Perfume Reviews

Kate Spade New York EDP

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Kate Spade New York EDP is a perfume that was released back in 2020. It really wasn’t on my radar for a long time, but when I had the opportunity to get a hold of a sample, I made sure to grab it. I have been testing it out on and off over the past few months, in order to post my full review. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does Kate Spade New York EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: strawberry, rose, ambroxan, cashmeran, freesia, citrus

Click here to try: Kate Spade New York

My Full Review

Here’s how the brand describes it: Sparkling, joyful, sensual and feminine, the Kate Spade New York fragrance is a bright, colorful blend of fruits and flowers including wild strawberry and rose essence with alluring hints of ambrox and cashmeran.

When I first received a sample of this perfume, I really wasn’t in any sort of rush to try it out. Though, I must say, I’m pleasantly surprised with what I got from Kate Spade New York.

The strawberry is the main attraction in the early stage, especially. Very nice and more of a naturalistic sort of strawberry aroma than something completely candy-like. But, there is still a mixed drink aspect to this with the citrus notes.

So, leaning natural, but somewhere in between that and a strawberry flavoring.

Bergamot and I think there is some grapefruit coming through as well. These support players really help to make the strawberry pop after first spraying. Plus, this doesn’t ever stray too tart to my nose, more sweetish without overdoing it.

The rose essence isn’t too heavy in the mix. So, if you’re looking for a rose-based scent, this won’t be it. More of a background player early on, and definitely loses some ground to the freesia, which adds a light watery vibe to the composition.

Also, that dewy aroma does give it a touch of light greenish smell, after the initial fruity overload subsides.

This will be led by the strawberry note for the duration. Ambroxan gives it that synthetic amber finish and the woodiness of the cashmeran becomes more pronounced, as it enters the final stage.

So: strawberry and the remaining citrus, cashmeran, ambroxan, and the general floral impression that is left.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this one opens up with a strong punch and an ability to leave a trail. Though, it will moderate quite a bit.

To me, it never weakens entirely and is fairly solid during its complete cycle. It just doesn’t maintain that initial burst caused by the fruity notes.

It will project well. Maybe around 7 feet at the max, more 3-4 foot range, for much of the wear.

On me, this seems to stick around for 6-7 hours. That last hour is faint, but New York is still there. It’s not a workhorse or a monster performer, but pretty decent on the whole.

Seasonally, the uplifting fruitiness makes this a star in the spring and summer months. Really sits well in the warmer air and is just pleasant to be around. Maybe out of place in the autumn and winter, however.

This is geared toward a younger woman’s style. It’s a nice daily wear. Not completely immature, mind you, but teens and women in their 20s would do fine with this one.

Very attractive and pretty, than anything like a ‘sexy’ nightlife perfume. A playful fruity perfume, that isn’t an overly sweet or cloying mess. It’s got style, but remains fun.

Overall Impressions of Kate Spade New York

Overall, do I like Kate Spade New York? I do. It’s not a super amazing perfume, but I like it and its rather simple profile.

The style is very much like Burberry Her, while smelling fairly different and better, for that matter. I like the pairing of the strawberry and citrus notes. With the floral notes, ambroxan, and casmeran you get a good balance…while still getting a fruiter perfume.

The performance is good enough for what it is. A daily wear for the warmer months, that is pleasing and not going to break the bank. It never felt like a weak perfume, while wearing it.

It’s worth checking out, if this sounds like it might be your style. Nothing groundbreaking, just one that is well-executed, and enjoyable.

Paris-Riviera by Chanel

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Les Eaux de Chanel is a newer series of fragrances from the famous French design house. I’ve tested out the first five from the line and have been posting my reviews of each. Today, it is going to be my thoughts on Paris-Riviera. How does it smell? How long does it last? Is it worth a try?

What does Paris-Riviera Smell Like?

Notes include: orange, neroli, petitgrain, sandalwood, jasmine, musk, benzoin

Click here to try: Paris-Riviera by Chanel

My Full Review

Here’s how Chanel describes it: A fresh, solar fragrance that evokes the carefree charm of the French Riviera, where Gabrielle Chanel built her villa, La Pausa.

Paris-Riviera starts off with a burst of zesty citrus and neroli. The citrus is mostly made up of orange, but I do detect a bit of the bergamot note, the designer seems to use in other perfumes.

The zest of that citrus is joined by the dominant neroli note and petitgrain. Both of which have their own citrus aromas and the green freshness of the petitgrain also plays a big role at this early stage.

