Best Perfumes for Women

5 Perfumes Similar to Chanel Gabrielle

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Chanel released Gabrielle about 4 years ago now. Since then, it has become a fairly popular white floral blend with a citrusy sort of opening. Not really groundbreaking stuff, but one that can be very nice to wear.

As such, people tend to want to find similar perfumes, which are either cheaper or other designer fragrances in the same sphere as  the pricy Chanel. In this post, I want to present 5 (well, 6, technically) fragrances that can serve as potential alternatives. 

Quick Takeaways

I get more in depth on all of the selections below, but here’s the highlights for those in a hurry.

What fragrances smell similar to Gabrielle by Chanel?

Personally, I haven’t come across an exact match of Gabrielle yet. Update: I’ve now included an inspired by version. But, it’s got some options that are pretty close. These are my picks of the lot.

Also, keep in mind, there are plenty of white floral bouquet fragrances out there with or without similar fruity notes.

Ylang-Ylang Similarities

Floral Ylang Ylang– So, this is Dossier’s interpretation of the Gabrielle formula. To my knowledge, this is the only attempt at creating a ‘inspired by’ perfume based on the Chanel notes. At least among brands that I trust to have quality product..

This is going to be the one to go with, if you’re looking for a near match of the aroma that you get with our target scent.

This starts off with a bright use of grapefruit and blackberry, paired with a top note of lily. Then, you get into the floral heart led by ylang ylang with jasmine and tuberose.

Again, this is inspired by Gabrielle. So, it may not be exactly the same, but it is a very good impression for a much cheaper price than the designer original.

J’adore Options

Christian Dior J’Adore Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce– So, from the J’adore line by Dior, you have a few options. The original J’adore EDP is pretty similar. While J’adore l’absolu kind of goes between Gabrielle and Gabrielle Essence. 

I actually prefer the Chanel scents to either of these, but not by a huge margin, and you can generally find bottles of Dior a bit (sometimes significantly) cheaper. 

L’absolu goes with jasmine and tuberose as its floral highlights. It lacks the fruity notes, however. Meanwhile, J’adore EDP gives you ylang-ylang and jasmine, along with notes of plum and blackberry up top.

Inexpensive White Floral and Citrus

Vera Wang Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounces–  The floral notes used between Gabrielle and Versa Wang are different. So is the overall quality, although this isn’t a cheap mess, by any means.

But, the structure of these two fragrances are similar. Clean and bright citrus up top, with a white floral heart and a musky/sandalwood base. The main difference is this one uses lily, lotus, Bulgarian rose, and gardenia as its floral bouquet.

It has more of a soapy quality than Gabrielle, but it retains some of that same sort of sweetness. An easy to wear scent with a low key profile, but quite presentable quality and longevity. 

Mix of a Few

 

White Diamonds Legacy– Obviously, there haven’t been a ton of new releases from the Elizabeth Taylor line. However, this updated take on the classic White Diamonds, actually has a good deal of overlap with how Gabrielle comes across.

Legacy is a more modern white floral than its namesake White Diamonds. Which, gives it a closer proximity to the Chanel.

This one has gardenia, orange blossom, and jasmine leading the floral heart. Gardenia is the most noticeable of them. But, that ylang ylang isn’t going to be in here. That’s the biggest difference.

Still, musky with sandalwood in the base, and we get a light citrus top also. Early on, the citrus notes are joined by a slight spice. Then, we get a great creaminess and a light sweetness throughout.

Not an exact match, but a likeable cheap alternative, and close relation.

A Fruitier Cheapie

Crush by Rihanna– Now, this isn’t a one to one with how it’s structured, as it has more of a fruity profile than does Gabrielle. However, this Rihanna perfume does hit a lot of the same beats.

The citrus notes are quite similar and ylang-ylang plays an important role here. Along with, an additional pink pepper.

Up top, you get the citrus blend. As it moves forward, ylang-ylang and berries become more prominent. Towards the end, you get some fresh woods, paired with the berries and some lingering orange from the opening.

Crush is like Gabrielle, while remaining completely unique and a great value play. It probably has the same level of performance, if not better than the Chanel scent. 

Ari by Ariana Grande

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Ariana Grande hasn’t just become probably the biggest musical act on the planet, over the past decade, she has also the namesake of a very popular fragrance line. Her line of celebrity perfumes, are all selling quite well, and do so at a fair price point. Today, I am going to review Ari, the first release of the Ariana Grande scents which came out in 2015. How does it smell? Perform? Is it even worth a try?

What does Ari Perfume Smell Like?

Notes include: marshmallow, pear, orchid, grapefruit, raspberry, musk, rose, lily of the valley

Click here to try: Ariana Grande Ari Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)

My Full Ari Review

The opening act of Ari is mostly about the fruit notes, which are sweet, and compelling. The marshmallow note at the base, is always present, but becomes much more noticeable later on. For now, it is playing a support role for the raspberry and grapefruit.

