Best Perfumes for Women

Coco Mademoiselle EDT by Chanel

by

Coco Mademoiselle is a classic scent and has rightly spawned different variations of its popular formula. One of which, was brought out relatively soon after the eau de parfum’s release, Coco Mademoiselle EDT.

I got a hold of samples of each of these fragrances and have been reviewing them on the site. Today, I’m finishing things off with the eau de toilette. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Coco Mademoiselle EDT Smell Like?

Notes include: litchi, citrus, vanilla, patchouli, vetiver, musk, rose, jasmine

Click here to try: Chanel Coco Mademoiselle 3.4 oz eau de toilette 

My Full Review

Coco Mademoiselle EDT opens up quite a bit like the EDP version, though definitely smoother and not nearly as intense. What’s most noticeable, is how the orange note shares duties here with other citrus notes, and an additional litchi.

Another thing that I notice here, is that, the patchouli note isn’t as dominant in this version of the Mademoiselle line. It’s there, but I feel it to be more balanced with the vetiver sitting in the base of the scent.

What’s interesting is that the base of Mademoiselle EDT, is very similar to the Chanel men’s cologne, Allure Edition Blanche. The creamy vanilla, woods, and vetiver is a dead ringer. That fragrance is dominated by lemon, rather than litchi and a more general blend of citrus.

What’s true about both of those fragrances, is that they both have a weaker ability to project than the flanker fragrances that they spawn from (more so in Edition Blanche’s case).

Once the citrus notes have burned off and the litchi seems weaker, the floral notes really come through strong. Jasmine and rose are fairly even, but I get more jasmine, on my skin. Those two with wood, musk, vetiver, patchouli, and the vanilla note that develops further along.

The final dry down is a woody vetiver scent with a less creamy aroma, that sort of starts to have a bit of a powdery feel. Not too much, but noticeable.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage of the EDT is much softer than both the EDP or the Intense version of Coco Mademoiselle. Overall, its pretty moderate and never has a far reaching projection. EDT will create a nice scent bubble for most of the wear, then, become a skin scent for a few more hours.

Longevity wise, this one will stick around for about 7 hours. Sometimes it will go for six, then other, it can be somewhat closer to eight.

With that being said, you do get a super versatile fragrance, that can be a signature/daily wear for many folks. It’s not too out of place in any season, though, I might avoid the hottest days of summer…if you’re going to be outside.

Mademoiselle EDT is safe for school, work, casual, and could even venture into the evening. It’s not particularly ‘sexy’, but it is attractive enough to catch some attention. It’s versatility is probably the greatest strength of this perfume.

Overall Impression of Coco Mademoiselle EDT

Overall, do I like Coco Mademoiselle EDT? I do. However, I don’t like it as much as the EDP version, in terms of smell. The weighting of the individual notes in the EDP is just better to me. Though, this can be much more wearable.

I actually like the start of this a lot. The litchi and citrus notes provide a nice entry into the fragrance and I enjoy the similarities at times, to the men’s Edition Blanche.

The performance is overall pretty good, but it isn’t a terribly strong perfume. Also, the longevity doesn’t go as far as you’d perhaps like it to.

That being said, if the EDP is too much for you, and you don’t like the strong patchouli note found in Mademoiselle Intense, this EDT version can be a great substitute. You’re giving up a some of the power and performance, but getting a more understated fragrance, that still smells great.

5 Best Smelling Tea Scented Perfumes

by

Tea isn’t used as a note in a ton of fragrances. Also, out of those, it generally isn’t the main attraction, and will usually be placed in a secondary role.  However, it is a note that can be a great change of pace when done well, and can definitely carry the show. In this post, I want to present five perfumes that feature a prominent tea note. Whether that’s: black, green, or white variations. 

What are the Best Perfumes that Smell Like Tea?

An Option for White Tea

Elizabeth Arden White Tea Eau De Toilette Spray, 1 oz.– Elizabeth Arden has released plenty of fragrance options with tea as the main note for years now. You could also go with the popular Green Tea, but I’ll give this one the nod, as this one goes with the more unique white tea. 