This one isn’t sweet. The fragrance does have more of a bitter orange aroma, especially during the latter part that the citrus sticks around.

Paris-Riviera does remind me a lot of the array of Tom Ford summertime fragrances, that utilize neroli. So, could serve as an alternative to those who are fans of those scents.

It’s not too heavy or sharp, but has a fresh and clean energetic kind of aroma to it. The jasmine note does come in for me, taking over the neroli as the heavier weighting, but early it’s about the neroli. Though, it’s never too lopsided either way.

The jasmine will be joined by a general muskiness and benzoin note, which gives this some resinous highlights during the dry down. Paris-Riviera becomes less about zesty citrus and more of a soapy and indeed drier perfume.

Jasmine, sandalwood, neroli, and that benzoin/muskiness. Sandalwood really seems to make a late push with this and Riviera ends up being a woody floral…not wholly the citrus floral, that started things out.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this one is pretty moderate. Probably on the lighter side of the moderate spectrum. Though, I think that it has a fairly strong peak in the beginning. With normal sprays, you should get a little scent trail from it.

On the whole, I found it to be just fine during testing. Noticeable, while note being particularly in your face about it.

Paris-Riviera seems to hit the 4-6 foot mark, in terms of how far it will project off of my skin. Not bad, but this isn’t a powerhouse.

The longevity is in the 6-7 hour range. Again, not spectacular, but solid and pretty useful for this style of perfume. Really about what the other Les Eaux fragrances give you in terms of hours of wear.

Seasonally, this is spring and summer all the way. Clean, fresh, and upbeat with bright aroma in the early stages.

It does have pretty good versatility within that seasonal context. It’s much much more of a daytime sort of fragrance. Casual, semi-formal, or work is fine.

It’s a pleasant aroma, but not something that is going to be wildly attractive or sexy. Not really a Chanel that is built for the nightlife.

Overall Impressions of Paris-Riviera

Overall, do I like Paris-Riviera? I do like it. It’s not a love for me, but I find it to be an enjoyable enough perfume. As of now, I’d rank it as my fourth favorite from the Les Eaux de Chanel line of scents.

I thought that I might like this one more than I actually do, going into the testing. It’s a fine fragrance, probably a bit too expensive based on what you get with Chanel prices. Likeable and certainly nothing offensive even amid the periods of greater intensity.

The opening might be a mixed back for some people. It can have a cleaner-like aroma, but I don’t find it to be too off-putting. The citrus is the usual Chanel fare, with the petitgrain and neroli too, it might overwhelm some folks.

However, the dry down is particularly nice. Soft and low key. But, the sandalwood and benzoin mixing with a more balanced floral presentation works well for this perfume.

Good performance for a summer scent, just don’t expect anything amazing. That being said, this is a good Chanel perfume, just not a top tier option. So, you may not want to pay their prices just to own it.

Paris-Riviera isn’t a must have, but certainly worth a try, if this sounds like it could fit your personal style.

Voce Viva Intensa by Valentino

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Voce Viva is a fairly popular release from Valentino, even if it was one which seems to get mixed reviews from those who have tried it. Either way, it was successful enough for the designer to follow it up with 2021’s, Voce Viva Intensa. I got a sample sprayer of the perfume with one of my orders a few months back and have tested it out for a full review. How does it smell? How long does it last? Is it worth a try?

What does Voce Viva Intensa Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, mandarin orange, jasmine, Bourbon vanilla, orange blossom, Crystal moss

Click here to try: Voce Viva Intensa

voce viva intense review

My Full Review

Before I get into my own thoughts about this fragrance, let’s see how Valentino describes it: A feminine, opulent bouquet of Orange Blossom amplified by Jasmin Absolute, twisted with addictive Crystal Moss and intensified with Bourbon Vanilla. VOCE VIVA INTENSA Eau de Parfum celebrates the sound of your voice in the scent of your fragrance.

Immediately upon spraying, I can tell that this is going to be a flanker of Voce Viva that sticks close to the original, and doesn’t completely change everything like some designers do.

It opens up with the same citrus accord as the original. But, I think the opening here comes across as smoother and more refined. The original had a ginger kick, that Intensa does not.

Also, the orange blossom is dominant from the get go. On my skin, the original Voce Viva started strong with the orange blossom and then shifted to gardenia. With Intensa, the orange blossom will reign supreme for most of the duration (until vanilla takes it over).

