Perfume Reviews

Guilty Elixir de Parfum Pour Femme by Gucci

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Guilty Elixir de Parfum is a 2023 release from Gucci. Today, I will be reviewing the Pour Femme version of this title, after I’ve already done the men’s cologne. I grabbed samples of each to test them out and put each through its paces.

But, how does Elixir Pour Femme smell? Does this Gucci perfume actually last long? Is it even worth a try?

What does Guilty Elixir Pour Femme Smell Like?

Notes include: violet, mandora, bergamot, wisteria, rose, osmanthus, patchouli, vanilla absolute, tonka bean

Click here to try: Elixir at Nordstrom’s

My Full Wear Review

Guilty Elixir opens up with an interesting mix of citrus, violet, and osmanthus. The osmanthus acts sort of how it does in Flowerbomb, helping to create a fruitiness that has a ‘jammy’ like quality.

It definitely doesn’t come across as being too much in the direction of the orange and bergamot notes.

It is interesting that Guilty Elixir will become more floral dominant. The early stages are a cooling freshness of the wisteria, a bit spicy, and a rather powdery violet note. Yet, it never feels completely heavy on the powder on my skin.

This will shift from the initial sweetness of the opening, to something that is a tad soapier. The floral notes here do have a slight plasticky kind of aroma at times. Kind of strange, but wasn’t that noticeable throughout the wear.

That’s basically what I get for the dry down. A soapy and slightly powdery floral fragrance with a vanilla and tonka bean mix in the base. Not nearly as interesting and a lot of what I was enjoying simply fades away.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

I’d say this is above average with its sillage and projection. Not a super heavy fragrance, as it does have a bit of freshness to it. Yet, it still does have plenty of substance (vanilla, tonka bean, violet) and never feels airy.

The projection will extend pretty far in that first hour. Very noticeable to those around you. It will end up more moderate, let’s say, three to five feet from the skin for a good portion of the total wear.

The longevity here is over 8 hours on my skin. Maybe, it hits 9 hours, but doesn’t go beyond that for me. It’s fine. For the price and the ‘Elixir’ title that they use, I did expect it to venture into the double digit hour territory.

Seasonally, it’s better when it’s a bit chilly out. I think that Elixir would work in the springtime, as well, but the heat and humidity of summer would be too much. Let’s call it autumn through spring, for its range.

If you do enjoy the scent, Guilty Elixir Pour Femme does have the ability to be worn in many scenarios. Maybe not the most formal or sexiest scent out there. Though, it can work as a daily wear for many, and can venture into the nightlife as well.

Overall Impressions of Guilty Elixir Pour Femme

I’m not sure that everyone is going to like this edition. Personally, I think it’s among the better Guilty releases on the women’s side. Which may not be saying all that much, there’s maybe two or three that are quite good (Absolute followed by Intense), and the rest…maybe not.

Not my favorite, but I was pleasantly surprised by what this one had to offer.

The citrus, the wisteria, the jam-like aroma in the opening act. All very nice. That’s the highlight of the wear for me.

It does get a bit boring and uninspired in the dry down. Not nearly as sweet, more of a straightforward and smooth floral/vanilla scent.

And at the price that it’s going for, is another reason for me not to give it a full buy recommendation. Definitely one to try out, if you’re interested, but I’d check it out first.

The performance is at least good enough, even if the rest of the back half, isn’t anything too amazing. I’m not sure this will ever go on discount, but it might be worth waiting for, if you absolutely must have Elixir in your collection.

Opium EDT by Yves Saint Laurent

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Opium EDT was released in 2009. It is of course a follow up to the original classic perfume that was released back in the 1970s by Yves Saint Laurent. But, how does this modern edition stack up? What does it smell like? How long does it last? Is it actually worth a try?

What does YSL Opium EDT Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, bergamot, lily of the valley, jasmine, carnation, vanilla, myrrh, amber, patchouli

Click here to try: Opium EDT

My Full Wear Review

So, I am reviewing the eau de toilette version of Opium which was reworked in 2009. It does smell a lot like what I remember the original, but it’s not going to be exact to what the 1970s version was. Mostly, it’s the same, however.

Anyway, I’m going to judge this one as a standalone since I don’t currently have a bottle of the original edition available to me.

This opens up with a freshness thanks to the citrus top notes, led by the mandarin orange. The spice is there and it’s warm. This will be with you for the entirety of the wear, so if you don’t like it, you won’t enjoy Opium EDT.

