Best Perfumes for Women

Daisy by Marc Jacobs

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I thought that it was time to give Daisy by Marc Jacobs a proper review and so with the last batch of samples that I ordered, I got a vial of this fragrance sent to me as well. It has been a very popular perfume for women for probably over a decade at this point and is always among the best sellers.

In this post, I am going to cover how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not I think it is worthy of a purchase.

What does Daisy by Marc Jacobs Smell Like?

daisy marc jacobs perfume

Notes include: grapefruit, gardenia, jasmine, violet, musk, and vanilla

Click here to try: Marc Jacobs Daisy, EDT Spray, 3.4oz 100ml

My Full Review

The opening of Daisy gives me the same kind of watery floral aroma, that Alien Aqua Chic did when I reviewed it. The floral notes are different, but there is a similar effect, and I think that Daisy happens to do it better.

Daisy is heavily weighted towards violet and there is also some interplay between the jasmine and gardenia notes. However, the latter two seem to be background players to the main attraction of violet.

Up top, there is the grapefruit note and a light strawberry, as well. To my nose, the strawberry note, doesn’t come through particularly hard. Again, Daisy comes across a watery and the fruit notes, are lightly added, to the overall composition.

The grapefruit note gives Daisy a bit more energy, and there is also definitely a musky warmth, to this perfume. This whole scent strikes me as very light and slightly aquatic, like if the flowers were sitting in a vase full of water. As it wears on, Daisy takes on more of a powdery scent but that never completely takes over the composition but it does feel noticeable about an hour or so in.

Finally, what I am left with is: plenty of violet, some grapefruit, gardenia, and musky undertones. Yes, all still swimming in that vaguely aquatic aroma. This isn’t all that complex of a perfume.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

Projection wise, Daisy is light, but it isn’t weak. It isn’t a beast that is going to envelop you (unless you spray like crazy) but it is quite noticeable.

Longevity is pretty darn good but not spectacular, I’d say it can hit 7 hours on a regular basis, depending on the conditions it’s worn in.

This Marc Jacobs fragrance is best worn casually, for a day at the office or running around town. I wouldn’t call it a date night perfume or really sexy at all. It’s something that is light and fresh and inoffensive.

I’d also say it’s probably best worn in the springtime as that’s where the notes seem most at home but you could also where it in the other months of the year and be perfectly fine.

Overall Impressions of Daisy

Overall, is Daisy worth a buy? Yes, provided that you like floral scents. It’s a really good casual/everyday wear perfume that seems to enjoy a pretty universal popularity. If you want something that is a little more bold or sexy, then you should probably look elsewhere.

Daisy does what it does very well, and if you’re in the market for something along those lines, it’s a winner. The violet note here is very nice and the gardenia peaking through the background is also quite pleasant.

To me, this Marc Jacobs perfume isn’t amazing, but is a solid choice for a daily wear floral fragrance.

7 Best Smelling Violet Scented Perfumes

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There are a lot of floral notes which get plenty of attention in fragrances. The usual suspects, get their just dues, but violet can often be overshadowed. It plays a support role in many perfumes, but it can be challenging to find a good violet scented one. One, with this flower being the star, at its base. In this post, I want to present seven perfumes which utilize violet to the best of its ability.

What are the Top Smelling Violet Scented Fragrances for Her?

Floral Fruity Option

Insolence By Guerlain For Women, Eau De Toilette Spray, 1.6-Ounce Bottle– A sweet blend of juicy berries and floral notes like violet, iris, and orange blossom. Insolence is long lasting and has a pronounced powdery finish, as is to be expected, when violet and iris get together.

Nonetheless, Insolence isn’t a stuffy or overly-heavy fragrance, the raspberry and other berry notes keep things dynamic. Towards the end, there is a light musk, and a great sandalwood note at the base. This is a great floral fruity wear, rather simple, but delightful.

The violet does rest control of the fragrance, from the other flowers, later on. Insolence is a good example of an option for those who want a mixed kind of blend, headed up by violet.

Fresh Cedar and Pure Violet

Bois de Violette by Serge Lutens– A fairly simple and more of a pure violet offering than some of the others on the list. Bois de Violette a sweet and very lightly powdered violet aroma, that is quickly joined by cedar.

