Best Perfumes for Women

Ariana Grande Cloud vs Sweet Like Candy

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Cloud and Sweet Like Candy are two of the most popular perfumes from Ariana Grande’s line of scents. Cloud, I think, often gets way more attention. Not to mention, it spawned it’s own flankers Intense and Cloud Pink.

Though, if we’re going beyond the popularity, which of these two perfumes actually smells better? Which lasts longer? On this page, I am going to compare these Ariana fragrances, bring attention to their differences, and pick which one I think is better.

Tale of the Tape: Cloud vs. Sweet Like Candy 

Cloud

Notes include: pear, lavender, bergamot, praline, whipped cream, vanilla orchid, coconut, musk, wood

Click here to try: Ariana Grande Cloud Eau de Parfum Spray, clear, 3.4 oz

Read my review: Cloud

Sweet Like Candy

Notes include:

Click here to try: Sweet Like Candy

Opening

Cloud begins with its brightness and sweetness front and center. The lead off is highlighted by the pear note with bergamot and the lavender also coming through early. The lavender never feels all that heavy to me throughout the wear.

I get a bit of the citrus, which adds a bit more sparkle to that pear juiciness. The lavender here, has a certain roughness which takes some of the softer and fluffier qualities of this fragrance away. Still, it does retain that softer style.

With Sweet, it’s also got a pear that is put alongside it’s berry notes. The black currant has some tart aspects here too. The fruitiness is there in the opening act, but it lives up to its sweet name, beyond just fruits.

Warm with whipped cream, vanilla, and marshmallow. Obviously, plenty of overlap with Cloud. The floral notes are a separation, even if they’re not super powerful. Frangipani and jasmine are noticeable.

Which is better? Between the two, I enjoy Sweet Like Candy. The fruitiness to lead things off is better to my nose. Plus, I like the transition it makes, and it smells a bit better versus Cloud, despite their similarities.

Edge: Sweet Like Candy

Projection

I don’t really notice a difference here. At least in terms of how far they project. The sillage of Cloud is a bit lighter, but both of these are essentially moderate with their projection.

Good for an hour or so, before moving into their lighter phases. Either way, both are solid, but no particular advantage here.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Cloud has never been an amazing performer, but it’s serviceable. In my experience, it will go 5-6 hours, on skin. About six hours is what you should expect from this Ariana fragrance.

With Sweet Like Candy, it seems to last in the 7-7.5 hour range, each time that I tested it out. Maybe some people can get a bit more out of the perfume, but I didn’t.

It’s not a massive difference between them, but Sweet has a somewhat stronger performance when compared to Cloud.

Edge: Sweet Like Candy

Versatility

I don’t see too much distinction here, if any.

Seasonally, both are really nice autumn through springtime. Neither is particularly a summer wear, but there might be times in which you could apply Cloud or Sweet Like Candy during that time of year. Neither of these are all that heavy.

Can be worn casually or out at night. Neither is super formal, probably not an office scent for most folks. They pretty much occupy the same space. No real winner here.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these fragrances do I like more?

Cloud is a fine perfume. It’s never been my favorite. I’ve always thought it gets more attention because of its associations with being an alternative to BR 540.

I like it. There are parts in the dry down, where I think Cloud really shines as a scent. It becomes more distinct and a pleasure to wear. Coconut and praline, when those are front and center, tends to be my favorite stretch with this fragrance.

Though, with that said, I still like Cloud 2.0 and Pink slightly more as variations.

I still think that Sweet Like Candy is the best smelling Ariana Grande perfume. There are some others, which are close. But, this one takes the common themes from a lot of her scents and then just did a fantastic job at getting all of the elements correct.

It’s sweet without being completely cloying. Sweet gives you a playful and girly aroma, without being too juvenile, and works well in the colder weather. Not too heavy or loud and it has a good mix of sweetness, creaminess, and warmth.

For me, this is a pretty easy decision. Both are worth trying, but Sweet Like Candy just stands out more.

