By Designer

Yellow Diamond by Versace

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I still have a box with a dozen or so samples to get through and review. That being the case, I thought that it was time again to a review of a ladies’ fragrance, as they are seemingly most of what it left in the box. Today’s scent is from Versace and was released in 2011, under the title of Yellow Diamond.

As usual, I am going to share my experience  with and impressions of this scent. Plus, give details on how it performs, when it should be worn, and if I think it is worth a purchase or not.

What does Yellow Diamond Smell Like?

Notes include: citron, pear, neroli, bergamot, nymphea, freesia, orange blossom, mimosa, amber wood, musk, palo santo

Click here to try: Versace Yellow Diamond Eau de Toilette Spray, 3 Fluid Ounce

My Full Review

The opening of Yellow Diamond is quite interesting to me. On the one hand you have a blend of citrus, which could come off as potent (as it does in Versace’s Eau Fraiche for Men). However, the notes are actually tempered by the contingent of floral notes, namely the mimosa but I also detect a fairly strong freesia.

So, those who may be worried about a runaway citrus aroma, can be at ease that Yellow Diamond is not like that.

It’s kind of cool how Versace managed to essentially create the color yellow within the confines of a fragrance. The initial aroma really does invoke images of all kinds of yellow flowers and lemons growing off of trees.

At about 10-15 minutes in, I pick up more of the floral notes than I do the citrus, and the scent becomes like being among some lush greenery.

Yellow Diamond does a nice job of not being a linear scent experience during wear and you do actually get to pick up on the variety of notes throughout the day. The overall all picture of it that I get is that, this is a bright/warm daytime fragrance with an air of floral sweetness to it.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it starts out as a moderate but is mostly a light fragrance throughout its lifespan. I don’t mean to say that it is weak or anything like that but it isn’t something that will absolutely envelope you (unless you go overboard with the spraying).

The longevity is decent but not crazy good, I found that I got about 6 hours on my skin, where the perfume was noticeable.

Because Yellow Diamond flies under the radar, it can be a good choice for casual situations such as work or school. I’d say that it’s best in the springtime but I’d definitely keep it on in the daytime. It really doesn’t strike me as a ‘sexy’ perfume.

Like, if I smelled this on a woman while out on the town for an evening, I’d think that it’s a pleasant scent but it wouldn’t drive me crazy in the slightest.

Overall Impressions of Yellow Diamond

Overall, is Yellow Diamond worth a buy? It’s a good everyday wear, though, it isn’t some amazing experience. If you like the floral notes that are in it, like citrus, and need a daytime fragrance…then, this might be the solution for you.

If you enjoy more candy-like sweetness or a dark/spicy perfume, then, you’d be served well to look elsewhere. Yellow Diamond is a very solid perfume, good but not great.

Obsessed for Women by Calvin Klein

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I’ve already reviewed Obsessed for Men, on this site, which was a pretty good fragrance. So, when I got a sample of Obsessed for Women, I was intrigued to see what direction Calvin Klein was going to take this in.

This is actually a new release for 2017 and shares a similar name with the classic Obsession, though, their doesn’t appear to be any actual similarities between them.

In this post, I’m going to go over how it smells, performs, what the notes are, and whether or not it is worth a further look.

What does Obsessed for Women Smell Like?

Notes include: musk, sage, lavender, citrus, neroli, violet leaf

Click here to try: Calvin Klein Obsessed for Women Eau De Parfum, 1 fl. oz.

My Full Review

The packaging that the sample vial of Obsessed for Women came in, says that it is ‘a female interpretation of an oriental fougere’.  With that, I wasn’t expecting something that was hyper feminine or sweet, and after use this does feel more like an unisex perfume.

The opening is floral, herbal, and musky. The lavender has that familiar scent and reminds me of the lavender Epsom bath salt that I use for sore muscles.

The citrus notes are noticeable at the start, as well, and give it kind of an aquatic aroma. It really does bring back memories of two of Calvin Klein’s 90s unisex fragrances, CK One and CK Be, but retains something different from each of those scents.

I think the warm musky spice and the sage, set it apart, and there is this underlying body wash/soapy quality to Obsessed.

