Best Perfumes for Women

Baccarat Rouge 540 vs. Creed Aventus

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Creed Aventus and Baccarat Rouge are two of the most popular fragrances in the world. Since they are both luxury scents and have that popularity, they often get compared to one another. Even though, they are both different scents, and one is distinctly for men to wear. Nonetheless, I thought I’d give my full comparison between these perfumes. Which smells better? Lasts longer? Is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Aventus vs. BR 540

Baccarat Rouge 540

Notes include: saffron, ambergris, cedar, fir resin, jasmine

Click here to try: Buy from Saks

Creed Aventus 

creed aventus

Notes of Creed Aventus: 

Top: Blackcurrant, Italian bergamot, French apples and pineapple

Middle: Rose, dry birch, Moroccan jasmine, and patchouli

Base Notes: musk, oak moss, ambergris, and vanilla.

Click here to read my original Aventus Review

Click here to get Aventus: Aventus by Creed

Opening

The opening act of both of these is pretty funny to compare for me, as I’m not a huge fan of how either starts off. The sharp pineapple note, with the other citrus and woodsy elements of Aventus has never been something I enjoyed.

If all I’d have to go by was the first 15 minutes or so, I’d think that this fragrance wasn’t worth wearing. The pineapple, blackcurrant, and the dryness of birch can be a bit much at first.

However, I do like what it settles into. Fresh and lively, very enjoyable to wear. Next, you get less pineapple, and more of the birch wood and oak moss. This is where Aventus comes into its own. Plus, a little vanilla sweetness and the remaining apple note.

Baccarat rouge goes with the saffron and jasmine, front and center in the beginning. It’s clean, sweet, and presents a lemony tinge to it from the hedione (jasmine). Sitting under that, is the amber and wood notes giving this a invigorating and resinous quality early on…which will become greater as it develops.

Which is a better opening? Again, not a huge fan of either. But, I’d give the edge to Baccarat Rouge, because I like the resin.

Edge: BR 540

Projection

Both of these fragrances starts off strong. But, most of what separates them in sillage, will come later in the wear.

I think Aventus hits a higher level and can project itself further. Plus, it will maintain much of its strength for a longer time than Baccarat Rouge does.

Rouge kicks off strong, goes moderate, and then has a stage wear it is pretty airy and light. It does hang around, but doesn’t have a heavy or overwhelming presence.

Aventus is the better of the two here.

Edge: Aventus

Longevity

With Aventus, I will usually get 8-9 hours of wear out of it. Sometimes, it’ll hang around for 10, on my skin. But, within that time frame, the sillage will mostly stay pretty substantial and it won’t be a pure skin scent.

Meanwhile, BR 540 will land anywhere from 8-12 hours. It has a much wider spectrum than does the Creed, usually hitting around 10 hours total. They’re fairly close to one another, but Baccarat does have a higher high than Aventus.

Thus, the Kurkdjian perfume takes this category.

Edge: BR 540

Versatility

This is an interesting category. Baccarat Rouge 540 is much more of a unisex fragrance, than the more traditionally masculine Aventus. So, in that sense it is more versatile.

However, I think seasonally Aventus is more versatile since it can hold up better in the warmer weather, while also being able to stick around for the cold. Spring and autumn is where Aventus is best, in my mind.

Both are the sort of fragrances that can be worn pretty much anywhere.

All in all, I think I’ll give BR 540 the nod. Just because it will have a greater appeal to a wider range of people, even if it isn’t a warmer weather scent.

Edge: BR 540

Overall Scent

Baccarat Rouge is a very nice fragrance, that has captured so many hearts, that it has been endlessly copied. It is distinct, pleasant to wear, and has very good performance.

I do like when it settles down. The amber, jasmine, and overall clean yet resinous quality is intriguing. For women, it’d be the one I’d go with between these two. Although, if you can swing it, BR 540 Extrait is a better scent.

