Working my way through my pile of sample fragrances, I thought that I’d turn my attention to the ladies’ side of things today. One of the samples that I received months ago, was a release from Betsey Johnson called, Pretty N’ Punk. How does this perfume smell? What are the notes? How does it perform? Is it even worth a buy?
What does Pretty N Punk Smell Like?
Notes include: cherry, raspberry, amber, musk, sandalwood, praline, orange, vanilla orchid, rose, jasmine, peony, patchouli and more
My Full Review
Before I get into my review let’s see how the brand describes this perfume: Unapologetic and energetic. Pretty N’ Punk is a collision of fruit, citrus, and spicy scents with satiny wood and musk undertones, amplified by a sweet amber twist. With a vibrant burst and sultry finish it’s perfect for every Betsey Babe.
Pretty N’ Punk opens with a really nice fruity mix with some underlying warm spice. The spice is light, but a decent complement to the mandarin citrus, raspberry, and cherry aroma. The fruit notes in this perfume, are more of a cocktail-like approach, rather than having one ingredient dominate things.
It’s definitely sweet and warm, as it moves along, Punk becomes more of a fruity gourmand. Praline adds further sweetness and that edible quality. The floral notes are there, but feel pretty moderate, throughout. I’d say that the orchid note is the strongest, and that I can pick out the rose, during parts of the wear.
The other key ingredients here are the patchouli and the amber. The amber mainly in the dry down, as it does indeed give a warm sweetness to the woody base. The patchouli here, is a really gentle version of this note, and not one that’ll make you want to scrub your skin immediately.
Ultimately, what I get from the final stage of this perfume is a fruity sweet baked good, with patchouli, a mix of floral notes, and some ambery-sandalwood. It’s warm with a red berry type of sweet fruit. Yes, it is playful, and has an upbeat sort of disposition.
Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility
Projection wise, the sillage on Pretty N’ Punk is pretty strong. It doesn’t seem to reach the ‘choke out a room’ level of strength, but it wouldn’t be too difficult to overspray, either. It moderates, as time moves along, but it is a fairly impactful fragrance overall.
The longevity is decent, clocking in around six hours of wear. Not amazing, but definitely passable, at the right price. Testing it out a few times, yielded the same results. So, don’t go in expecting a complete workhorse.
Seasonally, it works well pretty much year round. It’s got that gourmand quality for the colder months, but isn’t too heavy to move into warmer temperatures. Maybe avoid the height of summertime, but otherwise, one should be find wearing it.
It’s more of a ‘pretty’, casual, kind of perfume. It’s pleasant enough and has the depth to not just be another ‘girly’ fragrance. It does have a bit of an edge.
Overall Impressions of Pretty N’ Punk
Overall, do I like Pretty N’ Punk by Betsey Johnson? Yes, however, it is good and not great. It’s a fragrance that has been done before, but this is a really nice example of it. You get a solid blend of fruits, floral notes, patchouli, and a gourmand sensibility.
The performance could be a bit better, which would knock it up a few notches, in my book. However, if you can get a good deal on a bottle, I’d say go for it.
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 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!
