By Designer

Eros Pour Femme EDT by Versace

by

Going through the samples of many different fragrance to do a review on, I have today, another entry from Versace. This is one for women, named, Eros Pour Femme Eau de Toilette. It was released in 2016.

As usual, I will cover how it smells, what’s inside, how it performs, when it should be worn, and even if it’s worth a purchase. Please continue below for my full wear take on this edition of Eros.

What does Eros Pour Femme EDT Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, mandarin, raspberry sorbet, white currant, freesia, magnolia, jasmine, orange blossom, ambrox, wood, patchouli, and musk

Click here to try: Versace Eros Pour Femme Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounce

Full Wear Review

This is a review of the eau de toilette version of Eros which was released after the popular EDP and so it’s quite a different composition. This Eros Pour Femme opens with a sharp lemon and orange which pairs with a cold raspberry sorbet.

The iciness of the sorbet reminds me of the cold lemon note in the men’s Versace cologne, Eau Fraiche. It is a very fresh and crisp aroma that has an underlying floral accord playing a support role to those three fruits.

After about 10 minutes, the citrus tartness drops significantly, and the perfume is solely headed by the raspberry sorbet. It’s sweet and sugary and the floral notes that I pick up are mainly the freesia and jasmine.

Musk and patchouli are there but along with the wood, serve merely as a base to hold things together.

Later, magnolia makes a stronger appearance and I can also get the impression of orange blossom, but it’s kind of hidden underneath the raspberry and lemon aroma.

In the end, you’re going to be left with a raspberry-centered perfume with citrus flanking it while sitting on a bed of flowers. It’s cheerful and uplifting.

It can be an experience like a cold lemonade blend at times, with a sugar rush, but then the layers of floral, ambroxan, and wood notes hold the hold thing together.

The base notes give Eros EDT some actual substance. That icy raspberry is definitely my favorite part. Definitely a pleasant experience and one that really works well, within this sort of sweet summertime scent context.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it can be strong in the right climate, more so when the humidity is low. To me, it’s not a sillage bomb, but it could easily be over-sprayed. It really doesn’t take that much to be effective. This is true for the first couple of hours with Eros EDT.

While it has a rather strong sillage, I didn’t find the longevity to be all that great. Not that it was poor, but I think I got about 5-6 solid hours out of it, and maybe a little bit longer as a weakened skin scent.

It was kind of strange to start with that kind of power, and then peter out, but it could’ve just been my chemistry with it. ( update: I’ve tried it out again, after this initial review posted, and same results).

The men’s Eros releases have been such beasts when they were brought to market, that I would’ve thought you would’ve gotten the same with Pour Femme. But, nope.

Seasonally, Eros Pour Femme just screams sunny days and warm weather. Late spring into the summertime, is when this feels most at home. It is also a versatile fragrance that can be worn casually, at the office (if lightly sprayed), and even for more formal occasions.

Mostly, it’s a daily wear with a bit more personality than the usual fare, that gets sprayed on.

Is it sexy? As a man, I find it really attractive, not in a seductive way…but I think it’s really ‘pretty’ and would definitely love smelling this on a lady. Because of that, Eros could venture into the nightlife, and garner plenty of complements.

The freshness and sweetness of the fruity notes, really do draw you in, and are a joy to be around. It’s a very upbeat and just generally lovely perfume to smell in the air.

Overall Impressions of Eros Pour Femme

Overall, do I like Eros Pour Femme Eau de Toilette? Yes, I like it a lot. The raspberry and lemon combo is great, like, I cannot get enough of that aroma. The floral notes are great as supporting elements, but never take over the composition as a whole.

I’ve also reviewed Eros EDP, but I like this one a lot more.

It is versatile and gives a good enough performance to make it a decent value. Eros is balanced, has a sunny presentation, and just puts out a positive vibe.

It’s a very nice fragrance. Eros gives you a candy-like scent, without going overboard with a sugary heaviness/stickiness feeling.

This is a really good choice for women, who live in a tropical climate, or just want something seasonally that will smell fantastic.

The longevity could be better, but isn’t terrible, especially for a fruity summer wear. If you’re not into fruity/citrus fragrances with a big dose of sweetness, this one won’t be for you.

