Best Perfumes for Women

Woman in Gold by Kilian

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Kilian’s Woman in Gold is a sample that I’ve had for over a year at this point, sort of forgot about, and recently found it stashed away in a box. So, I’ve finally got around to giving this perfume a complete run through, and coming back to it with a new perspective. How does this smell? How long does Woman in Gold last? Is it actually worth a try?

What does Woman in Gold Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, vanilla, tonka bean, rose, Akigalawood, freesia, geranium, aldehydes

Click here to try: Woman in Gold at Saks

My Full Review

Here’s how Kilian describes it: The notes conjure, in scent, the delicate gold leafing and play between light and shadow, for which the painting is celebrated. Perfumer Calice Becker was inspired by the fascinating contrast between the painting’s facets, which she describes as “texturized and brilliant, rich and voluptuous. Its zesty luminosity is the fragrant expression of this brightness. 

Woman in Gold opens up with a seemingly perfect balance of notes. Sure, the bergamot and orange note have the lead at the start, but this isn’t a massive citrus explosion.

The floral and fresh notes underneath are there, right from the beginning. Aldehydes give this a bright and cold burst, while rose, and some hints of geranium further bolster the blend.

Both the aldehydes and geranium will move off, however. The aldehydes more so than the geranium. This is especially true on skin.

Nevertheless, the freshness and that beautiful citrus mix gives Woman in Gold an undeniable appeal.

The floral notes is mostly a rose note. With the tonka bean and vanilla notes it comes across as sweeter than usual with more of a powdery finish. The akigalawood note, is basically like patchouli, maybe a bit spicier and intense in the early stages.

As Woman in Gold dries down, the notes begin to separate. Bergamot becomes the dominant citrus. Any freesia is displaced by the rose note. Vanilla really takes over the tonka bean.

The middle act still has the citrus influence and geranium. But, the dry down is a vanilla and rose scent. It’s not actually heavy, more of sweet/powdery cloud with a nice dose of patchouli and general freshness at the bottom.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is never massive. Woman in Gold isn’t going to leave a huge scent trail or have any real massive projection, off of the skin.

But, it is really consistent. It stays in the 3-6 foot range from the skin for almost the entirety of the wear. It’s maybe a little better than average, in this respect. However, I absolutely catch whiffs of it until the end, it’s just not in your face about it.

The longevity is pretty good. I get somewhere around 7.5 hours, on my skin. Not the best out there, just no real complaints. With the lighter moderate sillage, it can be easy to forget that you have it on, until it wafts up again.

Seasonally, Woman in Gold is very versatile. It’s not out of place really any time, except for the hottest days of summer. It’s got enough substance for autumn and winter, while still being light and dynamic enough for the springtime.

The versatility continues with when you can wear this perfume. It’s office safe, it can be worn casually since it’s not too serious, but it has a refinement for more dressy occasions. Signature scent worthy and easy as a daily wear.

It’s pretty, but not a sexy nightlife sort of fragrance, though. Go with something else if you want a nightclub beast.

Overall Impressions of Woman in Gold

Overall, do I like Woman in Gold? Yes, I think this is a very underrated scent from Kilian. It’s not the greatest ever or anything, but it is an extremely enjoyable perfume to me.

I like the balance of the notes. The citrus isn’t to screechy. The rose is tame and just right. The vanilla, doesn’t overwhelm on me, even with the presence of a tonka bean note.

Fresh, light, and cleanish. It’s not a total soapy scent or like fabric softener, to my nose, but it does kind of stray in that direction. So, maybe skip out on this if it’s not your style.

But, I think that Woman in Gold has a mass appealing quality to it. I couldn’t see how this would be offensive to most people out there and is a fairly safe blind buy from the Kilian lineup.

Vanille Fatale by Tom Ford

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Vanille Fatale was released in 2017 by Tom Ford. It is listed as a unisex fragrance, whether that’s actually the case or not is debatable. In this post, I want to share my thoughts and experience while wearing this perfume. What are the notes? How does it smell? How does it perform? Is it worth a try?

What does Vanille Fatale Smell Like?

Notes include: vanilla, mahogany, barley, olibanum, myrrh, coffee, saffron, coriander, narcissus, plum, and more

Click here to try: Vanille Fatale Eau de Parfum, 1.7 oz

My Full Wear Review of Vanille Fatale

The opening minutes of Vanille Fatale makes it known that this isn’t going to be your usual vanilla perfume. It hits hard with a mix of very sweet, warm, and tart notes. Mainly, what I get at the start is vanilla and plum.

At first the sweet/tart blend is way too much for my nose, but it does settle itself down, the further you get into the wear. But man, that opening, is really in your face about it.

I always think that I’m going to like plum notes in perfumes, much more than I seem to do, as I really enjoy the actual fruits themselves.