As to which of these two fragrances is better? The answer is Aventus. Yes, I think the opening is rough, but the dry down has so much depth and just smells better than does Baccarat Rouge. Sure, Rouge has a slight edge in different metrics, but Aventus isn’t far behind.

I would rather wear Aventus, hands down. Most men, will probably prefer the Creed fragrance, also.

So, women: vast majority will want BR 540. Men: Vast majority will want to go with Aventus. But, again, BR 540 is the more unisex friendly scent.

Winner: Aventus

Cloud by Ariana Grande

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Cloud from Ariana Grande has become a super popular fragrance over the past few years, due both to the singer’s own fame and the perfume’s resemblance to Baccarat Rouge 540. I’ve had various decanted samples of this in the recent past, but picked up a new one to give the scent a fresh try and a full review of its own. How does it smell? How long does it last? Does it really live up to the hype?

What does Cloud by Ariana Grande Smell Like?

Notes include: pear, lavender, bergamot, praline, whipped cream, vanilla orchid, coconut, musk, wood

Click here to try: Ariana Grande Cloud Eau de Parfum Spray, clear, 3.4 oz

My Full Review

Cloud starts things off with a sweetness and lively brightness, getting its lead from the prominent pear note, in the early stages. It is also joined by the lavender and bergamot citrus. The latter, isn’t too strong to my nose, at least.

I get a bit of the citrus, which adds a bit more sparkle to that pear juiciness. The lavender here, has a certain roughness which takes some of the softer and fluffier qualities of this perfume.

After 20-30 minutes, I begin to get more of the heart and base notes coming through. The musk will be stronger in the dry down, but it is also noticeable from close to the onset.

Praline and the whipped cream notes really help to bring home the Cloud moniker to the scent. Sweet and fluffy, with the coconut giving it a clean yet milky aroma.

The further on that I get from the initial spray, the perfume does become more airy, less like a thick cloud and more like fine overhang.

There is a bit of a plasticky aroma within this composition. It’s not too bad for me personally, but I know others really tend to smell that with Cloud. Just something to keep in mind.

The dry down becomes a musky lavender scent with a little woodiness and a hodgepodge of whatever sweet notes are still kicking around.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage of Cloud starts off strong. It isn’t a massive bomb of a fragrance, but the projection will hit that 6-8 feet mark, before moving closer in. Thereafter, it is a moderate perfume, but I’d for sure call it above average in totality.

In terms of how long it lasts, I generally get 5-6 hours from Cloud, on my skin. Usually, it leans more towards the six hour mark. Not an amazing marathon runner type of a perfume, but Cloud is solid enough.

Seasonally, it’s much nicer in the autumn and winter. Though, Cloud isn’t a strictly cold weather wear, but I’d probably avoid the high heat. For most places, you could easily wear this Ariana scent in the springtime.

Also, it’s not completely a teenager fragrance. Yes, teens can wear it, but it isn’t so bubblegum sweet that older women couldn’t have a bottle as well. Heck, with the lavender, it can even be somewhat unisex…definitely leans feminine.

Mostly going to be a casual daily wear. It’s light enough to be in an office or something like that, but isn’t very formal. More of a daytime fragrance, rather than a club beast. I’d call it clean/pretty before anything all that attractive or sexy.

Overall Impressions of Cloud

Overall, do I like Cloud? It’s fine. There’s aspects of it that I enjoy, but on the whole it’s just decent. Not my favorite from the Ariana Grande line and I prefer the Intense version. Though, definitely not a bad perfume by any stretch of the imagination.

I’m not too sure what the fuss it all about with this, based on the fragrance alone. It’s not as good as either of the Baccarat Rouge fragrance, but it is pretty inexpensive. In terms of relative cheapies, it can serve the purposes of a lot of people out there, so it can be a worthwhile perfume to have.

Is it a must have? Not particularly. It smells pretty good, the performance is pretty okay, and it has some mass market appeal. As a man, I don’t find it to be super sexy or anything like that, just somewhat attractive.

It does everything at least decently, but nothing quite reaches the level of outstanding.