Another aspect that I get here early on, is a clean and underlying soapy quality to this blend. Jasmine is already peaking through, along with that stem of the carnation and the top lily of the valley. Jasmine and lily giving it that soap sort of smell.

A bit greenish, not super noticeable unless I press my nose close to the skin. The carnation brings that aspect and the spice too. The clove from the original is absent and it seems the carnation will pick up some of the slack.

I will say, from what I remember of Opium, this version is less intense and seems to be more balanced overall.

The next phase sees the citrus leave entirely from my skin, the myrrh steps up and this becomes about that note and the floral ingredients mostly. I will start to notice more patchouli into the dry down.

It’s sweeter with more of a balsamic type of scent. Resinous, then seemingly morphing into more of a straight amber. Maybe, some of the vanilla influence?

For the rest of the way, the myrrh and carnation will be the main attractions. Jasmine, amber, patchouli, and vanilla are around in varying strengths and decline as it begins to evaporate.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The opening of Opium is still bold with a far reach and a sillage that will leave a trail of scent in your wake. Even as an eau de toilette, this one certainly isn’t weak.

Well above average. However, it will settle closer to the skin

The longevity is very good, but not outstanding. I get 8-9.5 hours of wear from this YSL perfume, depending on the day. For most purposes, that is going to be just fine.

Seasonally, I like Opium EDT in autumn through early springtime. It’s resinous qualities really come alive in the colder weather and it can kind of get messy, if it’s too hot outside.

This can be a daytime or evening type of perfume. I think this would serve as more of a signature scent, now that it’s so different from most other mainstream designer fare, that’s usually much sweeter and fruity.

It’s not going to be for everyone (nowadays), but it’s a fragrance that can work well in a pretty wide variety of situations.

Overall Impressions of Opium

Overall, do I like Opium EDT? I do. I’ve always been a fan of the Opium series, even the Pour Homme edition which I used to wear. Even if this doesn’t 1 to 1 compare to the original Opium, it still has enough of the original’s spirit to be a very nice pickup.

It is a bit simpler, but more approachable than what I remember. Still, it doesn’t have the same sort of aroma that most perfumes do nowadays. It’s a very particular vibe to a certain time period. Which, may or may not be what you want in particular.

I like the myrrh and even the carnation. It’s not usually my favorite flower, but it is one that really used to get put in a lot of fragrances, and it’s always worked well within the Opium blend.

Performance is still quite good. Nothing spectacular, but it does outpace plenty of other EDT’s out on the market.

Opium is one that you should try out before committing to, if you’ve never smelled it. Again, not a scent that’s going to be for everyone. Though, it can be an absolute love for many people, when they do jell with it.

Nomad by Bond No. 9

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Nomad is a perfume released by Bond No. 9 New York back in 2021. I recently bought a sample of it as part of a lot and wanted to test out thing scent, to see what its all about. It’s one of the better looking bottles from the brand, but does the contents inside actually match up to the looks? How does it smell? Is it worth a try?

What does Nomad by Bond No. 9 smell like?

Notes include: quince, blackcurrant, pear, rose, oud, orris, violet leaf, vanilla, amber, sandalwood

Click here to try: Nomad from Bond

nomad bond review

My Full Review

Here’s how Bond describes it: Capturing the free spirit of New York’s dreamy wanderers. A strong, sensual, statement-making oud, with modern fruity notes and luxurious amber.

The opening here is sharp and fresh with a light watery mix coming from the pear and violet leaf notes. Blackcurrant, quince, and rose are kind of a lot to handle all at once. Especially, when they’re amped up to 1000 like they are in Nomad.

Man, this stuff goes on super powerful. Once some of the initial top has burned off, it will be more like a rose water, and much more tolerable.

Oud and rose are going to dominate. On my skin, I get a ton of the oud. I don’t mind it here, even if it isn’t a personal favorite note of mine. I could do without the pairing of it with rose, which has been done countless times by seemingly every designer.

The next phase is a slightly rosy oud with a bit of a powdery orris coming through. Spraying on clothes, I get more powder than on my skin. In either case, it’s only slight.

Nomad is sweeter less sharp, increasingly woody with some sandalwood coming into the picture and an amber base.

That’s basically the tail end of it. Woody, somewhat sweet and rosy, with an amber note having a larger role.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Nomad starts off monstrous with its projection. But, it’ll be quite strong for the rest of the way before declining into a skin scent deep into the wear.

That opening act is massive. Plenty of scent trail left behind, great projection, while not feeling super heavy. The slight aquatic aspect helps it from bogging everything down too much.

