Perfume Reviews

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.

Lost Cause by Phlur

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Lost Cause is another of the Phlur fragrances that I got with my sample set a few years ago. It’s also one that I haven’t done a proper review of, until today, after finding that set sitting in the closet.

So, let’s correct that error and see what this perfume is all about. How does Lost Cause smell? Perform? Is it worth a buy?

What does Lost Cause Smell Like?

Notes include: cassis leaves, apple, bergamot, rhubarb, freesia, lily of the valley, jasmine, ambergris, vanilla orchid, orris, mate absolute

Click here to try: Lost Cause by Phlur

My Full Review

The opening of Lost Cause has a lot of rhubarb coming through, between it in the citrus, it’s almost like a green/floral Hugo Red for Men, in the opening. Much more tart with the Phlur.

Also, it’s got a clean shampoo-like aroma, that becomes more prominent after the initial phase begins to dissipate. Part of this can be chalked up to an apple note, it’s not really distinct, just a crisp watery aroma.

Green cassis leaves and dew give it a springtime vibe with hints of being an aquatic perfume. 

The cassis play a dual role with that fruitiness and greener qualities.

The next phase features a calmer rhubarb note, that is paired with freesia and lily-of-the-valley. On my skin, I get a lot more of the freesia for the duration of the wear, but the lily and jasmine are also noticeable. A good blend overall.

Yet, this one is still much more of a bright greenish fragrance than a pure floral perfume. That’s going on the the background. I’m still getting the fruitiness and citrus and the leaves pulling things together.

The back half is less sharp to my nose, when the ambergris and vanilla, round of the composition. There’s still the dewy greenish aroma, but it’s creamier and an interesting way to close out things.

Turns out there is also an orris note in here. If I detect much of it, it’s within a blend between it and the vanilla.

Really changed my thoughts on this one as the wear moved on. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this isn’t a heavy scent, it has the aquatic/ozonic sort of lightness to it. But, that initial hour actually has decent projection. Not a massive beast, but I can smell it just fine.

After that, it is more intimate. But again, I have not trouble smelling it on myself. Lost Cause just isn’t a perfume that is going to wallop you with its presence. 

The longevity is also just okay. 6-6.5 hours, on my skin. 

Seasonally, this is a spring and summertime wear. It really works well in this warmer and even more humid weather. I wore it outside the other day and the fragrance came alive.

This is a unisex perfume. There are stretches where it leans more masculine, but then it’ll move towards being more traditionally feminine. Anyone can wear this one, though.

Within the spring and summer season, it does have fantastic versatility. In the daytime, it’s a staple, and at night it can work as well. Not a club beast, but it’s an attractive scent once it’s settled in.

Basically, this is a perfume that is going to serve as a daily wear when it’s warmer out. 

Overall Impressions of Lost Cause

Overall, do I like Lost Cause? I have to say, yes. But, it’s more of a mixed bag for me. I do like this more than Missing Person, for example, which is probably the more popular of the Phlur line.

I’m not thrilled about the opening act, while I really do enjoy rhubarb as a note, and how it is here. There are parts throughout the wear that I’m not exactly enjoying and then I’ll love other parts of this.

The back half, while pretty weak in terms of performance, is fairly awesome in terms of how it smells. 

So, I’ll say a decent opening hour, with a really good rest of the wear. It’s a difficult fragrance to rate for me, but I’m sure this one has people who are crazy about it. Also, I’ve been trending in the positive direction on Lost Cause.

The longevity and performance overall is decent. Again, not a massively projecting or heavy perfume. A lot of the Phlur scents are like that. Keep that in mind, before grabbing your bottle of the stuff.

Apparently, this one is or has already been discontinued. So, if you want to try it out, you’d better act quickly before it starts becoming scarce.

Missing Person by Phlur

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Missing Person became a very popular fragrance on social media in the past few years. I’ve had a sample vial as a part of a Phlur tester set for quite a while. I kind of forgot about it and never did a full review of this perfume.

But, today, I’m going to change that and give this scent a full write up. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is Missing Person worth a buy?

Missing Person Perfume Overview

Notes include: skin musk, bergamot nectar, sheer jasmine, cyclamen, neroli, orange flower, sandalwood, blonde wood, white musk

Click here to try: Missing Person by Phlur

My Full Review

Missing Person opens up light, with a blend of musk, citrus, and floral notes. The bergamot citrus isn’t too heavy or juicy, just a squeeze to break up the hold that the musk has on the composition.

Beyond that, I’m mainly getting the jasmine note out of the floral ingredients. That, and the cyclamen, are what stand out to me. The orange flower/neroli is pretty hidden underneath that tart bergamot.

It’s a somewhat sweet musky aroma, at this point. But, you do get a fresher scent at the start then the powdery clean it will dry down to.

The rest of the development? You will get some woods, soft powdery sandalwood, lots of musk and a clean cozy feeling throughout.

