By Designer

Ralph Rocks by Ralph Lauren

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Moving right through my sample reviews, today we have an entry from Ralph Lauren, Ralph Rocks. This one was released in 2006 and was a part of the ‘Ralph’ Collection of fragrances. In this post, I will discuss: how it smells, what’s inside, how it performs, when it should be worn, and if it is worth a purchase.

What does Ralph Rocks Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, kiwi, passion fruit, orange blossom, sandalwood, palm leaf, amber, freesia

Click here to try: Ralph Rocks by Ralph Lauren Body Lotion 1.7 oz

My Review

My immediate reaction to smelling this perfume after applying was being intrigued by the tropical aroma. I had no idea what the notes were at the time and thought that there was a vague coconut like note in there.

But not quite coconut. The aroma is very smooth and screams the island life and that main player happened to be passion fruit. Plus, how the kiwi blends with the sandalwood, gives it that slight pseudo-coconut scent.

It sort of reminds me of Virgin Island Water. Not in its fragrance per se, rather, the lotion like creamy smoothness that is produced by Ralph Rocks. What I like about this scent, is that while it is a tropical scent, it doesn’t have a cold oceanic quality to it.

No, Ralph Rocks is warmed by the amber note and provides a lush floral undertone, which ties the whole scent together. It’s all very sweet and enchanting but it doesn’t have that candy-like sugary smell to it.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Ralph Rocks isn’t a powerhouse. It sticks around, but is more of perfume that stays within one’s own personal space. Not a simple skin scent, but within 3-5 feet. Not even the opening act, is all that powerful, it’s a fairly steady scent.

Longevity is seemingly okay, as well. I got about 6 hours of wear from a few dabs out of the sample vial. Not great but not awful either. Even trying it for a few times, this is about what I came to expect with Ralph Rocks. A fairly decent performer, but not elite, at all.

Ralph Rocks is a definite spring and summertime fragrance. As I mentioned before, it is such a nice change of pace from super fruity or super aquatic summer perfumes.

It is simple and inoffensive enough to be worn to work, school, or casually. It’s not really a sexy scent in my mind, but I think that it is quite pleasant to be around.

This Ralph Lauren perfume has really good versatility in terms of when you can wear it, but also, it can fit well with a wide age range. It is a simple fragrance to reach for and spray on, on an almost daily basis.

Overall Impressions of Ralph Rocks

Overall, would I recommend Ralph Rocks? Yes. This is assuming that you can buy a bottle. This perfume has been discontinued, so you will have to find some unsold stock of it online. It might be super expensive.

Though, it appears the body lotion is still available on Amazon, as of now. This is a very nice casual perfume and has a somewhat unique take on the tropical fragrance arena. I like it.

It wasn’t ever an amazing fragrance, though, it is a very good one. Nice smell, good enough performance, and can be worn in many instances. If you do happen upon a bottle, I wouldn’t pay an outlandish price to possess it.

Perfumista Avenue by Bond No. 9

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I’m still working my way through writing up reviews for all of the Bond No. 9 samples that I have laying around. Today’s entry is Perfumista Avenue, which was released by the company to celebrate it’s 10th anniversary. In this post, I will explore: it’s ingredients, how it smells, how it performs, and whether or not I think it’s worth a buy.

What does Perfumista Avenue Smell Like?

Notes include: red plum, rose, saffron, patchouli, musk, nutmeg, peony, jasmine, amber, davana

Click here to try: Bond No. 9 Perfumista Avenue EDP Spray for Women, 1.7 Ounce

My Full Review

Geeeeeezzz, is this stuff loud. From the opening spray your nose is bombarded with rose, spice, and a very tart red plum note. The rose note smells more pinkish, than contained in many other scents.

I am admittedly, not a huge fan of rose and patchouli, but I would think that this stuff might even offend many rose lovers. At times, I start to think that it’s pleasant and interesting and then it starts to smell like really sour rose water mixed with booze.

