Best Perfumes for Women

Cloud 2.0 Intense by Ariana Grande

by

Cloud Intense (aka Cloud 2.0) was released in 2021 as a follow up to the super popular Ariana Grande perfume of the same name. Bottles were kind of scarce to come by for a while, with the limited release, but I grabbed a decant from eBay in order to test it out. How does Cloud 2.0 smell? Does it last longer? Is it actually worth the buy?

What does Cloud Intense Smell Like?

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

Click here to try: Ariana Grande Cloud 2.0 Intense Eau De Parfum Ulta Exclusive 3.4 Ounce 

My Full Review

Cloud 2.0 opens up very similar to the original. Though, less of the sparkling pear note is present in this new formulation. It is bright, sweet, and quite clean with its aroma.

The ambroxan is present, after a few minutes. That is a noticeable difference with 2.0, how much play the ambroxan gets here. The lavender also feels smoother and stronger here, on my skin. The lavender in the first Cloud could come across as pretty rough/harsh, but it’s quite nice in this one.

When we get to the second act, I do notice more of a difference. Cloud Intense is creamier and less of a fluffy ‘cotton candy’ scent. While the lavender starts off stronger, it settles more into the background versus its predecessor.

The whipped cream, praline, vanilla, and coconut play a stronger role during this period. I do like this slight change in the structure. Smooth and pleasant.

Finally, we get to the dry down stage. The Cloud 2.0 dry down is basically the original with more wood and musk. Much of those sweeter and creamier notes have begun to evaporate and that is what you’re left with.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Cloud Intense does indeed open up with a powerful sillage, not too much more than the original, but it’s noticeable. It packs a punch early on, though, it will quickly quiet down and reside most of the wear rather close to the skin. It’ll project 3-4 feet, it seems like.

On my skin, I get 7-7.5 hours of wear from Cloud 2.0. It goes for longer than the original formula, maybe an hour more versus what I get with that.

An improvement? Yes, but definitely didn’t come across as a powerhouse in comparison or even versus the Kurkdjian fragrances.

Seasonally, the autumn through the springtime is when Cloud 2.0 will shine. I like it better in a bit cooler temperatures, but it is fine so long as it isn’t crazy hot outside.

This is more of a daily wear that can venture into the nighttime. It isn’t a formal fragrance and has more of a playful character without being too girly. Cloud Intense isn’t strictly a teenager’s perfume, but is probably going to be worn in much more casual situations.

Overall Impressions of Cloud Intense

Overall, do I like Cloud Intense? I do. Though, I’m not a huge fan of the original Cloud, I did like this 2.0 a bit better. It has a deeper profile and an overall smoothness in comparison.

Update: Cloud Pink is a bit better than both, in my opinion. But, this still has the best performance.

The lavender note is preferable in the 2.0 version. It gets a boost, isn’t as harsh, and then plays more of a background role. I do like the creamier and more voluminous style that Cloud Intense has, much to the credit of the ambroxan and vanilla.

That being said, it isn’t miles better. If you already have Cloud, there’s no real reason to get this, unless you are a collector. Especially, considering the prices for this newer version. Maybe they will come down in the future, but just get the original and save yourself some money.

Sure, they’re not exactly the same perfume, just close enough, and not a significant enough difference to justify paying that much more for a bottle. If the performance was way better, it might be a different story. It’s really not a wide gap in that category, in my experience.

I do like Cloud Intense, however. It is the better of the two Cloud fragrances, but still not among my favorite of the Ariana Grande lineup.

Apogée by Louis Vuitton

by

The Louis Vuitton review train keeps chugging along. Today, I am going to cover a 2016 entry from the women’s line, Apogée. This has been a best seller among the LV perfumes, but is it actually worth it? Does it smell good? How long does it last? When should it be worn?