Winner: Sweet Like Candy

By the Fireplace vs Angels’ Share

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By the Fireplace by Maison Margiela and Angels’ Share by Kilian are two of the most popular unisex perfumes out there. As we are entering the colder months of the year in the northern hemisphere, I wanted to compare these two winter staples.

Which of these lasts longer? Smells better? Is ultimately the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: By the Fireplace vs. Angels’ Share

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

By the Fireplace

Notes include: pink pepper, orange blossom, cloves, guaiac wood, chestnut, juniper, Peru balsam, vanilla, cashmeran

Click here to try: By the Fireplace

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.

By the Fireplace, also goes spicy and sweet. The spice is more prominent early on, with the pink pepper and clove really punching through.

But, what separates it from Angels’ Share is the smokiness. The sweet roasted chestnut,  guaiac wood and juniper really come through. The Margiela fragrance certainly lives up to its name and theme.

Which is better?

These two are pretty close in the opening act. However, I personally like the booziness of the Kilian perfume more than Fireplace.

Edge: Angels’ Share

Projection

By the Fireplace does have a somewhat heavy feeling initially and a pretty far reach, along with that. For the first hour at least, it’s a strong-ish fragrance. After that, it’s pretty moderate the rest of the way.

Angels’ Share might hit a little bit more of a peak than does Fireplace. It also seems to have a slower decline with how it projects versus Fireplace. 

I do think the roasted chestnut and woods of the Margiela perfume, have a denser quality than Angels’ Share, though.

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.

By the Fireplace is somewhere in the 7-9 hour range. Usually for me, it’s like seven or eight hours, but it can go a bit above that on occasion. 

This is a pretty easy win for the Kilian perfume.

Edge: Angels’ Share

Versatility

Seasonally, both are autumn and winter wears, all the way. They really do each shine in the colder weather.

Both are true unisex scents. 

An issue of each can be when to wear them. One is boozy and the other is smoky. Not what you might want to smell like at work. That being said, I think Angels’ Share would be fine in that environment, as it does have a sweeter and less-alcohol based aroma for much of the wear.

Either is fine for casual or going out at night. Pretty close contest, maybe not too much difference, but I’ll lean Angels’ Share.

Edge: Angels’ Share

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these fragrances do I prefer over the other? It’s actually a very tough call for me, as I own both, and really love both of them. As such, even when I pick one here, it is only a slight preference.

I like By the Fireplace a lot. Even if I don’t want to wear it all of the time. It’s usually one that I’ll wear at night during winter. Maybe not always going out, but just relaxing around the house.

It does everything well, the sweetness and smokiness are really pleasant. That being said, I think more people would enjoy the smell of Angels’ Share, as smoky perfumes aren’t everyone’s favorite.

I love wearing Angels’ Share. I tried the sample and almost immediately bought a full bottle of it, a few years back. It and Oajan are my two main sweet and spicy wears, when the temperature starts to drop.

So, Angels’ Share is my pick in this competition.

One thing that could potentially sway it for some, is the price differential. Angels’ Share is significantly more expensive than is By the Fireplace.

Again, while it’s a close call between them, if the budget was tight I would just get the Margiela fragrance and skip Angels’ Share.

Winner: Angels’ Share

7 Best Smelling Cartier Perfumes for Her

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Cartier has been in existence as a company since the 19th century when it served as jewelers to royal families in Europe. Nowadays, Cartier still caters to the jewelry crowd but also produces some wonderful scents for both men and women.  

Cartier’s perfumes have a certain amount of elegance to them but unlike some companies, it produces fragrances that can be worn casually and won’t stick out like a sore thumb.

For this list, I have chosen what I consider to be the seven best ladies perfumes by Cartier.

Favorite Perfumes by Cartier for Her

Lily Led Greenish-Floral

Cartier Baiser Vole Eau De Perfume Spray for Women, 3.3 Ounce
A fresh and clean floral scent with spicy undertones from Cartier. Baiser Vole is a beautiful and elegant perfume that never overpowers.

