Best Perfumes for Women

Not Your Baby by Phlur

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Phlur’s Not Your Baby is another fragrance that I received as a part of the brand’s discovery set of samples. This was one that I was completely unfamiliar with prior to testing it out for the site. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Not Your Baby Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, cardamom, violet, mimosa, vanilla, sandalwood, and tonka bean

Click here to try: Not Your Baby

My Full Review

Here’s how it’s described: Provocative, playful, and anything but innocent, Not Your Baby is an undeniably sexy, intriguing, and addictive spicy floral.

There’s a very light bergamot sparkle sitting on top of a ton of cardamom, here at the start. When I saw that this was a powdery cardamom scent, I thought that this would be the female version of La Nuit.

Nope, that’s a way better scent than this. Though, I kind of like the opening here and the rest isn’t too bad. Cardamom, some of the powdery violet, and sweetness from vanilla/tonka bean. Fresh spice, with some decent sweet powdery facets.

That bergamot gives it a nice spritz of juiciness, as this transitions into its more floral phase.

But, this one gets sweeter. I do have to admit, violet is one of my least favorite floral notes. Thankfully, it’s not dominant and you get more of the mimosa (which is fine enough).

The powder aspect of this will get stronger and the sweeter milky side of things, diminishes, but never really goes away.

Some may actually prefer this part of the wear, depending on how you feel about that warm spice of cardamom. It can be somewhat weird paired with certain sweeter notes.

The final dry down is also a highlight for me. The tonka bean actually overtakes the vanilla milk, with mimosa still the lead floral, and an attractive sandalwood base. It’s a sweetish fresh and powdery floral scent.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here isn’t anything crazy. It’s got some decent projection early on, but that’s short lived and this is going to be a softer scent for the rest of the wear. 1-4 feet for the duration. Just know you’re not getting a sillage bomb.

The longevity is okay. 6-6.5 hours, on my skin. I’d probably want more out of my perfume, at this price point, but it’s not the worst I’ve come across either.

Seasonally, this one works best in the spring and can extend into summer and autumn. I’d pick cooler days in the summer and not be out in the blistering heat with it. Not Your Baby does have freshness, so, it won’t be a complete mess once it’s warm out.

This is more of a daily wear type of perfume. It’s clean, youngish, floral. Nothing too fancy, not sexy, but can be a nice enough powdery type of scent. Casual, school, work, etc. Not a nightlife fragrance.

Overall Impressions of Not Your Baby

Overall, do I like this perfume? It’s actually pretty good at times, just uneven with how it comes across during its development. I’m never completely in love with what I’m smelling, but it isn’t terrible.

I’m glad the violet isn’t overpowering, just adds a fresh quality to the blend. The cardamom start, is intriguing to me. The next phase is meh. But, I like the back half of the middle and final dry down.

The price is what makes me lean towards saying no to this. I mean, you can also buy the sample set to see which you like, but a full bottle? Not unless you’re sure.

The performance isn’t great. It sticks around for a passable length of time, but the sillage is pretty darn light.

It’s all average to slightly above average for the most part. Nothing spectacular, but I don’t hate Not Your Baby, either.

Cherry Smoke by Tom Ford

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Cherry Smoke is one of the latest offerings from Tom Ford, along with, Electric Cherry. Both of which are piggy backing off of the massive success of Lost Cherry. This one was released in 2022.

Now, this hasn’t nearly gotten the fanfare of their initial cherry perfume foray, but does that make Smoke not as good of an option to wear?

I bought two samples of Smoke only, since I couldn’t yet find Electric, and have been testing this perfume out. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

Cherry Smoke Perfume Overview

Notes include: dark cherry, osmanthus, cyproil India, saffron

Click here to try: Cherry Smoke from Sephora

My Full Review

Here’s how Tom Ford describes it: AN EXPERIENCED HEDONIST, CHERRY SMOKE PLAYS WITH FIRE, BURSTING WITH THE SCENT OF DARK CHERRY, IGNITED BY SEDUCTIVE OSMANTHUS AND SMOLDERING, SMOKED WOODS. 

Cherry Smoke kicks off with one of the familiar cherry notes, found in Lost Cherry. The black cherry without the booziness. That cherry is matched with the osmanthus accord and saffron.

