Best Perfumes for Women

Coco Mademoiselle vs Chanel Chance EDP Comparison

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Chanel perfumes routinely dominate the best seller lists, year after year, in the women’s space. Not only the main or classic formulations, but also, flankers using their predecessor’s names. Two of the most popular options for ladies are Chanel Chance EDP and Coco Mademoiselle. In this post, I want to compare them, and declare a winner as to which is best. Which smells better? Which has the greater performance metrics?

Tale of the Tape: Coco Mademoiselle vs. Chance

Coco Mademoiselle

Notes include: jasmine, rose, orange, patchouli, vetiver

Click here to try: Coco Mademoiselle

Read my review: Mademoiselle

Chanel Chance

Notes include: vanilla, jasmine, iris, patchouli, pink pepper, and musk

Click here to try: Chanel Chance EDP

Opening

Chance has both an EDT and EDP version, along with many flankers that are quite popular. I am going to be talking about Chance EDP, in this post, as I am comparing it to the EDP version of Mademoiselle. So, keep in mind that it applies to these releases specifically.

Chance EDP has much less of the patchouli note, than the EDT version. This one is a floral scent with clean vanilla highlights. It is led by both jasmine and iris, as its main floral notes.

You get a mix of sweetness, with musk, and enough earthy spice to keep things interesting. There does seem to be some light fruit notes, but it isn’t as much. The patchouli, will play a bigger role later on, but it is kept in check up top.

Meanwhile, Coco Mademoiselle begins more as a fruity floral fragrance. More specifically, it is a blend of citrus, neroli, jasmine, rose and ylang ylang peaking through. The musk is not as heavy, as in Chance, but it also has about the same level of patchouli.

Which is better? It’s a close call. However, I think that Mademoiselle has the more appealing start. I really like the citrus start, that transitions into an array of floral notes. These two do share similarities, but Coco Mademoiselle gets a slight not, in my opinion.

Edge: Mademoiselle

Projection

Neither of these perfumes are going to disappoint with a weak sillage. The EDP versions, are both strong. Which is stronger? I’d say that Mademoiselle packs a stronger punch, than does Chance.

I don’t find either to be all that extreme, but they can project themselves, very well. Mademoiselle, is just a notch above.

Surprisingly, Coco Mademoiselle still has great sillage and overall performance, after all these years. Chanel hasn’t seemed to skip out on the quality with this best seller.

Edge: Mademoiselle

Longevity

Chance EDP will go a full workday, and perhaps, a few hours longer. Expect an 8-10 hour performance. Which is enough for most purposes. But, it still falls short of what Mademoiselle delivers.

Coco Mademoiselle will last for over 10 hours, most of the time. It’s got a really great longevity and doesn’t want to seem to quit. I’ve tested it out to over 12 hours before. It has a pretty wide range, once you get above double digit hours.

Again, Chance is no slouch, but it’s competitor is a bit better.

Edge: Mademoiselle

Versatility

In this category, I don’t really see a winner. Both perfumes perform well year round and in a wide variety of situations. These Chanel fragrances are truly all around gems and can be the anchor of just about anyone’s collection.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

This head to head match up, really is a difficult choice, since both are really great scents. I’d say that you probably can’t go wrong with either. However, which one is truly better, even if by a little bit?

Chanel Chance EDP is fresh, floral, with a great pink pepper spice. It’s not overbearing, but performs well. I really like the jasmine and how the pepper hangs around the edges, of the musk/patchouli heart. Really nice, overall.

Coco Mademoiselle, I prefer it to Chance. You get better performance, but I also think that it smells somewhat better, as well. The beautiful and classy citrus opening, sells it right away. Beyond that, the floral notes, with musk, and sweet creamy vanilla are so good during the dry down.

I think that Coco Mademoiselle just does a bit more, in its entirety versus Chance. Frankly, I think Chance is a great perfume…just not to the same extent.

