Best Perfumes for Women

Love, don’t be shy by Kilian

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Love, don’t be shy is one of the most popular perfumes from Kilian. That probably has to do with all of the press, when it was revealed to be the perfume that Rihanna wears. Aside from its celebrity bonafides, Love EDP has always been a fragrance that I enjoyed. I got a sample vial of it, when I ordered Angels’ Share months ago. Now, I figured it was time to finally give it a review.

What does Love, Don’t be Shy Smell Like?

Notes include: caramel, marshmallow, jasmine, rose, honeysuckle, orange blossom, sugar, vanilla, musk, and more

love don't be shy review

My Full Review

Tried this fragrance? Leave your own rating and review in the comments!

The opening of Love EDP really comes with the orange blossom, honeysuckle, and neroli, as the floral notes. Those are joined by the sweetness of marshmallow, caramel, and some vanilla.

The main two are going to be orange blossom and marshmallow here, early on. It’s sweet, sugary, and a warm floral scent that is quite captivating. What I notice about Love, don’t be shy, as I’ve worn it is how the floral notes change…but the sweet notes stay much the same.

So, early on it’s the orange blossom. Then, you get some slight powderiness from iris and rose (both are pretty light), and finally jasmine starts to show up more on my skin.

The neroli here is there at the very start, but to me it gets overshadowed by the orange blossom and eventually I cannot even pick it up at all.

As it moves on in the wear, the marshmallow will take more of a lead and the caramel will fall out of favor for the vanilla. The sweetness here is indeed sugary and pretty candy-like with how it comes across.

That can be a good or bad thing, depending on your own personal tastes. I happen to enjoy this kind of scent.

The final stages are the vanilla and musk notes’ time to shine. The marshmallow is still there, but faded. It’s a general sweetness overall with a vague sense of floral notes. Though, I cannot personally pick any out as individual ingredients.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is pretty strong for a time. It is a fresher and lighter sort of sweet perfume, rather than a massive thick cloud. But, the projection is good well into the wear on me.

I’ve seen people say that this has been reformulated and the performance of Love EDP is bad now. I have a sample vial from 2021 and the longevity is fine for me. It doesn’t disappear in a few hours.

In fact, I can still pick it up about 8 hours after applying it. It’s not a complete marathon or a monstrous scent bomb, but I think reports of its demise have been greatly exaggerated.

Seasonally, stick to autumn through early spring. This Kilian can handle some moderate temperatures, but I wouldn’t venture into the heat of the summertime with it.

It is suitable for all ages. It is a sweet and sugary fragrance, but feels a tad more grown up than the usual fare in this category.

It’s an attractive and edible sort of gourmand scent. Not necessarily sexy, but I do enjoy being around it. Love, don’t be shy isn’t a formal wear and isn’t really a perfume that would be appropriate for all work environments.

Overall Impressions of Love, Don’t be Shy

Overall, do I like this scent? I do. It’s not my favorite, but I do still think that it is one of the best from Kilian.

The orange blossom, caramel, and marshmallow start is great. I like the touches of citrus early on, that give it more of a dynamic feeling.

The floral notes are interesting and give Love, don’t be shy most of its change during the wear. Also, the performance is still fine for me, even with the small sprayer of the sample size.

Now, this may not be one for everyone. I do think most folks will enjoy the way that this smells. However, if you’re not into soft, sugary sweet sort of fragrances, or have problems with orange blossom or marshmallow…you should probably look elsewhere.

Bright Crystal vs Absolu Perfume Comparison

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Versace Bright Crystal has been very popular for many years now. It has since been joined by Absolu, a more concentrated version of this fragrance. Of course, this causes the dilemma, of which perfume do you buy? Which scent is better Bright Crystal vs Absolu? In this post, I will break it down by category, before declaring a winner.

Tale of the Tape: Bright Crystal vs. Absolu

Bright Crystal

Notes include: yuzo, peony, pomegranate, musk, magnolia, iced accord, lotus, amber

Click Here to try Bright Crystal: Versace Bright Crystal Eau de Toilette Spray for Women, 3 Ounce

Read my review: Versace Bright Crystal

Bright Crystal Absolu

Notes include: peony, pomegranate, raspberry, lotus, yuzu, magnolia, musk

Click here to try: Bright Crystal Absolu, 3 Ounce

Opening

Bright Crystal opens up with its fruity notes out in full force. It’s pomegranate and yuzu, dominating the top. Underneath that, are the floral notes, of peony and lotus. It is indeed ‘bright’ and juicy.

