Best Perfumes for Women

Lost Cherry by Tom Ford

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Lost Cherry by Tom Ford has pretty quickly become a best seller for the designer. It came out in 2018 and has been one that people seem to enjoy. Maybe it’s the unique use of cherry or the great looking bottle, that it comes in. I recently bought a decant of this perfume to test out. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does Lost Cherry by Tom Ford Smell Like?

Notes include: cherry, almond, tonka bean, Turkish rose, jasmine, cinnamon, cedar, and more

Click here to try: Tom Ford LOST CHERRY 3.4OZ / 100ML

My Full Review

Before we get into my review of Lost Cherry, let’s see what Tom Ford has to say about it: “LIKE THE PLUMP FRUIT WAITING TO BE EATEN, LOST CHERRY IS POWERFUL AND INSATIABLE. NOTES OF CHERRY LIQUEUR AND A TOUCH OF BITTER ALMOND DRIP INTO ITS HEART, GLOSSING IT WITH CANDY-LIKE GLEAM.”

The opening of Lost Cherry immediately reveals a warm and sweet blend, naturally led by the cherry note. This opening is very much like a cherry liqueur, but, when combined with the other notes it reminds me of Cherry Dr. Pepper in the syrup form.

Like if you took that soda syrup and then ramped up the cherry aroma, you’d have the start of this perfume. Better yet, like that amaretto mixed drink that mimics the taste and character of Dr. Pepper. But loaded with cherry.

Personally, I dig it. Very sweet and has that gourmand appeal. That will fade away and more of the almond nuttiness will come through, eventually.

The cherry seems to come across in two waves. First, the cherry liqueur. Then, a more naturalistic smelling cherry note. Less overtly sugary sweet and fresher.

This is somewhat different from Lost Cherry, but the La Petite Robe Noire fragrances have a similar aroma to this one, as well. I can’t remember which perfume is the closest to Lost Cherry, but one of them is pretty darn close.

As it dries down, you will be able to better detect the other ingredients beyond cherry. Tonka bean, almond, and some spiciness (cinnamon, mostly) are there and create a delicious aroma. It feels powdery, warm, and with a sweet booziness present throughout.

It stays in that soft and gentle mode from the remainder. Yes, there are some light floral touches from jasmine, and a detectable smokiness…it just doesn’t develop into numerous phases beyond that, on my skin.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is pretty light to moderate. It seems like it’s going to have a strong projecting ability at first, then it quickly falls in line as a lighter scent.

Don’t expect a bomb, like so many other Tom Ford scents can be, Lost Cherry is pretty subtle.

For me, it does still seem to hang around in the air. Not reaching across the room, but Lost Cherry has a bit more projection than it gets credit for.

The longevity actually isn’t bad on my skin. I’ve read some reviews, where people said it doesn’t last. For me, it lasts pretty well, just not at a strong level. I can get 7-7.5 hours of use out of this one. Great? No, but not a complete joke, by any means.

Seasonally, I’d stick to autumn and winter. It will be great in colder weather, probably up to something more temperate. Anything hotter, I’d pass.

It is a unisex fragrance, but has more of a feminine quality. I mean, one of its strongest comparable scents is a Guerlain perfume for women. But, I’ll still wear it without issue, and it is fine for almost anybody.

Lost Cherry actually has a sexy quality to it. It does grab attention when initially sprayed and is very appealing up close, when it settles. Great for nightlife and casual situations, but not too out of place for something like the workplace. 

 

Overall Impressions of Lost Cherry

Do I like this scent? I do enjoy the smell a lot. Sure, it leans more feminine than most of the fragrances that I usually wear, but it still sits in that unisex category.

I love the smell of cherry and that sort of Dr. Pepper and amaretto aroma, that comes out of the base here. The performance could be better, than what it is. Again, it’s not atrocious, just not a marathon runner.

The question really comes down to price. At $300+ per bottle, is it worthwhile? That’s going to depend on your personal preference. I’d want a bit more strength, if I were going to splurge on a bottle of this.

