Best Perfumes for Women

Jimmy Choo EDP by Jimmy Choo

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Well, it’s about time that I do a review of a Jimmy Choo fragrance for women, after doing write-ups on the men’s side of things. Might as well start with the original release from the brand, Jimmy Choo Eau de Parfum, released in 2011.

I grabbed a sample some time ago to give it a run through. It’s seemingly always among the top sellers, nowadays, but is it actually any good? How does it smell? How’s the performance? Is it worth a try?

What does Jimmy Choo EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: patchouli, orchid, pear, orange, toffee caramel

Click here to try: JIMMY CHOO Eau de Parfum Spray, 2.0 Fl Oz

My Full Review

Before we get into my review of this perfume, let’s see what the brand has to say about it: A glamorous fragrance for women with a sense of fashion and a taste for luxury. The first Jimmy Choo fragrance envelops the woman with the sensuality and the essence of the brand through a Fruity Chypre perfume. An irresistible object of desire. 

Jimmy Choo EDP opens up with a mix of fruit and a very strong patchouli note. On the fruity side of things, I get the pear note with a bit of orange, sitting in a sea of patchouli. There is also the orchid note, hanging out on the periphery.

Right away, you’re going to need to be a patchouli fan, to be able to like this. That note settles down, later on, but it is intense with the opening act of fruit notes.

It’s a pretty aroma, while also having a sexy quality to it. Fashionable and well put together, sort of how there marketing has described this perfume to be.

The top is fruity sweet, then, the toffee note comes in to give it a warmer sweetness. At that point, the orange note is basically gone, and it’s all about the pear and toffee.

From there, the pear and caramel toffee switch places. The toffee becomes the stronger note, with the patchouli, and I even start to get more of the orchid. The pear hangs around, but isn’t the main attraction, any longer.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatilty

Sillage wise, I’d say this one projects pretty heavily at first, and stays fairly strong thereafter. Once you get past the first 15-20 minutes, Jimmy Choo EDP, no longer has any real ability to be overwhelming unless you went crazy with sprays.

It’s still got power after that, but it just isn’t a complete bomb, like it can be at first.

The longevity here is really good. On my skin, I can still detect it over 8 hours later. Is it a super performer? No, but it doesn’t quit in the middle of the day, and can make it for a full normal work schedule.

It’s a very versatile scent. I wouldn’t really classify it as being stuck in one season or another. Maybe not the best, in the height of summer, but good otherwise. That toffee and patchouli combo might be tough to pull off, during that part of the year.

You can wear this casually, dressed up, to the office, or for a night on the town. It’s a good all around wear. It’s attractive and has some definite sex appeal with its edible qualities.

Overall Impression of Jimmy Choo EDP

Do I like this perfume? Yes, I do. The opening isn’t my favorite, a little to much patchouli, but the dry down is great. That toffee, patchouli, and pear combination that hangs around for a few hours is near perfect together.

It’s a fragrance that does everything well, while not doing anything too incredible. However, as a daily wear it has its fans, and can absolutely find a spot in one’s rotation.

It does have sort of a Flowerbomb kind of style, but not the same weightings of each type of note found in these fragrances. But, if you enjoy that Viktor & Rolf perfume, this will probably appeal to you, also.

You get a solid performance, smell, and plenty of opportunity to wear it. It’s been around for near a decade, but Jimmy Choo Eau de Parfum is still stylish, and attractive. If you find it at a discount, you can get a ton of value from this one. Even at full price, I’d say it’s well worth a try.

Weekend for Women by Burberry

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I never really liked the men’s version of Weekend by Burberry, as it was pretty bad all around. However, the women’s version was always much more pleasant and attractive, in my opinion. I recently grabbed a sample, with my latest batch, and wanted to finally give this one a full review. How does Weekend perform? How does it smell? Is it actually worth a try?

What does Weekend for Women Smell Like?

