By Designer

La Petite Robe Noire by Guerlain

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So, I’ve received two samples of La Petite Robe Noire fragrances by Guerlain, and it of course confused me as to which one was which. There seems to be a long complicated structure to when the original was released and then all of the subsequent flanker perfumes that all have very similar bottles.

Never mind all of that though, this post will take a closer look at the Eau de Parfum version of this Guerlain scent, and present my opinions on how it smells, performs, and when it should be worn.

What does La Petite Robe Noire Smell Like?

Notes include: black cherry, rose, almond, licorice, black tea, red berry, vanilla, and more

Click here to try: Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Review

The opening is a blend of black cherry and berry notes that has a heavy syrup quality to it, much like the type of cherries you’d find at a bar or used as candy flavoring.

This does have that strong candy/medicinal aroma that can wear on me, thanks to the licorice note, much like the one found in Lolita Lempicka Au Masculin. However, it doesn’t bother me as much in this eau de parfum, as it does in that men’s fragrance.

As it dries down, I do begin to detect more of the almond and vanilla note in La Petite Robe Noire. It gives it a bit of a different profile than that strong almost overly sweet start and some much needed depth to the perfume.

What’s interesting, is that even though this is a sweet/fruity fragrance, it does have a darker and less girly feel than many similar fragrances of its ilk. Also, as it wear it does seem to evolve further, while never losing its cherry aroma.

The black tea, rose, and other floral notes begin to take shape and make me appreciate this scent even more.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it starts off strong for the first ten minutes or so, before it fades into something much more moderate and tolerable. That opening sweetness can feel a lot more powerful, than the perfume actually is.

The longevity struck me as pretty good but not insane, I would say it lasted about 6-7 good hours on my skin. It’s about in line with what I’ve come to expect from this series.

I think that this is a scent for colder weather. La Petite Robe Noire does have that kind of sweetness that can overwhelm and annoy some people, so I’m not too sure that I’d recommend it for office or school wear. Best to be worn on an evening out, it would seem.

Overall Impressions of La Petite Robe Noire EDP

Overall, would I recommend this fragrance? For some people, yes. If you’re in the market for a solid cherry based scent, this could be one to explore. I find it very interesting, but not incredible, by any means.

I like when the opening settles down and more of the almond and vanilla comes through. That’s when Robe Noire is at its absolute best.

In my opinion, it’s decent to good but for some ladies this might be love at first sniff…and others still will detest this parfum. It’s definitely one to try out and not expect a universal appeal while wearing it. A mostly good Guerlain scent.

Eau Mega by Viktor & Rolf

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Time for another ladies’ fragrance sample review. Today’s contestant is Eau Mega by Viktor & Rolf, which was released in 2009. Is this blend of floral and fruit notes worth purchasing consideration?

What does it smell like? How does it perform? As usual, I will give my opinion on all of these questions and figure out what the deal is with Eau Mega.

Eau Mega Overview

Notes include: jasmine, peony, musk, pear, lemon, violet leaf

Click here to try: Eau Mega by Viktor & Rolf, 1.70 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Viktor & Rolf’s Eau Mega is a watery blend of pear and peony. It actually really reminds me of a hand soap that I’ve purchased before, which doesn’t strike me as a good thing in a perfume.

I think it is due to the pear and jasmine notes coming together, as those are usual ingredients in those products.

I also get a vibe of something like Alien Aqua Chic (if I remember correctly), just in it’s water notes. Eau Mega isn’t an oceanic aquatic, but it does have quite a watery aroma.

As Eau Mega moves along in time, the violet leaf and musk take on a larger role and it gets away from the hand soap opening.

I get a very floral, green, and fruity aroma from this perfume, much like a garden or bouquet of flowers that has just gotten a dowsing from a sprinkler system.

What this scent is by this point in time, is what you should expect from the rest of the wear, as it really doesn’t develop any further.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection on this one is pretty good. The first hour has some decent punch behind it. Later, it is a subtle fragrance, that will play the background.

By no means, is this a monster scent that will take over the room.

The longevity is again, just okay, it isn’t poor so I can’t beat it up too much on that point. Eau Mega is quite serviceable in the performance department. It lasts about 6-7 hours, on my skin.

It’s decent enough for what this scent is and what you’d use it for. This V&R perfume just wasn’t one of their powerhouses.

Eau Mega strikes me as a casual wear that is built for the warmer months of the year. So, seasonally mainly spring and summer. Maybe it can venture into the autumn or indoors during the winter.

It could be worn at school or the office, but it doesn’t feel to me like a sexy or romantic kind of perfume at all.

It is clean and fresh scent, that isn’t going to offend, but probably won’t turn heads either.