Update: Instead of Lost Cherry, I went with the ‘inspired by’ Popped Cherry from the Dua Brand, which is a lot less expensive. A very good take, on this fragrance, I reviewed it here: Popped Cherry Review

Plus, this isn’t one I’d wear on the daily. So, I’d have an expensive perfume, with middle of the road performance, and limited use for me personally.

Your case may vary, but I couldn’t justify it. I do enjoy this Tom Ford fragrance, it’s just a bit too much money for one bottle.

5 Best Smelling Fendi Perfumes for Her

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Fendi is a leading luxury brand with a reputation of style and quality. The original Fendi fragrance for women was an amazing scent that was highly popular but is now discontinued. With that in mind, I want to create a list of the top Fendi perfumes that are currently available for purchase.

I have chosen five of them to represent that brand and in my mind these are the best of the bunch. Update: The brand hasn’t put any new perfumes out in years, as of 2023.

What are the Best Smelling Fendi Fragrances?

An Interesting Rose

Fendi L’Acquarossa Eau De Parfum Spray – 75ml/2.5oz–  A newer fragrance from Fendi, L’Acquarossa, has already made a name for itself as a versatile perfume for women which stands out in the crowd.

You do get the traditional rose note here. But, before that and blended with it is a lovely blend of citrus and tart plum. It also has a light spice and woodiness at the base. The dry down is when the woods and musk, really come through in L’Acquarossa.

It’s not too heavy but one that is crisp and memorable. Notes include: calabrian bergamot, prune, Sicilian mandarin.

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Spicy and Smoky 

Fendi Furiosa Eau de Parfum Spray, 1.7 Ounce– Furiosa isn’t a fragrance for everyone. It opens up with its pink pepper note on full display. It has an oriental sort of construction with lots of amber and an incense-like smokiness that permeates it.

Furiosa is a darker perfume with a unique floral heart, which is placed in the middle of oud, amber, and the pink pepper. Fairly powerful scent with plenty of depth and nuance. Again, probably one that you’ll want to try out before committing to.

Most Unique Fendi

Fantasia By Fendi For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 1.7 Ounces– Fantasia has nice dose of vanilla, while note being overly sweet, and balanced with a powdery aroma from the floral notes like hyacinth.

This Fendi perfume dates back to the 1990s. It opens up with a light citrus aroma, with that vanilla note. Then, comes the floral phase of hyacinth and rose (which is very soft). Finally, we get to the woody base, a warm wrapping with the creamy/powdery notes that proceeded it.

Still, it isn’t a heavy fragrance and Fantasia has a great fresh quality that lingers throughout. Update: This is one of them that might be pretty tough to come by, especially at anything approaching a reasonable price.

Most Popular Fendi 

Fendi Fan Di Fendi Women Edp Spray, 1.7 Ounce– Probably the most popular ladies’ scent by Fendi. Fan Di Fendi is a sexy yet subtle fragrance for those women who need something that can be worn to work or school and still attract in the evening.

You get a citrus opening with tangerine and other fruit notes like black currant and leather. The dry down brings in floral notes and patchouli. Plenty of leather and dry sweetness.

The latter stages are particularly rich with that leather note. It’s very nice and plays well off of the remaining fruits and jasmine, especialy.

Notes include: tangerine, jasmine, rose, soft leather.

fan di fendi

Fresh Summertime Wear

Fendi Fan Di Fendi Eau Fraiche Eau de Toilette Spray for Women, 2.5 Ounce– A lovely and fresh floral scent from the Fan Di Fendi line. Eau Fraiche is probably best worn during the warmer months of the year, as that is where it really shines.

Fendi Eau Fraiche has a cooling sensation from the start. Tart citrus touches blended with herbal green tea and clean and delicate white floral notes. It ends up being a green-ish fragrance with a good deal of jasmine coming through.

Soft, refreshing, and clean for the summer. Notes include: bergamot, Italian lemon, white flowers, green tea.

fendi eau fraiche

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8 Best Caramel Scented Perfumes

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Caramel is a note that is often used in ladies’ perfumes, though, really isn’t the main focus all that often. It’s usually a nice touch, but also a note that some can find to be too sweet on the skin. Though, for all you caramel lovers out there, the note is found as the main attraction in plenty of fragrances. In this post, I want to present some of the best options on the market utilizing this note.