It reminds me of one of those drinks at specialty bars that serve their own concoctions, sometimes brilliantly, and other times off putting.

Perfumista Avenue does settle down, somewhat. You eventually get a full bouquet of flowers while retaining it’s sharp and bright aroma. Underneath it all, there is an herbal scent but it kind of gives off this weird metallic smell.

What you will mainly get is the rose, plum, patchouli, and nutmeg. Everything else plays a supporting role. The saffron can be strong at times, but during the latter stages, I really don’t pick up any on my skin. Tart, rose, with a warm spiciness.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Perfumista Avenue is a monster. Good lord, what a bomb of a fragrance this is. Whether you like it or not, you can’t say Bond No. 9 didn’t deliver a bang for you buck.

It also lasts seemingly forever. I’m not sure when it quits, as I scrubbed it off 8 or so hours after application, and it was still performing. Coming back to it another time, I’m convinced of this Bond scents as being an all day wear. It’s too powerful to fade out quickly.

This feels like a springtime scent to my nose. I cannot imagine this in the summer heat, and potentially, how overwhelmingly messy it could become. Moderate temperatures without much humidity would serve as the best option.

This is certainly a niche fragrance. I wouldn’t wear it in an office or school type of environment. More out for the day or night during spring. So, a casual fragrance to wear in a place with a breeze, and only so with a light application.

Overall Impression of Bond No. 9 Perfumista Avenue

Overall, can I recommend Perfumista Avenue? Not for the general public. This is a perfume that will have a very limited appeal. I’m not personally enthralled with it and it grates on my nerves.

However, I know there are some serious rose and patchouli fans who will dig this scent. Everyone around them might not, but hey, at least the bright pink bottle it comes in is pretty.

YSL Libre vs. Coco Mademoiselle

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Coco Mademoiselle has been a best seller for a long long time and is still sticking around as a great perfume. Libre EDP from YSL, has become a very popular option since its release some years back.

This popularity and somewhat similar styles often leads to questioning as to which one is better to buy? Which lasts longer? Etc. In this post, I want to break down my experience with these fragrances and declare my winner, in this battle.

Tale of the Tape: Libre vs. Coco Mademoiselle

Libre EDP

Notes include: lavender, white musks, orange flower, vanilla, orchid

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau De Parfum Spray for Women 90ml/3oz, clear

Read my review: Libre EDP

Coco Mademoiselle

Notes include: orange, neroli, may rose, patchouli, vetiver, jasmine

Click here to try: Coco Mademoiselle

Read my full review: Coco Mademoiselle EDP

Opening

Coco Mademoiselle opens up with a bold blend of orange and neroli, along with a solid amount of the patchouli note. That’s the very opening phase, that is joined in rapid succession by the other floral notes.

In this case, it’s mostly jasmine, but a bit of rose starts peaking through too.

Libre opts to go with the orange blossom and a lighter use of actual citrus fruits. This YSL starts out with a soapier aroma and a bit of creaminess. Lavender is the major player and there is more musk, as things move along.

Which do I like better? While Libre is pretty nice in the beginning, I still prefer the Chanel to the newer release. It stands out strong and brings a beautiful warmth that only develops further.

Edge: Mademoiselle

Projection

No worries, as either one of these fragrances will bring the power. So, unless you need an absolute bomb, it probably won’t be the deciding factor.

Libre is in the upper end of the moderate range, if not the lower end of the definitively strong end of the spectrum. It brings it.

However, Coco Mademoiselle has a better ability to project, in my experience. It’s not a massive difference, but it is noticeable.

Edge: Coco Mademoiselle

Longevity

Again, this is another category where Libre is no slouch, but comes up short in comparison. 8-9 hours is what it seems to go, on my skin. Very good and not much to complain about.

Coco Mademoiselle lasts at least 10 hours for me. It can tack on hours even beyond that.

Edge: Mademoiselle

Versatility

To me, they’re pretty evenly split. Both the Chanel and YSL scent can work in a variety of climates, if you’re avoiding the height of summer.

