Best Perfumes for Women

Body by Burberry

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So, it’s time for me to post another women’s perfume review. I got a few more ladies’ fragrance samples in my latest batch and so I thought that I’d write up my impressions of these scents to impart it to my female audience.

Today’s review is going to cover, Burberry Body, a floral/fruity scent that was released in 2011.

In this post, I want to cover how it smells and develops, how it performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is worth a purchase. Also see: Body vs London Perfume Comparison

What does Burberry Body Smell Like?

burberry body

Notes include: peach, musk, rose, sandalwood, amber, iris, vanilla

Click here to try: BURBERRY Body for Women Eau de Parfum, 2.0 oz

My Full Review

The opening blast of Body is headed by the peach note, with rose and a warm musk providing supporting roles. Initially, it is creamy and fruity but after 10 minutes or so the rose and the iris bring on a very floral profile.

The peach definitely dominates the top of the order. However, it is joined by what is apparently wormwood. I’m not too familiar with the aroma, so, it can be pretty hard to describe it. Nonetheless, I don’t find it to be distracting or anything terrible.

Rose, musk, and woods do start to peak in after that opening. Again, the first phase after that is mostly floral to my nose. Then, it switches to being something woodier and somewhat musky. The sandalwood is the most apparent wood note, that my nose picks up in the composition.

Body is quite smooth and mellowed out by the sandalwood and vanilla notes that creep in the background. In the dry down phase, you get a rose/peach blend with a warm and slightly spicy musk.

In the end, it is the rose with some peach, woody notes, and a spiciness. Still, has a light and cleaner type of vibe. Not a heavy scent at all, but rather, one that will feel like a natural extension of your skin.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Burberry Body is pretty strong. The sillage won’t fill up an entire room (unless you overdo it) but you’ll definitely know it is there. In its entirety, I’d say that this one has above average power, just not elite.

It also has very good longevity, I sprayed it on my wrist for an initial test, and it was still chugging along during the evening. I finally just had to scrub it off with soap and water because I was tired of smelling like a girl haha.

Coming back to it on another day, it seemed to approach the double digit hour mark, without any issue.

Body is an everyday wear, that would be good for casual occasions. I wouldn’t classify it as a sexy or date night perfume, though, I do find it attractive and wouldn’t mind smelling it on a girl I was dating. So, office wear, casual, semi-formal, etc.

It seems like it would work best during fall or early spring when the weather isn’t too hot. The wood, vanilla, and musky base might very well melt in the high heat or humidity. Though, in the cooler weather it turns out quite nicely, and you get the full aromas of each note.

Overall Impression of Burberry Body

Overall, would I recommend Burberry Body? Yes, it is a very nice casual perfume for women. If you don’t like roses or peach in your fragrances, I’d probably skip this one if I were you.

It’s more floral/woody than fruity. So, if that isn’t you, go with another option. Body won’t blow you away but it gets the job done.

I like the peach top and the later creamy blend of sandalwood/vanilla. It is an interesting and well-rounded perfume, kind of dry later on, but the rose and peach stick around for the long run.

Update: Body has been discontinued for a long while.

Chinatown by Bond No. 9

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took about a week off from posting on the site, but during that time, I got to test out more fragrances for review. On of these, is among the Bond No. 9 samples that I recently got a hold of, and a scent that I’ve been meaning to review for a number of years now…Chinatown. Is this Bond No. 9 scent worth a purchase? What does it smell like? How does it perform?

What does Bond No. 9 Chinatown Smell Like?

Notes include: tuberose, peach blossom, bergamot, honey, cedar, cardamom, vanilla sandalwood, guiac wood, and gardenia.

Click here to try: Chinatown by Bond No. 9 for Women – 3.3 oz EDP Spray.

My Full Review

The opening gives you a blast of white floral aroma provided by tuberose and the gardenia notes. This isn’t like some of the other Bond No. 9 floral offerings, which get heavily into the green plant life scent.

Instead, Chinatown has a wonderful fruity/floral mix with the peach blossom and a brief appearance by the bergamot top note. It gives Chinatown a sweetness and light juiciness, that really comes across as pleasant and well put together.

That fruity/sweet aspect, is really around for the opening bit, and then it fades into the background. The peach blossom, gives you a floral/fruity blend of aromas.

I think that the note that sets this one apart from many other floral perfumes, is the inclusion of cardamom. It does give Chinatown that hint of spice and a sweetness that pairs with the vague thickness of honey. I really love a good cardamom in a fragrance, and Chinatown is one which delivers exactly that.

The next main stage of this fragrance, is the creamy/warm floral period. Lots of tuberose, gardenia, and some light vanilla highlights. Mixed with peach blossom and cardamom. The middle of this perfume, is really quite nice, with an easygoing naturalism.

As it dries down, there is more of a noticeable woody/smoky quality that just gives this fragrance an added depth. Part of that, is definitely the cardamom at work. I don’t want to make this out to be super complex, I don’t think that it really is. However, I believe this to be a very well balanced scent, in what ends up being a fairly straightforward life cycle.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I’d call it a moderate. A moderate that actually performs. It isn’t going to choke anyone out or really overpower a room but it does a good job of having staying power.