The osmanthus, according to the TF website, has facets of: leather, olive, and apricot aromas. The apricot aspect is noticeable upon the initial spray, but will fade along with the cherry note.

Yes, the cherry in Cherry Smoke, is not actually the main attraction. It is up top and sticks around, but it will lurk more in the background.

The saffron and osmanthus accord do give off a combined leathery aroma, with a warmth and slight smokiness from the base. Cyproil India and more of a generic woodiness provide that part for us. It sort of comes across like an oud note, but I don’t think it actually is.

Honestly, this one isn’t a super cherry nor super smoky scent. It has some of each, especially early, but not to the extent you’d expect based on the name.

Once the cherry has stepped back, that olive and cyproil become noticeable, and Cherry Smoke has a somewhat bitter aspect to it. Still a leathery freshness, but woodsy, dark, and a touch bitter. Again, that cherry sweetness is still a part of the show.

The final dry down is less leathery and geared more toward the woody notes. Kind of a suede-like finish, but a full expression of that osmanthus accord and remaining cherry.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This is a perfume that doesn’t really project all that far nor does it seem heavy. It’s warmth and the smokiness that it does have, makes it feel like it has more ‘weight’ to it than it actually does.

Early the sprays are noticeable probably up to 7-ish feet or so. After that, it’s going to come into the 1-3 foot range. That’s kind of how it was for me with Lost Chery too, but this one to a greater extent.

On my skin, this will go 6.5-7 hours. Again, those last few hours are very weak, but still somewhat detectable. It is definitely there, though.

Seasonally, I’ve obviously been testing this out in winter. But, it’s not too cold right now, which has given me a few chances in the chilly to moderate temperatures. That’s probably the right zone for this one.

Autumn through mid-spring, depending on where you live. Summer it’s a hard pass.

I think that Cherry Smoke leans more masculine, but is still very unisex overall. The versatility, is probably its greatest strength. Pretty much anyone can wear it, in most situations, and it can even extend into the nightlife.

Overall Impressions of Cherry Smoke

Overall, do I like this fragrance? I certainly like aspects of it, but during these first tests, I was never completely blown away by Cherry Smoke. It’s still good.

As of now, I’m not really sold on it being better than Lost Cherry. That could change and I’ll update, if that’s the case. I do still give an edge to the original, in totality.

The opening cherry with the saffron and apricot aroma of the osmanthus is very nice. I enjoyed that a lot. That olive aroma and cyproil are also interesting in their own way.

On the whole, it never hits an elite level for me. I was excited to give this a try, but it’s a mild disappointment, that could have been classic.

Update: Yeah, coming back to this one, it’s nothing that great. It’s likeable at times, but really never brings it all together into something that’s a must have scent.

The performance is mediocre for what you’re paying. It doesn’t need to be an absolute bomb, but it also doesn’t really give me enough in terms of power or length of time.

Obviously, the price is a limiting factor for who is going to buy this scent. I don’t think this is worth the reach for most people. Some fraction are going to love this one, but most will probably just like it.

There’s not a lot of value here, at end of the price range that Tom Ford perfumes occupy. It’s worth trying to see, where you fall on this one, before shelling out hundreds of dollars.

Shalimar Parfum Initial by Guerlain

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Shalimar is a fragrance line that is approaching 100 years and is beyond famous, at this point. However, Guerlain does still create flankers of its classic formula, like 2011’s, Parfum Initial. I got a sample of this one, since I hadn’t ever tried it out before. How does Shalimar Parfum Initial smell? How long does it last? Is it worth a try?

What does Shalimar Parfum Initial Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, orange, iris, vanilla, caramel, rose, jasmine, patchouli, vetiver, tonka bean, musk

My Full Review

Here’s how Guerlain describes it: An initiation into Guerlain’s most legendary fragrance. A luminous interpretation with ambery floral notes

Parfum Initial opens up with a focus on its citrus notes, but I catch a good deal of vetiver, in the opening moments. Fresh, somewhat smoky vanilla, with a slight greenish vibe, and an additional patchouli.

The iris in the midst of this environment, smells dustier than the eventual more powdery dry down. It’s all dynamic and interesting, without too much connection to the original Shalimar. Though, you can tell it’s related.

