Best Perfumes for Women

Black Opium Neon by YSL

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Black Opium Neon is one of the flankers from the best selling Saint Laurent line. I’m making my way through the perfumes from this line, in order to catch up on the reviews. Today’s entry was released by YSL in 2019. How does Neon Smell? Does it last long? What are the differences? Is it worth a buy?

What does Black Opium Neon Smell Like?

Notes include: coffee, dragon fruit, mandarin essence, orange blossom, jasmine

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Neon EDP 2.5 oz 75 ml Women NEW

My Full Review

Let’s see how YSL describes this perfume: When dark coffee meets the vivid & audacious dragon fruit. A vibrant & luminous addiction flashes through the new Eau de Parfum Neon.

Upon first spraying, Neon is noticeably different from the original Black Opium EDP, but you can still pick up the DNA of the original. After all, they still share coffee, orange blossom, and vanilla notes.

However, the weighting is completely different, as the coffee and especially vanilla are toned way down. The opening gives you a very citrusy smelling blend of dragon fruit and mandarin orange. I like it, as it gives Neon a nice burst of energy and a fairly tropical vibe.

That’s another aspect of this one that I like, Black Opium Neon is ultimately a lighter fragrance without the heavy embrace that the original could have.

To me, the opening act is mostly the fruit notes sitting on top of a prominent orange blossom with some jasmine thrown in. It feels sweet in more of a candy-like way for a gourmand. Like, more bubble gum and Starburst versus a baked goods gourmand.

During the dry down, is when I really start to get the original Black Opium vibes. I can pick up more of the coffee and vanilla notes, but really it becomes about the floral notes. Like a softer version of the original, with the fruit remnants still lingering.

Then, the very end of the road is a pretty faint by this point, coffee accord. A little orange blossom, still in the mix. It’s kind of surprising that the coffee is really the last one standing, but that’s just what it is.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This isn’t a heavy fragrance, nor does it have a crazy amount of projection. Actually, it’s pretty moderate as a whole. From the description, I was expecting more of a loud club banger, but Neon doesn’t fit that bill.

I mean, you could wear it out in the nightlife, it’s just not going to fill a room. Spraying it on a t-shirt, I could pick it up from about 6 feet away, at its max. On the skin, it seems to be around that same level.

This one has a bit better staying power than Illicit Green, but not too much. On me, it’ll go just over six hours, maybe getting close to seven. However, it’s not going to be a massive double digit hour perfume, on skin.

Seasonally, it isn’t limited to the autumn and winter like the original. But also, it isn’t one for the summer months. Depending on where you live, it’s probably good through late springtime.

Neon feels more well put together than the original, with a somewhat more mature vibe. Not to say it’s old lady-ish, but the heavier coffee and vanilla gourmand features aren’t popping out as much.

This can be worn in a variety of situations, day or into the nightlife. You’ll probably just have to reapply if you’re making that transition. Neon isn’t a formal fragrance.

Overall Impressions of Black Opium Neon

Overall, do I like Neon? I do. In terms of how it smells, I like it slightly better than the original. It has more balance, is lighter, and I enjoy the fruity top notes. Dragon fruit is a nice touch.

The performance and sillage isn’t as good. Not terribly bad wear, but it doesn’t hit the same level as its predecessor.

If you didn’t like the original Black Opium, I doubt that this would change your mind. If you already own Black Opium, you probably don’t need this, unless you want to round out your collection.

For those who are just in the market for a Black Opium fragrance…it’s worth a shot to see if you prefer this edition. It’s not way better, but I have a bit of a preference for how Neon comes across.

Neon is one of the better releases from this line, but not the best of them.

Wonderlust by Michael Kors

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Wonderlust is probably the most popular Michael Kors fragrance with the public right now. I’ve had a sample sprayer sitting in a box for many months now, for me to revisit and finally post a full review. Well, that day has come to review this 2016 release. How does this one smell? Does it last long? Is Wonderlust worth a buy?

What does Wonderlust Smell Like?

