By Designer

Beyond Romance by Ralph Lauren

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Beyond Romance is a follow up scent in the Romance line from Ralph Lauren. I got a hold of a sample of this release as a part of a larger lot of perfume samples. I didn’t really know anything about it coming in and wasn’t sure of what to expect. Is it a good perfume? How does it smell? Is it even worth a try?

What does Beyond Romance Smell Like?

Notes include: raspberry, mandarin, bergamot, rose centifolia, jasmine, lily of the valley, black vanilla, ambroxan, cashmeran

Click here to try: Beyond Romance from Ralph Lauren

My Full Review

Tried Beyond Romance? Leave your own review and rating in the comments!

Let’s see how Ralph Lauren describes it: A new adventure in Romance. Discover the mysterious, daring, and wild fragrance that goes beyond with a seductive blend of fresh rose centifolia and luscious black vanilla.

Beyond Romance starts off with its fruit trio of raspberry, mandarin, and bergamot. The raspberry is going the be the strongest of the three for the duration of the wear, but early on there is a bit more of an even split with the citrus notes.

It’s a sweet start with the sugary aspects of this fragrance becoming apparent from the start. The black vanilla note will be noticeable and it kind of smells like there is a marshmallow note in the mix as well.

Probably the vanilla mixing with the cashmeran, giving it a light powdery aroma for some of the wear. Well, along with the floral notes. Really, only the rose truly sticks out for any length of time, the rest of the way it seems like a generic floral aroma sitting underneath.

At some point, the citrus notes burn off and it becomes the raspberry and vanilla show. The floral notes under that with an air of musk and the cashmere.

That’s essentially it. For stretches, it will smell more sugary. That brief powdery stint. Then, more of a musky cashmere finish down the home stretch.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage is actually quite good during the first couple of hours. Yes, after that it is a lighter moderate perfume, but Beyond Romance does have some power. Spraying it on some clothes, I can pick it up in the 6-8 feet range.

The longevity is decent, not great. I’d say about 6-7 hours, is what to expect. The last 1-2 hours being pretty close to the skin.

Seasonally, I’d really just avoid the high heat with this. Outside of the sweltering days of summer, this Ralph Lauren should be fine.

It’s sugary sweetness does make it seem like it’d be mostly a teenager’s scent, but really it’s not. It’s well blended and not screeching with sharp top notes. The cashmeran really helps to temper things and this could appeal to a wider age range than you’d think.

It’s a pretty and deliciously attractive perfume. Not formal, but okay for daily wear and even romantic wear into the evening…as the name implies.

Overall Impressions of Beyond Romance

Overall, do I like Beyond Romance? I really do. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this, right after the first spray. I generally like the fruity and sugary perfumes, but sometimes they go overboard. This one, has a nice balance.

Raspberry and vanilla are going to be the main attractions here. So, if you’re not a fan, forget it. But, if it sounds up your alley, the citrus notes with the florals and musk create a wonderful dynamic.

The performance is decent, just not a complete marathon runner with how long it goes. Though, I can’t say that I was particularly disappointed with Beyond either.

While it’s not a complete match for scents on the Ariana Grande line or Burberry Her, it is definitely in that same category. If you’re familiar with any of those, it’s around what you should expect with Beyond Romance.

I recommend giving it a try, if you’re in the market for a sugary sweet perfume that isn’t completely immature. Solid value at Ralph Lauren prices too.

10 Best Smelling Creed Perfumes for Women

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Creed is a boutique fragrance designer which dates back centuries and has designed fragrances for for royalty and celebrities around the world (at least according to their stories). Creed is known for using the finest ingredients and creating complex natural scents that stand out among a crowd of imitators.

Their line of women’s perfumes seem to be mostly floral based and while many share similar floral notes, each one has a unique twist on them to add fruity, spicy, or other undertones. As always, I have linked out to a page where is of these scents can be purchased at a great price.

You may also find great Creed fragrances that can be worn by women in my Best Creed Colognes for Men post!

What are the Best Creed Fragrances for Ladies?

Most Popular Creed Perfume 

Creed Spring Flower by Creed for Women Millesime Spray, 2.5 Ounce– Notes include jasmine, peach, apple, musk, melon, rose, ambergris.  Spring Flower is an uplifting fruity scent with bright, floral undertones.

Melon, peach and apple are paired for a crisp and juicy sweet start to the wear.  Then, the rose and jasmine note usher in its flowery namesake, which is quite pretty.