Update: Since this was published, there’s also been Cloud Intense and Pink. I like both of those a bit more, even if they’re not wildly different.

Viva La Juicy Rosé EDP by Juicy Couture

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For today’s entry, I have another ladies’ fragrance by Juicy Couture, and the last sample from this brand, that I currently hold. Viva La Juicy Rosé eau de parfum came out a few years back in 2015 and is one of the array of flanker fragrances to the ever popular original Viva La Juicy. How does this one stack up? What are the notes? Does it perform well? Is it even worth a buy?

What does Viva La Juicy Rosé Smell Like?

Notes include: amber, peony, rose, jasmine, orris, benzoin, pear, Italian mandarin

Click here to try: Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Rosé, 3.4 fl. Oz., perfume for women

Before I get into my own review of Viva La Juicy Rosé, let’s see what Juicy Couture has to say about it: Celebrate with Viva La Juicy Rosé, a springtime toast to the forever bubbly Viva girl. An irresistible bouquet of honey-like pink blossoms pops with fizzy citrus perfection and is kissed by the glow of sensual amber. Cheers!

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Viva La Juicy Rosé is very interesting, as it actually does capture the sparkling bubbly aroma of Rosé champagne. It retains this exact smell for roughly 10 minutes, before moving on into a more traditional floral blend, but that opening is kind of great.

Rose is the main attraction in this fragrance. It isn’t super strong but it is the most noticeable note. At the start, there is more of a fruit influence with the Italian mandarin and pear notes, and the warmth of amber.

It is actually very pleasant and quite a beautiful perfume, at this point. It has a pinkish sort of smell, that strikes a balance between being too sweet and too floral. Bright, but not obscenely annoying. Yes, this is a pinkish rose and not a red one.

As it dries down, the other floral notes become more pronounced and the fruits fall back somewhat. I mainly pick up on jasmine and then some peony. What’s interesting, is that, as it moves further along, the mandarin begins to peak out again.

What I’m ultimately left with is a more floral version of the sparkling champagne opening. The notes at that point are mainly: rose, peony, mandarin, amber, orris, and some pear.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage of Rosé is moderate to strong. It never felt very light on the skin, but this one isn’t a complete bomb, either. It’s a solid projection, with maybe a 3-5 foot radius, around the wearer.

The opening hour or so does bring some power, so, don’t overspray. Thereafter, it’s noticeable and not something that I could characterize as airy.

The longevity is somewhere around 7 hours, maybe a bit longer, but all you can detect is the rose note really, at that point. Pretty solid. This flanker isn’t an absolute beast performer, though, it is certainly passable for most purposes.

Coming back to testing this one again. Yep, about 7-7.5 hours of wear, on my skin.

This is an attractive and upbeat fragrance that is great for the warmer days of the year. It’s light enough to be worn at work, can be worn casually, and has enough sexiness for later in the evening.

It isn’t a serious fragrance, but I do think that it elevates above the standard teenage fair. Sure, it’s bubbly and girly but never feels child-like. It comes across as being quite clean and presentable. There are obviously gourmand elements, but it isn’t an enveloping or dominant sort of perfume.

Overall Impressions of Viva La Juicy Rosé

Overall, do I like Viva La Juicy Rosé? Yes, I think it is a very attractive scent, that is both playful and pleasant. This Juicy Couture never takes itself too seriously and just does its own thing without being presumptuous or too niche to be enjoyable.

I really like the champagne-style vibes in the opening act, along with the fruity notes. Pear gives it the sparkle and mandarin the citrus deliciousness.

It’s got a great energy to it. The dry down, is pretty basic with the floral notes. That along with the amber, is what you can expect from many of these Juicy Couture perfumes.

It’s a very nice addition to the Juicy Couture lineup and a worthy flanker to Viva La Juicy. It’s not an amazing scent, nor is it super unique. It does everything well, though, and if you can get it for a good price; it can definitely be worth a try.

It’ll help if you enjoy rose, peony, and mandarin orange.

