Best Perfumes for Women

Girl of Now Forever EDP by Elie Saab

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Girl of Now Forever is one of the flankers to the popular Elie Saab release. This perfume came out back in 2019 and I’ve been testing out a sample of it for the site. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is Forever worth a try?

What does Girl of Now Forever Smell Like?

Notes include: rose, lemon, raspberry, patchouli, almond, orange blossom, blackcurrant, vanilla, musk, cashmeran

girl now forever review

My Full Review

The opening of Forever is a bit messy and sharp, in my opinion. I do like what this develops into, but I’m not much of a fan of the early stages here.

Lemon, raspberry, and blackcurrant obviously create a bright and fruity aroma. But, when paired with the early burst of almond and orange blossom, it feels like it is too much. I think it’s the way the lemon and almond interact, that I find bothersome.

That phase will pass, however. The blackcurrant fades, as does the orange blossom. Plus, the almond is not as aggressive.

What you do get is a sparkling raspberry near lemonade at times, emergent vanilla highlights, and a very nice pinkish rose. Girl of Now Forever isn’t a pure rose perfume, but it certainly develops into a scent with a rose influence.

As the rose comes on, you do get some musk and a bit of patchouli. Honestly, there’s not a lot of the patchouli here from what I can pick up.

Final dry down is rose, musk, wood, with a light lemon/raspberry finish. Not overly complicated, but I like the smell.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This one does start out with a good deal of power. It projects quite well off of the skin, without feeling too heavy or overtaking the room. But, it will change in a short amount of time into something that is more moderate throughout the rest of the wear.

Forever is never weak and I didn’t ever feel like this one had bad performance.

Beyond the sillage, the longevity is also well above average. On my skin, this version of Girl of Now went above 8 hours and closer to about 8.5 in total. You might even be able to get a bit more time, but this is still a solid performer for a designer wear.

Seasonally, this isn’t exclusive to the warmer weather. But, the spring and parts of summer is when it is at its best. Basically, whenever the climate is mid-range to warm outside, Forever can work.

This is a perfume that is probably going to appeal to younger women. It’s a good perfume for a teenager or someone in their early 20s. Obviously, anyone ‘can’ wear it, but this scent itself does have a playful youthful vibe versus some other designer fragrances.

Overall Impressions of Girl of Now Forever

Overall, do I like Girl of Now Forever? It’s good, but not great. That opening needs time to work itself out and isn’t amazing, but I do like how this one smells and performs thereafter.

It does skew younger, it seems, so it may be too bright and fruity for some older women. Rosy with its raspberry lemonade highlights coming through, is the period of this perfume that I particularly enjoyed.

It’s also easy to wear, will give you good longevity and enough power to be noticeable, while not blowing out whatever room you’re entering. Forever is a good flanker, if you’re already a fan of the Girl of Now series.

It’s at least worth trying out, if you’re completely unfamiliar. Not too polarizing that it wouldn’t be safe as a blind buy.

Chloe Rose Tangerine by Chloe

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Rose Tangerine is another release from Chloe which came out in 2020. I purchased a bunch of different samples from this brand to test out and review for the site and was intrigued by this one based on the name. How does it actually smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Chloe Rose Tangerine Smell Like?

Notes include: rose, blackcurrant, tangerine, cedar, amber

Click here to try: Chloe Rose Tangerine

My Full Review

Here’s how Chloe describes it: A fragrance with a luminous character around a modern fruity accord. While the sparkling tangerine and blackcurrant bring a breath of freshness, the iconic rose adds grace and femininity.

The opening spray, is quite likeable to me. The tangerine and blackcurrant have a sharp bite to them, not a sweet sort of perfume here, more clean floral and freshness.

The blackcurrant takes a back seat, rather quickly. The sharpness tones down and this becomes rosier, soapier, and not the same type of rosewater scent found in L’eau. The blend feels kind of bitter and greenish in the opening minutes.

As I get further along, this is light and still decent. It’s a rose and cedar freshness with a citrus zest. I don’t get much development beyond that, maybe some amber, but not to the point where it stands out on me. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The first hour or two, this one is pretty moderate while still being very noticeable. Projects from the skin in the 4-6 foot range for that duration. Then, it’ll move into the 1-3 foot range for the rest of the way.

A lot of the time, it will be very close to the skin. 

On my skin, Rose Tangerine lasts a little more than 5 hours in total. The performance wasn’t too great and I wish I could squeeze a few more hours of wear out of it. Kind of a weak point.

Seasonally, this is a spring and summer wear all the way. That’s when it’s going to shine and this isn’t going to get much play in the colder months.

But, it is quiet and simple enough to be worn in a wide variety of outings without issue. It’s not going to be a bold nightlife wear or a formal one or anything like that. Outdoors would be nice, casually, maybe to work would be appropriate for some people.