Baiser Vole is a lily heavy fragrance, so, enjoying this floral note is a requirement for this one.

It starts out with a green, somewhat watery lily, with citrus notes playing a support role. Then, it becomes much more of the petals of the flower itself, with a sweet creamy undertone. It’s a lightly projecting fragrance, with naturalistic notes, and solid longevity.

Baiser Vole keeps things extremely simple, but it still makes the cut as one of the best from this brand. Lots of lily petal and stem, with a watery quality and the citrus influences coming in. Baiser Vole review

Clean Unisex Citrus

Eau De Cartier By Cartier For Men and Women, Eau De Toilette Spray, 6.75-Ounce Bottle
Eau De Cartier is a unisex fragrance, so it doesn’t fall into the purely feminine category of scents.

It opens with the citrus freshness of yuzu and violet notes from both the leaf and the petals. The first part of the wear, is especially a citrus fragrance, a character that it will retain to some extent. 

Fresh with that yuzu and lavender with floral and cedar notes at the base of the scent. The dry down gets woodier and earthy with patchouli and musk coming in.

Fairly straightforward and linear, but a clean scent, with a pleasing appeal. In its simplicity, Eau de Cartier covers a lot of bases: citrus, spice, fresh, clean, and floral. The notes can appear subtly, but still provides some depth of experience.  

Floral Spice by Cartier

Cartier De Lune Eau de Toilette Spray for Women, 4.2 Ounce
This fragrance is an exotic and playful mix of florals and spice. Cartier De Lune is good for casual, everyday use, and is a light and unique perfume.

De Lune is a floral musk mix with rose and lily of the valley.

It opens with a familiar juniper berry note that is paired with that lily-of-the-valley floral aroma, that is both interesting and delicious, and not a pairing that I’ve come across before.

Then, the rose not comes along to pair with the lily, and the juniper fades in favor of musk and wood. Has a light sweetness and a bit of green spiciness that comes through, Cartier De Lune, is good for daily wear and isn’t an absolute bomb that will choke out a room.

Best Rivieres de Cartier Scent

Luxuriance EDP by Cartier– Wasn’t too crazy about the majority of this line, when I encountered them. However, I did like Luxuriance. That being said, it is quite herbal and green, so may not be for everyone.

Fern, oak, rosemary, wild herbs, geranium…yep, a very natural smelling aroma. It is a light freshness without much of a cold crisp to it. 

Early on, the geranium leads the way and there may also be a touch of a citrus (lemon?) note in there too. I get some Le Jardin de Monsieur Li vibes, stripped of any aquatic touches.

Later, Luxuriance is an woody blend with fern, geranium, and some generic floral aromas. It’s not a super complex fragrance, but it is a fairly unique and lovely unisex wear. 

Intricate Floral Fruity Perfume

Cartier EDP Spray for Women, La Panthere, 2.5 Ounce
Like its name suggests, La Panthere, is a bolder type of perfume than the others on this list. Panthere is a rebranding, of a Cartier fragrance that dates back to the 1980s. 

It’s got a rich and rather complex aroma which is a blends oakmoss, strawberry, gardenia, and dried fruits.

Long lasting and can seem a bit heavy at first but it does mellow out into a wonderful scent. The notes have a tendency to blend together, but the opening is fairly sweet, when compared to the rest of the wear.

This is best served in the colder to moderate temperatures, avoiding the heat of summer. 

Then, gardenia and musk, do come through clearly with one another after a little while. The fruit notes, play the background, and the dry oak moss  flanks the floral note and musk. Strong sillage and lasts for 10+ hours.

La Panthere is a great option for those who want a gardenia perfume, that delivers something a bit different.  La Panthere Full Review

Another Panthere

La Panthere Parfum– Parfum is a newer edition of the Panthere lineup. Obviously, it’s going to have plenty of overlap with the one above. However, it is actually a rather distinct fragrance.

