Best Perfumes for Women

Brooklyn by Bond No. 9

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So, I’m back to the site, after taking more than a month off from reviewing anything. I noticed that I hadn’t finished with all of my Bond No. 9 samples from a few months back and decided that I should get back to business. Today’s scent is Brooklyn, a unisex scent from the brand. How does it smell? What’s inside? Is Brooklyn worth a purchase? Scroll down to find out my complete take.

What does Brooklyn by Bond No. 9 Smell Like?

Notes include: gin, cedar, cypress, juniper berries, grapefruit, cardamom, leather

Click here to try: Bond No. 9 Brooklyn Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Brooklyn starts out with a really dry blend of cypress, cedar, and leather. It is an interesting combination and strikes me as somewhat different than many other woodsy scents.

A few minutes into its life, those notes are met with an outburst of juniper berry and gin. This creates an herbal/boozy/woody triumvirate that is surprisingly fresh and unoffensive.

From there on out, Brooklyn is a pretty linear fragrance. There isn’t much change that I noticed while wearing it. This particular blend of notes seems to give off a fizzy drink aroma, as if you added seltzer water to gin and berries. Brooklyn is a very clean type of scent with a zesty kick to it.

Cypress and the mixed drink element, really dominate this scent, and if you’re not into that Brooklyn isn’t the right choice. It’s kind of an odd choice to represent Brooklyn with, but that’s basically what you get here.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Brooklyn isn’t the best. I sprayed 3 times on my forearm and couldn’t detect it unless I moved my nose particularly close. It’s fine that it’s not a beast, but it does seem kind of weak, on my skin at least.

Update: Coming back to this again, it is pretty middle of the road. Even the initial sprays aren’t all that powerful and Brooklyn is going to stay quite close to the skin. 3-6 feet at its maximum.

In terms of its longevity, I got about six hours out of it as a skin scent. Not amazing but not the worst that I’ve ever encountered either. Update: Yep, still getting about six hours out of this. It’s just not a formula that seems to last all that long.

Brooklyn is a unisex scent and I would say that it leans more to the masculine side of things. The dry woods being balanced out by boozy fruit, makes this one a solid spring/early summer wear, in my mind.

Still, women can easily wear this one too. It’d be a nice change of pace from the usual fruity and floral fare.

Very casual scent not one that would feel particularly sexy or engaging. Just pleasant. Dry and then fizzy, with a nice crisp feeling. You could wear this at night or around town during the day. I don’t know that you’d want to smell like gin at work, so I’d probably skip wearing it as a daily.

Overall Impressions of Brooklyn

Overall, would I recommend Brooklyn? I think the fragrance is decent. I just wish that it would last longer on my skin. I’m definitely not blown away by the scent, in the slightest. Though, I do appreciate what they were going for and its certain level of uniqueness.

Update: Coming back to this one after a few years, this does have a lot of the same style as Vodka on the Rocks by Kilian. Obviously, Brooklyn came out in 2008, so it is more original. However, I was really reminded of that newer fizzy boozy perfume. This one has the leathery accord and that cypress sticks out. 

I like the gin, cypress, and leather notes. It’s not my favorite alcoholic aroma (prefer rum or cognac scent), but it’s nice enough overall.

The problem of course, is its pricing. If the cost doesn’t bother you, I’d say try it out, if it appears intriguing. If it’s a stretch for you to afford, I’d skip this one.

It’s going to appeal to a certain niche segment of fragrance wearers. For most, Brooklyn is completely not necessary. It’s fresh and interesting, just not amazing, in any way.

Omnia Pink Sapphire by Bvlgari

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When I bought my bottle of Versace Eros Flame, I also received some samples, as a part of the shipment. One of those samples was from the new Bvlgari perfume release, Omnia Pink Sapphire. I had no expectations of what this flanker was going to be, so, I decided to try it out. As usual, I will cover what’s inside, how it smells, the performance, when it should be worn, and if it’s even worth it.

What does Omnia Pink Sapphire Smell Like?

