Celebrity Perfumes

6 Best Smelling Antonio Banderas Colognes

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I haven’t covered a ton of celebrity fragrances on this site, at least not in a while, but I figured that I should give some more attention to these popular scents that are usually in the more affordable range versus the high end designers.

Antonio Banderas has actually established himself over the past 20 years or so in this niche, whereas, many other actors will put out one fragrance…Antonio has released dozens. For this post, I wanted to select six from his line which could be considered his best colognes, that he’s released so far.

What are the Best Smelling Colognes by Antonio Banderas?

A Familiar Scent

Antonio Banderas The Golden Secret for Men Eau de Toilette Spray, 6.75 Ounce– There is a distinct similarity between The Golden Secret and 1 Million by Paco Rabanne, beyond the bottles looking closely related, they also share many of the same notes.

The Golden Secret is like a more subdued version of 1 Million, with slight differences that become noticeable, once you have worn both colognes. The apple note really separates the two for me. In the Paco Rabanne, it is more about the orange note. Also, 1 Million has more of a warmth and spice versus this one.

Even though it is toned down, the Golden Secret still has good performance when compared to many others in this line. 5-7 hours of wear, is probably what to expect, and that’s pretty excellent when you dip into the cheaper fragrances.

Clean Green Classic

Antonio Banderas EDT Spray for Men, Mediterraneo, 6.75 Ounce– Not sure if this is still in production or not (it sells on Amazon, at least), but Mediterraneo is a simple, masculine fragrance with citrus aromas combined with a slightly spicy mix of ginger and pepper. Good late spring/summer scent.

The dry down period, loses much of the citrus notes, and it is much more of a woody or green-ish type of cologne (vetiver coming through). Quite a bit different than many of the others on the list.

The fresh spices are really nice in Mediterraneo and pretty much make this scent go. The performance is actually solid, for something in this price range.

An Iconic Freshness

The Icon EDP– Icon EDP is probably the best of the Icon series thus far. It’s a fragrance with a fresh start, that will settle into a smooth amber-suede dry down period, and works well as a daily wear option.

Juniper, cypress, black pepper are going to give you a mix of punchy spice and woods up top. This, along with a grapefruit citrus up top make for a bold introduction.

Yet, we still get to the smoother parts of the wear. Very clean and attractive, with a slight creamy undertone, at times. Calming lavender and suede take over for the more aggressive aromas of The Icon.

This is a very versatile fragrance that really doesn’t feel out of place, saving maybe, the hottest days of the year.

Most Popular

Antonio Banderas Blue Seduction for Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 6.75 Ounce An excellent summertime blend of sweet fruit and aquatic notes. It smells vaguely familiar to some other colognes out on the market but still a bit different and at an attractive price point.

A great choice if you enjoy the aquatic/marine type of scent. The melon note here is absolutely great, I think what does make this one distinct from those that it somewhat resembles, is the mint note. Adds a great layer of fresh crispness, on top of the aquatic base.

The opening is a blend of the citrus and melon, but the melon wins out during the rest of the wear. Performance isn’t great, but it can be serviceable. Great smell, though. This is one of the better inexpensive men’s perfumes, as with others on the list. But, this is one I like.

Fruity and Easy to Wear

Antonio Banderas King of Seduction Men Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce– Has some similarities with Blue Seduction, Invictus, and a hint of Aventus by Creed. Another summer scent with a vetiver and cedar base to prevent it from going too far into the aquatic category.

The scent itself smells like a batch of fruits, mainly citrus with pineapple. It is quite juicy and attractive. This is one that you will probably have to overspray, as it’s not really a powerhouse, but you can get some decent amount of wear time with it.

Not particularly unique or original, but it can absolutely be a good pick up.

Most Unique/Under the Radar

The Secret Temptation– This is a low key winner in the realm of affordable fragrances for guys. Now, it’s kind of soft in how it projects, but it does have pretty nice longevity and smells really good.

