Best Perfumes for Women

Lady Million EDP by Paco Rabanne

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This will be my first review of a fragrance from the Lady Million line by Paco Rabanne. I have already covered some other women’s scents from this brand, but weren’t from this particular silo of scents. As usual, I am going to cover what’s inside, how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not Lady Million Eau de Parfum is even worth a try.

What does Lady Million EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: jasmine, gardenia, patchouli, orange blossom, neroli, bitter orange, raspberry, honey, and amber

Click here to try: Lady Million by Paco Rabanne Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 2.70 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

When smelling Lady Million EDP, I was trying to detect if there were any parallels between it and the men’s version. Other than being sweet, nope. Even the sweetness, is a completely different sort of aroma.

From the start, I get a lot of white floral notes, mainly gardenia and orange blossom, with a hint of jasmine. As it moves, along it sort of reverses and I detect more jasmine than the other two floral notes.

Also, the raspberry adds a layer of juicy sweetness to the composition. It is sort of muted versus some of the other perfumes that feature a really strong and bright raspberry. In Lady Million, it is tempered by florals, honey, and some patchouli.

So, the honey note is the main attraction here, once you hit the 30 minute or so mark. The raspberry takes a back seat to the sweetness of the honey. It is rich and warm and supported by a lovely amber note. It all does have a ‘golden’ sort of smell that resembles the bottle.

It’s an enveloping white floral fragrance with a sweet thickness, which hangs around for essentially the entire wear. Not what I’d call heavy, but syrupy might be the better term.

The final lineup of notes ends up with honey, jasmine, raspberry, patchouli, amber, and some gardenia. A gourmand floral fragrance, that is pleasant, and well blended. There’s a richness, juiciness, and also a bouquet effect all wrapped into one.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection and sillage wise, Lady Million is actually fairly moderate. This is a change of pace from the men’s version, which is super loud. Lady Million isn’t like that, it’s much more wearable on a daily basis.

It’s probably toward the upper end of the moderate range, but never feels extreme, in the slightest. Reading the notes before trying it out, I was actually surprised that it didn’t project itself off of the skin or clothing even more.

Even without a large radius of projection, this Paco Rabanne fragrance, does last a long time. You can get through a full workday with this perfume without issue. Depending on the day, it seems to settle in the 8-10 hour range.

Is Lady Million versatile? Yes, it works best in the colder months of the year, but it can also be utilized during spring and summer, as well. Lady Million can be worn at the office, school, casually, or out for an evening.

But, it does also skew younger. So, probably best served for those in their early to mid 20s. Not that others can’t wear it, but it isn’t the most formal or grown up fragrance out there. Though also, not just for teens.

I would probably keep it to the indoors or nighttime during the warmer months. Again, it’s not overwhelmingly powerful or too rich, to the point that it’ll just flat out melt.

It’s nice, safe, but also has a delicious/sexy side to the composition. This is one of the greatest strengths of this scent, is its ability to be worn nearly universally, and without being overbearing at all. Sweet, syrupy, and fairly youthful…yes, just not overbearing.

Overall Impressions of Lady Million

Overall, do I like Lady Million? I do. It’s not the most amazing scent out there, but it does smell good, has good performance, and is a safe bet for women looking for an everyday perfume. Some won’t enjoy the gourmand qualities, white floral notes, or somewhat synthetic aroma.

So, if that’s definitely you, this one should probably be skipped. However, most women will enjoy wearing this one, as evidenced by its popularity over the years. It’s an all around very good scent and a fair value.

Versatility and the longevity are the strongest aspects of this fragrance. Personally, I enjoy the honey, amber, and orange blossom the most…as far as the actual smell goes. Not blown away by it overall, just an above average perfume.

You just need to expect the sweetness and honeyed floral presentation. If that’s your type of thing, this is a pretty decent example.

Viva La Juicy Soiree by Juicy Couture

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For today’s review, I have another ladies’ perfume. This time it’s an entry from Juicy Couture, which was released in 2017 under their Viva la Juicy banner, called: Viva la Juicy Soiree. How does this flanker fragrance to the original popular Juicy Couture scent, smell? Does it last a long time? When should it be worn? Is it even worth a look?

What does Viva La Juìcy Soireè Smell Like?

