Best Perfumes for Women

Mille Feux by Louis Vuitton

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Mille Feux is one of the perfume releases which Louis Vuitton brought to market back in 2016. It also happens to be one of scents that has survived being cut from the lineup thus far. I bought a bunch of sample decants of Vuitton fragrances a few months ago and gradually posting my reviews since. I finally cracked open Mille Feux, recently, and put it through its paces. How does it smell? Is it worth a buy?

What does Mille Feux Smell Like?

Notes include: leather, raspberry, osmanthus, iris, saffron, jasmine, rose, patchouli, sandalwood

My Full Review

Let’s see how Louis Vuitton describes this perfume: An incandescent fusion of raspberry and leather creates an ode to light. A golden ray, a starlit sky, the aurora borealis: light contributes to the magic of travel.

When I saw that Mille Feux (thousand lights) had leather and raspberry in its notes, I immediately thought of Tom Ford’s Tuscan Leather or Godolphin by PdM, with the saffron. However, this Louis Vuitton perfume comes across quite differently from those two, even while sharing plenty of overlap.

Mille Feux opens up with a much more intense and sweeter raspberry than does the Tom Ford. It’s bright and juicy, more feminine, and the osmanthus only adds to its brightness. LV says that the osmanthus, has a pear-like quality, and I do pick that up.

Underneath that, is obviously the leather note, which is great. I really enjoy the interplay between the fruity notes and the leather. It’s interesting that at times, Mille Feux has somewhat of a fruit-chouli vibe, as the patchouli note is pretty prominent.

It’s probably fifth place overall behind the osmanthus and saffron. The saffron note, makes this scent lean much closer to Godolphin than Tuscan Leather, just a womanly fruity/floral version of that fragrance.

For the dry down, I get a base of leather and patchouli. On top of that is the remaining raspberry and blend of floral notes. What’s nice is during these latter stages, I can pick out rose and some iris in the mix.

At this point, it takes some focus to really distinguish, but the notes are there.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This Louis Vuitton perfume is pretty light to moderate with its sillage. Don’t expect a powerhouse that projects like crazy, it’s going to stay pretty close to the skin for the entirety of the wear.

To me, this was the biggest disappointment with this fragrance. I wish the power had been amped up more, because the actual scent is lovely.

The longevity though, isn’t bad. While it isn’t a strong perfume, Mille Feux does stick around for over 8 hours. Not insane longevity, but it doesn’t disappear super quickly. It’s light and not always noticeable, but it is actually there.

Seasonally, the fragrance can work in winter through springtime. The summer might be a stretch, depending on how hot it gets in your locale. Maybe, as a nighttime fragrance it could work. Though, I’d generally keep it to the rest of the year.

It’s not a heavy fragrance that only works in the cold, however.

It is pretty versatile. Not a formal scent or a club beast, but it wouldn’t be entirely inappropriate elsewhere. Mille Feux is an attractive perfume, not necessarily sexy, but it is enjoyable to be around.

Overall Impressions of Mille Feux

Overall, do I like Mille Feux? I really do. I’m a fan of Goldolphin by PdM, so this fruitier version of that style of perfume, is obviously going to have appeal for me.

Mille Feux is more distinctly a woman’s scent, though. It’s two biggest weaknesses are perhaps its lack of unique style and how underpowered it is. I wish that this LV fragrance had more power behind it, but it just doesn’t.

What does it do well? The raspberry and osmanthus up top. The leather note. The saffron isn’t too heavy, but adds a nice touch. Heck, even the very light iris to give it some slight powdery quality. The aroma itself is great.

Is it worth buying a full bottle? Eh, maybe. If you want a quality fruity leather scent, I would for sure check it out. The lightness of the perfume, might be a hinderance for many looking to purchase it. On aroma alone? It’s a yes.

3 Perfumes Similar to Chance Eau Fraiche

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The Chance line from Chanel is very popular. These perfume do offer something a bit different from one another, so, if you want them all the costs can get somewhat out of hand.

Chance Eau Fraiche is a great option for the summertime and if you want a comparable aroma or  just something similar for cheaper there are alternative options out there. For me, I haven’t found the exact same thing, but there are similar fragrance choices to be had.

What Perfumes Smell Similar to Chance Eau Fraiche?