Notes include: nectarine, mandarin, iris, sandalwood, peach blossom, hyacinth, rose hip, musk, cyclamen

Click here to try: Burberry Weekend Eau De Parfum for Women, 1 Fl Oz

My Full Wear Review

Burberry Weekend opens up with a light, sweet nectarine and peach blossom. Right away, however, I notice that this is going to be much more of a floral fragrance than a fruity one.

The hyacinth is quite present immediately and will hang around for the duration of the wear. The composition smells very clean and has a powdery/musk blend to it, as well. I’m thinking clean, like fresh laundry, sort of smell.

Hyacinth, iris, and peach blossom are the main flower petals that I get from this. The rest of them, don’t seem very distinct to my nose, but really well-blended together in this Burberry fragrance.

As it moves on further, it is less like a soapy fresh smell, and feels like being in a flower garden. Sitting outdoors, eating nectarines, with the flowers in full bloom. I like this part of the wear, much more, as it feels closer to a natural aroma. 

Finally, what I’m left with is: nectarine, peach blossom, musk, florals, and wood. Sandalwood with a touch of cedar, give it added freshness and balance. Relaxing flower garden, with nectarine, and wood. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This projects itself moderately. I’d say, somewhere in the 4-6 feet range, around the wearer. Not a complete bomb, by any means, but decent. It does have a lighter airy kind of aroma, not a heavier imposing one.

The longevity is great, not elite, but it’ll go for a long while. I got about 9 hours, from Burberry Weekend, before it disappeared. Definitely good enough for the standard workday.

Weekend, as the name suggests, has a casual and chill vibe. It is best worn during the spring or summertime, when the weather is warm, and sun is shining. It could absolutely be a daily wear to the office, also, as it isn’t going to be one that offends. 

It is a pretty and clean fragrance, rather than, a sexy one. It’s attractive enough to get complements, though. An easy perfume to have in the rotation for the warmer months of the year, that can cover a lot of bases.

 

 

Overall Impression of Burberry Weekend for Women

Do I like this Burberry scent? I do like Weekend for Women. If it didn’t have the nectarine, it’d probably be too much of a flower garden scent for my taste, but it’s great here.

The middle act and the dry down are lovely. The peach blossom and nectarine pair well with the other notes to give this perfume a naturalistic and pleasant aroma.

The performance is very good, it has a sunny personality, and gives you a clean wear. Is it super exciting? No. Not completely original, either, but it does deliver a versatile and rather beautiful smell. 

This is a nice option for those who want a low-key daily wear, or something to put on, when just hanging out. 

Update: This does seem to be the same scent as before, but the current bottle has been changed from the original. As of now, Burberry is still selling Weekend.

Cheap & Chic I Love Love by Moschino

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Beyond just having a long and rather odd name, Cheap & Chic I Love Love, has gained a reputation as an affordable option for the warmer months of the year. It actually came out back in 2004, so, this Moschino perfume has stuck around for a long time in this role.

It’s not a super inexpensive scent, but for usually around $30 or so, it has become a name to know when looking for a bargain. Is it actually worth it? How does it smell? How long does it last?

What does Cheap & Chic I Love Love Smell Like?

Notes include: orange, lemon, grapefruit, redcurrant, rush, lily of the valley, tea rose, cinnamon leaves, tanaka wood, musk, cedar

Click here to try: I Love Love Cheap and Chic by Moschino for Women 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette Spray 

My Full Review

I Love Love opens up with a bright and juicy citrus mix. Up top, it’s mostly about the orange, with lemon and grapefruit flanking. This Cheap and Chic perfume is super fresh and completely upbeat. There is also the redcurrant which has a red berry aroma, against the citrus.

Obviously, this one gets compared to Light Blue by D&G, and the similarities are very obvious.  The main difference is the additional citrus notes in this one, no apple, and less of the cedar than in the Dolce perfume. 

I Love Love is also sweeter, with a tinge of sugar, lurking in the background. 

 

As it moves along, some of the middle notes, start to come out. I will say, the Lily of the Valley and tea rose, aren’t all that strong nor detectable on my skin. I can pick up some cinnamon, but it almost gets lost in the citrus.