Raspberry is the strongest aroma to my nose at first, then, grapefruit. To me, the pear will get a little bit stronger and have its moments in the light. Though, it’s not all that powerful on my skin. 

So, the opening is a pretty typical fruity scent, that you will find in many other celeb fragrances. However, Ari really separates itself during the dry down, when it becomes a very pleasant and somewhat distinct scent from others on the market.

It does remind me of a Juicy Couture sort of fragrance, very similar style, as those. I don’t think it’s an exact clone, however, of Viva La Juicy or the others…just strike the same chord.

 

After about 15 minutes of the initial burst, Ari gets more floral influence. There is a vanilla orchid and some musk that ascend, along with the marshmallow. Now, there are a couple of other flowers, that only really play a support role. 

At this point I get mostly the marshmallow with orchid and a raspberry/pear mix. The rest of the notes, sit underneath that top layer. In the end, this is most of what your going to get, as the perfume is fairly linear.

Expect a girly, fruity/floral, which turns into a marshmallow led version of that. It’s sweet with warm elements and a cute upbeat vibe.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage isn’t super powerful, nor is it meant to be. With this level of sweetness, I think a heavy cloud would become headache inducing. Nonetheless, its limited projection abilities, isn’t a bad thing.

It’s soft, but not really weak, in my opinion. It airy and cloud like, think fluffy soft marshmallow aroma. 

The longevity is pretty good, but not outstanding. On my skin, it hung around for 5 hours. Obviously, it can go longer on clothing, so long as you don’t mind damaging the material a bit. 

Seasonally, it can pretty much be worn year round. Maybe avoid the high heat of summer, but other than that, it’ll be fine. This Ariana Grande perfume is probably best served for the under 25 crowd. 

It’s sweet and sugary, with a casual sensibility. Think school or just going around town. It’s not a formal or very serious fragrance. I think that it’s attractive, in the sense that it is quite a pretty perfume.

Overall Impression of Ari

Do I like this perfume? I do. Again, though, you will have to probably be in the intended demographic to wear it. For teens and college age women, this is an affordable option, for those who want something cute and sweet. 

The performance is acceptable, but not all that amazing. Once the marshmallow and orchid come in fully, I feel like this scent is at its absolute best. 

It’s a delicious, light, sugary experience. One that I enjoyed catching whiffs of throughout the day. It’s happy and fun. Worth a try.

I still think that Ari holds up as one of the best releases from Ariana Grande. Not the top of the top, but certainly in the top half.

At retail price, it might be a tad too expensive for what it is. Nothing major, but I would try to get it on sale, if possible.

3 Perfumes Similar to Burberry Goddess

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Goddess has become a successful and very popular perfume for Burberry, since its release. It’s sure to have future flankers and other brands coming in to try and copy its scent. However, what are some alternatives or similar smelling perfumes to Goddess?

Which fragrances can currently fit the bill that are cheaper or have a slightly different aroma to the Burberry eau de parfum? Here is my ongoing list of potential options.

What Fragrances Smell Like or are Similar Alternatives to Burberry Goddess?

An Alternative Goddess Within

Goddess Within Her by Dua– Well, it didn’t take too long after the release of Burberry Goddess, to get the first ‘inspired by’ take of its formula on the market. This one, is from the Dua Brand.

It’s going to try and hit the same beats as the designer original. The cacao, ginger, vanilla, lavender, and the rest of the notes are all here. All that’s left is to get the weightings of each note correct (or close enough).

Now, I haven’t tried this one as of yet. But, I have owned a dozen or so similar fragrances from Dua, and they’ve all managed to hit quite near the target of the designer perfume they were trying to mimic.

A Playful Cheapie

Siren by Paris Hilton– Okay, this one is definitely not the same. If you’re looking for a cheaper near match with Goddess, go with the Dua above. However, this one does strike me a sweeter and tropical version of this perfume style.

Siren, is sort of a mix between Viva La Juicy and Goddess, but with a tropical flower flare. You get a good mix of the vanilla and a great creamy warmth like you do with those two fragrances. But, it’s all paired with fruits like apricot and there’s frangipani instead of the lavender note.

It’s all thickened by a honey note and supported by orchid. There’s some powderiness in the dry down of Siren. Again, not anything close to a one to one match, but Siren reminds me of aspects of Goddess.

Similar Style, Different Scent

Mon Guerlain– I wanted to include Mon Guerlain on the list. Not because, it smells exactly the same (it doesn’t), but because it has a similar style to Goddess. And some, who are unfamiliar with the one, might actually prefer it to the Burberry.

The focus here is also on the vanilla and lavender notes. Though, this one has more depth, a greater use of floral notes, and an interesting licorice note, which can come through at times.

