Best Perfumes for Women

Kilian Angels’ Share vs. Smoking Hot

by

Kilian’s Angels’ Share has been a best seller for years now and has been copied by a lot of different releases, trying to capitalize on that success. Meanwhile, Smoking Hot is one that’s gaining steam from the brand, but hasn’t gotten the same level of attention yet.

However, these two are often compared to one another. As such, I thought I’d do a post, matching them up. Which smells better? Lasts longer? And is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Angels’ Share vs. Smoking Hot

Angels’ Share

Notes include: cognac, tonka bean, oak wood, cinnamon, praline, vanilla, sandalwood

Click here to try: Angels’ Share at Sephora

Read my review: Angels’ Share by Kilian

Smoking Hot

Notes include: apple smoke, cinnamon, tobacco, Bourbon vanilla, moss, clary sage, licorice, Orcanox

Click here to try: Smoking Hot

My Review: Smoking Hot by Kilian

Opening

Angels’ Share starts of with its signature cognac, oak, and its tonka bean note. The cognac has an apple-like sweetness to it, which is fantastic.

The sweetness is enhanced by the inclusion of vanilla and praline. Which all plays well off of the spicy punch of the cinnamon note.

It’s a great mix of boozy, sweet, and spicy. Very warm with its aroma and has a baked good sort of undercurrent to the cognac-led mix.

Meanwhile, Smoking Hot also starts things off with an apple and cinnamon blend. But, it doesn’t strike me as being exactly like Angels’ Share. It smells much more like Apple Brandy on the rocks, just swapping out that brandy note for a smoky shisha.

But, there’s obviously going to be some sense of an overlap between them.

It’s fruity, sweet, smoky, a tad spicy, and fresh. The cinnamon note isn’t as powerful in Smoking Hot, as it is in Angels’ Share. Plus, you do get some moss and a faint clary sage note, adding a lighter and somewhat greenish dimension to this scent.

Vanilla, is also in the mix, but feels more prominent later on.

Which is better? It’s a close race. However, I still prefer the opening act of the cognac-soaked Angels’ Share more than Smoking Hot. Though, I really do like the latter a whole lot too.

Edge: Angels’ Share

Projection

Both of these fragrances have a strong opening act. I think Angels’ Share hits a higher high and its initial blast of notes is slower to fall off when compared to those of Smoking Hot.

Nonetheless, each of these Kilian perfumes is a strong, but not overwhelming fragrance. That will both settle into something more moderate, but still noticeable.

The performance differences between these two are interesting. Angels’ Share is the heavier of the two and has a bit better reach, in terms of its projection.

But, while it takes this category, the longevity is much more of a contest.

Edge: Angels’ Share

Longevity

With Angels’ Share, I get 9-13 hours of wear on my skin. It’s not a complete powerhouse throughout, but I for sure get a good and long time with this Kilian perfume whenever I wear it.

Smoking Hot actually matches Angels’ Share for me. Also, it has yet to not reach the 10 hour mark. 

I’ve been wearing each of them quite a lot recently. I haven’t noticed either of them really taking an edge in this category. So, I’ll call it a draw.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Seasonally, each of these are best in the autumn and wintertime. I think Smoking Hot is better than its competitor in slightly warmer temperatures, as it is somewhat lighter as a fragrance.

I wore it outside in 65 degree Fahrenheit weather and Smoking Hot was fine. I wouldn’t push it into summer, but it could venture somewhat into spring.

The smoky shisha aroma of Smoking Hot and the cognac of Angels’ Share may prevent them from being a daily wear for some people. The middle and latter stages of Angels’ Share isn’t too boozy.

It’s already a best-seller, so, I’m sure plenty of people wear that perfume to work without issue. With Smoking Hot, it does have a hookah smell. Take that into consideration.

Both are about equal in terms of casual wear and venturing into the nightlife. Not much separation here.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these Kilian fragrances do I prefer?

Both of these are great. However, I’m still leaning towards Angels’ Share.

I love the sweet mix and use of cognac in the blend. The rich oak and notes like praline coming through. A good cinnamon kick early. It’s a perfume that I’ve worn for multiple years and will continue doing so.

Smoking Hot is close to being as good, but just falls short. I like the apple smokiness early. That initial introduction isn’t long enough, I wish there were more time with that aspect.

The dry down of Smoking Hot is also very nice. I get some more woodiness, vanilla, and there’s a licorice note in here that seems more noticeable, later in the wear.

It’s one that I’m wearing a lot right now and may pick up a full bottle of. It’s a fragrance that is well worth trying. I just still prefer Angels’ Share in a head to head comparison.