The fruity notes, will eventually give way to more of a floral aroma, led by the peony. It’s peony with some musk, watery lotus, and yuzu really coming through.

Absolu is sweeter and fruitier in its opening. You get much of the same thing, but this time with a raspberry note, and some more lotus in the early stages.

Absolu will also stay fruitier throughout, than its predecessor. Which is better in the opening act? Well, it’s extremely close, but I do like the raspberry touch in Absolu. So, it gets a slight edge.

Edge: Absolu

Projection

Bright Crystal is pretty moderate with its sillage at the start. For me, it will project 4-6 feet at first, then move in closer. It’s ultimately a light to moderate wear.

Is Absolu stronger? Yes, somewhat. Again, it isn’t a powerhouse, but it does seem to have a bit more presence.

Neither is super consistent for the duration of the wear. But, you will get a solid sillage for the first hours with each. Absolu just does it better for longer.

Edge: Absolu

Longevity

With Bright Crystal, it will hang around on my skin, for an 8-10 hour period. Very good longevity.

Absolu and Bright Crystal are sometimes even in longevity. However, I can get a few extra hours, from Absolu. I’d say up to 12. 9-12 hours, depending on the climate.

These two have been pretty impressive for these sorts of popular mainstream fragrances. Unless they have undergone reformulations recently, how long each lasts shouldn’t be a problem at all.

But again, the edge goes to Absolu.

Edge: Absolu

Versatility

I don’t see any real difference between these two fragrances, in terms of when they can be worn. Daily wear, warm weather, and highly versatile with places you could wear it.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

These two scents are very close, by there very nature. Honestly, I really enjoy how both of them smell. I like the yuzu and pomegranate. I like the peony drydown with the original.

Which is the better buy? Well, if you’re talking pure performance that’ll go to Bright Crystal Absolu. It’s a stronger dose.

With the smell, that depends on what you’d rather have. Bright Crystal is more floral, with stronger citrus, and muskiness.

Absolu is sweeter, fruitier, and while it brings the peony…it lacks the same yuzu strength.

For me, I’d probably lean Absolu. That’s my choice, as of now. Though, you should consider your own personal taste. The pomegranate and raspberry notes are very nice.

The initial lotus is a bit better than the blend in the original. But, the floral notes do change up and favor that one. Obviously, there is a whole lot of overlap with these two, but Absolu got my attention more.

Winner: Absolu

7 Best Smelling Kenzo Perfumes

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Kenzo has been an innovative and respected French design house for about 45 years now. In that time, it has also established a name and niche following in the world of fragrance. It grabbed praise and attention with it’s signature scent, Flower, and has produced unique and highly feminine perfumes ever since. For this list, I have chosen what I consider to be the top seven ladies’ fragrances by Kenzo.

What are the Best Smelling Kenzo Perfumes?

Best Bold Perfume

Jungle L’Elephant– Besides having a cool elephant on the bottle, Jungle by Kenzo is designed to “bring the animal out of you”. It is energetic with an oriental spiciness that will stand out from the crowd and delivers a long-lasting scent.

This one definitely isn’t for everyone. It is extremely bold and can take over a room. Which is why, it is probably best for outdoor use. Nonetheless, warm cardamom and caraway, get paired with strong cloves and a calming vanilla note.

It has a dryness and slight smoky quality, with that spice. Which by the way, isn’t all that sharp or unbearable. Yes, it has a big personality, but this one is still selling over 20 years later.

l'elephant

Juicy Fruity Perfume

Kenzo World–  A clean peony fragrance, with the sweetness of some red berry notes. Kenzo World is a newer release, but one that I think should make the list due to its scent and uniqueness.

At times, it comes off as very much a juicy berry fragrance, with other fruits assisting things. Then, you get more of the warmth of amber and the floral notes. Somewhat soapy, not overly complex, but a decidedly intriguing fragrance. Probably best for younger women.

The Powdery Classic

Flower by Kenzo for Women – 3.3 Ounce EDP Spray– Kenzo Flower is a very popular fragrance and has been for a long time now. It also happens to have an aroma that pretty closely approximates baby powder.

It’s a bit sweeter and creamier, than the real thing, which is to be expected with vanilla and black currant notes. However, the violet and rose, give Flower a very powdery finish that is quite soft and comforting.

