Perfume Reviews

Devotion Intense Pour Femme by D&G

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Devotion Intense is the first follow up in the newer Devotion series by Dolce & Gabbana. This Intense version obviously has a lot of similarities to the eau de parfum, but what about it makes the perfume different and how does it stack up in comparison?

I recently grabbed samples of both of these fragrances in order to test out and review each. What does Devotion Intense smell like? How long does it last? Is it ultimately worth a try?

Devotion Intense Pour Femme Review

Notes include: hazelnut, orange blossom, vanilla

Click here to try: Devotion Intense

My Take

The opening does still share some of the brightness of the original and the citrus, but it’s toned way down. In place of the rummy sort of glaze aroma you get a hazelnut note, giving this a really nice almost roasted nuttiness.

It’s a bit denser, though, still not completely heavy or thick with how it sits on the skin. The orange blossom is also very prominent in comparison to the Devotion EDP, especially at this entry stage.

So, if you take the original formulation ramp up the vanilla and orange blossom while reducing everything else, you get this…with added hazelnut. Earthy, smooth, and again that toasty sort of smell coming off of it. Less like a lemony cake.

Pretty much the same thing throughout the entire wear. Though, its basically just a mixture of the hazelnut, vanilla, and orange blossom. The rest of the original’s DNA seems to fade almost entirely for me.

The ultimate dry down is a very vanilla dominant fragrance with nutty touches and I guess some vague hints of the orange blossom still hanging about.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Devotion Intense is somewhat thicker and heavier feeling than its predecessor. Again though, it  doesn’t actually bog you down or feel completely cloying when you’re wear it.

The projection is actually better, strong without being overwhelming, and not a fragrance that is going to dominate a room with a normal amount of sprays. However, it is still well above average with its reach and scent trail creation.

The longevity here is also a bit better than the EDP. Not by a whole lot, but 9 hours seems to be a comfortable floor for what to expect with Devotion Intense. Maybe a bit further into the 10-ish hour range, but not much beyond that for a peak.

Seasonally, this one is autumn through early springtime. Neither of the first two Devotion releases are built for the warmer weather specifically, but I think that the EDP holds up better than Devotion Intense.

Like EDP, this could be a daily wear for some people. For those who enjoy mainstream designer gourmand scents, Devotion Intense can fit the bill very well.

It’s not a formal fragrance and is more of a cozy kind of wear versus being some kind of sexy club beast. I think it’s put together more maturely than is the EDP. The hazelnut versus the candied citrus, gives it that vibe. Yet, this one still isn’t a formal wear.

Overall Impressions of Devotion Intense

Overall, do I like Devotion Intense? I do. But, I also really enjoyed the original. I think this one is a bit better. If the lemon note in Devotion EDP was too bothersome for you (but you liked the rest), this one should work quite well.

It’s really pretty close in terms of the style, just remixed somewhat. So, I’m not greatly favoring this option versus the original, it’s more of a slight lean towards it.

I do like the glaze effect that it has here in the opening. Sure, not as much of the citrus and it is a darker formula, but it works well. The hazelnut is really most prominent in the front half of the wear, before it turns into a vanilla and orange blossom dominant scent.

As such, comparing this and the Eau de Parfum version, is really going to come down to your preference of style. Sometimes these flanker fragrances are either way worse or way better than their original, this one is more refined, but mostly just an alteration moving away from the candied citrus.

Nonetheless, I like what Dolce & Gabbana are doing with this series. Very mass appealing and crowd pleasing sort of scents, but one of the better current options in this style category.

Devotion Pour Femme by D&G

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Devotion Pour Femme is the first release in what will seemingly be a further long-running series of scents from Dolce & Gabbana. This one came out back in 2023, but I recently received samples of both it, the men’s edition, and the Intense version of this perfume.

So, what does Devotion eau de parfum smell like? Does it last long? Is this D&G perfume actually worth a try?

Devotion EDP Pour Femme Review

Notes include: candied citrus, orange blossom, rum, pana cotta, vanilla

Click here to try: Devotion EDP

My Take

Devotion EDP opens with a sugary candied lemon note, which sits like a glaze mixed with rum on top of a warm cake. 

Initially, the lemon will be the strongest note in the mix, but it does calm down into something that highlights the blend. We have orange blossom as a flower here, but there also seems to be a separate orange note too. Just a zest or peel of orange.