You might have to experiment and double the sprays to give it an extra boost but the pleasing cardamom, vanilla, bergamot, and pink pepper give The Secret Temptation a very solid formula.

This is kind of an interesting scent, as it feels familiar, but I cannot think of anything that smells quite the same. Cardamom and pink pepper give it a wonderful warmth throughout that is only smoothed out by a nice vanilla. Then, there is the base vetiver note, tying it all together.

5 Best Smelling Beyonce Perfumes

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Beyonce has established herself over the years as a mega pop star in music, and over the past several years, her line of fragrances have enjoyed immense popularity also. For this list, I have chosen five perfumes by Beyonce, which I feel are the best of her line of ladies’ fragrances.

Each of these scents, is obviously very affordable, and I’ve tried to select something for every taste while sticking to the best of the product line. Also see: Britney Spears top perfumes, Rihanna

What are the Best Perfumes by Beyonce?

Note: This older line of fragrances has had a new addition in some years. However, Beyonce is introducing a newer high-end perfume here in 2023. Rihanna went a similar route with her line of perfumes, when she released Fenty. So, I’ll update the list again, if the newer ones are worthwhile. Until then, this is the best of the more affordable lineup. 

Best Overall Scent

Beyonce Beyonce Midnight Heat Women Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce
A sensual and seductive fragrance, which I feel is the best of the lot, though others are quite close quality. Midnight Heat is a fresh blend of fruits and florals that will set the tone wherever you go. You get a deep and dark plum note, with the starfruit giving the composition a unique edge.

It definitely has a full complement of a tropical set of fruits and flower notes. Juicy and captivating, with a sweet creaminess, that begins to come through shortly after the opening minutes. The plum really shines in this one.

Then, patchouli spice, and the usual Beyonce orchid set in the background. Really attractive and interesting. Notes include: Starfruit, plum, patchouli, and sandalwood.  Also check out, Sexiest Perfumes for Women

midnight heat

Top Summertime Pick

Beyonce Pulse Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce
A really nice everyday wear that projects confidence and energy. Pulse is one that will draw plenty of complements and won’t quit on you after a few hours like some fragrances. It has a sparkling and a bit of a colder side to it, before warming up later in the wear.

This one goes harder on the citrus notes and switches it up, with curacao as a main note to go with those fruits. You also get a creamy vanilla, which comes along in the dry down. The pear and citrus really combine to give it that bright and upbeat vibe.

It is fairly straightforward as a perfume, but delivers quite an enjoyable experience. Notes include: mandarin, pear, ginger orchid, orange blossom.

pulse

Most Popular Perfume

Beyonce Heat By Beyonce For Women Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4-Ounce / 100 Ml
Warm, feminine, and elegant. Beyonce Heat is a delicious daytime fragrance for ladies which blends exotic fruit and floral notes.

Notes include: sequoia milkwood, almond macaroon, blush peach, magnolia, tonka bean, neroli, amber, creme de musk, red vanilla orchid, honeysuckle nectar. 

The Heat series, is among the best that the Beyonce lineup has to offer. This is probably the most well-known of any of her releases. Sweet with a creaminess and fruity touches.

Almond, amber, peach, and nectar give you a sense of its overall warmth. Kind of distinct fragrance, from the others on the list, which have more of a juicy fruit personality.

heat

Best Fruity Fragrance

Beyonce Heat Rush for Women Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce– A very fruit wear, that is led by passion fruit, cherry, and orange. It all comes together as juicy and sweet.

It’s a good alternative for those who don’t like Pulse. I think that one is the better scent overall, more complex, but Heat Rush is also enjoyable.

Heat Rush taps into that exotic/tropical fruit part of the fragrance spectrum, but the background floral notes of hibiscus and orchid, really help bring things together.

This is a solid option for summertime wear, it has a playful attractiveness, without being overly loud or distracting. Heat Rush is a much more sheer and less of a creamy amber sort of scent, when compared to the original Heat.

