By Designer

Aura EDP by Mugler

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Aura was released by Thierry Mugler in 2017. Mugler is a fragrance house that I really enjoy, as they usually come out with something that is a bit different and also bold. Aura is definitely a prime example. In this post, I want to relay my experience with Aura, how it smells, performs, and whether or not it is worth a buy.

Aura eau de parfum by Mugler Overview

Notes include: fresh leaves, rhubarb, bourbon vanilla, orange blossom, wood

Click here to try: Aura MUGLER 90 ml refillable Spray EDP

My Full Wear Review 

How Mugler describes it: Aura exudes a wild blend of botanical freshness and feline sensuality.

Wow, what an odd duck this is. The opening of aura brings me a dewy aroma of forest, a big dose of rhubarb, sort of sour, and orange blossom.  Sounds weird? It is, but I kind of like it.

Another note that Mugler lists on its website for Aura is almond, specifically a vanilla-covered almond. Personally, I don’t pick up much nuttiness, as it is subdued by that initial botanical (fresh leaves) aroma. However, it is there just a touch.

That opening act can seem somewhat medicinal (think mint), but once that initial phase passes, the vanilla and orange blossom really make this one pleasant. The phase is much more along the lines of other traditional perfumes, while still retaining a unique style.

The final stage for me, is a greenish blend of orange blossom and vanilla with a slightly woody base. I don’t get much more development beyond that. It has its sweetness, but it comes across as a denser and darker kind of perfume.

Sillage, Longevity, and When to Wear

Projection wise, Aura doesn’t require too many sprays to be effective. It’ll give you a nice radius of aroma around you. Not the strongest scent out there, but this one is plenty powerful.

For that first hour or two, I would call it strong. Aura has a great ability to project and leave a scent trail. After that, it remains above average, declining until it disappears entirely. 

Another plus for Aura is the longevity. It fell somewhere in the 9-10 hour range on my skin. This is what I’ve come to expect from most Mugler fragrances, they usually all bring great performance.

Aura EDP hits that rather high level, but doesn’t venture very far into the double digit hour territory like some of the other Mugler fragrances, though.

 

Seasonally, I could see this being worn anytime, except maybe the hottest days. However, a moderate spring day, maybe a little rainy out would be perfect. In the extreme heat, I think this one would be tested to still continue to hold up. Not ideal.

Casual or romantic wear. Doesn’t strike me as anything formal. It is sexy, in its own unique way. Aura is one that is going to depend greatly on your body chemistry, as to how it presents itself. On the right person, this could be captivating.

Overall Impressions of Aura

Do I like this perfume? I do enjoy it a lot. Obviously, as a man, this isn’t going to be one I’m going to wearing around. But, there is plenty here to enjoy.

I’m a big fan or orange blossom and vanilla. Here, they are wrapped up in that green botanical aroma, and it is very interesting.

Aura isn’t a fragrance for everyone. This is one you’ll want to test out beforehand and give it multiple tries. That initial ‘weirdness’ may throw you off, but you could end up really liking it with another chance.

The performance is great, it gives you something unique, and is attractive. If you can vibe with it, Aura is well worth a shot.

Personally, this is one of my favorite women’s Mugler releases over the past handful of years.

Yes, it might not get the same level of attention in the sea of Alien and Angel flankers, but this one is across the board wonderful.

Update: It looks like this one has been discontinued by Mugler. The page on their website is still up as of now, but I couldn’t add it to the cart. So, if you’re interested, try to find it from a discounter for purchase.

Chloe Eau de Parfum Naturelle

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Naturelle is a somewhat newer Chloe flanker that was released in 2021. I got a sample of this as a part of the larger lot of Chloe perfumes that I picked up a while back. I didn’t know anything about this one coming into testing, so, I got to experience it with a blank slate impression. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Chloe Naturelle Smell Like?

Notes include: blackcurrant, citron, rose, mimosa, neroli, cedar

Click here to try: Chloe EDP Naturelle

chloe naturelle review

My Full Review

Naturelle opens up with a very strong citron and neroli mix, on my skin. Along with that blackcurrant note, and the underlying cedar freshness, it can pack a rather large punch. Sour and sharp. Plus, it has an greenish smell at the beginning.