Notes included: frangipani, pink pomelo, musk, vanilla, pink pepper, tiara, wood

Click here to try: Bvlgari Omnia Pink Sapphire Eau de Toilette Spray, 2.2 Fl Oz

My Full Wear Review

Before I begin with my review, let’s see what Bvlgari has to say about Pink Sapphire: A new sparkling floral olfactive experience, inspired by a sensorial precious gem. A festive fragrance built on the solar and delicate scent of pink frangipani flower distilling daring notes.

So, in the description on their website, Bvlgari says this will whisk your imagination to faraway lands in French Polynesia, particularly Tahiti. Omnia Pink Sapphire definitely has that kind of exotic tropical scent.

It opens up with a sharp and tart citrus blast from what is pomelo, but there is definitely a grapefruit aroma, and possible note lurking in there as well.

The citrus top is paired with the frangipani flower and these two notes are going to be dominant throughout the wear. Yes, it develops somewhat from here, but pomelo and frangipani are what it’s mostly going to be about.

I think Pink Sapphire is familiar to other fragrances in a lot of ways, but the notes it uses instead, give it a unique aroma. Plenty of citrus floral perfumes, but I can’t think of any that combine these specific notes.

As it moves along, this Omnia perfume keeps up its sunny disposition, and the main changes that I notice are firstly the strengthening of tiare flower. Secondly, the musky vanilla note that sits underneath, both the citrus and floral notes.

The further along in the dry down I get, the less tart, and the sweeter this fragrance becomes. It’s a good mix at this point of frangipani, pomelo, tiare, pink pepper, and that musky undertone. This perfume is certainly sunny and has an upbeat energy about it, a very pleasant fragrance.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage of this Bvlgari, starts off fairly moderate but turns quickly into a lighter or sort of airy perfume. It has a fresh almost ethereal quality and it isn’t going to be a powerhouse EDT.

The longevity on this one isn’t great, but it wasn’t unusably terrible for me, as it got around 5 hours of wear.  It’s pretty baseline average. It is a lighter warm weather fragrance, but don’t expect a marathon performer here.

For the price point, I do want more out of a perfume. So, maybe only grab a bottle that’s on sale and heavily discounted.

Pink Sapphire is spring/summer all the way. A casual daytime wear that is perfectly safe to put on for work or school, as it can definitely appeal to a younger set. It’s pretty enough, but not a sexy sort of perfume, I’d like to smell it but probably wouldn’t be captivated by Pink Sapphire.

For the warmer months, this is one that should get plenty of use. There are obviously sexier scents or more formal or more stylish options. Pink Sapphire does still fit in rather well, in a variety of situations, though.

Overall Impressions of Pink Sapphire

Overall, do I like Omnia Pink Sapphire? I like it. As I said, it takes a familiar citrus floral formula, and adds some lesser used notes to it. It’d be a solid option for those who want a more tropical version of that kind of fragrance, for the summertime.

The performance could be much better, but it isn’t awful. Pink Sapphire smells good, but doesn’t stand out, which could be a good thing for the right price. Again, maybe only blind buy this one at a heavy discount.

That opening act can be a citrus overload. The pomelo is already strong in the composition, on its own, but adding other citrus to it can be too much.

I do like frangipani and the dry down when everything gets mellowed out, with the inclusion of the vanilla note.

Apparently, Pink Sapphire wasn’t one of the more popular perfumes from the Omnia lineup. But, I don’t think that it’s a bad scent at all. Maybe it doesn’t have the most broad appeal, even if it’s a pretty good smelling scent.

Black Opium EDP by YSL

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In addition to the recent men’s cologne samples that I’ve gotten a hold of as of late, I also managed to pick up a lot of ladies fragrances, to give my review of. Today, is an entry from Yves Saint Laurent and is a name inherited from the classic perfume Opium, Black Opium eau de parfum.

As always, I want to give my thoughts on how the fragrance smells, performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is worth a purchase. Note: I have come back to edit and update this page, a few years after the initial review.

