By Designer

Broadway Nite by Bond No. 9

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This will serve as my second Bond No.9 fragrance review. Update: This is an extremely old post, I’ve reviewed a ton of them since and also have updated this page. Last time out, I took a closer look at Riverside Drive, which while being fairly masculine could also serve as a unisex fragrance.

This time around, I will review Broadway Nite, which is a wholly feminine fragrance from this New York design house. In this post, I want to give my overall impressions of Broadway Nite, describe its smell, how it performs, when it should be worn, and if its worth a purchase.

What does Broadway Nite Smell Like?

broadway nite review

Notes include: rose, honeysuckle, iris, musk, amber, vanilla, heliotrope, violet

Click here to try: Bond No. 9 Broadway Nite by Bond No. 9 For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3-Ounces

My Full Review

From the very start, Broadway Nite hits you with a bouquet of floral notes. The rose, iris, and heliotrope are definitely detectable and quite distinct.

Just to throw this out there, if you aren’t a big floral fan, stay away from this perfume, as this one isn’t a fragrance with ‘universal’ appeal.

Some folks will utterly hate this juice. Also, the vanilla and musk notes help to create a very powdery aroma, and that’s essentially what you’re going to get with Broadway Nite, a very floral/powdery perfume.

This perfume feels like a scent from a previous time period. It’s older and mature yet it can be very loud and in your face at the same time.

Those aldehydes in the opening act, are going to create that sort of vintage feel. More brands seem to be getting back to using aldehydes in their perfumes recently, but they still can throw people off.

That opening is a blast of the violet, aldehydes, and violet leaf. Sitting with a bunch of rose and the powdery aromas of iris and heliotrope.

As the scent wears on, the rose note begins to recede and the violet and powdery vibe becomes more prominent.

Broadway Nite, is more tolerable in the back half, if you enjoy the violet note. Still some rose and the aldehydes aren’t too noticeable. Basically, a powdery blend of floral notes, musk, and a bit of a fresh undertone.

It does have plenty of life and energy to it, though, I don’t think this would be the right fit for most younger women.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Broadway Nite is heavy. I think that any more than a few sprays, would be way too much to handle in an enclosed space.

Broadway Nite does tone down, obviously. Though, it still does have a pretty far reaching radius, even a few hours after spraying.

It does have very good longevity and I could still smell the perfume on my skin, from a distance, in the late evening (after a morning application). So, 10+ hours with this one, is certainly well within its abilities.

This is one of the better performing fragrances from Bond No. 9 for sure, even if its not one of my personal favorites.

This is more of a nighttime wear, I don’t think it’d be all that great for office wear, as it is a ‘beast’ so to speak in terms of its strength. It can be worn during the daytime, as well, but stick to lighter applications of it.

Overall Impressions of Broadway Nite

Is Broadway Nite, worth a buy? It is if you’re a fan of floral/powdery perfumes and want something with a lot of strength. Otherwise, I’d go with something else.

This is kind of a niche scent, in my opinion. Though, it also feels completely traditional as a floral scent.

I think it smells pretty good, it’s definitely not my favorite and I’d get a headache if someone wore too much of this stuff.

Then again, I’m not too into rose and violet notes in fragrance, but to each their own. Really, it’s the violet that bothers me more. However, this isn’t a terrible example and you do get your money’s worth out of this Bond perfume, if you’re one who likes its scent.

10 Best Smelling Bvlgari Perfumes for Ladies

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When considering the top scents for women by Bvlgari, I wanted to both get the best smelling perfumes on the list but also to include some actually variety in the compositions. That way, there would be a list of different options based on one’s own personal tastes, as well as, based on the time of year or particular style you may be searching for. In the end, I have selected 10 perfumes from Bvlgari’s lineup which I think stack up as the top option.

What are the Best Bvlgari Fragrances for Her?

High-End Beauty

Baciami by Bvlgari– The Allegra line is one of Bvlgari’s latest offerings over the past few years. At a higher price point then their usual mainstream perfumes, they create something special for those looking for a scent that is more niche.

Baciami might be the best of the bunch. To me, it’s certainly in the top three thus far (along with the two others on this list).

This one gives you a creamy/milky sort of vanilla blend with a rich use of gardenia, that will all settle into a more powdery aroma. It kind of hits like a coconut, but not quite. It’s sweet with a great amber base note and the vanilla blend.