At this stage, the orange is no longer dominant, and actually falls behind the lemon and grapefruit in strength.

On a shirt, the floral notes do have more of a presence. More lily and cinnamon. Nevertheless, musk and cedar are stronger than either of those ingredients, and serve as the base notes.

What you’re left with is a lemon heavy citrus mix, with hints of musk, and a woody base headed up by the cedar. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage of I Love Love is pretty good, but not overly powerful. It’ll project on the skin in about a 4-6 foot radius around you. The citrus notes can be sharp, but the perfume isn’t going to choke out a room.

The longevity is also solid, somewhere in the 6-8 hour range, for me. For a daily wear or casual summertime fragrance, that’s more than enough, for most occasions.

Seasonally, as I said, this is a spring and summertime perfume. It’s good for wearing around town during the daytime, can be an office scent, or just casually.

It’s not really a nightlife perfume or something that will come across as ‘sexy’.

Though, it can be worn by all ages and is one with a definite mass appeal, as expected with something so much like the Dolce perfume.

Overall Impression of I Love Love

Do I like this perfume? I do. I actually prefer this mix of citrus versus the lemon and apple of Light Blue. It’s a pretty simple fragrance, but one that does a good job, for a cheap price.

The sweetness here is better and it doesn’t come across as hyper fresh or harsh as the Dolce & Gabbana perfume can. Though, you do still get plenty of freshness from this one. I do like that red currant and lemon combination up top.

The cedar and apple in that one, can turn away some people. This Moschino has a better balance.

You get good performance and a freshly attractive smell. This Moschino offering is a great option for those who want a summertime fragrance or are looking to replace Light Blue with something else. 

Code Femme Absolu by Giorgio Armani

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Armani Code is a best seller in both the men’s and women’s space, with each respective version. Usually when the men’s Code spawns a flanker, the women’s gets one as well with the same title. In 2019, we got the Absolu versions of Code, include Code Femme Absolu. I received a sample of this perfume, when I put in my last order with Armani. How does it smell? Perform? Is it worth a buy?

What does Code Femme Absolu Smell Like? 

Notes include: ginger, tuberose, jasmine, orange blossom, orange, tonka bean, vanilla, sandalwood

Click here to try: Code Femme Absolu Eau de Parfum Spray 50ml/1.7oz

My Full Review

Code Absolu Femme kicks things off with a hefty dose of ginger, the floral blend, and citrus. All of this together with vanilla undertones.

At first, I pick up mostly orange blossom, with tuberose and jasmine following. Together it feels slightly waxy and like it has a sweet fizziness. I can certainly recall smelling portions of this fragrance in the original Armani Code.

As it moves along, I pick up more jasmine and tuberose versus the orange blossom. Still, there’s enough citrus fruit to keep the feeling of orange alive. Though, it’s not an overwhelming citrus type of perfume.

Still further, the ginger fades, as does the orange. Tonka bean and vanilla really emerge to join the floral bouquet that is dominating. Not too complicated: flowers, with vanilla and tonka bean, and the hint of a sandalwood base.

Actually, smells quite similar to Dior Addict, at times. That and the original Code. But, a creamier and more enveloping version of each of those perfumes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Code Absolu Femme has a strong sillage, well above average, but not super extreme. I’d say it has the ability to venture across a room, with the right number of sprays, just not one or two. The strength and projection won’t disappoint.

Nor will the longevity. On my skin, it seems to stay in the 8-10 hour range. Which for most purposes, is all you will need. Again, not an elite performer, just a very good one.

Seasonally, colder to moderate temperatures and climates. I’d avoid higher heat and humidity with this one, as it does have a certain amount of thickness. Not a sheer beach wear or anything like that.

Absolu Femme also feels geared more towards adults rather than younger women. It’s well put together and confident. Less of a casual fragrance, but it could work well in the night, just as well as at work (so long as you go easy with the spraying).