Notes include: almond milk, sandalwood, dimanthus, bergamot, pink pepper, heliotrope

Click here to try: WONDERLUST by Michael Kors 3.4 Ounce / 100 ml Eau de Parfum (EDP) Women Perfume Spray

My Full Review

Discover a place filled with wonder, where endless adventure awaits. Almond milk dianthus sandalwood from Sri Lanka.

Up top with Wonderlust, I get the creamy almond milk, along with a nice citrus spritz. This gives Wonderlust a somewhat tropical feeling, with a bit of jasmine peaking through. However, the citrus moment is pretty short lived and that’s when this scent is at its sweetest.

The next phase, is the true introduction of the dianthus, which adds a slight spice to the mix, and the almond is still persisting for the duration. It’s not a floral note that I’m too familiar with, but it stands out for a time, and I enjoy how it works in the composition.

For a while, that sweet/spice of dianthus meets a might powdery heliotrope, and the sandalwood emerges from the base. This middle phase is probably my favorite part of the wear, since it’s actually sticking around for more than that opening semi-tropical act.

Finally, it moves into being mostly about almond and sandalwood alone. Though, there is some remaining powdery qualities. It’s warm, creamy, and has an attractive coziness to the aroma. That’s what it ends up being for the rest of the wear.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This Michael Kors perfume is fairly moderate in terms of sillage. It will project in the 4-6 range, for much of the wear. It’s not a beast, but it isn’t so light as to go unnoticed.

On my skin, I get right around 8 hours. Very good, just not elite. How long it lasts is the stronger portion of its performance, it just isn’t going to choke out a room with its presence.

Seasonally, Wonderlust is very balanced. It has elements of a summer perfume, but it’s creaminess lends itself well to colder weather, also. It’s not a heavy fragrance, so it has really great seasonal versatility.

I do kind of like it a bit more, when it is a bit below average temperatures. A slight chill, makes this one really pop.

Beyond that, it can be a completely appropriate daily wear fragrance. Go casual or even a bit more formal. I wouldn’t call Wonderlust a nightlife scent, but it does have enough attractiveness, to not be totally boring either.

It’s basically one that you can have in your rotation to handle the heavy lifting. Then, break out something else on special occasions or when you want to really grab attention.

Overall Impressions of Wonderlust

Overall, do I like this scent? I do. I think that it smells very good and does everything well. Wonderlust is a versatile fragrance, with some unique aspects and undergoes enough development to be interesting.

It’s already a popular perfume, thanks to its ease of wear, and ability to be a versatile go to on a daily basis. It might not be the highlight of your fragrance collection, but it can certainly be an anchor.

I do wish that there was a longer experience with the bergamot note, in the beginning, but other than that I don’t have any real complaints.

Since it’s release, this one has spawned a bunch more from the series. Though, I still think that this one is a really nice jumping off point, at the right price.

Sun Song by Louis Vuitton

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Sun Song was one of the Les Parfums Louis Vuitton releases, with bottles designed by Alex Israel, that they brought out back in 2019. I’m still working my way through reviews of the Louis Vuitton decants that I have and figured I’d finish out this series. What does Sun Song Smell Like? How long does it last? Is it worth a buy?

What does Sun Song Smell Like?

Notes include: orange blossom, lemon, bergamot, neroli, jasmine, musk

My Full Review

Before we get into my review, let’s see how Louis Vuitton describes this fragrance: An ode to the orange blossom to brighten summer. The euphoria of those first beautiful days. Feeling the warmth of sunlight on the skin.

I really don’t like the opening act of Sun Song. The citrus is too sharp and the orange blossom (which I generally like) feels overwhelming. I imagine that plenty of folks will be turned off by that start, but it does get better.

Once it does settle down, this fragrance does greatly resemble Sole di Positano by Tom Ford. The citrus notes there are way better. The main differences are that the Tom Ford has some herbal spiciness early on and Sun Song gets somewhat musky.

As soon as I get past that harsh opening, I do begin to enjoy Sun Song much more. The floral notes start to balance out, while still being led by the orange blossom. Neroli is very present and there’s also a touch of jasmine.

The citrus falls into the background and the musk in the base rises, but never overtakes the strength of either orange blossom or neroli.