If Angels’ Share is too sweet, feminine, or even boozy for you; Smoking Hot can be a great alternative. Still unisex, but seems to lean more masculine for most people.

Winner: Angels’ Share

6 Best Smelling Parfums de Marly Perfumes for Her

by

For this post, I wanted to tackle the best smelling options for women, from the Parfums de Marly line of fragrances.

I have already done a list of the top men’s scents, so, it was time to do this one (note: check out that list too, because there are some which are safe for women to wear).

In the end, I selected six perfumes from the women’s side of things, which I feel are the best of the bunch. I will link to both its page on Amazon and my own full review of a scent, where applicable.

Favorite Parfums de Marly Fragrances for Women

Top Overall Fragrance

PARFUMS de MARLY Delina, 2.5 fl. oz.– Delina is the best option for women from Parfums de Marly. From the very start, it is a beautiful scent. It opens up with lychee, sharp bergamot, and rhubarb.

It is fruity and powdery, but doesn’t have an overly sugary sweetness to it. Then, the rose and mostly peony come through with the floral heart of the perfume.

It is a moderate sillage scent, with longevity in the 9 hour range, and is a great choice for the warmer months of the year. Delina Review.

Creamy Warm Floral Blend

Parfums de Marly Safanad for women Eau de Parfum 2.5 Oz./75 ml – Safanad opens with orange blossom, iris, and ylang ylang. Orange blossom is the dominant note here, but is joined in strength by vanilla.

It goes on to become creamy and warm with the notes wrapped up in the warm embrace of amber. This is more of a colder weather fragrance (but definitely not exclusively), with moderate strength, and good but not amazing longevity.

The sweetness is really great. I love orange blossom, vanilla, and amber…so when paired together, it’s almost a guaranteed winner in my book. Safanad has a really upbeat and attractive vibe to it. Safanad review

Sweet Marshmallow Raspberry

Oriana by Parfums de Marly– Sugary sweet, sometimes creamy, finishes powdery and quite reminiscent of Love. Oriana is a delicious and fun option from Parfums de Marly, without feeling juvenile.

Oriana starts of with a fruitier aroma early on, with raspberry being an opening highlight. This will transition into a whipped cream note, which pairs well with that marshmallow.

Oriana is lightened by its use of raspberry and citrus, making it wearable on warmer days of the year. Softer sillage, pretty fragrance, with some substantial similarities to Love don’t be Shy by Kilian.

Best Summer Perfume 

Parfums de Marly Meliora Women’s Edp Spray, 2.5 oz– Meliora has a fruity and slightly juicy sweetness provided by red berries and black currant. The opening act is beautiful and inviting, with a hint of a green outdoorsy quality to it.

It dries down with some light vanilla, rose, and musk. This fragrance has a softer sillage, with decent longevity, but a really great smell.

Meliora is interesting, as you get that really berry and juicy fruit opening, mixed with periods of a greenish aroma, and then the musky floral scent. Not my absolute favorite, but I do like this one a lot.

Amber Floral

PARFUMS DE MARLY Athalia, 2.5 Fl Oz– Athalia opens with rose and orange bitters and orange blossoms. There is a noticeable powdery element from the start, due to the iris, which while quite noticeable isn’t overly heavy.

Instead you get a lightly citrus-infused iris and rose combination, at the top. From there, you get amber and a bit of vanilla, but mainly this is a floral and amber blend.

This is a very good choice, for those who like iris fragrances, but again it does blend several floral notes beyond that. It is quite attractive and performs well. Athalia Full Review

Fruity Creamy

Cassili by PdM– Now, Cassili is a perfume that doesn’t have a peach note, but it really has a strong smell of peach. The mix of plum, red currant, and plumeria flower join together to give this a peachy and almost tropical scent early on in the wear.

The peach-like smell actually lasts throughout, which is why I’m including it on the list. It’s a great mix of fruity, tropical, and the sweet creaminess aided by the pretty prominent vanilla note.

The plum note and the frangipani lead things here, giving it that mix of peach and plum aroma. Then, there is a light rose note, along with some other more generic florals.

At some point, the plum will have an upper hand over the peach effect but as I said, it doesn’t entirely go away.

Valaya is another newer option from the brand that’s popular. But, I don’t think it’s worth the price, here’s my review of Valaya.

There you have it the best smelling Parfums de Marly scents for her, up to this point in time. I will of course, come back and update this page as needed, and new releases come to market that are worthy.

