By Designer

Si Passione by Giorgio Armani

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Si has become one of the flagship names in ladies perfumes for Armani. Si Passione is one of the flankers by the brand, which was released back in 2017. I had a sample of it lying around from a past order, so, I thought that it might be time to finally do a full review. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does Si Passione Smell Like?

Notes include: heliotrope, rose, grapefruit, black currant, pineapple, pear, cedar, vanilla, patchouli

Click here to try: Armani Si Passione Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4-oz. 

My Full Review

The opening act of Si Passione is quite fruity and attractive. Pear and pineapple are the dominant notes, with black currant and grapefruit playing secondary roles. I really enjoy the fruity opening and the way the pineapple note comes through on a warm day.

It is sweet and juicy, with some light tartness coming through.

As it moves a bit further along, the rose note comes out, along with heliotrope. It shifts from being majority fruity, to more of a standard fruity floral fragrance. It’s sweet, somewhat creamy/powdery from the vanilla and heliotrope.

A lot of the blackcurrant and the bit of grapefruit have essentially dissipated.

The rose isn’t overly intense and blends well with the rest of the composition. It really doesn’t strike me as a deep red rose smell at all. The further along I get, the more that the rose and pear take center stage as the main notes. Still, it’s never completely one-sided.

Finally, Si Passione keeps this same sort of dynamic, but it does start to get a bit of a soapy or musky clean finish. Definitely picking up some patchouli, but nothing is heavy handed or out of place.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Si Passione is a lighter to moderate fragrance. At first, it is pretty good at projecting itself, but won’t take over a room. Then, it is fairly intimate. Not a weak scent on my skin, just definitely not a powerhouse. I notice it throughout the wear without much effort.

I’m kind of surprised that it didn’t project massively in the early stages of the wear, with all those fruit notes. Nope, just a pretty above average perfume in this regard.

The longevity is 7-8.5 hours for me. Again, not an absolute monster performer, but I didn’t have the same lack of performance that some others have been complaining about with Passione.

It sticks around just fine, Passione just isn’t a heavy or a fragrance that really jumps off the skin.

Seasonally, it could absolutely work year round. Probably best in moderate to warmer weather though. Si Passione is a daily wear, work, casual sort of fragrance. I think that it is pretty, fresh, and clean rather than being a sexy nightlife wear.

Still, this one could fit in a wider variety of situations without issue. It’s got a great deal of versatility and can find a place pretty easily in one’s rotation.

Overall Impression of Si Passione

Overall, do I like this perfume? I do. Apparently, people weren’t to impressed with this scent upon release. While I don’t think it’s the most incredible fragrance, I enjoyed it quite a lot.

Between this and the original Si, I’d go with that one. Even if, I think this one is better than its reputation.

This Armani isn’t super complex and you’ve probably smelled something like it before. Though, I think that it has enough of its own character to stand apart and isn’t an exact clone of all the other popular ladies fragrances out there. Familiar, while being distinct.

Very fresh and fruity rose/heliotrope blend, with a somewhat musky/soapy clean finish in the dry down. Fairly straightforward and not groundbreaking. It’s just attractive and the performance for me was above average, just not with a heavy sillage.

I really don’t have anything too negative to say about it. Maybe, just buy it on a discount, instead of full Armani prices.

4 Best Smelling Chanel Chance Perfumes

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The Chance line of ladies’ perfumes by Chanel, have been a very big success for the brand, and all of the variants are among the top smelling fragrances now available from them. However, it is easy to question, which of the Chance perfumes actually smells the best out of all of them? Is it the original or one of the later released flanker bottles?

Ranking the Top 4 Chance Perfumes

Best Overall Chance

Chanel Chance Tendre Eau de Toilette Spray For Women 1.7 OZ./ 50 ml.– The EDT gets the nod, as the best. I used to kind of prefer EDP, but the last testing I did of each, saw EDT secure the title. It is a floral and citrus fragrance, with a grapefruit opening, and notes such as jasmine, iris, and hyacinth.