The gardenia will go back and forth with the vanilla, as to which is more dominant. Sometimes, it feels balanced, while others one will really come through off of the skin. Very nice to wear. Expensive, but worth trying.

A Lovely Myrrh 

Spettacolore by Bvlgari– A second Allegra fragrance. Though, I might go with Riva Solare before this one, Spettacolore is also worth a spot on the list.

This one is about the myrhh and iris notes. Early, you get an earthy and powdery iris note, that has a light citrus brightness to it. Not a complete powdery overload or anything, there also might be violet here, especially early on.

This has a great warmth, some sweetness, but a really fresh and interesting use of the myrrh note. Like a cooling freshness kick emerging from that warm pool of amber. It’s got such a great balance and it’s completely clean in the dry down, once that earthy aspect has faded completely.

Probably going to be one that will only interest a small percentage of people, but give it a try if you can.

Floral Bouquet

Bvlgari By Bvlgari For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4 Ounces– The brand’s namesake fragrance which features a floral bouquet of rose, iris, violet, and others. A very soft and feminine perfume yet still retains really good staying power (over 8 hours).

I’m personally not that into the smell, as I don’t particularly enjoy the heavier floral based perfumes. However, for those who do, Bvlgari Pour Femme is a solid choice. It opens with iris and violet leaf, then, you get more rose and violet during the drydown.

There are lighter fruit notes, in the background, but are none too strong. Again, this one is more for floral lovers, but it hits the mark in that category. Bvlgari Pour Femme Review

Beautiful Unisex Fragrance

Bvlgari Au The Blanc Unisex Eau De Cologne Spray, 2.5 Ounce– Au The Blanc from Bvlgari is an herbal, musk, and tea blend that is highlighted by a fresh spiciness. The opening act features pepper and artemisia for a bold and unique aroma.

Yet, this one doesn’t overpower, and has a more soothing aroma. The white tea and ambrette really play well off of the top notes and the musk ties it all together. It ends up warm, freshly clean, and a bit sweet.

Truly a unisex fragrance, that will give a change of pace from the usual perfumes.

Best Fresh Spicy Scent

Bvlgari Omnia Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 2.2 Ounce– Omnia changes up the pace and brings the spice (but not too much) with notes like ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. It’s a unique experience that isn’t overpowering but still very good.

You get the warm and comforting spices, joined with a chai tea note, and some sweet almond and chocolate notes. The base is quite woody and supports the cardamom, ginger, and other assorted spices. The spices aren’t too sharp nor are they very powerful.

It’s a lighter scent, that wraps you in its warm coziness, versus beating you over the head with its projecting ability. Nice casual pick for the colder months.

Jasmine Blend

Jasmin Noir By Bvlgari Eau-de-toilette Spray, 3.4-Ounce– Jasmin Noir is a different kind of floral fragrance. While it opens up with jasmine and gardenia, these notes are surrounded by, almond and licorice. With a bit of patchouli, for good measure.

It’s floral, sweet, and slightly spicy. Jasmin Noir features a woody base, with a creamy tonka bean note, adding to its sweetness. It’s well put together, and the jasmine note, isn’t overwhelming within the composition. It’s quite moderate in its performance and a versatile pick for the autumn and winter months.   Jasmin Noir Review

Fresh and Powdery

Bvlgari Blv By Bvlgari For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 2.5 Ounces–Very no frills, simplistic, and unique. Fresh, powdery, with a nice spice to it, and enough sweetness to intrigue. Blv opens up with a citrus bergamot note, joined by the main attraction of ginger.

No worries, the ginger isn’t completely dominant, and is tempered by the soft floral notes like wisteria. A light musk adds a bit more to the overall composition, but you still ultimately, get a clean powdered spice with a soft disposition.

Note: The women’s version seems to be discontinued now, as of this update.

Most Popular/Best Seller

Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline for Women Eau De Toilette Spray, 2.2 fl oz– Another from the Omnia series, Coral is another good scent, from that line. Crystalline is a light fragrance with lotus, tea, bamboo, and musk being the highlight notes.

It’s a simple and straightforward wear, that is a good pickup for daily use. It’s a clean blend of the lotus, tea, and a pear-like aroma. Quite clean, with a light soapy quality. Bamboo and musk sit at the base, but Crystalline, is headed up by the lotus flower.