Nomad lasts forever on my skin. On a jacket, it’s still projecting a few feet, days after I sprayed it. It’s absolutely awesome with it’s performance. Not sure how long it actually goes on skin, but I’ve easily gotten 13+ hours before I scrubbed it.

Suffice to say, if you enjoy Nomad, you get your money’s worth.

Seasonally, autumn through spring. How deep into springtime, depends on where you live. I wouldn’t want this on, when it gets too hot outside. But, slightly chilly to moderate temperatures is where this Bond seems at its best.

This is also a true unisex. They did a great job a creating balance with appeal for anyone who likes this style of perfume.

It might not be the most versatile scent, due to its strength and the somewhat polarizing nature of oud and rose fragrances. Can be a bit much for the office, when you go beyond a few sprays.

Not super dressy or formal, but Noma has enough substance to be considered well put together. It’d be good for certain nighttime wear, lounges and things like that.

Overall Impressions of Nomad

Overall, do I like Nomad? Really, it’s not for me at all. Not a big rose and oud guy, but designers keep on cranking out these formulas, so I sort of have to review them.

Nomad is a beast, which can be both good and bad, depending on where you land with this scent.

I like the middle and dry down more. It’s somewhat softer and more balanced, without the harshness of the opening act. That’s when you get the best of everything. Still sweet and fruity, but with a fully developed oud taking center stage and some orris powder.

Nomad isn’t going to be a Bond No. 9 that enjoys a wide mass appeal. For some percentage of people, this is going to be perfect for them. Others, will be overwhelmed. I would suggest getting a sample before committing to hundreds of dollars spent, on a full bottle of Nomad.

A few bucks up front can save you from having an expensive paperweight on your shelf, if it turns out that you hate it.

New York Nights by Bond No. 9

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New York Nights is a perfume which has gained a lot of popularity since its release back in 2017. It’s among my favorite Bond No. 9 scents, especially in the unisex part of this brand’s lineup. I bought another sample of Nights in order to finally do a proper review for the site. How does it smell? Does it last long?

What does New York Night Smell Like?

Notes include: gardenia, carnation, jasmine, patchouli, sea notes, sandalwood, caramel, coffee

Click here to try: New York Nights by Bond No.9

My Full Review

The opening here is interesting, as you get notes from every phase of the wear coming through to add their own statement.

To me, what stands out as interesting are: gardenia, aquatic notes, and the caramel. It’s a sweetish blend of flowers, with a smooth and somewhat thick blend of that caramel/coffee accord, and the freshness of sea notes.

Now, the sea notes here aren’t going to give you seaweed smells, like some of the others from Bond No. 9. However, it along with that caramel give you saltiness and just a general sense of freshness.

For some people, the sweetness mixed with the floral top notes, gives them a ‘banana’ or ‘banana bread’ sort of aroma. I get that somewhat, but on my skin New York Nights is much more of a distinct caramel with some roasted coffee.

That being said, that banana effect does pop up for me, from time to time.

Actually, I tend to get more of a spicy kick from the patchouli and carnation notes. This carnation does come across very much like clove here.

As we get into the middle act, Nights will become more of a standard floral. Most of the spice is gone, as are the sea notes. That’s kind of a disappointment, but I still like the result of this scent.

Gardenia and jasmine with sandalwood/patchouli, and a more equal mix of the coffee and caramel notes. The caramel loses some of its ground to its fellow base note.

The end of the line is a general sweetness with indistinct floral notes. Nothing too much stands out for me, at this point. It’s pleasant and wearable, but it all comes together into a mass.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

To me, this has a fairly strong start. It settles into something that is only a bit above average. But, I get good projection when I spray it on clothes and leave the room. I can certainly detect it from afar and it leaves a scent trail when I wear it.

That won’t be the case for the entirety, as Nights will start to be more of an intimate scent. I never find it weak, it just doesn’t have that beast in it.

On my skin, this will last somewhere in the 7-8 hour range. It seems to land more towards the former, rather than the higher number.

Seasonally, I do prefer this one the colder days and nights of the autumn and winter months. More nighttime, as the name suggests. I think it’s fine for most in the spring, also. I’d stay away from massively humid and hot days.

It’s not so heavy that it’s stuck to cold weather only. You can venture a bit with NY Nights.

This one is listed as unisex, as are a lot of others from this brand. It leans feminine, but still quite wearable by almost anyone. If you don’t like the sweeter scents or florals, then, you can probably safely ignore Nights.