You get more of a fruity note up top. In this case, it’s apricot that is paired with a much greater smoothness, and use of the osmanthus note.

Later, you will get that mossy aroma and a nice big dose of gardenia. Overall, it’s a cleaner and dynamic chypre fragrance. The opening act is juicy and La Panthere Parfum is easy to wear and enjoy. Warm with some herbal qualities. Plus, the performance holds up in this edition. 

 

 

1980s Classic Cartier

Must De Cartier By Cartier For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 oz
Must is a warm and beautifully sweet fragrance that is great for casual wear and is long-lasting. Must De Cartier is a softer perfume but one that is well-crafted and has many admirers.

Must de Cartier features plenty of wood dipped in amber with vanilla and tonka bean playing support roles.

However, this perfume is not that simple, as there is also floral notes and sweet floral notes involved too. At times it is green, sweet, spicy, but it all settles into something refined and classic.

The sandalwood and rosewood, really seem to come into their own, in the later stages of this perfume’s life. It is very rich and brings a classic 1980s scent to the table, very reminiscent of Obsession for Her. 

cartier vole edp review

 

 

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8 Best Smelling Paco Rabanne Perfumes for Her

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I have already done a list of the top men’s fragrances by Paco Rabanne and as such, I thought that it was time to take on the ladies perfumes from this house.

1 Million and now Invictus are two of the highly popular and best selling scents from Paco Rabanne but the women’s line also has some popular choices as well as some hidden gems. Including, Lady Million.

I’ve been continually updating this page for years, as new releases that are worthy of a try, come out. As of now, these are what I think are the best Rabanne perfumes.

Favorite Paco Rabanne Fragrances for Ladies

Dark, Sweet, with some Spice

Paco Rabanne Black Xs By Paco Rabanne For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 2.7-Ounces
Very fresh and sexy scent with floral and gourmand notes such as cacao and vanilla. It’s somewhat sweet, but not candy-like with fruity cranberry notes.

It also is centered by a hint of spice and a dry woodsy heart. It opens up with the tart cranberry and patchouli, before it is pulled together with cacao and rose. However, as it moves along, Black XS does indeed get darker.

The rose note dissipates and the cranberry begins to get superseded by the other ingredients. The drydown is cacao, vanilla, patchouli, pink pepper, and some musk. Black XS develops quite nicely and features a solid performance.   Black XS Review

Best Winter Wear

Olympea Intense– This one is an offering for the wintertime and is pretty simple in its presentation. However, Olympea Intense is quite charming and one of the better perfumes from Paco Rabanne.

This scent kicks off with a blend of vanilla and salt, giving it a sort of toffee aroma at first.

This is joined by the very nice orange blossom note, along with a warm amber heart. The amber feels thick and enveloping while wearing. That’s pretty much what most of this fragrance is a vanilla/floral combination with amber and additional saltiness.

Olympea Intense is very much in the Black Opium or Bon Bon vein of ladies’ perfumes. It is a powerful fragrance, so it won’t let you down in that department. Plus, I got 10 hours-plus on my skin during testing. Olympea Intense Review

The Fame I Like

Fame Parfum– The original Fame, I thought was pretty good. Fame Parfum is better. I still don’t think it’s the greatest, but I still think that it deserves a spot on the list.

Sweet and spicy in the opening act, Fame Parfum gives you a stronger and longer lasting mango note, than the original. Pink pepper is there, but I really start to pick up the jasmine note and patchouli, especially once the mango tones down.

It’s a stronger scent, but not an absolute monster, just a fragrance that gives you a good performance.

Nice overall, clean and a warm tropical aroma, that dries down with jasmine and sandalwood. Fame Parfum review

Clean Floral Scent

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.

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.

Most Popular/Best Seller

Lady Million by Paco Rabanne Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 2.70 Ounce– 1 Million is an insanely popular men’s cologne, and its female counterpart, is also quite the bestseller in its own right. Lady Million has more of a feminine floral sweetness along with raspberry and honey.