Arden’s Green Tea was a lighter and fresher sort of scent. Meanwhile, White Tea utilizes some light aquatic notes, powdery iris, citrus, and amber in the base. 

White Tea is smooth, relaxing, and a well blended perfume with depth and plenty of strength to be noticeable. Very versatile and solidly performing perfume option that strongly features the ingredient we’re after.

Crisp and Cool Green Tea Fragrance

Creed Silver Mountain Water, 3.3 Fl Oz– Silver Mountain Water is usually marketed as a men’s scent, but it’s actually quite unisex. While it’s not my favorite fragrance from Creed, it does indeed feature a tea note that is absolutely worthwhile to try out. 

Silver Mountain Water is completely cool and crisp from the start. The citrus, black currant, and green tea notes combine to present a refreshing aroma at the top. Then, the tea will begin to take over, joined by base notes that give Silver more of a greenish/herbal kind of smell.

Not too heavy of a fragrance, but it does project well, and will usually last for around 8 hours on my skin. On the higher end, in terms of price, though one that can be a signature scent for the right person. Silver Mountain Water Review

FullSizeRender (31)

Creamy Smooth and Herbal

Diptyque Eau Duelle Eau De Parfum– Eau Duelle goes much more in the herbal direction with its tea fragrance, than the others here on the list. While the other scents tend to be cool and fresh, this scent goes in a warmer and smoother route.

It has its moments of spice, plenty of vanilla, and its tea note that is present throughout. Not too sweet, but creamy, woody, and paired with a slightly salty amber note. The spiciness kicks things off, before it mellows out further into the wear.

Then, it finishes herbal and woody, with a light smokiness and that remaining vanilla giving it a creamy touch. The vanilla is nice and rich. Very interesting with a multi-faceted presentation and nice performance.

 

 

Energetic Citrus and Tea

Moschino Funny By Moschino For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Oz- Moschino’s Funny opens up somewhat like Light Blue by D&G or the brand’s other fragrance, I Love Love. Though, the citrus is different However, it also has a green tea note that gives the fresh citrus perfume, an awesome infusion.

Green Tea, floral notes, and a musky base come through an give funny a fizzy and upbeat smell that is absolutely great in the spring and summer months. Does open up pretty sharp with currant and bitter orange leading things off.

The price is affordable and the performance is really good for this style of perfume. Moschino Funny is an uplifting fragrance for those wanting a nice use of tea.

Black Tea Amber

L’OMBRE DES MERVEILLES by Hermes, EAU DE PARFUM SPRAY 3.3 OZ– The Merveilles fragrances by Hermes are generally underrated in my opinion. The each bring something to the table and L’Ombre des Merveilles presents an awesome option for tea lovers.

The amber note that is found in this line of scents, is of course present throughout. However, this one goes woody and the black tea note is paired with incense to create a crisp and faintly smoky overlay of that amber base.

It dries down with a sweetness of amber/tonka bean, but never feels like a warm or enveloping fragrance. Instead, this one stays rather cool and light. The black tea note isn’t super heavy, but it is there for the duration.

Hypnotic Poison vs Poison Girl Perfume Comparison

by

Dior’s Poison line of fragrances, has gained quite a large following over the years. They have produced many best sellers and bottles, that always get scooped up. Two of their more popular releases are Poison Girl and Hypnotic Poison. The question often gets raised, which is better? In this post, I want to break it down, and compare these perfumes before declaring a winner.

Tale of the Tape: Hypnotic Poison vs. Poison Girl

Poison Girl

Notes include: Damascus rose, tonka bean, bitter orange, vanilla, almond, sandalwood

Click here to try: Christian Dior Poison Girl Women’s Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce

Read my original review: Poison Girl

Hypnotic Poison

Notes include: coconut, vanilla, almond, plum, rose, lily-of-the-valley, apricot, rose, rosewood, musk

Click here to try: Hypnotic Poison on Amazon

Opening

Poison Girl, opens with Damascus Rose, tonka bean, and bitter orange. Poison Girl is less citrus, even with that bitter orange not, while being more floral than Hypnotic. It shares that creamy quality with a nice bit of almond and tonka bean.