Along with the typical Creed ambergris note, Spring Flower has a musky dry down that is fairly potent. The flower aspect is more prominent further along in the life cycle, with jasmine and musk being the highlights at that point. Meanwhile, the fruit notes have become more subdued.

Spring Flower isn’t really a heavy fragrance, more light to moderate. However, it provides good longevity, and versatility. It can definitely become a signature every day wear.

spring-flower-75ml-creed

Elegant Creed Fragrance

CREED FLEURISSIMO by Creed for WOMEN: EAU DE PARFUM SPRAY 2.5 OZ– A more mature floral than Spring Flower and not as bright as that fragrance. Classy and elegant. This actually lacks the fruits found in the first entry.

Instead one is left with a bouquet of florals with iris, violet, and tuberose. Fleurissimo has a vintage style and a garden rich profile.

As it dries down, this Creed scent has more warmth and a soapy/powdery clean quality. This is an all day wear, with excellent longevity. A springtime fragrance. Notes include: Bulgarian rose, violet, tuberose, Florentine iris.

creed fleurissimo

Classic Rose, Citrus, and Musk

Creed Fleurs De Bulgarie By Creed Millesime Spray For Women 2.5 oz– A very old perfume, supposedly dating back to 1845. Fleurs De Bulgarie is another floral perfume but one with more of a kick of citrus and spice to it.

This floral, however, is straight rose. It’s sweet and clean with a musky profile.

Fleurs de Bulgarie is pretty linear, but the dry down elevates the ambergris to go along with that great rose essence.

Obviously, it has been updated along the way, by Fleurs is still a wonderful addition to one’s collection.  Notes include: Bulgarian Rose Essences, Musks, Ambergris, bergamot. 

Fleurs De Bulgarie

Amazing Vanilla

Sublime Vanille– Creed’s Sublime Vanilla, might have the best smelling vanilla note that I’ve ever come across, it’s absolutely delightful. That creamy goodness is joined up top by orange and lemon, that creates a dessert-like quality to this scent.

It’s warm, with some additional touches of musk and tonka bean. A softer fragrance, that isn’t too complicated, but shows the absolute quality of the Royal Exclusives line of perfumes by Creed.

The issue that can come up with this one, is the heavy price tag. It is even higher priced than the others on this list. The sillage and performance are pretty good, just not outstanding. What you do get is a nice creamy vanilla, with bright citrus, and a bit of musk. Sublime Vanille Review

Sweet Violet

Love in Black– I’m personally not a huge fan of wearing violet fragrances, but I have to say I do enjoy the way that Love in Black by Creed smells.

First, it opens up with a sweet and tart black currant note that can come across like a jam. This is joined by a fresh cedar, giving it an interesting, though not always immediately enjoyable smell.

The iris and violet notes come through, giving this one a powdery aroma, fairly similar to Broadway Nite (that’s probably more powdery, but smells a lot like Love in Black).

It will become an intense violet aroma, with a sweetness, mixed floral notes, and some slight woodiness. Love in Black isn’t for everyone, so, it’d probably be best to test before committing to a full bottle.

Yet, for those who enjoy violet, this is a great example and wonderful performer.

Princess Creed

Royal Princess Oud– Royal Princess Oud is an interesting one. Like, Love in Black it features violet and iris, but early on this is paired with citrus and is way less dense.

In fact, it’s kind of bright and a bit green/floral at the early stages. The title-sake agarwood will come on, but it doesn’t feel overwhelming.

The fragrance certainly has its stronger ingredients, but also feels very balanced for much of the wear.

Yet, this stuff is intricate. The powdery qualities of the florals have their time. Bright citrus. Woodiness. Spice. Then, a resin/creaminess of vanilla, sandalwood, and some benzoin. The opening can be rough, but the development is really great.

Tuberose-led White Floral

Tubereuse Indiana By Creed For Women. Millesime Spray 2.5 Oz– Tuberose Indiana brings on a nice smelling bouquet of white floral notes highlighted by the tuberose, but not really dominated. In addition, one gets a hint of bergamot, and a creamy vanilla at the top.

Then, there is the ambergris and fairly heavy musk. With that, a slight earthiness in the middle act, and a spiced kick too. The mix is attractive for those who like an old school sort of floral perfume, but not completely stuck in the past.