Tropical, fun, and has a really good energy to it. Not super complex, but I think the blood orange note, is a nice touch. I just liked the energy and dynamic fruity aroma.

Nice Woody Scent

Beyonce Rise Eau De Parfums Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce– Rise opens up with a sweet apricot top note, which is joined by orchid and jasmine floral ingredients. The fragrance is lighter and stays close to the skin, with a musky and woody dry down, that includes cashmere wood.

It’s is a warm, slightly spicy, and powdery in the latter stages but a real change of pace, from others on the list. The apricot is great, but this one is low key, and one that is going to give you more of a traditional type of woody/musk finish…which not everyone enjoys.

Nonetheless, I appreciate its uniqueness versus the other options in this line, and think that it’s a good deal at this price point. It’s at least, a cozy and versatile wear, that one can get plenty of use out of.

Eilish by Billie Eilish

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Billie Eilish launched her perfume line with Eilish EDP back in 2021. I recently picked up some samples to try it out finally, and do a full review for the site. I didn’t know anything about it coming in, so I was pretty curious to see what it was all about. How does this smell? How long does it last? Is it worth a try?

What does Eilish Perfume Smell Like?

Notes include: vanilla, cocoa, musk, sugared petals, wood, red berries, mandarin, spices, amber

Click here to try: Eilish EDP

eilish perfume review

My Full Review

Here’s how Eilish EDP is described: Delicate sugared petals invite you to experience the alluring fragrance as you immerse yourself in the sensorial appeal of vanilla, soft spices, and cocoa. Sleek woods and musk leave a lasting impression that is warm, sensual and powerfully you.

My first initial impression of Eilish EDP, is how familiar it smells, while still being unique. I can’t really pin down an exact comparison right now of what other perfume this smells like. Kokorico by JPG, as a men’s scent? Also has the chocolate and spice and wood, but still not the level of sweetness.

Anyway, the immediate spray is a blast of the red berries and hint of mandarin. But, Eilish EDP doesn’t go completely fruity, and those notes are actually bit players in the scheme of things.

There is a profound spiciness here. Cinnamon seems to be in the mix, but other ingredients are there as well. It also has an ambery warmth, vanilla cream, and the emerging powdery cocoa aroma.

It is sweet, with it’s ‘sugared petals’ note. Petals of what? Rose, maybe? What is interesting to me, is that there is also something greenish and cold here. Menthol-like the way it hits, not necessarily mint, but perhaps, geranium. Not listed, but that’s what I get.

It’s like Eilish EDP shifts from that initial spice to something cooler.

Again, I get reminded of another men’s fragrance, Kryptomint by Mugler. With it’s chocolate, tonka bean, and coffee sweetness. But, that of course has a much larger dose of pure mint.

As it dries down, this one get simpler with what it provides. The vanilla note, really takes over with the cocoa taking a step back in weighting. But, it’s not like the cocoa ever disappears.

Still sugary, warm, and has more of a generic woody base. A lot of the spice (both warm and cold) kind of fade away on my skin. Much more of a warm baked goods smell.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

On my skin, this feels like it has a pretty bold and far reaching start. For the first 30 minutes or so, Eilish EDP seems loud and will leave a nice scent trail. Thereafter, it moderates, but this has a scent bubble effect. The reach is probably in the 4-7 foot range, depending on how much you spray.

I personally get up to 8.5 hours of wear from Eilish EDP. It might go further than that for some folks, but this is what I’ve gotten out of it. Not a super marathon runner, but a fragrances that is well above average.

Seasonally, it is obviously an autumn and winter wear. Once you’re in the warmer weather, Eilish perfume wouldn’t be great. Stick to the chilly weather up to more middling room temperatures.

Yes, this does skew younger with its sugary sweetness. But, It’s one that doesn’t go completely into teen girl mode. Sure, it fits that demographic, but if you’re older and like sweetness, there is still plenty here for you.

This could be a daily wear or venture into the nightlife. It’s pretty, with that appealing baked goods gourmand style, which is popular with most people.