It is a light scent, with an airy disposition, but it also has great longevity. Eau Tendre is very popular and is a really good choice for those looking for an everyday wear perfume.

The citrus is crisp, the bouquet of flowers is beautiful, and there is a slight powdery and musky undertone to it all. I don’t think any of these Chance scents, are way above and beyond better, than the others. However, Chance Eau Tendre has the top spot.

The Other Tendre, Just a Notch Below

Chance Eau Tendre Eau de Parfum– The EDP version is also great. But, it gets the second spot here. Very youthful, fresh, fruity, and the added rose note really helps to set it apart. I’m not even a huge rose fan, but I dig this one completely.

The dry down is musky with the rose and jasmine notes providing the floral accord. An interesting change from the EDT’s iris and hyacinth mix with jasmine. The opening act with grapefruit and quince is fairly sharp, but not overly so, and it is great.

Chance Eau Tendre EDP is very simple to wear and is appropriate for a wide variety of situations and even seasons. Can easily be a signature scent for someone. A rosy fruity/floral.

Original EDP

Chance By Chanel 3.4 oz Eau De Parfum Spray For Women– Next on the list, is the original Chance, in the eau de parfum version. This is another floral based fragrance but has vanilla sweetness and some warm spice thrown in, for good measure.

Pink pepper, patchouli, and musk sit at the base of the perfume, giving of that warmth and spice. Meanwhile, jasmine, iris, and the vanilla are the most dominant notes.

The opening of EDP has less of the patchouli note, though. The jasmine is the strongest of the floral notes, for me early on. There’s a light fruitiness initially, but that will fade as this transitions into its vanilla and iris stage.

That vanilla and iris stage, might be my favorite. Very clean and with a powdery aroma that I enjoy.

Then, you get even further development with the musk, patchouli, and jasmine all getting their turns shining in the dry down.

Chance EDP has a heavier sillage, than does Eau Tendre, but it still isn’t an insanely heavy perfume by any means. The EDT is also, quite good, but probably a notch below this EDP version. Chance EDP Review

Great Fresh Perfume

Chance Chanel Eau Fraiche Eau De Toilette Spray, for Woman EDT 3.4 fl oz, 100 ml– Finally, number four on the list, is Chance Eau Fraiche. It’s tough to put this one, in the fourth spot, as it really is a great fragrance. All of these have their strengths and absolutely none are mediocre.

This is obviously a fresh take on the Chance moniker. Eau Fraiche is citrusy and a bit aquatic with woody base notes. Cedar, joins the pink pepper, and musk notes for a really clean and almost unisex fragrance.

A bright, clean, and lemon citrus floral with the usual Chance notes within its DNA. This is a great option for the summer months, as it sits very well in the heat, with a tremendous freshness.

Towards the end of the wear, Eau Fraiche can have more of an herbal/woody quality to it, versus the opening stages. Again, not the best, but still a great option from Chanel. My Full Review

So, there you have it. These are the top four choices from the Chanel Chance perfume collection, in my opinion. Again, these are all pretty close in terms of quality, so it’ll probably come down to which style you want. I think Eau Tendre has the slight edge over the others, but I cannot talk down about any of them.

Eau Vive was another option from the Chance lineup. It was still a good perfume, but a notch below the rest. I am looking forward to trying Eau Fraiche EDP, that came out in 2023, and I’ll update the list if it overtakes any of these four.

Angel Nova by Mugler

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Angel Nova was released in 2020 as yet another flanker fragrance in the popular Angel series. Yet, it really doesn’t have much of anything in common with the original. Which, made me fairly interested in giving Nova a try. How does it smell? How does Nova perform? Is it at all worth a try?

What does Angel Nova Smell Like?

Notes include: litchi, raspberry, benzoin, Damask rose, akigala wood

Click here to try: Angel Nova

My Full Review

Before I get into my review, let’s see what Mugler has to say about Nova: A new star. A new heroine. A new fragrance. Make your dreams a reality and reality a dream.