Yes, there is a jasmine here, just its role isn’t to the same degree as the gardenia in the previous version.

Once the citrus tones down, you will get a very vanilla soaked orange blossom aroma. It’s clean and enjoyable, with a sweetish finish. This stage is actually when I get the most jasmine from this Valentino scent.

The final dry down is vanilla, with less of a distinct orange blossom (more of a generic white floral smell), with some moss in the base.

Voce Viva Intensa doesn’t have the same level of moss or muskiness for that matter. The vanilla and orange blossom get amped up. Close to the original, but retains a distinction from that fragrance.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this one starts off pretty strong and has a higher peak than the original Voce Viva. On the whole, it’s certainly above average with how it projects off of the skin and leaves a scent trail in your wake.

However, it’s not super heavy or powerful. Solid, better than its predecessor, and on the upper end of what could be considered moderate. Capable of being over-sprayed, but fine with normal application.

The longevity is also a bit better. I get 8-9.5 hours with this on my skin. Usually, more towards the 8 hour end of things, but I did get a full 9.5 during one testing run. For a mass appealing designer wear, Voce Viva Intensa is pretty darn good.

This one is also best in the autumn or winter months, while being able to venture into the springtime. In that respect, it’s exactly like the original. I’d still avoid the heat and humidity of late spring and summer with this.

I still don’t consider this one to be particularly sexy. However, I think that it is more attractive and has a slightly better use case for evening wear versus the original. Both of them lean more toward being daily wears, but this has somewhat more appeal.

Overall Impressions of Voce Viva Intensa

Overall, do I like Voce Viva Intensa? I do. I think that I enjoyed the original more than a lot of others seemed to. I also think that Intensa is a slightly better version of this formula.

It’s not far and away better, but I like its smoothness, and taking out of the gardenia in exchange for a lighter jasmine playing a supporting role.

The vanilla and orange blossom are great together. No, it’s not really all that unique, but it is an effective and attractive pairing. The spice is pretty much absent and I don’t get the same muskiness in the latter stages.

The performance is also better than the original. Not by much, but you will get another 1-2 hours of wear and a more powerful scent trail developing. Both versions are quite good with how they perform, anyhow.

This is a really good release from Valentino. Expect a white floral fragrance, with heavy orange blossom influence, and a lot of vanilla. If that doesn’t sound appealing, I’d go elsewhere. If it does, this is a perfume to check out.

Popped Cherry by Dua Brand

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Going through Lost Cherry comparable fragrances, I had to grab a bottle of Dua Brand’s Popped Cherry version, for myself. I really liked the Tom Ford fragrance, in terms of smell, but the performance wasn’t great for the high-end price point. So, how does Popped stack up against Lost Cherry? How long does it last? Is it worth a try?

What does Popped Cherry by Dua Smell Like?

Notes include: Black Cherry, Bitter Almond, Cherry Liqueur, Griotte Syrup, Jasmine Sambac, Turkish Rose, Peru Balsam, Haitian Vetiver, Cedarwood, Roasted Tonka, and Sandalwood

Click here to try: Popped Cherry by Dua

My Full Review

Popped Cherry opens with that familiar warmth and sweet cherry liqueur aroma. With the original Tom Ford version, I get a mix of more naturalistic cherry and the liqueur, but this one is much more the latter.

Popped is syrupy and sweeter than Lost ever seems to get. There is the powdery element here as well, but it is much more toned down than in what they’re trying to go for here.

To me, the original Lost Cherry had sort of a Dr. Pepper Cherry-like aroma at times, that this one really doesn’t.

So, the main differences are: this is sweeter, less powdery, smokier/balsamic, and less of a natural cherry touch.

The dry down has a nice use of the almond note, tonka bean, sandalwood, and the balsam. All of which combine and compliment the cherry main event.

Dark and boozy, with syrup-soaked woody base.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is a bit stronger at its peak and lasts longer at its moderate state than does the Tom Ford. Still, it doesn’t have a huge projection off of the skin, moderate for a few hours and then lighter for the rest of the way.

The longevity is also better than what you get with Lost Cherry. Popped will last like 8-10 hours for me, most occasions. Sometimes, it will last on the skin for a few hours longer than that.

That being said, the projection is skin level on that point, and you’re not going to have a huge amount that late into the wear.

Seasonally, I’d stick to autumn and winter. It will be great in colder weather, probably up to something more temperate. Anything hotter, I’m not wearing it.

