Best Perfumes for Women

Noir de Noir by Tom Ford

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For this edition of my fragrance reviews, I have another entry from the Tom Ford Private Blend lineup, Noir de Noir. The scent is one of the more popular perfumes offered by the brand, but does it actually smell any good? How does this black of black perform? Is it even worth a try? I’ve been testing it out for a while and here are my results.

What does Noir de Noir Smell Like?

Notes include: rose, oud, patchouli, black truffle, tree moss

Click here to try: Tom Ford Private Blend Noir De Noir Eau De Parfum Spray Edp 3.4 Fl / 100 Ml

My Full Wear Review

I’m not too much of a fan of rose, as a note in fragrances. Especially, rose dominated scents, they usually never really strike a chord with me; even if I don’t hate the way it smells. So, Noir de Noir shouldn’t be a perfume that I enjoy, but I actually do.

When I saw that oud and patchouli were added to rose, I had the preconception that it was going to smell exactly like, every other Middle Eastern inspired fragrance out there, with a huge rose and overpowering spice. What I got from this Tom Ford scent, was quite different.

Noir de Noir does indeed open up with a familiar aroma of rose, however, it seems sweeter, while at the same time dirtier than other rose scents. But this is what makes it such a good smell.

It is paired with patchouli at the start and this provides an earthy spice, that not super intense but allows the scent to be dark and not just another in your face rose.

The oud sits at the base, along with the slight mossy element in here. However, the key here in my opinion, is the black truffle and vanilla. I didn’t see vanilla listed as a note, but I get that sweet creaminess peaking through during the dry down.

This is when Noir de Noir is at its absolute best. I love the balance here, one minute it is rosy and floral, the next dirty and spicy, and then it is sweet. All wrapped up in a dark and enveloping warmth. The oud is the sturdy heart of the perfume, but it stays out of the way, and isn’t super overt.

Sillage, How Long it Lasts, and Versatility

Projection wise, I don’t find the sillage of Noir de Noir to be all that powerful. It isn’t weak, but it didn’t make me recoil when applying it. It’ll stay in a nice little 3-4 foot radius of you during the wear and you will catch nice whiffs of it throughout.

It also stayed on my skin for about 9 hours or so. Wasn’t insane, with the longevity, but it is certainly very good. On a colder day, the performance does stand out. The longevity is good, but what’s impressive is how it sticks around with a good amount of power.

This is a unisex scent, maybe leaning more towards a woman’s fragrance, but it doesn’t really seem as wholly feminine. Noir de Noir works fantastically on me, as a man, so I wouldn’t worry about seeming too girly with it.

Either way, I liked wearing it in the cold weather recently, and don’t think that it would be too successful for anyone in the summertime. It’s a bit too rich for any time with too much humidity or heat.

Noir de Noir is a sophisticated scent, as such, I probably wouldn’t wear it casually. This is more of something to wear on an evening out, whether that is in a suit or a dress. Anything with a bit of style to it. It is sexy in its own way, not super seductive, but inviting and intriguing.

Overall Impressions of Noir de Noir

Overall, do I like Noir de Noir by Tom Ford? Yes, if you couldn’t tell. I think that it is a highly enjoyable fragrance, that captures a lot of different moods, aromas, and skirts the line of masculine and feminine.

It successfully managed to take notes that aren’t usually my favorites and make me enjoy wearing it. This is a wonderful piece of the Private Blend collection.

The truffle is a fantastic addition, getting paired with the more commonplace vanilla note. They sweeten and calm, what would otherwise be quite an intensely earthy sort of perfume.

Nonetheless, it ultimately is an earthy experience. The rose note is surprisingly good, when paired with patchouli. It comes together as a very dark, warm, sweet, and powerful wear. Noir de Noir is a fragrance, I wouldn’t have expected to enjoy, but really did, in the end.

Tuscan Leather by Tom Ford

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I’ve got a whole lot of Tom Ford fragrance write-ups to do over the next little while, so you can expect 20+ reviews, over the next months (?) as I get all of them written and sorted out. Today’s review, we have a fragrance from the Private Blend Collection, Tuscan Leather. It was released in 2007. How does this popular scent smell? What’s inside? How does it perform? Is it even worth a try?