It isn’t a blowout, by any means. However, I’m giving the win to Coco Mademoiselle EDP.

Winner: Mademoiselle

11 Best Smelling Peony Scented Perfumes

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Peony is a fairly popular note in many fragrances. It doesn’t always get the same attention or use as something like, rose or some of the others. However, it has a great aroma that is fresh, and just plain pretty to smell. In this post, I want to put forth eleven options for women’s fragrances, which utilize this floral note.

Eleven selections which I feel are the best smelling perfumes to make peony the main note of their composition. By no means, is this exhaustive, but there is plenty to try out for all sorts of tastes.

What are the Best Peony Fragrances?

Top Miss Dior Peony

Christian Dior Miss Dior Absolutely Blooming Eau De Toilette Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce– To me, this is best smelling fragrance of the Miss Dior line. Absolutely Blooming adds juicy red berry notes to the mix, along with the familiar rose and peony.

It is sunny, fun, delicious, and with a great mix of fruit and floral notes.

This is probably the strongest of them and one that lasted a few hours longer than the other perfumes from Dior. Obviously, it isn’t just a pure peony fragrance, and some may not want the fruit notes.

However, it is one that is immensely popular for good reason, and those berries really do add something special. Absolutely Blooming Review

Vuitton Peony Perfume with Cocoa

Attrape-Rêves– This Louis Vuitton fragrance is more of a blend, with a prominent peony note, but it is one of the top fragrances from LV.

It opens up with its litchi and bergamot fruit notes, along with some fresh ginger. I do really enjoy that extra bit of ginger kick that you get early on with Attrape-Reves. Doesn’t stay around for ever, but it is a nice touch.

Rose and peony will make their appearance, and our notes is the strongest of the two.

Attrape-Reves separates itself, with its cocoa note, that gives it a gourmand touch along with the patchouli. But, the peony will be the dominant ingredient, after sharing the spotlight with that rose.

Sweet floral fruit-chouli perfume, with an overall fresh aroma. Soft, balanced, and versatile wear with a great peony. Attrape-Reves Review

Simple, Fresh, Inexpensive

Elizabeth and James Nirvana White Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce– Nirvana White is one of the best fragrances from the Elizabeth & James collection. Pretty simple fragrance, overall. Though, a great option for peony scents.

Peony is the leader from the get go, but early on the muguet (lily of the valley), comes around to the secondary spot. The opening is a mix between white and greenish aromas, smooth, a bit water, and a hint of sweetness.

That’s what you get at the beginning. Once it develops further, the lily of the valley fades away and this is a peony and musk scent. Very fresh and our target note is lovely here.  I got about 7 hours of wear from it and the price is usually absolutely affordable. Nirvana White Review

High-End Peony Perfume

Lust in Paradise by Ex Nihilo– Pink pepper and a nice lychee note surround the peony here. Lust in Paradise is fresh, with a warm kind of spicy kick, but not at all thick and overwhelming.

The lychee is actually stronger than the pink pepper here, so, you get more of a sweetness. The peony takes over and this one is a cleaner floral perfume with musk and woody undertones.

The name is pretty deceiving. It’s not a super ‘sexy’ sort of fragrance. Rather, it is a perfume that is somewhat sweet and powdery up top. Then, becomes a muskier/soapy floral clean in the drydown.

Nonetheless, the peony is beautiful in this composition. Price tag is high, however.

Old-School Soapy/Powdery Peony

Holy Peony by Dior– This one has similarities with the Miss Dior line, but is a more concentrated peony. Rose and lily of the valley, round things out here. Worth a try, but I’d probably still go with the cheaper, Miss Dior listed above.

This one is fresh and a bit juicy, with notes of strawberry and raspberry. It’s got a nice amount of fruitiness, to help further sweeten the perfume, but the floral notes are going to be the main focus with this Dior.