Obsessed is fresh throughout its lifespan and the floral notes provided by the neroli and violet leaf begin to come into play about 20-30 minutes after application. That is when it begins to shift more towards the feminine side of the spectrum, after the quite ambiguous start.

However, it stays mostly in that floral/soft/spice/fresh water aquatic, mode throughout.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s a lighter scent, and definitely didn’t seem overpowering to me. I also sprayed it three times on a shirt and parked it about 4 feet away and didn’t really detect it.

So, it’s not going to be a massive radius and no long scent trail in your wake, unless you really spray the heck out of it.

Obsessed is a perfume that performs somewhat well, but you have to get closer. Longevity, again, was decent. Maybe 6+ hours, depending on the environment.

It feels more appropriate as a spring/summer scent but I think that it could perform well in any season really. While it does enjoy seasonal versatility, I’d classify it as casual.

It’s a pleasant perfume, but I don’t find it sexy or anything of that nature. A good low-key scent for work or school or some other casual function.

Overall Impressions of Obsessed for Women

Overall, is Obsessed worth a purchase? I don’t have anything bad to say about it. It serves its purpose as a fresh scent that is a nice change from the usual fruity or hyper-sweet perfumes.

So, if you’re in the market for that thing and are a fan of lavender, musk, and sage; then this one might be a good fit as a daily wear.

It’s very much a Calvin Klein fragrance, without even looking at the bottle, you can sort of just tell. Better than average, the usual notes, and not a big performer.

I don’t find it to be some incredible scent that is a must have, but it is nice, low key, and veers more to the unisex than girly.

Daisy by Marc Jacobs

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I thought that it was time to give Daisy by Marc Jacobs a proper review and so with the last batch of samples that I ordered, I got a vial of this fragrance sent to me as well. It has been a very popular perfume for women for probably over a decade at this point and is always among the best sellers.

In this post, I am going to cover how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not I think it is worthy of a purchase.

What does Daisy by Marc Jacobs Smell Like?

daisy marc jacobs perfume

Notes include: grapefruit, gardenia, jasmine, violet, musk, and vanilla

Click here to try: Marc Jacobs Daisy, EDT Spray, 3.4oz 100ml

My Full Review

The opening of Daisy gives me the same kind of watery floral aroma, that Alien Aqua Chic did when I reviewed it. The floral notes are different, but there is a similar effect, and I think that Daisy happens to do it better.

Daisy is heavily weighted towards violet and there is also some interplay between the jasmine and gardenia notes. However, the latter two seem to be background players to the main attraction of violet.

Up top, there is the grapefruit note and a light strawberry, as well. To my nose, the strawberry note, doesn’t come through particularly hard. Again, Daisy comes across a watery and the fruit notes, are lightly added, to the overall composition.

The grapefruit note gives Daisy a bit more energy, and there is also definitely a musky warmth, to this perfume. This whole scent strikes me as very light and slightly aquatic, like if the flowers were sitting in a vase full of water. As it wears on, Daisy takes on more of a powdery scent but that never completely takes over the composition but it does feel noticeable about an hour or so in.

Finally, what I am left with is: plenty of violet, some grapefruit, gardenia, and musky undertones. Yes, all still swimming in that vaguely aquatic aroma. This isn’t all that complex of a perfume.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

Projection wise, Daisy is light, but it isn’t weak. It isn’t a beast that is going to envelop you (unless you spray like crazy) but it is quite noticeable.

Longevity is pretty darn good but not spectacular, I’d say it can hit 7 hours on a regular basis, depending on the conditions it’s worn in.

This Marc Jacobs fragrance is best worn casually, for a day at the office or running around town. I wouldn’t call it a date night perfume or really sexy at all. It’s something that is light and fresh and inoffensive.

I’d also say it’s probably best worn in the springtime as that’s where the notes seem most at home but you could also where it in the other months of the year and be perfectly fine.

Overall Impressions of Daisy

Overall, is Daisy worth a buy? Yes, provided that you like floral scents. It’s a really good casual/everyday wear perfume that seems to enjoy a pretty universal popularity. If you want something that is a little more bold or sexy, then you should probably look elsewhere.