Hypnotic Poison kicks off with wonderful coconut, vanilla, and almond. This is the main trio, that is flanked by some light fruitiness of apricot and plum. The smell is very unique and quite attractive, right off the bat.

Which is better? I like Poison Girl, and it shares plenty of overlap with Hypnotic, but Hypnotic Poison is better. It is warm, sweet, creamy, and a has a nice bitter touch.

Edge: Hypnotic Poison

Projection

Poison Girl starts off strong and then becomes much more of a moderate sillaged perfume, as it dries down. To me, Hypnotic Poison has the much larger range of projection. It can certainly fill a room, if over-sprayed, and hits a stronger point than does Poison Girl.

Edge: Hypnotic Poison

Longevity

Both of these scents seem to go for around 9-10 hours, each, on skin. Which is great, however, I don’t notice any clear difference with how long they last.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Poison Girl, is fairly restricted in when it can be worn, in terms of the climate. It’s, to me, a cold weather wear that might be able to make it into spring.

Hypnotic Poison, follows along those same lines. I wouldn’t want to encounter either during a summer’s day, as they wouldn’t hold up very well.

Both are however, very versatile as to where they can be worn. Each of these is safe enough to wear at work, casually, but are also quite sexy and great for a night out. No real difference in this category, either.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I do like Poison Girl. It is a very attractive scent. The citrus notes, it features a stronger rose, more woodiness, with a creaminess that matches Hypnotic Poison. Really, I don’t have many complaints about this Dior.

However, I don’t think that it is as good as Hypnotic Poison. Heck, I like Poison Girl Unexpected, more than the original.

Hypnotic Poison is classic, in my mind. It’s opening act, with coconut and almond. The sweet vanilla finish. The light nutty touches throughout. It’s overall sexiness and thick aroma. It’s a fantastic wintertime perfume. Full of confidence and appeal.

To me, Hypnotic Poison is the clear winner. It outperforms its competitor on every metric, just about.

Winner: Hypnotic Poison

Gucci Bloom Gocce di Fiori by Gucci

by

Gocce di Fiori is one of the flanker scents, that have been spun off from the Gucci Bloom name. This one was released in 2019 and didn’t seem to get very much attention. However, I think it is one of the better Bloom scents, and so I wanted to do a full review here on the site. How does it smell? When should it be worn?

What does Gocce di Fiori Smell Like?

Notes include: jasmine, honeysuckle, Rangoon creeper, and tuberose

Click here to try: Gucci Bloom Gocce di Fiori for Women 3.3 oz Eau de Toilette Spray

My Full Review

Gocce di Fiori isn’t too complicated of a fragrance. Actually, it’s pretty darn similar to the original Gucci Bloom, while being a fresh and sheer version of the formulation.

The main difference in terms of the composition, is that the jasmine feels more prevalent here, and there is a honeysuckle note lightly floating around in the mix.

It’s like a stripped down version of Bloom, but one that will serve its purposes as a lighter wear for the spring and summer months.

Upon the first spray of Gocce di Fiori, I pick up a good deal of the jasmine, but blended with the honeysuckle and Rangoon creeper. 

However, as it dries down this one becomes more of a jasmine and tuberose fragrance. I still pick up the other two notes, but they are just slight impressions of how they were during the opening act. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Don’t expect a projection bomb, it’s a sheer fragrance, but it isn’t weak. You’re going to get a breezy and light perfume, though, one that you will easily notice throughout the wear. I really like when Gocce would randomly rise off of my skin

The longevity is actually good, just not amazing. It will hang around for 7 hours on me, but doesn’t seem to go beyond 8. Very range bound. Though, it gives you a nice performance for what it is.

Seasonally, this one is great for the spring and summer months. Gocce is fresh and light, easily holding up to the humidity and doesn’t have the same creaminess that other white florals of this type can have. 

Mostly, it’s a pretty daytime wear. Not really sexy or a nightlife beast. Very safe to wear on a daily basis to work or school or whatever else. Pretty ubiquitous in the spring or summer.