It actually starts out pretty tart/sour, in the early stages. Then it will settles sweeter and a muskier/powdery/soapy perfume full of rose and the peony. One you’ll probably want to try out, before committing to a full bottle, however.

best dior peony fragrance

Pure Peony Love

Peony Couture by Vilhelm– This one has a nice big dose of peony, that is simply great for those who love the flower. It is another one that is a bit more niche and expensive.

Peony Couture gives you a mix of anise and black pepper, with a Turkish Rose note surrounding the peony. For part of the wear, there are hints of spice and a touch of smokiness provided by an incense note.

The pepper note is probably the strongest non-floral aspect, but only hangs around for a short time. The peony will dominate the first half and share duties with the rose note later on. Really gorgeous example of what we’re looking for.

Rose and Peony

Chloe Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 4.2 Ounce– A nice, moderate scent by Chloe. New is a complex and feminine scent that isn’t too bold but will add a bit of warmth and class to any woman. Notes include: Magnolia, rose, lily of the valley cedar wood base, amber.

The rose is the most prominent of the floral notes, with a somewhat powdery aroma, and the addition of a very solid peony. This is sort of a reverse of others on the list, which use both of these notes.

But, I do like that it has plenty of peony, and is super versatile as a daily wear. As such, I think that it deserves a spot.

Chloe EDP has a nice woodiness in the dry down, that helps to give it a more solid base, and the performance on this one is pretty outstanding. Its sillage can be powerful and will go the full day.

Powdery Floral & Suede

Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede Cologne Spray for Women, 1 Ounce–There is a great opening with the apple note which then takes the back seat for the flowery aroma to take center stage. Very soft and feminine with a nice touch of suede.

The dry down becomes quite a powdery floral affair, especially once the apple fades, and the peony takes over. The suede is a really interesting pairing with the floral notes. Super smooth, keeps the whole aroma, pretty mellow.

Like the cocoa, in Attrape-Reves, the suede is something that distinguishes the Jo Malone from just being another run of the mill floral.

Another simple one, that is pretty unique in its presentation. Performance is solid, for what it is, and Peony & Blush is still one of the best Jo Malone scents.

Citrus Floral Star

L’Occitane Flora pivoine edt 2.5 Oz– This is an excellent rose and peony pairing, with a clean citrus opening act. Pivoine Flora is light and a solid choice for the warmer months of the year.

The peony really starts to take over within a half hour of the first wear.

The rose, while there, is relegated to a role player. The dry down does reveal a bit of musk, but just a hint, to support the star peony.

This is really good, with a bit of a similar smell to Bright Crystal Absolu (found below). Though, the Versace is a juicier perfume with its fruit notes. The berry and pomegranate create a substantial enough distinction with Flora.

Estee Lauder Classic Blend

Pleasures Estee Lauder Women Perfume 3.4 oz Eau de Parfum Spray In Box Sealed– A classic floral perfume that is soft, pleasant, and never overpowering. Pleasures features dewy outdoorsy notes which provide a green aroma, combined with, floral notes led by lily of the valley and lilac.

Then, as it dries down this Estee Lauder perfume, begins to have more influence from the peony and rose notes within.

This is an outstanding performer, which will last all day, and is safe enough to wear at the office or casually. Quite fresh with enough floral sweetness to be very attractive, but not obnoxious.

The peony becomes, more pronounced in the latter stages of the wear, but you do get some other nice floral notes beforehand.

Juicy Fruit and Peony

Versace Bright Crystal Absolu Eau de Perfume Spray, 3.0 Ounce– You could go with the original Bright Crystal as well, but the peony note, is better in this one.

It sits alongside a wonderful, pomegranate note, and raspberry which becomes the main fruity attraction. The pomegranate is what made Bright Crystal on of my favorite women’s Versace perfumes.

This is quite similar to the original, but with some slight differences, it’s a bit fresher and cleaner smelling.

This is a really great choice for those, who want a peony note as the highlight, mixed with some gorgeous fruit ingredients.

