Best Men's Colognes

Best Men's Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with the different fragrances that I've owned, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, that new hobby grew into a consistent passion, helping millions of readers along the way. I have personally test out and written reviews for well over 800 perfumes and colognes for both men and women. This is along with writing hundreds of other in-depth fragrance guides. You can also follow me on: YouTube, Instagram, and Tiktok!

9 Best Jasmine Scented Perfumes for Women

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Jasmine is one of the most popular ingredients, in all of women’s perfumes. In fact, its present in a majority of ladies’ fragrances, on the market. Its use is absolutely insane in terms of scale. However, most of the perfumes, have a light touch of the floral note.

In this post, I want to take a closer look, and present some options for those women who are looking for a jasmine scented perfume where it is dominant. In the end, I have selected 9 scents which, give their own unique take on utilizing this note.

What are the Top Jasmine Fragrances for Her?

Designer Jasmine

Tom Ford Jasmin Rouge eau de parfum for women 1.7 oz– Jasmin Rouge opens up with a very nice blend of citrus, with spice provided by a pretty distinct cinnamon, and ginger note.

Obviously, this is surrounding the main attraction of jasmine, along with some other lighter floral ingredients such as neroli.

It has a very pleasant aroma, especially with the great bergamot note, at the top. After that initial layer quiets, the spices become more pronounced, but are continually rounded out by the floral notes, amber, and later woods.

The jasmine here is awesome and it never gets overshadowed by the other notes in the composition. Jasmin Rouge has really solid performance and at times a somewhat sweet profile. My Full Review

And Fruit

Jasmin des Anges by Dior– As a part of Dior’s Privee collection, Jasmin des Anges isn’t going to come cheap. The best alternative that’s somewhat similar is the Michael Kors perfume listed below.

However, the jasmine note in this one is great. It is flanked and balanced by apricot, bergamot, and osmanthus notes. A good amount of sweetness between the white floral note and the fruits.

The initial blend is a mix of our target and the citrus brightness of a fairly light bergamot. It takes on more of a peach quality with the apricot and even the osmanthus to some extent.

Fresh, fruity, soft. Yet, Jasmin des Anges is still well put together and doesn’t come across as childish.

Awesome Jasmine Perfume

JO MALONE LONDON Jasmine Sambac & Marigold Cologne Intense 100 ml.– This is a warm blend of the two obvious notes, jasmine and marigold, along with an additional ylang-ylang to complete the bouquet. Although, that note isn’t nearly as strong as the other two.

The marigold is strongest in the beginning of the wear and the jasmine will emerge to take over the composition. It is a very powerful use of that note, with a deep and rich aroma.

Beyond that, the ylang-ylang and honey note gives Jasmine Sambac & Marigold, a creaminess while not being too heavy.

It is interesting in that this is more of a cooler to mild weather wear. Not going to be much of a summertime jasmine perfume. Though, one should easily get plenty of use from this Jo Malone scent.

Citrus and Jasmine

Bvlgari Mon Jasmin Noir L’eau Exquise Eau de Toilette Spray for Women 2.5 oz– From the Bvlgari line, you could go with Mon Jasmin Noir or Jasmin Noir or L’eau Exquise, which I’ve linked above.

I am combining all of them into one entry, because each brings something to the table, in uniquely presenting a jasmine note.

L’eau Exquise is a cirus/tea blend with jasmine, quite nice, but much more citrusy. This is a great fragrance for the summer months, as it strikes the right balance between pomelo/grapefruit and the other naturalistic notes.

L’Eau Exquise does a wonderful job withstanding humidity and the higher temperatures.

Update: Exquise has been discontinued and the remaining bottles are priced way too high. Try one of the other Jasmin Noir scents instead.

Newer Entry

Jasmine Musc by Narciso Rodriguez– This is a very nice jasmine focused perfume from Narciso Rodriguez that was released not too long ago.

Jasmine Musc, actually starts out with more of a blend between our target, tuberose, and ylang-ylang. That initial tuberose influence can lead to that sweeter ‘bubble gum’ sort of effect.