 

 

Overall Impressions of Gocce di Fiori

Overall, do I like this perfume? I do. It’s a very nice take on the white floral style of perfume. Yes, if you’ve had Gucci Bloom, you already know basically what this smells like.

I like the jasmine note being amped up, the honeysuckle inclusion, and the tuberose that comes through well in the dry down. It’s fresh and easy to wear when it gets warmer outside.

Do you need it, if you’ve got the original Bloom? Probably not. If that’s the case, you might consider one of the other flankers, that have more differences. Just standing on its own, Gocce di Fiori is a solid perfume, and quite likeable.

Voce Viva EDP by Valentino

by

I got a hold of a sample of Voce Viva a while ago, as a part of a major acquisition of samples and new scents to try out. I’d never heard of this perfume before and really didn’t have any excitement to try it out, until I saw it sitting in a box a few days back.

Voce Viva was a 2020 release from Valentino, which seemed to pass without much fanfare. What’s it like? How does it smell? Please continue below for my full take.

What does Voce Viva Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, mandarin, vanilla, gardenia, orange blossom, and moss

Click here to try: Valentino Voce Viva 3.4 oz / 100 ml EDP Women Spray

My Full Review

A couture and feminine bouquet of white flowers that gives Italian tradition a contemporary edge.

Voce Viva opens up with its bright citrus notes coming through, sitting on top of plenty of orange blossom, and the vanilla which is already peaking up from the base. Right away, I get the sense that this is going to be a warm and sweet floral experience…which I like.

There is a light and fresh spiciness that you can detect underneath the citrus and floral notes. The consensus seems to be an unlisted ginger note, which makes sense to me.

After a little bit, the initial somewhat juicy vibe from the citrus notes goes by the wayside and the gardenia comes up into that position. For me, the orange blossom is the strongest floral note initially, and then the gardenia plays a more prominent role.

The later stages, gives me more of a vanilla aroma with a dry freshness and underlying spiciness. The musky/mossy/woodsy smell does come through, but remains underneath the gardenia, vanilla, and maybe a bit of tonka bean?

The final three notes in terms of strength, seem to be: vanilla, gardenia, and moss. I like it. The aroma coming off of my skin is enjoyable and doesn’t stray into sickly sweet or irritating territory ever.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here isn’t super powerful and actually leans towards the lighter end of things, without ever being weak. It’s got an airy sort of demeanor, but actually projects itself quite well from the skin. Don’t expect a beast, but I was pretty happy with what I got out of this Valentino.

The longevity is also good, just not amazing. You might be able to squeeze a full workday from Voce Viva. For me, it did hit that 7.5-8 hour range, on my skin. For most purposes, that will be more than enough.

Seasonally, it’s actually very versatile, if you just stay out of the extreme heat and humidity. It does have that sweetness, that you’d associate with more of a autumn/winter scent (think: Black Opium), though not the same thickness or heavy sillage.

Late spring and for some parts of the world, early summer would be fine. Possibly, you could roll it out for a summer evening.

This would be great for a daytime wear, that could also venture into the nightlife without being a complete bomb. It’s sweet, but has a level of maturity to fit in with a wide swath of the female population.

Personally, I don’t find it sexy, but it is an appealing and very pleasant fragrance to wear and be around in general.

Overall Impressions of Voce Viva

Do I like this perfume from Valentino? I really do. To me, Voce Viva isn’t completely amazing nor super original. However, it is an easy to wear and attractive example of a white floral paired with sweeter notes.

The opening is bright and a very nice blend of spice, sweet, and floral notes. Then, the heart of gardenia and orange blossom is always a pairing, that I seem to like experiencing. Finally, the vanilla and woodsy smell during the latter stages is an interesting take on a familiar composition.

The performance is above average, as is the smell. If you want a versatile, clean, and well put together daily wear…Voce Viva could be a nice option to look into. It doesn’t seem to have any major weaknesses, other than having overlap with a lot of other perfumes. But, so do most scents.