That’s pretty much the perfume. The cedar note, actually balances things out, and gives it a dry freshness which I feel boosts the violet’s effect. It all smells very naturalistic and great. This is a must try for those who love our target floral note.

Bold Bouquet and Vanilla

Bond No. 9 Broadway Nite Eau De Parfum Spray 100ml/3.3oz–  This is a very floral scent that starts out with the heliotrope, rose, and violet notes. That trio is joined by an undercurrent of vanilla and musk.

Vanilla, musk, and iris are of course going to create a pretty powdery aroma. That’s on their own, and when you added violet you’re going to get it in spades.

Broadway Night can be a bit of a bold fragrance, and yes, the violet does have a bit of a greenish smell. A different option from the rest, but has its fans. Notes include: Rose, Honeysuckle, Iris, Aldehyde, Green Violet, Cedarwood, Musk, Sweet Amber, Heliotrope, Vanilla Beans. My Full Review

broadway nite review

Blended Spiced Violet 

Paco Rabanne Ultraviolet Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 2.7 Ounce– A floral/exotic fragrance that is highlighted by, as the name suggests, violet. It’s a soft to moderate blend with a unique sweet/spicy profile that lasts for a long time. Ultraviolet really gets to the star of the show, once it has had time to settle in.

The opening can be a bit intense with the spice, as you get a few different peppers and coriander, coming through. Definitely interesting, though not for everyone.

However, it’s not all spice in the beginning, as there is a nice apricot and some vanilla to help calm things. Obviously, the star of the show comes more apparent in the dry down. You get a fresh, fairly sweet, and powdery violet with some dry undertones.

Clean Garden Bouquet

CREED FLEURISSIMO by Creed for WOMEN: EAU DE PARFUM SPRAY 2.5 OZ– Classy and elegant. Fleurissimo is a bouquet of florals with iris, violet, and tuberose. Fleurissimo has a vintage style and a very garden rich profile.

As it dries down, this Creed scent has more warmth and a soapy/powdery clean quality. This is an all day wear, with excellent longevity. A springtime fragrance. An expensive choice, but a good one for fans of violet and tuberose, in particular. Not for those who want a lone violet ingredient. Notes include: Bulgarian rose, violet, tuberose, Florentine iris.

creed fleurissimo

Violet and Iris

Love in Black by Creed– Another great violet based fragrance by Creed, though, this one is definitely distinct from the one above. This one pairs violet and iris together, with a dark berry sweetness, and a dry mix of spices and musk.

Love in Black is naturally quite a powdery scent, as it is dominated by the two floral notes, but it’s got enough black currant sweetness in the opening to give it added depth. Later, it dries down to be more focused on the violet with musky touches and a woody base.

Natural Violet and Rose

La Violette by Annick Goutal– A fresh violet, which utilizes the flower and leaf. The leaf, has that somewhat greenish watery aroma, which some people may not enjoy. However, this is another one with a very naturalistic sort of violet note.

It’s a strictly floral perfume with some added rose, which adds some extra powder, in the latter stages of the wear.

La Violette is not too heavy, has some sweetness, but is mostly just a clean and low key floral fragrance.

Live Irresistible Delicieuse by Givenchy

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I’ve got a few more perfumes to get through, with my last batch of sample fragrances. Our subject for today, is one of them, and a flanker fragrance to Live Irresistible which I covered a few weeks back. Live Irresistible Delicieuse was released back in 2017, and I guess, kind of flew under the radar. But what does it smell like? How does it perform? Is it worth a try?

What does Live Irresistible Delicieuse Smell Like?

Notes include: cherry, vanilla, caramel, almond, orange blossom, rose, orris

My Full Review

Before I get into my review of this perfume, let’s see how Givenchy describes it: Your motto: Life is a playground. Your perfume: A new floral delicacy, as sassy as it is sweet. Your mood: Happy & Irresistible.

Right off the bat, Delicieuse is noticeably a much sweeter and less floral fragrance, than the original Live Irresistible. Actually, the two don’t really resemble one another, at all. One was a spicy floral, and this is, much more of a gourmand with floral elements.

The opening act hits my nose with a strong cherry presence, with a baked goods quality, along with some light rose. It’s warm, sweet, and indeed delicious.

As it moves further along, Live Irresistible Delicieuse, starts to take on more of the caramel and almond notes. I really enjoy almond, in fragrances, and I think it helps to balance things out here. It takes it away from just being a pure cherry scent.