Raspberry. Wow. That’s a ton of raspberry in the opening and it’s quite juicy and paired with litchi. It feels quite bold and there’s also something tropical here. Possibly mango? It’s short lived, but it’s there and a part of that sweet/sour mix up top.

A few minutes after I sprayed this, I could already tell that this won’t be for everyone. But, I’m curiously drawn to Angel Nova.

It’s not just the intense raspberry here. The background notes in the opening are intriguing and they will become more pronounced as Nova develops. Firstly, a dry and slightly spicy akigalawood, think patchouli-like smell.

Secondly, the benzoin note. A bit sweet, though, it is difficult to pick out behind the fruity explosion. A nice, somewhat medicinal resinous aroma, that’s just lurking in the background.

As we get further along, it becomes less of a fruity fragrance, a more fruity floral. Damask rose comes in and the tropical element seems to fade entirely. The scent becomes earthier and dirtier, with out the super sweet/sour mix that punched through the opening act.

The raspberry is the star in the beginning, but that changes to the rose, and it never gives up the spot thereafter. The final dry down is rose, some fresh spice, earthiness, benzoin and the remaining raspberry note.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

To me, there are two phases. The opening sillage is a near bomb, but it settles into something that is pretty moderate, in the second act. It’s more of a function of the notes. Those fruits are just amped up in the beginning, which is fine, but it can come across as being a monster…it’s not really.

That opening projection is the type that can reach across a room, while the rest of the wear is going to be still noticeable but not taking over much beyond your personal space.

The longevity is great. Over 9 hours both times, I wore it. Probably 11, at the max. So, another Mugler with awesome performance, which is one of the best things about this designer. Great consistency.

Seasonally, I’d stick to warmer weather. I can’t imagine how sharp this would feel in colder air, but it’s nice in the warmth of spring. Honestly, I could see this being a summertime wear, also. Nights out, mostly. Though, I don’t think the humidity would mess Nova up at all.

Angel Nova probably skews younger in its target audience. Though, I wouldn’t say that it’s strictly for teenagers. It’s kind of got that youthful and fruity opening, with a more mature dry down scent. Maybe that extends the age range for this one?

If you go light, you could probably wear it to work. It’s more of a casual wear around town versus anything formal, however.

Overall Impressions of Angel Nova

Overall, do I like Angel Nova? Yes, I do. Will everyone else? Probably not.

It’s not quite a niche fragrance, because it does have some mass appeal. It just won’t be everyone’s favorite daily wear.

To me, the raspberry and litchi combination is great. The rose heart comes across well and the base of akigala and benzoin really ties it all together. It fakes like it’s just going to give you a fruity bomb, but then really develops some depth and nuance.

Lots of sweetness with Nova, with tart and sour aspects popping up, especially in the early stages. I’m not completely sold on the earthier rose dry down, but it’s fine.

Performance wise, you get the goods. Yes, it’s a rose based fragrance, but it separates itself from many others on the market. At the very least, you get something somewhat different than other best sellers being pushed nowadays.

Update: There’s been more releases that are sort of like this one with the same litchi and/or raspberry notes. Yet, I still personally like Nova quite a bit. Not incredible, but still very worth a try at a good price.

9 Fragrances Similar to Coco Mademoiselle

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Coco Mademoiselle has been a top seller for two decades now, even at Chanel prices. However, as time goes on there are of course going to be those trying to mimic its success or just create a somewhat similar fragrance. In this post, I want to highlight 9 fragrance options that offer a cheaper comparable smell to Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel.

Perfumes Close to Coco Mademoiselle

 

The First Inspiration

Woody Oakmoss by Dossier– If you want a cheaper alternative, that’s inspired by the scent of Coco Mademoiselle, this and the next are what you want to go with.

This is one of the Dossier’s that I haven’t tried out, but others from the brand do inspire the confidence that the match will be very near…or you can try the Fragrenza below, if not.