The citrus notes fade, the vetiver calms down, and I start to get more of the floral notes and sweeter touches. Rose, never takes over the iris, but it certainly has a place in the first 30-45 minutes of this one.

Vanilla, tonka bean, with a touch of caramel. It is interesting, sometimes that caramel feels stronger, and other wears I basically get none.

Anyway, we start to get more of the powdery force of the iris note. Powdery floral warmth, with musk, and the sweeter notes start to clump together. I do like that the woodiness sticks around to provide Shalimar Parfum Initial a solid base.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, I found this one to be pretty powerful for at least a few hours, and above average for the rest of the way. Not weak stuff, but will comfortably pop off of the skin and leave a trail in your wake.

Pafrum Initial is really good with how long it lasts, but doesn’t hit the double digit hour mark for me. During testing, it was somewhere in the 8-9 hour range. Which is what you’d need for just about anytime you’d want to use it.

Seasonally, with the iris and vanilla and whatnot, this Shalimar is best for the autumn and winter months of the year. It’s just fine in the more moderate temperatures, but is at its best in the chillier weather.

It also does have plenty of versatility within that. It does lean more feminine, but could be a unisex type of wear for some people. As a man, I’d personally go with something like Dior Homme Intense instead, if I wanted an iris fragrance. Though, this works too.

This Shalimar is also quite approachable as a daily wear. It’s has style and class, but isn’t too heavy or serious. Can fit a variety of situations and not feel out of place.

Overall Impressions of Parfum Initial

Overall, do I like Shalimar Parfum Initial? I do. This is a great perfume from Guerlain, with nice balance, and a more modern interpretation of the fragrance.

From the citrus, to the smoky vanilla, the vetiver opening, and the use of the iris note. This is a perfume that does everything well. It’s not going to be declared my favorite scent or anything, just one that is enjoyable the whole way through.

The performance doesn’t disappoint, and while you know it’s a Shalimar perfume, it has enough of its own character to stand as a distinct and separate fragrance.

It’s one that’s worth trying out, if you can still get a hold of it.

Toy 2 by Moschino

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Toy 2 is another entry from the Toy line of fragrances. This one is much more geared towards women, so, keep that in mind if you’re a fan of Toy Boy. This perfume was released back in 2018 and I recently grabbed a new sample, to finally do a review for the site. How long does it last? How does it smell? Is Toy 2 worth a try?

What does Toy 2 by Moschino Smell Like?

Notes include: Granny Smith apple, mandarin orange, white currant, magnolia, peony, jasmine petals, musk, ambery woods, sandalwood

Click here to try: Toy 2

My Full Review

The initial spray from Toy 2, does give you a more balanced aroma of the fruit notes involved here. The mandarin is actually quite prevalent for 10-15 minutes. Add to that, the white currant, which helps give this one it’s shampoo-like freshness.

It’s bright and does have an aldehyde sort of presence. Sunny, colder, and fresh in this mix.

But, the main note of the opening and during much of the wear is that Granny Smith apple. It’s candy-like to me, not in the sense of being sugary, but more artificial and not the same as you’d find in a body wash.

As you move along, the mandarin and white currant notes will start falling by the wayside. That’s when we get to the floral heart. Jasmine is the strongest on me, magnolia is pretty heavy early, but peony doesn’t come across too much.

Drying down, it gets muskier and more like a fresh soap/shampoo. Closer to what you’d get emerging from a shower versus the lather itself.

Apple crisp and clean, with musk, jasmine/magnolia, sitting on a base of various woods. Sandalwood, sure, but everything runs together to something more generic. I blame the amberwood for that.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Toy 2 does have some power to it, early on, and is above average with the sillage in total. That initial burst, creates a nice scent trail and projects  probably 8-10 feet right after spraying. But, that’ll come down to the 3-4 foot range for much of the wear, before dissipating.

Probably not going to choke out a room with this Moschino, but it’s not going to be undetectable, either.

This one is pretty good at lasting on me. Not amazing, but I get somewhere in the neighborhood of 7.5 hours of wear from Toy 2. Again, most of that is going to be pretty stable and not veering into skin scent territory.

Seasonally, Toy 2 is built for the spring and summer months. In warm weather, this becomes much lovelier, while in the cold it is kind of too much sharp freshness.

