Best Perfumes for Women

10 Best Smelling Bvlgari Perfumes for Ladies

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When considering the top scents for women by Bvlgari, I wanted to both get the best smelling perfumes on the list but also to include some actually variety in the compositions. That way, there would be a list of different options based on one’s own personal tastes, as well as, based on the time of year or particular style you may be searching for. In the end, I have selected 10 perfumes from Bvlgari’s lineup which I think stack up as the top option.

What are the Best Bvlgari Fragrances for Her?

High-End Beauty

Baciami by Bvlgari– The Allegra line is one of Bvlgari’s latest offerings over the past few years. At a higher price point then their usual mainstream perfumes, they create something special for those looking for a scent that is more niche.

Baciami might be the best of the bunch. To me, it’s certainly in the top three thus far (along with the two others on this list).

This one gives you a creamy/milky sort of vanilla blend with a rich use of gardenia, that will all settle into a more powdery aroma. It kind of hits like a coconut, but not quite. It’s sweet with a great amber base note and the vanilla blend.

The gardenia will go back and forth with the vanilla, as to which is more dominant. Sometimes, it feels balanced, while others one will really come through off of the skin. Very nice to wear. Expensive, but worth trying.

A Lovely Myrrh 

Spettacolore by Bvlgari– A second Allegra fragrance. Though, I might go with Riva Solare before this one, Spettacolore is also worth a spot on the list.

This one is about the myrhh and iris notes. Early, you get an earthy and powdery iris note, that has a light citrus brightness to it. Not a complete powdery overload or anything, there also might be violet here, especially early on.

This has a great warmth, some sweetness, but a really fresh and interesting use of the myrrh note. Like a cooling freshness kick emerging from that warm pool of amber. It’s got such a great balance and it’s completely clean in the dry down, once that earthy aspect has faded completely.

Probably going to be one that will only interest a small percentage of people, but give it a try if you can.

Floral Bouquet

Bvlgari By Bvlgari For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4 Ounces– The brand’s namesake fragrance which features a floral bouquet of rose, iris, violet, and others. A very soft and feminine perfume yet still retains really good staying power (over 8 hours).

I’m personally not that into the smell, as I don’t particularly enjoy the heavier floral based perfumes. However, for those who do, Bvlgari Pour Femme is a solid choice. It opens with iris and violet leaf, then, you get more rose and violet during the drydown.

There are lighter fruit notes, in the background, but are none too strong. Again, this one is more for floral lovers, but it hits the mark in that category. Bvlgari Pour Femme Review

Beautiful Unisex Fragrance

Bvlgari Au The Blanc Unisex Eau De Cologne Spray, 2.5 Ounce– Au The Blanc from Bvlgari is an herbal, musk, and tea blend that is highlighted by a fresh spiciness. The opening act features pepper and artemisia for a bold and unique aroma.

Yet, this one doesn’t overpower, and has a more soothing aroma. The white tea and ambrette really play well off of the top notes and the musk ties it all together. It ends up warm, freshly clean, and a bit sweet.

Truly a unisex fragrance, that will give a change of pace from the usual perfumes.

Best Fresh Spicy Scent

Bvlgari Omnia Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 2.2 Ounce– Omnia changes up the pace and brings the spice (but not too much) with notes like ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. It’s a unique experience that isn’t overpowering but still very good.

You get the warm and comforting spices, joined with a chai tea note, and some sweet almond and chocolate notes. The base is quite woody and supports the cardamom, ginger, and other assorted spices. The spices aren’t too sharp nor are they very powerful.

It’s a lighter scent, that wraps you in its warm coziness, versus beating you over the head with its projecting ability. Nice casual pick for the colder months.

Jasmine Blend

Jasmin Noir By Bvlgari Eau-de-toilette Spray, 3.4-Ounce– Jasmin Noir is a different kind of floral fragrance. While it opens up with jasmine and gardenia, these notes are surrounded by, almond and licorice. With a bit of patchouli, for good measure.