The longevity is great, which it should be at such a price point, but we all know that’s not always the case. It’s an all day wear and never really felt weak during testing.

Chinatown is a good casual or everyday wear. It certainly is a beautiful kind of perfume but doesn’t seem all that ‘sexy’, but it’s definitely attractive.

It was pretty cold outside during testing and it seemed to work well in that environment and I think it’d be safe through the springtime. Probably not the best bet for the height of summer, however.

Overall Impressions of Chinatown

Overall, would I recommend Chinatown? Yes, it a really lovely fragrance, and one of my favorite women’s scents from Bond No. 9. Sometimes, I have really mixed notions about this brand, and think they have some downright awful fragrances.

However, Chinatown isn’t one of those. This is a well balanced gem and a unique take on floral perfumes.

This is a scent for those who want a good tuberose or gardenia laden fragrance, but that also has enough sweetness to avoid going full ‘garden mode’. This is one of the best women’s releases from Bond and it shows from the popularity and number of sales it has generated since its release.

Ralph Rocks by Ralph Lauren

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Moving right through my sample reviews, today we have an entry from Ralph Lauren, Ralph Rocks. This one was released in 2006 and was a part of the ‘Ralph’ Collection of fragrances. In this post, I will discuss: how it smells, what’s inside, how it performs, when it should be worn, and if it is worth a purchase.

What does Ralph Rocks Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, kiwi, passion fruit, orange blossom, sandalwood, palm leaf, amber, freesia

Click here to try: Ralph Rocks by Ralph Lauren Body Lotion 1.7 oz

My Review

My immediate reaction to smelling this perfume after applying was being intrigued by the tropical aroma. I had no idea what the notes were at the time and thought that there was a vague coconut like note in there.

But not quite coconut. The aroma is very smooth and screams the island life and that main player happened to be passion fruit. Plus, how the kiwi blends with the sandalwood, gives it that slight pseudo-coconut scent.

It sort of reminds me of Virgin Island Water. Not in its fragrance per se, rather, the lotion like creamy smoothness that is produced by Ralph Rocks. What I like about this scent, is that while it is a tropical scent, it doesn’t have a cold oceanic quality to it.

No, Ralph Rocks is warmed by the amber note and provides a lush floral undertone, which ties the whole scent together. It’s all very sweet and enchanting but it doesn’t have that candy-like sugary smell to it.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Ralph Rocks isn’t a powerhouse. It sticks around, but is more of perfume that stays within one’s own personal space. Not a simple skin scent, but within 3-5 feet. Not even the opening act, is all that powerful, it’s a fairly steady scent.

Longevity is seemingly okay, as well. I got about 6 hours of wear from a few dabs out of the sample vial. Not great but not awful either. Even trying it for a few times, this is about what I came to expect with Ralph Rocks. A fairly decent performer, but not elite, at all.

Ralph Rocks is a definite spring and summertime fragrance. As I mentioned before, it is such a nice change of pace from super fruity or super aquatic summer perfumes.

It is simple and inoffensive enough to be worn to work, school, or casually. It’s not really a sexy scent in my mind, but I think that it is quite pleasant to be around.

This Ralph Lauren perfume has really good versatility in terms of when you can wear it, but also, it can fit well with a wide age range. It is a simple fragrance to reach for and spray on, on an almost daily basis.

Overall Impressions of Ralph Rocks

Overall, would I recommend Ralph Rocks? Yes. This is assuming that you can buy a bottle. This perfume has been discontinued, so you will have to find some unsold stock of it online. It might be super expensive.

Though, it appears the body lotion is still available on Amazon, as of now. This is a very nice casual perfume and has a somewhat unique take on the tropical fragrance arena. I like it.

It wasn’t ever an amazing fragrance, though, it is a very good one. Nice smell, good enough performance, and can be worn in many instances. If you do happen upon a bottle, I wouldn’t pay an outlandish price to possess it.

Perfumista Avenue by Bond No. 9

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I’m still working my way through writing up reviews for all of the Bond No. 9 samples that I have laying around. Today’s entry is Perfumista Avenue, which was released by the company to celebrate it’s 10th anniversary. In this post, I will explore: it’s ingredients, how it smells, how it performs, and whether or not I think it’s worth a buy.

What does Perfumista Avenue Smell Like?

Notes include: red plum, rose, saffron, patchouli, musk, nutmeg, peony, jasmine, amber, davana

Click here to try: Bond No. 9 Perfumista Avenue EDP Spray for Women, 1.7 Ounce

My Full Review

Geeeeeezzz, is this stuff loud. From the opening spray your nose is bombarded with rose, spice, and a very tart red plum note. The rose note smells more pinkish, than contained in many other scents.

I am admittedly, not a huge fan of rose and patchouli, but I would think that this stuff might even offend many rose lovers. At times, I start to think that it’s pleasant and interesting and then it starts to smell like really sour rose water mixed with booze.