Daisy does what it does very well, and if you’re in the market for something along those lines, it’s a winner. The violet note here is very nice and the gardenia peaking through the background is also quite pleasant.

To me, this Marc Jacobs perfume isn’t amazing, but is a solid choice for a daily wear floral fragrance.

Erolfa by Creed

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I have several more cologne reviews on the way within the next week or so. However, before I got to those I wanted to do one on the last Creed fragrance I sampled while visiting their boutique in Las Vegas, named Erolfa.

Yes, it’s an odd name but it’s taken from the letters of the names of the Creed family. I had never encountered this particular Creed scent before trying it out on my vacation, so, I came at it with no real expectations of performance or smell.

Update: I have tried this again, years after the original review, so I’m adding to my thoughts on this scent. This cologne is in the aquatic/marine end of things and as such I was interested in giving it a whirl in the desert heat.

What does Creed Erolfa Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, ambergris, lime, melon, orange, violet, ginger, coriander, pepper, sandalwood, musk, amber, cedar

Click here to try: Erolfa By Creed For Men. Millesime Spray 4.0 Oz.

My Full Review

The opening of Erolfa is mainly a citrus affair. The lime, melon, and bergamot really stand out in the start which reminds me of pieces of other Creed fragrances such as Imperial, Virgin Island Water, and Silver Mountain Water. Now, it isn’t wholly similar to any of them, just vague reminders from these opening notes.

I rather enjoy the opening that is a citrus blended with saltier notes which replicate the air of the sea, sort of like Acqua di Gio Profumo.

I think that Creed has done a really good job at creating a summertime fragrance that is so reminiscent of spending time on the water. It is fresh, bright, with a clean, quasi-soapy aroma to it.

Mostly what I get from this scent, beyond the citrus opening, is a slightly spicy/woody undertone with that prominent saltiness that hangs in the air.

The musk, ambergris, cedar, and sandalwood are the notes which stood out the most to my nose. The citrus stays throughout but it does weaken as time moves on and these other ingredients begin to shine.

 

It is still a rather fruity fragrance, with salt watery elements, and ambergris sitting on top of a woody base.  What I did notice about Erolfa, the second time around, is the secondary notes. 

This time, I made sure to really pay attention to the composition. I definitely got more violet, than previously, and an underlying earthy dryness. Now, neither is all that powerful, but you can zero in on each if you’re focusing.

Nonetheless, Erolfa is going to be more about the citrus, melon, ambergris, woods, and musk. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Erolfa is honestly pretty moderate. It isn’t really a heavy hitter in that regard, decent but nothing to write home about either. The projection will stay within about a 5 foot radius from your skin and move in closer from there. 

Longevity, I don’t know if it was just that one test I did or if it has problems, but I got a little more than 4 hours out of Erolfa. This is disappointing when compared to other Creed scents but then again it might have just been a one time thing.

Update: I’ve tried this again, since the review in 2016, I got around 5-6 hours the second time. Still, not all that great. I think the extra few hours were due to being inside more, during the second wear. 

I’d definitely say that Erolfa is a warm weather or summertime scent. I couldn’t see myself wearing this at any other time of the year. It just captures that kind of atmosphere.

Erolfa seems more of a casual daytime wear more than anything. It smells nice but it isn’t a date night or club wear by any means. Not really a sexy cologne.

You could wear it in a semi-formal situation during the spring/summer months, but it doesn’t come across as being for any specific purpose. 

Overall Impression of Erolfa

Overall, is Erolfa worth a buy? To me, I don’t think so. I like it but I was never blown away by it and I think there are not only better Creed colognes but also better seaside aquatics out there for cheaper.

I enjoy aspects of this fragrance. Coming back to it, I really appreciate the bergamot and melon notes, here. The melon is on the lighter end of things, but it pairs very well with the citrus.

Erolfa is a very pleasant fragrance, but I still can’t say that it reaches another level of greatness. 

Erolfa didn’t really wow me with its performance and while it’s pretty nice, I don’t want to spend that kind of cash for something that isn’t remarkable.