7 Best Smelling Cacharel Perfumes for Women

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Cacharel is a French ready to wear clothing, fashion, and fragrance brand. It’s fragrance line was launched in the late 1970s and has been going strong ever since. The faces of the advertisements of this design house have been as famous as the perfumes themselves and include models, Kate Moss and Gisele Bundchen. For this list, I have selected seven fragrances from their line which I consider to be the cream of the crop.

What are the Best Smelling Cacharel Perfumes?

Fabulous Selection

Yes I Am Fabulous– Updating this page with a few newer perfumes, I had to add at least one from the fairly popular Yes I Am line.

Fabulous is my first pick out of this collection. It utilizes blackberry as the main note, but only adds to the unique vibe with other notes like hazelnut and milk. Add to that, one of my favorite underrated floral notes in heliotrope.

This one opens up with the blackberry which comes off juicy enough, yet the milk adds a creaminess which really sets the tone. Not too sweet nor too tart, Fabulous comes across as delicious and the hazelnut here just works in the mix.

A nicer heliotrope powdery aroma in the dry down. It isn’t super powerful, just a nice and fun perfume.

Easy to Wear Cacharel

Noa– A light blend of fruity notes with an underlying bouquet of floral notes. Noa is a soft and womanly fragrance good for most occasions. This one is a clean and soapy sort of perfume, but it feels like it has its own unique take on it.

Yes, you have the layer of musk and floral notes. However, the secondary wave of coffee bean and vanilla give Noa a slighter sweeter aroma in its undertones. This isn’t some scent that overwhelms and demands attention, it just simply gets it with its soft and quite beautiful aroma.

noa

Most Popular Cacharel

Amor Amor– Probably the most popular of the bunch. A great everyday wear, Amor Amor blends fruits, floral, and woodsy notes to create something seductive yet playful.

The floral notes are lighter and different. But, you do get a very close citrus vibe to Happy. The main difference here, is the inclusion of vanilla.

Amor Amor is a very good take on a sweet fruity perfume, that is a solid choice for daily wear. It actually has way more depth, than one might expect. It is warmer, creamier, with nice amber notes and tonka bean in the dry down. A fairly similar fragrance to Clinique’s Happy.

amoramor

Chocolate Gourmand

Yes I Am Delicious– Another option from this line for those who want an indeed delicious blend of chocolate and the hazelnut note.

This one really goes heavy with the chocolate, more so the hazelnut. You get both a refined sort of dark chocolate, raw cacao, vanilla, and the nuttiness. Super rich and delectable.

Up top you will get mandarin orange with a spicy cardamom before the sweets-fest begins. The floral notes are more present in the back end. Jasmine and orange blossom. Warm and cozy for the colder months. This won’t be for everyone, still a nice smelling scent.

Most Unique

Eden– Eden changes it up a bit from the other perfumes on this list. This fragrance is for those who like a spicy and somewhat exotic scent. Eden does feature some lighter fruit notes, but it is mostly a very floral undertaking.

So, obviously avoid, if you don’t want a bouquet effect. That’s mostly at the start, though. As it moves forward, Eden, takes on more of its patchouli note and it feels less floral and more greenish plant-like.

Finally, there are the spicier layers of this perfume. Not super peppery, but coriander is the main attraction. This is more of a niche fragrance, but one with a bold profile and performance.

eden

Classic Cacharel

Anais Anais– A wonderful floral perfume with added notes of leather and cedar. It’s a classic scent that is clean, fresh, and wholly feminine. Being an older fragrance, it has obviously undergone some changes over the years, but Anais Anais still retains a lot of its magic.

This is more or an old school fragrance, because it does date back to the 1970s. Floral and highlighted by notes of lily of the valley, hyacinth, and jasmine. At times, it feels more like a green garden, before setting itself up as a powdery scent.