Mon Guerlain is more balanced versus being so vanilla-centric. Lavender, jasmine, and even some iris are prominent. It lacks the cacao note, so, just a head’s up if that’s what you’re partial to in Goddess.

Yet, it does have a tonka bean and resinous aspect in the base which plays well with the vanilla notes. Mon Guerlain Review

Opium EDT by Yves Saint Laurent

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Opium EDT was released in 2009. It is of course a follow up to the original classic perfume that was released back in the 1970s by Yves Saint Laurent. But, how does this modern edition stack up? What does it smell like? How long does it last? Is it actually worth a try?

What does YSL Opium EDT Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, bergamot, lily of the valley, jasmine, carnation, vanilla, myrrh, amber, patchouli

Click here to try: Opium EDT

My Full Wear Review

So, I am reviewing the eau de toilette version of Opium which was reworked in 2009. It does smell a lot like what I remember the original, but it’s not going to be exact to what the 1970s version was. Some notes, just aren’t in the composition.

Anyway, I’m going to judge this one as a standalone since I don’t currently have a bottle of the original edition available to me.

This opens up with a freshness thanks to the citrus top notes, led by the mandarin orange. The spice is there and it’s warm. This will be with you for the entirety of the wear, so if you don’t like it, you won’t enjoy Opium EDT.

Another aspect that I get here early on, is a clean and underlying soapy quality to this blend. Jasmine is already peaking through, along with that stem of the carnation and the top lily of the valley. Jasmine and lily giving it that soap sort of smell.

A bit greenish, not super noticeable unless I press my nose close to the skin. The carnation brings that aspect and the spice too. The clove from the original is absent and it seems the carnation will pick up some of the slack.

I will say, from what I remember of Opium, this version is less intense and seems to be more balanced overall.

The next phase sees the citrus leave entirely from my skin, the myrrh steps up and this becomes about that note and the floral ingredients mostly. I will start to notice more patchouli into the dry down.

It’s sweeter with more of a balsamic type of scent. Resinous, then seemingly morphing into more of a straight amber. Maybe, some of the vanilla influence?

For the rest of the way, the myrrh and carnation will be the main attractions. Jasmine, amber, patchouli, and vanilla are around in varying strengths and decline as it begins to evaporate.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The opening of Opium is still bold with a far reach and a sillage that will leave a trail of scent in your wake. Even as an eau de toilette, this one certainly isn’t weak.

Well above average. However, it will settle closer to the skin

The longevity is very good, but not outstanding. I get 8-9.5 hours of wear from this YSL perfume, depending on the day. For most purposes, that is going to be just fine.

Seasonally, I like Opium EDT in autumn through early springtime. It’s resinous qualities really come alive in the colder weather and it can kind of get messy, if it’s too hot outside.

This can be a daytime or evening type of perfume. I think this would serve as more of a signature scent, now that it’s so different from most other mainstream designer fare, that’s usually much sweeter and fruity.

It’s not going to be for everyone, but it’s a fragrance that can work well in a pretty wide variety of situations.

Overall Impressions of Opium

Overall, do I like Opium EDT? I do. I’ve always been a fan of the Opium series, even the Pour Homme edition which I used to wear. Even if this doesn’t 1 to 1 compare to the original Opium, it still has enough of the original’s spirit to be a very nice pickup.

It is a bit simpler, but more approachable than what I remember. Still, it doesn’t have the same sort of aroma that most perfumes do nowadays. It’s a very particular vibe to a certain time period. Which, may or may not be what you want in particular.

I like the myyrh and even the carnation. It’s not usually my favorite flower, but it is one that really used to get put in a lot of fragrances, and it’s always worked well within the Opium blend.

Performance is still quite good. Nothing spectacular, but it does outpace plenty of other EDT’s out on the market.

Opium is one that you should try out before committing to, if you’ve never smelled it. Again, not a scent that’s going to be for everyone. Though, it can be an absolute love for many people, when they do jell with it.

10 Best Smelling Bath and Body Works Scents

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Bath & Body Works has a ton of fragrances that are available for cheap, but also smell great. Yes, sometimes, they can be fairly predictable. However, B&BW definitely provides some absolute gems in the lower cost space. These can come in the form of lotions, mists, perfumes, or shower gels.

With such an extensive line, I wanted to present some of their scents that I feel smell the best, and have a good deal of popularity (with some underrated perfumes in the mix as well).

What are the Top Bath and Body Works Fragrances?

Newer Gem

Tropidelic– This one actually comes in an eau de parfum version, as well as the usual body mist. I haven’t tested the perfume out, but I have smelled the mist, and it deserves a spot on this list.

Tropical and light with a misty/aquatic aroma to it. That seems to be short-lived or at least not very prevalent when I tested it. Passion flower, ylang-ylang, and a burst of bright energy to help uplift you.