Once you move past the initial stage, I think that Vanille Fatale really comes into its own, and becomes much more interesting.

There is a smoky Oriental vibe to it with saffron and myrrh notes. It is also quite creamy, the roasted coffee and barley give this one a unique presentation and depth that you don’t get with run of the mill vanilla perfumes.

When it all comes together Vanille Fatale is warm with a touch of smoke, while being sweet and tart. From there you add slightly spicy elements (coriander and saffron) and a rich mahogany aroma.

What’s cool is that underneath there is a boozy rum note, which later helps to reign in the sweet tartness, and make this one into a darker sort of perfume.

There’s just so many different aspects to the fragrance, that you catch just hints of this or that throughout, and it takes on a new mood.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it starts off fairly strong, and then moves into something that has a much more moderate sillage. To me, the opening can be overwhelming, but it does settle and isn’t too big of a deal.

Much of that opening strength has to do with how the tart notes can come across. Once those settle, it feels a lot more towards the middle of the road.

The longevity is great and Vanille lasted at least 9 hours on my skin. No performance issues here. I couldn’t imagine throwing these sorts of notes together and not getting something that lasts long.

Seasonally, this would be great in cold weather up to moderate temperatures. Once the humidity kicks in, I think that Vanille Fatale would fall apart. It is listed as a unisex, but it feels like a ladies’ scent to me.

They try to bring it back towards the masculine side with that warm spicy/boozy aroma, but it doesn’t fully succeed. When I compare it to men’s fragrances with those kinds of notes, it is much more feminine.

Funny enough, I’ve seen some women say that this is too masculine. So, I guess it depends on your own tastes.

This could fit in for almost any occasion during the season. It has a certain refinement and class, so it could be worn dressed up. Meanwhile, it is attractive enough to be worn for a night out. A nice darkly sweet daily wear.

I’d go easy with it, in the office. That initial bit of time can be too strong for that environment.

Overall Impressions of Vanille Fatale

Overall, do I like Vanille Fatale by Tom Ford? I think that it’s good, but it doesn’t really blow me away. There are times, when I find it enjoyable, and other times where I really don’t at all.

The dry down is the highlight. I enjoy the booze, coriander, and saffron notes. Vanille Fatale has plenty of depth and character, which is at the very least interesting.

The smokiness, the plum, coffee, mahogany…there’s a ton going on here. Different facets, not all of them feel that great.

It’s a mixed bag for me. Plus, it feels too feminine for me to wear, and can be cloying. However, it does have its moments and can perform extremely well, so I can’t hate it.

Some people will absolutely love this one, but it’s probably a fragrance you’d want to test out before committing to purchasing a full bottle.

Dahlia Noir by Givenchy

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Among the sample vials of fragrance that I received were several Givenchy scents, including a few perfumes for women. Dahlia Noir, is one of these perfumes, and a grown-up floral with a bit more sophistication than that of many other fragrances.

In this review, I’m going to cover how Dahlia Noir eau de parfum smells, how it performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is worth a buy.

What does Dahlia Noir Smell Like?

Notes include: tonka bean, iris, mimosa, rose, pink pepper, patchouli

Click here to try: Givenchy Dahlia Noir Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 2.5 Ounce

My Full Review

The opening blast of Dahlia Noir is an aroma of a creamy/powdery iris with just a hint of rose, at least at first. The rose note does become more prominent after a few minutes of wear but it never takes over the composition.

It really does have a scent similar to iris-laden baby powder. That will become more of a pinkish rose weighting for the back half of the wear.

On me, there really isn’t much of a citrus presence. Sure, a sense of brightness but nothing too distinct. Though, a sweetness that sits under the floral notes and emergent spice.

As it wears on, Dahlia Noir presents its pink pepper note, which adds a very slight spice to the scent and then a soft vanilla seems to emerge. There is also a light cinnamon, but on me the pink pepper is the more pronounced of the two. The aroma is quite clean and fresh.

Once a lot of the spiciness has died down, Dahlia does get a bit of an freshness/earthy aroma to it, thanks to a pretty substantial patchouli note with mossy highlights.

It’s basically there for the middle act of this scent and then sort of fades into the close.

Mostly, though, this is a floral affair and the iris, rose, and mimosa notes dominate a present a feminine perfume. Dahlia isn’t too complicated of a fragrance. Powdery iris, rose, with some spice and a woody base.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Dahlia Noir is pretty good. It isn’t overpowering or super strong; but you’ll know it’s there. This is a subtle fragrance but not weak, by any means. I would expect anywhere from 2-5 feet from the skin.

Longevity is decent, but again not superb. 4-6 hours seems to be its time frame to operate within. A bit below average sometimes, but can run right around the middle of the pack.