 

 

Overall Impressions of Rose Tangerine

Overall, do I like Chloe Rose Tangerine? I like parts of it, but it’s pretty forgettable overall. I do like that tangerine and blackcurrant opening act, which is very short-lived. 

After that, it becomes rose-focused like the other perfumes in the series, but not really as good. Very greenish stem with the rose petals adding the rest of the floral aspect. Plus, this one does have a bitterness which comes through in the middle. 

I don’t hate that part, but it just doesn’t have the same appeal. This is also a pretty simple fragrance on the whole.

The performance is light and just enough to be a viable purchase for those who like it. Personally, I think it’s okay and definitely not one of the best from Chloe. 

Dune by Christian Dior

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Dune is a fragrance which dates back to the Dior lineup of the 1990s. I have already covered the men’s version of this name, but I wanted to do a deeper dive into the ladies’ original, which is the better known of the two. How does Dune smell? When should it be worn? Is it still worth a try?

What does Dune by Dior Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, rosewood, sandalwood, bergamot, aldehydes, and more

Click here to try: Dune from Dior

My Full Review

Here’s how Dior describes this scent: A tribute to Christian Dior’s childhood home in Granville, Dior created the fragrance Dune. An oceanic fragrance, created in harmony with nature, this radiant, fresh and subtle accord captures the landscape where the sky meets the sea in a warm, oceanic floral bouquet. Enveloping, serene and sensual.

The opening of Dune is really great. The mandarin orange with some assistance from the bergamot note gives this Dior its citrus sweetness.

But, that is matched by dry woods and a spiced kick. Rosewood and sandalwood are two ingredients which really shine with this one.

The aldehydes here do create an atmosphere of a coastal landscape. Not necessarily marine, but a fresh and warm sort of breezy aroma. Tough to describe, but that’s what I get.

The citrus moves away pretty quickly. Before it does, Dune has a vanilla/orange impression for a short time. Then, it is vanilla, mossy, and floral. The floral notes kind of do just blend together as a white floral smell. The moss adds a layer to that dry freshness.

From there, this one becomes quite woody with balsamic notes, a more generic amber and a benzoin which gives it that medicinal fizziness. It’s warm, more fresh than its early spiciness, super dry but has a sweetness underneath that helps hold it all together.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here isn’t overly bold or something that’s going too leave a massive trail in your wake. The first few hours are above average, with a nice reaching projection. Especially while that citrus sticks around.

After that, it’s going to become a more intimate perfume. Not a total skin scent, in my experience, just one that is going to create a close yet not heavy envelopment.

On my skin, I get somewhere in the 7-7.5 hour range as far as its longevity. It’s about what I’d expect from this sort of EDT. It’s interesting that this is the concentration that’s stuck around for all of these years and the EDP and Extrait went by the wayside. I never got to try either of them.

Seasonally, Dune is kind of a year round wonder. I like it more when it’s at least a little warm out. But, trying it out in the cold, it felt like it was working well. Especially seems to bring out more of an amber influence.

This one can work in almost any situation, save maybe, nightlife and romantic wear. It’s fine casually and has enough style to get other uses out of it. Plus, it casts a wide net with its age range. Very wearable, for all, so long as you like the smell.

Overall Impressions of Dune

Overall, do I like Dune? Absolutely. That opening is simply awesome. A great blend of citrus, spice, and woods. Gives you a rather unique experience versus much of what you get on the market today.

The rest of the wear is dry, but changes from a more coastal breezy feel to a warmer and balsamic aroma. Nice use of aldehydes and I’ve always felt that this was like an inversion of Chanel No. 5. So many overlapping notes, heavy aldehydes, but the weightings are all different.

The performance is pretty moderate, but towards the upper end of that. It’s never been a powerhouse fragrance and the longevity is at least above average. You might even get a few more hours from Dune, than I do.

The real appeal is just how versatile this one can be. Not screaming out for attention, but the formula gives you different variations depending on the climate, and it doesn’t get blasted by heat or cold like many others can.

I’m a fan of Dune. I wish the men’s version had better performance, because it is also a nice change of pace cologne. This is worth trying out and can even become a favorite perfume for some.

Sutton Place by Bond No. 9

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Sutton Place is a fragrance released by Bond No. 9 back in 2016. I was given a sample of this as a bonus, when I ordered a lot of perfume samples months ago. Since I hadn’t yet tried it, I wanted to see what this one was all about. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does Sutton Place Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, pineapple, cassis, jasmine, lily, patchouli, amber, musk, and leather

Click here to try: Sutton Place by Bond

My Full Review

Here’s how Bond No. 9 describes it: Sutton Place, Bond No. 9’s classically masculine newest scent, celebrates that quiet, serene, understated enclave that serves as home to the traditionally male cadre of U.N. diplomats

Sutton Place opens up fresh, juicy, and a bit green. Early, the bergamot and pineapple really supply that juiciness, but the dominant note here is going to be the cassis. It adds to the fruitiness, but with that patchouli note, really gives this a greenish aroma early on.

