Best Perfumes for Women

Brit Rhythm for Her by Burberry

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One of the remaining samples that I got in my last batch was a ladies’ perfume from Burberry, Brit Rhythm for Her. As such, I decided to give it a try and report back my testing results in the form of a product review. This one was released in 2014.

I recently review Burberry Body also and have done a list of the top Burberry fragrances for women.  Does Brit Rhythm deserve a spot on the list? In this post, I want to explore what this perfume smells like, how it performs, and if I think it is worth a purchase.

Brit Rhythm for Her Overview

Notes include: lavender, pink pepper, musk, vetiver, orris, blackberry leaf, woods, neroli

Click here to try: BURBERRY Brit Rhythm for Her Eau de Toilette, 1.0 fl.oz

Full Review

My opening impression of Brit Rhythm is how much it strikes me as soapy or like a detergent type of smell. It is fresh and clean with some woods and spice thrown in. There is a bit of sharpness to it, which I guess is coming from the neroli and black berry.

The lavender note seems to be the dominating force behind this fragrance, which gives it the usual smoothness and it is joined by musk for that warm spiciness. I also detect the pink pepper note and some type of wood lurking in the background.

This is kind of an odd scent to me, it is very linear in its scent but the aroma is kind of tough to explain. In the end, though, I just keep getting more and more lavender and I don’t particularly like it. The orris isn’t super noticeable to me, but I think it is boosting the lavender, a lot.

It’s sort of spicy at first from pink pepper and neroli. The soapiness is the lavender and neroli and musk. But, other than that, there isn’t too much going on with Brit Rhythm. Most of the notes just blend into one another, without much distinction or development.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Brit Rhythm for her is pretty moderate. I’d say it’s safe to wear to work or school without any problems. Anywhere from a 3 to 6 foot radius of fragrance, around the wearer. Not huge, but it hits the mark for what type of perfume this is.

It also does have really good longevity, like, all day in fact. It’ll last somewhere in the 8-10 hour range, not as a powerhouse, but it’ll be noticeable. At the right price, this Burberry does provide some value.

It is a very casual to semi-formal fragrance. I wouldn’t call it sexy by any means, so you might want to consider something else for romantic wear.

It’d work best during the cooler months of the year. It can venture into springtime, but I’d avoid when it starts to get hot outside. Basically, autumn through mid to late spring.

The versatility and longevity are there. If you enjoy the scent itself, you can at least get good value out of Brit Rhythm.

Overall Impressions of Brit Rhythm for Her

Overall, is Brit Rhythm worth a buy? To me, not unless you have a thing for lavender and musk. Otherwise, it’s pretty uneventful, and not that great of a scent. It performs well but I am almost completely indifferent towards the fragrance itself.

If you need a basic daily wear, like lavender, and can get it for cheap…it’s not terrible. Paying full price? Nope. At $30-40? Sure, it might be worth a shot.

From the women’s line of Burberry, I like these a lot more: London, Brit, or one of the Burberry Her scents. Those all have a more interesting wear and similar performance for the most part.

Rhythm doesn’t fail miserably at anything, it just isn’t a perfume that is very memorable. Nothing about it sticks out as a highlight.

Poison Girl EDP by Christian Dior

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Moving right along with my review of the recent sample fragrances that I’ve received, I wanted to do another women’s perfume that was included in the lot, Poison Girl by Christian Dior. This scent was released in 2016.

Now, I received about 4-5 Dior samples for women, so there will be more of them upcoming. However, today I am going to focus solely on this Poison flanker fragrance. How does it smell? What are the ingredients? Is it worth a buy?

What does Poison Girl by Dior Smell Like?

Notes include: Damascus rose, tonka bean, bitter orange, vanilla, almond, sandalwood

Click here to try: Christian Dior Poison Girl Women’s Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce

Full Wear Review

The opening bit of time after spraying on Poison Girl feels quite familiar. To me, it is reminiscent of La Petite Robe Noire Couture, and even Black Opium to an extent. Now, this Christian Dior perfume is not a clone of either one of those scents, but there is a similar feeling and some overlap in the notes.