What are the Best Caramel Fragrances for Her?

Another Scandal

Scandal Le Parfum– While the original Scandal by JPG does have a caramel note involved, it is most prominent in the Le Parfum edition.

Here, we’re mainly going to get caramel with vanilla, for a long portion of the wear. Though, we do get a good dose of jasmine, up top to give this a further floral influence.

It’s sweet and salted, as the caramel dominates the middle act. The vanilla seems to have the upper hand in the dry down, even if the caramel never fully goes away.

Warm, gourmand, has aspects of the original just more heavily concentrated.

The Pure Caramel Shot

Demeter Caramel Women Cologne Spray, 4 Ounce– Alright, let’s kick things off with the simple pure caramel perfume play. Demeter produces a lot of these single note focused fragrances and this is their caramel contribution.

Honestly, there’s not much to describe. Sweet caramel with a syrupy-like aroma. Exactly the candy sort of scent that you’d expect from the name.

If you want straight caramel, without any other perfume fluff, this one can deliver the experience for around $30.

Caramel Topped Dessert

Lira by Xerjoff– Hyper expensive? Yes. Delicious gourmand? Absolutely. Pure caramel? No.

Lira will be out of reach for many folks, since it runs at over $200 a bottle. Though, based on how it smells, it just might be worth it. It opens with blood orange as the main citrus note, however, it also develops more of a lemony aroma. With a creamy cake like finish, full of caramel and vanilla.

The lavender heart really holds this thing together and it does develop into fairly different styles of dessert through its lifespan. Sometimes, it feels a bit spicier with cinnamon. Then the caramel not which tops it all comes through with its lovely syrup quality.

Really outstanding a one that dessert lovers should at least try a sample of once.

Summer Citrus Caramel

Acqua Di Parma Blue Mediterraneo Arancia Di Capri Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 5 Ounce– Arancia di Capri is actually a fragrance that is for the warmer months of the year, but still manages to use caramel extremely well. It kicks off with a citrus trio of orange, bergamot, and grapefruit to really deliver that Italian summer experience.

Later, the caramel and musk notes will become more prominent. They are both around for the entirety but the musk has just a hint of strength in this composition.

What you mostly settle down to is the mandarin and caramel note, with some additional warmth provided by cardamom and that musk. Arancia di Capri is one of the more simple Acqua di Parma fragrances, but also one of the best.

The only real downside to this perfume is the 4-5 hour wear time. The citrus notes are delicious, as is our target ingredient. If you can grab this at a good price, it’s worth a try. Arancia di Capri Review

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Candy Caramel and Flowers

Victor & Rolf Bonbon Eau de Parfum Spray, 1.7 Fluid Ounce– Like Arancia di Capri, Bonbon will use the mandarin orange and caramel blend to great effect. However, this perfume is thicker, more floral, and more substantial than the summertime scent above.

It’s actually not a heavy scent, but one that sticks around and can venture into colder weather. Jasmine and amber are added to the mix, giving this a blend of sweet candy, fruit, and warm flowers.

Bonbon kicks off things with a bright and delicious aroma of mandarin orange mixed with peach. Of course, there is the caramel note, which is present throughout but it’s a fruity affair up top. Next, I tend to pick up on plenty of orange blossom.

When the caramel comes in fully, it is joined by a warm and salty amber note. This pairing gets creamy with an added sandalwood, along with the peach note still floating around. The performance on this one will give one an 8 or so hour wear. A lovely sweet gourmand scent.  Bonbon Full Review

Sultry, Sweet, White Florals

Dolce & Gabbana Eau de Parfum Spray, The One Desire, 2.5 Ounce– The One Desire pairs caramel with vanilla and plenty of white floral notes. The citrus here is around, to give it that further gourmand quality, but the lychee, bergamot, and mandarin are not overwhelming.

The One Desire has a sultry and dark quality, with a sexier edge than others on the list. Lily of the valley and tuberose are the stars of the floral heart of the fragrance, doing a beautiful job at pairing with our caramel and that traditional vanilla note.