It’s floral, sweet, and slightly spicy. Jasmin Noir features a woody base, with a creamy tonka bean note, adding to its sweetness. It’s well put together, and the jasmine note, isn’t overwhelming within the composition. It’s quite moderate in its performance and a versatile pick for the autumn and winter months.   Jasmin Noir Review

Fresh and Powdery

Bvlgari Blv By Bvlgari For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 2.5 Ounces–Very no frills, simplistic, and unique. Fresh, powdery, with a nice spice to it, and enough sweetness to intrigue. Blv opens up with a citrus bergamot note, joined by the main attraction of ginger.

No worries, the ginger isn’t completely dominant, and is tempered by the soft floral notes like wisteria. A light musk adds a bit more to the overall composition, but you still ultimately, get a clean powdered spice with a soft disposition.

Note: The women’s version seems to be discontinued now, as of this update.

Most Popular/Best Seller

Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline for Women Eau De Toilette Spray, 2.2 fl oz– Another from the Omnia series, Coral is another good scent, from that line. Crystalline is a light fragrance with lotus, tea, bamboo, and musk being the highlight notes.

It’s a simple and straightforward wear, that is a good pickup for daily use. It’s a clean blend of the lotus, tea, and a pear-like aroma. Quite clean, with a light soapy quality. Bamboo and musk sit at the base, but Crystalline, is headed up by the lotus flower.

Omnia Crystalline is a choice for those who want something to wear casually or to the office, that won’t offend or overwhelm, but smells fresh and delightful.

Sheer Rose Perfume

Bvlgari Rose Essentielle by Bvlgari 3.4oz 100ml EDT Spray– A must-have for rose lovers. Soft, sweet, and deliciously feminine. The two rose ingredients are paired with juicy blackberry, musk, and violet. A sandalwood base, adds a smooth creamy quality, that pairs well with the floral notes.

The rose smells freshly cut and not overpowering, the blackberry does a magnificent job at balancing things out. It isn’t too powerful, but, helps the rose and violet feel even more beautiful.

Rose Essentielle has a sheer and clean aroma, with good performance, that’s never too in your face about it.

Great Newer Bvlgari Perfume

Riva Solare by Bvlgari– Riva Solare Allegra is described by the brand as an Italian Vacation. It’s easy to understand why, when you get top notes of mandarin orange, and Calabrian bergamot. Along with, a lovely neroli note.

With that neroli, you get orange blossom, and osmanthus to round out the floral notes. Obviously, this is going to be a summertime citrus wear for the most part, but it is an absolutely beautiful one.

However, it really turns light and musky after that opening, with the impression of the bergamot really sticking around. To me, this felt very clean and just a complete vibe of being on the coast. It definitely captures those moments. The performance isn’t amazing, so you may want to try before you buy.

Versace Pour Femme (Signature) EDP

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Versace Pour Femme (aka Versace Signature) was released back in 2007, by the brand. I had yet to do a review of this perfume, on the site, so I grabbed a sample to do some testing. In this post, I’m going to share my thoughts about what works or what doesn’t. How does it perform? Does Versace Signature smell good at all? Is it worth a try?

What does Versace Signature Pour Femme Smell Like?

Notes include: guava, lilac, jasmine, lotus, orchid, azaleas, wisteria, musk, cedar, vetiver

Click here to try: Versace Signature by Gianni Versace For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4-Ounces

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Versace Pour Femme is fairly balanced between the floral notes and the guava fruit, which keeps this one from going into full bouquet mode. I immediately get a lot of lilac, jasmine, and what I suppose it wisteria.

I’m not too familiar with that flower’s aroma, but that’s my guess as to what that scent is. Nonetheless, the wisteria isn’t sticking around much, from what I can tell.

I really like the guava inclusion here, it plays very well off of the light dewy floral notes, and adds a great tropical sweetness. That, with a small part of black currant, makes Signature a really refreshing kind of wear.

A few minutes in, the lilac, is the dominant note for me. It stays that way for the rest of the wear, but lotus is also coming in, along with the jasmine. Floral, watery, with a great fresh cleanliness. 