From the start, I get a rush of the Damascus rose, a blend of tonka bean/vanilla, and the citrus of the bitter orange hanging around.  It is a sweet gourmand aroma that has a definite creaminess to it (particularly in the latter stages).

It is a citrusy vanilla, rose, and tonka bean perfume; with some other floral undertones, but is quite sweet and creamy at the beginning. With that sweetness, you do get a slight powdery aroma from the rose, but it is nothing too intense. Poison Girl doesn’t go full-on baby powder mode.

After a few minutes, I begin to really notice the distinctive almond note, which I feel gives the perfume an enveloping nutty warmth. This is the note, which begins to set it apart from the aforementioned fragrances, and one which I always seem to be drawn to.

As it moves along, Poison Girl retains its sweet vibe with a much softer touch. It is a very smooth and enjoyable fragrance during the dry down period. There is also just a hint of floral notes within the composition of this Dior, which adds a nice layer of depth.

There is much less of the zesty citrus fruit scent and things feel much drier, with some sandalwood, and overall warmth to the composition.

The whole thing feels enveloping, but not heavy, just a smooth and comforting aroma. I ultimately get creamy vanilla/tonka bean combo and almond, with what’s left of the bitter orange, and a fairly light rose hanging around.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection is good. Poison Girl starts out with some strength but morphs into something softer, yet still quite noticeable while wearing. Fairly strong sillage at the front end, light to moderate, back end.

In terms of its longevity, this perfume really shines. It’s an all day wear, so you won’t have to worry about it quitting on you. It will go for 8-11 hours, depending on the day and climate. For the designer price, it actually does deliver a quality wear.

Poison Girl is also versatile. It is suitable for office or casual wear but does have a very pleasant and indeed sexy kind of scent to it. I continually found myself wanting another sniff and would love smelling this on a woman, that I was dating.

It has that appeal, but is also light enough to be used as a daily wear, during the autumn and winter months. This is a cold weather scent all the way to me, but it wouldn’t be bad in moderate temperatures.

In the heat? Poison Girl EDP is a pass. It will melt and start to take on a less than appealing aroma. So, if you live in a warmer climate, you won’t want to wear this…at least outside.

Overall Impressions of Poison Girl

Overall, do I think Poison Girl is worth a try? Yes. If you like sweet gourmand fragrances, this is another excellent choice. While there is a lot of similarities with the scent and some others out on the market, it does have just enough of its own style to set it apart.

If you’re not that into sweeter fragrances, this is one that could potentially get annoying. I never found it to be irritating, but it has that potential for some.

The highlights for me are the tonka bean and almond notes. I like the citrus and how that blends with those two, sort of a creamsicle-like experience. This is a very lovely fragrance, that is easy to wear and attractive, without being overwhelming.

Furthermore, it smells great and performs really well. Plenty of power and staying time on skin. Really no weaknesses with this Dior perfume. Mainstream and not completely unique? Sure. Poison Girl just works, however.

This is one that could be a signature scent for the right woman. Since writing this, I have also tried Poison Girl Unexpected, and like that one a bit more. Nonetheless, this is still a great option.

Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker

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Checking through a newly re-found box of fragrance samples, I saw a sample vial and card for Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker. I have zero recollection of where this came from and was almost certain, that I had already done a review on this best-selling perfume.

Nope, but I plan on remedying that oversight, in this post by breaking down Lovely. What does it smell like? How does it perform? When should it be worn? Is it even worth a purchase?

Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker Overview

Notes include: bergamot, lavender, apple martini, patchouli, paperwhites, creamy orchid, cedar, amber, woods, and musk

Click here to try: Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker for Women, Eau de Parfum, 3.4-Ounce Spray Bottle

lovely perfume parker

My Full Review

Before I get into my own review of this scent, let’s see how it’s described by the brand, “Loveliness is everywhere…a touch, a face, a memory, pink pearls, a song, a sexy shoe, a kiss, candlelight, a white orchid, a girl, a woman, a dream, a scent…you only have to look.”

Upon the first sniff of Lovely, I immediately get a strong musk note, that is paired with lavender. Along side of this, I get some mandarin orange, a bit of apple, and orchid. The orchid is very distinct out of those last three notes.

The mandarin and apple notes, aren’t all that strong, within this composition. In fact, they fade off into the ether fairly quickly. In their place, comes an ever-increasing patchouli, which dirties the perfume somewhat.

While this is an extremely popular fragrance for women, I will say that, not everyone will enjoy this scent. You’re going to have to like plenty of musk and patchouli, in your perfumes. Yes, lavender and orchid are strong too, but musk and patchouli are notes which can turn some folks off from a fragrance. 

The patchouli does give it that earthiness/dirtiness, but overall, the perfume is very clean and subtle. As it dries down further, the scent really settles down, on my skin. I start to get smoother woods, more lavender, less intensity in the musk, and the orchid still sitting pretty within it all. 

The final dry down is a floral/musky scent with a base of cedar and other non-distinct woody notes. It’s not too complicated of a perfume, fairly linear, but develops enough to keep things interesting.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Lovely isn’t too powerful of a scent. It is light and subtle, but not weak by any means. I imagine that you could over spray this, but the sillage isn’t going to take over a room, with normal application. I’d call it a light moderate perfume.

Longevity is pretty good, but not great. It seems to hit the 6-7 range for me, on a consistent basis, during testing. My skin doesn’t tend to ‘eat’ up fragrances, so, that should be a decent baseline for the performance. Your results may vary, of course.

Seasonally, Lovely would work in any climate. It’s not really a winter sort of scent, but it wouldn’t be bad, in that weather. I’d still probably go with any fragrance, that would be more suitable, however.

 

One of the main strengths of this Sarah Jessica Parker scent, is just how versatile it is. It is subtle enough for the office, can go casual, and generally serve as a no-brainer for daily wear. It’s at it’s best in warmer weather, not really going to be offensive, or ever in your face about its presence.

Is it a sexy scent? Not particularly. This isn’t a romantic wear or even a nightlife fragrance. It’s attractive, somewhat pretty, but not something that is going to draw a boatload of attention your way. Think of it as a generalist rather than a specialist perfume.

Overall Impressions of Lovely

Do I like Lovely by SJP? I do. For a celebrity fragrance, this one is of good quality, and at a cheap price. You’re going to have to enjoy musky floral perfumes, otherwise, you may not like this at all.

The performance is solid and it can be an easy daily wear for many women (and already is). The inexpensive price, is one of the main strengths of this scent, along with its aroma, and versatility.

I kind of wish that it had more of the apple and mandarin notes. That felt like a missed opportunity. But, the patchouli works well here, adding depth to an otherwise fairly thin profile.

This is the original and best seller from the Sarah Jessica Parker line and it does a good job at representing the brand. People also like to use this as a cheaper alternative to fragrances like Narciso Rodriguez, so, while it lacks originality and can be a great substitute for more expensive designer scents.

I don’t think that this one is completely amazing or anything, but it provides plenty of value for what it is. 

Shalimar EDP by Guerlain

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Shalimar is another utter classic. I haven’t tried this in years, but decided to grab some of the EDP, while testing out a few others in the series. Its legendary status dates back to 1925 and is among the ranks of Chanel No. 5 in terms of its mythos. But, this is a wholly different fragrance. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it actually worth a try?