Notes include: lily, pink kiwi, jasmine, mandarin orange, cassis, wood, amber, musk

Click here to try: Viva La Juìcy Soireè Perfume For Women 3.4 oz Eau De Parfum Spray

Full Review

Before we get into my full review, let’s see what Juicy Couture has to say about this fragrance: Escape reality to an over-the-top masked party with Viva la Juicy Soiree. The fragrance dances to life with jeweled fruits like pink kiwi while vibrant water lily and soft woods pulse with an intoxicating allure. Let the party begin. 

The opening of Viva la Juicy Soiree immediately reveals the fragrance’s star attraction, the pink kiwi note. It’s very fresh, fruity, and juicy. This is supported by a light mandarin orange, that skirts along the edges of the scent.

You can definitely tell that its a Juicy Couture fragrance, if you’ve tried others from the collection, just taken in a slightly different direction.

Honestly, the kiwi note here is great. While it’s not used in a ton of perfumes, this is one of the better instances of kiwi being prominent in a composition, that I’ve ever smelled. It’s delicious.

Underneath the top notes, I can smell some cassis, mostly lily, and a bit of jasmine as well. To me, that’s as far as Soiree develops, at times you get more of the floral notes but it’s pretty straightforward throughout.

Water lily has the largest role, in the latter stages beyond the pink kiwi.  Is that a bad thing? Not in this case, because that fresh and tropical fruity aroma, is really attractive and has a soothing cool aspect to it that I enjoy.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage of Viva la Juicy Soiree is pretty middle of the road. It’s not weak by any stretch of the imagination, but it isn’t a complete bomb either. Fits in nicely with most of the rest of this designer’s collection.

I also got some decent longevity out of it, about 7 hours of solid strength, and an hour or so of complete skin scent. Nice, though, not extreme. For a warmer weather fragrance, it’s actually pretty darn good

Seasonally, spring or summertime all the way. This one would be beautiful in the heat, refreshing, and wouldn’t turn into a mess. Here in the cold, it is nice, and has no problems.

However, it does have that tropical kiwi sort of scent, which doesn’t fit with the mood of the weather but no performance issues.

I’d call this one an everyday wear for the warmer months. It’s safe for work. Can be worn casually. Plus, it is delicious smelling enough to be attractive for dates.

Overall Impressions of Soiree

Overall, do I like Juicy Couture Soiree? I do. It’s a pretty linear and simple scent, but it does what it does well. The kiwi note is the most noticeable, but it never feels overdone.

It’s a clean and fruity mix with some floral notes sitting underneath, to add a bit more depth. Solid performance and really attractive to smell.

I like the top notes, the kiwi and orange, as it lends a freshness to the overall composition of the perfume. The floral notes, such as the lily also give it a watery sort of fresh, that pairs well with the sweetness and tropical aroma of the kiwi.

It’s a nice fragrance overall. Not super complicated, but I think that it does everything well enough. The performance is solid, just not amazing, and it’s enjoyable on the whole. Very youthful with a tart/sweet blend and just a fun scent.

I do believe that this has been discontinued, as of this update. So, it might be tough to find bottles of it, going forward.

I Want Choo EDP by Jimmy Choo

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I Want Choo is a popular release from Jimmy Choo, which came out a few years ago. I’ve been familiar with it for a while, but got a full sample with an order a while back, so I’ve been testing it to do a full review for the site. How does it smell? Is it worth a buy?

What does I Want Choo Smell Like?

Notes include: peach, mandarin, jasmine, red lily, vanilla, benzoin, resin

Click here to try: I Want Choo

top choo fragrance

My Full Review

I Want Choo opens up with its fruity notes out, the peach is the stronger of the two, but you will get a dash of the mandarin juice.

But, the fruits up top aren’t really allowed to truly express their full juiciness, as the middle floral notes and the resinous vanilla qualities from the base are there early too. It’s got a sparkling fruitiness to it instead.

The red lily and jasmine sambac are going to increase in strength from that peachy start. The jasmine is the stronger of the two floral notes, to my nose, but Choo says that the perfume is built around the lily.

It’s sweet, somewhat soapy, with a nice mix of the vanilla and benzoin note. I’m glad they included benzoin and resin in the mix, because I think that really helps to give I Want Choo a bit more of a distinct character.

The fruit notes will really drop off and basically become a sweetish impression sitting underneath the floral notes, with the jasmine still having the lead.