Versace Signature is just a very pretty fragrance, overall. I’m really drawn to how balanced and fresh, this whole composition smells.

This is a fairly simple perfume, however, the base notes in the dry down do add some depth. Fresh cedarwood, vetiver, and musk. The vetiver and musk are fairly light. Though, I do pick up on a decent amount of cedar, later on in the wear.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage isn’t super powerful. It is a lighter sort of fragrance, but don’t mistake that for being weak. It’s just not a bomb, which is a good thing, as this excels as a daily wear perfume.

The longevity is good, and seems to be in that, 6-8 hour range. Not spectacular, but great for most purposes. Really, unless you absolutely have to have a bomb that goes double digit hours, it isn’t going to be an issue.

Seasonally, you can wear this anytime. I happen to think that it smells amazing in the spring and summer months. The fresh floral notes, don’t have that ‘green’ quality to them, and the guava is the star of the show.

That note, really holds everything together, and gives this perfume life. When I first tested out this fragrance, Versace Pour Femme was really great hanging around in the warm air of the outdoors. 

Versace Signature will work as a casual or slightly more formal perfume. It’s not really ‘sexy’, but it is definitely attractive, and a joy to smell. It’s not going to feel out of place, using it while dressed up, but it also isn’t a stuffy or overtly formal type of wear.

Overall Impressions of Versace Pour Femme

Overall, do I like Versace Pour Femme? Yep. This is a great choice for those wanting a floral dominant, daily wear fragrance. The guava sets the tone and makes this much more enjoyable.

The lilac, lotus, jasmine combination (along with lighter flowers) is really quite fresh and dynamic, when paired together. The performance is also good. It’s not a really unique or bold scent, but it does what it was designed to do very well. It’s a pretty safe blind buy.

I enjoy the pairing of the floral notes and the watery (semi-aquatic) aspects of this scent. For an easy to reach for daily wear, this is one of the best from the more popular designers. 

Update: This perfume has been discontinued and is getting more difficult to source an affordable bottle. So, unless it was already one that you loved or you’re a collector, it’s not likely worth it to pay up for Versace Pour Femme.

Nice perfume, though. This stuff had a uniqueness among the mainstream designer fragrances of the time and even up to today. Not something completely out of left field, but it had its particular nuances that made it distinct.

J’adore vs. Miss Dior EDP Perfume Comparison

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In this edition of my fragrance comparisons, we are going to take a closer look at two women’s perfumes from Christian Dior, Miss Dior EDP vs. J’adore. Which of these popular ladies’ scents from the luxury designer, smells the best? Which lasts longer? I have worn, tested, and reviewed each scent and will break them down by category before declaring an overall winner.

Tale of the Tape: Miss Dior EDP vs. J’adore

J’adore

Notes include: jasmine, orchid, plum, rose, mandarin, musk, ylang-ylang, blackberry

Click here to try: Christian Dior J’Adore Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce

My Review: J’adore Review

Miss Dior EDP

Notes include: jasmine, blood orange, patchouli, mandarin orange, rose, rosewood, pink pepper

Click here to try: Christian Dior Miss Dior, 50ml/1.7 oz.

My Review: Miss Dior

Opening

Update: Dior changes the formula of the Miss Dior line, every so often, while keeping the name. I’m keeping this page, as is, and will try to remember to create a new page when I fully test the newer Miss Dior. So, this post is based on the previous version of Miss Dior EDP, and not the newer 2021 edition.

J’adore opens with a massive floral accord, which consists of: ylang-ylang, jasmine, orchid, rose, and freesia. It’s got a green/watery aroma underneath the floral notes.

The fruit notes are light within the composition, however, they do add a nice juiciness and a bit of sharpness to the perfume.

Miss Dior starts off with citrus fruits, patchouli, and rose. It’s essentially a blend of orange and lemon, with patchouli, and a hint of rose.

