom, even versus the jasmine. Neroli still has a presence, but the orange blossom is stronger at this point.

Which do I prefer? To me, I’ll go with Paradoxe. Both have strong uses of orange blossom, but I like the pairing of that floral note with the fruits of the Prada. It’s more pleasant than what I get with the YSL.

Not a massive preference for Paradoxe, but it does have the edge here.

Edge: Paradoxe

Projection

Libre has a strong opening, for a mainstream designer perfume. Not super heavy, but plenty of substance and a wide radius, in which it will be smelled. The rest of the wear, is on the stronger side of what can be considered moderate.

Paradoxe opens up a notch below Libre and stays firmly in the moderate camp the rest of the way.

Still, Libre has the higher highs and is stronger for much of the duration. Until those last few hours, where these two are about equal.

Edge: Libre

Longevity

With Libre EDP, I’ve always gotten 8-9 hours during testing, pretty much without fail. That version of the perfume doesn’t seem to go beyond that, but also not below it either.

Paradoxe is close to the same, but has a slightly higher ceiling than the YSL. I get 8.5-10 hours with Paradoxe, on skin.

It’s not by a massive margin, but the Prada takes the win here. Yes, Libre is stronger with its projection, but Paradoxe keeps on just a bit longer.

Edge: Paradoxe

Versatility

Both of these are very versatile daily wear sorts of fragrances. I don’t either of them would be the top choice for nightlife or date night use.

Seasonally, Libre fits in better for cooler autumn and winter. It can venture into the spring as well. Paradoxe isn’t built for the heat, but it performs deeper into the warmer season.

Maybe the advantage comes with Libre, the lack of sweeter notes, and it’s ability to fit into more semi-formal/office wear situations. Other than that, they’re about equal.

Edge: Libre (slightly)

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these two fragrances do I prefer?

I’m not a massive fan of either of these fragrances. Each of them is fine. I prefer Libre Intense, to the original, and Paradoxe never struck me as amazing.

However, between these two, I’m going with Paradoxe.

Libre is nice enough. It’s much more of a floral focused scent. The dry down is going to be about the lavender note, with orange blossom at its side. Some vanilla, musk, etc. If you’re a lavender fan, you should consider it.

Paradoxe’s opening I’ve already explained, but the balance in the dry down makes me want to choose it versus the YSL. It pairs the orange blossom with jasmine. Clean and somewhat soapy. But, you still get some of the sweetness from earlier, and the vanilla/amber base.

The performances are close enough, to be somewhat equal, and sort of cancels out any other advantage.

Winner: Paradoxe