The final dry down is basically jasmine, vanilla, and the benzoin note. The rest of the notes are vaguely there, but this Jimmy Choo is dominated by those three.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, I Want Choo will start out on the upper end of what could be considered moderate, but it will quickly move into a lighter territory. Though, this isn’t a skin scent until the the latter stages.

It has a nice amount of projection off of my skin and I never really felt that it was weak, when I had it on.

The longevity is right about seven hours on skin. On clothes, it’ll keep going like most other perfumes. It’s a pretty good performer, but nothing that would be considered elite.

Seasonally, I Want Choo is nice enough year round. It’s not really a summer scent, but it won’t completely melt away either. I might avoid the absolute hottest and most humid days, but it is fine almost any other time.

Probably best in the more moderate temperatures of spring and autumn or even cooler weather of winter.

This can be worn by all age ranges, but it’s not going to be a formal wear type of perfume. It’s fine for most daytime use, casual wear, or even a night out. It’s sweetness is pretty, cozy, and has a certain appeal to it. I don’t know if I’d call it sexy, though.

Overall Impressions of I Want Choo

Overall, do I like I Want Choo? Yes, it’s nice enough. I like the resinous base, the peach, and the vanilla with the jasmine. I do think that it’s been one of the better recent Jimmy Choo releases.

It’s nothing that’s super exciting or all that original, but it is sweet and attractive. It’s an easy to wear perfume with plenty of versatility and pretty good performance.

If you like a fragrance like Good Girl or Coach Dreams Sunset, this is similar to both. Not an exact match, but definitely in the same ballpark. The dry down is fairly close to what you get with Good Girl and the opening is related to Dreams Sunset, just switching a few notes.

The lily and the jasmine make for a nice pair to go along with the vanilla. If you don’t want a sweet vanilla based floral perfume, look elsewhere, because that’s what you get with this one. But, it’s an attractive example, that can be had for a fairly reasonable price.

Beyond Romance by Ralph Lauren

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Beyond Romance is a follow up scent in the Romance line from Ralph Lauren. I got a hold of a sample of this release as a part of a larger lot of perfume samples. I didn’t really know anything about it coming in and wasn’t sure of what to expect. Is it a good perfume? How does it smell? Is it even worth a try?

What does Beyond Romance Smell Like?

Notes include: raspberry, mandarin, bergamot, rose centifolia, jasmine, lily of the valley, black vanilla, ambroxan, cashmeran

Click here to try: Beyond Romance from Ralph Lauren

My Full Review

Tried Beyond Romance? Leave your own review and rating in the comments!

Let’s see how Ralph Lauren describes it: A new adventure in Romance. Discover the mysterious, daring, and wild fragrance that goes beyond with a seductive blend of fresh rose centifolia and luscious black vanilla.

Beyond Romance starts off with its fruit trio of raspberry, mandarin, and bergamot. The raspberry is going the be the strongest of the three for the duration of the wear, but early on there is a bit more of an even split with the citrus notes.

It’s a sweet start with the sugary aspects of this fragrance becoming apparent from the start. The black vanilla note will be noticeable and it kind of smells like there is a marshmallow note in the mix as well.

Probably the vanilla mixing with the cashmeran, giving it a light powdery aroma for some of the wear. Well, along with the floral notes. Really, only the rose truly sticks out for any length of time, the rest of the way it seems like a generic floral aroma sitting underneath.

At some point, the citrus notes burn off and it becomes the raspberry and vanilla show. The floral notes under that with an air of musk and the cashmere.

That’s essentially it. For stretches, it will smell more sugary. That brief powdery stint. Then, more of a musky cashmere finish down the home stretch.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage is actually quite good during the first couple of hours. Yes, after that it is a lighter moderate perfume, but Beyond Romance does have some power. Spraying it on some clothes, I can pick it up in the 6-8 feet range.

The longevity is decent, not great. I’d say about 6-7 hours, is what to expect. The last 1-2 hours being pretty close to the skin.

Seasonally, I’d really just avoid the high heat with this. Outside of the sweltering days of summer, this Ralph Lauren should be fine.

It’s sugary sweetness does make it seem like it’d be mostly a teenager’s scent, but really it’s not. It’s well blended and not screeching with sharp top notes. The cashmeran really helps to temper things and this could appeal to a wider age range than you’d think.