The floral notes open with a strong gardenia, light orange blossom, and some jasmine. As it moves along, the situation reverses, and jasmine becomes the dominant floral note. While jasmine leads the floral aspect, the main attraction is the honey, which takes over for the nice raspberry note after about 30 minutes.

It’s sweet and floral with a nice amber base. This is a good choice for daily wear, definitely not as bold an enveloping, as the men’s version. Nonetheless, a very pleasant fragrance.   Lady Million Review

Classic Style Rabanne

Calandre By Paco Rabanne For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Oz.– A very old fragrance which dates back to the late 1960s. Calandre is another floral but one that is paired with soft green and woodsy notes. A more refined and classical offering.

You will get a nice bit of rose up top, which will later pair with lily of the valley. It also has some of that classic vetiver aroma, which gives Calandre a somewhat soapy quality. It is very balanced and has a bright and clean character.

Later on, it does have a bit of powder to it, not super heavy but orris and jasmine are coming into play with the other floral notes. Again, it does shift into more of a woody/green dry down. Calandre flies under the radar and is quite different from the others here.

Top Bold/Unique Paco Perfume

Black Xs L exces by Paco Rabanne 2.7 oz Eau De Parfum Spray for Women– A dark sweetness that is paired with vanilla and other floral notes. There is a whiff of fruitiness to it, but L’exces is definitely a perfume with an edge.

L’Exces opens with a peppery bouquet of floral notes led by neroli and hints of jasmine or rose. The pepper note is intense, but it simply works well with the sweetness of vanilla, and the neroli. L’Exces really has a multiple sides to it. At times, it’s very pepper and bold.

Then, sweet and creamy. Then, floral. Ultimately, you get a vanilla and pepper blend sitting on cashmere wood and surrounded by flowers. At the very least, it’ll be something different than you’re probably used to, but in a good way.

Legend Gourmand

Olympea Legend– This one is a beast with a super plum note up top, syrupy sweetness, and a salty near aquatic aroma at times also. Just from that alone, you should probably gather that this is another perfume, which won’t be for everyone.

That plum is joined by an apricot, that will pretty quickly fade. Then, the vanilla and amber finish, which the Olympea series is known for.

It’s a heavy, sweet, and long-lasting fragrance. Olympea Legend is a gourmand that is near tropical with how the fruits can come across, but finishes with more of a creamy baked goods scent.

8 Best Smelling Lacoste Perfumes for Women

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Lacoste is a brand known for its historical roots in tennis and of course for that world famous polo shirt with the little alligator on the chest. However, it has expanded way beyond that into a complete fashion brand which naturally includes a perfume line.

Lacoste does have some very good scents for both men and women.  In this post, I want to put forth to you, the eight best smelling options for ladies from this French brand.

Favorite Smelling Ladies’ Perfumes by Lacoste

Magnetic Scent

Eau de Lacoste L.12.12 Pour Elle Magnetic- This is one the came out after the original incarnation of the list, but might be the best overall perfume, from Lacoste. It’s kind of a toss up between Magnetic and Fraiche.

Nonetheless, Pour Elle Magnetic gives you a wonderful and pretty unique blend of mango, citrus, vanilla, and other sweet notes. It’s fruity with a base of light floral touches, a somewhat tropical fragrance, that is a great addition to the summer months.

Fraiche 1

Lacoste L.12.12 Eau Fraiche, Pour Elle, 1.7 oz- Eau Fraiche fragrances can be really hit or miss. I am especially hesitant with one from Lacoste, as the brand doesn’t always have the best longevity in their scents.

Even with that being the case, Eau Fraiche Pour Elle, is a really lovely fresh summery aquatic. Citrus, light floral notes, and that great refreshing watery vibe.

I really like the smell, but won’t put it at number 1, as the lightness and longevity are a concern. However, at the right price, this is a awesome little warm weather perfume.