Also, they can fit into a casual daily wear, work, or even out on the town for an evening. Though, they’re not specifically nighttime scents.

Very versatile and great options for a perfume that can do almost anything.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I think that Libre is a nice perfume, that definitely has its strengths, and will be a good option for many women. It’s not too complex, mostly its going to be about the lavender and orange blossom, which may or not be a selling point for you personally.

If you’re a bigtime lavender fan, it might be the one to go with here.

For me, Coco Mademoiselle is a classic and still has its charm after two decades. Not only does it have better performance, I also think that it just smells better.

I enjoy the opening act more, the floral notes are more appealing to my nose, and I like the way that vanilla and musk is used in this composition versus Libre EDP.

Update: The Libre line has been expanded to include better entries like Libre Intense and Le Parfum. Le Parfum might be one that I might choose over Coco Mademoiselle, but I think that the Chanel is more versatile and it would be a closer contest.

So, go with Coco versus the original Libre, but I’d consider checking out Le Parfum as a potential alternative.

Winner: Coco Mademoiselle

Poison Girl Unexpected by Christian Dior

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For today’s review, we have a 2018 release from Christian Dior, Poison Girl Unexpected. This is of course, a new flanker fragrance of the original Poison Girl. In this post, I am going to talk about what’s in it, what Unexpected smells like, how it performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is even worth trying out.

What does Poison Girl Unexpected Smell Like?

Notes include: ginger, salt, tonka bean, Damascus rose, lemon, blood orange, hazelnut, almond, vanilla, and cashmeran

Click here to try: Christian Dior POISON GIRL UNEXPECTED EDT Spray Sample Vial .03 oz / 1 ml Womens NEW

My Full Review

Before we get into my review let’s see how Dior describes it in the sample’s card: The sparkling freshness of ginger surprises in a game of hide-and-seek with a sensual Damascus Rose.

Unexpected opens up with the two citrus notes being prominent, blood orange and lemon. These create a bright and sunny disposition and are flanked by the ginger, vanilla, and tonka bean.

Now, I read on Dior’s website, that the perfume who created this wanted to go for a candied smell and it really shows. It’s very creamy, with a light lotion like quality from the jump, and the vanilla and citrus creating that candy vibe.

Also, adding to the effect is the ginger note that has been salted, and smells really damn good. I honestly found the opening extremely attractive and unique. I know that it shares some of the same structure as the original Poison Girl, but this one just has its own aroma that isn’t really like anything else I’ve come across. I like it a lot. Sweet and creamy, but not overly sugary.

As it moves along, Unexpected’s Damascus Rose note emerges more to be paired with the ginger. It’s a pinkish rose and not heavy at all, it’s done just right within the composition. The ginger adds an ever so light spice to Poison Girl Unexpected and really helps to set it apart from the other scents in this line.

Drying down, it becomes nuttier, with almond and hazelnut, which reminds me a bit of men’s fragrance 1 Million Lucky.  I get lots of ginger, the nuts, and rose note dipped in a orange creaminess of vanilla and tonka bean.

The two strongest ingredients in the dry down is the ginger and Damascus Rose, but everything is so well-blended that neither are overbearing.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage isn’t too intense. I don’t think that it is as powerful as the original, but it isn’t weak. It will give you a decent perimeter of scent around you, though, not a total envelopment. Unexpected is just a lighter kind of perfume.

However, it actually has very good performance with its longevity. It was lasting 9-10 hours on my skin, with about the same consistent sillage. So, it’s going to last a full work day without issue. Definitely get your money’s worth here.

Seasonally, it could honestly work in all seasons, I’d think. The citrus notes prevent it from being too much of an overwhelmingly heavy gourmand. Also,  the ginger freshness could be fine in warmer weather. This isn’t a Poison Girl flanker that is relegated to just the wintertime.