7 Best Lavender Scented Perfumes for Her

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Lavender often gets used in the fragrance world, though, probably more so in the men’s space. At least, as a lead note. But, there are plenty of women out there who also want this clean floral note, as the main attraction in their daily wear perfume. On this page, I will be keeping a running list of what I consider to be the best smelling lavender scents for women. It’s obviously not ‘exhaustive’, but can absolutely serve as a great starting point in your search.

What are the Best Smelling Lavender Fragrances for Women?

The Tom Ford Option

TOM FORD LAVENDER EXTREME EAU DE PARFUM– Lavender Extreme is certainly a lavender fragrance for a colder day. It is headed up by the title note, but joined mainly by vanilla and some tonka bean.

Though, you also get some further spice from cinnamon and a violet note, which helps to add a slight powdery quality to this perfume. Unisex scent like most Tom Ford fragrances. Very cozy and inviting, with a warmer embrace.

Soft and a bit sweet, but a pretty darn realistic lavender note. It’s not one of my personal favorite Tom Ford’s and is probably overpriced at retail, but almost undeniably a great one for those who are seeking out this note.

Light Citrus Herbal Lavender

4711 Acqua Colonia Lavender and Thyme Eau de Cologne Spray, 5.7 Ounce– Simple. Lavender and thyme are what this one adds to the 4711 mix. The thyme note adds a different dynamic to our target ingredient versus others on the list. Plus, it’s really affordable in large quantities.

It’s not entirely lavender dominated, as the herbal notes and citrus are pretty prevalent, especially at the start. But, the lavender is a lovely inclusion, which you will catch wafts of throughout the wear.

Very light with the sillage and that citrus is pretty sharp. But, the dry down is clean and calming with the lavender taking control of the composition.

Chanel Wildflowers and Lavender

Jersey by Chanel– Not my favorite fragrance from the Les Exclusifs line by Chanel, but Jersey is the one to go with, if you want lavender. Also, maybe, Boy. But, that one doesn’t have the same level of our target note, while being a better smelling fragrance.

It kicks off with cold aldehydes, lavender, and a grassy and herbal aroma. The lavender is going to lead the way, but interestingly, those aldehydes stick around for the duration.

The wildflowers will flank the lavender for a while. But, as this moves along you will get a muskier finish with a creamy quality from vanilla and tonka bean. Nice performance at around 8 hours of wear and pretty versatile. One to check out for lavender lovers. Jersey Full Review

The Best Selling Blended Perfume

Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau De Parfum Spray for Women 90ml/3oz, clear– I actually prefer Libre Intense, but you get the stronger lavender (and still a nice perfume) with the ever popular YSL Libre.

Orange blossom and a touch of citrus juice start things off with this one. Lavender will be the main attraction, but it will take a back seat in the opening stage. Soapy clean with some early touches of vanilla creaminess. Almost bitter, with a stronger musk.

Then, it will shift to lavender. The orange blossom and musk both significantly weaken and all of the other notes just play a support role to our target. Vanilla will be the co-pilot. Nice performance and easy to wear, with an already proven mass appeal. YSL Libre review

One from Memory

Serge Lutens Gris Clair Eau De Parfum Spray for Women– It’s been a few years since I have smelled this one, but I thought that I’d include it on the list, because of what a popular lavender option it has been.

The gist of what I remember? Warm, slightly bitter, floral mix. Big dose of lavender in a blend that gets sweeter as it dries down. I’ll update this entry, once I come across Gris Clair again.

Masculine, but Fine Lavender Example

Czech & Speake Oxford & Cambridge Cologne Spray 3.4 Fl Oz– Oxford & Cambridge is one that has been around for decades now. Yes, it’s a men’s fragrance, but I think plenty of women could pull it off just fine.

This is a green and pretty mossy lavender interpretation. The lavender is the star, but you get a fresh rosemary, cool mint, and dry oakmoss. It’s outdoorsy, but naturalistic, especially the lavender oil that they use in this.

