By Designer

J’adore EDP by Christian Dior

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I still have a handful of samples that I need to review and they’re all ladies’ perfumes. Two of them are Dior scents from the J’adore line and today, I am starting with the original eau de parfum. J’adore eau de parfum was released in 1999 and has enjoyed wild success ever since then. I will cover what’s in it, how it smells, performs, and whether or not I think it is worth a buy.

What does J’adore EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: jasmine, orchid, plum, rose, mandarin, musk, ylang-ylang, blackberry

Click here to try: Christian Dior J’Adore Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Review

The opening of J’adore is a very clean and refined blend of floral notes. Mostly, I pick up on jasmine, ylang-ylang, freesia, and orchid.  Rose is also apparently in there, but it isn’t a strong rose scent, to me at least.

The florals have a juicy/watery aroma to them, this isn’t a ‘dry’ smelling perfume. Nice green undertones. Lily and melon, give it that juicy almost aquatic sensibility.

J’adore has a light fruitiness to it. It is mostly a floral dominated composition, but the melon/plum/mandarin trio do come through. and add to the juiciness of the fragrance.

It is very bright and uplifting but with a sophisticated air to the aroma. Sharp and pretty. During the latter stages, pear and melon are the main fruit notes that remain, and really don’t have intense aromas associated with either.

Finally, I’m left with lots of jasmine, some light musk, fruits, and a bouquet effect of various floral notes coming together. To my nose, it becomes rather difficult to distinguish between each.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection on J’adore is pretty good. It isn’t a loud fragrance, it’s actually quite soft. However, that doesn’t mean that it is weak, you’ll know that J’adore is still there.

I also got a full day of wear out of this one. 8+ hours of solid performance, so there won’t be any problems on that end. Coming back to J’adore and trying it out a few more times, has produced very similar results. Not a perfume that will disappoint with its longevity.

Seasonally, I guess I would say that it is more of a springtime smell. Though, it really wouldn’t feel out of place in any season. It’s pretty solid year round, but performs best in warmer weather. During the summer months, J’adore can handle the humidity without completely falling apart.

It’s a good choice for office or casual daytime wear. Fits an age range of 20s+, as it retains a mature sensibility without being too ‘grandma’. J’adore doesn’t particularly strike me as sexy, I’d say that it’s attractive and pleasant.

This is a daily wear scent, if you’re looking for something more specific, J’adore isn’t going to fit a mold. Clean, floral, with greenish hints throughout.

Overall Impression of J’adore

Overall, would I recommend J’adore? It pretty much is a classic perfume from Christian Dior at this point. I like it and find it to be a well put together floral. If floral fragrances aren’t your thing, you would probably do well by looking elsewhere.

J’adore isn’t flashy and might not be a go-to perfume for all occasions but it does just about everything, extremely well.

Crystal Noir EDT by Versace

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Taking a break from the Tom Ford reviews for a second, to bring you a new ladies fragrance review from a popular Versace: Crystal Noir EDT. IN this post, I am going to share my experiences with this scent, describe its smell, how it develops, performs, when it should be worn, and if it is actually worth a try.

What does Crystal Noir by Versace Smell Like?

Notes include: black currant, fig, violet, tuberose, frangipani, jasmine, sandalwood, cashmeran, vanilla, heliotrope

Click here to try: Versace Crystal Noir by Versace for Women – 3 Ounce EDT Spray

My Full Review

Crystal Noir opens with a fairly sharp black currant leading the way. It is juicy and joined by a distinct fig note, the smell of tuberose and violet. This perfume has apparently been reformulated from what it was originally and now includes a whole host of new notes.

So, keep in mind that I am reviewing this newer eau de toilette version of Crystal Noir.

The fig and black currant are on top of this composition for quite a while and sitting on a bed of flowers, with some creamy undertones, and a woody base. It all strikes me as very fresh with slight oriental vibes coming through during different times of the wear.

There is some spiciness in the heart of the perfume, not sure what it is from the new notes listed, but the older edition had ginger and cardamom. So, maybe those are unlisted but still within the EDT.

As it dries down further, the black currant sharpness subsides quite a lot and the floral notes fully emerge. Plenty of jasmine and heliotrope to join up with the tuberose and violet.

Although, this Versace has plenty of flowers, it doesn’t hit me like a ‘greenish’ bouquet or like walking through some kind of garden.

From this point, pretty much what you’re going to get is established. A whole lot of florals, especially the white floral notes: tuberose, jasmine, and frangipani.

These are on top of a woody base of smooth sandalwood, fig, and cashmeran. Add in a dash of vanilla, purple flowers, and what’s left of the opening combo.

Sillage, How Long it Lasts, and Versatility

Projection wise, the EDT is a fairly light to moderate fragrance. The sillage on this one isn’t huge and is going to stay pretty close to the body. I wouldn’t call it weak, by any means, but Crystal Noir isn’t going to fill a room unless you go crazy with the sprays.