Up top, things are bright and a bit spiced. It does have a slight juicy quality, but again, this is more of a candied or artificial lemon aroma. 

This Dolce & Gabbana perfume is a sweet gourmand and one which isn’t overly complicated. However, there are a few phases.

The next is the blended lemon cake with orange blossom. The spice fades and the vanilla really starts to move in. Paired with the orange blossom and pana cotta, the vanilla sometimes smells powdery, and creates a ‘fluffy’ near marshmallow kind of effect.

The final dry down is mostly a lemony vanilla, with the remnants of the other notes playing the background and keeping the warmer aspects of this fragrance alive.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

While this is a gourmand scent, it isn’t too heavy and actually does have a good deal of freshness to it. It’s light enough, that it never felt cloying to me, but it does also have the projection power to make it never feel weak.

The longevity is also pretty good, just not elite. It will last somewhere around 9 hours or so, on my skin. You get plenty of time with it, but it wasn’t a double digit hours long wear for me.

Seasonally, this one is good to go from autumn through the springtime. I’d probably only avoid wearing it on the hottest days of the year. Outside of that, Devotion will almost certainly work well and without much issue.

This could be a daily wear for some people. For those who love these sorts of delicious and mainstream gourmand scents, this is a good example of that type and very likeable.

It’s not a formal fragrance and is more of a cozy kind of wear versus being some kind of sexy club beast. More delectable versus being sultry and attention grabbing. For most casual or daily wear situations, Devotion EDP probably isn’t going to be too out of place.

Overall Impressions of Devotion Pour Femme

Overall, do I like Devotion EDP? I do. To be fair, I have always enjoyed gourmands, especially scents that have a lemon note mixed with some kind of baked good vibe.

With the lemon note, a lot of people will say that it smells like ‘cleaner’, no matter what perfume that it’s in. I don’t think that’s the case here at all. But, maybe you go with Devotion Intense instead, the citrus influence isn’t as much in that one.

I think that this one gets associated with Burberry Goddess, also. I think I slightly prefer Devotion, but it’s not a strong preference, either way. That has a heavier vanilla influence, even if both of them, greatly rely on that note.

The performance is good for this sort of scent, just nothing amazing. It’s one that can easily slot into a fragrance rotation, because if you like the way it smells, there will be plenty of opportunities to wear it.  Very much a crowd pleaser.

Is it anything too groundbreaking? No, not really. It’s pleasant and has an easy to wear sweet aroma. If that sounds like your type, check this one out. If not, you basically already know what to expect with this one, and can look elsewhere for a perfume.

Alien Goddess Supra Florale by Mugler

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Alien Goddess has been a successful part of the designer’s long-running Alien line of perfumes. Goddess has been spawning newer flanker fairly consistently over the past handful of years, including today’s review subject: Supra Florale. This edition came out in 2023.

I’ve recently been testing out a sample of this scent. How does it smell? Does this Alien Goddess perfume last long? Is it worth a try?

Alien Goddess Supra Florale Review

Notes include: cactus accord, jasmine, everlasting flower absolute, musk, amber, desert rose

Click here to try: Supra Florale

My Take

Here’s how Mugler describes it: Alien Goddess Eau de Parfum Supra Florale turns the signature solar jasmine of the original scent into a monumental, otherworldly supra flower. The new bloom, crafted by principal perfumer Marie Salamagne and master perfumer Nathalie Lorson, symbolizes the augmented femininity embodied by Alien Goddess. More than a scent, this supra-sensorial experience encompasses the future of floral essence, infused with a daring and avant-garde eau de parfum.

This one has sort of a strange aroma up top. It’s a full cactus accord from the prickly pear fruit to the plant itself. So, it’s sort of sweet, greenish, and has a sort of herbal finish to it with that everlasting flower note (immortelle).

Alien Goddess Supra Florale is fresh and has a syrupy sweet combination in this opening act that is interesting and to my nose smells much better a bit away from me versus having it closer.

With that, you’re getting more of the floral notes here, as the name suggests. The jasmine, immortelle, and desert rose. The desert rose can actually tend to smell somewhat like jasmine, so here this Alien Goddess edition really starts to take on a jasmine heavy aroma.

Coming from the original Alien Goddess and even Intense by Mugler, you’ll notice the lack of the coconut water and citrus and general beachy aroma from this one. Yet, it still does manage to come across as like the others, closer to Intense while remaining distinct.