The rose note isn’t too strong in either of these perfumes, at this stage. After about 15 minutes, the rose really begins to take over, and the patchouli flanks it. The citrus notes begin to fade into the background.

Which is better? I like the citrus opening of Miss Dior better than the plethora of floral notes from J’adore. It’s not massively better, but it simpler and juicier.

Edge: Miss Dior

Projection

Neither of these scents are extremely loud, by any means. Miss Dior is pretty moderate throughout the wear. Meanwhile, J’adore is a lighter sillage fragrance, but isn’t weak. Between the two? I’d say Miss Dior is the stronger scent.

Edge: Miss Dior

Longevity

Miss Dior lasts on my skin for about 8 hours. J’adore will go for 8 hours, at least, but can go for even longer depending on the climate. Both perform well, but J’adore is a bit better.

Edge: J’adore

Versatility

This Miss Dior fragrance is best served in the colder temperatures, all the way up to moderate, but not the high heat. J’adore has a springtime vibe, but can fit in just about any season. Outside of that, both of these perfumes can serve as a daily wear option. Smell nice, elegant, but not really ‘sexy’ nighttime scents.

Edge: J’adore

Overall Scent

Miss Dior is a nice scent. I really like the citrus and patchouli opening. Then, the rose takes over, and you get additional spice and a very solid rosewood note at the base. It’s simple and it smells good. The performance is good and the fragrance won’t give out in the middle of the day. It’s actually a very close competitor with J’adore.

However, I think that J’adore gets the edge, here. It’s bright and pretty. It is a floral fragrance, with the usual greenness thrown in, but you also get some fruit notes. The plum and melon are fresh and give the perfume an underlying juiciness.

The sillage is lighter, but you do get a few more hours of wear, versus J’adore and it can go year round.

For these reasons, I’m going to give it the win against Miss Dior EDP. It’s not that much better, but it has an advantage, and is a great daily wear floral perfume. These are both awesome options from Christian Dior, and it almost comes down to, which scent you prefer. As, both of these fragrance meet expectations.

Update: Again, this is between the old version of Miss Dior and J’adore. I’d probably still pick J’adore versus the modern edition of Miss Dior EDP. However, I only smelled that one time, as of this update, and am not 100% on that outcome.

Winner: J’adore

7 Best Smelling Ylang Ylang Perfumes

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Ylang-ylang is a floral note that is featured in a whole lot of different perfumes. But, that’s usually as a feature or supporting note, instead of being the star itself. However, for some folks out there, the yellow flower is something that they love and want it front and center in their fragrance. This page is going to serve as my running list of the best of the bunch.

What are the Best Smelling Ylang-Ylang Perfumes?

Ylang, Fruits and Vanilla

Ylang in Gold– Ylang in Gold from Micallef is a very popular pick out of the ylang-ylang offerings. It’s actually quite fruity and has a nice vanilla/coconut creaminess to it. Then, even a light floral powdery undertone.

Ylang is the strongest within the composition, but it doesn’t stand alone. The peach note is probably the most noticeable fruity aspect of this fragrance, but even early on the coconut and some citrus gives it a slightly tropical feeling.

The latter stages are vanilla, sandalwood, ylang-ylang, and just a general mix of the sweet and floral notes. Really, those notes smell like an impression, rather than being anything distinct.

There are other editions of this perfume. For a woodier, less vanilla and fruity based version, try Ylang in Gold Nectar.

Sunny, Salty Floral

Embruns d’Ylang by Guerlain– This one is a high-end ylang-ylang fragrance from Guerlain. The company itself, seems to be the only one selling full bottles right now. With the price, you’d do well to track down a sample on eBay or somewhere else.

Anyway, Embruns d’Ylang is a bright and beach yellow floral fragrance. It has a coastal sea salt/sea spray note that gives this one a nice dynamic with how it plays off of the ylang-ylang note. Though, I didn’t feel this was super salty when I smelled it once.

It’s a bit sweet, but that saltiness seems to pair with the wood, upon first applying. Then, some jasmine. The ylang-ylang feels pretty thick in this and it has a rather strong sillage, at least early. Still, I’d try before buying to see if it vibes with you.