Notes include vanilla, ambergris, tuberose, white flowers, and bergamot. Captivating smell.

Tubereuse Indiana

Best Woody Fragrance

Vanisia By Creed For Women. Millesime Spray 2.5 Oz– A nice, feminine scent that screams sophistication. Vanisia is a move away from the strictly floral scents featured before. This is a very well performing blend of mostly sandalwood and vanilla.

Naturally, the Creed ambergris is another heavy hitter within the composition but there is also a straight amber note, which makes for an interesting pairing.

Vanisia is like vintage confidence in a bottle, with jasmine playing a supporting role to the main ingredients. Notes include: Jasmine, vanilla, rose, sandalwood

vanisia

Best Summertime Pick

Acqua Fiorentina Perfume by Creed for women Millesime Spray 2.5 oz
A complex fragrance that is a light aromatic with layered notes of (some) floral and (mostly) citrus.

This is the go to, if you like fruitier compositions. Bergamot, lemon, and plum start off Acqua Fiorentina with a very bright and quite sharp citrus sensation.

However, there is also a crisp apple note in the mix, which adds to the overall juiciness.

As it dries down, there is a hint of rose and carnation, which balances out some of the fruit overload. Plus, the cedar/sandalwood which sits at the base, and holds this whole thing together.

Very much like, The Scent of Peace for Her by Bond No. 9.  Notes include: rose, Virginian cedar, lemon, sandalwood, carnation, bergamot. 

Acqua Fiorentina

Top Winter Creed Scent

Creed Jasmin Imperatrice Eugenie Millesime Spray for Women, 2.5 Ounce– The supposed story behind this one, is that Jasmin Imperatrice was personally designed for Empress Eugenie of France, wife of Napoleon III. Ok, then.

If you enjoy jasmine and sandalwood, this might be your Holy Grail fragrance. It is an elegant woody fragrance with smooth vanilla undertones and that utterly delightful jasmine throughout.

Jasmin Imperatrice is luxurious and royal, whether or not it was actually made for an empress. This perfume has huge sillage and keeps going and going for hours.

Super strong but the sandalwood and jasmine combo might just be worth it to you. Notes include: bergamot, Bulgarian rose, amergris, Italian jasmine, vanilla

Jasmin Imperatrice Eugenie

7 Best Smelling Kenzo Perfumes

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Kenzo has been an innovative and respected French design house for about 45 years now. In that time, it has also established a name and niche following in the world of fragrance. It grabbed praise and attention with it’s signature scent, Flower, and has produced unique and highly feminine perfumes ever since. For this list, I have chosen what I consider to be the top seven ladies’ fragrances by Kenzo.

What are the Best Smelling Kenzo Perfumes?

Best Bold Perfume

Jungle L’Elephant– Besides having a cool elephant on the bottle, Jungle by Kenzo is designed to “bring the animal out of you”. It is energetic with an oriental spiciness that will stand out from the crowd and delivers a long-lasting scent.

This one definitely isn’t for everyone. It is extremely bold and can take over a room. Which is why, it is probably best for outdoor use. Nonetheless, warm cardamom and caraway, get paired with strong cloves and a calming vanilla note.

It has a dryness and slight smoky quality, with that spice. Which by the way, isn’t all that sharp or unbearable. Yes, it has a big personality, but this one is still selling over 20 years later.

l'elephant

Juicy Fruity Perfume

Kenzo World–  A clean peony fragrance, with the sweetness of some red berry notes. Kenzo World is a newer release, but one that I think should make the list due to its scent and uniqueness.

At times, it comes off as very much a juicy berry fragrance, with other fruits assisting things. Then, you get more of the warmth of amber and the floral notes. Somewhat soapy, not overly complex, but a decidedly intriguing fragrance. Probably best for younger women.

The Powdery Classic

Flower by Kenzo for Women – 3.3 Ounce EDP Spray– Kenzo Flower is a very popular fragrance and has been for a long time now. It also happens to have an aroma that pretty closely approximates baby powder.

It’s a bit sweeter and creamier, than the real thing, which is to be expected with vanilla and black currant notes. However, the violet and rose, give Flower a very powdery finish that is quite soft and comforting.