As this one moves along, I get a lot less of the greenish influences here. Jasmine, desert rose, amber, musk, and the remaining prickly pear.

It’s still has a balance between a light sweet syrup, clean freshness, occasionally bordering on creamy, with a rich amber and musk in the base.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Supra Florale is a substantial fragrance, while not being too heavy. You get the freshness to keep things wearable when it’s warm. While also, leaving a nice scent trail and having good ability to project from your skin.

Would probably call it in the upper range of moderate to slightly strong with its reach.

On my skin, I get somewhere in the 8.5-9 hour range. Maybe it can go a little longer than that. The performance presents no issues, so, if you like the scent it’s a good buy.

Seasonally, I would just stay away from the extremes, hot or cold. Outside of that, this can work well in spring and autumn especially, with winter and summer being possibilities depending on the climate of your region.

In terms of the versatility of Supra Florale, it’s probably not going to be one you reach for on formal or dressy occasions. It’s not really a club beast. But, it can fit in well in a lot of scenarios, even while being a laid back sort of gourmand scent.

Overall Impressions of Goddess Supra Florale

Overall, do I like this Mugler scent? I do. I still think that I prefer Intense to Alien Goddess Supra Florale, however. The EDP? It’s neck and neck.

I don’t think that this is an amazing perfume, but it is a good one, that also delivers a worthwhile performance.

The cactus accord is a nice edition, giving Alien Goddess Supra Florale a distinct and fairly memorable aroma, while still fitting into the series’ overall vibe. More desert sands versus beach sands, but still.

The balance is good, I do like it more once some of the greenish influences have softened, but nothing here was offensive. I think that this perfume is worth a try, the changes might be enough if you didn’t like the other editions, and I think if you did enjoy those, this will work just fine too.

Lipstick Rose by Frederic Malle

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Lipstick Rose is one of the Frederic Malle fragrances that I had yet to try throughout all of the years that I’ve been running this site.

It’s a perfume that was released back in 2000, so it’s no new by any means, but we might as well get into what makes this one so well-loved. Lipstick Rose was designed by Ralf Schwieger.

What does it smell like? How long does it last? Is it really worth a try?

Lipstick Rose Review

Notes include: litchi, raspberry, galbanum, grapefruit, lemon, iris, rose, heliotrope, clove, amber, leather, musk, cedar, and more

Click here to try: Lipstick Rose by Frederic Malle

My Take

Right away, you can tell that this Schwieger creation is going to live up to its name. The lipstick like aroma of the perfume is apparent, as is the well-blended rose note.

What I wasn’t expecting here was the lightness of this scent, especially early. I didn’t check the notes until later, but the fruitiness while subdued, is doing a lot of the work of helping to bring out the greenish and slightly dewy smell at the start.

Litchi is the strongest of the lot to my nose. However, it’s not ever dominating. The fruit here are just part of the mix and aren’t making themselves known with a sugary sweetness or tart presentation. Even the citrus, is just a faint hint, but it makes the opening sparkle.

Underneath that, galbanum is very prominent on my skin for a while. Greenish, woodsy, earthy, and slightly bitter. It’s playing off that somewhat dirty red rose, the iris, and lily of the valley. The latter, will gradually be replaced by heliotrope in the middle of the wear.

Galbanum does bring out the musk note more here. But, we will begin to shift away from the sparkling greenish opening further into the lipstick scent that we were promised. I’m also getting violet in the mix.

The powder really increases, while this Frederic Malle scent retains that lightness and freshness. It sort of reminds me of L’Homme L’eau by Prada, in that respect, but this is a more complicated fragrance.

The dry down is a powdery lipstick with vanilla, some amber, and a vague woody and green finish to it. The rose and iris are more distinct, as the other floral notes aside from some remaining heliotrope have fallen away.

It’s sweeter to me, still not majorly, and slightly warm and waxy in the finish. It does so while keeping that clean brightness to some degree.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This fragrance is pretty moderate with how it projects and the scent trail that it leaves in your wake. Lipstick Rose isn’t a heavy scent, but it’s not airy with how it presents either.

I always notice that I had it on and never had to press my nose up against the skin in order to detect it. Closer to the upper range of moderate than anything and not a complete beast with it either.

The longevity is actually really solid. I get somewhere around 8.5 hours on my skin from this fragrance. Again not elite, but you’ll get a full workday’s use out of it.

Seasonally, this is one that can fit in almost year round. It’s light enough for the spring and more mild days of summer, while also being substantial enough for when it gets cooler.