What does Tuscan Leather Smell Like?

Notes include: leather, suede, raspberry, jasmine, olibanum, saffron, amber

Click here to try: Tom Ford Tuscan Leather Eau De Parfume Spray for Men, 1.7 Ounce

My Full Review

The opening of Tuscan Leather is obviously full of the headlining leather note, but it is also joined by saffron, which brings to mind Godolphin by Parfums de Marly. However, what separates the Tom Ford creation, is the addition of a light raspberry note which sweetens up the background. It isn’t super juicy or girly, but that familiar aroma is there.

The leathery fragrance is obviously going to draw a lot of comparisons with one of the newer Tom Ford scents, Ombre Leather. I think Ombre is a drier fragrance than this is, but I will do a full comparison in the future.

The leather note in Tuscan Leather is utterly phenomenal. I’m a huge fan of this ingredient in fragrances and it is done to perfection here. Rich and super smooth, only made more so by the addition of the black suede note. It all comes together as very dark and deep.

As it dries down further, there is a subtle smokiness to Tuscan Leather, and a warmth provided by amber.

Beyond that, a faint jasmine note peaks in to the composition at times, but never quite unseats the saffron. In the end the main players are: leather, saffron, raspberry, and suede.

Leather and saffron are really great together in fragrances. Tuscan is a premier example of this, and that juicy raspberry note, just ties it all together.

Sillage, How Long it Lasts, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage on this one is really strong, at first. Then, it settles down into something more moderate. To me, I love its loudness and confidence, when it kicks off. I am reviewing the current formulation and the longevity isn’t what I remember it to be in the past.

It is still good, but doesn’t have that same all day and into the night performance that it used to. I can still hit around a standard work day with Tuscan Leather. So, now it’s about 8 hours. Before, it would get 10+ pretty easily.

Is this decline just in the batch I have? Not sure, but I’ve read some other reports of this as well. Nonetheless, Tuscan certainly isn’t ‘weak’ by any means. Maybe just lost a step.

Seasonally, this is a wintertime gem. It hangs beautifully in the chilled air. You could also break it out during the autumn months to great effect. I’d definitely avoid it in the summer months or if you happen to live in a tropical climate. Not great in the heat.

This Tom Ford fragrance is classy enough to be worn for business or formal occasions, but also, sexy enough to go out at night.

It’s pretty much an anytime wear during the winter months. Maybe not for totally casual occasions or for really young folks, but it wouldn’t feel completely, out of place.

This is classified as a unisex fragrance and it does fit that bill. However, it does lean more toward the masculine end of things. That being said, anyone can really wear this one. The raspberry and jasmine notes, really help to give Tuscan a lighter touch.

Overall Impressions of Tuscan Leather by Tom Ford

Overall, do I like Tuscan Leather? Of course. It is a really great leather fragrance, that is sophisticated, well blended, and smells awesome. Smooth as hell and the saffron/raspberry really add a nice touch to the whole composition.

If you’re not a leather fan, obviously avoid this one. However, for anyone else with that kind of money to drop on a $200+ bottle of Tom Ford, this is an excellent choice.

This has a less dry and earthy feeling than does Ombre Leather, and I slightly prefer that scent from Tom Ford. However, this is still a really great perfume, maybe not exactly what it once was…but it holds up.

Delices De Cartier EDT by Cartier

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Starting off fresh for this month, I have another ladies’ fragrance review on tap for today. This one is another entry from Cartier, entitled, Delices de Cartier. This is the EDT version that I am going to be writing about. As usual, I am going to cover: what’s in it, how it smells, how it performs, when it should be worn, and if it is worth a buy or not.

What does Delices de Cartier Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, vanilla, iced cherry, pink pepper, freesia, jasmine, violet, tonka bean, amber, sandalwood

Click here to try: Delices de Cartier for Women 1.0 oz Parfum Classic Spray

Full Wear Review

The opening of Delices de Cartier sets the cherry-laden tone of the perfume. The cool and crisp iced cherry note is joined by bergamot note, which gives the scent a cherry limeade sort of aroma.