9 Best Smelling Calvin Klein Perfumes for Women

by

Calvin Klein has released scores of fragrances over the past 30 or so years. Many of them are decidedly unisex in their use and even those ultimately smell great. However, for this list I wanted to focus on scents specifically designed for ladies to wear and present the best CK options from the brand’s perfume lineup.

I have selected nine women’s fragrances which I feel are the best all-around options and present different seasonal or stylistic choices. Also, here is my list of the best men’s CK colognes.

What are the Best CK Perfumes for Women?

Best Spicy Classic

Calvin Klein OBSESSION Eau de Parfum, 3.4 Fl Oz– Obsession is of course a very famous fragrance dating back to the 1980s, but while that is the case, it isn’t a perfume for everyone. Some folks don’t find this type of scent to be pleasing and think that it can come off harsh.

However, this spicy beast can really bring a great change of pace, versus most modern perfumes for women.

Lots of rich amber soaked spice with smooth notes of sandalwood and vanilla bringing it all together. At times, it is sweet, other times it is herbal, but it is always interesting.

The one nowadays being sold, is reformulated from the vintage, but still has enough of that original DNA to make the list.

 

Everyone New

CK Everyone EDT– While I don’t think Everyone is an absolutely amazing fragrance, this newer release from Calvin Klein is actually better than people expect.

The EDT, is the one that I’ve tried so far out of the current two Everyone offerings, but it was really a pleasant surprise and worth checking out for the right price.

Everyone opens up with an orange and watery top that is spice with a hint of fresh ginger. Quite relaxed, clean, and one that can be worn daily with a fresh and low key sort of style. 

I enjoy the tea note here. That, which along with the light amber gives Everyone EDT a warmer feeling. The opening feels uplifting and ‘cold’ to me. Like a basic, sort of sporty update to the same CK One style, of the 1990s. Though, a different scent.

 

Sexy CK Perfume

Calvin Klein Forbidden Euphoria for Women 3.4 fl. oz Eau de Parfum– Forbidden Euphoria is much more of a crowd pleaser versus Obsession. Sexy and a long-lasting performer. Notes of jasmine, tiger orchid, peach blossoms, and other fruits/floral (namely raspberry).

This one is full of energy and vibrancy to help get a woman noticed. It’s probably harder to find bottles of it now, but they can still be had.

It opens up with a warm sweetness of fruit and orchid before the patchouli gets introduced and those three notes make up the bulk of the wear.

Update: Euphoria Forbidden has been discontinued for a while. CK did release a Euphoria Intense in 2021, which has a similar vibe to this (and the original Euphoria), but even that’s not available everywhere.

Best Summer Perfume

Calvin Klein CK IN2U Perfume for Her 3.4 fl.Oz Eau De Toilette Spray– A perfume that works well in the spring and summer months, though, could still be used at other times of the year. It has a solid citrus opening and a sweetness to it that isn’t too strong.

A lovely everyday wear with notes of white cactus, bergamot, red cedar, grapefruit, vanilla, and more. It starts out with some sharpness from the bergamot, grapefruit, and juniper pairing. Clean and fresh, yes, but IN2U definitely has some intense bite.

The citrus is dominant but there is a creamy vanilla and the very interesting cactus note that peaks through during the dry down.

IN2U for her is fairly straightforward but has great performance and a warm citrusy aroma. Ultimately, it all ties together nicely, for a rather balanced profile.

Fresh Air 

Eternity Air for Women– The men’s version of Air was pretty mediocre, but the women’s is actually quite nice. 

It’s is an airy, slightly cold, fresh fragrance led by grapefruit and black currant. Some similarities to Light Blue by D&G, but without the apple and a less intense cedar note. Though, the wood is still there.

The opening has that fruitiness in spades, then it becomes cleaner/watery, with a slight musky floral aroma from the peony. Not a heavy or overbearing perfume, but it has some decent performance. 

Underrated CK Perfume

Calvin Klein Downtown Perfume for Women 3.0 fl. Oz Eau De Parfum Spray– This is a lighter and unassuming perfume, with a healthy does of pink pepper and pear from the start.