It all feels sort of strange. The Chloe rose note is present of course, but it also introduces a mimosa that brings a bit of powder at times, but really enhances the ‘greenish yellow’ aroma that this perfume has early on.

Once some of the neroli and the fruit notes burn off, Chloe Naturelle is much more wearable for me. I have to say the opening, is pretty tough for me to get through, and I really don’t care for it.

However, things do get somewhat better. It’s clean, outdoorsy fresh, and does have a naturalistic kind of aroma. It reminds me of the Hermes Jardin fragrances. A rose, mimosa, and cedar led perfume. Still some citron and neroli coming through, but thankfully, toned way down.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Chloe Naturelle starts off with a sharper aroma, but still moderate sillage. It’s not going to leave a massive trail, nor create a giant cloud around the wearer. The second half of the wear, is quite intimate.

Which is a shame, since that’s when it smells best.

This one actually does stick around for a decent amount of time. Now, it’s not strong for much of the wear, but I can still detect it on skin. I think that it finally fades for good, at around 7 hours.

Great? No, but passable.

Seasonally, this screams springtime with the imagery it evokes. Which, means it’s also good for the summer months, also. The citron, greenish notes, makes Naturelle a nice choice for warmer weather.

This one is very versatile. It can be worn casually, is well put together enough to be a daily wear. Outside, in the warmer temperatures, is a great use of Naturelle. Not going to be a nightlife or romantic wear perfume, though.

Overall Impressions of Naturelle

Overall, do I like Chloe Naturelle? Not particularly. As I wrote, the back half is better and not so bad, but I really don’t like the front end.

It’s not like any of these notes are ones that I don’t enjoy. Citron, blackcurrant, etc. are all fine to me. Just something about this mix that is just off.

The naturalistic garden or floral sort of scents can be good and there’s better examples out there. Namely, Hermes’ Le Jardin fragrances, as mentioned. This one isn’t on that level and the regular Chloe perfumes are all (if not, most all) better than what you get here.

Naturelle is ok. But, like across the board just pretty middle of the road and forgettable. If you’re into this kind of scent and you can get a substantial discount, it might be worth a try. At full price, pass.

Euphoria by Calvin Klein

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Euphoria is a fragrance that was released by Calvin Klein back in 2005. It’s a series that produced a ton of flankers and also had a men’s line as well. It’s a scent that I’ve enjoyed coming in contact with over the years, so, I got a sample of it to finally do a full review for the site. Is it still worth a try?

What does Euphoria by Calvin Klein Smell Like?

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

My Full Review

Euphoria is a perfume which while being a mainstream designer fragrance, does have a fairly unique aroma versus many others on the market.

It starts from the opening, where you get a mix of pomegranate and persimmon as the fruity top notes, which are two underutilized ingredients. Very juicy, tart, sweet, and delicious overall.

Underneath that you’re going to already get a good deal of what this perfume is all about. The mahogany note, which really helps to set this one apart is already apparent. But, the floral accord is what’s going to develop in full once some of the fruitiness has burned off.

Here, the main attraction is orchid. Violet in the second spot, with lotus for a short amount of time. The fruity opening subsides and Euphoria becomes floral/fruity with rich wood, instead of a tart juicy explosion.

When the floral notes get going, the patchouli will also start to come out more. It’s not too heavy on my skin, but I like the earthy depth it brings to the floral heart. A bit of spice here.

This one dries down into a darkly rich perfume. That pomegranate and persimmon continue their decline. Orchid, mahogany and amber all take on a larger share of the pie. Violet sticks around to still play a supporting role.

It gets woodier with the mahogany becoming dominant in the final dry down. Amber, musk, and floral notes. Still some spice, less of that sweet tart beginning.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Euphoria opens up with a bang. The sillage definitely is strong in the opening hour or so. Not massive, but very easily over-sprayed and will leave a trail behind you. But, that will come in closer to the skin, and be more of a moderate the rest of the way.

On my skin, it goes for 7-7.5 hours before calling it quits. Not amazing, but Euphoria does its job fairly well and I wasn’t disappointed.

