By Designer

Parisienne by Yves Saint Laurent

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I received two Yves Saint Laurent perfume samples with the last batch that I ordered. One, was Black Opium, which I’ve already reviewed. The second is today’s entry, Parisienne. This is a somewhat recent addition to the YSL collection and seems to be intended for casual wear.

In this post, I am going to go over my impression on how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and if it is worth a purchase or not.

What does Parisienne Smell Like?

parisienne

Notes include: rose, musk, sandalwood, vinyl, vetiver, cranberry, violet, peony

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Parisienne Eau-de-Parfume Spray, 3.0-Ounce

My Full Wear Review

My first impression of Parisienne is how much it smells like Midnight Romance, which I just reviewed a few days ago. The main difference between the two is that Parisienne is highlighted by the rose note, while the Ralph Lauren fragrance, is geared more towards raspberry.

Parisienne also has supporting berry notes which give it a bit of juiciness but this one does take on a much more powdery kind of aroma, as is to be expected with violet and rose together.

Parisienne is a softer type of perfume and while this EDP is noticeable, it is never ‘in your face’, and screaming out for attention. YSL made this one low key, sweet, and bright.

The vinyl is an interesting note to have in a fragrance, and adds a smooth familiar smelling layer, that lasts throughout the wear. On me, that note is never all that powerful, more so just lurking in the background as a consistent player.

It’s smooth, maybe has a bit of a plastic-like aroma. Though, it’s not bad for me. Perhaps, it could be a problem if it turns out stronger on your own skin.

Again, it does have that powdery essence to it, sort of like a collection of cosmetics. I really enjoy the blackberry and that tart cranberry at the top. Although, only the former really remains later on.

The final dry down period, consists of the rose/violet notes, with the berry playing a supporting role. Less powdery, more of the musk coming through during this period.

Then, there is a slightly woody/outdoorsy, base to Parisienne which gives it a bit more depth. It’s really never that powerful, just something you catch whiffs of, when wearing. It’s really a sandalwood and vetiver pairing.

To me, I get more of the sandalwood note on my skin. Just not a monstrous amount.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection on Parisienne is not bad. It isn’t a heavy fragrance but you’ll notice it is there. Eventually, it does start to fade into more of a skin scent, but the sillage is still within a foot of the wearer.

At it’s peak, probably in the 5-6 foot range of projection. Good and not overwhelming at all.

Longevity is also just decent, 6 hours give or take, is what I got out of it during testing. Not an all day beast, but not one that craps out 10 minutes after application either. I do wish that you could squeeze at least a few more hours of wear from Parisienne.

Parisienne strikes me as more of a fun casual scent with undertones of sensuality, than something that is ‘sexy’ or for romantic type of wear.

It’s got a somewhat youthful vibe, but not a total teenager’s fragrance. Actually, it probably be a good perfume to have as one moves away from those super candy-like fragrances into something more mature.

Much like, Midnight Romance, I see it as best in warmer weather but possibly not the extremes of summer…spring would be great. One could wear it in colder weather, though, it would kind of seem out of place. Cool to moderate temperatures is ideal.

It is a versatile daytime wear, that can go casual, while being light enough for the office. It’s not really a formal scent or a seductive nightlife fragrance.

Overall Impressions of Parisienne

Overall, is Parisienne worth a look? I’d say yes. However, when comparing it to Midnight Romance, I prefer the Ralph Lauren fragrance to this Yves Saint Laurent. The juicy raspberry note smells better to me than the rose.

If you enjoy rose perfumes, but want something that isn’t a pure rose straight through, this could be a great casual find for you. I like the berry note, at the top, and the violet/rose combination in the dry down is quite a nice floral arrangement.

Parisienne doesn’t blow me away, but it is a very good fragrance nonetheless. There are much better Saint Laurent perfumes than this one. So, it’s not a must have.

It’s not too complex, but is a solid fragrance all around. Performance is pretty middle of the pack, could be better, but not bad enough for any serious complaints.

Angel Muse EDP by Thierry Mugler

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Moving right along through these ladies perfume reviews, I have one today for another Thierry Mugler perfume: Angel Muse. Obviously, this is a flanker to the original Angel that was released back in the early 1990s, and has been a best seller ever since. Is this one worth it? How does it smell? Does it actually perform well?

What does Angel Muse Smell Like?

Notes include: patchouli, vetiver, hazelnut cream, pink pepper, wood

Click here to try: Thierry Mugler Angel Muse Eau de Parfum spray, 1.0 oz

My Full Muse Review

Angel Muse is a very interesting scent for me, as patchouli usually represents a wildcard for my nose, as to whether or not I’ll enjoy a fragrance. The opening is a blast of patchouli with sugary sweetness of the hazelnut cream and a fruit note in there as well.