8 Best Smelling Moschino Perfumes

by

Franco Moschino started his fashion line in the early 1980s and quickly established a reputation in the design world. As the years moved on, he  expanded his line to include items such as fragrance.

Moschino perfumes are not very pricey but they all seem to deliver in terms of quality and overall experience.

For this list, I have selected eight women’s scents which I feel are the cream of the crop. 

Favorite Moschino Perfumes for Women

Glamourous Fruity Floral

Moshino Glamour by Moschino 100ml 3.4oz EDP Spray – Plenty of cedar freshness, gives Glamour a solid and intriguing foundation. However, it is the tangerine blossom and hibiscus notes that really shine through.

Not too expensive and great for casual wear, particular in warmer climates.

Glamour starts off with a fruity and floral blend with a light amber touch. Then, there is the ever-present salt note, which actually adds a nice touch to what becomes a fairly floral heavy affair.

Orchid and hibiscus flank the fruitiness of tangerine blossom, to give Glamour a light floral aroma, with enough sweetness to keep it from becoming a pure garden. The sillage is on the lighter end, but the longevity is good enough, to keep the wear going. 

Fresh Clean and Soapy

Moschino Toy 2 for Women Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce– Toy 2 has become quite a popular option from Moschino. Though, it’s actually quite a simple fragrance.

The main note here is a green apple, less naturalistic, and more candy-like. That is paired with further citrus, floral notes, and musk. The drydown starts to be a lot more soapy than just the juiciness of the opening act.

That’s to be expected with musk, jasmine, and amberwood rounding things out. Very clean and hyper-fresh. Performance is nice. 

Most Popular Moschino

I LOVE I LOVE BY MOSCHINO 3.4 OZ 100 ML EAU DE TOILETTE FOR WOMAN –An energetic fragrance which starts out by displaying its fruity notes and then settles into something more soft and feminine. A great and clean smelling perfume that will get noticed.

This one has become pretty famous, as an alternative option to D&G’s Light Blue. However, I think the I Love Love, is actually a bit better. I really enjoy the citrus opening. It’s lemon, grapefruit, and orange with a bright and juicy disposition.

It’s got a semi-sugary aroma, with floral notes of tea rose and lily of the valley. All of this sits on a base, of musk, and cedar. The performance is good, with a lighter sillage, but will last for 6-8 hours. Really nice scent, for a highly affordable price. I Love Love Full Review

Fresh Couture

Gold Fresh Couture by Moschino– The Fresh Couture line from Moschino does have a goofy bottle design, but Gold is actually a really nice fruity clean perfume.

It opens up with a blend of tropical and citrus fruit notes. Mango, orange, and pear are the main fruit notes you’re probably going to pick up. But, they’re joined by rhubarb and a bit of spice.

It’s much less a heavy syrupy sort of explosion. Rather, it sticks to the name Fresh and gives you a lighter and more low key experience. Though, it does still have a slight syrupy aroma. The dry down is a mix of floral notes, the fruity, and some vanilla woods.

Actually, for the type of fragrance this is. Gold Fresh does have layers to its development. The latter stage is woodsy and the floral notes give off a soapy aroma. But, the fruity ingredients do hang around, just not to the same strength level.

Warm Spicy Floral

Moschino By Moschino For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 2.5 Ounces– The original fragrance dating back to the late 1980s. A long lasting blend of florals, vanilla, and spice which gives it an exotic and special scent.

It’s classic and gives you a different experience from most of the perfumes, out on the market today.

Moschino is a rather complex composition, but still manages to be extremely well blended. You get herbal spice, green notes, but more warmth and periods of sweetness. All of this comes together with floral notes, such as: rose, marigold, gardenia, and carnation. 

Very unique and great performance, with deep and satisfying aroma. Moschino for Women is an underrated classic. 

Interesting Pearl

Toy 2 Pearl– This one is likeable, not amazing, but one that I think will resonate with some people. Just not a fragrance for everyone.

Pearl takes a citrus start and pairs it with oregano. It doesn’t feel overwhelming to me, but that along with a sorbet note, gives this one a slightly different type of aroma.

There’s a freshness here, that oregano kick, along with a cypress note. Yet, it too has elements that make it smell somewhat similar to Light Blue by D&G. Close, but not exactly the same. That sand note in the middle, certainly helps to set it apart.

It’s a warm weather wear with the citrus, the oregano, and a musky dry down.

 

Light Herbal Citrus

Moschino Funny! By Moschino For Women, Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4-Ounce Bottle– As its name suggests, Funny is a light and playful perfume for ladies with a certain style and personality.