However, the jasmine will be the note that sticks around and grows in strength out of the floral notes.

The musky aspect is actually kind of balanced with the vanilla note. The latter stages is a somewhat powdery blend of those two ingredients with the jasmine having the spotlight. Still, unless you want a massive musk note, this is really great stuff.

Simple Floral Blend

Aerin Ikat Jasmine Rollerball– Ikat Jasmine is a fresh and clean jasmine, which is flanked by a few other white floral notes, and a creamy sandalwood undertone. The dry down with the jasmine and sandalwood, really pairing together, is a highlight.

This one is much softer and doesn’t have the spice of something like Jasmin Rouge or the citrus of some of the Bvlgari’s,

Ikat, is a rather simple floral but one which delivers a beautiful jasmine note. This Aerin Lauder perfume flies under the radar, but really gives a fine example of our target ingredient.

Natural Feminine Jasmine

Acqua Di Parma Eau de Parfum Spray, Gelsomino Nobile, 3.4 Ounce– It opens up with a pretty strong tuberose, before the jasmine takes over later on. That tuberose is joined by a light citrus fruit and orange blossom, with just a bit of pink pepper in there, as well.

The sillage of Gelsomino Nobile, isn’t particularly strong, but it does stick around well enough, as a much lighter fragrance. The perfume is lovely, but the strength could have been boosted up a bit more than that.

It finishes off with a earthier sort of blend, with the citrus notes fading into the background. It does have a great deal of freshness, with that cedar note holding down the base. Very good jasmine, that brings a more floral weighted aroma, than the citrus in something like the Bvlgari listed above.

Best Overall Jasmine Note

Serge Lutens A La Nuit Eau De Parfum Spray 50ml/1.69oz– A La Nuit is a simple yet interesting scent, with a fantastic jasmine note. It also features honey and benzoin, as the other two main aromas.

The honey adds a light sweetness to the perfume, but it isn’t a thick and heavy sort of honey note.

The jasmine is fairly green but quite naturalistic and probably one of the top examples of that note, on the list. As it dries down, this Serge Lutens, becomes much more floral dominated but still a light fragrance.

At times, it is sweet. Then, it becomes greenish, like a field of jasmine, coming after the rain. A La Nuit is a blend of different types of jasmine, but it comes together, oh so well. Can be harder to track down, but there are bottles available.

Blended Mass Appeal

Michael Kors Glam Jasmine Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce– Glam Jasmine starts off more as a generic white floral fragrance, with a black currant note, lurking in the background with its tart juiciness.

As you move on in the wear, the jasmine note fully emerges from the pack and asserts itself. This is clean and easy to wear, not the most amazing fragrance ever, but a nice jasmine for daily wear. Plus, not a bad price.

This Michael Kors scent does have a very positive and upbeat sort of vibe. It’s probably sweeter than any other entry on the list, but I like the jasmine here.

Inexpensive Pure Jasmine Fragrance

Jasmine Cologne Spray Women by Demeter, 4 Ounce– So, Demeter puts out these fragrances based on one note in particular, which can be hit or miss. The jasmine is actually one of the better fragrances that they have.

This is a great and surprisingly natural smelling jasmine note. The sillage and longevity are decent, but the price for a bottle, is a steal based on the scent you get in return.

There you have it. The list of the best smelling jasmine fragrances for her. I will come back and update this list as needed, but this should be enough to get anyone started, and finding a great perfume to wear.

14 Perfumes that Smell Similar to Good Girl

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Good Girl by Carolina Herrera has become a massive seller over the past few years. Whether it is just the smell of the perfume itself or the high heel bottle that it comes in, it has garnered plenty of fans in a short span of time. Nonetheless, people will be looking for cheaper alternatives or other fragrances which smell like it or at least in a similar ballpark.

In this post, I want to present an ongoing list of options for those who enjoy GG, but want to find an alternative.

Fragrances that Smell Quite Like Good Girl

Cheaper Dream

Miss Dream by La Rive– If you want a really inexpensive option, that is a near comparable scent of Good Girl, then Miss Dream is it. One of the main differences, is the lack of nuttiness, in this one. There is some, but not to the same extent.