The caramel hangs around, only for a little bit. It’s not super strong, nor does it have a really salty quality to it. But, I can pick it up for a little while. Then, the vanilla swoops in to take its place.

Ultimately what I’m left with is, a cherry pastry with bits of rose, vanilla, and almond floating around. It’s light and attractive. Not all that deep, but it does a good job for what it is.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s not all that powerful. I’d call it a moderate. With 3 or 4 sprays, I could pick it up distinctly, on my skin but it wasn’t ever overwhelming. Later, it will turn into a much lighter affair.

On my skin, I got about 7 hours of wear, from Delicieuse. Not amazing, but its solid enough for most purposes. This isn’t a beast on any fronts, but can do a good job all around.

Seasonally, this is a autumn or winter fragrance, all the way. It’s sweetness, would be a liability in the heat. It’s a little too thick, for such weather. Not that it’s heavy, just the notes would tend to melt.

I’d call this a daily wear or casual fragrance. It’s attractive and fairly low key. One that will draw complements, but isn’t particularly sexy, in any real way.

Overall Impressions of Live Irresistible Delicieuse

Do I like this perfume? I do. It’s not spectacular, but it’s nice, and better than its predecessor. The cherry note, is probably my favorite aspect, and I do enjoy the opening act quite a lot. When it blends with the almond, is the highlight of the wear.

Is it the best thing around? No. The second half is pretty basic and there’s no real surprises in store while wearing it. Delicieuse is a pretty perfume with good intangibles. It’s worth a try, if you’re looking for a cherry based scent, and can pick up a bottle for a decent price.

Erolfa by Creed

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I have several more cologne reviews on the way within the next week or so. However, before I got to those I wanted to do one on the last Creed fragrance I sampled while visiting their boutique in Las Vegas, named Erolfa.

Yes, it’s an odd name but it’s taken from the letters of the names of the Creed family. I had never encountered this particular Creed scent before trying it out on my vacation, so, I came at it with no real expectations of performance or smell.

Update: I have tried this again, years after the original review, so I’m adding to my thoughts on this scent. This cologne is in the aquatic/marine end of things and as such I was interested in giving it a whirl in the desert heat.

What does Creed Erolfa Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, ambergris, lime, melon, orange, violet, ginger, coriander, pepper, sandalwood, musk, amber, cedar

Click here to try: Erolfa By Creed For Men. Millesime Spray 4.0 Oz.

My Full Review

The opening of Erolfa is mainly a citrus affair. The lime, melon, and bergamot really stand out in the start which reminds me of pieces of other Creed fragrances such as Imperial, Virgin Island Water, and Silver Mountain Water. Now, it isn’t wholly similar to any of them, just vague reminders from these opening notes.

I rather enjoy the opening that is a citrus blended with saltier notes which replicate the air of the sea, sort of like Acqua di Gio Profumo.

I think that Creed has done a really good job at creating a summertime fragrance that is so reminiscent of spending time on the water. It is fresh, bright, with a clean, quasi-soapy aroma to it.

Mostly what I get from this scent, beyond the citrus opening, is a slightly spicy/woody undertone with that prominent saltiness that hangs in the air.

The musk, ambergris, cedar, and sandalwood are the notes which stood out the most to my nose. The citrus stays throughout but it does weaken as time moves on and these other ingredients begin to shine.

 

It is still a rather fruity fragrance, with salt watery elements, and ambergris sitting on top of a woody base.  What I did notice about Erolfa, the second time around, is the secondary notes. 

This time, I made sure to really pay attention to the composition. I definitely got more violet, than previously, and an underlying earthy dryness. Now, neither is all that powerful, but you can zero in on each if you’re focusing.

Nonetheless, Erolfa is going to be more about the citrus, melon, ambergris, woods, and musk. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Erolfa is honestly pretty moderate. It isn’t really a heavy hitter in that regard, decent but nothing to write home about either. The projection will stay within about a 5 foot radius from your skin and move in closer from there. 

Longevity, I don’t know if it was just that one test I did or if it has problems, but I got a little more than 4 hours out of Erolfa. This is disappointing when compared to other Creed scents but then again it might have just been a one time thing.