The longevity is solid but not amazing, seems to stick around for 6-8 hours, on my skin. That’s good enough for most purposes. Indoors, in air conditioning, it seems to track closer to that 8 hour wear mark.

Seasonally, this EDT reformulation, is pretty versatile. It’s floral component screams springtime, but it wouldn’t feel out of place at all, in the winter or fall. Maybe not the best for the height of summer, but very good for the rest of the year.

Crystal Noir has an air of maturity about it, but not stuffy or uptight. It can be worn to the office, dressed up, or for an evening out. I especially think the evening wear, is probably its best use. It is attractive and has some sexiness to it, but not a super seductive fragrance by any means.

Mostly, this will be a versatile daily wear for most women. Not too intense or bold, but pretty enough to gather some attention and complements.

Overall Impressions of Crystal Noir

Overall, do I like Crystal Noir EDT? I do. I think that it’s a very good choice for a versatile floral that isn’t too girly or flowery. It’s woodiness and slight spice/sweetness keep it from becoming some overwhelming bouquet.

It has solid performance and a grown up disposition. The original EDP had coconut and gardenia in it, I’m not sure which I prefer, but that is the main difference between them.

This is a great Versace option for those who want something rather simple and clean, without being a complete bomb.

Eau de Lacoste Pour Femme by Lacoste

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In today’s review, we have an entry from the Lacoste women’s line: Eau de Lacoste Pour Femme. This one was released back in 2013. How does this perfume stack up? As usual, I am going to go through its ingredients, when it should be worn, what it smells like, and if it is even worth a try.

What does Eau de Lacoste Pour Femme Smell Like?

Notes include: jasmine, pineapple, vanilla, orange, vetiver, sandalwood, orange blossom, and bergamot

Click here to try: Lacoste Eau de Lacoste perfume for Women Eau De Parfum 3.0 fl.oz

My Full Review

The opening of Eau de Lacoste Pour Femme features mainly the pineapple note and the jasmine. There is also a hint of the mandarin orange and bergamot, but it isn’t all that strong.

The pineapple doesn’t strike me as too sharp in this composition, more of just a juice, mixed with that familiar aroma of jasmine. It’s quite light and pretty, with a non-candied sweetness.

Further along, I don’t really get any more of the orange note, but there is orange blossom floral in there. Also, sandalwood and vanilla merge, and give this Lacoste a heart. At this point, it is less fruity than it had been, and much more woody/floral.

This is a simple and linear scent that doesn’t really develop much at all. What I get for most of the wear is: pineapple, jasmine, vanilla, sandalwood with some musky sort of undertones. Within an hour or so, you’ll pretty much know what you’re going to get from Eau de Lacoste.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projections wise, the sillage on this one is pretty light and airy. It’s not a completely weak scent, but it’s definitely not a powerhouse. It’s a subtle perfume, that won’t blow the doors off of anything.

The longevity isn’t amazing, but it is a pretty consistent strength throughout. It’ll go into the 5-7 hour range and still maintain that lighter sillage. Most Lacoste fragrances aren’t marathon performers and neither is this one.

Seasonally, spring through summer. It’s bright with the pineapple and citrus along with the floral notes. It’s safe to wear at the office, casually, or as a sort of sporty kind of fragrance. It is pleasant and attractive, but not sexy. This isn’t one that is going to be a nightlife or date night wear.

Overall Impressions of Lacoste Pour Femme

Overall, is Eau de Lacoste Pour Femme a good fragrance? Good? Yes. Simple? Yes. It’s a nice scent, that can be worn in a variety of situations, but it won’t be one that stands out. It is a scent that is very clean and feminine.

If you want a low key, everyday wear, this might be a perfume to consider. However, you’re going to have to like the smell of pineapple and jasmine, for this one to ‘work’ for you.

Body by Burberry

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So, it’s time for me to post another women’s perfume review. I got a few more ladies’ fragrance samples in my latest batch and so I thought that I’d write up my impressions of these scents to impart it to my female audience.

Today’s review is going to cover, Burberry Body, a floral/fruity scent that was released in 2011.

In this post, I want to cover how it smells and develops, how it performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is worth a purchase. Also see: Body vs London Perfume Comparison

What does Burberry Body Smell Like?

burberry body

Notes include: peach, musk, rose, sandalwood, amber, iris, vanilla

Click here to try: BURBERRY Body for Women Eau de Parfum, 2.0 oz

My Full Review

The opening blast of Body is headed by the peach note, with rose and a warm musk providing supporting roles. Initially, it is creamy and fruity but after 10 minutes or so the rose and the iris bring on a very floral profile.

The peach definitely dominates the top of the order. However, it is joined by what is apparently wormwood. I’m not too familiar with the aroma, so, it can be pretty hard to describe it. Nonetheless, I don’t find it to be distracting or anything terrible.

Rose, musk, and woods do start to peak in after that opening. Again, the first phase after that is mostly floral to my nose. Then, it switches to being something woodier and somewhat musky. The sandalwood is the most apparent wood note, that my nose picks up in the composition.