What does Apogée by Louis Vuitton smell like?

notes include: lily-of-the-valley, guaiac wood, sandalwood, jasmine, magnolia, rose, citrus

My Full review

How Louis Vuitton describes this perfume: The lily-of-the-valley ascends to blissful heights
Some getaways let us reconnect with ourselves by placing us before the immensity of nature. The chance to commune with the planet feels like a renaissance.

Apogée opens up with a nice dose of lily-of-the-valley and a bright citrus accord that is highlighted by tangerine. The opening has a very zesty quality and I completely dig how this LV perfume starts things off.

The layer right underneath that is inhabited mostly by the jasmine, at this stage. I get some magnolia, just a hint, and no rose during the opening.

Apogée will be a white floral for much of the wear, with a strong citrus accord, and sitting on guaiac wood. Again, this is the highlight of the entire experience for me.

Then, the citrus goes away. The rose also emerges and the other non-lily floral notes fade into the background. It’s a lily-lead musky floral sitting on top of a base of sandalwood. So, the final dry down sees the citrus, guaiac, and jasmine all weaken significantly.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Apogée does have a strong sillage at first. That citrus accord hits pretty darn hard up top. I applied some to a shirt and could pick it up from across the room.

However, after that initial burst, it’s pretty middle of the road. You’ll know that the fragrance is there, but it’s not going to venture too far from the skin thereafter. It comes out of the gate swinging, but doesn’t sustain that high level of power.

During testing, I got somewhere around 7.5 hours of wear. This isn’t a scent that’s going to break any records, but it does provide a solid performance. I never felt that Apogée was a weak scent or something that was going to disappoint.

Apogée does have the strength of being extremely versatile. It’s not a complete bomb or something that will be really offensive to those around you. No, it does have an easygoing presentation and can certainly be crowd pleasing.

Seasonally, this is going to be mostly the spring and summer months. From temperate weather to much warmer temperatures, Apogée can find a place in your lineup, if you so choose.

More of a daily wear. It’s more pleasant than sexy. More of a clean, no-brainer grab than something that’s going to be a nightlife powerhouse. This Vuitton scent has enough class to be worn dressed up, while not being stuffy.

Overall Impressions of Apogée

I really like the citrus and lily opening act. Very pleasant and uplifting. While the citrus can obviously be pretty sharp, I think it adds a dynamic energy to this fragrance. It pairs very well with the lily note and the early floral balance is near perfection.

The rest of the way? Just didn’t hold up for me.

The musky floral and woods dry down is nice, not crazy good. Overall, it’s an above average fragrance with some real enjoyable moments for the first hour or two. That back half really drags things down.

Is it worth the price of admission? Probably not for most folks. It is a very popular entry from this line, but you’d probably want to try before committing to a full bottle.

Not because it’s a bad fragrance or anything weird. Rather, to see if you’d want to spend that kind of cash on something this simple and not super unique. Or, just see if you’re one who still enjoys the dry down.

6 Best Smelling Elizabeth Taylor Perfumes

by

Elizabeth Taylor was a famous actress of the silver screen for decades before she moved into the world of fragrances. While celebrity scents come and go, Elizabeth’s perfumes have stood the test of time and continue to be best sellers many years later.

For this list, I have selected six scents from the collection which could be considered the best of the bunch. As always, I have linked each out to its page on Amazon for more information and ease of purchase.

What are the Best Elizabeth Taylor Perfumes?

Best Winter Fragrance

Passion By Elizabeth Taylor For Women, Eau De Toilette Spray, 2.5-Ounce
Passion is warm, slightly spicy, leathery, and musky. It is a fairly intense oriental/woodsy type of perfume that has been popular for decades now. I’m referring to modern bottles, the original releases, had much more intensity.

It opens up softer, with some floral highlights. Then, Passion moves forward into a woodsy, dry, and somewhat smoky phase. The spicier notes, come through an hour or so, into the wear.