Miss Dream is fairly sweet, more sheer, and does have a lovely creamy vanilla/tonka bean combination. The tonka bean feels particularly strong.

Nonetheless, it actually settles into a very nice perfume that is a close impression of what we’re after. The performance isn’t great, but at around $15 per bottle, it’s serviceable.

Dossier Almond

Fruity Almond- If you want a pure attempt at something similar to Good Girl,  Fruity Almond from Dossier can fit the bill very well. Plus, it is very affordable, even among the other cheapies on this list.

It gives you a peachy opening, that is met quickly by the almond and orange blossom notes especially.  Next, comes the tuberose and tonka bean to provide the GG experience.

Most closely styled after or ‘inspired’ perfumes don’t 100% capture the same beat for beat development of the designer original. Though, the Dossier scents get it about as close as you can expect, and the end result smells great.

Blushing Girl

Pretty Girl Blush by Fragrenza– So, Fragrenza actually has two options which are ‘inspired by’ the Carolina Herrera fragrances. One is based on the original Good Girl formula, and the other, is based on Blush.

Good Girl Blush is a newer flanker of the original, that some might be looking for an alternative of.

It’s got more in the way of citrus and vanilla. Top notes still include the pear, along with: bergamot, mandarin, and grapefruit.

The good news is that you can try both of the “Pretty Girl” fragrance options, since they have 3ml sizes available to buy for cheap.

Another Femme Fatale

Femme Fatale by Oakcha– Another option that is inspired by and tries to mimic what you get with the Carolina Herrera perfume.

Now, I haven’t tried any fragrances from this brand as of yet. But, they do have a good reputation from what I’ve read. I’m adding Femme Fatale to the list for those who want to possibly try another similar perfume to Good Girl.

The notes line up and the current price (as of writing) is at $30 per bottle. Can’t be too far off.

The Zara Option

Deep Garden– Zara’s tuberose infused fragrance bears a lot of resemblance to our popular target scent. Deep Garden is a trimmed down version, that is sweeter and less reliant on the spicy notes than Good Girl.

You start things off with a sparkling pear note, creating a similar effect to the citrus found in GG.  Tonka bean instead of pure vanilla, but it can come across as smelling the same.

To me, this one is lighter, and kind of sheer with how it comes across. Not an exact match, but inexpensive, and striking a close chord.

Fruitier without Almond/Coffee

Floratta Red- This one from Boticario has lots of overlap with the Carolina Herrera perfume, particularly in the floral notes.

Tuberose, orange blossom, and jasmine are all here. With that you also have fruity note and a base featuring chocolate sweetness and amber.

What you don’t get? The almond and the coffee notes. So, it is a bit stripped down in that regard, when compared with our target.

It altogether feels fruitier and somewhat more of a floral than Good Girl. Decent performance, but the price varies from what I’ve seen, as it isn’t as widely available.

Different Start, Similar Dry Down

I Want Choo– This Jimmy Choo has peach and mandarin notes up top, with the peach being the stronger of the two throughout the wear. It doesn’t have the almond, coffee, and cocoa notes and instead goes with vanilla and benzoin.

So, you’ll get a fruity vanilla start to I Want Choo. The floral notes in this one are also dominated by the jasmine, which splits some of the duties with a red lily note.

The latter stages are where this perfume really overlaps with Good Girl. Jasmine and vanilla, while GG goes with jasmine and tonka bean. The Choo has more of a sparkling fruit accord up top and a resinous finish.

Nice performance and probably smells a bit better, in my opinion versus the Carolina Herrera. I Want Choo Review

Very Good Alternative

Angel Nova by Mugler- Going beyond just the original version of the scent, here’s another perfume that comes across much like Very Good Girl.

Raspberry and litchi are very bold together at the start and pretty prevalent throughout the wear. It gets further depth from rose and benzoin, which make themselves more known after that initial start.

