11 Best Smelling Guerlain Perfumes for Women

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Guerlain is a French design house which has been around for seemingly ever. They have a ton of fragrances for both men and women, many of which are simply fantastic.

Seeing as they have had decades upon decades to put out work, it is no wonder that any attempted list to capture the best would be incomplete no matter what.

However, for this one I have selected eleven of what I feel are the best smelling perfumes, that are available today, representing different styles and levels of popularity.

Favorite Ladies Fragrances from Guerlain

Most Popular

Mon Guerlain Eau de Parfum–  Mon Guerlain has become a best seller since its release over the past few years. The EDP opens up as a very sweet and warm fragrance, in a similar vein to both, Black Opium and BonBon.

As it moves along, it moves away from those two, but the opening are quite a bit alike.

What Mon Guerlain ultimately becomes, is a blend of vanilla, lavender, and jasmine notes. The perfume is very smooth and a sweet floral. It isn’t too heavy of a fragrance or overly complicated.

Mon Guerlain is a scent that is great for daily wear and obviously enjoys a mass appeal. Even with its moderate sillage, this is one that can indeed last a full work day and go beyond. Great balance and an easy choice. Mon Guerlain Review

Sunny, Salty Ylang-Ylang

Embruns d’Ylang by Guerlain– This one is a high-end ylang-ylang fragrance from Guerlain. The company itself, seems to be the only one selling full bottles right now. With the price, you’d do well to track down a sample on eBay or somewhere else.

That being said, Embruns d’Ylang is a bright and coastal yellow floral fragrance. It has a beachy sea salt ‘spray’ note that gives the perfume a nice contrast with how it plays off of the ylang-ylang note.

I have only smelled this once, but I didn’t find it to be all that salty. Beautiful, just not heavy on that aspect.

It’s a bit sweet, but that saltiness seems to pair with the wood, upon first applying. Then, some jasmine. The ylang-ylang feels pretty thick in this and it has a rather strong sillage, at least early. Still, I’d try before buying to see if it vibes with you.

Springtime Floral 

Champs Elysees By Guerlain Eau-de-toilette Spray, 1.7-Ounce– A moderate floral fragrance featuring notes of mimosa, black currant, lilac, and almond wood. A green powdery type of scent reminiscent of a spring day.

It opens up with soft and sweet fruits, with that light almond note poking through the aroma. Then, the floral notes being to emerge, mainly lilac at first. Mimosa follows with lily-of-the-valley, before the whole thing blends together in a beautiful oneness.

Leans more floral than fruity, but it does have enough balance, to actually enjoy the fruit notes. Champs Elysees has undergone a few incarnations, over the years, and this latest iteration has been a well-loved edition for over 20 years now.

The Orange Blend

Aqua Allegoria Nerolia Bianca– One of my newer entries to the list, from the Guerlain Aqua Allegoria collection. The orange blossom note here actually shares the spotlight with neroli and bitter orange notes.

Very orangey and each seems to get its own time to shine in the top weighted spot.

Petitgrain joins the mix, but the overall scent is pretty darn linear with how it presents. Bitter orange early, orange blossom middle, and neroli is probably the most prominent during the ending stages of Nerolia Bianca.

This has a great freshness of orange and has a definite greenish aroma in the beginning. The soapiness isn’t to the same degree as some of the others on the list. Nice performance for this style of scent, also.

A Classic Guerlain Perfume

Samsara By Guerlain For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4 Ounces– One of the most popular choices on this list. Violet, vanilla, sandalwood, rose, and iris. Floral, woodsy, and slightly spicy. Oriental in its aroma. Feminine floral with sandalwood.

Intoxicating jasmine and iris create that familiar powdery aroma with a creamy finish. It’s been around for decades, so, there are different formulations at this point…which yield slightly different results.

Samsara still opens with it’s fruity notes of peach and citrus, leading the way, and its light floral ingredients just beginning to come through.

That phase is short-lived and the flowers really take on a stronger role, with ylang-ylang, iris, rose, and jasmine being the major players.