It reminds me of one of those drinks at specialty bars that serve their own concoctions, sometimes brilliantly, and other times off putting.

Perfumista Avenue does settle down, somewhat. You eventually get a full bouquet of flowers while retaining it’s sharp and bright aroma. Underneath it all, there is an herbal scent but it kind of gives off this weird metallic smell.

What you will mainly get is the rose, plum, patchouli, and nutmeg. Everything else plays a supporting role. The saffron can be strong at times, but during the latter stages, I really don’t pick up any on my skin. Tart, rose, with a warm spiciness.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Perfumista Avenue is a monster. Good lord, what a bomb of a fragrance this is. Whether you like it or not, you can’t say Bond No. 9 didn’t deliver a bang for you buck.

It also lasts seemingly forever. I’m not sure when it quits, as I scrubbed it off 8 or so hours after application, and it was still performing. Coming back to it another time, I’m convinced of this Bond scents as being an all day wear. It’s too powerful to fade out quickly.

This feels like a springtime scent to my nose. I cannot imagine this in the summer heat, and potentially, how overwhelmingly messy it could become. Moderate temperatures without much humidity would serve as the best option.

This is certainly a niche fragrance. I wouldn’t wear it in an office or school type of environment. More out for the day or night during spring. So, a casual fragrance to wear in a place with a breeze, and only so with a light application.

Overall Impression of Bond No. 9 Perfumista Avenue

Overall, can I recommend Perfumista Avenue? Not for the general public. This is a perfume that will have a very limited appeal. I’m not personally enthralled with it and it grates on my nerves.

However, I know there are some serious rose and patchouli fans who will dig this scent. Everyone around them might not, but hey, at least the bright pink bottle it comes in is pretty.

YSL Libre vs. Coco Mademoiselle

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Coco Mademoiselle has been a best seller for a long long time and is still sticking around as a great perfume. Libre EDP from YSL, has become a very popular option since its release some years back.

This popularity and somewhat similar styles often leads to questioning as to which one is better to buy? Which lasts longer? Etc. In this post, I want to break down my experience with these fragrances and declare my winner, in this battle.

Tale of the Tape: Libre vs. Coco Mademoiselle

Libre EDP

Notes include: lavender, white musks, orange flower, vanilla, orchid

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau De Parfum Spray for Women 90ml/3oz, clear

Read my review: Libre EDP

Coco Mademoiselle

Notes include: orange, neroli, may rose, patchouli, vetiver, jasmine

Click here to try: Coco Mademoiselle

Read my full review: Coco Mademoiselle EDP

Opening

Coco Mademoiselle opens up with a bold blend of orange and neroli, along with a solid amount of the patchouli note. That’s the very opening phase, that is joined in rapid succession by the other floral notes.

In this case, it’s mostly jasmine, but a bit of rose starts peaking through too.

Libre opts to go with the orange blossom and a lighter use of actual citrus fruits. This YSL starts out with a soapier aroma and a bit of creaminess. Lavender is the major player and there is more musk, as things move along.

Which do I like better? While Libre is pretty nice in the beginning, I still prefer the Chanel to the newer release. It stands out strong and brings a beautiful warmth that only develops further.

Edge: Mademoiselle

Projection

No worries, as either one of these fragrances will bring the power. So, unless you need an absolute bomb, it probably won’t be the deciding factor.

Libre is in the upper end of the moderate range, if not the lower end of the definitively strong end of the spectrum. It brings it.

However, Coco Mademoiselle has a better ability to project, in my experience. It’s not a massive difference, but it is noticeable.

Edge: Coco Mademoiselle

Longevity

Again, this is another category where Libre is no slouch, but comes up short in comparison. 8-9 hours is what it seems to go, on my skin. Very good and not much to complain about.

Coco Mademoiselle lasts at least 10 hours for me. It can tack on hours even beyond that.

Edge: Mademoiselle

Versatility

To me, they’re pretty evenly split. Both the Chanel and YSL scent can work in a variety of climates, if you’re avoiding the height of summer.

Also, they can fit into a casual daily wear, work, or even out on the town for an evening. Though, they’re not specifically nighttime scents.

Very versatile and great options for a perfume that can do almost anything.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I think that Libre is a nice perfume, that definitely has its strengths, and will be a good option for many women. It’s not too complex, mostly its going to be about the lavender and orange blossom, which may or not be a selling point for you personally.

If you’re a bigtime lavender fan, it might be the one to go with here.

For me, Coco Mademoiselle is a classic and still has its charm after two decades. Not only does it have better performance, I also think that it just smells better.

I enjoy the opening act more, the floral notes are more appealing to my nose, and I like the way that vanilla and musk is used in this composition versus Libre EDP.

Update: The Libre line has been expanded to include better entries like Libre Intense and Le Parfum. Le Parfum might be one that I might choose over Coco Mademoiselle, but I think that the Chanel is more versatile and it would be a closer contest.

So, go with Coco versus the original Libre, but I’d consider checking out Le Parfum as a potential alternative.

Winner: Coco Mademoiselle