Perfume Reviews

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.

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.

Dylan Turquoise Pour Femme by Versace

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Dylan Turquoise is the follow up to the original Dylan Blue Pour Femme, I guess. It was released in 2020 by Versace, but I’m just now getting around to testing it out. I really didn’t know much of anything about it coming in, so, I got to experience it without any real preconceptions. How does it smell? Does it last? Is it worth a try?

What does Dylan Turquoise Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin essence, lemon, pink pepper, blackcurrant, jasmine, freesia, guava, cedar, vibrant woods, and musk

Click here to try: Dylan Turquoise by Versace

My Full Review

Here’s how Versace describes it: Sensual, young and fresh, the new Dylan Turquoise fragrance balances the effervescent exuberance of zesty mandarin and primofiore lemon with hints of wood and musk. The vibrant notes are complemented with fruity accents of blackcurrant and guava, as well as jasmine and freesia floral tones.

So, right off the bat, Dylan Turquoise comes on with some sharpness. It’s very clean and has a strong burst of citrus and black currant coming through. Add to that, pink pepper and cedar and you’ve got a super fresh and clean type of perfume.

Though, the cedar will really come in later. Less so in the opening.

For some, that’ll be off-putting. For others, it might just be what they’re looking for. It has that summertime appeal with a slightly aquatic kind of vibe. Not entirely oceanic, but Turquoise gives that impression. Watery is probably the best way of describing it.

There is a guava note here which helps with that tropical island/aquatic feeling. The guava is almost as equally present early on as the citrus, but the lemon will fully take over and that note will fade completely.

So, there is a nice little tropical wave that comes on towards the start. Not for long, however. Lemon, orange, and black currant will overpower it.

As it moves forward, I get a fresh and musky aroma with a good deal of freesia (maybe a hint of jasmine). The woods and the lemon note will sit on top of this.

The latter stages aren’t as sharp, with much of the citrus evaporating away. It actually has more of a general fruity sweetness with woods and musk. Not all that complicated of a fragrance and it doesn’t need to be.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, it’s a lighter moderate fragrance. The first hour, will give you a decent scent trail, but it’s pretty light thereafter. Wasn’t a total skin scent, however. I could still detect it, but the bubble it creates is going to stay closer to you.

The longevity is kind of meh. 5-6 hours, maybe, on my skin. You’ll probably need to go heavy with the sprays to truly get performance out of this Versace.

Seasonally, this is spring and summer, all the way. Leaning more towards summer. It’s a clean casual or daily wear type of perfume.

This isn’t one that’s going to be formal or even dominate the nightlife. It’s a fresh and chill perfume, without being overtly sexy.

Overall Impressions of Dylan Turquoise

Overall, do I like Dylan Turquoise? I do kind of like it. I wasn’t amazed or anything, but the scent itself is nice, if you’re into this type of perfume.

It’s not for everyone, though.

That opening is sharp, but once it settles a bit, there are some really nice facets here. I like the guava and its time to shine. It’s got a warm, spicy, and musky undertone to it. Even, a touch of powder, it seems.

The floral notes are light, most of it is going to be freesia.

The freshness is the main event. The woods and the citrus, which just becomes a general sweet fruit smell to me, makes this an easy to wear perfume for the summer months.

The downsides with Dylan Turquoise are basically the performance. The perfume doesn’t last super long, but it didn’t completely quit on my skin either. But, those last few hours are pretty weak.

Dylan Turquoise isn’t going to be universally loved. So, it’s probably best that you test it out, before committing to buying a full bottle.

Flora Gorgeous Gardenia by Gucci

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Gucci Flora is one of its more popular fragrances. So, naturally they brought out a flanker to it, Gorgeous Gardenia. I initially tried this one out, when it was first released, but have come back to it in order to post a full review. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is Gorgeous Gardenia worth a try?

What does Flora Gorgeous Gardenia Smell Like?

Notes include: gardenia, brown sugar, mandarin, red berries, jasmine, frangipani, patchouli, pear blossom

Click here to try: Flora Gorgeous Gardenia by Gucci

My Full Review

Gorgeous Gardenia opens up with a mix of its fruit notes and the brown sugar accord on full display. The pear blossom leads the way, but it is joined by red berries and a bit of orange.

The heart of the fragrance is obviously the namesake gardenia note. Early on however, it will be geared to the sweet freshness of the fruits, and the scent is delightful.

The pear blossom gives this a nice sparkle and with the frangipani and the emergence of the other floral notes, it can even give off a tropical vibe at certain points. The gardenia will take over for the frangipani, but the latter is the floral note I get most earlier in the wear.

The fruitiness will start to burn off, but the scent remains smelling edible with the patchouli and brown sugar notes. Yet, this is when the white floral accord really begins to take over more.

Flora Gorgeous Gardenia remains clean and light, never becoming a heavier gourmand kind of perfume.

The dry down gives me gardenia, a light jasmine, patchouli, and the remains of the brown sugar/pear. The frangipani is gone and the sweetness of everything is more of an impression, than distinct and separate notes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is initially pretty good. There is definitely a scent trail to it and it will project itself nicely off of the skin. Not an absolute monster, but you can tell that it is there and others will notice.

After that initial blast, it does move quickly closer to the skin. Not entirely a ‘skin scent’ for the whole wear, but it’s light. At it’s peak, Gorgeous Gardenia is above average in strength.

The longevity seems to be in the 5-6 hour range. During testing, it was closer to the five hour mark, but it did hit six once. So, it for sure isn’t a massive performer, but also wasn’t a complete let down.

Seasonally, it’s probably at its best in the spring and summer months. Enjoyable to wear when it is warm out, but even in cooler temperatures it still had its charm. Maybe not wear it on bitterly cold days, though.

This Gucci can also work well for any age group. Yes, it has fruits and sugar, but it doesn’t come across as being immature. I think that since it never becomes too thick and cloying, it will have a greater appeal across ages.

Gorgeous Gardenia is a pretty fragrance. Office safe. Good for casual daytime wear. Pretty enough for romantic encounters, but not overtly sexy and begging for attention.

Overall Impressions of Gorgeous Gardenia

Overall, do I like Flora Gorgeous Gardenia? The fragrance itself is really very nice. I love that initial sweetness and the brown sugar plays well off of it all.

It never leans too much to the floral side of things, doesn’t have any stem greenness in it. The fresh white floral fragrance is easy to wear and I even like the gardenia note a lot here, even if it’s not my favorite note.

Really, the main issue is performance. It’s okay, on me at least. However, it certainly would do better with some more power in the equation.

I do think that it is still worthwhile to at least try out. For some, you’d probably still want to buy a bottle because it does smell great. Extremely easy to wear and has such a clean attractiveness.