Finally, the rest of the wear becomes sweeter and warmer, with tonka bean, vanilla, and our sandalwood note. Powdery, fresh, warm, creamy, and sweet. Beyond that, a fantastic performer, that will last for many hours.

Creamy Sweet White Floral

L’instant De Guerlain By Guerlain For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 2.7 Ounces– Another floral that is sweetened by a honey note. Definitely a feminine scent for daily wear. L’Instant de Guerlain opens up with its fruity notes soaked in a honey sweetness.

Light citrus and apple, which soon fades in favor of the floral ingredients, iris and magnolia. It is super smooth and warm, at times powdery from the iris, but more about the honey and magnolia. Plus, a creamy vanilla note, which only adds to the appeal.

Coconut Awesome

Aqua Allegoria Coconut Fizz by Guerlain– A unique smelling coconut dominant perfume, that seems to be getting tougher to track down in stores, nowadays. Yet, it is a great option from Guerlain.

Rather than the usual vanilla creaminess getting paired with coconut. This one has a fresher and watery element to it. Bergamot, coconut fruit, coconut water, and what I think are melon notes? Something smelling sort of like watermelon, at least.

Light and airy, freesia delivers the floral aspect and some of the watery elements to this one. It doesn’t go too aquatic for that long and you do get some of the usual creaminess between the coconut and later tonka bean in the base.

I imagine this one will be pretty expensive soon. I wouldn’t pay a very high price for a bottle as it becomes scarce, but if you can find one at a lower cost, it can be worthwhile to pick up.

Bold Smoky Classic

Guerlain Shalimar Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 3 Ounce– An absolute classic of a scent. Shalimar is an exotic blend of vanilla, citrus, rose, jasmine, leather, and musk. It’s got a nice bit of citrus, that floats around in the smokiness of incense, and plays well off of the leather note.

The citrus is pretty strong up front, but then the smoky, vanilla, and leather trio will move in and push the fruits aside.

The EDP is still my favorite. I like Parfum Initial, also. EDT is good, but not to the same level as those two.

At times, you will get more of a powdery feel from Shalimar, then, the smoky and warmth with sweet vanilla. It’s been around forever, still appreciated, and still a great performer.

There have been many flankers of Shalimar, that have been released over the years, but I have to give the original its due. Shalimar EDP review

Powdery Berry Scent

Insolence By Guerlain For Women, Eau De Toilette Spray, 1.6-Ounce Bottle– A sweet blend of juicy berries and floral notes like violet, iris, and orange blossom. Insolence is long lasting and has a pronounced powdery finish, as is to be expected, when violet and iris get together.

Nonetheless, it isn’t a stuffy or overly-heavy fragrance, the raspberry and other berry notes keep things dynamic. Towards the end, there is a light musk, and a great sandalwood note at the base. This is a great floral fruity wear, rather simple, but delightful.

 

Pear Delight

Pera Granita– Pera is another one that I’ve tried and enjoyed from the Aqua Allegoria series from Guerlain. And, I’m not even a huge fan of pear as a note.

It starts off with a host of citrus note. Lemon, bergamot, and grapefruit. Those notes will have more power than the pear, in the very opening of the scent.

It’s a sour/tart beginning, but it will become sweeter rather quickly. Sparkling pear, jasmine, and cedar notes will be the main attraction. The tail end is the pear, musk, and floral notes coming through.

Not super complicated, but a really nice wear for the spring and summer months. Bits of spice and greenish aspects are also hear, but plenty enjoy with the pear alone.

Best Woodsy Perfume

Mitsouko by Guerlain 75ml 2.5oz EDP Spray– An earthy/woodsy type of scent which dates back to 1919. This is another classic, which has been somewhat modernized, over time.  Has a bit of spice up top and some sweetness provided by peach. More of a mature scent.

The oakmoss and vetiver, are the real stars of the show, providing a fresh woodsy dryness to the wear. As it dries down further the spices, including cinnamon, really support the woodsy notes well.

Hints of floral ingredients, such as rose, have their time in focus before they recede back into the mix.