Not necessarily better than the Carolina Herrera option, but it is one to check out if you like this sort of intense fruity/floral style.  Angel Nova review

Overlaps with, But Not an Exact Relative

Armani Code– Armani Code is similar to Good Girl, but definitely not exact. Good Girl is sweeter overall, while Code has a bit more citrus, earthiness, and spice to its composition.

The spiciness isn’t heavy, it is from a ginger note and some patchouli. The dry down is creamier and warm, with a gentle and refined sweetness.

Jasmine, honey, and the vanilla note. The citrus isn’t as pronounced towards the end, but it remains there. Very versatile and good daily wear.

 

Fresh and Herbal 

Boss Alive– Boss Alive is a newer release from Hugo Boss that certainly favors GG. However, this one isn’t as sweet but has more of a crisp juiciness and tartness, thanks to apple and plum.

Actually, I’m a bit reminded of their Boss Bottled No.6 for Men, due to that apple and cinnamon. Obviously, not the same, but I can certainly detect the similarities.

Boss Alive isn’t as floral and isn’t nutty like our target scent, it has an herbal and woody quality. There isn’t too much overlap in terms of notes, especially at the top, but the base notes are very alike. Thus, you get a similar effect without a 1 to 1 scent profile.

Similar Notes, Different Weighting

Libre Intense by YSL– Vanilla and citrus are common overlaps between Libre Intense and Good Girl. Most of the similarities however, will come from the floral notes.

Jasmine and orange blossom, when paired with the vanilla and ambergris, is when this is at its closest to GG.

Is it really close? Not really. But this can be a good alternative, sort of in the same grouping between Boss Alive and Good Girl. Expect more citrus and lavender in this one, it’s really the secondary layers during the perfumes development, that resembles the Carolina Herrera.

Maximum Cheapie

Maxima by Avon– Jasmine and citrus and other fruity notes, lead this one. Maxima really does resemble being a mix between Good Girl and Olympea (listed below). Not as complex, as either, more sheer but with a good performance for the price.

The dry down is more floral than GG, but it still keeps up the sweetness throughout. If you don’t need the tonka, coffee, and cacao that GG has…this can be a really nice alternative of the perfume.

A Cousin in Perfumery

Olympea by Paco Rabanne– This is another possibility, that isn’t going to smell exactly alike, but does inhabit the same sort of space as Good Girl does. Olympea, gets you plenty of vanilla, amber, jasmine, and orange.

Combined with a similar base and it produces a scent that is in the same ballpark. This and Olympea Intense are more heavily weighted toward the amber note, with vanilla, and a saltiness. Sweet, salty, warm, and floral.

Dreams

Coach Dreams Sunset– The flanker to the original Coach Dreams, Sunset has a pretty similar but not exact style like our target. Actually, to me this is closer to Good Girl Legere than the original.

This opens up with a frozen pear sorbet note, bergamot, tonka bean and vanilla. So, even from the start you get the overlapping bergamot and tonka bean, with a similar structure to GG and Legere.

The floral notes are the same jasmine note, but Dreams Sunset goes with a magnolia also, which is actually the stronger of the two.

This fragrance is sweet and creamy, with a cold and delicious opening act. Later, it is going to be all about the magnolia and jasmine notes, wrapped in a creamy vanilla/tonka bean blanket. Coach Dreams Sunset Review

11 Best Smelling Kim Kardashian Perfumes

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It seems like almost every celebrity both big and small, has released a fragrance at some point. Naturally, the ultimate modern celeb Kim Kardashian, has her own lineup of scents. So, what are the best Kim Kardashian perfumes?

The original line appears to have been put into a separate brand (or discontinued entirely) than the newer KKW perfumes, which features the rest of the family.

However, in this post, I’m going to pull from both and select the greatest of them. As such, this is a blend of older releases and some of the latest, as it gets closer to the bottom.

The older scents are usually still available for really cheap and they did have some good stuff. The newer perfumes are a mix of the best offerings of Khloe, Kim, Kourtney, and Kendall.