There is also a pink pepper note which is reminiscent of the one found in Guess Seductive Homme.

I enjoy the opening act of this Cartier perfume, as it is such a nice blend of sweet and tart. Plus, the iced aspect, is something that usually gets my attention when utilized with fruits. The cooling scent of the cherry with some warmth of the pink pepper and a light lovely spice.

After a few minutes, I start to pick up more on the floral notes which give off a slight powdery smell, particularly the violet and jasmine combo. It becomes much smoother, refined, and warm once the tonka bean and amber notes take hold.

The bergamot and pink pepper start to fall by the wayside as the dry down begins.

This is my favorite part of the perfume, when it transforms from a very concentrated cherry, to a warm powdery gourmand scent that is quite lovely. Of course, the powdery aspect is met with a certain creaminess, from sandalwood and tonka bean.

When it all comes together, it sort of all blends into a sweet, warm, and indeed delicious fragrance.

The sweetness in this one is a fruity (mainly cherry) type of sweetness and not a candy or cake sort of thing, even if there is a slight vanilla quality to it. The EDT version does have the vanilla note, which I believe the original lacks.

Essentially, Delices de Cartier goes from an icy fruity fragrance, to a warm powdery and sweet one.

The main notes that I pick up towards the end of the wear are: cherry, amber, tonka bean, and sandalwood. There is some light floral impressions in the mix, but don’t present themselves, all that much.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I found it to be on the upper end of moderate. I wouldn’t call it strong, but I noticed that it was there the entire time. The sillage isn’t going to choke out someone from across a room, but never was an airy perfume, either.

You will get a solid 4-6 foot perimeter around the skin, for the first hour or so. Then, it will gradually draw itself in. Never too light, but not at all extreme.

It gives a very good performance of 7+ hours of wear. This isn’t one that will fall off in the middle of the day and I found the longevity to be one of this EDT’s stronger points. Very solid performance.

For seasonal wear, I’d call it Fall/Winter. It’s a gourmand, smells edible, with a warm and powdery undertone. It’s pretty versatile and could work both casually and romantically.

It does have a certain sense of seductiveness to the aroma, particularly once it settles in fully. I certainly find it attractive, not amazingly ‘sexy’, but it does have a distinct appeal.

Overall Impressions of Delices de Cartier

Overall, would I recommend Delices de Cartier? I have to say, yes. I think it is an interesting fragrance and smells nice. I’ll also say, that the cherry note might be the deciding factors for most people looking to buy it. It is kind of hit or miss.

It’s a red cherry scent and not a black cherry like found in Guerlain’s La Petite Robe Noire.

If you absolutely hate cherries, than this one is a scent you should avoid. All things considered, it is a fairly unique perfume, with good longevity, and an appealing aroma.

Mind blowing? No, but a well above average scent for ladies. If there are bottles available for pretty cheap, it good be a really solid buy for the right person.

Update: It looks as though this one has been discontinued, as the bottles that I’m seeing online, are now super expensive. I certainly don’t think this one is worth $300+. However, if you can find a bottle around for under $100, it might be worth a shot.

Royal Mayfair by Creed

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Today, I’m going to cover yet another unisex fragrance by Creed, Royal Mayfair. This is a scent that I haven’t had any experience with so I was curious to see what it’s all about and how it stacks up versus other Creed offerings. As usual, I’m going to go over what’s inside, how it smells, how it performs, when it should be worn, and if it’s actually worth getting.

What does Royal Mayfair Smell Like?

Notes include: gin, lime, eucalyptus, pine, rose, cedar

Click here to try: Creed Royal Mayfair Eau de Parfum Millesime Spray for Men, 4 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Royal Mayfair seems pretty harsh at first, with a pungent pine note mixed with gin (which is also loud) and eucalyptus. It’s quite odd to me, having a pine note come out of the gates like that, but it does settle down after that.

The eucalyptus note is soothing and it kind of reminds me of a brand of hand lotion, that I cannot recall the name of at this moment.