Nevertheless, even with updating, Mitsouko is still going to be a niche wear for many who aren’t used to the older styles. It is a big time performer, with a loud sillage, that can take a while to settle in.

Cruz del Sur II by Xerjoff

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Cruz del Sur II is a tropical based fragrance by the high end designer, Xerjoff. This is a scent I was wanting to try for a while now, so I tested it out and have collected my thoughts on it. How does it smell? How long does it last? Is this perfume actually worth a try?

What does Cruz del Sur II Smell Like?

Notes include: mango, pineapple, apple blossom, musk, vetiver, cedar, floral notes, milk, violet leaf, and more

Click here to try: Cruz del Sur II

My Full Review

Here’s how Xerjoff describes this scent: a luxuriant journey into the tropical rainforests of South America. Characterised by the fresh and fruity top notes of mango, pineapple and apple blossom, this exotic scent opens into a blossoming heart of green leaves and floral bouquet.

Cruz del Sur II is a fragrance that I have wanted to test out for quite a while. I was hoping to find another good tropical and unisex perfume to use during the summer months and Xerjoff seemed like a brand to have a good one.

I will say, this wasn’t as unisex as I’d hoped. Definitely more of a traditionally women’s fragrance. Leans way more towards that end.

I also purchased a 10mL sprayer of Desire II by Dua, which is their inspired by scent of Cruz del Sur. Yes, it’s like 95% the same, so get that one for a cheaper price.

Anyway, on to how it smells. Cruz del Sur II opens with it’s tropical fruits on full display. Mango is going to be the strongest here, so, know that before you decide to buy.

But, the other fruits sort of combine into more of a amalgamation of aromas. What this smells like to me is a glass of orange juice infused with mango juice. Kind of sharp, but nice enough.

However, that fruit juice cocktail is then spiked with milk. Coming into testing, I was thinking that this would just be a creamy finish, much like Sunset Fantasy by Britney Spears. Just a unisex and more tropical fruit version. That Britney note is ‘frothed milk’.

Nope, it’s actually the smell of milk. Not terrible, put kind of weird, and I’m not too enthralled by Cruz II in its early stages.

But, this does begin to shift into something that is less milky and almost a vanilla/powdery undertone to it. Maybe more like a milkshake and less like a glass of milk, is a way to put it.

The orange juice like smell kind of fades. The mango comes into its own. You have some musk and non-distinct floral notes that probably give this that slight bit of powder, that I am picking up on.

Outside of that, there is really only a little bit of wood popping through. Mango, the fruits toned down, the milky/vanilla/powder, and some musk.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, you do get a bold start here, nice scent trail, and a projection that emanates from the skin. This will diminish over the span of between 1-2 hours. Yet, for most of the wear this is solidly above average and not just an intimate scent bubble. 

The longevity is pretty good here. It goes over 8 hours on my skin, maybe up to 9 hours at its best. It’s solid and it doesn’t just fall off quickly. 

Seasonally, this is mostly a summer scent, and the tail end of springtime. A mango infused milky aroma, doesn’t really do much for you in the dead of winter.

This is more of a fun and casual wear. It’s not formal, not really sexy, just playful and can be pleasant to be around. A well put together fruity aroma, that has energy and a delicious kind of quality to it.

Not the most versatile perfume out there, but still has its uses.

 

 

Overall Impressions of Cruz del Sur II

Overall, do I like Cruz del Sur II? I like the dry down aspect of it. The opening isn’t terrible, it just feels kind of off. The mango is nice, the mix of the guava and other notes, less so. That milk? Not for me.

The performance is good and this is a scent that has plenty of fans who love that tropical vibe. I myself, enjoy tropical scents quite a lot. I’m disappointed that this wasn’t really all that unisex and am not enthralled with the fragrance itself. It still has its charms, though.

Is it blind buy worthy? No. Actually, as I said the comparable ‘Desire II’ by Dua smells nearly identical to Cruz del Sur II. As such, it makes way more sense to save your money and get that instead, if you really want to try out this type of mango mix. Performance on that, is actually better too.