Favorite Kim Kardashian and KKW Perfumes

Best Kim Kardashian Perfume (Older Releases)

Kim Kardashian Gold Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4 oz– Gold is a sneaky good fragrance that opens with a citrus blast of bergamot and grapefruit, the latter of which, will be a main attraction throughout the wear. 

KK Gold is fairly warm with amber, but not completely heavy and enveloping.

The patchouli and musk, add some further spice to the composition, but Gold always retains its sweetness.  A well-balanced fragrance, that leans towards the unisex end of things.

However, it is an overall very attractive perfume, and one that is quite a steal at such a low price point.

Top Woody Gourmand Scent

Kim Kardashian True Reflection Women Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce– True reflection has a sweetness to it but blended with patchouli and the orchid note adds some floral depth.

It’s a lighter fragrance in terms of its sillage but True Reflection, has a dark gourmand vibe, reminiscent of chocolate.

It utilizes the patchouli to give it that familiar, sweet baked goods/candy aroma, that is found in so many other scents. While it isn’t exactly ‘unique’, this one is a good example of the style for a low price.

The rest of the wear gives you a nice plum note, creamy floral highlights, and a fresh woodsy/musky finish. True Reflection has a good balance to it, not sickening in its sweetness, but has enough to make it delectable.

Light, but a surprising amount of depth, in this price range.

Best Selling Kim Kardashian Fragrance

Kim Kardashian for Women By Kardashian Edp Spray, 3.4 Ounce– This is a fragrance for floral loves, as it is highlighted by gardenia and tuberose. Kim Kardashian for Women, is a very pretty, upbeat, and feminine fragrance. It mostly the white floral notes with a creamy and slightly woody undertone.

At times, you will experience a creamy sandalwood or a bit of musk, but mostly you will get a great floral-based fragrance for really cheap. Beyond the gardenia and tuberose, there is orange blossom, and a good deal of jasmine.

This fragrance is very well done and super attractive. The end of the wear, has more of the wood note and musk, but the main draw of gardenia still reigns supreme.

One of the better performing scents of the line, in terms of staying power.

Top Sweetly Scented Perfume

Kim Kardashian Pure Honey Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce– A sweet sort of honey with beeswax mixed in. Pure Honey is a light perfume with the profile of a spring day.

Floral and musk notes add to the composition, but it’s mostly about that nectary honey aroma, especially at the start.

Some of the other scents on the list, are fairly unisex, but this one is much more feminine and a solid option for daily wear. Sweet honey with a light floral bouquet dry down, pretty simple, but quite nice.

A good dose of a natural sort of sweetness, instead of something that you’d find in a bakery. This is of course, one for those who want an inexpensive honey scent, and you indeed get a good deal.

 

The Khloe Diamond 

KKW Fragrance Diamonds Khlo̩ РSapphire Diamond KhloeРThis is a newer release from the KKW line, but an interesting take on the sweet gourmand category. In some ways, it is completely familiar, just presented in different way.

It kicks off with a nice blend of citrus and blueberries, that will be wrapped up in the usual vanilla/tonka bean blend. However, there is also a marine note and some light floral touches that give it some distinction.

This is going to be one for those who love the sweet and vanilla sorts of scents. It’s got a very mass appealing vibe, easy to wear, and the performance is pretty darn good.

Creamy dessert topped with blueberries and a fresh sea aroma lurking. 

Gorgeous Gourmand

Caramel Orchid by KKW– The opening of Caramel Orchid goes sweet, obviously. The caramel note with cacao lead things off. However, there is a davana note here, there gives it an additional sweetness/fruitiness/herbal kind of aroma. It really helps to create a distinct aroma.

Initially, this will be a sugary kind of sweetness, along with vanilla really coming through for the duration.

But, we will get to a more floral and musky heart and dry down period. Heliotrope, musk, and some cashmere wood.

You get a sort of powdery chocolate and vanilla scent for a portion of the time here. Then, it’ll be a muskier and cleaner sort of scent. Not super groundbreaking, but another good option if you want a delicious gourmand that isn’t too childish.