Seasonally, I’d stick to autumn through early springtime with Euphoria. It doesn’t come across as a summer scent and it will probably be a complete mess in the heat.

This has a darker feeling, while still having a youthful dynamic. Not to say that Euphoria is just for teenagers, it actually casts a fairly wide net. It can be worn to school or even some offices, while also has a nightlife style, or even date nights.

Still, it may be based on my memories of smelling this stuff out in the wild, but I associate it with women in their early 20s.

Overall Impressions of Euphoria for Women

Overall, do I like Euphoria? Yes, it’s one of my favorites from the Calvin Klein women’s collection. Some of the flankers were really good as well. Though, I’m pretty sure a lot of them are difficult to find nowadays.

I’m probably a little more of a fan of this scent than many people, but I think it is great for something that is mass appealing. The men’s version is also great, but just has terrible performance. This, is much better in that regard.

Pomegranate, mahogany, and the amber. It’s different from most of the designer fare, especially here in the 2020s. This was early 2000s vibe, though, it even stands out from that era of perfumes.

It’s still super popular and probably the most famous CK fragrance from the women’s line, for younger people (Obsession? Maybe). This is worth trying out to this day, it smells great, it’s different, and the performance holds up.

Dune by Christian Dior

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Dune is a fragrance which dates back to the Dior lineup of the 1990s. I have already covered the men’s version of this name, but I wanted to do a deeper dive into the ladies’ original, which is the better known of the two. How does Dune smell? When should it be worn? Is it still worth a try?

What does Dune by Dior Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, rosewood, sandalwood, bergamot, aldehydes, and more

Click here to try: Dune from Dior

My Full Review

Here’s how Dior describes this scent: A tribute to Christian Dior’s childhood home in Granville, Dior created the fragrance Dune. An oceanic fragrance, created in harmony with nature, this radiant, fresh and subtle accord captures the landscape where the sky meets the sea in a warm, oceanic floral bouquet. Enveloping, serene and sensual.

The opening of Dune is really great. The mandarin orange with some assistance from the bergamot note gives this Dior its citrus sweetness.

But, that is matched by dry woods and a spiced kick. Rosewood and sandalwood are two ingredients which really shine with this one.

The aldehydes here do create an atmosphere of a coastal landscape. Not necessarily marine, but a fresh and warm sort of breezy aroma. Tough to describe, but that’s what I get.

The citrus moves away pretty quickly. Before it does, Dune has a vanilla/orange impression for a short time. Then, it is vanilla, mossy, and floral. The floral notes kind of do just blend together as a white floral smell. The moss adds a layer to that dry freshness.

From there, this one becomes quite woody with balsamic notes, a more generic amber and a benzoin which gives it that medicinal fizziness. It’s warm, more fresh than its early spiciness, super dry but has a sweetness underneath that helps hold it all together.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here isn’t overly bold or something that’s going too leave a massive trail in your wake. The first few hours are above average, with a nice reaching projection. Especially while that citrus sticks around.

After that, it’s going to become a more intimate perfume. Not a total skin scent, in my experience, just one that is going to create a close yet not heavy envelopment.

On my skin, I get somewhere in the 7-7.5 hour range as far as its longevity. It’s about what I’d expect from this sort of EDT. It’s interesting that this is the concentration that’s stuck around for all of these years and the EDP and Extrait went by the wayside. I never got to try either of them.

Seasonally, Dune is kind of a year round wonder. I like it more when it’s at least a little warm out. But, trying it out in the cold, it felt like it was working well. Especially seems to bring out more of an amber influence.

This one can work in almost any situation, save maybe, nightlife and romantic wear. It’s fine casually and has enough style to get other uses out of it. Plus, it casts a wide net with its age range. Very wearable, for all, so long as you like the smell.

Overall Impressions of Dune

Overall, do I like Dune? Absolutely. That opening is simply awesome. A great blend of citrus, spice, and woods. Gives you a rather unique experience versus much of what you get on the market today.

The rest of the wear is dry, but changes from a more coastal breezy feel to a warmer and balsamic aroma. Nice use of aldehydes and I’ve always felt that this was like an inversion of Chanel No. 5. So many overlapping notes, heavy aldehydes, but the weightings are all different.