In either case, my biggest concern would be matching the right tone with the citrus notes. That’s a big factor and easy to screw up, by just throwing a screeching citrus in the blend. But, by the reviews on their site, it doesn’t seem to be the case with the Dossier. For the current, $29, it’s worth giving a shot.

Live the Fantasy

Pompeii Fantasy by Fragrenza– Here’s another ‘inspired by’ option, this time from Fragrenza. I haven’t tried this one in particular from the brand, but I did buy a number of samples of other perfumes from them and they really did come close to the scents that gave them inspiration.

Here, you get the bold mandarin and bergamot citrus blend to kick things off. Mimosa, orange blossom, jasmine, and patchouli follow. So, about what you’re looking for. Usually with these sorts of blends, the weightings of the notes might be slightly off, but come extremely close to matching.

Fragrenza at least comes up with a thematic storyline with their blend, “Imagine yourself at an opulent and enchanting masquerade ball in the heart of ancient Pompeii.”  The good news, is their scents are very affordable, and you can even pick up an even cheaper 3 mL sample size.

The Third

Serene by Alexandria– Here’s a third inspired scent that presents a take on the Coco Mademoiselle structure, “Serene is a soft floral fragrance that captivates your senses and transports you to a world of utter bliss.”

I like the Alexandria fragrances that I’ve tried out and this one is also priced (as of writing) at $39.99 for the smallest size. But, they have three options, if you happen to want to size up. Also, their sample pack allows you to try 7 of their perfumes, for about the same price.

Mimosa, jasmine, rose, orange, and all of the other notes are here. Another scent that I’ve found since my initial posting, that I figured I’d update the list with.

Super Cheap Glamour

Suddenly Madam Glamour Eau De Parfum for Women 50ml New Sealed– If you want a cheap comparable scent, Suddenly Madam Glamour is going to be the closest experience to our target.

Now, the performance and sillage aren’t going to be to the same level, but when you’re paying around $15 or so…who cares? 

The patchouli seems a bit stronger in this one (which is closer to Mademoiselle Intense) and probably a stronger vanilla aroma. Though, all in all it gets the weightings in the formulations pretty darn close. 

A Take On Intense

Club de Nuit by Armaf– This women’s version of Club de Nuit leans more towards Coco Mademoiselle Intense in terms of how it smells, but sort of splits the difference between the two.

Like Intense, this one goes heavier on the patchouli note, than the original Coco Mademoiselle. However, Club de Nuit, is also not exactly like either of them. The rose note is pretty heavy in this one, more so than the Chanel.

Feels like less of a vanilla influence to soften up the notes as well. It’s high enough quality and Armaf supplies good performance with their perfumes. It won’t be a complete one to one match, just one that brings a lot of the same sort of style. 

Another Cheap Tutu

Milton-Lloyd Cosmetics | Miss Tutu | Parfum De Toilette | Spray for Women | Chypre Fruity Scent | 1.7 oz– Milton Lloyd usually has pretty good inspirations of popular designer scents and Miss Tutu is the one for our target scent.  

This one gets the floral notes better than Madame Glamour. A bit more sheer than the Chanel, but it has solid performance. Really, between this the one listed above, you’ve got two dirt cheap options for under $30 or so combined.

The Dior Alternative

Christian Dior Miss Dior, 50ml/1.7 oz.– I personally like Coco Mademoiselle better than its similar Miss Dior option, but it is a solid alternative at a somewhat more reasonable price.

Miss Dior or the Cherie variation (or whatever Dior is calling it now) features a blood orange (and lemon?) top note with a stronger use of patchouli and a greater rose note. The jasmine is also an ingredient here, just not to the same extent.

Miss Dior isn’t as strong, but has some nice depth provided by a warm pink pepper note. Again, a lighter sillage, but I still get 8 hours from Miss Dior. Miss Dior (Cherie) Review

 

 

Bit of This, Bit of That

Perry Ellis Love Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce– Love by Perry Ellis has similarities to both Chanel Chance and Coco Mademoiselle. It leans to the Chance side of things, but has enough going for it to be on this list, and is affordable.