At this point, you’re getting exactly what you get for the rest of the wear. A smooth floral with citrus and musky highlights. Not too complicated, but very attractive.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sun Song is pretty strong on my skin. Especially, in the early stages of the wear. Overall, it’s a moderately projecting perfume, probably towards the upper end of that range. Quite a bit like its comp, Sole di Positano.

On skin, this Louis Vuitton will go for 7-8 hours. The last 90 minutes or so, stayed really close to the skin. I’ve also sprayed it on a t-shirt and it just goes and goes. Nice performance for this style of perfume.

Seasonally, Sun Song is made for the spring and summer months. Once it settles, it is a pretty fragrance and fairly delightful to catch whiffs of throughout the day.

Sun Song is a unisex fragrance. I will say the opening, is closer to a traditional ladies’ perfume, but it comes back more toward the center of things. As a man, you’re just going to have to enjoy wearing citrus/floral scents.

Within the context of spring and summer, this is a fragrance that can pretty much be worn anywhere. It’s classy enough for more formal occasions, while not being too stuffy to wear casually.

Overall Impressions of Sun Song

Do I like this fragrance? I do like it, except for the start. Once it dries down, the citrus notes lighten up and the orange blossom, neroli, and jasmine blend for a nice balanced aroma.

Also, the performance is solid and it isn’t going to just drop off after a few hours of wear.

But, the price point is the major hold up. Sole di Positano is the better fragrance. It smells better overall and is available at a better price.

This isn’t a bad fragrance from Louis Vuitton, but I think that the others in this series like, Cactus Garden or Afternoon Swim are more interesting and better.

Fleurs D’Oranger by Serge Lutens

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I do have some samples of Serge Lutens fragrances lying around that I need to do write ups on. One of them, is today’s entry: Fluers d’Oranger. This is a floral fragrance highlighted by the use of orange blossom. How does it smell? Does it last a long time? Is it worth a purchase? Please continue below for my full take after testing it out.

What does Fleurs D’Oranger Smell Like?

Notes include: orange blossom, musk, jasmine, cumin, tuberose, hibiscus, rose, and more

Click here to try: Serge Lutens Fleurs D’oranger Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 1.7 Ounce

orange blossom perfume

My Full Review

Fleurs D’oranger is listed as a unisex fragrance but this one definitely strikes me as feminine. It opens with orange blossom, a spicy musk, and jasmine as the main notes that I detect. Very floral, like white flowers and cut stems, on a sunny spring day.

This perfume is quite bright and has an expensive soapy quality to it. I think there might be citrus fruit itself here (not just flowers), but it is never a ‘juicy’ aroma, Fleurs D’oranger is dry and has an outdoor garden vibe from this bouquet of floral notes.

As it dries down, I distinctly begin to pick up on the tuberose note, and it retains it’s animal like spice an warmth. Further along, the orange blossom seems to take center stage and never really relinquishes its hold on the composition.

I think that the cumin and musk combo give it a middle eastern sort of spice and that is what complements the orange blossom for the rest of the wear.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s strong but not obscenely so. In fact, it dials back into more of a moderate, after a little while wearing it. After about 40-60 minutes, it has settled into a fairly moderate scent.

It does however, have very good longevity, 8-9 hours is what it usually lasted on my skin while testing the perfume out. It’s a solid performer, just not absolutely elite.

Again, I’d call this more of a women’s perfume than unisex, but if you’re a man who likes white florals…you could wear this one. Fleurs d’Oranger is a spring/summer kind of wear. I like it as a casual to business wear fragrance.

It is pretty and well put together but not sexy to my nose. It feels adult oriented and not something that would suit most teenage girls. This Serge Lutens scent is mature but not ‘old lady’.

 

 

Overall Impressions of Fleurs d’Oranger

Overall, do I like Fleurs d’Oranger? I like it, just not for me. It’s way too feminine and floral for my tastes. However, for those in the market for an orange blossom perfume, this one from Serge Lutens is near perfect.