Leathery and dry woods, with spice, and a lingering sweetness from the opening act. Passion is one for the colder months, all the way. Sure, it’s lost a step over the years, but it still has plenty of power and depth.

Most Popular Liz Taylor Scent

White Diamonds By Elizabeth Taylor For Women, Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.3-Ounce
The most famous of all of the scents by Elizabeth Taylor, White Diamonds has become an absolutely classic fragrance. Notes include: sandalwood, tuberose, lily, jasmine, oakmoss, amber, patchouli.

This is the best seller, but is White Diamonds, the best overall fragrance? No, I don’t think so. However, it is a classic composition of great floral notes and aldehydes, with a more complex character than many other perfumes in this price range.

Sometimes, people seem to bash this one based on its popularity alone. I think the powerful opening, can put people off also. Though, I will say as it develops, you get a full bouquet effect with a really nice lily note and the tuberose being the highlights.

Again, this is an old school sort of scent. So, it might not have the full appeal for some modern wearers. Think of it as being in the same vein as Chanel No. 5, not necessarily smelling exactly the same, but having a very similar style.

Top Newer Liz Taylor Perfume

White Diamonds Legacy– Obviously, there haven’t been a ton of new releases from this line. However, there has been some activity as a brand in the past few years.

One of the two using the White Diamonds moniker, is Legacy. Which is actually a great little perfume that has flown somewhat under the radar.

Legacy is a more modern white floral than its namesake White Diamonds. This one has gardenia, orange blossom, and jasmine leading the floral heart. Gardenia is the most noticeable of them.

But, you do get a musky and jasmine play in the dry down. Early on, the citrus notes are joined by a slight spice. Then, we get a great creaminess and a light sweetness throughout.

Not the same as the original, but quite a similar structure, just updated to today’s tastes.

Best Summer Scent

Diamonds and Sapphires by Elizabeth Taylor for Women, Eau De Toilette Spray, 1.7-Ounce
This one is a blend of fruit and floral notes. It is a scent which smells rather green/floral/melon that is both versatile and moderate.

The melon note with the lily and peach, gives Diamonds and Sapphires a watery-almost aquatic juiciness to the composition. The next phase brings on the floral array, consisting of: jasmine, ylang-ylang, and heliotrope.

Diamonds and Sapphires is a clean and fresh (near soapy) perfume. It isn’t as bold or in your face as Passion or White Diamonds. If you want, something lighter and versatile, this is a good pick.

Balanced Fruity Floral

Forever Elizabeth by Elizabeth Taylor for Women, Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.3-Ounce
Forever Elizabeth is a floral perfume with fruity notes that initially take center stage before the rest of the scent develops.

Notes include: jasmine, apple, musk, amber, dewberry, and blackberry.

This one switches away from the pure floral ingredients or boldness of the others, to deliver a delicious, and easy to wear perfume. The opening act gives you plenty of that crisp and water apple and the berry notes, which are really highlights.

That opening then shifts into a light musky floral fragrance, with the fruitier notes playing more of a supporting role. This is a great all around scent, that isn’t super heavy, and can be worn casually or to the office.

Best Fresh Fragrance

Violet Eyes by Elizabeth Taylor, Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.3-Ounce
Violet Eyes is a bit deceptive in its name, as the main floral notes are rose, peony, and jasmine. Not violet.

However, it is a good choice for cooler weather with its note of cedar taking center stage, later in the wear.

This is a sweet blend of peach and the floral notes up top. The cedar really powers through and you have a fresh semi-aquatic kind of aroma. The floral notes, then make a comeback to take over towards the end.

This one is a great performer, with a clean and pleasant profile. At the price point, Violet Eyes is a steal.

Baccarat Rouge 540 vs Extrait

by

Baccarat Rouge has become a ridiculously popular perfume since its release back in 2015. That hype level has gone into the stratosphere, since BR 540 Extrait was brought to market. Now, there is an even greater concentrate and at a much higher price point. But, the question is, which is actually better? Is Extrait worth the high cost? Which smells better? What’s the difference? Which lasts longer?