Then, a lovely gardenia note peaks into the composition. The result is a bright and fresh scent with some musk/woods in the base.

This has been discontinue, a while back, but there are bottles still floating around. This is an easy to wear floral/fruity scent, that kind of flew under the radar.

Calvin Klein Best Seller

Calvin Klein euphoria Eau de Parfum, 1 Fl Oz– Always a top seller and that is because it smells so delicious. It is soft, at times, but still retains an air of playfulness and excitement with a bold opening act.

Euphoria is definitely a winner. The pomegranate is very juicy/tart and edible with the inclusion of great floral notes and the well-blended addition of patchouli.

Fruity/floral with spice and a solid base of rich mahogany. As it dries down, Euphoria becomes darker and sexy, with the pomegranate taking on less of a role.

The amber note is ramped up, blends perfectly with the mahogany note, and everything gets flanked by floral notes and patchouli.

Euphoria is a powerful scent the has its sweet side, along with bold punches of spice. However, its main heart is wood, musk and amber. The woody dry down is actually, pretty unisex

Notes include: mahogany, black orchid, lotus blossom, black violet, persimmon, and pomegranate.

Most Unique

Eternity Flame– So, Eternity Flame is a pretty recent release that didn’t get much fanfare, when it was brought to market. Neither did the men’s version of the scent, which was decent.

Actually, one could argue that this is the bolder and more traditionally masculine of the two scents. It doesn’t push it too far, more unisex, leaning masculine.

Nonetheless, this is a very interesting perfume. Spicy and has a bold sillage, with light touches of citrus and some great sweetness from amber and vanilla. Dry and really pops, goes much more into the amber, during the dry down. Quite similar to the men’s during that stage. 

Top Clean Classic Scent

Calvin Klein ETERNITY Eau de Parfum–  Eternity for Her is a different experience from the men’s version, yet still has that clean sort of vibe, just not as soapy and masculine (though somewhat soapy).

Eternity is a very floral fragrance but laden with sage, musk, and pepper to go along with the main draw of carnation. This stuff is loaded with flowers like lily and violet, but doesn’t have that bouquet/garden effect.

Eternity starts off with a light touch of citrus and the spice of sage and pepper. The floral notes, really start to come into their own, a short time later. Very clean, a bit musky, with powder/spicy elements hanging around. Just really fresh and upbeat and a distinct classic from the 1990s.

9 Best Smelling Givenchy Perfumes for Ladies

by

Givenchy (owned by LVMH) has a vast array of perfumes and colognes for both men and women. With such a large selection it can be hard to key in on which of those is the best option for your own personal style. With that in mind, I have selected nine options from Givenchy which not only smell the best but will fit well with an individual personality better than others.

Also, check out: Top Estee Lauder Perfumes, Best Bond No. 9 Scents, Best Dior Perfumes for Ladies

What are the Top Smelling Givenchy Fragrances for Her?

Rose and Peony Daily Wear

Very Irresistible By Givenchy For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 2.5 Ounces A deliciously seductive fragrance by Givenchy. It blends rose and peony among other notes, to create a long-lasting and beautiful affair, which adds a bit of spice to the floral notes.

It opens with the rose note and anise, which provides the fresh spice complement, to the floral aroma. As it dries down, the peony comes into its own, and takes Very Irresistible away from being more of a pure rose fragrance.

This one will last a full 8 hours, isn’t a sillage beast, and works very well in the spring/summer months.  Full Review

The Other Irresistible

Irresistible Eau de Parfum– Like the one above, Irresistible also has a prominent rose note, but this one isn’t nearly close to being another rose. In fact, it gets paired with an iris note in the middle act.

What you do get, is a delicious pear note, up top with a musky finish. It’s a fruity clean rose perfume, with musk and a bit of powder from a fairly understated iris. It dries down into something that is inherently fresh and pretty.

Probably skews more toward a younger audience, but Irresistible EDP is very versatile and has a great performance for this type of fragrance.

Modern Tuberose Blend

Givenchy L’interdit Women, Eau de Parfum Spray, 1.7 Fl Oz– There hasn’t been too many new Givenchy women’s fragrance releases in the past few years, but this is one of them, and it’s actually great. They reused the name from a much older fragrance, that was way before my time.