The performance is pretty moderate, but towards the upper end of that. It’s never been a powerhouse fragrance and the longevity is at least above average. You might even get a few more hours from Dune, than I do.

The real appeal is just how versatile this one can be. Not screaming out for attention, but the formula gives you different variations depending on the climate, and it doesn’t get blasted by heat or cold like many others can.

I’m a fan of Dune. I wish the men’s version had better performance, because it is also a nice change of pace cologne. This is worth trying out and can even become a favorite perfume for some.

La Vie est Belle Soleil Cristal by Lancôme

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Soleil Cristal is a flanker of the best seller from Lancôme, La Vie est Belle. I received a sample of this with another order and had zero expectations of it coming in. I liked La Vie est Belle, so, was at least somewhat interested in trying this perfume out. How does it smell? How long does it last? Is it worth a try?

What does La Vie est Belle Soleil Cristal Smell Like?

Notes include: iris, orange blossom, vanilla, ylang-ylang, coconut, pink pepper, orange, bergamot, jasmine, patchouli

Click here to try: Soleil Cristal

soleil cristal review

My Full Review

Here’s how Lancôme describes it: Happiness is more than a feeling, it is an aura that radiates all around like the sun on a warm summer’s day. La vie est belle Soleil Cristal (Crystal Sun) eau de parfum captures the essence of a sunny summer day – warm yet fresh, made for those who live to bask in the sun.​

Soleil Cristal opens up with a great freshness and sparkling bright feeling. The citrus and coconut notes are prominent early on, but it doesn’t ever feel like a super sweet tropical drink. It still is sweet, just not completely sugary or overwhelming to me.

Instead, you get the early impressions of vanilla, iris, and ylang-ylang. The coconut is stronger in this mix on my skin, than is the vanilla. It doesn’t give me that lotion-like creamy finish.

There is a bit of spice early on, from the pink pepper, but it’s not overly loud or very long lived.

The ylang-ylang has an inside track early on. It’s fine, but might be my least favorite note in the blend. It’s just giving me a slightly waxy aroma, that I’m not too into. Luckily for me, the iris becomes the stronger of the two on my skin, during the dry down.

So, this one doesn’t get all that complicated. The vanilla and coconut are the stars for the rest of the way. Those two notes sitting on a bed of floral notes and I don’t really get any patchouli.

The ylang-ylang and jasmine give it a slight soapiness. The iris, some touches of powder (but even that, isn’t too much).

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The strength of this one kind of mixed. Really, it’s more deceptive. The opening hour is certainly powerful and reaches a pretty high peak. But, for much of the wear, Soleil feels more like a skin scent.

The deception, is, the fact that is actually stays stronger than you might be able to detect. It’s kind of easy to go nose blind to it, at a certain point. But, when I sprayed this on clothes I had laying around, I could smell it hours later from a good distance.

So, I might be giving this one too low of a score, with how it projects.

The longevity for me, isn’t in dispute. I can get over 8 hours and even up to 9. I’d say the range is 7-9 hours, sort of depending on conditions.

Seasonally, this is spring and summer. That’s the impression you get, solar and beachy. Not crazy with the tropical drink vibe and none of the marine saltiness, so, it’s safer for daily wear versus something more oceanic.

To me, it’s more pretty than anything too sexy. I do have an attraction to this scent, but don’t expect any sort of nightclub beast or something like that.

Overall Impressions of Soleil Cristal

Overall, do I like this fragrance? I actually do find it enjoyable. It doesn’t have much, if anything to do with the original La Vie est Belle, but I thought it was a nice experience.

It’s a fragrance that has a similar style and aroma to something like Alien Goddess or Bronze. I like all three of those fragrances, not totally wowed by any of them, but I think that they can all have a place as someone’s daily wear for certain stretches of the year.

There are definitely stretches here, that I found to be really great to wear. I think that this perfume got some mixed reviews, but I’m pretty positive about it across the board.

It’s not something that is going to offend most people with its scent, but may be one that you want to try out first, before buying.