It’s one that can be worn daily for those two seasons. Not completely casual, but also not entirely ‘serious’. Not one for the nightlife or more formal affairs, but fits in well otherwise, pretty much.

Overall Impressions of Toy 2

Overall, do I like Toy 2? I like aspects of it, it’s pretty good in totality, but nothing that’s super amazing or demands an immediate purchase.

The coldness, aldehyde-like aroma, the mix of fruits, and the up top freshness are the highlights. The dry down is pretty basic and something you’ve probably come across before. Not that it’s bad, but you basically get what you expect to here.

The performance is a bit above average, though, not going to blow the doors off. It’s fine as a daily wear and just general clean scent for much of the year. It’s versatility is its greatest strength.

If you’re in the market for a very clean and fresh perfume, this is indeed one to try. If that’s not your thing, look elsewhere, because it probably won’t impress you.

Eden Juicy Apple | 01 by Kayali

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Eden Juicy Apple is a part of the Kayali Fragrances sample set that I bought fairly recently. I’ve been working my way through testing out each of them for review, and am going to kick things off, with this one. How does Eden Juicy Apple Smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Eden Juicy Apple Smell Like?

Notes include: juicy red apple, wild berries, jasmine, lychee, vanilla flower, musk

Click here to try: Eden Juicy Apple at Sephora

eden apple review

My Full Review

Here’s how Huda Beauty describes it: Playful and vibrant, this succulent scent is a tempting, mouth-watering fusion of crisp and juicy red apples, sweet berries and fresh floral notes that will keep you wanting more and more…

Eden starts off very sweet, tart, and quite juicy. It does indeed have a similar start to Thank U, Next 2.0, with it’s apple juice top note. I did like that perfume’s opening act. There’s also an aspect of Angel Nova here, with it’s massive fruit hit, in its opening.

Yes, it has a candy-like and sugary sort of aroma. You’re going to have to enjoy that aspect, to appreciate this perfume.

The red apple is the main focus. Initially, though, there is a battle for the second spot between lychee and the berries. The berries will win out and act as a fruity support to the apple. Early though, this one is a fruit bomb.

Within 20 minutes or so, that hyper fruitiness will subside. I mean, this will stay an apple-centric fragrance throughout, but the berries and lychee will retreat, especially.

The rest of the way isn’t super complex. There is a jasmine note which sits underneath musk which sits underneath the apple/fruit blend. A very vague hint of vanilla, if I press my nose to the skin. That’s about it.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

That opening with the fruit does hit a high peak. At that point, it feels like it will be a massive projecting perfume, that leaves a scent trail of substance behind anywhere you walk. That’s true, for that first 20 or so minutes.

After that, it’s all mid-range. This one never feels weak, a hair above average. Not one that was jumping off of the skin, after that opening bit.

The longevity here, is about 6-6.5 hours on skin. I sprayed on a t-shirt, also, and that lasted noticeably for hours beyond that. But, if you’re not spraying on fabric, the performance isn’t outstanding. Not terrible, either.

Seasonally, this would probably be best in the springtime. Summer, also. It’s freshness feels pretty sharp in the cold weather. I tested it out in more moderate temperatures and that felt right for Eden Juicy Apple.

On it’s own, this is more of a fun, daily casual. Or, even something for the younger crowd. It’s attractive in a playful way, but nothing that you’re going to wear to the office, date night, or in more formal situations.

Overall Impressions of Eden Juicy Apple

Overall, do I like this perfume? Sort of. The opening 20 minutes is fun, not really anything amazing or unique, but if you like these sort of candy-like fruit aromas…this is a cool example.

After that, it’s pretty basic. Musk, jasmine, and fruit give it a good deal of a shampoo sort of vibe. Perhaps not as clean and juicier than what you’d get from that, but fairly in line with what you’ve probably experienced before…just in perfume form.

It does have a lot of popular shampoo or body spray aromas. The quality here is better than those, just don’t expect a super formal fragrance.

The performance is decent. For some, it may even be below average. On me, it was pretty good.

As it stands on its own, it might be worth a try. Not one to blind buy a full bottle of. Unless, you have plans to use it as a layering scent. In that case, it’s probably going to have more value than a solo perfume. Eden is a nice enough entry from Kayali, but nothing special.