What Sutton Place also has, is nice dose of spicy pink pepper. Once the citrus and pineapple level off, the pink pepper comes in to join that cassis note.

30 minutes or so into the wear, the patchouli has also taken a step back and this one really starts to bring out the leather. Cassis and leather, with pink pepper, and a touch of jasmine.

The latter stages for me are really a musky leather, the remaining cassis,  and some general spiciness from what’s left of the rest of the notes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sutton Place actually projects nicely. The opening hour is quite strong, not a massive cloud, but the fragrance can indeed create a trail. After that, it is above average and never felt like it was a weak or more intimate sort of scent.

The longevity is good, which it should be at this price point. On my skin, it goes just over 8 hours and can sometimes hit that 9 hour mark. During testing, it was more consistently at the eight side of that range.

Seasonally, this can basically work in all seasons, save the absolute coldest days of winter where the freshness might be too much. It’s versatility is a bright spot. Spring seems like the ideal time for Sutton Place.

It’s not formal or a super sexy fragrance. But, outside of the opening which can be bold, it’s not one that really going to be offensive to anyone and so can fit into a pretty wide variety of situations.

Overall Impressions of Sutton Place

Overall, do I like Sutton Place? Eh, it’s fine. It’s not one of the better Bond fragrances in their lineup, but I didn’t hate it completely.

The early stages can be somewhat messy and sharp with the citrus, pineapple, and pink pepper. Fresh, but I think it gets better once everything settles down. The cassis and leather combination is the highlight of this one.

Yet, it’s still nothing that feels too impressive or attractive. It’s middle tier at a high price.

Performance is good. No problems there.

This is definitely not a blind buy and most likely not something that many folks are going to be clamoring for. If it sounds interesting to you, try it out, and see if your one of the people that this can potentially fit with. Otherwise, just skip this entirely.

Vanilla | 28 by Kayali

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Vanilla 28 is one of the more sought after of the Kayali fragrances from Huda Beauty. People love a good vanilla scent, but does this one actually fit the bill? How does 28 smell? How long does it last? Is it worth a try?

What does Vanilla 28 Smell Like?

Notes include: vanilla orchid, tonka bean, brown sugar, amber woods, musk

Click here to try: Vanilla 28 by Kayali

My Full Review

Vanilla 28 starts off fully in its sweetness. The tonka bean and brown sugar really jump out to me during this stage of the wear. Obviously, the vanilla orchid is going to be in play throughout, but this one favors those other two notes, early on.

Yet, this perfume doesn’t ever get too sickening or child-like with its sweetness. The tonka bean will subside some, the vanilla comes on more, and this does develop a bit of muskiness to it.

It’s mostly vanilla and brown sugar for a good portion of its life. The brown sugar will fade, musk joins that vanilla and the remaining tonka bean in the spotlight.

What is interesting is the synthetic amberwood note, that many perfume have nowadays. It helps this, along with that musk, from becoming a heavy or cloying mess. It has a certain cleanliness and freshness, not getting bogged down by the sweet trio.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here, isn’t too massive. You get a good 30 minutes or so of some nice power and the perfume creating a cloud around you. After that, it’s pretty light to middle of the road. Not completely weak, just not something to blow out a room.

On my skin, it’ll go for somewhere in the 5-6 hour range. Again, not all that amazing, but still okay. Performance isn’t this scent’s strength.

Seasonally, this is sugary and warm, and best in the autumn or winter months. If you live in an area with a colder springtime, you’ll get plenty of use. Skip the warmer temperatures and heat, though.

Within that timeframe, this one works in a variety of situations. It is sweet, while still enjoying a wide appeal among different ages.

Now, it’s not a formal type of perfume or anything, but Vanilla 28 works in a variety of situations on its own. And probably many more, when used as a layered fragrance.

Overall Impressions of Vanilla 28

Overall, do I like this perfume? Yes, I think it is one of the best of the Kayali lineup thus far. As a vanilla, I prefer it to what you get with the less focused Utopia from this brand.

Personally, I like the brown sugar note. Yes, it can be too sweet or not sophisticated enough for some, but I think it works well in here. It plays a rather large role, so if that’s not your thing, you might want to pass.

The performance is middle of the road. If you’re using this as a standalone fragrance and not really blending it with others, just be advised. It wasn’t completely terrible, but Vanilla 28 isn’t a long-lasting powerhouse.

While I do like the way this one smells, the price point is a bit of a reach for what you’re getting. You’re paying a bit of a premium versus what you’re getting on its own.

It’s simple and doesn’t have great performance, which can be a deciding factor if you’re in the market for something like a signature daily wear.

But, if you know all of that in advance and still want to give this one a try, I’d say it’s worth it.