Citrus Spice and Ylang-Ylang

Ylang Ylang Nosy Be– Nosy Be opens things up with a spice and citrus blend up top. Grapefruit and cardamom seem to be the two main attractions. But, with some lemon and orange blossom thrown in.

The floral heart and vanilla note will really help to smooth this one out and give it a creamier sort of texture to the aroma. Ylang-ylang does dominate the floral aspect of course, but the orange blossom sticks around along with a bit of jasmine.

Yet, even with the vanilla Ylang Ylang Nosy Be doesn’t feel super thick or heavy. It’s fresh with a naturalistic sweetness. Drier once the vetiver and woods show up later on. This is the EDP version. There is a pricier Extrait de Parfum, but I haven’t tried, so it may be somewhat different.

Ylang and Carnation…with some Vanilla

Aqua Allegoria Ylang & Vanille by Guerlain– So, this offering from Guerlain is actually a fairly simple affair. The ylang-ylang is joined by the title vanilla, but also: jasmine and carnation. Just, those two will come in stronger at different times.

First, the ylang-ylang and jasmine. Later, that carnation really shows up. Even though, it’s actually a top note…whatever.

I don’t find the vanilla to be all that heavy versus something like Ylang in Gold or Nosy Be, even if it’s been given a title listing by Guerlain. Sharp aroma upon opening, but this perfume will soften up within a pretty short time frame.

I think that this has been discontinued now. So, you may need to dig for a bottle.

Sweet Creamy Ylang-ylang

51 Pour Femme Parfum– 51 Parfum from Roja Dove isn’t a pure stand alone ylang-ylang fragrance, but it does have a strong ylang note and is a fantastic wear.

Up top, you’re going to get raspberry and bergamot, giving it a fruity sweetness. This is joined by our target note, vanilla, and a host of white florals. Early on, it feels more like a bouquet than specifically focusing on the ylang-ylang.

But, as it dries down the white floral mix will take a step back. The dry down will be creamy and smooth, with hints of woods and spice. Vanilla and cashmere wood are here, maybe some light amber and musk.

Another expensive one, though, 51 Parfum is a great fragrance with enough ylang-ylang to grab a spot here.

Gucci Bloom

Profumo di Fiori– This is one of the entries from the Gucci Bloom series. Profumo di Fiori isn’t a pure ylang-ylang stand alone, but has a definite role within a blend of other floral notes.

Jasmine, tuberose, and Rangoon creeper are all there, as with most of the other scents from the Bloom lineup.

The jasmine has a bigger role early on, in my experience. The Rangoon creeper is lighter. Then, it will be more of the tuberose and ylang-ylang. It’s floral, but has a thicker substance to it, with a tropical vibe from our yellow flower.

It feels bright and has a creamy warmth to it, with enough woodiness to make things interesting. I don’t think that it’s ‘mind-blowing’, but this is a fantastic release from Gucci.

A Yellow Mix

Poeme by Lancome Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, Poeme, 3.4 Ounce– Poeme isn’t a pure ylang-ylang led scent. It’sa basket of floral notes, lots of yellow and white petals here. Right out of the gate, Poeme comes off strong and bold.

However, while it is quite floral, it doesn’t strike as a really ‘green’ bouquet because it is all tied together by the vanilla note and the inclusion of tangerine and plum.

The floral notes do indeed dominate, blend well together, but there is enough fruitiness in Poeme to keep it interesting. Peach really seems to survive for pretty much the entire run.

Lots of tuberose and mimosa fill up this scent, but when all the notes come together you have a clean, somewhat soapy, and sweet fragrance that can go all day.

Add to that, at times rose, ylang-ylang, and other floral ingredients will make an appearance. The ylang-ylang is mostly present past the opening act. Again, it’s a major player here, just not the sole star of the show.

So, if you want a blended use of ylang-ylang to use on other days, this Lancome can be a great fit.