Body is quite smooth and mellowed out by the sandalwood and vanilla notes that creep in the background. In the dry down phase, you get a rose/peach blend with a warm and slightly spicy musk.

In the end, it is the rose with some peach, woody notes, and a spiciness. Still, has a light and cleaner type of vibe. Not a heavy scent at all, but rather, one that will feel like a natural extension of your skin.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Burberry Body is pretty strong. The sillage won’t fill up an entire room (unless you overdo it) but you’ll definitely know it is there. In its entirety, I’d say that this one has above average power, just not elite.

It also has very good longevity, I sprayed it on my wrist for an initial test, and it was still chugging along during the evening. I finally just had to scrub it off with soap and water because I was tired of smelling like a girl haha.

Coming back to it on another day, it seemed to approach the double digit hour mark, without any issue.

Body is an everyday wear, that would be good for casual occasions. I wouldn’t classify it as a sexy or date night perfume, though, I do find it attractive and wouldn’t mind smelling it on a girl I was dating. So, office wear, casual, semi-formal, etc.

It seems like it would work best during fall or early spring when the weather isn’t too hot. The wood, vanilla, and musky base might very well melt in the high heat or humidity. Though, in the cooler weather it turns out quite nicely, and you get the full aromas of each note.

Overall Impression of Burberry Body

Overall, would I recommend Burberry Body? Yes, it is a very nice casual perfume for women. If you don’t like roses or peach in your fragrances, I’d probably skip this one if I were you.

It’s more floral/woody than fruity. So, if that isn’t you, go with another option. Body won’t blow you away but it gets the job done.

I like the peach top and the later creamy blend of sandalwood/vanilla. It is an interesting and well-rounded perfume, kind of dry later on, but the rose and peach stick around for the long run.

Update: Body has been discontinued for a long while.

Chinatown by Bond No. 9

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took about a week off from posting on the site, but during that time, I got to test out more fragrances for review. On of these, is among the Bond No. 9 samples that I recently got a hold of, and a scent that I’ve been meaning to review for a number of years now…Chinatown. Is this Bond No. 9 scent worth a purchase? What does it smell like? How does it perform?

What does Bond No. 9 Chinatown Smell Like?

Notes include: tuberose, peach blossom, bergamot, honey, cedar, cardamom, vanilla sandalwood, guiac wood, and gardenia.

Click here to try: Chinatown by Bond No. 9 for Women – 3.3 oz EDP Spray.

My Full Review

The opening gives you a blast of white floral aroma provided by tuberose and the gardenia notes. This isn’t like some of the other Bond No. 9 floral offerings, which get heavily into the green plant life scent.

Instead, Chinatown has a wonderful fruity/floral mix with the peach blossom and a brief appearance by the bergamot top note. It gives Chinatown a sweetness and light juiciness, that really comes across as pleasant and well put together.

That fruity/sweet aspect, is really around for the opening bit, and then it fades into the background. The peach blossom, gives you a floral/fruity blend of aromas.

I think that the note that sets this one apart from many other floral perfumes, is the inclusion of cardamom. It does give Chinatown that hint of spice and a sweetness that pairs with the vague thickness of honey. I really love a good cardamom in a fragrance, and Chinatown is one which delivers exactly that.

The next main stage of this fragrance, is the creamy/warm floral period. Lots of tuberose, gardenia, and some light vanilla highlights. Mixed with peach blossom and cardamom. The middle of this perfume, is really quite nice, with an easygoing naturalism.

As it dries down, there is more of a noticeable woody/smoky quality that just gives this fragrance an added depth. Part of that, is definitely the cardamom at work. I don’t want to make this out to be super complex, I don’t think that it really is. However, I believe this to be a very well balanced scent, in what ends up being a fairly straightforward life cycle.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I’d call it a moderate. A moderate that actually performs. It isn’t going to choke anyone out or really overpower a room but it does a good job of having staying power.

The longevity is great, which it should be at such a price point, but we all know that’s not always the case. It’s an all day wear and never really felt weak during testing.

Chinatown is a good casual or everyday wear. It certainly is a beautiful kind of perfume but doesn’t seem all that ‘sexy’, but it’s definitely attractive.

It was pretty cold outside during testing and it seemed to work well in that environment and I think it’d be safe through the springtime. Probably not the best bet for the height of summer, however.

Overall Impressions of Chinatown

Overall, would I recommend Chinatown? Yes, it a really lovely fragrance, and one of my favorite women’s scents from Bond No. 9. Sometimes, I have really mixed notions about this brand, and think they have some downright awful fragrances.

However, Chinatown isn’t one of those. This is a well balanced gem and a unique take on floral perfumes.

This is a scent for those who want a good tuberose or gardenia laden fragrance, but that also has enough sweetness to avoid going full ‘garden mode’. This is one of the best women’s releases from Bond and it shows from the popularity and number of sales it has generated since its release.