Omnia Crystalline is a choice for those who want something to wear casually or to the office, that won’t offend or overwhelm, but smells fresh and delightful.

Sheer Rose Perfume

Bvlgari Rose Essentielle by Bvlgari 3.4oz 100ml EDT Spray– A must-have for rose lovers. Soft, sweet, and deliciously feminine. The two rose ingredients are paired with juicy blackberry, musk, and violet. A sandalwood base, adds a smooth creamy quality, that pairs well with the floral notes.

The rose smells freshly cut and not overpowering, the blackberry does a magnificent job at balancing things out. It isn’t too powerful, but, helps the rose and violet feel even more beautiful.

Rose Essentielle has a sheer and clean aroma, with good performance, that’s never too in your face about it.

Great Newer Bvlgari Perfume

Riva Solare by Bvlgari– Riva Solare Allegra is described by the brand as an Italian Vacation. It’s easy to understand why, when you get top notes of mandarin orange, and Calabrian bergamot. Along with, a lovely neroli note.

With that neroli, you get orange blossom, and osmanthus to round out the floral notes. Obviously, this is going to be a summertime citrus wear for the most part, but it is an absolutely beautiful one.

However, it really turns light and musky after that opening, with the impression of the bergamot really sticking around. To me, this felt very clean and just a complete vibe of being on the coast. It definitely captures those moments. The performance isn’t amazing, so you may want to try before you buy.

Versace Pour Femme (Signature) EDP

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Versace Pour Femme (aka Versace Signature) was released back in 2007, by the brand. I had yet to do a review of this perfume, on the site, so I grabbed a sample to do some testing. In this post, I’m going to share my thoughts about what works or what doesn’t. How does it perform? Does Versace Signature smell good at all? Is it worth a try?

What does Versace Signature Pour Femme Smell Like?

Notes include: guava, lilac, jasmine, lotus, orchid, azaleas, wisteria, musk, cedar, vetiver

Click here to try: Versace Signature by Gianni Versace For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4-Ounces

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Versace Pour Femme is fairly balanced between the floral notes and the guava fruit, which keeps this one from going into full bouquet mode. I immediately get a lot of lilac, jasmine, and what I suppose it wisteria.

I’m not too familiar with that flower’s aroma, but that’s my guess as to what that scent is. Nonetheless, the wisteria isn’t sticking around much, from what I can tell.

I really like the guava inclusion here, it plays very well off of the light dewy floral notes, and adds a great tropical sweetness. That, with a small part of black currant, makes Signature a really refreshing kind of wear.

A few minutes in, the lilac, is the dominant note for me. It stays that way for the rest of the wear, but lotus is also coming in, along with the jasmine. Floral, watery, with a great fresh cleanliness. 

Versace Signature is just a very pretty fragrance, overall. I’m really drawn to how balanced and fresh, this whole composition smells.

This is a fairly simple perfume, however, the base notes in the dry down do add some depth. Fresh cedarwood, vetiver, and musk. The vetiver and musk are fairly light. Though, I do pick up on a decent amount of cedar, later on in the wear.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage isn’t super powerful. It is a lighter sort of fragrance, but don’t mistake that for being weak. It’s just not a bomb, which is a good thing, as this excels as a daily wear perfume.

The longevity is good, and seems to be in that, 6-8 hour range. Not spectacular, but great for most purposes. Really, unless you absolutely have to have a bomb that goes double digit hours, it isn’t going to be an issue.

Seasonally, you can wear this anytime. I happen to think that it smells amazing in the spring and summer months. The fresh floral notes, don’t have that ‘green’ quality to them, and the guava is the star of the show.

That note, really holds everything together, and gives this perfume life. When I first tested out this fragrance, Versace Pour Femme was really great hanging around in the warm air of the outdoors. 

Versace Signature will work as a casual or slightly more formal perfume. It’s not really ‘sexy’, but it is definitely attractive, and a joy to smell. It’s not going to feel out of place, using it while dressed up, but it also isn’t a stuffy or overtly formal type of wear.

Overall Impressions of Versace Pour Femme

Overall, do I like Versace Pour Femme? Yep. This is a great choice for those wanting a floral dominant, daily wear fragrance. The guava sets the tone and makes this much more enjoyable.

The lilac, lotus, jasmine combination (along with lighter flowers) is really quite fresh and dynamic, when paired together. The performance is also good. It’s not a really unique or bold scent, but it does what it was designed to do very well. It’s a pretty safe blind buy.