The opening act, is probably the least like our target, but it settles down into that fresh powdery scent. The rose note isn’t overwhelming here, either. So, don’t expect it to be heavy, in that regard.

flower


Most Popular Kenzo

Kenzo Amour by Kenzo– An affordable, soft and floral, vanilla based fragrance for ladies. Amour is vanilla flanked by frangipani, heliotrope, and cherry blossom. This one is a nice example of vanilla, but used in a somewhat unique way.

Not only do you get, some different floral ingredients, from the run of the mill, Kenzo Amour also features a warm, fluffy, rice note.

The whole thing comes across as clean, inviting, with a bit of a fresh powdery finish (and smoky incense). Very nice performance and a versatile daily wear type of perfume.

Unique World

World Power by Kenzo– This Kenzo World flanker isn’t one that is going to be appreciated by everyone. It’s got a fresh, salty aquatic, and tonka bean finish.

The aquatic sea notes are more early on in the wear, but the saltiness stays going. The saltiness paired with the cold cypress wood notes gives this one a really interesting and almost unisex feel.

Then, the sweeter tonka type of finish brings it back around. The saltiness hangs around in a warmer amber form, with the woody base. World Power does actually have a nice punch of sillage to it.

It has great performance, in a rather simple presentation. Again, this one isn’t going to be appealing to everyone, but it’s nice and different.

A Green Spring/Summer Wear

D’ete- A clean and green floral that brings a certain sweetness to its layers. Warm and great for casual wear on a day to day basis and has a scent unique to itself.

It has a lighter floral appeal, much like the entry below. However, this one focuses much more on the flowers themselves, along with a dewy undertone. While L’eau Par Kenzo is cold and fresh, this one is warmer with some slight spiciness lurking around.

d'ete

Best Aquatic Perfume

L’eau Par Kenzo– A blend of aquatic and floral notes make Par Kenzo a very nice choice for the warmer months of the year. Simple. refreshing, and understated.

L’eau Par Kenzo isn’t a citrus aquatic or anything like that. This one gives you some great floral notes, like lilac and water lily, to provide a clean and memorable aroma. This all sits on top of a watery and fresh base.

What’s great is the mint note, which gives this an icy sort of start, while being paired with some herbal ingredients. Unique and uncomplicated, though, a totally underrated fragrance.

par

Very Irresistible EDT for Women by Givenchy

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In this review, I am going to be taking a closer look at Very Irresistible by Givenchy. Now, I’ve already done a review of the men’s version of this fragrance, which was okay but really wasn’t my thing. As usual, I am going to cover how it smells, how it performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is worth a purchase.

What does Very Irresistible Smell Like?

Notes include: rose, peony, anise, verbena, magnolia

Click here to try: Very Irresistible By Givenchy For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 2.5 Ounces

My Full Review

I’m not that much of a fan of rose in fragrance, so when I do a review of perfumes with this flower as an ingredient, I try to be as fair as possible even when it doesn’t suit my personal tastes.

That being said, I really like how rose is used in Givenchy’s Very Irresistible. I legitimately enjoy it and don’t have to force myself to give it a chance.

This fragrance is blended very well and the rose is initially joined by the anise note which is vaguely reminiscent of men’s cologne, L’Homme Libre, though much less spicy.

Very Irresistible is a very floral scent to be sure. If that’s not your thing, I’d probably look elsewhere. However, you do get a bright bit of fruitiness up top from lemon verbena and the cassis blending together. It adds a playful touch, preventing this from becoming too boring.

The peony note is also a great complement to the rose and I think that it restrains the rose somewhat and doesn’t it let this fragrance just be a pure rose perfume.

I just reviewed another floral scent, Daisy by Marc Jacobs, and I have to say that I definitely enjoy the Givenchy much more than that one.

Very Irresistible has much more energy and vibrancy than does Daisy (which is also a good perfume) and I feel it is much more interesting overall.

The dry down does skew much more towards the rose note, along with magnolia, and a general impression of light fruitiness.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I’d say that this one is moderate. I don’t feel that it is too heavy or overpowering but it does a solid job performing.

For the first hour or so, it had a nice projection to it. When I sprayed it on clothing, I could detect it from 4-7 feet away. Then, it will be much more of a personal scent bubble, but wasn’t a skin scent until much later in the wear.

While testing it out, I routinely got 7-8 hours of use out of this. This perfume doesn’t seem to have any problems sticking around.

I would say that this is best used during the springtime and early summer. But, outside of the coldest days, this actually does seem like it’d be perfectly fine to wear, and even be a nice addition to the winter rotation.