Tale of the Tape: BR 540 vs. Extrait 

Baccarat Rouge 540

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

Click here to try: Buy from Saks

Baccarat Rouge 540 Extrait

Notes include: almond, saffron, cedar, jasmine, musk, ambergris

Click here to try: Buy from Saks Fifth Avenue

Read my review: BR 540 Extrait

Opening

Baccarat Rouge 540 kicks things off with the saffron and jasmine note splitting duties. It’s clean, sweet, and has that lemony tinge to it from the hedione (jasmine).

Underneath that, is the amber, fir and cedar notes giving this a fresh and resinous quality early on…which will become greater as it develops.

BR 540 EDP has a lighter airy fluffiness to it, that I don’t really get with Extrait.

BR 540 Extrait opens up with a bittersweet mix of the almond and saffron note. It’s smooth with a slight metallic aroma from the saffron, but the almond is the stronger of the two.

It’s going to dominate early on and is what really helps to set Extrait apart from the original EDP.

The jasmine is weaker early on, but you’ll get more of the watery sweetness later in the wear. To me, this one has less of the sort of ‘cotton candy’ aroma, it’s more of an impression that hangs in the air. Also, it smells spicier underneath.

Which is better?

It’s a pretty close contest, but I think that Extrait gets the edge for me. I don’t believe that it is leaps and bounds better. However, I enjoy the almond and heavier saffron up top versus the original. That one is great too, just Extrait is a bit better.

Edge: Extrait

Projection

I don’t find either of these to be absolute monsters in terms of their sillage. I think that they both open up strong, but quickly settle, closer to the skin.

In the case of BR 540 EDP, it goes from powerful, to sitting in the 2-3 foot range with its projection within an hour. But, it does stick around, just as a softer scent bubble.

Extrait, starts even stronger, but it will end up being a lighter moderate scent. Of course, you could just go crazy with the sprays and really make it pop for much longer.

Extrait wins this category, since it has the higher peak and keeps a higher level for the duration.

Edge: Extrait

Longevity

I will say, that both of these perfumes have fantastic longevity. With EDP, it’s usually a wider range of outcomes, on my skin. Usually, around 10 hours.

Though, that could be 8 and other times it hangs around for 12. It’s never been bad, Baccarat Rouge can sometimes just fall off a bit earlier for some reason.

With Extrait, the longevity is amazing. I’m not sure exactly when it finally fades away, but I’ve routinely detected on my skin 12-14 hours later.

At some point, you’ve got to shower, but this version of BR 540 will probably still be there when you do. The performance is extreme.

Edge: Extrait

Versatility

There’s not really a difference to me between them. They are both very versatile, but best used outside of the summer heat. They can work for folks young or old. Can venture into the nightlife and will get complements in the daytime, as well.

While each is unisex, they both do lean feminine. Though, plenty of men can and will be fine wearing a Baccarat Rouge perfume.

This one is a tie.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I’m not someone who is a massive fan of either of these fragrances. The hype really got insane for the past few years.

I like them both a lot, but you don’t absolutely need to have either of them. So, I can be fairly unbiased between these perfumes, because I don’t have a desire to own a full bottle of either.

I like Baccarat Rouge EDP. It’s sweet, has a lovely airy aroma that catches your nose, with a smooth and candy-like aroma without being a hyper-sugary mess. The amber and resin from the fir is great, I love saffron, and the cedar freshness helps tie it all together.

Performance wise, you can’t go wrong with the standard EDP.

That being said, Extrait catches my attention more. I enjoy the almond and the greater weighting of the saffron early on. It being my favorite note in the blend, it’s something that I really appreciated.

Extrait de Parfum is more substantial, has a better use of woods, and is somehow thicker without the same level of resinous qualities. The dry down between the two is pretty close in terms of how they smell.