It’s a flanker to the original The One, but really does its own thing, with that base DNA. More of a cold weather scent, very cozy and delicious. Not too expensive and not just a ‘pure caramel’, but worthy of a shot.

the one desire

The Prada Candy Option

Prada Candy L’eau– Most of the Prada Candy line will deliver some kind of caramel experience. However, L’eau is the one you should go after if you want to focus on this note.

Though, I will say it is still more of a blend. It is like a powdery version of the original Prada Candy with a mix of Bonbon (listed above). There is a sweetpea note here to distinguish L’eau from the others, but this definitely has their signature.

L’eau is a lighter perfume with its sillage and overall performance. Not going to blow the doors off, but you’ll get a powdery, slightly fruity caramel blend, with a musky finish. Wouldn’t be my first pick from this list, but something that is worth considering.

Unique Gardenia Caramel Coffee

New York Nights by Bond No.9– This one is unique while being completely familiar. New York Nights has a pretty standard blend of caramel and coffee (which comes across as smooth and thick), while also having a patchouli/aquatic/banana (?) note mix that pops up from time to time.

A bit strange for part of the wear, but you will get those gourmand caramel latte vibes with a lovely gardenia note and some woodsy elements coming out from the base.

This is a lighter blend overall, so don’t expect some heavy winter gourmand. Actually, the versatility here is New York Nights strength. Unisex, though, really leans more feminine than anything. For the price, it might be one you want to try out first, but for the right person this will be a gem.

Broadway Nite by Bond No. 9

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This will serve as my second Bond No.9 fragrance review. Update: This is an extremely old post, I’ve reviewed a ton of them since and also have updated this page. Last time out, I took a closer look at Riverside Drive, which while being fairly masculine could also serve as a unisex fragrance.

This time around, I will review Broadway Nite, which is a wholly feminine fragrance from this New York design house. In this post, I want to give my overall impressions of Broadway Nite, describe its smell, how it performs, when it should be worn, and if its worth a purchase.

What does Broadway Nite Smell Like?

broadway nite review

Notes include: rose, honeysuckle, iris, musk, amber, vanilla, heliotrope, violet

Click here to try: Bond No. 9 Broadway Nite by Bond No. 9 For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3-Ounces

My Full Review

From the very start, Broadway Nite hits you with a bouquet of floral notes. The rose, iris, and heliotrope are definitely detectable and quite distinct.

Just to throw this out there, if you aren’t a big floral fan, stay away from this perfume, as this one isn’t a fragrance with ‘universal’ appeal.

Some folks will utterly hate this juice. Also, the vanilla and musk notes help to create a very powdery aroma, and that’s essentially what you’re going to get with Broadway Nite, a very floral/powdery perfume.

This perfume feels like a scent from a previous time period. It’s older and mature yet it can be very loud and in your face at the same time.

Those aldehydes in the opening act, are going to create that sort of vintage feel. More brands seem to be getting back to using aldehydes in their perfumes recently, but they still can throw people off.

That opening is a blast of the violet, aldehydes, and violet leaf. Sitting with a bunch of rose and the powdery aromas of iris and heliotrope.

As the scent wears on, the rose note begins to recede and the violet and powdery vibe becomes more prominent.

Broadway Nite, is more tolerable in the back half, if you enjoy the violet note. Still some rose and the aldehydes aren’t too noticeable. Basically, a powdery blend of floral notes, musk, and a bit of a fresh undertone.

It does have plenty of life and energy to it, though, I don’t think this would be the right fit for most younger women.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Broadway Nite is heavy. I think that any more than a few sprays, would be way too much to handle in an enclosed space.

Broadway Nite does tone down, obviously. Though, it still does have a pretty far reaching radius, even a few hours after spraying.

It does have very good longevity and I could still smell the perfume on my skin, from a distance, in the late evening (after a morning application). So, 10+ hours with this one, is certainly well within its abilities.

This is one of the better performing fragrances from Bond No. 9 for sure, even if its not one of my personal favorites.