It actually does seem to have some versatility in its use, either for casual or more romantic wear. I’d be more than happy to smell this on a woman that was on a date with, even if I tend to like sweeter gourmand fragrances, usually.

Mostly, this will be used as a daily wear for just going about your business. It’s pretty, doesn’t scream for attention, but is very pleasant to be around. I didn’t go out and test it for very long, but I’d imagine that Very Irresistible can gather some complements.

Overall Impressions of Very Irresistible for Women

Is Very Irresistible worth a buy? Yes, provided that you enjoy floral perfumes. It has plenty of life and energy. Plus, it actually has good performance.

It isn’t the usual ‘green’ or outdoorsy type of floral scent, that can feel stuffy and boring. This Givenchy scent does everything that you need a fragrance to do and doesn’t disappoint.

I like the opening blend where you get the rose, verbena, anise, and peony notes. It’s a nice balance and has many beautiful aspects. This fragrance is still around, after all these years, so it’s got a fan base for sure.

It doesn’t strike me as being overly complicated. Pretty rose-centered floral perfume, with good performance, and can be worn almost anywhere without issue. It has a clean and upbeat kind of aroma, just very easy to vibe with.

Very Irresistible EDT is one that you can plug in to your collection and find plenty of use for, it may even be a signature scent.

I Love New York for Her by Bond No. 9

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In this last batch of samples, I received a bunch of samples of Bond No. 9 fragrances, from their line of I Love New York scents that came out 5+ years back. While I’ve only done a couple of reviews from this brand on the site thus far, I do intend to try to get through the entire collection at some point.

Today’s entry is I Love New York for Her, which is a gourmand perfume for ladies and is generally well regarded as a scent. As always, continue reading below for my full thoughts and impressions of this perfume.

What does I Love NY for Her Smell Like?

I love new york for her

Notes include: blueberry, patchouli, vanilla, peony, musk, rose, sandalwood

Click here to try: Bond No 9 I Love New York Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Review

The initial blast of I Love New York for her is a blend of blueberry and patchouli. It is sweet and fruity but the patchouli note comes on too strong at first for my tastes.

This is a gourmand fragrance that is supposed to invoke images of sweet pastries and I think that it succeeds on this front.

After the first few minutes, it does begin to take on more of a blueberry muffin kind of smell with a layer of vanilla and peony which gives it a floral spirit.

While I’m not too big of a patchouli fan, I actually like it somewhat here, especially once it calms down a bit. It gives I Love NY for Her a more mature character and doesn’t let it fall too far into the ‘teeny’ sweet gourmand category of scents.

That being said, it isn’t too stuffy and is actually quite a playful perfume, with its bakery motif. I like the dry down where you get the full kind of baked goods experience, with the berry notes toned down in their strength.

There’s some light floral notes, but I mostly got sandalwood, musk, and the patchouli. Along with, the remaining general sweet/frutiness.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, this stuff is fairly strong. I sprayed a few times on a sweater and could smell it from 9-10 feet away for hours on end. So, at the peak it does pack power and that sillage will be pretty serious.

That being said, I don’t think it’s overpowering, but it is a performer. On the skin, it definitely calms down from what it was, at the start. It’ll be on the upper end of what you could consider moderate, for a long time.

I would dare say that one should be able to get 8+ hours out of this perfume, every wear…that’s been my experience with it. It probably ventures into the 10 hour range when all of the conditions are right.

I Love New York for Her is a fun and casual scent in my opinion. It isn’t really sexy, but it is oddly appealing, I mean, blueberry muffin is naturally attractive, right? This will also function best during the cooler months of the year and I imagine it’d get kind of weird in the heat of the summer.

So, better to stick to autumn through the early part of spring.

Overall Impressions of I Love New York for Her

Overall, is I Love New York for Her worth a purchase? Depends. It is a unique scent and also performs very well. It strikes me more of a niche kind of scent…if you like blueberry, patchouli, and pastries…then this might be a go to scent or you.

However, it also is quite pricey, since it is Bond No. 9 but a full bottle might be worth the investment. Update: I’m pretty sure it’s discontinued now.

That being said, it does have plenty of appeal and will give you a ton of bang for your buck, even at Bond’s elevated price range.

The rose and other floral notes, aren’t going to play a huge role in the scent. I wouldn’t get too excited about them, if that’s something you’d be looking for. Sweet, sharp, warm gourmand. I like it.