To me, it’s unique versus what you get from perfumes nowadays. Though, this doesn’t feel stale or boring. Yes, different, while still being modern and dynamic.

anais

Older Sweet Pick

Amor Amor Forbidden Kiss– A warm and energetic take on the Amor Amor name. Grapefruit, coffee, pink pepper, and peony make this one a unique and exciting perfume from Cacharel.

We get away from the floral scents and break into something fruitier and much sweeter. Yes, the fruity notes are enveloped in a warmer cloud than usual, but this is still an attractive option for the colder months. The coffee and pink pepper notes, really make Forbidden Kiss what it is, and it doesn’t have that winter fragrance heaviness.

amoramorfor

Perfect by Marc Jacobs

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I received a sample of Perfect by Marc Jacobs by mistake. With an order, they sent me a whole host of women’s perfumes, when I ordered samples for men. Oh well. As such, I am going to add to my ladies’ fragrance reviews, and start things off with this 2020 release. How does Perfect smell? Perform? Is it worth a try?

What does Perfect by Marc Jacobs Smell Like?

Notes include: daffodil, rhubarb, almond milk, cedar, cashmeran 

Click here to try: Marc Jacobs Perfect Women 3.3 oz EDP Spray 

My Full Review

Before we get into my own review, let’s see how Marc Jacobs describes it: A bright daffodil and juicy rhubarb accord meets soft cashmeran and comforting notes of almond ilk. Dazzling and unexpected. Perfect, just like you.

The opening is quite bright and juicy. The rhubarb accord comes across like strawberries mixed with a greenish aroma. There also seems to be some other fruity note or at least the impression there, smells sort of like cherry to my nose.

That’ll stick around for a little while, as the daffodil gains strength, along with the light and semi-sweet almond milk. The almond milk actually isn’t too heavy in the mix, don’t expect a huge creaminess or anything, but it is there.

The top is juicy and candy-like (sweet/tart), while this one will dry down into something more woody fresh and musky.

As it moves along, the cashmeran will be the main player alongside the daffodil. It actually never turns into a pure floral play, but is rather balanced in how it presents.

That sweet-tart aroma of the rhubarb accord will fade. It is a clean, slightly soapy scent, with a milky woody base. Not too complicated, but very nice.

Projection, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, it is fairly strong, while the rhubarb is around. Then, it will be a lighter to moderate wear, without much of a trail.

Overall, I’d say it’s above average, but it’s not going to project like crazy.

The longevity is also good, but not amazing. I get about 7-8 hours of wear, on my skin. So, around a workday, which is fine unless you need a marathon performer.

Seasonally, this one is a spring and summertime wear, all the way. It completely matches a daytime of sunshine and greenery.

It’s not a ‘teenagers’ fragrance, even if they can also where this. Though, it does have a youthful energy. Probably not going to be something that you wear formally. However, it’s safe enough to wear for most other occasions.

Not really a romantic or nightlife wear. Stick to the daytime, but you can use it a whole lot in that timeframe.

Overall Impressions of Perfect

Overall, do I like Perfect? I do enjoy it. It doesn’t live up to the name exactly, but it is a very nice and uplifting perfume from Marc Jacobs.

I like the opening with the rhubarb and how the daffodil starts to come through underneath. It reminds me of a sunny spring day and it all just has a nice energy to it.

As it dries down, I appreciate that it doesn’t go full on floral or green, but instead takes a more balanced approach. The almond milk isn’t all that forceful, but in its limited role (at least on me), it does add a nice touch.

The performance is good all around, even if it isn’t a powerhouse. I don’t think most people would be disappointed by it.

Maybe you should avoid, if you don’t like that sweet tart strawberry/cherry like vibe. If that’s you’re thing, you will probably get plenty of use out of this in the spring and summertime. It’s pretty, not overwhelming, and has some decent versatility.

Mandarino di Amalfi vs. Neroli Portofino

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In this edition of the head to head fragrance comparisons, I want to take a closer look at two Tom Ford perfumes, that utilize citrus and floral ingredients. These are: Neroli Portofino vs. Mandarino Di Amalfi. Which of these unisex scents is the better of the two? Which popular fragrance gives the best performance? Which is the top buy?