Maybe stay away from wearing it in the most extreme heat conditions. I think Unexpected would be best in the cooler months, through the springtime.

Add to that, it has great wear versatility, as well. This could be a daily wear at office or at school. Yes, it can be worn by either teens or adults.

Yet, it has plenty of attractive appeal to pull double duty and be a nightlife or date night perfume, too. It’s just not one that is going to dominate a room.

Overall Impressions of Poison Girl Unexpected

Overall, do I like this new Dior offering? Yes, I think it’s really great. It touches so many different aspects from sweet and spicy to warm and cool. It’s got a great citrus opening, fresh ginger, pinkish rose, and nutty undertones.

Seriously, I love the almond and hazelnut, with citrus, and ginger (another favorite of mind). Really delicious stuff and a rather unique gourmand perfume.

Unexpected should enjoy a pretty large appeal among the masses. It gives a solid performance and a delicious aroma throughout. It has it’s own unique qualities while remaining true to the Poison Girl lineage.

I don’t think that this got the respect that it deserves, upon release. Perhaps, too many folks wanted something much more like the original. Unexpected has elements of that, but does its own thing, and is still completely appealing.

My Burberry Blush by Burberry

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So, among the samples that I received, I did pick up some more ladies’ perfumes to review. Many of the others are already unisex, but I made sure to get at least a few feminine scents. Today’s entry is another one from Burberry. An Eau de Parfum, entitled, My Burberry Blush. How does this one stack up? How does it perform? Is it worth a purchase?

What does Burberry Blush Smell Like?

Notes include: pomegranate, green apple, rose petals, jasmine, lemon

Click here to try: Burberry Blush Eau De Parfum, 1 Fl Oz

My Review

The opening of My Burberry Blush gives you a blend of mostly the green apple and the rose petal notes. The pomegranate is there, but I think it becomes more of a factor about 10-15 minutes into the wear.

I’m not too excited by the opening as it has a bit of that Glade plug-in chemical air freshener smell. However, it does get better in my mind, as it dries down. The apple feels pretty synthetic and with the rose, does really take on that artificial sort of scent.

The second act is where you’re going to get the aroma, that pretty much lasts until it dies out. The pomegranate and the lemon notes, begin to overpower the apple and it is a fruity and bright sort of perfume.

It is these juicy fruit notes over the floral notes (rose and jasmine), My Burberry Blush, doesn’t stray into super ‘girly’ territory though. I think that this is an adult type of fragrance, more refined and juicy, rather than candy-like sweetness.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it performs fairly well. It isn’t an absolute bomb, but you could overdo it if you tried. It doesn’t need many sprays to be effective. I’d keep it between 2-3, for most situations. It’s not really a nightlife scent, so, it’s tough to say when exactly you’d need more.

Longevity is also somewhere in the 6-8 hour range, from what I could tell, while wearing it. Again, not crazy longevity, but will last about a full work day. Coming back to Blush for a second time, I got about 7 hours of solid wear, while being indoors. Solid, not amazing.

My Burberry Blush is an upbeat semi-casual wear for the spring and summer months. I’m not sure as to its effectiveness on a date or some similar event, though. If a woman I were dating was wearing this, I would think that she smells good, but I wouldn’t be enthralled by it.

Mostly, keep it to work or casual or semi-formal events, when it is warmer outside. It’s clean and gives you a juicy fruit profile, with floral touches.

Overall Impressions of My Burberry Blush

Overall, do I like My Burberry Blush? It’s decent. It’s a nice juicy fruit/floral blend and seems pretty generic or non-descript. I’m not sure that I could pick it out of a lineup, as it smells similar to a lot of scents I’ve encountered before.

The opening 10 minutes aren’t the greatest, but it does settle down later on. It also gives good performance, so at the right price, this good be a solid casual option for ladies. Just not earth shattering.

My Burberry Blush is very clean and juicy up top. Later, it sort of dries off, and gives you an almost soapy blend of fruity ingredients and flowers like rose and wisteria.