Overall Impressions of New York Nights

Overall, do I like New York Nights? Yes, again, it’s one of my favorites from Bond. However, it won’t be for everyone, even if it is a popular perfume.

For some guys, this may be too feminine. For people in general, you might get too much of that banana and lotion kind of smell, and that could also put you off to Nights.

The performance for the price is decent, but definitely not spectacular. If it were cheaper, I’d recommend that people blind buy this one. Since it isn’t, I’d recommend trying it out if you’re really interested. New York Nights could be one that you absolutely love.

For me, the floral is blended very well with the caramel and coffee accord. Those two, along with the sea notes draw me into that opening act. Some jasmine and carnation are around as well, giving this some depth beyond being a one note gardenia perfume.

This is a really good scent for the right person. It’s still quite mass appealing, but there will always be a sizeable contingent that New York Nights just doesn’t mesh well with. For me, it’s a delight.

Belle D’Opium by YSL

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Belle d’Opium is a Yves Saint Laurent perfume that I’ve liked for a long time. However, since it came out back in 2010 and is discontinued, I hadn’t come across any in years. Luckily, I saw a sample for sale online recently, and bought it to do a full review.

How does Belle d’Opium smell? Does it last long? Is it worth tracking down a bottle?

What does Belle d’Opium by YSL Smell Like?

Notes include: Casablanca lily, mandarin, gardenia, incense, pepper, tobacco, peach, rose, amber, patchouli, vanilla, sandalwood

belle d'opium review

My Full Review

Here’s how Yves Saint Laurent describes it: The thrill of bewitching, a new oriental. An overdose of rare and precious ingredients: the narcotic scent of Casablanca Lily blends with spice swirling incense and mysterious overtones of a Nargileh accord. A true olfactory manifesto.

An interesting feature of this perfume is the Nargileh accord. Basically, creating the effect of hookah, with a smokiness, spiciness, and tobacco note. Perhaps, even a flavored smoke with the mandarin, peach, and other fruits.

After that opening act, the next phase is a sweet white floral blend with a decent amount of peach lurking underneath the lily.

While it doesn’t feel as smoky or spicy, as it did at the start. The ‘Nargileh accord’ still does have a presence here. It’s a light tobacco at this point, without as much influence from the incense.

The mood really matches that purple bottle. The fruity blend is feeling pretty jam like, at this point. Almost boozy, with how it can come across on my skin. Just not a hyper-sugary sort of sweetness.

The white floral notes are a tug of war between the lily and the gardenia. Though, I do really like the balance between them. Jasmine, is around.

As we transition, the patchouli note and amber will come out more. It does have a ‘fruitchouli’ perfume smell for a good portion of the wear. I like it, I think that it’s a fine example of the type versus a lot of others out there nowadays.

The tail end for me, is a sweetish blend of more of the lily than gardenia. Amber with sandalwood, less of the patchouli, and perhaps a dab of vanilla to tie it all together.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This one does have some substance. It’s not massive, but it’ll leave a scent trail and can project quite far at times. It’s sort of weird. Belle d’Opium will feel like a strong fragrance, then, be absolutely light at other times.

All in all, it’s above average, but seemingly not capable of blowing the doors off with normal spraying.

The longevity for me is good, but not great by any means. Somewhere in the 7-7.5 hour range, on my skin. At times, you expect this to be more of a beast, but Belle never fully takes on that role.

Seasonally, Belle is built for autumn through early spring. Maybe late spring, if you live in a colder area. This YSL has a good amount of body and a thicker feel without being overly heavy.

Still, enough to it to where the heat and humidity of the summer months wouldn’t be too appealing.

Belle d’Opium is well put together, but not formal. It has a sensual and nightlife kind of vibe mostly, but not super serious or stuffy. A bit more than the usual casual fare, great for certain parties or evenings out for cocktails.

Overall Impressions of Belle d’Opium

Overall, do I like Belle d’Opium? Yes, this is one of my favorite releases from the women’s side of things at YSL. It was kind of a shorter lived fragrance, somewhat forgotten now, but it was a gem.

The opening with the fruits, hookah, and white floral notes is great. I love how the fruit notes come across here and the gardenia and lily play off of one another.

The performance is above average, but not too much so. It’s not exactly a weak point, since that aspect is still quite good, it just could’ve been better.

Is it worth picking up? Since the remaining bottle go for nearly $200 each, as of posting, it probably won’t be worthwhile for most people to get one for themselves. Collectors or just those who want to get deeper into the fragrance hobby, and missed this, could do well with this perfume.