I enjoy the pairing of the floral notes and the watery (semi-aquatic) aspects of this scent. For an easy to reach for daily wear, this is one of the best from the more popular designers. 

Update: This perfume has been discontinued and is getting more difficult to source an affordable bottle. So, unless it was already one that you loved or you’re a collector, it’s not likely worth it to pay up for Versace Pour Femme.

Nice perfume, though. This stuff had a uniqueness among the mainstream designer fragrances of the time and even up to today. Not something completely out of left field, but it had its particular nuances that made it distinct.

4 Perfumes Similar to Obsession for Her

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Obsession by Calvin Klein was an absolute powerhouse back in the 1980s, both in terms of its sales total, and its bold sillage. Seriously, this stuff could and still probably can, fill a room. With such a classic status already achieved, there are going to be plenty of women, trying to find something that can match what it did or at least feel similar to this perfume.

Well, there has been some reformulation of the classic, so the current Obsession isn’t exactly the same. It’s probably still most of the way there, however. As such, I’m going to try to get some close options between the two. Is there a cheaper clone? What scents smell alike?

What Perfumes Smell Like Calvin Klein’s Obsession?

Softer and More Floral

Must De Cartier By Cartier For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 oz
Must is a warm and beautifully sweet fragrance that is great for casual wear and is long-lasting. Must De Cartier is a softer perfume but one that is well-crafted and has many admirers.

This is a good alternative, for those who still want designer fragrance quality, but without the same intensity level as Obsession. You do get some spice, but not to the same level, and probably a greater floral profile as well.

Must de Cartier features plenty of wood dipped in amber with vanilla and tonka bean playing support roles. However, this perfume is not that simple, as there is also floral notes and sweet floral notes involved too. At times it is green, sweet, spicy, but it all settles into something refined and classic.

Less Spice, More Resinous

OPIUM For Women By YVES SAINT LAURENT Eau de Toilette Spray 3 oz
An exotic classic that is spicy and oriental in its presentation. Mandarin, myrrh, jasmine, and bergamot.

This YSL perfume has always been in the same close family of fragrances, to Obsession. I would say, that the spices are toned down here, while the amber/resin/balsamic qualities are amped up.

Opium is a sensually intriguing experience that drives the imagination to dream up distant lands. Beautiful. Obviously, since the release in the 1970s, this perfume has undergone reformulations as just about everything has to.

However, the newer incarnation, is still a very nice fragrance. It still has its spicy, warm, and sweet notes with its underlying herbal and citrus tones that waft up throughout the wear. Opium has retained its charm and is actually a breath of fresh air when compared to many newer releases.

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The Other Obsession

Calvin Klein Obsession For Men Cologne, .5 fl oz– Yes, one alternative to the ladies’ version of Obsession, is the men’s version. They were always closely connected, and the men’s, never went too far masculine to make it unwearable for women. In fact, it’s close to unisex.

Obsession has a lovely spice to it and features notes of mandarin, sandalwood, and amber. It’s got a great cinnamon led warmth and spice, that is supported by the nutmeg. The amber creates a sort of an envelopment around the person wearing it and this is one of the reasons, that Obsession is so good during the winter time.

This is such a rich and enticing scent, good for everyday wear, but can also pull double duty as a date night go to. There is sweet vanilla and nutmeg, which help to round out the fragrance, and create a memorable wear.

Spicy and warm, yes, but also a smoky balsamic element that peaks through at times. The classic formulation of this was amazing, but it is still holding up well today.   My Obsession review

obsession

Another Similar 80s Perfume

Moschino By Moschino For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 2.5 Ounces– The original fragrance dating back to the late 1980s. A long lasting blend of florals, vanilla, and spice which gives it an exotic and special scent. It’s classic and gives you a different experience from most of the perfumes, out on the market today.

Moshcino when compared to Obsession, is a lot less spicy. Amber is there for sure, but you get a whole host of floral notes, which play a larger role in this composition. Also, a lighter sillage, in comparison.

Moschino is a rather complex composition, but still manages to be extremely well blended. You get herbal spice, green notes, but more warmth and periods of sweetness. All of this comes together with floral notes, such as: rose, marigold, gardenia, and carnation.