14 Sexiest Colognes for Men

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So, you’re looking for the right seductive cologne to wear out to bars or on dates? Well, there’s an almost endless line of men’s fragrances, which could potentially fit the bill.

It would just take a bunch of time and testing to figure out which parfum or eau de toilette, actually seem to attract the ladies, or at least make them take notice.

Fear not, I’ve done the leg work for you. On this site, I’ve reviewed and field-tested hundreds of scents for guys (and ladies). This list isn’t guess work, these are scents that not only I find to be incredibly attractive, but have gotten called sexy by women time and time again.

Plus, there’s a fragrance to fit pretty much any style or taste out there. So, if you’re looking for a gift for your boyfriend or husband, you should be good to go.

What are the Sexiest Smelling Fragrances for Men?

The Refined Classic

Christian Dior Dior Homme Intense Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 1.7 Ounce– The opening minutes of Dior Homme Intense, are probably my favorite ever from any cologne (for sure top 3). While I do, very slightly prefer wearing the original Dior Homme, I think this one has a bit more sex appeal.

Cedar and vetiver notes lead the way to be paired with a powdery iris floral. Then, a cacao note comes along to give Dior Intense, a gourmand sensibility.

It’s almost like powdered chocolate, in my mind, at one point during the wear. The name suggests it will be loud but it’s not overly so and the longevity of this fragrance is absolutely great.

Dior Homme Intense both on its own and when used with the original has gotten me a lot of female interest and just basic complements, even from Uber drivers taking me to the bar. This one has become a classic already, it smells great, and is quite refined. My Full Dior Intense Review

Valentino Leather Floral

Valentino Uomo FOR MEN by Valentino – 3.4 oz EDT Spray– The Uomo line from Valentino has a lot of overlap with the Dior fragrances listed above.

It starts off with a juicy and slightly sour bergamot that is paired with gianduja cream (smells like hazelnut), along with some myrtle. Cedar, floral, with leather highlights.

This one was kind of more toward Dior Homme, but also has aspects of Intense, while doing its own thing. It’s attractive and will get attention, even if it doesn’t have a super strong sillage. Gorgeous stuff. Valentino Uomo Review

Delicious Extreme

Tom Ford Noir Extreme Men Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce– Noir Extreme is one that I’ve always enjoyed and never got a full bottle of. However, I recently grabbed another sample to retry this Tom Ford cologne, and immediately ordered a gift set.

Noir Extreme is warm, sexy, and delicious. It is led by an accord of kulfi, a type of Indian dessert similar to ice cream. Cardamom, saffron, nutmeg, and pistachio give this one an initial spiciness of the warmth of amber.

Then, it dries down into something with a lovely creamy/milky aroma to it that is an absolute joy to wear and be around. Performance is actually better than I remember it, but I still like to give it an extra spray or two. Noir Extreme Review

noir extreme ford

Still Draws Attention

Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit De L’homme Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.3-Ounce– La Nuit de L’homme is a long time staple in the fragrance game. The reason? It smells awesome and people always seem to react well toward it.

Sexy? Yes, it’s been a date night cologne for me off and on, over the years. The performance isn’t as good as it used to be. But, you can just spray more, since the cost usually isn’t bad.

Now, the secret here really comes with the cardamom note. That with the citrus bergamot early on sets the stage. Then, you get a great powdery and woodsy finish, which just smells classy.

It’s a permanent best seller. La Nuit Review

Rum-Soaked Spice

Bvlgari Man in Black Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce– So, Blvgari’s Man in Black, isn’t always thought of when it comes to seductive sort of fragrances; but it most certainly is one from my experience.

It’s not a super intense bomb or one that lasts all night (roughly 4-6 hours), but that’s more than enough for when I use it.

Man in Black has become for me, a nightlife wear on cooler evenings. Why? Because there is a certain percentage of women, who go nuts for this scent. Not kidding. I’ve had multiple random women stop me at a bar and just flat out tell me how sexy I smell.