Mon Guerlain vs La Vie est Belle Perfume Comparison

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Over the past few years, Mon Guerlain has become a very popular choice for women’s daily wear perfumes. La Vie Est Belle, has been a big shot, for a lot longer. Nonetheless, there a many ladies, who are trying to decide which one is the best option. In this post, I am going to compare the two in various categories, before declaring a winner as the better buy. 

Tale of the Tape: Mon Guerlain vs. La Vie Est Belle

La Vie Est Belle

Notes include: patchouli, vanilla, blackberry, iris, pear, tonka bean, praline, and more

Click here to try: Lancome La Vie Est Belle Eau de Parfum Spray, 1.7 Ounce

Read my Review: La Vie Est Belle

Mon Guerlain

Notes include: jasmine, vanilla, lavender, sandalwood, tonka bean

Click here to try: Guerlain Mon Guerlain Eau De Parfum Spray 100ml/3.3oz

Read my review: Mon Guerlain EDP

Opening

Mon Guerlain opens up with a sweet, candy-like aroma of vanilla and tonka bean. When paired with its other notes, it actually takes on a bit of a caramel sort of aroma.

With that is a light powder from iris and the brightness of a bergamot citrus note. Neither of them are too impactful, but they are present. 

Somewhat similar to Black Opium with how Mon Guerlain starts off Not the same, however. This is for about 15-20 minutes, before Mon Guerlain becomes a lavender and vanilla, based perfume. 

La Vie Est Belle kicks things off with a blueberry/pear combination. It is tart and somewhat sour, at the start. Then, the patchouli and iris, starts to take more control of the aroma. More of a fruity gourmand than a  sweet candy. It’ll be less fruity, in the dry down. 

Which is better? I really enjoy both. I think that the Mon Guerlain opening act, is probably more tolerable to most women. The tartness of the La Vie start, bothers some folks. I think I lean towards, Mon Guerlain, also.

Edge: Mon Guerlain

Projection

Mon Guerlain’s sillage is pretty moderate. Not weak, but definitely not a bomb. Very well balanced, overall. Meanwhile, La Vie can really come with the power, and take over a room. Not the strongest scent ever, but packs a punch, and wins this round easily.

Edge: La Vie Est Belle

Longevity

Both Mon Guerlain and La Vie Est Belle are all day wears. 8 hours seems to be the minimum, on my skin, and each are known to go for 10+ hours.

La Vie is stronger, but they are pretty equal in longevity. 

I tested both of these out, when they were newer to the market, so, I don’t know if either has been weakened since then. But, in my testing, they’re about the same.

Update: Changing this one to favor Mon Guerlain, after more testing. It consistently goes longer than La Vie Est Belle.

Edge: Mon Guerlain

 

Versatility

While both are seemingly better in the colder months, Mon Guerlain, can go later into the springtime than can La Vie Est Belle, in my opinion. Neither is a summertime wear.

They are both known for being versatile, in their uses. From casual to office to formal. Extremely popular daily wears. Neither is a club or nightlife scent. I think they’re both really pretty and attractive on a woman, though, not necessarily ‘sexy’. Not sure there’s much of an edge here.

Edge: Push

 

Overall Scent

This really is a tough call. It essentially is going to come down to which type of smell you prefer, as the performance is really close.

Mon Guerlain, after its initial candy-like smell, becomes more of a sweet floral fragrance. Vanilla, lavender, and jasmine are the main players here. It’s simple, yet elegant, and beautiful.

La Vie Est Belle, gives you a powerful sillage, with a fruity opening act. Then, vanilla/praline/patchouli, come along to create a gourmand scent, that is surrounded by iris. 

I like the overall experience of the Lancome fragrance and it is a scent that I enjoy quite a lot.

When, I think of which is better, my mind tends to say Mon Guerlain. I really love the way this perfume smells. I sprayed some before this post, and now, my room smells excellent. When compared to the La Vie, I think the lavender paired with vanilla, is just a bit better. You get more floral notes and the Guerlain is blended amazingly well.

Winner: Mon Gueralin