What Does Black Opium EDP Smell Like?

black opium perfume review

Notes include: coffee, vanilla, patchouli, pink pepper, orange blossom, cedar, pear, jasmine, bitter almond

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, Black Opium, 3 Ounce

My Full Review

The opening of Black Opium is somewhat of a jumbled mess, in my opinion. For the first 10 minutes or so, it feels like a very synthetic blend of vanilla, flowers, and a hint of cedar.

However, despite this poor start, once it settled down Black Opium was quite a lovely experience. I get more of the pear sparkle coming through, once some of the other notes have taken their place in the composition.

This stuff is sweet, so if that’s not your bag, don’t bother with this one. The coffee note begins to emerge after the start and forms a lovely duo with the vanilla. I happen to really like coffee and vanilla (both in fragrance and in beverage form), so Black Opium appealed to my sensibilities.

One thing that I definitely detect in this perfume is the pink pepper note, which reminds me of the men’s cologne, Guess Seductive Homme. It was a part of that messy opening act, but gets more breathing room within the composition, later in the wear.

This Yves Saint Laurent perfume, isn’t all that complex to my nose. The final dry down here, is the vanilla and coffee, with a jasmine background. At the base sits: pink pepper, patchouli, and a bit of fresh cedar.

I was surprised that the patchouli note wasn’t stronger on my skin. Also, that almond note barely shows up for me. I think it’s more apparent on other people, but for me, not really getting much.

It’s warm and sweet, with a slightly powdery quality to it. It isn’t baby powder or anything, just gives off that sort of aroma.

While this is another fragrance that uses the ‘Black’ title and isn’t all that dark in its presentation, I’ll give it a pass, since it seems to be a dark roast coffee at least. Black Opium is such a warm scent, that sort of envelopes you as you wear it, and the light floral notes in the background give it an added layer of complexity.

Sillage, Longevity, Seasonality, Versatility

Projection wise, Black Opium is some pretty strong stuff. Honestly, a few sprays would do it. It also has good longevity, as I could detect it all day on my wrist.

I also sprayed it and a few other ladies’ perfumes onto a sweatshirt a few days ago, and the Black Opium is still the strongest, whilst others have faded completely.

At least with this original formulation, the reach of the perfume could be detected from 8+ feet out, at its height. This is one of the more powerful designer scents, in its early stages, to my nose.

For me, it easily goes 8 hours, and can hit double digits. I wouldn’t call it an absolute beast with the sillage, but the strength/performance overall, is very good and has a time where it is close to being great.

This is more of a fall and winter type of scent. I would avoid wearing Black Opium in the heat or high humidity, as it will fall apart, and feel pretty gross. It could absolutely be an everyday wear during the winter, but also double as a date night kind of fragrance.

In an office or classroom type of environment, go easy with the sprays, 1-2 should suffice. This isn’t a formal sort of perfume, so, you probably don’t need to worry about it for those occasions.

It is actually quite sexy, and as a man, I can say that I would want to be closer to a woman who was wearing Black Opium. This perfume has a really cozy and enveloping scent, with its sweet gourmand aroma, being pretty appealing. It’s not something that drives me wild or anything, but I can say, it is enjoyable.

Overall Impression

Overall is it worth a buy? Maybe. While not the greatest thing I’ve ever smelled, Black Opium is still a very solid fragrance, that does smell very good. It’s not for everybody, especially not those who don’t enjoy sweet gourmand perfumes.

Plus, it is limited to the colder months of the year, and not for those living in certain warm climates.

I’ve tried a lot of the flanker fragrances that have been released since this original came out and this is still among my favorites of the line. See: Neon, Intense, Nuit Blanche

The coffee and vanilla dry down is where this one shines. Nice floral contributions from the jasmine and orange blossom. This is when Black Opium really achieves a balance in its composition and is at its most attractive.

Again, the performance is good and the price isn’t too bad. It’s a solid choice, I’d just caution those who want to avoid the super sweet stuff, because this can be that kind of perfume for much of the wear.

However, as a popular mass market option, Black Opium will do the trick and could be a signature scent for some ladies.