Grapefruit is the citrus fruit note and has that sparkling sharp brightness to it. Mixed with the patchouli and pink pepper note up top, this one can start out pretty earthy, with a level of dirtiness to it. The opening isn’t all that fantastic, but this gets way better to my nose.

It reminds me of  I Love NY for Holidays by Bond No. 9, as it has that same sweet baked goods feeling mixed with patchouli. Of course, it also shares so much DNA with the original Angel, too.

However, I will say that Angel Muse does it better and ultimately differentiates itself from the Bond No. 9 fragrance. I think the inclusion of the vetiver note was a great choice, as it adds an earthy/woodsy aroma, for depth.

Angel Muse is so smooth while maintaining that unique earthy smell and it’s quite fantastic.

During the dry down, I get more of the vetiver and hazelnut. There is of course a creamy quality to the fragrance from the hazelnut cream, but I also think there might be some tonka bean in there. I

t’s warm and enveloping with a bit of spice from pink pepper and the dominant patchouli.

The dry down is really where it’s at with Angel Muse. Once the grapefruit has faded away, the whole composition fits together better. The hazelnut cream note, is the absolute highlight of the fragrance for me.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Angel Muse never strikes me as too loud or heavy, and I’d call the sillage moderate. Maybe, upper end of that rang. You won’t have to spray a lot and you won’t choke out the room. Mugler did a great job of balancing both the notes and the performance.

The projection itself will at least be a few feet from the skin for a vast majority of the wear before it finally tapers off.

Longevity is also awesome, it will last all day no problem. I’d say at its max, it hung around for 10 hours. Usually, falling into that 8-10 hour range, closer to the lower numbers most of the time. Yet, it still delivers plenty.

Climate wise, this one is for the autumn/winter, and probably won’t be great in the high heat of summer. One could wear Angel Muse casually, romantically, or even out in a night club scenario. It’s a very versatile fragrance.

Though, it’s not really a formal kind of wear. But, with some lighter application, it would be just fine at work or something along those lines.

Muse is warm, inviting, and has a certain sexiness to it. It is kept from being too sweet and overwhelming by the vetiver and patchouli, which makes this much more appealing and mature.

Overall Impressions of Angel Muse

Overall, would I recommend Angel Muse by Thierry Mugler? Yes. I like it a whole lot. I actually just now figured out what I like about the dry down and that hazelnut/cocoa aroma. It’s because of its resemblance to the opening of Dior Homme Intense, due to the shared vetiver note.

Angel Muse is much more feminine and sweeter, but there is a similarity there and I dig it. Ultimately, Angel Muse is dry and warm and sweet and great.

Some may not care for the opening act (I don’t really either). Also, patchouli and vetiver can be a turn off for other folks. That woody/earthiness works well, in my view. Others, may find it to be too much.

The good news is, that this perfume gets better as the wear moves along. It’s got solid strength and staying power.

The creaminess is fantastic and this one gives you a crowd pleasing yet pretty unique experience. This is one of the better Angel perfumes and an awesome gourmand.

Update: This one has been discontinued.

Miss Dior Absolutely Blooming by Dior

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So, today, we have another entry from Christian Dior and the Miss Dior lineup: Miss Dior Absolutely Blooming. This flanker was released in 2016 and instantly became a popular name in the fragrance game. Does it actually live up to its popularity? How does it smell? What are the ingredients? Does Absolutely Blooming perform well? Please continue below for my full wear take and review.

What does Absolutely Blooming Smell Like?

Notes include: rose, peony, musk, pink pepper, black currant, and red berries

Click here to try: Christian Dior Miss Dior Absolutely Blooming Women’s Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Review

Before we get started on the review, let’s see what Dior says about Absolutely Blooming: Delectable red berry notes embroidered on a fresh peony accord and exalted by a profusion of rose petals from Grasse. The intensity of a delicious floral.

The opening of Miss Dior Absolutely Blooming starts off with raspberry and pomegranate notes, to go along with the white musk. It’s sweet and bright with a slightly musky undertone. The berry notes smell quite juicy and delicious and the sillage from the start is strong.

After 5-10 minutes, the floral notes really start to emerge, with the peony being the most noticeable early and then the rose coming up more later on in the wear.

Beyond that, there is also a black currant note that is quite sharp/sour, and adds to the fruitiness but takes it in a different direction.

Black currant can be kind of hit or miss for me, but I don’t mind it within this particular composition. There is some overlap between this Dior perfume and Si by Armani. Here, the sharpness of the fruit is tempered somewhat by the rose and peony, and isn’t allowed to run wild.