L’Interdit EDP is a great white floral perfume with an opening act that features a quite prominent pear note. Jasmine, orange blossom, and later tuberose are the main attractions here. It starts out with a candy-like grape sort of aroma. Though, overall it’s not really all that sweet.

Then, the floral notes really take hold and the jasmine is the leader at one point, before the tuberose takes fully control. It has a bit of wood in the base and a slight plant-like greenish aroma, at times. Really good performance. L’Interdit EDP Review

My Favorite L’Interdit

L’Interdit Rouge by Givenchy– Since it’s been a while since I’ve update this page, I wanted to make sure that I included Rouge on this list.

To me, this has been the best of the L’Interdit line so far. Intense, is also a good one.

Rouge kicks off with a blast of ginger spice and blood orange. It is warm, spicy, and sweet with much of that familiar tuberose based DNA of this series, just lurking underneath.

Tuberose and patchouli will play a big role in the dry down too. This one lacks the vanilla, but has more of a woody base than the others. Really great designer wear and worth checking out. Rouge Review

l'interdit rouge review

Best Wintertime Wear

Ange Ou Demon By Givenchy For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3-Ounce Offers some good versatility but it is best suited for evening wear. Ange Ou Demon opens with herbal spice from saffron and a light zesty orange note.

Then, it transitions into something creamier and sweeter with tonka bean and vanilla. This stuff can be an absolute powerhouse, with its intensity, and longevity.

Ange isn’t a fragrance for everybody, much more niche, than other scents on the list. It’s got a unique sort of profile, but one you may need to learn to love. Notes of tonka bean, saffron, ylang ylang, vanilla, and others.

Light and Sweet Floral

Amarige By Givenchy For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Oz. A uniquely classic scent from the early 1990s which features a fantastic mix of fruits, floral, and spicy notes.  It is a rich and layered fragrance which gives it an air of complexity and makes it ideal for a mature woman.

Amarige opens with it fruit/floral mix, before it leans more towards the floral end. You get juicy peach and tart plum, especially strong at the top, but they hang around throughout the wear. Gardenia, ylang-ylang, tuberose, and mimosa all seem to get their turn at bat.

However, they ultimately reach a lovely bouquet period, that is highlighted by the underlying sweet fruits. This is an outstanding performer and overall lovely perfume.

80s Throwback

Ysatis By Givenchy For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Ounces Spices and woods co-mingle and are softened by the floral notes. An interesting profile with amber, iris, vanilla, rose, and rum. This is a complete throwback to the 1980s, so, it’s not going to appeal to everyone.

What’s expected from perfumes, as far as style, has changed so much. Nonetheless, Ysatis, is a classic. Obviously, this one has been reformulated, from its original. Unless you pickup an older bottle, it’s not going to be the same.

The newer bottles aren’t terrible, in my mind, but definitely don’t strike the same chord. More floral, less musky and woody depth.

Unique Raspberry Goodness

Hot Couture By Givenchy By Givenchy For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3 Ounces This one is a really special fragrance, that could become a signature perfume for the right lady.

Its fruity notes give it a sweet smell which is pulled back some by the introduction of notes such as pepper, which adds some playful spice to the drydown.

Hot Couture can help separate you from the pack and give your style and infusion of individuality. It’s opening is the fruit note of raspberry, orange, and bergamot. It is creamy with its sandalwood base, with a fresh spiciness of pepper and vetiver.

It dries down, warm and sweet, with a powdery/smoky finish to it. Plus, Hot Couture also gives a long lasting and pretty powerful performance.

Autumn and Early Winter Scent

Organza By Givenchy For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3 Ounces A softer perfume than the others on this list, but by no means weak. This is a great option for day to day wear, for those who want something not too intense, but highly feminine.

It is a white floral wrapped in vanilla goodness. Gardenia, jasmine, and tuberose highlight Organza; making it one beautiful scent. There is a spiciness, also, that goes well with the amber in the base.

That is my current list of the best Givenchy fragrances for her. Obviously, there are many more great options from this brand (seriously, they have dozens more), but this should be a good place to get you started. I will come back to this page and update as necessary, when I come across a newer gem.