Pacific Chill by Louis Vuitton

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Pacific Chill is a new perfume release from Louis Vuitton for 2023. I bought a sample of this scent, as soon as I saw one available, because I really wanted to try it out. I’ve like a lot of the brand’s summertime fragrances and hoped that this one is a hit too. How does it smell? Does Pacific Chill last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Pacific Chill Smell Like?

Notes include: blackcurrant, lemon, orange, ambrette, cedar, coriander, basil, carrot seeds, peppermint

My Full Review

Here’s how Louis Vuitton describes it: Evoking the regenerative vigor of the infinite ocean, Pacific Chill translates the pleasure of the warmth of a new day on the skin. An audacious olfactory creation by Master Perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, this detox-oriented cologne captures nature’s vitality which revives the senses and opens the mind.

Pacific Chill opens up cold, sharp, and very fresh. The citrus notes lead the way, but I get a lot of greener notes involved early on, on my skin. The peppermint, coriander, and basil right away give this fragrance a lot of flavor and makes the opening act quite interesting.

To me, the peppermint is the strongest of the latter three notes and the other two just sort of play background support. That will shift and the basil, will come out more in replacement of that mint note.

Blackcurrant only adds to the sweet-tart kind of vibe that Chill puts out.

After a short while, the mint and blackcurrant notes back off. Pacific chill will be a citrus and basil based fragrance. The orange and citron are distinct on my skin and there is that apricot-like effect coming in, as well. Louis Vuitton doesn’t officially list that as a note, on the page that I saw but something similar is present at least.

Still kind of cool and icy drink vibes. Kind of spicy fresh still, with a greater musk cleanliness than in that initial spray.

Early, this has a refreshing drink feel to it. Later, Pacific Chill is more of a clean shampoo sort of scent. The fruit notes kind of combine into a amalgamated citrus and apricot smell, with the carrot seeds and ambrette giving it a muskiness.

Peppermint and basil are basically non-factors by this point. Fruity clean with a bit of sweetness, but more of a tartness, however.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Pacific Chill opens like an absolute bomb, on my skin. Seriously, this one envelops me in a cloud of iced fragrance for about an hour. Then, it kind of goes into a lighter moderate mode.

It’s certainly got a steep drop off from what it starts off like versus how it finishes, but I was surprised I even got that much of a loud projection. Should give you a nice scent trail.

Even in that lighter state, Chill doesn’t fade away, and carries on. I get about 7.5 hours of wear. With more sprays from a full bottle, I wouldn’t be shocked to hit 9, but 7.5 is about what I expect.

Seasonally, this is spring and summer all the way. Very much a warm weather fragrance, fruity citrus greenery.

Pacific Chill is unisex, but I’d say leans more feminine. Doesn’t entirely stray into the zone, but the fruity shampoo aspects of it certainly push it that way. It also feels a lot more youthful than the other LV summer fragrances. Not a super mature fragrance, kind of like a refined teenager’s perfume.

This one is more for daytime casual wear, anyway. Not going to be something for the nightlife or even formal wear during the summer. So, even if it is somewhat immature, it should be too much of an issue.

Overall Impressions of Pacific Chill

Overall, do I like Pacific Chill? I certainly liked the opening act. When I first sprayed this perfume, it really grabbed my attention. Not that it was a complete love for me, but it was very unique and interesting.

But, even with that being the case. That sharpness can be bothersome at times and not always what I want to smell. Though, the way it comes across as a cold and refreshing drink is really great.

The back half of this fragrance? It’s fine. It has too much of that fruity shampoo aroma for my liking. On the whole, while this is a unisex scent, it does seem to skew towards being something a younger woman would wear.

Personally, I think Vuitton scents like: Afternoon Swim, Cactus Garden, and City of Stars are better overall than Pacific Chill.

For the current $300 price tag, I think it’s too much of a stretch for most people. I don’t think that Pacific Chill is going to be a Louis Vuitton fragrance that is universally beloved. For some folks, sure. I think that it’s worth trying to see if you fall into that camp or not.