Fraiche 2

Lacoste Rose Eau Fraiche– Lacoste hasn’t been putting out many new fragrances the past few years, but this is one of them. Rose Eau Fraiche is a good alternative, if you cannot find a bottle of Elle Fraiche, above.

It actually might be better, depending on your preference in style.

The rose note is light, sort of like a rose water, and has the most prominence during the back half of the wear.

Early on, you get an ozonic fragrance powered by fruit notes like black currant, grapefruit, and blood orange. It’s more tart early, then, it will start to become a sweeter and somewhat sugary kind of fruitiness.

It’s soft and dries down into a fresh rose water and woody scent. Very nice.

Just a Touch

Lacoste Touch Of Pink Eau De Toilette Spray for Women 3.0 fl.oz– Touch of Pink isn’t some stolid or heavy-scented mature fragrance. No, it is a clean and lively scent that projects a sexiness and youthful vibe that really grabs attention. Notes include: blood orange, jasmine, vanilla, coriander, cardamom, violet, and jasmine.

That’s not to say that this is a loud fragrance, it isn’t, just quite attractive with what it does. The peach and blood orange combination is great, but the fruits aren’t allowed to get too bold. Each is held in check, by wood, musk, and vanilla.

Very clean, easy to wear, lightly spiced, and was always a best seller. Touch of pink is a great daily wear, especially for younger women.

Intense Femme

Lacoste Pour Femme Intense Eau de Parfum For Women, 1 Fl Oz- The Intense name is a bit of a misnomer as this Lacoste fragrance really doesn’t bring much of it. However, the aroma itself is actually very nice and has a rather unique blend of sandalwood and caramel.

The caramel is a nice warm sweetness up top, with a dry creamy/powdery quality coming through from the sandalwood. The dry down feels more musky, but it’s still a very attractive fragrance through the entirety.

Not a completely sweet gourmand, but more of a woody sweet blend overall, with hints of spice coming through. I like it, this does have something about it that I find attractive, even without being super complex or a powerhouse.

Floral and Light

Lacoste Pour Femme Eau de Parfum for Women, 3.0 fl. oz. – The namesake of the brand, Pour Femme, is a noticeably feminine fragrance with plenty of floral notes and a hint of spice that helps bring it all together. This is a very good option for an everyday or signature fragrance.

Lacoste Pour Femme opens up with pineapple, citrus, and jasmine. It is juicy and light, without much of a sharp aroma from the fruity notes. As it moves along, the fruits take a backseat and you get more of a woody/floral scent.

Lacoste Pour Femme is a versatile scent, that eventually is highlighted by the jasmine, sandalwood, and vanilla. A very straightforward perfume, but one that still stands out as one of the brand’s best. Lacoste Pour Femme Review

Simple Love

Lacosté Love of Pink 3.0 fl. oz Eau de Toilette for Women – A bit of a different experience from Touch of Pink, this one changes up the notes a bit to include more woodsy/floral scents, which help to give it a beautiful and unique profile.

It still has the blood orange, found in Touch of Pink, but with added passion fruit. The dry down period, shies away from the citrus more so, and the floral notes really begin to emerge. Magnolia and particular.

Love of Pink is a simple and clean scent, not as good as Touch, but still worthy of a spot on this list.

Inspired Scent

Inspiration- This is a light and fresh scent, that, while airy is not weak and does have the ability to last far into the day. Pink pepper, mandarin orange, peony, vanilla, sandalwood, jasmine, and more.

Inspiration isn’t as well known and I don’t even think that it’s produced anymore. However, it was an underrated perfume, with a different style from the fruitier options from Lacoste.

Inspiration delivers a great iris and vanilla blend, with a tart plum, and nice sandalwood base. It gives you a powdery sweetness, while not being overwhelming, and a solid performance overall.

Update: This has been discontinued for a while now. So, you might not be able to easily find a bottle anymore.