The opening act, is probably the least like our target, but it settles down into that fresh powdery scent. The rose note isn’t overwhelming here, either. So, don’t expect it to be heavy, in that regard.

flower


Most Popular Kenzo

Kenzo Amour by Kenzo– An affordable, soft and floral, vanilla based fragrance for ladies. Amour is vanilla flanked by frangipani, heliotrope, and cherry blossom. This one is a nice example of vanilla, but used in a somewhat unique way.

Not only do you get, some different floral ingredients, from the run of the mill, Kenzo Amour also features a warm, fluffy, rice note.

The whole thing comes across as clean, inviting, with a bit of a fresh powdery finish (and smoky incense). Very nice performance and a versatile daily wear type of perfume.

Unique World

World Power by Kenzo– This Kenzo World flanker isn’t one that is going to be appreciated by everyone. It’s got a fresh, salty aquatic, and tonka bean finish.

The aquatic sea notes are more early on in the wear, but the saltiness stays going. The saltiness paired with the cold cypress wood notes gives this one a really interesting and almost unisex feel.

Then, the sweeter tonka type of finish brings it back around. The saltiness hangs around in a warmer amber form, with the woody base. World Power does actually have a nice punch of sillage to it.

It has great performance, in a rather simple presentation. Again, this one isn’t going to be appealing to everyone, but it’s nice and different.

A Green Spring/Summer Wear

D’ete- A clean and green floral that brings a certain sweetness to its layers. Warm and great for casual wear on a day to day basis and has a scent unique to itself.

It has a lighter floral appeal, much like the entry below. However, this one focuses much more on the flowers themselves, along with a dewy undertone. While L’eau Par Kenzo is cold and fresh, this one is warmer with some slight spiciness lurking around.

d'ete

Best Aquatic Perfume

L’eau Par Kenzo– A blend of aquatic and floral notes make Par Kenzo a very nice choice for the warmer months of the year. Simple. refreshing, and understated.

L’eau Par Kenzo isn’t a citrus aquatic or anything like that. This one gives you some great floral notes, like lilac and water lily, to provide a clean and memorable aroma. This all sits on top of a watery and fresh base.

What’s great is the mint note, which gives this an icy sort of start, while being paired with some herbal ingredients. Unique and uncomplicated, though, a totally underrated fragrance.

par

Very Irresistible EDT for Women by Givenchy

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In this review, I am going to be taking a closer look at Very Irresistible by Givenchy. Now, I’ve already done a review of the men’s version of this fragrance, which was okay but really wasn’t my thing. As usual, I am going to cover how it smells, how it performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is worth a purchase.

What does Very Irresistible Smell Like?

Notes include: rose, peony, anise, verbena, magnolia

Click here to try: Very Irresistible By Givenchy For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 2.5 Ounces

My Full Review

I’m not that much of a fan of rose in fragrance, so when I do a review of perfumes with this flower as an ingredient, I try to be as fair as possible even when it doesn’t suit my personal tastes.

That being said, I really like how rose is used in Givenchy’s Very Irresistible. I legitimately enjoy it and don’t have to force myself to give it a chance.

This fragrance is blended very well and the rose is initially joined by the anise note which is vaguely reminiscent of men’s cologne, L’Homme Libre, though much less spicy.

Very Irresistible is a very floral scent to be sure. If that’s not your thing, I’d probably look elsewhere. However, you do get a bright bit of fruitiness up top from lemon verbena and the cassis blending together. It adds a playful touch, preventing this from becoming too boring.

The peony note is also a great complement to the rose and I think that it restrains the rose somewhat and doesn’t it let this fragrance just be a pure rose perfume.

I just reviewed another floral scent, Daisy by Marc Jacobs, and I have to say that I definitely enjoy the Givenchy much more than that one.

Very Irresistible has much more energy and vibrancy than does Daisy (which is also a good perfume) and I feel it is much more interesting overall.

The dry down does skew much more towards the rose note, along with magnolia, and a general impression of light fruitiness.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I’d say that this one is moderate. I don’t feel that it is too heavy or overpowering but it does a solid job performing.

For the first hour or so, it had a nice projection to it. When I sprayed it on clothing, I could detect it from 4-7 feet away. Then, it will be much more of a personal scent bubble, but wasn’t a skin scent until much later in the wear.

While testing it out, I routinely got 7-8 hours of use out of this. This perfume doesn’t seem to have any problems sticking around.

I would say that this is best used during the springtime and early summer. But, outside of the coldest days, this actually does seem like it’d be perfectly fine to wear, and even be a nice addition to the winter rotation.