Very unique and great performance, with deep and satisfying aroma. Moschino for Women is an underrated classic.

Bright Crystal EDT by Versace

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In an effort to satisfy a larger percentage of this site’s demographics, I thought that I’d begin to do more reviews of women’s perfumes. As a man, it can feel a bit out of place wearing something that is so overtly feminine, but some of these fragrances are just so pleasant that it works out in the end.

In this post, I want to take a closer look at a scent from the house of Versace, Bright Crystal. This one was released back in 2006 and has been a massive seller ever since. I want to explore what makes up this perfumes, how it performs, how it smells, and whether or not it is worth getting a bottle. Please continue reading below for my full impressions.

What does Versace Bright Crystal Smell Like?

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Notes include: yuzo, peony, pomegranate, musk, magnolia, iced accord, lotus, amber

Click Here to try Bright Crystal: Versace Bright Crystal Eau de Toilette Spray for Women, 3 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The initial opening of Bright Crystal is a blast of juicy pomegranate, a citrus scent provided by the yuzo, and a heart of floral notes which provides it with balance. I totally get why the word ‘bright’ was added to the name because this perfume does have a very pleasant and upbeat kind of feel to it.

Yuzo has a similar, albeit distinct aroma from other citrus fruits, and pomegranate is almost always a pleasure to smell in perfumes.

Versace did a great job at not letting it become too floral or too fruity and instead let the juicy/aquatic elements gradually fade a bit into the background to provide Bright Crystal with that extra bit of something that makes it so attractive.

The top of the composition is tart while being juicy, while there is a watery-like smell that sits underneath it all. Then, the floral notes begin to emerge, and take away some of that tartness.

Out of the floral notes, I can detect the peony, most distinctly. The lotus note is also present but doesn’t come through as strong for me and the magnolia, I don’t really pick up at all. Maybe that’s just me?

As Bright Crystal wore on my skin, I became more and more attracted to this scent. Frankly, I think its beautiful and never gets bogged down by being too complex.

The latter stages of this Versace EDT, consist mostly of peony and yuzo, to my nose. Outside of that, it is the watery lotus flower, and a light bit of wood in the base. The wood doesn’t draw much attention, but I can pick it up, if I focus in.

Sillage and Longevity. How Does it Perform? When Can it Be Worn?

Projection wise, it is a soft to moderate scent. It isn’t weak but it isn’t going to choke people out either, with its sillage. Initially, it will project somewhere around 6 feet from the skin or thereabouts. After that, it’ll be 3-4.

However, while it isn’t a heavy scent, it does last all day. In my testing of Bright Crystal, I got over 8 hours out of it and close to 10. The performance for an EDT, is very good, especially one with citrus as a main draw.

 

This perfume could honestly be used on just about any occasion, I wouldn’t say it’s a ‘sexy’ fragrance, but it is very attractive and I wouldn’t mind smelling this on a woman at all. Update: Yeah, this is one that I’ve really come to enjoy over the years. However, it is better suited for daily wear, and isn’t a bold nightlife type of scent.

It’s brightness and fruity/floral scent, make Bright Crystal an ideal fragrance for the warmer days of the year. Yes, it’s fine in the cold of winter, but feels right at home in spring/summer.

Overall Scent. Does Versace Bright Crystal Smell Good?

Overall, Bright Crystal is a fantastic option for women who want something that is light, elegant, and pretty. I enjoy this Versace offering much more than Versus, which I actually liked and I think that it has a much more ‘universal’ appeal than some of the other fragrances on the market.

I would rate Bright Crystal as a buy and its straightforward simplicity is one of its best attributes.

While the opening act, can be pretty tart, I do love the yuzo and pomegranate combination. It’s juicy and delicious. The performance here is really good and I like how it doesn’t just become a bouquet of flowers.

The peony and yuzo form a solid dynamic duo, which sticks around for the rest of the wear. It’s still a best seller, and for good reason, Bright Crystal is a wonderful perfume.

Update: Coming back to this one years later, Bright Crystal is probably among my favorite mainstream designer women’s perfumes to smell. It has always done everything well, from that opening act to the use of peony to the performance.

It’s just a perfume that fits in so many places and is extremely easy to like. Nowadays, it feels like more of a capture of that late 2000s era with so many other perfumes that fell by the wayside like Dior Addict 2. Bright Crystal is still going, still super clean, and a great daily wear pick up.