That being said, it won’t be a must-have for most people.

The One EDT for Women by Dolce & Gabbana

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For today’s review, we have the eau de toilette version of The One for Women by Dolce & Gabbana. This obviously is a newer take on the EDP release, that has been a popular ladies scent for years now. As usual, I’m going to cover: how it smells, what’s inside, how it performs, when it should be worn, and if it is even worth a purchase.

What does The One EDT for Women Smell Like?

Notes include: lily, vanilla, bergamot, mandarin orange, lychee, peach, ylang ylang, orange blossom, vetiver, and musk

Click here to try: The One EDT for Women

My Full Review

Before we get started into my thoughts on this perfume, let’s see what D&G has to say about it in their description:

The One eau de toilette is an enchanting, sensual, and feminine scent, with a new twist of freshness that magnifies the key note of Madonna lily. Oriental Floral. 

The opening of the EDT version of The One is very sweet with the vanilla note leading the way and smooth floral notes such as the orange blossom and lily. While there are multiple citrus ingredients listed, what I mostly get is peach coming through, and the bergamot/orange is a much weaker aroma.

Though, with orange blossom as well, you do get some bursts of citrus during the wear. To me, that is a good thing, as I really do enjoy the smell of orange blossom.

You do get a lovely top from this fragrance, with some juicy fruit and sweetness, beyond just being another floral scent. Yes, floral notes do take over more as it wears on, but I like the peach and the light citrus touch from the start. Still, all of this is experienced within the embrace of the floral and woodsy notes.

The One EDT is quite a rich and warm perfume. Lily, vanilla, amber, and musk create an enveloping cloud of sweet white florals. Moving forward, I also detect a very lovely ylang-ylang note which adds another dimension to the floral composition.

It becomes quite creamy and a sweet floral during the latter stages. The lily does indeed begin to fully dominate the fragrance, but I still get enough vanilla and amber, for this scent to keep its appeal.

Ultimately, it is a lily, vanilla, and amber scent with a bouquet of floral notes surrounding that trio. Also, a peach note, which still has a good deal of strength during the later periods of its cycle.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, this can start out with some pretty heavy sillage, but later on it becomes much more moderate. Now, it can be overdone with too many sprays, but a normal application should have no problems.

That opening strength might last from 30-60 minutes, depending on the day. But, even after that the strength is fine and The One is quite usable.

The longevity is fairly good as well, The One EDT lasted around 7 hours on my skin. Not the best of the best, but good enough for most purposes. It’s actually much better than the men’s EDT version, so, I won’t complain too much.

Seasonally, this Dolce scent feels like it’d be best in cold weather, but fine in anything but the hottest days of the year. Even though this is a fruitier scent, the other notes have enough body and thickness to make it less than ideal for the summer.

It is a versatile fragrance that can be worn everyday at the office, class, but is attractive enough to pull double duty on a date or a night out.

I certainly found it quite pretty and appealing, with a certain amount of sexiness to it. But, it doesn’t stray too far into the seductive nightlife wear. Mostly, just an attractive and versatile scent.

Honestly, it kind of fits for any age range. The sweetness that it does have doesn’t put it into ‘teenager only’ perfume category. Though, they could certainly wear The One as well.

Overall Impressions of The One EDT

Overall, is The One eau de toilette worth a try? I’d say, yes. It is a very attractive scent but it is also a very sweet scent. You’re going to have to enjoy lily, peach, and an enveloping warm sweetness.

Honestly, the perfume can be a bit much at times, but as a white floral fragrance it works well in totality. Still, I think that it is an improvement upon the EDP version, in a lot of ways. I got a good performance from it and it does have quite a lot of beauty within that sweetness.

It’s not an amazing fragrance. The peach and the citrus up top are a highlight for me, even if things can feel crowded at times, with all of the notes jockeying for position.

Again, if peach gets on your nerves, this is probably one to avoid. Otherwise, it is a very nice D&G release, which does almost everything well. It’s been around forever, at this point, and so no new ground is being broken with this one.