Beyond that, it doesn’t appear to really be present. If you’re paying a lot for a bottle, it’s not going to really give you any value, in terms of performance.

I think that Dahlia Noir would be good for casual or office settings. It is a pretty fragrance but it doesn’t strike me as sexy. I wouldn’t mind smelling it on a woman but I wouldn’t be all of that crazy for it either.

More refined and mature, with an old-school vibe versus being sultry or really captivating.

It does have some good versatility and could work well in almost any season besides the height of summer. The perfume would fall apart in higher temperatures. It strikes me more as an autumn wear, as that’s when I think these notes would be at their best.

Overall Impressions of Dahlia Noir

Overall, how does the Givenchy perfume rate? In my opinion, it’s just okay. There’s nothing amazing here unless you really love iris and rose. Which I am an iris fan, rose can be hit or miss, but Dahlia Noir EDP never jumped out at me.

The iris note is good here, but wasn’t enough to get me too interested.

I like the initial liveliness here. That pink pepper and touch of cinnamon gives this a solid start. There’s some balance with periods of sweetness or earthiness from the patchouli note. So, it’s not just all floral, all the time. A floral chypre fragrance.

The performance is passable and it does smell good but I don’t find anything about Dahlia Noir to be spectacular.

I’m not saying that it’s a complete no, it could serve a purpose in a perfume collection, though, it does nothing to make it ‘great’. It would be one that is worth a try, at a significant enough discount.

I do believe this has been discontinued, as of this latest page update. Discounts may no longer be possible for those who never acted on purchasing.

Alien Fusion by Mugler

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Alien Fusion is yet another flanker version from the best selling Alien series by Thierry Mugler. This perfume was released in 2019 and has enjoyed some success since then. In this post, I am going to share my experience with Fusion. How does it smell, how long does it lasts, and is it actually worth a try.

What does Alien Fusion Smell Like?

Notes include: ginger, cinnamon, vanilla, orange blossom, tuberose, and amber

Click here to try: Thierry Mugler Alien Fusion Women 2 oz EDP Spray

Full Wear Review

Here’s what Mugler says about Alien Fusion: At the heart of the desert an eclipse is revealed. Alien Fusion, a flamboyant Eau de Parfum that unveils a sensual trail with a vibrant depth.

Fusion opens up with a fresh spice combination and the citrus hints of the orange blossom. It’s warm with the early stages of amber and vanilla. 

After a few minutes, it begins to shift and the tuberose takes hold as the main note within the composition. Tuberose, cinnamon, and orange blossom. I’d say it becomes a 70/30 split between the tuberose and orange blossom. 

It’s got that nice bubblegum type smell from that tuberose note, similar to what you find in L’Interdit by Givenchy. Different fragrances, but that strikes me as a close comparison. Funny enough, this has ginger too, like L’Interdit Rouge. Except it’s pretty weak in Alien Fusion.

It stays pretty much the same until the final dry down, where there is more amber and vanilla. So, it’s a white floral with amber, vanilla, and some remaining light spices. The cinnamon hangs around longer than does the ginger note, which is usually short-lived in many perfumes.

Fusion has plenty of overlap with the original Alien, just more spice and a lighter aroma overall.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Alien Fusion is very strong, not elite but it’s got plenty of power behind it. You don’t need to go crazy with the sprays to make it noticeable. If you’re familiar with the original Alien, this isn’t as powerful nor is it as heavy. 

Still, it does rise above most of the mainstream offerings out there, and will leave a distinct scent trail behind. 

The longevity is also good. Enough for a full workday, though, not really a double digit wear. 7-9 hours is about what it would last during testing. 

It has that strong start, is moderate by the third or forth hour, and then slowly fades away until you get to that eighth or ninth. 

Seasonally, this would be a good bet for the spring and summer months. While it has plenty of notes that work well in the colder weather, also. Honestly, could be fine almost year round.

I’d probably avoid the hottest days of summer. But, I have to say that I didn’t hate it when it was warm. It wasn’t too cloying or overwhelming. Ideally, a more moderate day in spring or even autumn would be a nice time to apply Fusion. 

 

 

Fusion has plenty of versatility for wear. Casual, semi-formal, work, and has enough attractiveness for dates or nightlife. It’s not the most formal or completely ‘serious’ scent, but it doesn’t strike me as being too immature. 

Overall Impressions of Alien Fusion

Overall, do I like Alien Fusion? I do. This is a great flanker scent. It smells great, you get plenty of overlap with the original, and it has solid performance.

I like the opening act especially. The freshness and orange blossom smells wonderful. It’s not that complex of a perfume, it just does everything very well.

The cinnamon, amber, and tuberose middle act is still quite attractive and I was never bored with this Mugler perfume. It’s got a good mix of spiciness, sweetness, warmth, and floral notes.