Finally, what I ultimately get from this perfume, is a feminine and fresh blend of rose, some peony, light musk, and a jockeying between the fruit notes. It’s got a juicy aroma throughout much of it but feels much more floral the closer my nose gets to the skin.

The fruitiness towards the end is more of an impression of sweetness, rather than the distinct juiciness or tartness of any of the individual notes in the mix. Absolutely Blooming goes from more of a fruity/floral to a floral with some fruit.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Absolutely Blooming actually has pretty darn strong sillage. Now, it tones down somewhat as time goes on, but at first it’s a strong fragrance. No performance problems with this one.

This can leave a nice scent trail, as you exit a room. Plus, the projection can be in the 5-7 foot range, off of the skin. Not a complete monster that will overwhelm, but I found the performance to be great on me.

Also, it lasts all day, and can hit double digit in the number of hours it will stay on one’s skin. For what you can often get with these sorts of fragrances, that is a fantastic level of performance. Not the elite of the elite, but one notch below.

I’m not sure of the exact total number of hours, but I’d say it’s probably 11-12, in my experience. It just works extremely well.

Seasonally, this is for the warmer months, of the year. Probably more spring than summer. However, I don’t think it’s bad here in winter time, it just feels a bit out of place. Anywhere from a mild climate to hot days, would be appropriate.

If this does happen to come across as sharper on your skin, the cold and crisp air of winter might make it more of a problem. But, the whole vibe of the fragrance feels better suited to the sun-drenched days of spring into summer.

This is fine for casual wear, work (just go easy), a night out, or romantic wear. It is very attractive and probably a bit sexier than the other Miss Dior offerings, at least in my mind.

Less of the pure floral mix or soapiness that those can tend to have. Maybe not the most overtly sexual or beastly perfume, but there’s just something attractive about it.

Absolutely Blooming does have a very versatile use case and can easily become a daily wear fragrance, for those that enjoy it.

Overall Impressions of Absolutely Blooming 

Overall, do I like Miss Dior Absolutely Blooming? Yes, I do. It is a great fruity floral mix with juicy berries and is grounded by a nice mix of rose and peony. It is playful, upbeat, and beautiful.

This perfume gives great performance and has a unique aroma while being familiar to the Miss Dior line of scents. I really have no complaints about this one and it conjures up positive feelings when I smell it.

Some, may not like the fruit notes here, but for most it seems to be a perfect blend. It simply does everything well, without any real glaring flaws about it.

If you want a stronger balance of floral notes, you should probably consider another scent. Otherwise, this is a great one and one of the top Dior releases.

Black XS for Her by Paco Rabanne

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Making my way through even more boxes of fragrance samples, I have another one for the ladies, even if it has been out a long time: Black XS for Her EDT by Paco Rabanne. This has been a fairly popular scent since its release in the mid-2000s, but does it actually live up to its reputation? In this post, I’m going to explore how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and if this eau de toilette is even worth a buy?

What does Black Xs for Her EDT Smell Like?

Notes include: cacao, cranberry, rose, musk, vanilla, patchouli, pink pepper, wood, violet

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne Black Xs By Paco Rabanne For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 2.7-Ounces

My Full Review

Upon first sniff, the opening of Black XS for Her, really reminded me of the men’s version. Fruity and patchouli. The difference? The women’s version is so much better and toned down the patchouli to a more tolerable level.

Also, they use cranberry in this one in lieu of lemon. I was having a hard time distinguishing the cranberry note, until it struck me that the opening had elements of another men’s fragrance, Polo Red.

Make no mistake, however, Black XS for her is a wholly feminine perfume and it starts off hard. That cranberry note is tart and delicious. It’s joined by the aforementioned patchouli, rose, and that semi-sweet cacao.

These are the notes which dominated this eau de toilette for the first 30 minutes or so. It’s funny, I don’t really smell the rose at all after this point, and it’s usually one that hangs around for the long haul.

I definitely like the pink pepper note here, that comes along later in the wear. It really does a great job at playing off of the cranberry note and adding a layer of warm spice with the mus

k. Also, I guess this has tamarind as an ingredient also. But, I’m not really familiar with exactly how that note smells. A bit spicy, I believe.

As it dries down, I get more of that raw cacao aroma, musk, and patchouli.

The cranberry becomes less prevalent and Black XS takes on a different kind of vibe. It’s sweeter and less tart, cacao and vanilla will do that to a perfume.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the early phase is pretty strong. At least it feels that way, because of the cranberry note. Again, it changes as it moves along and feels much more moderate to my nose.

So, at the start it can feel as if it’s been over-sprayed. Unless you really did pour it on, this perfume will settle down.