Pretty Close Designer 

Versace Versense By Gianni Versace For Women Edt Spray 3.4 Oz– Versense by Versace is a pretty popular scent with the type of citrus and woody aroma we’re looking for. The opening notes are dominated by bergamot and mandarin, while it gets later support from cedar and fig.

It has a very similar aroma to Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche and Light Blue Pour Femme. Though, it leans more towards Eau Fraiche than it does the D&G.

The floral notes in this one share the jasmine, much like our target, but you also get a good amount of lily and some narcissus blended in also. Is it a complete match? No, but Versense gives you a more affordable option that covers many of the same bases.

Light Blue Plus Eau Fraiche

Bond No. 9 The Scent Of Peace Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.3 Fluid Ounce– The Scent of Peace isn’t exactly the same Fraiche, but it does share some similarities in its presentation. Also, it quite often gets compared to D&G Light Blue, sort of splitting the difference between these two scents.

What it has in common with the Chanel, is the grapefruit, cedar, and musk notes. Also, the floral heart gives it a similar structure. The Scent of Peace is much more of a fruity-floral, as the black currant and grapefruit are quite strong and the cedar note is amped up for woody freshness.

In exchange for the jasmine and hyacinth, you get lily of the valley, with not as much floral punch as Chance Eau Fraiche. While it’s not the same, that citrus and cedar combo bring it quite close to what we’re looking for. Nonetheless, it is another great option with a fairly similar structure, albeit taking another path. The Scent of Peace Review

Similar Perfume With Rose

Chloe L’Eau De Chloe Eau De Toilette Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce – This one has a similar structure to Eau Fraiche, but takes things in a slightly different direction  L’Eau de Chloe is a fresh floral scent that is great for the summertime.

Citron, patchouli, rose petals are pretty key players here and there is some spiciness underneath the fruity and floral notes. At least, more so than our Chanel comp.

The main difference is going to be the rose note. It’s not a heavy rose, nor does it overwhelm the composition, but it does take the lead. You get a great citrus lemon, grapefruit, and peach mix. Then, comes the spiciness and woody notes which takes it to another level.

This is one of the better modern fragrances by Chloe. The woody freshness isn’t as intense, but it’s one that I think can fit the bill.

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Soleil Neige vs. Soleil Blanc Perfume Comparison

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Soleil Blanc’s success as a fragrance has now spawned a series of ‘Soleil’ perfumes from Tom Ford. One of them, Soleil Neige, is supposed to duplicate the impression of sun against fallen snow. Both of these scents are popular, but which is the one that smells better? Which has the best performance? Which is the greater Tom Ford fragrance?

Tale of the Tape: Soleil Blanc vs Soleil Neige

Soleil Blanc

Notes include: coconut, bergamot, pink pepper, ylang ylang, cardamom, pistachio, jasmine, tonka bean, amber, benzoin, tuberose

Click here to try: Tom Ford Private Blend Soleil Blanc Eau De Parfum Spray for Unisex 3.4 Oz / 100ml

Read my review: Soleil Blanc

Soleil Neige

Notes include: bergamot, benzoin, jasmine, orange blossom, lemon, and musk

Click here to try: TOM FORD Private Blend Soleil Neige Eau De Parfum 1.7 oz / 50 ml Spray

Read my review: Soleil Neige

Opening

Soleil Blanc kicks off with bergamot and coconut as the top notes, which give it a beachy tropical feeling. But, that is overtaken by the floral notes led by tuberose and the spice from notes like cardamom.

Blanc is a somewhat spicy tropical floral at first, that will become much creamier as the wear moves along.

Meanwhile, Soleil Neige gives you that snowy impression as the name suggests. It also starts off with citrus, this time blended with a very nice jasmine note. It smells warm/creamy up close, but colder and powdery the more that I move away from it.

It’s an interesting dynamic and the jasmine is flanked by an orange blossom note.

Which is better? I like Blanc. However, Neige has the better start, in my opinion. I love the citrus top and how you do get that cooling and fresh sensation from the scent.

Edge: Neige

Projection

Soleil Blanc doesn’t have huge sillage, it’s more of a moderate. But, it is very consistent on my skin for the duration of the wear. Not a beast, but solid.

Neige starts out fairly moderate, but quickly becomes more of a light and airy kind of perfume. It doesn’t have that same consistency as Blanc. Nor do I think that it reaches the same level at its absolute peak.