I get more of the mint for most of this fragrance, with more hints of rosemary. It settles down into something lighter and more pure lavender. Nice performance, not huge sillage. Can be tougher to find nowadays, it seems. I wouldn’t pay an arm and a leg to acquire, but solid at a better price point.

Super Popular, Lavender Focused

Guerlain Mon Guerlain Eau De Parfum Spray 100ml/3.3oz– Mon Guerlain is a very popular option for perfumes in general and not just lavender specifically. The opening act is actually fairly candy-like and has always reminded me of other popular scents, like BonBon.

However, at its core, this Guerlain is about the lavender and vanilla combination. It is just presented in a very mass appealing way. It becomes a smoother and less sweet aroma, dotted with further floral touches of jasmine.

Easy to wear, nice performance, and extremely versatile outside of a pure lavender play. Yet, it can certainly attract those who love that note as well. Mon Guerlain Review

Coach Floral EDP by Coach

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Coach Floral is a perfume that I’ve come across a number of times since its release in 2018, and I’ve always appreciated it. Recently, I got a sample included in an order from Macy’s, which gave me some time to further test it out and finally post a full review. How does Floral EDP smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Coach Floral EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: citrus, pink pepper, pineapple sorbet, rose tea, jasmine, gardenia, musk, patchouli, wood

Click here to try: Coach Floral Eau De Parfum 1.0oz Spray

My Full Review

Before we get into my review, let’s see how Coach describes it: Coach Floral EDP is inspired by Coach’s signature leather Tea Roses. Combining fruity and floral notes with crystal musks, the unique scent perfectly embodies Coach’s feminine, free spirit.

Bright, sweet, fruity tart opening. The early stages are definitely leaning to the fruity floral end of the spectrum. The pineapple leads the way and is fantastic. Reminds me of the same note found in Coach Platinum for Men.

The pineapple is flanked by citrus notes, think lemon. The pink pepper is present giving it some further warmth and kick of spice. Fresh opening but the sorbet aspect of the pineapple, keeps Coach Floral feeling cold at the start.

It will quickly turn into a white floral with sweet fruity highlights. The gardenia will actually play the largest role, to my nose. The rose tea is the second strongest and not the actual focus.

Finishes into a fairly creamy white floral with woods and musk. Still sweet, just a pretty far distance from the opening act, but leans more tart to my nose. The shift from fruity/floral to the floral notes leading the way is fairly drastic, but it doesn’t completely change.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Coach Floral does start out with a bit of a powerful punch, but it will settle into something that is slightly above average in terms of how it projects. One thing’s for sure, it’s not a weak fragrance, it just won’t completely take over a room with normal amounts of spraying.

The longevity was also pretty darn good on my skin. During testing, it would stick around for 7-8 hours before completely fading away.

Seasonally, spring and summer. This is really great when it is warm outside and is my favorite from Coach’s women’s line for that purpose. The fruits will probably be out of place in the winter months, but from moderate to higher temperatures, Floral can be a go to.

It’s not particularly a formal fragrance, but it can be worn in most other situations during the summer. Leans more towards a daytime kind of perfume, but it could be utilized at night also. It has a fun attractiveness, rather than being sexy, but it should be pretty easy to pick up complements with Floral.

Overall Impressions of Coach Floral EDP

Do I like this perfume? I do enjoy it quite a bit and it’s the best current option from Coach for summertime wear. Is it super amazing or groundbreaking? No, but it smells nice and is a dynamic fruity floral that gives you plenty of real highlights.

Personally, I love the pineapple note that they’ve been using in Coach fragrances over the past few years. The opening act with the tart citrus and the pineapple is fun and upbeat.

You get that initial freshness, a bit of spice, and then a transformation into a gardenia and rose led scent. Creamy, woody, with the opening act still hanging around.

The performance is good enough for most purposes and it Coach Floral presents you with plenty of opportunity to wear it. Some may not like the tart/sweet aroma or find it to be somewhat basic. However, this one has plenty of mass appeal and is  just very pleasant and easy to wear. Pretty safe as a blind buy.