This is a bit heavier on the spices, while still retaining a great citrus aroma. The rose is the similar floral with base notes overlapping (musk, vanilla, and patchouli). Plus, that opening orange note, just not to the same level. 

Love has a somewhat light projection once it settles. However, the performance overall is good and it’ll last for most (if not all) of a workday.

An Expensive Similarity

Darcy by Parfums de Marly– First off, I don’t think this is nearly the same as Coco Mademoiselle, as some might make it out to be. Quite similar in style with some overlap in the notes (mainly citrus and patchouli).

That being the case, I also don’t think this PdM fragrance is as good as the Chanel either. That might not be a problem if it were cheaper, but this can be even more expensive.

The pros? The citrus here is smooth and the patchouli is rather good too, if you don’t want something that feels too earthy/dirty. 

It’s not too intense and becomes muskier and soapier in the dry down. Darcy is a pretty good perfume at a lofty price point. But, I’ll add it to the list, as some might want to check it out.

9 Best Smelling Michael Kors Perfumes for Her

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Michael Kors is a designer who is well known in the fashion world, especially for his popular handbag line. However, Kors also makes some great fragrances for both men and women. This line of perfumes for ladies, seems to focus mainly on white floral notes as a base and then creating something wholly unique off of that.

For this post, I have selected nine options from the Michael Kors line which are among the best that the designer has released.  Other posts to consider: Best Juicy Couture Fragrances

Favorite Michael Kors Perfumes

Most Popular Fragrance

Michael Kors Wonderlust Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce– Wonderlust is super smooth with a sweet almond note milk and light resin. Heliotrope is going to a main attraction here for a time, and while there is musk, it isn’t a heavy note within the perfume.

It is sweet, but not overly so, with a very light spice at times during the wear. That is thanks to the dianthus flower. An attractive perfume with good sillage and performance.

Wonderlust opens up with almond in charge and paired mainly with the jasmine note.  There is also a light citrus. Then, come the heliotrope and sandalwood, it becomes a mix of creaminess and powder. Wonderlust Full Review

Top White Floral

Michael Kors By Michael Kors For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4 Ounces
A fresh and somewhat heavier than usual, white floral fragrance, that features some musk/woodsy spice.

Tuberose, peony, musk, cashmere woods, and freesia are some of the featured notes. Daytime, casual wear.

The tuberose dominates the composition, with light musk, and a noticeable freesia note. It gives off a semi-sweet and creamy sort of aroma, that is none too complex, but quite well done.

During the dry down, more lily emerges from the floral accord. Michael Kors for Women, is delightful, and a good daily wear for any age group.

It’s a great option for those who love tuberose, as it is the main attraction, but also lily. It’s got enough sweetness to not be a totally green stem kind of floral fragrance.

Best Wonderlust Flanker

Michael Kors Wonderlust Sublime by Michael Kors Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4 oz– Sublime takes the Wonderlust DNA and gives it a beachy twist. Tiare and orange flowers are the highlights of this perfume.

Now, it isn’t a salt water aquatic or anything like that, it is instead a sunny and tropical aroma. As the brand describes it, a radiant new fragrance evoking the time of day when sunlight turns magical.

The floral notes are sweet and creamy with a great amber base note bringing it all together. It opens up with a orange citrus aroma, that feels warm and juicy. Wonderlust Sublime is a great pick for the summer months, that isn’t too complicated, but smells delicious.

Dark Oud and Sweet Fruit

Michael Kors Twilight Shimmer Edp Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce– There are a few well done options in the Shimmer line from Michael Kors, but I think that Twilight Shimmer has mostly flown under the radar.

It opens up with its sweet red fruit, acting as a light support for the plum note, that takes center stage early on. It is a dark and rich sort of aroma, that begs to be worn during the autumn and winter months.