Not going to be super complex but you get a sweet, vaguely fruity blend sitting underneath, a wonderful floral mix. 

Tropidelic is light, fun, and easy to wear. Probably best for the spring and summer months.

 

Creamy Citrus Woods

Bath & Body Works, Ultra Shea Body Cream, Body Lotion, Shower Gel, Twilight Woods Bundle (3-Pack)– Twilight Woods is one of the most popular scent releases from Bath & Body Works. It opens up with a citrus and berry blend, mainly focused on orange.

Then, it works its way into being a creamy/woody blend, with floral notes swirling around the base.

The fruit top is nice, but once you get down to the vanilla and woody dry down, this fragrance is just beautiful. There’s also an amber and a touch of coconut/apricot, up top.

Bright Starfruit with Almond

A Thousand Wishes Body Set – Shower Gel, Body Lotion & Fragrance Mist– A bit sweet with a sparkling quality, A Thousand Wishes is a unique, and ultimately delicious fragrance. Starfruit is very present within this, which is a fruit note, that I wholly enjoy. 

It’s much more fruity and sugary than the below option, but there is enough floral notes in this perfume, to keep it interesting. The dry down has plenty of amber and freesia, with a creamy almond note to tie things together. 

Cherry Blossom Fruity Floral

Bath & Body Works Japanese Cherry Blossom Set – Shower Gel 10 oz, Fragrance Mist– Obviously, the star of the show here, is going to be the Japanese Cherry Blossom. Yes, you’re going to get a floral blend with musky and woodsy notes.

But also, a nice blend of fruit to get paired with that cherry aroma, mainly pear and apple. 

This one is somewhat soft and understated, though it has a woody and slightly peppery freshness, throughout the wear. It leans much more fruity/floral, while being a completely enjoyable and attractive fragrance.

Tropical Champagne

CHAMPAGNE TOAST Fine Fragrance Mist 8 Fluid Ounce (2019 Edition)– I love a good champagne note, though, it doesn’t get utilized all that often. In Champagne Toast, you get that effervescent feeling, paired with sweet fruits and citrus. 

It’s sugary sweet, almost tropical in nature at times, but ultimately has that great champagne note dominating the composition.

This isn’t a very popular fragrance from B&BW, but I thought it was really attractive, when I smelled it a while back. 

Cool Mint and Chocolatey 

Twisted Peppermint Fine Fragrance Mist, 8 Fl Oz– Twisted Peppermint is a personal favorite of mine. I wear the lotion, during the wintertime, and it’s simply great. 

Twisted Peppermint is a holiday release, that features peppermint, sugared snow, and balsam. It starts out with an extremely fresh and cool peppermint, much like a candy cane. Sweet with a balsamic undertone.

The lotion version, has shea butter and coconut oil, which gives the scent a somewhat chocolaty finish. 

Strawberry Patchouli Floral

Bath & Body Works Mad About You Fine Fragrance Mist, 8 Ounce- Mad About You has a strong strawberry opening act, that kicks things off with a sweet and juicy aroma.

Then, you will get a good bit of patchouli, and a light peony hitting throughout.

Really nice smell. Plenty of berry goodness, with a musk/patchouli support for it. Not just another pure fruity fragrance. 

Dark Resinous Berry

Signature Collection ~ “Dark Kiss” ~ Gift Bag ~ Shower Gel, Ultra Shea Body Cream & Body Lotion– Yes, Dark Kiss is indeed, a ‘dark’ sort of fragrance. It opens up with a berry note that is surrounded by a warm amber note, and a light smokiness. 

It becomes quite rich, somewhat floral, and resinous. The dark berry is a great change of pace, from some of the other offerings on the list.

Dark Kiss is interesting, not super complex, but an overall lovely perfume. 

Sugary Tropics

Pink Pineapple Sunrise– Pink Tropical Sunrise gives you another option in the tropical category, other than Tropidelic.

This one, is for those who want a fruitier blend with a sweet sugary afterglow. This one really hits with a bold use of sweetness. The pineapple feels fresh, juicy, and lively. There is also a less prominent nectarine note in here.

The sugar itself is more noticeable in what could be termed the dry down, as much as you actually get one from a body spray. But, the main focus is absolutely going to be the pineapple note and it’s really wonderful for what this scent is.

Warm Amber, Juicy Fruit

IN THE STARS Gift Set – New Fragrance– In the Stars is a rather simple scent, but one that comes together quite wonderfully.

It kicks things off with a nice juicy/bubbly tangerine, that quickly gets paired up with amber, some light musk, and a woody base.

It dries down with a warm and creamy smoothness, consisting mostly of amber, but still retaining that nice citrus top note.

It gets called a near dupe of Cloud by Ariana Grande. But, it doesn’t have the lavender note, nor the complexity of that perfume. Still, I like this one as a cheapie.