Shalimar EDP Overview

Notes include: bergamot, iris, vanilla, jasmine, rose, balsam, tonka bean, cedar, incense, leather

Click here to try: Shalimar EDP

My Full Review

Here’s how Guerlain describes it: The epic love story between Shah Jahan and Princess Mumtaz Mahal inspired Guerlain’s legendary Shalimar. Warm vanilla rounds out uplifting and refreshing citrus notes to make this sensual oriental perfume the fragrance of desire.

Shalimar starts off with the bergamot and other parts of the citrus accord, shining through. Bright, but not clear, a fuzzy impression. I get plenty of the incense type of smokiness early on and even the leathery aroma coming from the base. Very much the “Guerlinade”  out in full force.

Smooth, warm, with spicy facets (good amount upon the initial spray), and the emerging powdery smell of the iris and vanilla combination. This EDP is much less floral than the more straightforward EDT version, as this one has much more complexity going on.

The next phase becomes woodier and balsamic (somewhat of the animalistic sort of scent, mimicking the old ‘civet’ which was in here once upon a time) on my skin. Less smoky, still smooth, and less of a citrus aspect also. Those notes still remain present, but you get more of the oriental styling that Shalimar is known for.

Shalimar turns less bright with the fading of the prominent citrus and darker with a heavier emphasis on the vanilla. It is interesting, the iris is still there, but can’t quite climb over the other notes here as it does in the EDT.

Vanilla and rich leather is the next part that comes across strongly on me. That’s most of what will dominate the rest of the way. It’s fresher, less smoky and of the civet sort of smell (which basically disappears for me), and kind of a cool sort of powdery scent.

Vanilla, floral, kind of musky and just that powdery vibe throughout.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

On me, Shalimar EDP is well above average with how it projects, the scent trail that it leaves behind, and just the scent bubble that it creates around me.

It’s never struck me as being massive and overwhelming. However, it is a strong perfume and doesn’t really need to be sprayed to any great extent in order to be effective.

The longevity here is somewhere in the 8.5-9.5 hour range, on my skin. Call it 9, with the potential to hit 10+ for some people. I haven’t gotten it to that point, but I’m sure some others will.

Seasonally, it’s going to be at its best from autumn through early spring. Despite the citrus influence, the other notes are going to be too heavy and cloying to carry on in the summertime. I do know that Guerlain has released Guerlain flankers better suited for summer, but I have yet to try them.

Shalimar has been the signature scent for plenty of women over the years. It can work in the daytime or even as a nighttime wear. But, this one feels more dependent on one’s own personal style as to when it’ll work.

It does have a sultry kind of sexiness and confidence. Yet, it is also well put together and classy. Get a sample and experiment with Shalimar to see when the mood strikes you.

Overall Impressions of Shalimar EDP

Overall, do I like Shalimar? Absolutely. Among women’s fragrances, I think that is ranks among my favorites ever. There’s so much here to enjoy about this Guerlain scent and it still holds up today.

Now of course, it might not have the same impact as it once did. In that, after 100 years, there have been plenty of perfumes that have tried to copy what you get with Shalimar. Some take bits and pieces, others go for the full thing. As such, you’ve probably smelled some similar scents. It’s impact has been immense.

I love the citrus, smoke, balsamic qualities, powder, the vanilla. It’s all a comforting and classic style, that never strikes me as being boring. Plenty of dynamism for such an old formula.

The performance also still holds up. Guerlain hasn’t seemed to dilute the life out of this fragrance, which is great news.

The eau de parfum still outranks the EDT version. I also like Shalimar Parfum Initial, just to a lesser extent, as well.

Is this better than Chanel No. 5? I do like Shalimar more than either No.5 Parfum or the EDP. That’s a different sort of scent, but I just think Shalimar smells better.

I recommend trying this fragrance out. See how it works with your own taste and style. It might not be at a price point, that you’d want to blind buy a full bottle, but it’s such a classic that Shalimar is well worth experiencing at least a few times.