Sugary Vanilla and Amber

Nude Lips by KKW– So, all of the giant lip bottles are kind of weird looking from this series, but the scent itself in Nude Lips is pretty nice. Nice, but rather simple.

Warm vanilla is going to be the main attraction here. Nude Lips does start off with a spicy blend of notes up top, smells like cinnamon is the heaviest of them. Amber and some floral notes give it a nice balance in the middle act.

White floral notes. They aren’t massively involved for the entire duration, but there. Sometimes creamy, others it comes across more powdery. In the end, a light sillage, solid performance, and really enjoyable vanilla based experience.

top kkw perfume

Top KKW Kourtney Diamond 

KKW Fragrance Diamond Kourtney – Ruby Diamond– I really like this one as it turns away from a lot of the usual sweetness from this line and gives you a unique spicy kick. Red ginger, pink pepper, pimento, and sandalwood all contribute to Kourtney Ruby Diamond.

The orchid joins the spices up top, which does indeed put out a dark red feeling, with its aroma. Then, the rose comes in and settles things down along with some creamy vanilla. 

Ruby Diamond has more of a classic feel of spiced floral notes. It might not be for everyone, since it presents a different kind of character than what many are used to today, with popular releases.

This is more of a modern take on the late 80s-early 90s powerhouse. This doesn’t have that same level of power, but respect for coming with something different.

The Best Kendall Jenner Fragrance (Thus far)

Kendall by KKW Fragrance Olive– Olive isn’t super complex, comes across as unisex, but is still a very good release. Rose and amber are going to be playing a sizeable role here, but the fresh aldehydes are awesome early on.

As KKW describes it, the aldehydes are “immersed in a crystal clear pool of water”.

The rose note here isn’t in total control ever, Kendall’s perfume has more of a blended vibe, with dry earthy notes coming up from the base. Vetiver and patchouli only add to that fresh start. 

Later, it really starts going away from the rose and much more toward the fresh woodsy aroma. It still has a nice degree of sweetness from the amber, but I dig that earthiness/outdoorsy scent.

Kim’s Diamond

Emerald Diamond by KKW– For the Kim Kardashian version of the diamond series, you get something that is clean, green, and floral. But, it’s one that isn’t boring, by any means.

The top is an evergreen accord, paired with a green mandarin, and orchid. So, yep, you’re getting a fresh sort of fragrance that will round out with a pretty awesome pear note. It doesn’t go full forest mode, but it does have a strong element early on…dewy, also.

As it dries down, Emerald Diamond takes on more of a clean soapy sort of floral aroma. Violet, orchid, orange blossom, and passion flower.

No worries, it still retains its sweetness and fruitiness during all of this, just to a lesser degree.

Something in the Clouds

Opal Drip by KKW–  Opal Drip has become popular as an affordable option that smells similar to Baccarat Rouge 540. Though, it’s more like Cloud by Ariana Grande or In the Stars by B&BW.

This is one with a more sugary sweet quality to it, but opens up with an herbal aroma sitting underneath.

This one has more of a focus on the lavender note versus the praline and coconut that you get with the Ariana scent.

Dries down with lavender, amber, musk, and other floral notes. But, much of the sweetness remains, just in a more presentable form. All with a bright citrus top, which hangs around and contributes nicely.

Bleu de Chanel Parfum vs. EDT Comparison

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Chanel keeps chugging along with its Bleu de Chanel line of perfumes for men. The original EDT, has been immensely popular for many years now, and show no signs of slowing down. The most recent release has been, BdC Parfum, which gives the formula a newer take.

The question is, which smells better? EDT vs. Parfum? Which lasts longer? Which is the best one to buy?

Tale of the Tape: BdC EDT vs. Parfum

Bleu de Chanel Parfum

Notes include: sandalwood, cedar, lemon, lavender, mint, bergamot, tonka bean, amber, geranium

Click here to try: BLEU DE C H A N E L PARFUM, 3.4 oz./ 100 mL

Read my Review: Bleu de Chanel Parfum

Bleu de Chanel EDT

Notes include: lemon, grapefruit, ginger, mint, pink pepper, incense, cedar, vetiver, patchouli, jasmine, and more

Click here to try: Bleu De_Chanel for Men Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4oz NEW in BOX 

Opening

BdC Parfum kicks things off with a duo of citrus notes: lemon zest and bergamot. It does take a somewhat different direction from the other Bleu fragrances, by those citrus notes being tempered by mint and the woods.