Edge: Blanc

Longevity

I get really great performance out of Blanc, as it always lasts for more than 10 hours on my skin. It doesn’t have that insane projecting ability, but it gives you your money’s worth by sticking around.

Soleil Neige is an airy kind of fragrance, but it does keep around for about 7 hours. Yes, most of that will be very close to the skin, but it’s still there.

This is an easy win for Blanc, though.

Edge: Blanc

Versatility

Seasonally, both work great in the spring and summer months. But, I think Neige works better year round versus Blanc.

Neige is also more of a unisex scent. They technically both are, just more men would be comfortable wearing Neige versus Blanc. Blanc is a much stronger floral.

Blanc is a more mature scent. It can work better in more environments. Is more appropriate in an office environment, etc. Neither is super formal, but Soleil Blanc does a better job at coming close.

It’s better strength could also allow Blanc to be a better nightlife or romantic wear option. Again, wouldn’t say that it’s main focus would be those occasions.

I’m not sure which one has the edge here, it’ll mostly come down to you as an individual.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I like the way that both of these fragrances smell. They each are worthwhile to try out from the Tom Ford collection.

Soleil Neige is an interesting and mostly unique sort of fragrance. The aldehydes, citrus, and jasmine create a nice contrast of cold and warm. Plus, powder and creaminess. It early on has a lime blossom sort of aroma, then, takes on a vanilla creaminess later in the wear.

The main issue, is that, the performance isn’t great. It’s not completely worthless, but it is a lighter fragrance.

Soleil Blanc starts off as tropical and somewhat spicy. However, the spice becomes a background player and you get a nice suntan lotion-like floral perfume. It has enjoyable tropical elements and gets better as it wears on.

As a man, Neige fits more in line with my style. However, Blanc is the better scent overall. It has much better performance and will probably appeal to more people.

In terms of smell, they are pretty close. Overall, Soleil Blanc just gives you more.

Winner: Soleil Blanc

Soleil Neige by Tom Ford

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Soleil Neige is a part of the Soleil line of fragrances from Tom Ford. Released in 2019, it presents a different take on the solar theme, using the impression of snow to create a new scent. I picked up a sample of this one recently and have been testing it out. How does Soleil Neige smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does Soleil Neige Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, benzoin, jasmine, orange blossom, lemon, and musk

Click here to try: TOM FORD Private Blend Soleil Neige Eau De Parfum 1.7 oz / 50 ml Spray

My Full Review

Before we get into my review, let’s see how Tom Ford describes it: FRESH BERGAMOT, SUMPTUOUS PALE BLOOMS AND THE WARMTH OF SKIN-GRIPPING MUSK EVOKE A SOJOURN TO AN ALPINE GETAWAY, WHERE WINTER ESCAPADES PLAY OUT UNDER AN IRIDESCENT SKY. A PERFUME THAT MIMICS THE SERENE SHIMMER OF SUN ON SNOW, AND THE COOL REFLECTION OF WINTER SUN BRIGHTENING WITH GLACIAL LIGHT. 

The opening of Soleil Neige does indeed have a cold and snowy like vibe to it. I get the sun shining off of the snow sensation from this and it’s pretty neat.

The top notes are the citrus blend and mix of floral notes, led by jasmine. At first the jasmine, rose, and white florals have a bit of that Soleil Blanc creaminess to it. However, that does shift to having a powdery snowy quality for much of the wear.

When I smell my skin up close, Neige has that buttery creamy aroma, but further away it smells more like a cold citrus perfume. It’s a nice change up going from warm to cold for the duration of the wear.

As it moves further along, the dominant notes become the jasmine and orange blossom. Underneath that, the benzoin and a light vanilla also begin to really come through. Benzoin is a great addition to the base of this scent and prevents it from becoming just another basic floral perfume.

It seems to have more of the powdery quality floating around for the rest of the wear, rather than creaminess. But, it isn’t completely dominant and actually the resinous labdanum/benzoin combination is still steering the ship.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Soleil Neige is a lighter fragrance overall. However, with that being said, it isn’t completely weak. It’s got an airiness to it that will sneak up on you hours after spraying. It’s not something that I constantly pick up on, but just walking around I do catch a whiff of it.