Tale of the Tape: Mandarino di Amalfi vs. Neroli Portofino

Neroli Portofino

Notes include: neroli, orange flower, amber, mandarin, bergamot, jasmine, lavender, lemon

Click here to try: Tom Ford Neroli Portofino 1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray

Review: Neroli Portofino

Mandarino di Amalfi

Notes include: grapefruit, lemon, wildflowers, mint, tarragon, orange blossom, sage, amber, vetiver, basil, black pepper, black currant

Click here to try: Tom Ford Mandarino Di Amalfi Eau de Parfum, 1.7oz./50ml

Review: Mandarino Di Amalfi

Opening

Portofino opens up with lemon and other citrus notes to go along with orange blossom and the neroli. The top is a bright citrus smell with a zesty quality and floral notes sitting underneath and providing a soapy feeling.

The jasmine and neroli together, really give it that bath soap sort of smell. That’s fine and this is a good example of it. I like the citrus notes, but they aren’t as prominent as the floral trio.

Mandarino Di Amalfi opens up with lemon and grapefruit, which are juicier than what is found in Neroli Portofino. There is also an additional black currant note, which is familiar, but not overly sharp within this composition.

Under all of that, is basil, tarragon, and mint. It gives the composition a cool spice and a lighter soapy quality than its competitor.

Which is better? I like Mandarino better at the start. The juiciness of the citrus is better and the herbal spice gives it another dimension, then, just being a soapy floral.

The black currant adds a nice distinction here versus Portofino. Plus, those spicy herbal notes, give Mandarino di Amalfi some more depth early on.

Edge: Mandarino

Projection

Neroli Portofino’s sillage starts out as a moderate, but quickly moves into something that is much lighter. Meanwhile, Mandarino di Almalfi, has very solid projecting abilities for a citrus based scent. It isn’t insane or anything, but it is better than Neroli, in this regard.

Edge: Mandarino

Longevity

Neroli Portofino will hit the five to six hour mark of wear, on skin. If you’re willing to spray on fabric, you can of course get a bit more. It’s really not on of the marathon type of perfumes on the market.

Mandarino di Amalfi isn’t much better, if at all. It too seems to strike that six hour mark and be gone from my skin, thereafter.

In this category, the two are very evenly matched. I get about 5-6 with Neroli and about 6 with Mandarino. This is after plenty of testing of each. Neither are great, but are passable…just don’t expect beasts.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Again, these two pretty much occupy the same space. Spring and summer wears, that can go casual or dressy, during the daytime. They are unisex fragrances, that lean more feminine, than masculine. No real distinction.

With each, you’re going to get more of that coastal summertime outdoorsy vibe. No nightlife monsters, just attractive fragrances to wear during the warmer months.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Neither of these scents really wows me, at all. They’re nice, but just not amazing. Neroli Portofino is a very simple perfume with citrus top note, neroli, and orange blossom.

Later on, it becomes even more floral, with lavender and jasmine coming in. Clean, bright, soapy, floral. Pleasant to wear and won’t offend.

Mandarino Di Amalfi, doesn’t reach some rarefied air, but I think that it is better than Neroli Portofino. The opening citrus is better, then the herbal spice brings in a different dynamic (also does it better than Neroli Portofino Forte), and then you get orange blossom and wildflower.

The floral element smells better to me in Mandarino, as well, and goes well with the green herbals.

Obviously, if you’re a super fan of neroli, you may have your leanings for Portofino. To me, I think the citrus, less soapy aroma of Amalfi is the better of the two.

The performance is pretty good, but not great. I like Mandarino and during parts of the wear, I thoroughly enjoy it, it just never brings it all together. However, it wins this Tom Ford perfume match up.

Winner: Mandarino Di Amalfi