It actually does seem to have some versatility in its use, either for casual or more romantic wear. I’d be more than happy to smell this on a woman that was on a date with, even if I tend to like sweeter gourmand fragrances, usually.

Mostly, this will be used as a daily wear for just going about your business. It’s pretty, doesn’t scream for attention, but is very pleasant to be around. I didn’t go out and test it for very long, but I’d imagine that Very Irresistible can gather some complements.

Overall Impressions of Very Irresistible for Women

Is Very Irresistible worth a buy? Yes, provided that you enjoy floral perfumes. It has plenty of life and energy. Plus, it actually has good performance.

It isn’t the usual ‘green’ or outdoorsy type of floral scent, that can feel stuffy and boring. This Givenchy scent does everything that you need a fragrance to do and doesn’t disappoint.

I like the opening blend where you get the rose, verbena, anise, and peony notes. It’s a nice balance and has many beautiful aspects. This fragrance is still around, after all these years, so it’s got a fan base for sure.

It doesn’t strike me as being overly complicated. Pretty rose-centered floral perfume, with good performance, and can be worn almost anywhere without issue. It has a clean and upbeat kind of aroma, just very easy to vibe with.

Very Irresistible EDT is one that you can plug in to your collection and find plenty of use for, it may even be a signature scent.

I Love New York for Her by Bond No. 9

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In this last batch of samples, I received a bunch of samples of Bond No. 9 fragrances, from their line of I Love New York scents that came out 5+ years back. While I’ve only done a couple of reviews from this brand on the site thus far, I do intend to try to get through the entire collection at some point.

Today’s entry is I Love New York for Her, which is a gourmand perfume for ladies and is generally well regarded as a scent. As always, continue reading below for my full thoughts and impressions of this perfume.

What does I Love NY for Her Smell Like?

I love new york for her

Notes include: blueberry, patchouli, vanilla, peony, musk, rose, sandalwood

Click here to try: Bond No 9 I Love New York Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Review

The initial blast of I Love New York for her is a blend of blueberry and patchouli. It is sweet and fruity but the patchouli note comes on too strong at first for my tastes.

This is a gourmand fragrance that is supposed to invoke images of sweet pastries and I think that it succeeds on this front.

After the first few minutes, it does begin to take on more of a blueberry muffin kind of smell with a layer of vanilla and peony which gives it a floral spirit.

While I’m not too big of a patchouli fan, I actually like it somewhat here, especially once it calms down a bit. It gives I Love NY for Her a more mature character and doesn’t let it fall too far into the ‘teeny’ sweet gourmand category of scents.

That being said, it isn’t too stuffy and is actually quite a playful perfume, with its bakery motif. I like the dry down where you get the full kind of baked goods experience, with the berry notes toned down in their strength.

There’s some light floral notes, but I mostly got sandalwood, musk, and the patchouli. Along with, the remaining general sweet/frutiness.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, this stuff is fairly strong. I sprayed a few times on a sweater and could smell it from 9-10 feet away for hours on end. So, at the peak it does pack power and that sillage will be pretty serious.

That being said, I don’t think it’s overpowering, but it is a performer. On the skin, it definitely calms down from what it was, at the start. It’ll be on the upper end of what you could consider moderate, for a long time.

I would dare say that one should be able to get 8+ hours out of this perfume, every wear…that’s been my experience with it. It probably ventures into the 10 hour range when all of the conditions are right.

I Love New York for Her is a fun and casual scent in my opinion. It isn’t really sexy, but it is oddly appealing, I mean, blueberry muffin is naturally attractive, right? This will also function best during the cooler months of the year and I imagine it’d get kind of weird in the heat of the summer.

So, better to stick to autumn through the early part of spring.

Overall Impressions of I Love New York for Her

Overall, is I Love New York for Her worth a purchase? Depends. It is a unique scent and also performs very well. It strikes me more of a niche kind of scent…if you like blueberry, patchouli, and pastries…then this might be a go to scent or you.

However, it also is quite pricey, since it is Bond No. 9 but a full bottle might be worth the investment. Update: I’m pretty sure it’s discontinued now.

That being said, it does have plenty of appeal and will give you a ton of bang for your buck, even at Bond’s elevated price range.

The rose and other floral notes, aren’t going to play a huge role in the scent. I wouldn’t get too excited about them, if that’s something you’d be looking for. Sweet, sharp, warm gourmand. I like it.