It’s a pretty and deliciously attractive perfume. Not formal, but okay for daily wear and even romantic wear into the evening…as the name implies.

Overall Impressions of Beyond Romance

Overall, do I like Beyond Romance? I really do. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this, right after the first spray. I generally like the fruity and sugary perfumes, but sometimes they go overboard. This one, has a nice balance.

Raspberry and vanilla are going to be the main attractions here. So, if you’re not a fan, forget it. But, if it sounds up your alley, the citrus notes with the florals and musk create a wonderful dynamic.

The performance is decent, just not a complete marathon runner with how long it goes. Though, I can’t say that I was particularly disappointed with Beyond either.

While it’s not a complete match for scents on the Ariana Grande line or Burberry Her, it is definitely in that same category. If you’re familiar with any of those, it’s around what you should expect with Beyond Romance.

I recommend giving it a try, if you’re in the market for a sugary sweet perfume that isn’t completely immature. Solid value at Ralph Lauren prices too.

Good Girl Gone Bad by Kilian

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Good Girl Gone Bad is a Kilian fragrance which I was already familiar with. But, I got sent a sample of it with another purchase a while back, and realized that I should finally put a full review on the site. Voila! How does this one smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a buy?

What does Good Girl Gone Bad Smell Like?

Notes include: rose, osmanthus, orange blossom, apricot, narcissus, tuberose, jasmine, cedar, amber

kilian good girl review

My Full Review

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

How Kilian describes it: The uninhibited Good girl gone Bad finds herself in a luscious floral whirlwind in the garden of good and evil.

The opening of Good Girl Gone Bad is a mix of sweetish fruit, green notes, and some rose. The osmanthus and a bit of tuberose seems to give this one a greenish quality early on. However, much of the composition is dominated by the apricot aroma.

To me, this is a floral-fruity fragrance, that starts off leaning more towards the latter. Along with the apricot and osmanthus, is a slight May Rose which never fully takes over. The scent is fresh that will have a light creaminess that will come on more so after the opening act.

It shifts to being tuberose and orange blossom rather than the rose and osmanthus. Going from green-ish to more of a standard white floral fragrance. Very clean and not an overpowering mess.

For much of the middle, tuberose will be in the drivers seat, before this shifts once again.

Finally, the rest of the way will be jasmine led. That, apricot, general white floral notes, and some amber slipped in. Good Girl Gone Bad isn’t a super complicated perfume. It has a soapier quality in the dry down, leaning a lot more towards the floral end of the spectrum.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this one is a lighter moderate. The opening does have a bit of power, it’s noticeable for much of the wear, but it’s going to be more of a scent bubble than an overwhelming powerhouse.

The longevity seems to go for about 7-ish hours on me. You might be able to squeeze a few more hours than that out of it, but it doesn’t have that elite gear. Pretty good.

Seasonally, this one is fine from spring through the early autumn. Much prefer it in the warmer weather than even just a mild day.

This is a nice candidate for a daily wear fragrance, if you happen to like the blend. Produces a non-offensive and fresh out of the bath effect. Unlike what the name might suggest, this is much more of the daytime good girl, than getting up to trouble in the evening hours.

To me, this is one that can be used by younger women, as well as older ones. Not too complicated, easy to wear, and won’t feel out of place in a classroom or an office.

Overall Impressions of Good Girl Gone Bad

Overall, do I like Good Girl Gone Bad? I do. Personally, it’s one of their better ladies’ fragrances. Some of which are a lot more mediocre than Good Girl Gone Bad. This is not amazing to me, but an attractive floral fragrance nonetheless.

Tuberose isn’t one of my favorite notes, at all. But, within this perfume, I really don’t mind it. Plus, it will get subdued into a more generic white floral aroma.

The apricot sweetness for the duration of this scent is really what sells it to me. I like how it pairs with the jasmine note in the dry down. Yes, it gives off a soap-like smell, but sometimes that’s what you want to go with.

This is a safe fragrance, that will skew towards regular use versus special occasion. The performance isn’t top notch, but  it is pretty solid. Is that enough for the price tag? I guess that depends on you.

I think that the name is pretty misleading. The good girl part fits, I suppose. But, this never gets ‘bad’ or super interesting. Likeable, sure. But there’s no real seductive or bold charm to this scent.

Just understand that despite its popularity, it might not be what you’re looking for.