Overall Impressions of Eau Mega

Overall, is Eau Mega worth a buy? Maybe. I don’t find it to be a great fragrance but it’s not terrible either. If you’re a fan of pear and floral scents, this could be worth a look.

The soapy aspects of this scent aren’t really my thing. Not completely off-putting or anything, just not something that I’m all that impressed by.

I think that it does everything well and smells good but it never really knocks your socks off. At it’s price point, you can probably do better than this.

There are plenty of other pear forward fragrances beyond this one, that’d also be enjoyable and more so than Eau Mega.

Update: It has been discontinued for a while now. Not worth tracking down.

Dior Addict EDT by Christian Dior

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Yet another Christian Dior sample that I recently received, is the EDT version of Dior Addict. As usual, I am going to cover in this perfume review post: what’s inside, how it smells, how it performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not I think that Dior Addict is worth a purchase.

What does Dior Addict EDT Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, sandalwood, jasmine sambac, neroli, and vanilla

Click here to try: DIOR ADDICT (NEW) by Christian Dior 3.4 Ounce / 100 ml Eau de Toilette (EDT) Women Perfume

My Full Review

Right off the bat, let me state that this is the Eau de Toilette version that I am reviewing. It can be quite confusing when dealing with the Dior Addict line, because there are so many different variations and flankers. This one was launched in 2014 and comes in a clear bottle, not the blue.

Anyways, this version is much more of the floral variety and less of the vanilla. It opens up with a mix of jasmine sambac and mandarin orange notes, that is bright, and provides a fresh soapy kind of clean.

The mandarin note doesn’t seem super citrusy, rather it is more like an orange that has yet to ripen fully, when it still has a tint of green. It’s really more because of the presence of neroli, as you get a similar vibe in fragrances like, Neroli Portofino.

Next comes the sandalwood note which is joined by just a touch of vanilla. The vanilla is very subtle at this point and Dior Addict EDT is so well blended, that it can be difficult to detect at times. The base of sandalwood is also rather light, it is noticeable, but never really takes over the floral top notes.

This version of Addict is a pretty straightforward fragrance and you’ll know exactly what you’re getting within 30 minutes or so of wear…for the most part, I do think the vanilla peaks through, a bit more later on. So, you do indeed get to enjoy some sweetness in this fragrance, along with the soapy/citrus/floral qualities.

The ‘green’ mandarin note is really what seems to make this one work. It plays off of the rich jasmine very beautifully and gives the perfume a lively/fresh spark, that is damn enjoyable. Neroli does its thing, and is of course, quite highly related to the mandarin.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the EDT is pretty moderate. It is not a loud or overwhelming scent in the slightest. The longevity is good not great and seems to hit the 6-8 hour range, on average. The performance is good but I don’t think it hits the same level as another Dior fragrance that I just reviewed, Poison Girl.

The sillage starts out as moderate, it does become lighter, and sort of airy later on in the wear. Nonetheless, I can easily pick it up on my skin in that 6+ hour range.

In terms of the versatility, it could be safely worn during any occasion. However, I wouldn’t call it a ‘sexy’ kind of perfume, more pretty and uplifting. Casual, dressy, or office wear. Not a date night fragrance or one that is going to drive anyone crazy.

Seasonally, I really like this for the springtime or early summer months, even if it wouldn’t seem out of place in the winter. It’s light enough to not get bogged down in the heat or humid weather, which is a plus.

Overall Impression of Addict EDT

Overall, is Dior Addict EDT, worth a buy? I like it. It’s not the most amazing scent ever, but it is nice for what it is. This is one for those who like jasmine and floral notes that are expertly layered with citrus and sandalwood.

I’m still thinking that I like the original Dior Addict better than this one, but it’s been a while. This however, is a good choice for a simple, clean, and understated ladies’ fragrance.

Addict EDT is a straightforward wear, but could be a nice pick up for those who want a subtle option for daily wear, or other low key occasions.

Le Baiser Du Dragon EDP by Cartier

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Part of the recent sample haul that I received, included several women’s perfumes. One of these is Le Baiser Du Dragon by Cartier. Apparently, this translates to the Kiss of the Dragon, which seems like an odd name until you catch a whiff of this scent. So, how does it smell? How does the dragon perform? Is it worth a purchase?

What does Le Baiser du Dragon EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: vetiver, patchouli, iris, musk, almond, benzoin, neroli, orange, and more

Click here to Try: Le Baiser Du Dragon By Cartier For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3 Ounces

My Full Review

The opening of this stuff…wow…this is unique. What an absolute powerhouse of a perfume, right after the very first spray. A mixture of sweet, smoky, boozy, and patchouli combine to create a fiery and oriental aroma. All of this sits atop of a woody vetiver, which only adds layers to its complexity.