Update: I’ve tried this again, since the review in 2016, I got around 5-6 hours the second time. Still, not all that great. I think the extra few hours were due to being inside more, during the second wear. 

I’d definitely say that Erolfa is a warm weather or summertime scent. I couldn’t see myself wearing this at any other time of the year. It just captures that kind of atmosphere.

Erolfa seems more of a casual daytime wear more than anything. It smells nice but it isn’t a date night or club wear by any means. Not really a sexy cologne.

You could wear it in a semi-formal situation during the spring/summer months, but it doesn’t come across as being for any specific purpose. 

Overall Impression of Erolfa

Overall, is Erolfa worth a buy? To me, I don’t think so. I like it but I was never blown away by it and I think there are not only better Creed colognes but also better seaside aquatics out there for cheaper.

I enjoy aspects of this fragrance. Coming back to it, I really appreciate the bergamot and melon notes, here. The melon is on the lighter end of things, but it pairs very well with the citrus.

Erolfa is a very pleasant fragrance, but I still can’t say that it reaches another level of greatness. 

Erolfa didn’t really wow me with its performance and while it’s pretty nice, I don’t want to spend that kind of cash for something that isn’t remarkable.

If you need to add to your Creed collection, then, by all means have at it. Anyone else, should probably look elsewhere.

Armani Si vs. Si Passione

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Armani Si has been one of the more popular Giorgio Armani fragrances over the past few years. It was followed up by the release of its flanker scent, Si Passione. Which of these perfumes smells the best? Which lasts longer? Which is the better buy? In this post, I break it down, in a head to head comparison.

Tale of the Tape

Si by Armani

Notes include: rose, vanilla, freesia, black currant, patchouli, amber, woods

Click here to try: Giorgio Armani Si Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce

Read my Review: Si Perfume

Si Passione

Notes include: heliotrope, rose, grapefruit, black currant, pineapple, pear, cedar, vanilla, patchouli

Click here to try: Armani Si Passione Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4-oz. 

Read my review: Si Passione

Opening

Si kicks things off with black currant, which is tart, and a smoother rose and vanilla combo. It actually makes the fragrance take on a sweet, peach-like quality. Then, there is the patchouli which brings in some earthiness to pair well with the rose.

Passione brings back the black currant, but it is put together with other fruity notes. The main notes in the mix are pear, pineapple, and grapefruit. It’s very fruity and has more of a tropical feel than the original Si.

Then, its rose and heliotrope coming into frame, creating a creamy/powdery aroma. The heliotrope here is more of a factor, to my nose, than is the rose.

Which is better? For me it’s pretty close, but I think that I prefer the original Si versus Passione’s opening act. Not by a huge margin, but I’ll give it the edge.

Edge: Si

Projection

In terms of sillage and overall power, these two are about equal in my book. Neither is an absolute monster, but they aren’t completely weak either. Somewhere in the realm of average, perhaps the higher end of that range.

Edge: Push

Longevity

With the original Si, I got 6-7 hours of wear out of it. Not bad, but not elite. Si Passione isn’t elite either. However, it pulled 7-8.5 hours of wear. So, it’ll take this category.

Edge: Passione 

Versatility

To me, these are both extremely versatile fragrances, which is why they are so popular as daily wears. Each can go to the office, out for casual events, and even serve as romantic wears. I think that Si is probably the better play in terms of sexiness or for nightlife. Though, that’s not its main purpose.

Si is also best in colder temperatures, but it can venture into more moderate temperatures. Passione is great almost year round, just not the hottest days of the year. It does hold up better in the warm weather versus the original. So, it gets the nod.

Edge: Passione

 

 

Overall Scent

I like Si Passione a lot. It’s not amazing, but I found it to be an enjoyable perfume to wear. Very fresh and fruity rose/heliotrope blend, with a somewhat musky/soapy clean finish in the dry down.

Passione is pretty straightforward and not too complex of a fragrance. It does everything well and gives the original Armani Si, a run for its money.

I happen to like Si, a bit better. It’s not the overwhelming winner, but I think that it does have a better aroma overall versus Passione. It starts off with the juicy berry/fruitiness and then moves into something more floral and woody. 

For me, the rose and freesia, with amber and woods really create the distinction between these perfumes. Those notes coming in later, separates Si, and gives it the low key quality to make it a winner.

Winner: Si