All in all, it still is pretty similar in the beginning. Later, Bleu de Chanel Parfum will become a woodier and warmer scent, with plenty of sandalwood and cedar coming into the fold.

Bleu EDT is also a citrus affair up top. The grapefruit and lemon, get blended with softer spice notes, and a smoky incense. This BdC entry, also has the mint note, but ginger is the more prominent of the two.

Which fragrance has the better start? They’re both pretty close at the start, and I do really like either of them. But, I’d say Parfum gets the slightest edge, with its added woodiness. I do, really enjoy the ginger in EDT, though.

Edge: Parfum

Projection

Sillage wise, again, they’re actually very close to one another. Neither is an absolute beast in terms of strength or projection ability.

Parfum starts off pretty strong, but goes into its moderate phase pretty shortly thereafter. EDT does the same. The opening of Parfum, I’d say, hits a higher high. But it’s so short-lived, to not be a major factor.

You’d think that Parfum, would have better sillage, as the higher concentrated fragrance. However, that’s not actually the case, in my experience with each.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Bleu de Chanel EDT will go anywhere from 5-7 hours, on my skin. It doesn’t really have that insane performance. Decent? Yes. Not elite, though.

Parfum, while not having a super powerful sillage, actually does have really good longevity. For me, it lasts over 10 hours. It just seems to continually hang around. It’s easily the winner, in this category.

Bleu de Chanel Parfum is really low key with its performance. You don’t always notice it, but you will catch whiffs of it during the day, and those around you will be able to pick it up.

Edge: Parfum

Versatility

Alright, both of them are highly versatile scents. Bleu de Chanel can work in a wide variety of situations, meaning, all of these releases under this name.

Parfum, might be more refined and formal, in some ways. But, it’s not really something that’s going to move the needle here.

The only real distinction here is that, the EDT version, is better in the heat. Parfum cannot stand up to the high heat, while the EDT can. As such, its getting the edge.

Edge: EDT

Overall Scent

For me, I don’t think you can actually go wrong with any of the choices from the Bleu de Chanel line. They are all high quality and smell wonderful. Naturally, each shares a common DNA with one another, but each stands alone as a distinct wear.

What I enjoy about the EDT version, is the fresh and clean aroma. The citrus is very nice, but I absolutely love the ginger note. It does get a smoky aroma in there as well, but the ginger led spice accord is the highlight.

This is the best of them, at handling the heat. I’d go with the EDT, if I lived in a tropical climate…possibly the EDP. Even then, the amber in that one can be wonky, in the hotter temperatures and humidity, especially.

However, when it comes down to which of these two is better, I’m going to say Bleu de Chanel Parfum. The performance is better, it has enough of an overlap with the EDT, but brings in more of a woody freshness.

The lemon zest, isn’t as intensely citrusy as the EDT version’s plain lemon, but it brings enough of that character. I like the lavender, amberwood, and sandalwood.

Actually, especially the sandalwood. To me, it is the highlight of Parfum, and what takes it to another level.

I have gone back and forth between liking the EDP or Parfum better. As of today, I usually lean EDP. In this contest? Parfum beats EDT. There are also a ton of alternatives to Bleu de Chanel that have been released, but that’s not the case yet for Parfum.

Winner: BdC Parfum

Virgin Island Water by Creed

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Within the box of sample fragrances, I recently received (note: I’ve updated this page several times since), were several fragrances by Creed which I had yet to review on the site. One of them, is the popular unisex summer fragrance, Virgin Island Water. It was released in 2007.

This is a scent that screams time spent at the beach in some far flung tropical paradise. But, how does it perform? What does it smell like exactly? Is it actually worth the price of admission? Please continue reading below for my full take on Virgin Island Water, after wearing it.