Mainly, it’s about the musk and sandalwood with mostly the remaining jasmine as the discernable note. Everything else, just sort of blends together.

Missing Person isn’t too complicated of a fragrance.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is light. It’s not going to leave a massive scent trail in your wake, nor is it going to blast itself off of your skin.

Yet, I can actually detect it on my skin pretty well and I don’t have to absolutely press my nose up against where I sprayed. But, I think that I have meshed well with this Phlur perfume, because other people report that they cannot really smell anything after a short period of time.

For me, I can get between 5-6 hours of wear from Missing Person. Not amazing, by any means, but basically hits the mark of being average.

Don’t expect a powerhouse scent.

Seasonally, this is a fragrance that can be worn during any time of year. It doesn’t get cloying and isn’t bad in the cold, either.

The versatility is probably its greatest strength. It’s mostly going to serve as a daytime wear, but within that frame you can wear it basically whenever. It’s not the sexiest or an absolute nightlife beast, but if you want to be clean and lowkey, this Phlur can do the job.

Overall Impressions of Phlur Missing Person

Overall, do I like Missing Person by Phlur? I actually do enjoy this one, quite a lot. For a musk driven perfume, it’s extremely wearable and pleasant to have on.

I like the softness here. The sandalwood is great, the light citrus, and the floral mix that is led by jasmine. It’s simple but effective.

Is the performance great? No. For me, it isn’t terrible either. If you want something bold, get something else besides Missing Person.

This is one that can be a staple in one’s collection, but might not completely stand out unless people really get close to you. The performance is somewhat of a problem. I think that it’s ok, but other people get much worse results than I do with this.

So, keep that in mind, if you decide to pick up a bottle.

Angels’ Share Paradis by Kilian

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Angels’ Share, the wildly popular release from Kilian has finally got a proper flanker version that has some significant changes from the original here in 2025, Angels’ Share Paradis.

I bought a decant of this newer Kilian perfume in order to test it out and compare it with my bottle of Angels’ Share. How does it smell? Does Paradis last long? Is it actually worth a buy?

Angels’ Share Paradis Overview

Notes include: raspberry liquor, cognac, praline, tonka bean, Bulgarian rose, moss, oak, sandalwood

Click here to try: Paradis

My Full Review

Angels’ Share Paradis starts things off with a boozier aroma than the original. The cognac and raspberry liquor are really prominent versus the apple and cinnamon kick that you get with the first Kilian release in this series.

So, it’s more alcoholic, sweeter, and doesn’t have the same spiciness.

The next things that I notice, in terms of differences, are the tonka bean and moss notes.

The moss note hear gives Paradis a fresher and woodsy vibe that the original doesn’t have. Now, the oakmoss isn’t a massive note, but it is a persistent one which plays its smaller role well.

The tonka bean also seems like they added to it in this version of Angels’ Share. The more that I wore this one, the more noticeable the tonka bean was, particularly in the middle act of its development.

Also, there is a Bulgarian rose addition to this. Not too distinct, since it does have a lighter sweetness and greenish touches usually. As such, it blends in pretty well in this mix.

The back half of this feels like the original Angels’ Share with some raspberry lingering around and that moss.  Warm, with oak, and an edible gourmand aroma to it.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The performance here is exactly the same that I get with Angels’ Share. Tried both multiple times both together and separate. Noticed no difference.

Maybe you could say that the sillage is a bit lighter thanks to the slight freshness of Paradis. To me, not really. The projection is still quite strong when it opens up and it lasts as a moderate perfume for the rest of the way.

Longevity is also in the 9-13 hour range for me. No increase, but they also didn’t manage to screw this up.

Seasonally, this is still an autumn and winter wear. Have tried it on a warmer day and wasn’t feeling the results. I’d stick with the cooler parts of the year.

Still indeed a unisex and very versatile with it. Mass appealing, but maybe you don’t want to wear a boozy scent to the office. Same rules apply as Angels’ Share.

Overall Impressions of Angels’ Share Paradis

Overall, do I like Angels’ Share Paradis? Yes. However, I don’t like it more than the original and that kind of defeats the purpose of me owning a bottle. Especially, at the elevated price point versus what I can get a refill of Angels’ Share for.

It’s different but not greatly so. Plus, the performance is basically the same as what I already get with the first one.

The raspberry is a nice addition and the moss adds a nice touch to the blend, but I’m not too excited about it versus what I already have a bottle of.

I do think it’s worth trying out, if you liked the original. If you can test it out, these differences might make a bigger impact on your sense of smell than it did mine. Angels’ Share Paradis is a very likeable perfume, still great, but a step behind its predecessor in my opinion.

Personally, I’ve wanted to wear my travel sprayer of Smoking Hot by Kilian versus getting a bottle of Paradis. I would grab a full bottle of that or a refill of the original, before shelling out more money for a raspberry version.