Notes include pink pepper, amber, green tea, and peony among others. Very fresh and not overpowering.

Funny! kicks off with a bright citrus aroma, with a bit of warmth and spice, mostly from pink pepper. It feels like a great upbeat and positive scent, with green tea, giving its familiar herbal fragrance. Not too strong, but green tea, pairs very well with the redcurrant and orange.

Later on, you get some musky peony, but the citrus is the star of this show. Nice simple daytime wear, that can perform well in the spring and summer. 

 

 

Bright Floral and Citrus

Cheap & Chic By Moschino For Women, Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4-Ounce Bottle– The name of the fragrance isn’t all that great but the contents certainly are. A sexy yet subtle floral perfume that is an excellent choice for daily wear.

Cheap & Chic gives you a very nice citrus up top but paired with a significantly present musky note. Yuzu is the main citrus note, which is great, because I love a good yuzu.

It hangs around for the entirety of the wear, even as this one begins to turn more floral. You get rose, lily, peony, among other notes. 

6 Fragrances Similar to Fantasy by Britney Spears

by

Fantasy by Britney Spears has nearly two decades under its belt as a popular cheapie. Plenty of people have loved wearing it. Though, with time and age things change. The formula is now a bit different or women may want something with a similar style, that is more mature.

In this post, I want to present alternative options to Fantasy which either closely compare or give you something that smells somewhat like it.

Favorite Perfumes that Smell Like Fantasy

Citrus White Chocolate

Jafra Adorisse Night– Has some similarities with English Laundry below, but this is the better version. Jafra’s Adorisse Night gives you a base of white chocolate and patchouli with citrus and neroli sitting on top.

It has power and warmth, but not the same level of baked goods or tropical aroma as does Fantasy. But, the light and creamy white chocolate note in the dry down is pretty awesome. Plus, Adorisse Night gives you beast performance for usually under $30.

It doesn’t bring the same thickness as Fantasy, it’s more citrus and floral. But, it provides a more paired down and less sugary scent at a closely approximate price point.

Coffee Seduction

Coffee Woman Seduction by O Boticario– This has a pretty good overlap with Fantasy. The coffee note is a major player here and it doesn’t have the same intensity with the fruity notes.

So, the coffee and baked goods notes here are more in the forefront, especially when compared with the newer bottles of Fantasy.

Still plenty sweet with a fairly musky dry down in the back half of the wear. The price is more expensive (in the US, at least) than is the Britney perfume. As such, you’re going to be paying a premium versus the scent we want to replicate.

I’m seeing it for around $50 per bottle, as of this update. Might be too much of a reach for some, but it’s another option.

More Mature, Similar Style

Avon Far Away Rebel Eau de Parfum for Women 50ml – 1.7fl.oz.– Far Away Rebel isn’t an exact match, but it gives you a more mature wear, and a similar style to Fantasy.

Rebel is warmer, thicker, and less of a sugary/fruity blend than is our target. However, it still does have that aspect with black currant and whipped cream as notes.

The fruitiness is pretty heavy up top, but it settles into that creamier/warm gourmand. Black currant can be sharp and it is here.

The end result is a delicious caramel blended aroma, with nice performance, and an affordable price tag.

Best Cheaper Alternative

La Rive Secret Dream by La Rive Eau De Parfum Spray 3 oz Women– With the classic aroma of Fantasy being reformulated, why not have a Secret Dream instead? La Rive usually puts out some quality smell-a-likes and this one of our Britney Spears fragrance hits the mark.

Is it exact? Eh, pretty darn close. This one doesn’t have the same level of chocolate to my nose and it’s a bit fruitier than I remember the old Fantasy being (though, the newer version isn’t that different to me). Aside from that?  Yeah, it’s close.

Not a powerhouse performer, but super cheap. Usually, a few bucks less at least than Britney’s version.

Citrus, Berries, and Cream

Oh So Orange by Juicy Couture– A lighter and fruitier wear versus Fantasy. You get some of the creaminess and a stripping out of the baked goods/chocolate accord found in the Britney scent.

Citrusy, as the name implies, with plenty of orange and some kumquat giving it that energetic infusion. Whipped cream, musk, and a mix of floral notes help to bring it closer in relation to what we’re looking for.

This is the least like an exact match of Fantasy. Much more focused on the fruity end of things, but with an inviting aroma, and can usually be found for a good price. But, it’s not at every retailer. So, you may have to search around for this Juicy Couture.

Update: This has gotten easier to find a discounters since the last update. Here in 2024, I’m seeing it in the $30-40 range. So, could be a nice pick up for those who want something a tad different.