This is more of a nighttime wear, I don’t think it’d be all that great for office wear, as it is a ‘beast’ so to speak in terms of its strength. It can be worn during the daytime, as well, but stick to lighter applications of it.

Overall Impressions of Broadway Nite

Is Broadway Nite, worth a buy? It is if you’re a fan of floral/powdery perfumes and want something with a lot of strength. Otherwise, I’d go with something else.

This is kind of a niche scent, in my opinion. Though, it also feels completely traditional as a floral scent.

I think it smells pretty good, it’s definitely not my favorite and I’d get a headache if someone wore too much of this stuff.

Then again, I’m not too into rose and violet notes in fragrance, but to each their own. Really, it’s the violet that bothers me more. However, this isn’t a terrible example and you do get your money’s worth out of this Bond perfume, if you’re one who likes its scent.

Ambre Sultan by Serge Lutens

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I’ve been meaning to get around to writing this review for months, but just never buckled down and did it, for some reason. Well, here we are, and I am going to be taking a closer look at Ambre Sultan by Serge Lutens.

This is a fragrance that came out back in the 1990s and has had fans ever since. As usual, I will cover: what the notes are, how it smells, how it performs, when it should be worn, and if it is even worth a purchase.

What does Ambre Sultan Smell Like?

Notes include: amber, resin, benzoin, sandalwood, bay leaf, coriander, patchouli, vanilla, oregano

Click here to try: Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 50 Ml

My Full Review

Ambre Sultan opens up with the amber note, that is joined by quite a resinous aroma, and a healthy dose of spice. Coriander, bay leaf, and some herbal spices are fairly heavy at the start of this fragrance.

I was expecting it to be a warmer and sweeter fragrance than it is, but I instead get, a lot of sandalwood and the aforementioned spice notes. It does get somewhat sweeter, as it wears on, but it’s nothing super dramatic.

Ambre Sultan actually has a oriental smokiness to it (incense) and the distinct smell of myrrh. I pick this up, at about 10 minutes after spraying, and it reminds me a lot of other scents that I know I’ve review on this site but cannot recall the name of.

Anyway, as it dries down, it actually does become drier and a hint of vanilla peaks through to make things feel creamier with that sandalwood.

After this first hour or two of wear, you pretty much know what you’re going to get from this Serge Lutens fragrance, as it is pretty linear from here on. It is a dry and smokey resinous smell from the base notes, with some sweet vanilla, a sandalwood, and spice led by a dominant bay leaf note.

Seriously, the bay leaf is much stronger than I figured it’d be in this composition, so be aware of that before you buy.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage isn’t huge but it’s solid. Ambre Sultan is strong enough to get noticed, by people close by, but not across the room.

The longevity is also quite good, clocking in at around 7-8 hours, on my skin. No performance issues with this scent.

Seasonally, this is cold weather all the way. Not necessarily dead of winter, but at least a brisk fall day.

Wearing Ambre Sultan outdoors in such conditions, was a great experience. It has enough power to hang in the air around you, not getting completely blown out by the surrounding smells of the environment.

It has a refined and classy aroma, one that is appropriate for business, semi-formal, or formal occasions. This is a unisex scent and has a certain appeal to it, but I wouldn’t really call it sexy.

It is cozy enough to throw on, if you’re just lounging around the house and are in the mood. Especially, when you get to the dry down phase of the wear.

Overall Impressions of Ambre Sultan

Overall, do I like Ambre Sultan. I do. It’s a really good amber based fragrance and one that is quite different from the norm, in this category. I think it is much more substantial than something like Grand Soir by MFK.

Is it for everyone? No, it’s not a mass market crowd pleaser, but isn’t so niche that everyone around you will hate it.

The bay leaf was a surprise with how much it popped, on my skin. Not anything crazy, but I enjoyed that along with the resinous and smokier aspects of this Serge Lutens perfume.

That opening spice, herbal quality and resin are an interesting start that will transition into a smoother and calmer finish. Plenty of depth and different facets to enjoy here.

It’s just a very well put together scent, for those who want an amber scent with some spice and ‘dirtiness’, but not to the extreme.