I would probably avoid it at the extremes of winter and summer, but you’re good outside of that.

It’s a very versatile perfume to wear too. While not inherently ‘sexy’ or a night club beast, Lipstick Rose can fit in just about anywhere else. It’s dressed up, attractive, without coming off as overly serious.

Casual, daily wear, or potential signature scent for the right person.

Overall Impressions of Lipstick Rose

Overall, do I like this fragrance? Yes, I think that it is a really great perfume of this type. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if it sounds like you’d enjoy it, Lipstick Rose is one you should definitely check out.

I think the opening act is great. The mix of fruits playing off of the floral notes gives this one balance. It doesn’t have to stray too far into green stem territory or have a singular tone with the lipstick and rose theme.

That is there, but this Malle perfume develops quite a bit from that initial spray. It doesn’t ever lose me and I enjoyed the ride, even if this is a very feminine fragrance. Sure, I won’t buy a bottle for myself, though I can enjoy this sample for what it is.

The performance is good, not extreme or elite, but Lipstick Rose does its job well.

I don’t think that this is too challenging to wear or anything like that, but some people really don’t vibe with lipstick perfumes, even if they like the idea of it. That and the price itself, will probably prevent this from being a blind buy for most people.

However, this is actually is a great offering from this line for those interested.

Eilish No. 2 by Billie Eilish

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Eilish No. 2 is the follow up fragrance to the first Billie Eilish perfume release. It was then followed by a third entry into the series, each of which has nothing to do with the other in terms of how they smell. It was released in 2022.

Anyway, I finally got some samples of this woody perfume and have been testing it out recently. How does this Eilish scent smell? How long does it last? Is it worth a buy?

Eilish 2 by Billie Eilish Overview

Notes include: bergamot, apple blossom, wild poppy flower, black pepper, papyrus, palo santo, ebony wood

Click here to try: Eilish No. 2

My Full Review

Eilish 2 opens with a sharp hit of black pepper that’s brightened by bergamot’s subtle citrus scent. Apple blossom brings a bit of sweetness to the initial burst.

The florals stay pretty understated throughout, you’ll pick up traces here and there, but they never take center stage in this blend. You just get different facets of them at different times.

What really drives this fragrance is the palo santo wood running through from start to finish. Early on, papyrus kicks in with extra dryness and spice. The whole thing feels warm, grounded, and carries this gentle smoky quality.

What’s interesting is how Eilish 2 develops this slightly humid, almost dewy character as it moves into the heart and dry down phases. That’s from the poppy flower note, which is described as being ‘wet poppy flower’ by the brand.

The latter stages of the wear are much more woody and warm, versus floral and spicy. The sap and resinous qualities really come through and the composition will dry out versus what it was earlier.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Eilish 2 isn’t a heavy fragrance. It’s substantial and noticeable, but more airy than the first one and not as dense. It’s a moderate in terms of how it projects, it will leave a nice scent trail, but never really hits some insane level.

Longevity wise, this one is also pretty decent, just not great. I’ve been getting around 7 hours of wear from this perfume. Maybe an extra half an hour beyond that.

Eilish 2 is mainly for the autumn and winter months. It can venture into the spring, but I wouldn’t wear it out, when it gets too warm.

This Billie Eilish perfume is also much more unisex than the first one, which was a sweeter gourmand. This one can be worn by anyone and some would consider this to be much more traditionally masculine.

While it’s not a formal fragrance or one that is particularly sexy, it does have a wide use case to wear around. Eilish 2 could be a signature fragrance for the right person and it will fit in pretty much anywhere outside of a few exceptions.

Overall Impressions of Eilish No. 2

Overall, do I like this distinct sequel fragrance? I do enjoy it somewhat. The dry down is my favorite part, but it does have some interesting facets along the way.

Now, this second Eilish release isn’t going to be everyone’s favorite and the reaction to it seems pretty split. A spicy, smoky, and dry woody blend isn’t going to appeal to everyone…even if it is technically more unisex compared to the first release.

Still, even with its fairly unique presentation, I still think that this one falls short of being anything truly special. If it fits your style, it is an inexpensive pickup that should work rather well.

The performance is also a bit above average, but not by much.

The peppery start can be somewhat off-putting, but I do like the palo santo and ebony wood notes, particularly in the second half of this scent. It’s not too powerful, but it sits nicely on the skin.