Overall Impressions of Code Femme Absolu

Do I like this fragrance? I do. It not only reminds me of Code Femme and Dior Addict. But also, it has elements of the men’s version, which I love. This version? I only like. I’d certainly find it attractive on a woman.

Code Femme Absolu does everything well. It has an intensity that not everyone will find appealing. Very floral and when the vanilla/tonka bean comes in, it can be too sweet and creamy for the tastes of some folks.

Overall? It’s certainly a perfume that I’m not disappointed by. If you’re interested in getting this, do so now, as Armani has discontinued it. A very short run from its late 2019 release date. Kind of odd that they sent me a sample, as it was already being halted.

Paco Rabanne Lady Million vs Prive Perfume Comparison

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Alright, so, I’ve already reviewed these two Paco Rabanne perfumes and now it is time to do a full head to head comparison between: Lady Million vs. Lady Million Prive. Which of these eau de parfums, is the better buy? What are the differences? Which performs the best? Please continue below for my full breakdown.

Tale of the Tape

Lady Million EDP

Notes include: jasmine, gardenia, patchouli, orange blossom, neroli, bitter orange, raspberry, honey, and amber

Click here to try: Lady Million by Paco Rabanne Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 2.70 Ounce

Read my original review: Lady Million EDP Review

Lady Million Prive EDP

Notes included: raspberry, vanilla, patchouli, cocoa bean, honey, orange blossom, heliotrope, wood

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne Lady Million Prive Eau de Parfum Spray, 2.7 Ounce

Read my original review: Lady Million Prive EDP

Opening

The original Lady Million opens up with white floral notes like jasmine, gardenia, and orange blossom. These are paired with a juicy raspberry note. The raspberry isn’t super powerful and is tempered by the floral notes.

The honey and patchouli are hanging out in the background, but those really emerge 30 minutes in, and take over the composition.

Prive, on the other hand, has the same raspberry note except that it is really juicy and fully developed. Prive is darker than the original Lady Million and has much more of a fruity vibe.

The raspberry is paired with a creamy vanilla note and the same orange blossom. It is sweeter and has more warmth than does Lady Million.

Which is better? I actually prefer the opening of Prive more so than the original. I enjoy the raspberry top and the sweet darkness more than the floral opening of Lady Million.

Edge: Prive

Projection

These are both moderate fragrances overall. However, Prive does start off stronger, even if they are eventually both on the same level of intensity.

Prive feels heavier from the jump and then becomes a moderate, while Lady Million is pretty consistent.

Lady Million just doesn’t have that same initial pop that Prive can give you in the early stages.

Edge: Prive

Longevity

These two perfumes seem to be equal in terms of how long they last on the skin. In my testing, they both could hit 8 hours without issue.

Each of them are pretty good and will stick around for a standard workday. However, they don’t go beyond that. No clear cut winner, here.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Both of these perfumes can be worn on many occasions from casual to office to a night out on the town. However, Prive is much more limited to colder weather.

Lady Million is a cold weather scent, but it can venture into the springtime or early summer. In that regard, it takes this category.

It’s not much of a difference, but it could be useful those who live in a climate that takes a while to build up to summer temperatures.

Edge: Lady Million

Overall Scent

Ultimately, both of these fragrances are led by a honey note. In Lady Million, the honey note is paired with the white flowers, raspberry, and some patchouli. It is sweet but more of a floral/honey sweetness.

Prive, has that same honey, but adds more patchouli. The dry down is full of cocoa bean and a warm gourmand quality. It is rich and dry and there s even an emergent woodiness to the fragrance as it moves further along.

Which Paco Rabanne do I prefer? Ehhh, neither of these perfumes is amazing. Both are solid and have plenty of similarities.

However, I would lean more towards Prive than the original. I like the dark sweetness, the cocoa bean, and how it develops from juicy raspberry to dry woods.

If you prefer floral fragrances, then, Lady Million will probably be the better bet. It’s not a huge distance between the two, as they have solid performance, but I give the slight edge to Prive.

Winner: Lady Million Prive