Overall Impressions of Eilish EDP

Overall, do I like this fragrance? I do. I enjoy sweeter perfumes, so, I predisposed to liking something like Eilish EDP. I don’t think it is incredible, but it’s a very good example of this sort of scent and is actually unique.

Most celeb perfume lines seem to start out with the mass appealing sweetness bomb. Eilish EDP follows that track, but does offer up something a bit different, and of a bit higher quality. Not super amazing with the ingredients, but not entirely cheap or off-putting.

I do like the blend here. The moments of spice and greenish cold, the powdery cocoa, and the overall sugary warmth is all well done.

But, I will say, if you don’t like the sweet perfumes…this one probably won’t change your mind. If you like the edible gourmand baked goods, this will most likely fit the bill. I like the lack of patchouli with Eilish EDP, as that’s usually what gets infused into these.

The latter stages are kind of meh. It’s fine, but that’s when it actually does have more of the generic body spray sort of vibes.

The performance is good and this is a solid perfume across the board. Is it overpriced? Probably. I’d say that this $70-100 range, is a bit of a stretch. Not a complete ripoff, but just a tad more than it should go for.

Having said that, I was pleasantly surprised by this release. I liked the entirety of the wear, never got sick of it, and think that it is a nice first release.

4 Best Smelling Taylor Swift Perfumes

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Taylor Swift is a massive star in the world of music and has begun to expand outside of that realm and lend her name to certain products including fragrances. She has released several perfumes at a very inexpensive pricing point that are geared towards younger women and teenagers. For this list, I will present four of the best choices that are available thus far by Taylor Swift.

What are the Best Taylor Swift Perfumes?

Best Overall T. Swift Fragrance

Taylor by Taylor Swift – Made of Starlight Musical Jewlery Box w/ 3.4 FL. OZ. Taylor Perfume- Soft floral notes meet with apricot and peach to create a subtle, pretty, and youthful fragrance. Made of Starlight does lean much more towards the fruity side of things, with a nice sweetness, highlighted by the aforementioned notes and some passion fruit.

This is a flanker fragrance to the original ‘Taylor’ by Taylor Swift. However, the sequel is definitely an improvement over that initial release. The juiciness of the fruits, along with orange blossom, make this one a definite wear for the warmer months of the year.

Overall, I think that this is the best fragrance from Taylor. It’s not head and shoulders above the rest, but it has enough strong points, to give Made of Starlight the edge. Not super heavy, but has pretty good longevity.

Most Popular/Best Seller

Taylor Swift Women’s Wonderstruck Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4 Fluid Ounce–The original Taylor Swift perfume. Wonderstruck is a fruity sweet gourmand fragrance that is warmed by notes of vanilla, amber, and musk. Smooth, light, and fresh.

Wonderstruck keeps the sweet theme of Taylor Swift fragrances going. It opts for the berry route. Blackberry and raspberry highlight the opening act, with a somewhat cold and less juicy aroma, than the other options on the list.

The drydown becomes much more of the usual amber and vanilla affair, found in so many fragrances. However, the tea note, really helps to give it a slightly unique edge. This is an easy and enjoyable wear, that gives you plenty of value for a low price.

Most Unique Scent

Taylor Swift Incredible Things Eau de Parfum Spray, 1.7 Ounce-  Vanilla, woodsy notes, and musk. A sweet but not too sweet offering with earthy undertones. Incredible Things goes against the fruitiness of the other perfumes here, but does have some tropical hints, at times.

What is interesting, is the inclusion of a suede note. When blended with vanilla and musk, it becomes very smooth, with a powdery finish. Those notes really come into their own, later on. At first, the passion flower is pretty noticeable, but never stands out as the most powerful note.

Incredible Things is very balanced with a great musky/suede finish in the latter stages. Nice performance, but not a complete bomb.