Fruity-Tart White Chocolate

English Laundry Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce– English Laundry for Her strikes a similar chord as Fantasy, but isn’t the same. This has more of a sweet-tart vibe, especially in the early stages of wear. Also, it’s lighter and none of that cupcake note.

You do get some nice white chocolate coming through during the wear. Still, it will maintain its lighter sillage and not venture into creamy warm gourmand mode.

When the quince and white chocolate are one center stage, this one is really nice. Performance can be okay, just not incredible. I’d try to keep from overpaying for this, but it can be a fine option as a cheapie.

Libre vs Libre Intense by YSL

by

Libre from YSL has sort of been all over the place since its release a few years back. It’s success lead to the release of Libre Intense, as a strengthened flankers scent. I grabbed samples of each of them for my upcoming reviews on these perfumes, but wanted to first do a comparison post. Which smells better? Is the one to buy?

Tale of the Tape: Libre vs. Intense

Libre EDP

Notes include: lavender, white musks, orange flower, vanilla, orchid

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau De Parfum Spray for Women 90ml/3oz, clear

Read my review: Libre EDP

Libre Intense

Notes include: lavender, orange blossom, orchid, vanilla

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent for Women Libre 1.6 oz Eau de Parfum Intense Spray

Opening

Libre kicks off with a strong burst of the orange blossom (maybe some additional citrus fruit spritzed in) and the lavender, which will only grown more powerful.

It’s soapy, somewhat musky, and has a definite creaminess throughout. 

The main change that I get during the rest of the wear is the lavender becoming dominant and the musk coming out more. Very little orchid when compared to Intense and the vanilla isn’t a front and center.

Meanwhile, Libre Intense starts sweeter for me, but still not super sugary or anything. Less lavender/musk soapiness, a lot more orchid, and the orange blossom is about the same. Vanilla is a bigger player for the entire duration of the wear. 

Which do I prefer? I enjoy Intense a bit more than the original. It’s not a wide margin, but I like the different facets and the toned down lavender.

It actually reminds me of a more feminized Stronger with You by Armani or one of those flankers.

Edge: Intense

Projection

Libre isn’t a weak fragrance. I’d rate it as being at least in the upper range of moderate, if not firmly in the strong camp. As a mainstream designer wear, it’s got plenty of projection ability and will be very noticeable in the air around you, even after the opening act.

However, as by design, it doesn’t match up to the abilities of Intense. Libre Intense isn’t the strongest fragrance ever, but it for sure delivers the power. Bold with a pretty massive reach, at least for a time.

This category is easy for Intense, but that doesn’t mean that Libre isn’t great in its own right.

Edge: Intense

Longevity

Again, both of these perfumes are great with their performances. Libre will go 8-9 hours, on my skin. Which, all things considered, is about what you’d want in most situations.

Libre Intense goes into the double digit hours. Maybe 12-ish or a little longer. YSL didn’t cheap out when creating these formulations.

Testing out Intense numerous times, it just seems to want to keep going, even with a pretty small amount applied. It takes this category too.

Edge: Intense

Versatility

This is where Libre EDP gets the edge. It’s lighter formulation, allows it to fit into daytime environments, where Intense wouldn’t do as well. Intense does strike me as being more of a nighttime wear.

Also, Intense is pretty much a cold weather scent. If it’s not too warm, it’ll be fine, but above that it will melt. EDP isn’t for hotter temperatures, but it can venture into spring without issue.

Edge: Libre

 

Overall Scent

I like both of these fragrances. I’m not in love with either, but for what they are, you get a pleasing aroma and good performance. YSL did well with this line.

Libre EDP is an attractive fragrance. It’s much more floral. If you want a lavender and orange blossom mix, this might be the one for you. Not too complicated, but a nice wear.

Libre Intense is better, in my opinion. Not just because of the better performance, but also, I think it has more depth and better balance. I like that the lavender isn’t as heavy. The orchid is improved and the vanilla gets ramped up.

The formula is similar, naturally, but the balance of the notes themselves are just better overall. If you’re a fan of lavender in perfumes you can go with either of these for some good designer exposure to that note. 

It’s not a huge win for Intense, but it gets the nod.

Update: Coming back to these fragrances, I do still prefer Intense. Thus far, it’s my second favorite fragrance in the Libre line of perfumes. However, I think that Le Parfum is the top pick and the one I’d go with. 

Le Parfum is thicker and a bit different from the rest. But, it’s the best formulation and is more similar to these two releases during its dry down period.

Winner: Libre Intense