What Does Creed Virgin Island Water Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, lime, rum, sugar cane, coconut, ylang-ylang, and ginger

Click here to try: Creed Virgin Island Water by Creed for Unisex – 4 oz Millesime Spray

My Full Wear Review

Upon getting my sample of Virgin Island Water, I immediately wanted to do a side by side comparison with Set Sail St. Bart’s, due to the similarities with these fragrances. I have tried both fragrances before but never had them together at the same time.

Virgin Island Water opens up with the lime and bergamot notes taking center stage, whereas the Tommy Bahama cologne is almost exclusively lime.

The opening is where the two scents are the most similar. I like Virgin Island Water better, as I feel the lime is less in your face, and tempered by the other citrus note and the coconut hanging around in the background.

It’s really the lime note that allows St. Barts to temporarily pass as a super cheapie VIW clone of sorts. The two scents also each have an alcohol note (tequila in St. Barts), which gives them another similar feel, but the quality difference is noticeable to yourself when wearing.

Anyways, the bergamot used in Virgin Island Water reminds me of it’s fellow Creed scent, Aventus. It really does blend well with the lime to create a beautiful citrus fusion.

After about 10-15 minutes of wear the creamy coconut takes over as the top dog in this scent and VIW starts to feel more like a suntan lotion.

It’s really like a sensory experience type of fragrance, it’s like being in the Caribbean on a beach with a drink in hand and a delicious smelling lotion covering your skin.

There are hints of jasmine and hibiscus, throughout the wear, but the floral notes are never out in full force. During the final dry down, it’s like a coconut rum lotion with some musk added in.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

Projection wise, it’s okay. It’s not a super strong scent but you’ll know it’s there for the first few hours. With these notes, I’m kind of glad it’s not a complete beast, as it’d probably too much.

It’s longevity is kind of meh, too. I’d say somewhere in the 4-6 hour range is what you can expect to get out of Virgin Island Water.

I get that this is a warm weather scent with some limited use cases versus others in the line, but that performance is pretty darn bad. It can make it difficult to justify paying full price for VIW, even if you completely love it.

When should this scent be worn? Summer. That’s about it. It’s a very good warm/hot weather scent, which is a bit rarer, so I think that it serves this niche well. Also, it is a unisex fragrance, and honestly doesn’t seem to lean towards one end or the other.

It’s a very balanced scent. I’d also say that this is a casual type of scent, I don’t think I’d be wearing it for any ‘serious’ functions or even a date. But, an outdoor party or beachy nightlife spot? Sure, I’d go for that.

VIW is mostly something to wear during the daytime to be refreshed and conjure up those memories of the island life.

Overall Impression of Virgin Island Water

Overall, is Virgin Island Water worth a purchase? I like the way it smells, but I don’t know that I like it for the price that Creed fetches. It’s honestly not one of my favorite Creed fragrances, but it is good.

The lime and rum are particularly likeable for me. The coconut is good, but it’s not my favorite aspect, especially how it plays off of the floral notes. Not bad or anything, just not the greatest either.

So, I wouldn’t tell anyone else to not buy it. Some folks love it, but it has never particularly struck me as a ‘great’ perfume. Plus, not much in terms of being a high performance scent.

Personally, Set Sail St. Barts, while not exactly the same and not as high quality…is cheaper enough in price that I could substitute it. I have a full bottle of the Tommy Bahama cologne, so having VIW seems like overkill, especially since it’s so limited to one season of the year.

Update: I wouldn’t go for the Tommy Bahama option nowadays. I do now actually have a Dua Brand blend of this and Afternoon Swim by Louis Vuitton called, “Gone Swimming in Caribbean Waters”. That is much cheaper and better than just VIW on its own (they also have a cheaper alternative of that).

Plus, I’d wear this mostly while outdoors anyways, and with heat and perspiration, it’d be hard to tell the difference between the two.

Since this is a unisex fragrance, I would also recommend Tom Ford’s Soleil Blanc, over this. It is more of a women’s perfume (floral notes), but is honestly better than VIW, to my nose.