The longevity was actually good on my skin, I got at least seven hours out of Black XS, maybe a tad more. For what this is, that’s not bad at all. Since it’s really not a daily wear fragrance, you probably won’t need it to go 10+ hours in almost any scenario.

Seasonally, this is built for winter, or late autumn. Cold weather all the way. It would seemingly be a mess in any conditions that are too warm.

This isn’t an office kind of scent either. Black XS is great for the nightlife. It is youthful (not total teenager but twenties) and actually smells really sexy and appealing.

As a guy, I would love smelling this on a woman. It’s so sweet and has that gourmand edible quality to it. This Paco Rabanne perfume isn’t some complicated masterpiece, but it sure strikes a chord.

Overall Impressions of Black Xs for Her

Overall, would I recommend trying Black XS for her? Yes. That is of course, provided you enjoy berry-laden, warm, sweet, and chocolatey fragrances. It’s not really going to be an everyday wear, since it doesn’t fit into all of those situations.

However, for nights out? Yep! This stuff hangs beautifully in the wintertime and again for sure has sex appeal. Give it a look.

The performance is above average and the aroma is really darn attractive. A bottle is usually not too expensive either, so it can find a spot in one’s rotation, without having to shell out the cash.

This is much better to me than the men’s version. The cranberry and cacao are actually quite nice up top. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy that as much as I did, but the patchouli and vanilla come in and really provide great support.

It’s a mix of sweet gourmand and earthy light spice. The rose note doesn’t really do much on my skin, but maybe other people will get more of that note.

Burberry Sport for Women

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In today’s review, we have an entry for the ladies from the Burberry lineup: Burberry Sport for Women. It was released in 2010, so it has been around for a while at this point, but is it any good? What are the notes? What does it smell like? Does it perform well? Please continue below for my full take on this perfume.

What does Burberry Sport for Women Smell Like?

Notes include: sea salt, honeysuckle, mandarin, magnolia, cedar, ginger, musk

Click here to try: Burberry Sport Perfume for Women Eau de Toilette 1.7 fl. Oz

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Burberry Sport is heavy on the mandarin orange note and this is paired with sea salt. It does have quite a beachy feel to it, like a sea breeze coming on shore.

This is paired with ginger, which gives it a bit of a fizzy drink quality. After 5-10 minutes, the orange note settles down, and the white florals emerge. That opening is nice, feels familiar to me, but I cannot think of the perfume it resembles.

I get a lot of honeysuckle and some magnolia, but mostly the former. Burberry Sport is fresh and clean with some slightly spicy musk undertones.

I must say that the honeysuckle is very nice here. Even within a rather simplistic composition, that note stood out to me.

The composition is bright, sunny, and upbeat. To me, the fragrance is pretty darn linear, and there isn’t really any changes to my nose beyond this point.

In the end, I get a salty mandarin, ginger, honeysuckle, and a dash of musk. Together, it is pretty soapy and fresh.

I do enjoy the sea salt and ginger notes, especially. When paired with mandarin, it puts out a really great vibe.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage is toward the lighter end of things, but I’d call it moderate. It’s not going to blow the doors off of anything, but it isn’t completely weak either. Not quite sheer, but not an insane cloud of fragrance.

Longevity is around 4-5 hours, on my skin. That’s not great, but a few extra sprays could bump that number up somewhat. Honestly, the performance is lacking with normal application, so I wouldn’t pay a high price for a bottle of Sport.

Seasonally, Burberry Sport is a warm weather fragrance. So, spring or summer is when this would be at its best. It does sit nicely in the air while walking outside, even without a huge sillage.

However, it is light and attractive enough, to be of use in a variety of situations. It’d be a nice choice for an everyday wear for office work or at school. It can also be used casually or for a sporty refresher.

Overall Impressions of Burberry Sport for Her

Overall, do I like Burberry Sport for Her? I think that it’s a nice fragrance, but it isn’t amazing by any stretch of the imagination. It is a clean and pleasant sort of fragrance, when you want something that is simple and low key.

You get a lot of the mandarin note, so if that’s not your thing, you’d be well served to skip this. It has florals but they aren’t too powerful in this one. Even the honeysuckle, isn’t overwhelming. It has its moments, but shares power for a lot of the wear.

It’s linear, well blended, and a nice little scent. The performance isn’t the best, but  Burberry Sport could certainly serve its purpose.

The highlights are the sea salt and ginger, which go well with the mandarin orange. It loses some of its charm, when it gets a bit more soapy and musky later on.

Again, though, not really all that much development. I don’t think this is made any longer, but, it might be worth a shot at a heavy discount from the online retailers.