Subtle, not a complete beast, but it isn’t a skin scent for me for the duration. Nonetheless, sillage is not its strength.

As a skin scent, it sticks around for around 7 hours in total. Again, not great. Though, it wasn’t a complete waste, I do wish that it had a little bit more power at this price point. That’s my real complaint, for the price, I do want more out of my fragrance.

Seasonally, it can actually work year round. I know it has the snow in the name, but its balance between cold and warmth allows it to venture into the spring and summer months also. Climate wise, it is very versatile.

It’s a unisex fragrance, that leans feminine, but nothing too girly. You can wear Neige casually or out and about. It has a somewhat youthful scent and probably isn’t going to be a formal wear for most people.

My Overall Impressions of Soleil Neige

Overall, do I like Soleil Neige? I do. This is a very nice and borderline great release from Tom Ford. There are periods when I’m wearing this perfume and it strikes me as being amazing. It’s coldness contrasting with a feeling of bright sunny aromas.

The aldehydes and the citrus notes, come across like an bright lime blossom. Beyond that, there is an underlying creaminess, especially when pressing your nose close to it. However, it also has a powdered quality that’s very enjoyable.

Based on the fragrance alone, I think that Soleil Neige is worth a try. It’s a fairly safe blind buy, but some people may want more from the performance or expect a groundbreaking scent at this price point.

It’s probably a good idea to test it out before committing to a full bottle. Though, I doubt the disappointment would be huge if you did.

What Perfumes Smell Like Soleil Neige?

I cannot think of anything that is an exactly the same. One fragrance that comes to mind is, Anyway by Juliette Has a Gun. The lime, neroli, and musk give it a similar vibe, just as a thinner and more summery sort of perfume. However, Soleil Neige is better, has more depth, and much better performance.

If you want this perfume, you’ll probably have to go with the real thing.

Nirvana White by Elizabeth and James

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Nirvana White is one of the offerings from the Elizabeth and James line, which I’m pretty sure is being done away with. I’ve been familiar with this perfume for years now, but never did a full proper review. But, since I have a sample laying around, I figured that it was finally time. What does Nirvana White smell like? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does Nirvana White Smell Like?

Notes include: peony, muguet, musk

Click here to try: Elizabeth & James Nirvana White Eau de Parfum Spray, 1.0 Ounce

My Full Review

Nirvana White is another one of my favorites from the Nirvana collection. Though, it’s probably the most feminine out of the ones that I enjoy, being a peony dominant perfume.

Peony is the leader from the get go, but early on the muguet (lily of the valley), makes its presence known. The opening is a mix between white and greenish aromas, smooth, a bit water, and a hint of sweetness.

That’s what you get for the opening. Once it develops further, the lily of the valley is pretty much gone and this is a peony and musk scent. Not too complicated by very nicely put together and very fresh.

So, it’s peony and musk for the rest of the way until it just fades completely from the skin. Super simple and straightforward, but effective.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, Nirvana White is pretty middle of the road. It will project nicely from the skin for the first half of the wear, before settling into more of skin scent. There’s not too much risk of taking over a room with the scent, but you really don’t need to overspray, as any floral can be too much.

White will last for just over 7 hours on my skin. Very solid, just not anything amazing. But for the price that this usually sells at, I don’t really have any complaints.

Seasonally, this is a spring and summertime wear. Very floral and fresh and will fit in perfectly for the warmer months. It’s more of a daily wear or casual perfume versus anything sexy or a nightlife beast.

That being said, within those confines it’s pretty safe to wear in a multitude of situations, so long as you don’t go crazy with the sprays.

Overall Impressions of Nirvana White

Overall, do I like this perfume? I do. It’s a tad too womanly for me to wear as a man, but I liked smelling it during testing. I’m not a super peony fan, but it is enjoyable and Nirvana White is a nice example of it.

It’s a bit dewy and green in the opening act, but mostly sticking to the pink/white floral aroma. Then, the musk comes in and the muguet fades out. There’s a definite fresh crispness to this simple composition, which helps make this Elizabeth and James perfume quite wearable.

The performance is good, just not insane or anything. You do get your money’s worth from this. If you like peony or easy to wear musky floral perfumes, Nirvana White is a very nice pick up.

It is being discontinued along with the others from this label, so get a bottle now, if you really want to give it a try.