The rose note feels very ‘green’ to me and the pine note only adds to that to give Royal Mayfair a woodsy/outdoor aroma. How one feels about that will depend on your personal taste, I find it to be okay, and at this point I begin to think that this one doesn’t really fit my style.

While this is listed as a unisex fragrance, the rose and eucalyptus, make this fragrance veer more towards the feminine side of things, in my opinion. It’s not super girly or anything but the floral and greenery do give it that sort of feeling.

I will say that Royal Mayfair is quite a smooth scent and very well blended like many Creed fragrances. The cedar note is the stabilizer of this fragrance, it provides the woody heart, that allows the other notes to successfully play off one another.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Royal Mayfair is pretty moderate, outside of that initial strong blast. I’d say around a 3-4 foot radius of aroma around the skin.

It does however, have really good longevity. At one point, I was washing it off of my skin, and had to go back and scrub for a second time because it was still out in full force. It’ll easily hit double digit hours.

This is a spring/summer fragrance, that fits best into casual or dressed up daytime occasions. It doesn’t strike me a romantic or a nightlife scent in the slightest. From casual to daytime formal, mostly.

Overall Impressions of Royal Mayfair

Is it worth a buy? For me, no, but that doesn’t make it a ‘bad’ fragrance. It’s not bad. It just so happens to contain notes that I don’t personally enjoy very much: rose, pine, and eucalyptus.

However, there are plenty of people who love that sort of thing. It’s a well made fragrance that gives good performance, so if that’s your thing and you’ve got the money…go for it.

La Petite Robe Noire by Guerlain

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So, I’ve received two samples of La Petite Robe Noire fragrances by Guerlain, and it of course confused me as to which one was which. There seems to be a long complicated structure to when the original was released and then all of the subsequent flanker perfumes that all have very similar bottles.

Never mind all of that though, this post will take a closer look at the Eau de Parfum version of this Guerlain scent, and present my opinions on how it smells, performs, and when it should be worn.

What does La Petite Robe Noire Smell Like?

Notes include: black cherry, rose, almond, licorice, black tea, red berry, vanilla, and more

Click here to try: Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Review

The opening is a blend of black cherry and berry notes that has a heavy syrup quality to it, much like the type of cherries you’d find at a bar or used as candy flavoring.

This does have that strong candy/medicinal aroma that can wear on me, thanks to the licorice note, much like the one found in Lolita Lempicka Au Masculin. However, it doesn’t bother me as much in this eau de parfum, as it does in that men’s fragrance.

As it dries down, I do begin to detect more of the almond and vanilla note in La Petite Robe Noire. It gives it a bit of a different profile than that strong almost overly sweet start and some much needed depth to the perfume.

What’s interesting, is that even though this is a sweet/fruity fragrance, it does have a darker and less girly feel than many similar fragrances of its ilk. Also, as it wear it does seem to evolve further, while never losing its cherry aroma.

The black tea, rose, and other floral notes begin to take shape and make me appreciate this scent even more.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it starts off strong for the first ten minutes or so, before it fades into something much more moderate and tolerable. That opening sweetness can feel a lot more powerful, than the perfume actually is.

The longevity struck me as pretty good but not insane, I would say it lasted about 6-7 good hours on my skin. It’s about in line with what I’ve come to expect from this series.

I think that this is a scent for colder weather. La Petite Robe Noire does have that kind of sweetness that can overwhelm and annoy some people, so I’m not too sure that I’d recommend it for office or school wear. Best to be worn on an evening out, it would seem.

Overall Impressions of La Petite Robe Noire EDP

Overall, would I recommend this fragrance? For some people, yes. If you’re in the market for a solid cherry based scent, this could be one to explore. I find it very interesting, but not incredible, by any means.

I like when the opening settles down and more of the almond and vanilla comes through. That’s when Robe Noire is at its absolute best.

In my opinion, it’s decent to good but for some ladies this might be love at first sniff…and others still will detest this parfum. It’s definitely one to try out and not expect a universal appeal while wearing it. A mostly good Guerlain scent.