If you need to add to your Creed collection, then, by all means have at it. Anyone else, should probably look elsewhere.

Bonbon by Viktor & Rolf

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I got a hold of a sample of Bonbon perfume for women and have tested out its candy-like fragrance over the past few days. This scent from Viktor & Rolf followed the ever popular, Flowerbomb, and while the two do share some similarities, the notes are different enough for them to be definitely distinct perfumes. Bon was released back in 2014.

In this post, I want to share my thoughts on how Bonbon smells, perfumes, when it should be worn, and if I think it is worth a purchase.

What does Bonbon Smell Like?

bonbon perfume review

Notes include: caramel, orange, peach, mandarin, amber, sandalwood, jasmine, orange blossom, and cedar

Click here to try: Viktor & Rolf Bonbon Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.04 Ounce

My Full Review

My initial impression of Bonbon is of how bright, sweet, and delicious that it smells. The caramel is the main attraction here, so if that’s not your style, Bonbon isn’t the fragrance for you. However, I do love how it pairs with the orange and peach notes to create an underlying juiciness.

It does have a somewhat similar opening to Black Opium because of the orange note and the sweetness of coffee in that one versus the caramel in Bonbon.

The opening is quite juicy with the fruit notes and there are the light floral notes, mostly orange blossom. The caramel is there, right from the start, but it takes a bit of time for it to fully take over.

When it does, the amber note joins it, giving Bonbon a warm and slightly salty feeling. Salty, in addition to the caramel itself.

As it dries down further, the citrus fades, but the peach note hangs around in a support role. Sandalwood lends its usual creaminess to the composition, but it honestly, isn’t that strong in this perfume.

The final dry down is heavy with caramel and amber, with solid portions of peach and orange blossom. The rest of the notes are light and fairly well-blended.

Some might think that Bonbon is too sweet of a perfume, but it really isn’t, in my opinion. I find it to be really appealing in how gourmand and pretty it smells. It is very creamy and feminine but maintains a youthful energy throughout.

I sprayed some on my wrist and found its presence to be delightful, even though, I’m a guy and it’s completely out of place on me. The dry down is the best part in my opinion, when the amber note adds a bit of warmth to the caramel. Very nice.

Sillage, Longevity, When to Wear

Projection wise, it is good without being overpowering. I sprayed a shot of it on a sweatshirt about six feet away from me before I began writing this post and I can get that faint aroma of Bonbon from here.

I might have to just use this sample as an air freshener, since I can’t really wear this perfume, as a guy.

Longevity is also really good, the night I sprayed it on my wrist, it stayed strong until I went to sleep and I could still faintly detect it the next morning. Since then, on the skin, it seems to hit a good 8 hours without issue. It can go longer, depending on the climate.

Bonbon is an option for the cooler months of the year and is safe to wear to work or school. I’d stay away from it during hotter days or if you live in a more tropical climate. I don’t know that I’d call it sexy, but it is appealing, and I honestly would like smelling this on a woman.

It is a more youthful scent but I don’t think it is quite as ‘girly’ as some of the Britney Spears fragrances or something along those lines. Bonbon feels a bit more mature, like in your twenties, instead of teens.

All in all, it is a versatile fragrance, so long as you don’t go overboard with the sprays. I’d lean toward saying it is more appropriate for casual or nightlife situations, but it won’t be out of place when worn lightly, in an office.

Overall Impressions of Bonbon

Is Bonbon worth a buy? Maybe. I actually find this perfume to be really attractive, but also understand that if you’re not a fan of the sweet scents, keep away from Bonbon. It’s not amazingly complex or sexy or mature but it does smell good.

It can be pretty pricey, however, and that might be the biggest strike against it for some people. Is such a straightforward scent worth that much? That depends entirely you and your tastes.

I really like caramel as a note and the opening pairing of citrus/peach, is very well done. It’s juicy, sweet, with a warm saltiness. The amber and caramel dry down is appealing, serves as a nice platform, for the other ingredients to waft out of from time to time. Bonbon isn’t the greatest thing on the market, but certainly qualifies as a good perfume.