It’s just that Extrait does a better job with its performance and the mix is slightly different at that stage.

If I had to buy one, I’d pony up the money for Extrait. If you’ve never smelled either, I would acquire samples of each before committing to a full bottle, as it is a substantial investment. Or even consider, finding a cheaper smell-a-like version.

Winner: Baccarat Rouge 540 Extrait de Parfum

Turbulences by Louis Vuitton

by

Still working my way through review write ups of the Louis Vuitton collection of fragrances. The number is beginning to narrow down, but of course the brand has now released some more that I’ll have to get to. Anyway, today’s selection is from their women’s collection and was brought out in 2016, Turbulences. What does it smell like? How long does it last? Is it worth a try?

Key Takeaways

  • Tuberose-centric perfume
  • Light leather and a nice jasmine note
  • Good performance, not great
  • Discontinued

What does Turbulences by Louis Vuitton Smell Like?

Notes include: tuberose, leather, jasmine, may rose, musk, sandalwood

My Full Wear Review

Let’s see how Louis Vuitton describes it: An extreme tuberose to stir the heart. Discovering faraway lands can sometimes feel like soaring among the clouds. Inspired by a feeling akin to love at first sight, the perfume Turbulences pays tribute to the most narcotic of flowers: the tuberose.

Turbulences opens up with a strong tuberose note and jasmine, creating an aroma with some green-ish qualities. To me, I get plenty of musk in the opening act. Much more so than in the latter stages.

From there it will start to become a creamier and smoother experience. The Louis Vuitton leather note is introduced, after the initial wave passes.

The tuberose note begins to take more of the share from the jasmine. At this point, the jasmine feels like an impression of generic white floral notes. The perfume is somewhat dewy at times. The style of the floral accord is very much like a better version of Gucci Bloom, to my nose.

The dry down is mostly about the tuberose with some additional jasmine hanging around. The leather is going to still hold down the second spot and it is my favorite aspect of this perfume. It pairs very well with the floral notes, like it does with the jasmine in Ombre Leather.

Beyond that, the musk is in its much lighter state, and there is a dry woody/creaminess from the underlying sandalwood in the base. Turbulences is not all that complicated.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage is pretty moderate overall. For the first hour or two, Turbulences will project nicely off the skin, just not dominate the room. It gets lighter, but is never a complete skin scent for me until it is time for it to evaporate.

Not huge, but a very solid performer all around.

On my skin, I get 8-9 hour of wear from this Vuitton perfume. Again, not a marathon runner by any means. It never quit early on me during testing. At this price, I’d usually want to hit double digit hours of wear, but it is pretty close to that.

Seasonally, anytime outside of the summer or late spring. It isn’t super heavy, but it has enough of a body to make it feel a bit off in the heat. In a more temperate climate, Turbulences really gets to shine. Even better, when it is chilly.

I don’t find this to be sexy. More of a cozy and fragrance to enjoy personally. It can be worn safely to work and during the daytime. Just not a club beast or romantic wear. It is a well put together white floral, with a semi-formal vibe.

Probably going to work best for women in their mid-20s and up. Can be unisex, but definitely leans more towards the feminine and that’s how it was marketed, also.

Overall Impressions of Turbulences

Very good, if you’re a tuberose fan. Pleasant enough, if not. I like it well enough, but I’m not crazy about it, since I’m not a major lover of white floral perfumes. It seems like you’d have to be, if you’re going to fork over this much for Turbulences.

It’s pretty simple in its presentation, but does what it was designed for well. Not one of my personal favorites from Louis Vuitton, but well worth a shot, if this is your style of perfume.

The quality of the tuberose is definitely there and I did enjoy the pairing with the leather note. Performance is good and it’s not too unusual to prevent it from being a blind buy.

Louis Vuitton has discontinued this fragrance. So, you’ll probably have to pick up one of the remaining bottles on eBay or something along those lines.