I really like the way that Le Baiser Du Dragon straddles the fence between an overwhelming spicy oriental scent and a sweeter/gourmand floral. I’d say it leans more towards the former at times, but, it never feels like it’s running away and becoming too much.

This one has a retro sort of feel to it. Like a scent from the 1980s or thereabout. It’s powerful and confident upfront and eventually more of the earthy and floral notes emerge. It’s fairly sweet for a while, but it always retains a warmth and a certain thickness to it.

The sweetness fades a lot during the tail end of the wear. I get a lot of iris, benzoin, patchouli, and vetiver in the mix. Before that you will pick up the caramel, chocolate, and remaining almond nuttiness.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s very strong for the first 30 minutes or so. Then, it becomes more of a strong moderate. Dragon is not a complete bomb, but you could over-spray this one, and probably won’t need more than 3.

The longevity is also quite good and with this EDP version, one should expect 7+ hours of wear. In many cases, you’ll be able to get a full workday out of this Cartier. However, I wouldn’t expect it to go for 10 hours or more on the skin without reapplication.

To me, this is a big time fall/winter scent. I cannot imagine it being worn in the summertime, but then, that’s not what it’s built for.

I would say that Le Baiser Du Dragon is more of a casual/office kind of scent. I’m not sure that I find it ‘sexy’ but I do think that it’s quite attractive and intriguing. So, in a sense, it is quite versatile within a certain climate.

Overall Impressions of Le Baiser du Dragon

Overall, do I like this perfume? Yes, quite a bit. I think that it’s a very interesting scent with its own unique aroma, that has some similar fragrance comparisons, but nothing really exactly like it. It’s a very nice blend of sweet gourmand and smoky oriental spices. Then it dries down into a more woodsy and powdery floral.

Part of it reminds me of Opium Pour Homme by YSL, yet it also takes on that syrupy warmth and flavor.

The performance isn’t top notch, but works well for the purposes of most people. I really like the first act of this fragrance. It comes out of the gate bold and at it’s most interesting, living up to the Kiss of the Dragon name.

Sublime Vanille by Creed

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So, among multiple Creed samples, I received a few from their Royal Exclusives line of scents. These are even more high end (read: expensive) scents than their usual already high-priced fair. Sublime Vanille is a fragrance that is built for those who love vanilla, but is it any good?

In this review, I’m going to cover what’s in this unisex fragrance, how it smells, performs, and whether or not it is worth a purchase.

What does Sublime Vanille Smell Like?

Notes include: vanilla, musk, tonka bean, bergamot, lemon

Click here to try:  Sublime Vanille

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Sublime Vanille is a mix of citrus and the fantastic vanilla note. In fact, it smells like an orange Creamsicle to me, except changing the orange for a lemon note.

The first ten minutes or so it stays like this until the vanilla note becomes dominant along with the creaminess of the tonka bean. Honestly, this is one of the best vanilla notes that I’ve smelled in any fragrance, it’s really good.

The whole thing feels warm, almost like the vanilla is baked in, and it has a syrup sweet quality to it. The citrus note still hangs around but it plays the background exclusively after the beginning. While this is a unisex scent, Sublime Vanille does seem to lean more toward the feminine end of the spectrum.

One thing that I enjoy, is how the musk note is subtle and doesn’t overpower the composition. This scent is pretty straightforward, it doesn’t change all that much from the start, and is consistent from then on.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Sublime Vanille is decent but not amazing. It’s a fairly soft fragrance but you’ll know that it is there during wear. Longevity, is disappointing but not terrible I can usually steal 4-5 hours with this beauty before it fades away.

With many vanilla and tonka bean scents, you are limited to the colder months of the year but with the citrus notes in this, you can get away with wearing it in the summer. In fact, it’s pretty great when its warm outside, with that typical Creed bergamot note.

I would call it a casual scent, but it smells good enough to be a romantic wear. I guess you can call it a dressed up casual fragrance. It is not however, a night club scent.

Overall Impressions of Sublime Vanille

Overall, is Sublime Vanille a buy? OK, I’m going to assume that anyone who is researching a bottle of Creed, can actually afford to pay for it without selling a kidney.

I do think that this is a really nice vanilla fragrance, but I do have some reservations about the longevity. The aroma itself? It’s beautiful and one of the best vanilla notes that I’ve ever experienced. Top notch.

I feel that if you’re going to spend $500-1000 a bottle, you should get something that lasts throughout the day, and this doesn’t. Personally, I’d rather spend that money on several fragrances instead of just one, but if you’re a well to do vanilla lover…I say, go for it.