For a more masculine orange blossom, I’d wear L’Homme Parfum Intense by YSL, which gives me amber and citrus notes to pair with the floral. Fleurs d’Oranger does deliver on it’s floral promise and as a bouquet type of perfume it executes very well.

6 Perfumes Similar to Jimmy Choo Fever

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Jimmy Choo Fever is a poplar fragrance for women. It came out back in 2018 and has garnered many ardent fans ever since. However, you can get tired of smelling the same exact thing or want something cheaper, that can fit the same bill. In this post, I want to put forth 6 perfume options that can provide a similar smell to Fever by Jimmy Choo.

What Fragrances Smell Similar to Fever by Jimmy Choo?

I have yet to come across an exact match for Fever. However, there are plenty out there that have a similar style and/or an overlap in notes, to produce something that smells quite alike.

Similar Smelling Scent

Black Opıum By Yvеs Sαınt Lαurent for Women Eau De Parfum Spray 3 OZ. / 90 ml.– Again, Fever and Black Opium aren’t going to be the same note for note, but they do have a ton of overlap.

The notes they share? Coffee, vanilla, orange blossom, and jasmine. The YSL fragrance has almond instead of hazelnut.

The main differences are going to be between the top fruit notes and the warmer heart/base. Black Opium has plenty of patchouli, a nice pink pepper, and benzoin.

You’ve probably smelled this before, as it is a popular perfume. Warm, sweet, with a bit of a powdery quality and overall good performance. Read my full Black Opium Review

Discontinued, but a Close Parallel

Amor Amor Forbidden Kiss– This one is a bit harder to find nowadays, but it would be a nice alternative fragrance to our Jimmy Choo target.

Amor Amor Forbidden Kiss was a nice sweet blend, a bit fruitier than Fever, but still had that solid coffee and pink pepper warmth. Somewhat different but a close style to what we’re looking for, this had a solid amount of peony as part of the floral accord.

Best Cheapie Alternative

Sofia Vergara Love Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4 Fluid Ounce, multi color– If you want a cheaper Fever, it might not actually exist, but Love by Sofia Vergara can step into a similar role.

It’s actually quite a bit like Black Opium, but not exactly that either. Sort of in between the YSL and Jimmy Choo. The opening act features a sweeter and fruitier profile, with passionfruit and apple notes peaking through.

Orange blossom, floral notes, and coffee with a dose of vanilla are the similarities. Performance isn’t amazing and it is definitely the sweetest of the bunch, but it’s an option.

Caramel Sweetness

Bon Bon by Viktor & Rolf Eau De Parfum Spray 3.04 oz– Bonbon by Viktor & Rolf is an interesting alternative, because you do get some overlap, but it is a distinct experience.

Bonbon features a prominent caramel note, with a nice squeeze of citrus, and warm amber permeating. It’s not the same with the coffee and vanilla. This one is warm and slightly salty with a creaminess at the base. The start is juicy with orange and peach.

Structurally and style wise, this is a close relative to Jimmy Choo Fever, just not the same.

Another Inexpensive Choice

Britney Spears Prerogative by Britney Spears Eau De Parfum Spray (Tester) 3.4 oz (Women)– This is another inexpensive option and I will say that it lands closer to being like Black Opium.

Though, it is warm and sweet with the coffee and floral notes. Though, it is a spicier take with a more pronounced woody base.

The opening act is fruitier than Black Opium and strikes closer to Fever than that other scent. However, this one doesn’t have the creamy vanilla or powdery aroma that you’ll find in the Jimmy Choo. The dry down is all about the woods and spice.

Not an amazing fragrance, but can be solid, at this price point.

One from Dior

Dior Poison Girl Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 1.6 Fl. Oz-  A similar structure and style, not a one for one match. Poison Girl kicks things off with a Damascus rose, bitter orange, tonka bean, and vanilla.

Then, the almond note comes in to give this fragrance a nice nuttiness, instead of the hazelnut and coffee in Fever. As it moves along, Poison Girl becomes a drier and smoother type of wear, and a very good experience.

Performance here is great, lasting 8-11 hours, on my skin. Those who enjoy Fever, might consider giving this one a go. Poison Girl Review.