Aqua Allegoria Pera Granita by Guerlain

by

Pera Granita is a release which is a part of the Aqua Allegoria series by Guerlain. It’s one that I’ve already tried and enjoyed before, but I decided to buy another sample, in order to write up a full review. It came out in 2016. How does it smell? How long does it last? Is it worth a try?

What does Pera Granita Smell Like?

Notes include: pear, grapefruit, apricot, lemon, bergamot, musk, orange blossom, osmanthus, hedione, cedar, moss

Click here to try: Pera Granita

My Full Review

Here’s how Guerlain describes it: Savour a granita in the shade of the pear trees in the garden of the Hesperides, then gather their fruity treasures.

Pera Granita starts off with an explosion of its citrus and other fruity notes. Early on, you’re going to get plenty of lemon, sour bergamot, and the grapefruit coming through. Yes, the pear will be there throughout, it’s just overshadowed in the beginning.

Add to all of that, some osmanthus, which gives off it’s own sweet fruity sort of aroma as a floral note. Lots of sweet, sour, and sharpness happening in these early stages.

The next phase is fresher rather than sweet and sour. Some of the citrus notes burn off, which gives more play to the pear note. However, it is also going to share the stage with an array of floral notes and musk.

Actually, the grapefruit stands out on my skin, as it seems most of the burn off is from the lemon and bergamot notes.

The jasmine (hedione) and musk create a clean and somewhat shampoo-like vibe in the middle act. Add the freshness of cedar, sparkling water effect of pear, and the citrusy aroma…and Pera Granita really starts to give off the cleanliness.

The back half of this one is a fruit/musk/floral mix. The jasmine, orange blossom, osmanthus aren’t really sticking out as individual notes. More of a generic floral aroma.

It’s fresh with musk and wood at the base, a bit green, some light spice, and the fruits still jockeying for position.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Pera Granita opens up with a moderate strength. It’s fruity notes, definitely have reach in the early stages, and will be noticed from more than 7 feet away from where you sprayed.

As it moves along, this Aqua Allegoria fragrance will be much more of a lighter moderate scent, until it begins to disappear.

On my skin, it’ll last for 6-7 hours, with those last few hours not being particularly powerful. However, Pera Granita is for sure still present.

Seasonally, this is a spring and summertime wear, all the way. A great one to wear outside, relaxing around, or other daily wear functions during this stretch of time.

It’s an upbeat and clean one to wear in the daytime. Not going to be a sexy nightlife wear or one that is super formal. Though, you’ll still get plenty of use out of Pera Granita, even without the nighttime functions.

Overall Impressions of Pera Granita

Overall, do I like this fragrance? I do.

The freshness, the mix of sweet, sour, pear, and floral notes. The energy of it and how it has some depth for a summertime wear. It’s an Aqua Allegoria perfume that I enjoy quite a bit.

The performance itself is pretty mid. It’s not awful on me, but I wouldn’t expect a marathon wear or super beastly performance out of Pera Granita. 7 hours, on the high end, with  the last few being skin scent territory. Fair enough.

Still, this is one of my favorite pear perfumes that I have tried. It’s not completely dominated by that note, but I like how it stands out within the mix.

Pera Granita is a very good warm weather option for those who enjoy this style of fragrance. Definitely worth trying out. But, with how pricey it can be, maybe not a perfume that you’d want to blind buy.

Also, if it doesn’t sound like something that’d fit your style, I don’t think it’d do anything to change that fact.

7 Best Smelling Hugo Boss Perfumes for Her

by

Hugo Boss is a design house that has been around for ages and is still going strong. One of the highlights of this brand is their fragrance line for both men and women.

From this line, one can find very nice scent choices that are in the more moderate price range than something like Bond No. 9 for instance.

In this post, I want to put forth 7 Hugo Boss perfumes which could be considered the best smelling of the bunch. 

What are the Best Hugo Boss Perfumes for Ladies?

Note: It seems like there has been a lot of purging of product from the Hugo Boss women’s fragrance line.  Nonetheless, I’ll put forward my picks from the past, and link to them since they can be found elsewhere. I’ve added to this list, however, and retained some of the older scents.

