Best Perfumes for Women

Yellow Diamond by Versace

by

I still have a box with a dozen or so samples to get through and review. That being the case, I thought that it was time again to a review of a ladies’ fragrance, as they are seemingly most of what it left in the box. Today’s scent is from Versace and was released in 2011, under the title of Yellow Diamond.

As usual, I am going to share my experience  with and impressions of this scent. Plus, give details on how it performs, when it should be worn, and if I think it is worth a purchase or not.

What does Yellow Diamond Smell Like?

Notes include: citron, pear, neroli, bergamot, nymphea, freesia, orange blossom, mimosa, amber wood, musk, palo santo

Click here to try: Versace Yellow Diamond Eau de Toilette Spray, 3 Fluid Ounce

My Full Review

The opening of Yellow Diamond is quite interesting to me. On the one hand you have a blend of citrus, which could come off as potent (as it does in Versace’s Eau Fraiche for Men). However, the notes are actually tempered by the contingent of floral notes, namely the mimosa but I also detect a fairly strong freesia.

So, those who may be worried about a runaway citrus aroma, can be at ease that Yellow Diamond is not like that.

It’s kind of cool how Versace managed to essentially create the color yellow within the confines of a fragrance. The initial aroma really does invoke images of all kinds of yellow flowers and lemons growing off of trees.

At about 10-15 minutes in, I pick up more of the floral notes than I do the citrus, and the scent becomes like being among some lush greenery.

Yellow Diamond does a nice job of not being a linear scent experience during wear and you do actually get to pick up on the variety of notes throughout the day. The overall all picture of it that I get is that, this is a bright/warm daytime fragrance with an air of floral sweetness to it.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it starts out as a moderate but is mostly a light fragrance throughout its lifespan. I don’t mean to say that it is weak or anything like that but it isn’t something that will absolutely envelope you (unless you go overboard with the spraying).

The longevity is decent but not crazy good, I found that I got about 6 hours on my skin, where the perfume was noticeable.

Because Yellow Diamond flies under the radar, it can be a good choice for casual situations such as work or school. I’d say that it’s best in the springtime but I’d definitely keep it on in the daytime. It really doesn’t strike me as a ‘sexy’ perfume.

Like, if I smelled this on a woman while out on the town for an evening, I’d think that it’s a pleasant scent but it wouldn’t drive me crazy in the slightest.

Overall Impressions of Yellow Diamond

Overall, is Yellow Diamond worth a buy? It’s a good everyday wear, though, it isn’t some amazing experience. If you like the floral notes that are in it, like citrus, and need a daytime fragrance…then, this might be the solution for you.

If you enjoy more candy-like sweetness or a dark/spicy perfume, then, you’d be served well to look elsewhere. Yellow Diamond is a very solid perfume, good but not great.

Obsessed for Women by Calvin Klein

by

I’ve already reviewed Obsessed for Men, on this site, which was a pretty good fragrance. So, when I got a sample of Obsessed for Women, I was intrigued to see what direction Calvin Klein was going to take this in.

This is actually a new release for 2017 and shares a similar name with the classic Obsession, though, their doesn’t appear to be any actual similarities between them.

In this post, I’m going to go over how it smells, performs, what the notes are, and whether or not it is worth a further look.

What does Obsessed for Women Smell Like?

Notes include: musk, sage, lavender, citrus, neroli, violet leaf

Click here to try: Calvin Klein Obsessed for Women Eau De Parfum, 1 fl. oz.

My Full Review

The packaging that the sample vial of Obsessed for Women came in, says that it is ‘a female interpretation of an oriental fougere’.  With that, I wasn’t expecting something that was hyper feminine or sweet, and after use this does feel more like an unisex perfume.

The opening is floral, herbal, and musky. The lavender has that familiar scent and reminds me of the lavender Epsom bath salt that I use for sore muscles.

The citrus notes are noticeable at the start, as well, and give it kind of an aquatic aroma. It really does bring back memories of two of Calvin Klein’s 90s unisex fragrances, CK One and CK Be, but retains something different from each of those scents.

I think the warm musky spice and the sage, set it apart, and there is this underlying body wash/soapy quality to Obsessed.

Obsessed is fresh throughout its lifespan and the floral notes provided by the neroli and violet leaf begin to come into play about 20-30 minutes after application. That is when it begins to shift more towards the feminine side of the spectrum, after the quite ambiguous start.

However, it stays mostly in that floral/soft/spice/fresh water aquatic, mode throughout.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s a lighter scent, and definitely didn’t seem overpowering to me. I also sprayed it three times on a shirt and parked it about 4 feet away and didn’t really detect it.

So, it’s not going to be a massive radius and no long scent trail in your wake, unless you really spray the heck out of it.

Obsessed is a perfume that performs somewhat well, but you have to get closer. Longevity, again, was decent. Maybe 6+ hours, depending on the environment.

It feels more appropriate as a spring/summer scent but I think that it could perform well in any season really. While it does enjoy seasonal versatility, I’d classify it as casual.

It’s a pleasant perfume, but I don’t find it sexy or anything of that nature. A good low-key scent for work or school or some other casual function.

Overall Impressions of Obsessed for Women

Overall, is Obsessed worth a purchase? I don’t have anything bad to say about it. It serves its purpose as a fresh scent that is a nice change from the usual fruity or hyper-sweet perfumes.

So, if you’re in the market for that thing and are a fan of lavender, musk, and sage; then this one might be a good fit as a daily wear.

It’s very much a Calvin Klein fragrance, without even looking at the bottle, you can sort of just tell. Better than average, the usual notes, and not a big performer.

I don’t find it to be some incredible scent that is a must have, but it is nice, low key, and veers more to the unisex than girly.

Daisy by Marc Jacobs

by

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

by

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

by

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.