As it moves forward, the oud and praline notes come up from the base. The oud here isn’t too intrusive and a lot more comfortable to wear versus the more niche oud fragrances. The praline and plum give it a gourmand quality, but the oud gives Twilight Shimmer distinction.

May not be for everyone, but it can be a gem for those who adore this type of perfume.

Top Pick for Winter

Michael Kors Sexy Amber Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce
As the name suggests, the main note is amber which is combined with white floral notes and sandalwood. Sexy Amber is a warm perfume that is quite seductive and alluring, with a powdery finish.

Sandalwood is the main attraction, as it wears on, but enough jasmine peaks through to make things interesting. A fairly linear fragrance, overall, but one that smells really good within that simplicity.

The amber and floral notes are at their peak in the beginning, then, the sandalwood begins its ascent. The amber note hangs around, though, it is uplifting and does provide a great example of this note.

Great Spring/Summer Scent

Michael Kors Very Hollywood Women Eau De Parfum Spray, 1.7 Ounce
A different take on a white floral fragrance. Very Hollywood features raspberry and mandarin notes to give it a fruity sweetness that will grab attention, at the top of the wear.

The fruits are cool and juicy. They hang around long enough for the flowers to begin to emerge fully, but the raspberry does stay for the duration. Gardenia wrapped in a warm dry amber, with some additional jasmine, and lightly woody base.

Fresh and feminine with a really attractive opening phase. This is a solid choice for the springtime, as you get a very nice gardenia note, but enough fruity sweetness to keep it from becoming just another floral fragrance. Not too heavy, but a nice projecting sillage and performance, overall.

For Jasmine Lovers

Michael Kors Glam Jasmine for Women 3.4 oz Eau de Parfum Spray
Jasmine, white flowers, and sandalwood are the highlights of this perfume. This is a lighter, and more subtle fragrance, than some of the other options from Kors. Glam Jasmine is clean and feminine.

Obviously, you’re going to get a lot of jasmine from this perfume, but there is also some black currant which gives Glam Jasmine at least some footing in the fruity floral camp.

Instead, of just a straight up floral. While it is a subtle perfume, Glam Jasmine has a certain sexiness to it, and can for sure grab attention.

The Other Shimmer

Starlight Shimmer by Michael Kors– So, Starlight Shimmer is another worthwhile scent from this series by Michael Kors. It’s not for everyone, but does have attractive components for someone looking for something a bit more niche.

Vanilla, amber, and saffron are the big players here. Pretty simple, right? Well, Starlight also adds a rose note, which never fully takes over, but adds a delightful touch to the warmth and slight spiciness.

The sweetness of this scent is really the highlight. Not sugary sweet or anything, but the vanilla and amber are great. Up top, this one has some oud, which will fade in fairly short order.

The rose, oud, amber, and saffron sorts of fragrances are all over the place; seemingly to be a part of every designer’s high end offerings. Starlight Shimmer is much more approachable, with the rose and oud not being outlandish with their intensity.

Something Different

Super Gorgeous! by Michael Kors– This is the flanker to the original Gorgeous that came out a few years back. It is better than that one, has some unique elements, and comes pretty heavy with the amber notes in the dry down.

Nonetheless, I do like this one as a fragrance. The initial spray has a nice blend of citrus notes, orange blossom, ylang-ylang, and jasmine coming through. It’s initially sweet and citrusy, but, the addition of myrrh and other amber highlights really makes this interesting.

More of a colder weather wear, but not overly heavy. I do get reminded a bit of one of the old YSL men’s flankers, except this is more feminine and the floral heart really comes out when the initial citrus has faded.

There is a cured tobacco note here. It’s adding to the sweetness and boosts the amber warmth. Not a major player, mind you, but the note is definitely there.

Super Gorgeous isn’t a completely safe blind buy as some of the others on the list. I’d try it out, if possible, because for some this might be their favorite from Kors.