Fresh Floral/Fruity Perfume

Femme 2.5 Oz Eau De Parfum Spray Women– Boss Femme is highlighted by floral notes such as freesia, rose, jasmine, and fleur de lys along with fruity notes such as tangerine and apricot.

It has a fresh floral scent that is good for everyday wear without being overbearing and the tangerine provides a subtle citrus undertone.

It opens with the mix of the fruit and floral notes before, the freesia and rose become the main attraction.

It’s a citrusy sort of smell with a bit of sharp black currant added, as well. Boss Femme is a fairly light fragrance, that fits in well during the day time, and can be safely worn every day.

A-lively Perfume

Boss Alive– Boss Alive EDP is the initial release from their newest line, which isn’t so new anymore. 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. This is indeed still feminine.

Jasmine and thyme are the heart of this scent. It’s initially fruity and spicy, then, it becomes a cleaner jasmine and woods in the dry down. While, still maintaining some level of sweetness throughout.

 

Sweet Orange and Chocolate

Boss The Scent Private Accord– Cacao and coffee team up here in a big way, along with a nice mandarin orange note. The coffee plays less of a factor, later in the wear.

This was probably the best offering from the ‘The Scent’ line of perfumes for her (Intense was also decent).

Update: They’re no longer on Boss’ website, so, it may have been discontinued. The newer ‘The Scent’ offerings, don’t strike me as being quite as good.

It is sweet and light, with a bit of a floral heart and some added spice. Not a super complicated fragrance, but a nice gourmand for those who love that orangey chocolate aroma.

I like that it never gets too heavy or overwhelming, even if that mean sacrificing a bit on the performance end of things. 

Sweet, Dry, Woody

Boss Ma Vie Pour Femme– Boss Ma Vie brings together the unique (cactus) with well worn ingredients like rose and freesia. It opens up with a fresh, green, and distinctive smell. You definitely get the full cactus experience, that is flanked by mainly the freesia. 

Ma Vie Pour Femme is a fairly light fragrance, that gives you sweet elements, with dry/fresh woodsy base notes. Up top, it does have a little bit of a sour tinge, but overall comes across as clean and very enjoyable.

The performance is good enough to last all day and one that can be worn in almost any situation. 

Best Winter Boss Perfume

Deep Red 3.0 Fl. Oz. Eau De Toilette Spray Women– Sexy and energetic with citrus notes provided by blood orange, mandarin, and clementine. Plus, black currant. Very sweet fragrance and the floral notes including vanilla become more apparent as it wears on.

As the dry down develops, the vanilla is joined by ginger, sandalwood, and white floral notes lead by tuberose. It becomes drier and warmer the deeper that you get into it. Yet, it is upbeat and rather sporty.

Deep Red is fresh and has a nice cold weather vibe, with good versatility, so that it can also be used as a nighttime scent. Sillage isn’t too heavy and has a solid wear time.

 

 

Unique Fruity Scent

Xx 3.4 Fl. Oz. Eau De Toilette Spray Women.– Blueberry, mandarin, rose, jasmine, musk, and amber. Semi-sweet fragrance but not overly so and also it’s quite feminine and fresh.

Plenty of jasmine and rose up front, but the mandarin, litchi, and blueberry are also sitting up top, giving XX a fruitier aroma from the start. What’s unique about this one, is that it also features basmati rice.

I’ve literally never seen that listed on any other fragrance (the basmati variety, at least), but it adds a bit of uniqueness to things. XX isn’t a very complex fragrance, but it is definitely one that can catch attention.

Fruity Aquatic Fragrance

Hugo By Hugo Boss For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 1.3 Ounces– A juicy/aquatic type of perfume that is dominated by fruit notes like apple, berries, and peach. Hugo Woman is clean, soft, fresh, and has some light floral notes to complement the fruits.

The fruit notes start out the top of the perfume, with a crisp and juicy aroma of mainly, the apple and melon notes. It smells fairly aquatic at this stage, quite light, and hangs gently in the air.

As it dries down, Hugo Woman reveals more flowers: jasmine, hyacinth, and lily and very light woods. It’s a great everyday wear option for the warmer months, as it is office safe, pleasant, and versatile.