On the Beach by Louis Vuitton

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Louis Vuitton went from having a spotty history at releasing scents to going full court press with its releases over the past few years. On the Beach was brought out by the design house in 2021. I grabbed a sample of this, as a part of my catching up with LV’s newer perfumes. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does On the Beach by Louis Vuitton Smell Like?

Notes include: yuzu, neroli, cypress, rosemary, sand, pink pepper, thyme, cloves

on the beach review

My Full Review

Here’s how Louis Vuitton describes it: The ecstasy of the sun, the rhythm of the sea and the gentle warmth of sand on the skin. Master perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud blends the infinite emotions of a day spent on a sunny beach. Yuzu, a rare citrus from Japan, is a burst of bliss on the skin. Its surprising freshness and brightness glides into the softness of neroli. Thyme, rosemary, pink pepper, cloves… a sandy note of aromatic herbs perfects the olfactory landscape, while a veil of cypress brings generous, woody shade to a pure summer day.

The opening act is a blast of the yuzu and neroli notes. Sharp and has an herbal spiciness to it from the notes sitting underneath. Not a big punchy spice, just a good baseline amount.

Definitely get more of the rosemary and pink pepper. However, early on I do detect a tiny amount of thyme, that will fade away thereafter.

The other note that really plays a big role here is cypress. Lots of Tom Ford and some Acqua di Parma fragrances use cypress a lot in their summer scents, so it is interesting to see Louis Vuitton doing the same for On the Beach.

The cypress, herbal notes, and that ‘sand’ element thrown in really do give this a warmth and dryness versus that bright and juicy yuzu start.

The rest of the way is pretty straightforward. Neroli, cypress, yuzu, and that mix of green/sand. This really does have a sandy quality to it, which is kind of strange. Not bad, just unusual.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, it is pretty moderate like most scents of this type. However, it isn’t weak. You can absolutely get a nice scent trail with On the Beach, with a pretty normal amount of sprays.

The projection isn’t massive, maybe 4-7 feet from the skin, at it’s peak. A nice amount of time, with its power still intact. For a summer perfume, it does well at holding up.

The longevity is pretty average, though. It’s different, as it doesn’t quickly turn into a skin scent on me. While at the same time, it doesn’t last extremely long. It’s more of an abrupt ending versus a slow decline, maybe it’s just my skin though?

I get 5-6.5 hours of wear from On the Beach. Not terrible. Not great. Though, one would probably expect more from an expensive perfume like this.

Seasonally, spring and summer. Definitely lean much more towards summer. As the name suggests, this embodies being on the coast or on the beach itself. I want to wear this outside in the heat, as it seems wasted being stuck inside all day.

This is a unisex fragrance. All really are welcome with On the Beach, not straying too far one way or the other.

Casual to maybe semi-formal events outside. Daytime perfume all the way. Attractive and interesting, but not a fragrance that is going to be confused with being sexy.

Overall Impressions of On the Beach

Overall, do I like On the Beach? I like it, but I don’t love it. I would sooner go with Afternoon Swim or Cactus Garden or Imagination from this house, as far as pure warm weather plays.

This is fine. The sandy note here is interesting, but really doesn’t do much for me, as far as enjoyment. Citrus, herbal notes, green woods. On the Beach isn’t super complex, but isn’t jaw dropping good, in its simplicity. Especially for $280 per bottle (update: now, $300).

The yuzu is very nice and I also like the cypress here. Though, it’s not really enough to completely sell me on this Louis Vuitton perfume. The thyme and other touches do help this to have a unique kind of aroma, while being a familiar type of summer fragrance.

The performance is okay. 5-6.5 hours is about what you get with a lot of summertime fragrances, so it’s not too much of a knock on Louis Vuitton. These aren’t really heavy notes that we’re dealing with.

On the whole, I wouldn’t recommend most people acquiring On the Beach for their fragrance needs. It’s nice, but expensive and has a limited use case. There will be people who love the scent, but outside of them, there are better options.

But, samples aren’t too expensive, so I’d go that route before blind buying.