Best Winter Perfume

Taylor Swift Enchanted Wonderstruck Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce- A sweeter and more fruity version of Wonderstruck with notes of berries and sugar to go along with the floral and vanilla notes. More towards the floral/berry side of the spectrum than the original.

It opens up with passion fruit and that blend of berry notes. The latter smell really fantastic and the opening is a sweet and juicy affair, with the floral notes initially taking a back seat. Peony and poppy flower, do start to seep into the composition more and more, as time moves on.

Later, the vanilla and some musk becomes a part of the draw. Mostly, Wonderstruck Enchanted is a fruity floral perfume with enough vanilla, to keep it from being a summertime scent. The longevity and overall performance of this perfume is very good for the price point. Wonderstruck Enchanted Full Review

5 Best Sarah Jessica Parker Perfumes

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Sarah Jessica Parker has been a well known actress for decades now. She also happens to have her own line of fragrances for women, which have become quite successful in their own right. These scents are not the expensive design fair that price many people out of the perfume market. SJP’s scents are affordable, wearable, and are quite attractive as a whole.

What are the Top SJP Perfumes?

Best Seller

Lovely– The most popular of the perfumes by Sarah Jessica Parker. It is a mature and moderate scent with notes of musk and apple martini as its main attraction. A great all-around fragrance for everyday wear that is elegant and refined.

It opens up with mostly musk and lavender. This is paired with the apple, mandarin orange, and a nice orchid note. Musk is prevalent throughout, but the patchouli, grows in strength later on. Finally, it’s floral/musky with smooth woods and lavender.

The fragrance is affordable and has good performance, I found it to stick around for 6-7 hours during my testing of it. Does indeed smell similar to Narciso Rodriguez EDP, but a notch below in terms of quality. Lovely Full Review

lovely perfume parker

Fruity Summer Perfume

SJP NYC– Notes of rose, mandarin, honeysuckle, strawberry, rum, and more. SJP NYC is a sweet, fruity, and fun fragrance for those warm days of the year. It is bright, cheerful, and not an overbearing affair. Delicious scent.

NYC starts off with the sweetness pretty strong, for the first hour or so. Strawberry is the main attraction. Then, it will shift to have a more noticeable floral profile, with rum and musky undertones.

The strawberry sticks around, but it isn’t nearly as strong as it once was. Good amount of honeysuckle, which is a plus, if you dig that ingredient.

sjp

Uplifting Lovely

Lovely Sheer– The best of the flanker fragrances from the Lovely perfume lineup. Actually pretty similar to the original, but with its own distinct differences.

Up top, you’re going to get more citrus notes and for a longer lasting time, then with the original Lovely. The apple martini is gone. White floral notes like gardenia and orange blossom are in and to a greater degree.

It has a more energetic feel and the opening is fairly sharp until it settles down. The dry down is clean and musky, but the floral and citrus notes hang around for a long while. Not a massive sillage (sheer), but the longevity is actually great for this price point.

best jessica parker scent

Refreshing Floral Scent

Dawn– Dawn is a very clean floral fragrance with underlying notes of citrus. It’s mostly a soft violet influenced fragrance that is refreshing and crisp. This is a good floral, that is sometimes dewy, and then has a powdery finish.

Underneath the floral and musk notes, this does have a somewhat watery feeling. Orchid and violet leaf, can produce that sort of aroma, in a fragrance.

This is a great subtle daily wear, if you can find a bottle. I think that it’s been discontinued, but bottles, can be picked up online still.

dawn

Woody Gourmand

Covet– Chocolate note with lemon and some florals give Covet a darker and richer mood. The scent has some woodsy notes as well, which help to take the sharpness of the lemon away, and leave something that is smooth and unique.

The opening act can be quite a zesty experience, though, the lavender will prevent it from going too far. But, different people’s skin, will lead to differing effects. The drydown is the highlight of Covet.

This SJP fragrance, becomes creamy and have a luscious almost dessert-like quality. Not super sweet, but the chocolate/lemon pairing with the woods and musk highlights gives you some beautiful moments.

covet