It’s pretty and gives you plenty of opportunity to wear it in a variety of climates or outings. If you didn’t like Alien, this one might be more tolerable for you, so it’s worth a try. It’s not as in your face or harsh as the original can be sometimes. 

If you liked Alien and want something slightly different and not as heavy, this is a great option, that you’ll probably enjoy.

Mon Guerlain EDP by Guerlain

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I bought a bottle of Ultra Male from Macy’s last week, as that cologne is about to be discontinued, and Macy’s sent along a bunch of sample fragrances in the box. Naturally, they were all perfumes for women…luckily, I own this website and do reviews, so it worked out.

Anyways, one such sample was the 2017 release from Guerlain, Mon Guerlain, in an EDP spray. In this post, I am going to share my thoughts on how this perfume smells, performs, and whether or not it is worth a purchase.

What does Mon Guerlain EDP Smell Like?

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

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

My Full Review

The opening 15-20 minutes of Mon Guerlain reminds me of two other perfumes on the market, BonBon and Black Opium, both of which I enjoyed. Not to say that these three scents are the same, just seem to be in the same family of sweet, candy-like perfumes (at least at the start).

Mon Guerlain has an aroma that is sort of similar to the caramel note in BonBon and it of course shares the vanilla note that is featured so prominently in Black Opium.

It’s probably a mix of the tonka, vanilla, licorice, and that light bergamot citrus note up top. A nice blend of sweet, creamy, powdery (iris), and bright. It’s not super heavy, but it does have a substantial body to it. Very wearable.

However, as this perfume progresses it loses some of its similarity with those two fragrances and becomes more of a vanilla/lavender combo. It is a fresh blend of floral notes with a smooth and inviting sweetness.

As a man, I find this perfume to be really attractive, and kept wanting to smell it on my arm throughout the wear. Mon Guerlain is very feminine without being overpowering or bothersome and I enjoy the mix of jasmine and lavender.

There is some lingering fuzziness/resin from a touch of benzoin, sweetness with that little licorice note, and the woods in the base.

The floral is still that jasmine and lavender in the end, but a can pick up some iris and perhaps rose in there as well.

Mon Guerlain has gourmand qualities, but isn’t completely a ‘baked goods’ smelling perfume. The lavender’s heavy influence helps to make sure of that.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it isn’t a heavy perfume at all. Mon Guerlain is very well blended and even tempered. This isn’t a bad thing, as it still lasts for a long time, pretty much past a full work day.

It’s by no means a weak performer, so one will get their money’s worth when using this scent. This is a designer perfume that will leave behind a nice scent trail for a good period of time. Jumps off the skin with a wide projection radius for a long while.

After that, it’ll settle closer to the skin, but much of the wear it’ll be noticeable to you and those in close proximity to you.

It seems to hit anywhere from 8-11 hours, depending on the circumstances. Expect somewhere around the midpoint of that.

Update: After testing it out multiple times over the years, that’s about  what I get each time. It seems to be able to cross that 10 hour mark without too much issue.

Honestly, since it doesn’t stay that same warm gourmand fragrance throughout, as it is in the start, Mon Guerlain could be worn about any time except the high heat of summer. It might turn into a mess with that much heat bearing down on it, but it’s good to go any other time.

Ideally, this will be worn in autumn and winter. The cooler temperatures help this one to develop and not become cloying and unbearable.

I’ve tested this one outdoors in October or November and Mon Guerlain was fantastic when it’s chilly out.

Another plus, it just how versatile of a scent this is. It is soft enough and attractive enough to be worn in an office or school type of environment. So long as you don’t go crazy with the sprays.

You might also want to give it some time to settle before going into a close quarters environment with other people. That opening can be bold, but it’s tolerable thereafter.

Meanwhile, that attractiveness is also quite sexy, and could be worn on a date. Now, is it a loud club type of scent? No, but I have to say, I would love smelling this on a woman.

Overall Impressions of Mon Guerlain

Overall, would I recommend Mon Guerlain? Yes. I think it is a very well done fragrance from Guerlain. It smells great and performs quite well. If you’re not into vanilla or lavender, you’d do well to look elsewhere.

Now, you do get more than just that, but those are the dominant notes here. I like that bold and sweeter opening act, however, as you get so many different facets from this perfume.

This has grown a lot in popularity since I first wrote this review. It has also spawned a few flanker fragrances under this same Mon Guerlain banner. It’s not a super unique fragrance, but you get a great smell and performance out of it.

This perfume can usually be found at a fair price point and can serve as a daily wear go to scent. There’s not much to complain about here.

This is a safe fragrance, in the sense that, it isn’t going to draw a lot of negative attention and enjoys a rather universal appeal. Mon Guerlain is a winner in my book.