It is a unisex fragrance, but has more of a feminine quality. I mean, one of its strongest comparable scents is a Guerlain perfume for women.

Popped, like the Tom Ford does have a certain sexiness to it. It does grab attention when initially sprayed and is very appealing up close, when it settles. Great for nightlife and casual situations, but not too out of place for something like the workplace.

Overall Impressions of Popped Cherry

Overall, do I like this fragrance? I do. It captures most of what you’re going to get with Lost Cherry for a fraction of the price. Which is kind of what we’re going for.

Is it 100 percent the same? No, but it captures the vast majority of it, and has better performance than the Tom Ford perfume.

I’ve enjoyed wearing it, when it hasn’t been too warm outside or during the evening. I like that it has pretty much the same almond and I actually like the extra smokiness to it. I do wish, there was the same variety of cherry notes to the same level as in the Ford scent.

Also, the powdery aroma from the original is missed, to some extent. However, I’m really not going to complain about saving a few hundred dollars, and getting to have a delicious cherry perfume to wear.

Wild Rose by Coach

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Wild Rose is a newer release from Coach for 2022. I was able to get a hold of a sample of this perfume and give it a try recently. I really didn’t know anything about it going in, just got it along with some other fragrances I ordered. How does this smell? How long does it last? Is it even worth a try?

What does Coach Wild Rose Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, red currant, rose, jasmine, ambroxan, moss, tonka bean

Click here to try: Wild Rose from Coach

My Full Review

Here’s how Coach describes it: Feel the possibility. Wild Rose is our new scent inspired by the free-spirited beauty of a lush wildflower meadow.

Wild Rose opens up sparkling and fruity, with a nice bergamot top that is paired with a red currant note. The tart sweetness of the red currant is a good pairing with the more dominant citrus ingredient early on.

I was expecting this one to have a lot more rose than it does, based on the name. However, while it is there the rose isn’t a powerhouse in this one. It’s not really a deep red rose, either.

Actually early on, it smells like a mix of Delina and Burberry Her. Like if you sprayed Delina once to take some of the tartness away from a double spray of Her.

The same sort of soft rose and fruity blend you get with Delina, just with a creamy tonka bean instead of the light powder of the Parfums de Marly scent. Different note weightings, but a similar experience.

The dry down is where it really shifts from a Delina type of smell and more towards the Her and Baccarat Rouge 540 kind of finish.

The jasmine note becomes more prominent. Plus, ambroxan and a dry mossy note really gives you aspects of both of those perfumes. Jasmine, amber, and woods is found in BR 540.

But, with Wild Rose you still have a fruity top and more of a floral presence than that Kurkdjian perfume.

That’s about what you get with Coach Wild Rose: amber, fruits, light floral, and a bit of moss thrown in.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this one opens up with an above average ability to project itself and leave a trail. The bergamot and citrus sitting on top of an ambroxan base, gives Wild Rose an initial boost.

Thereafter, it is more of a moderate scent. It will project off of the skin well and people close by will notice it. This Coach just isn’t a total powerhouse.

Seasonally, it is pretty much a year round wear. Though, I’d avoid the extremes of cold and heat. The ambroxan can get kind of weird when it’s hot outside and I imagine it can be too sharp in the freezing temperatures.

Other than that, you’d be fine.

This does have good versatility. It’s attractive enough to be worn out at night or on a date. But, low key enough that it can be worn casually or as a daily fragrance. Not necessarily the most formal scent, but one should get plenty of use out of it.

Also, age range seems to be wide open. Not too girlish or too mature for younger ladies.

Overall Impressions of Wild Rose

Overall, do I like Wild Rose? Yes, while it isn’t wholly original it is quite an attractive fragrance. It reminds me of a lot of different popular scents, but doesn’t blindly copy any one of them and actually smells good.

I like the opening with the citrus and red currant. It favors Delina in some ways and is a better smelling perfume than Burberry Her. Very good energy and just a pleasant aroma to smell.

The performance is solid. It isn’t an amazing marathon run or a complete sillage beast, but I think that you get your money’s worth out of Wild Rose.

The dry down is very reminiscent of Burberry Her and BR 540, just with better fruity notes than the former, and without the saffron and cedar of the latter. Sure, every company seems to be creating this style of perfume nowadays, but Coach did well with this.

This is a perfume to check out. It doesn’t have any real weaknesses and seems to do everything you’d want to a reasonable degree.