I’ve also worn it on a few dates and pretty much been mauled by my companion, while repeating how much they love my cologne. At times, this has been that mythical ‘panty dropper’, scent that often gets talked about on fragrance forums and YouTube videos.

So, while it’s not universally as popular as some of the other scents on this list, Bvlgari’s dark and boozy fragrance can do work when out in the field. It starts off with rum and cinnamon spices that is tempered by a smooth leather note. Man in Black Full Review

Sweet Apple, Tobacco, Spice

Paco Rabanne 1 Million Prive Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce– When I wrote my initial review of Prive, I theorized that this would be one that would get noticed while wearing it out. Many wears later, I can confirm my suspicions.

1 Million Prive opens with cinnamon spice and the familiar fruity appeal of crisp apple. It’s always kind of reminded me of cinnamon applesauce, in that regard.

Then, notes of myrrh of tobacco are added, and I think that this is what separates this one from it’s Paco Rabanne brethren. The dry down period I get the cinnamon note and the sweet tobacco, as the main attractions.

Not a brash or loud as the original. However, Prive isn’t weak, and I consistently get it to last for 10 or so hours with no problem. I wore this a lot last winter and will probably do so again, this time around.

Sweet Vanilla Apple Luxury

Parfums de Marly Parfums de Marly Layton by parfums de marly for men – 4.2 Ounce edp spray, 4.2 Ounce– Apple and vanilla are some common notes found in the sweeter sexy fragrances. They always seem to work pretty well in almost anything.

I really enjoy the crisp apple note that is found in Layton. It has a more naturalistic aroma to it versus the more candy-like type.

Layton is delicious and works well on the skin. It is long-lasting, but again, this one is really sweet. A bit spicy, with creaminess from sandalwood and vanilla. Been a complement machine for me, though. My Layton Review

Luxury Tobacco 

PARFUMS de MARLY Herod, 4.2 fl. oz.– Herod is one of the best fragrances from the luxury Parfums de Marly brand, and I’d say, probably the sexiest of the lot (although there are plenty of contenders…Oajan, also comes to mind).

I’ve said in my initial review of this one, that it has similarities to the aforementioned Man in Black, and colognes like Pure Havane or Burberry London.

The tobacco note found in Herod, is utterly amazing. Playing off of that are spices and a sweet vanilla note. So, like Man in Black, we have cinnamon spice but also a dark pepper note.

It’s spicy but smooth and there is a smoky aroma provided by incense, which permeates that composition. It dries down into a rich and resinous cologne, that is captivating and sexy.

Unisex Cognac Love

Angels’ Share at Sephora– Kilian’s Angels’ Share has become one of my personal favorite fragrances ever. Wearing it over the winter, has gotten me a ton of complements, especially in the first two hours after spraying.

Cognac, tonka bean, and oak are the stars early on. The cognac has a fruity/apple aroma that is divine, blended with a baked good scent of cinnamon and praline.

Yes, this is a unisex perfume and might not appeal to everyone’s tastes. Though, it is super popular. But, women especially seem drawn to this one. In the cold confines of a skating rink, for example, I probably got 4 complements about Angels’ Share.

Long lasting and gourmand type of sexy. Angels’ Share Review

Dark Aquatic

Giorgio Armani Aqua di Gio Profumo, 4.2 Fluid Ounce– Acqua di Gio Profumo is a cologne that performs very well in the warmer weather. To me, this one is a summer scent through and through.

Although, it’s not entirely out of place during the rest of the year. Profumo is a salty aquatic, who’s marine profile, has a citrus lead from the bergamot note.

What I really liked about ADG Profumo is how it is a darker oceanic cologne, like a deep dive into the sea. Profumo is refreshing and spicy. What sets is apart from other scents in its category, is the incense note which provides smoky elements that blends very well with the citrus notes.

This one is both a highly attractive complement getter, while also having the versatility of being fine for everyday wear, or in casual situations. ADG Profumo Review

Become the Most Wanted

Azzaro The Most Wanted Eau de Parfum Intense | Cologne for Men 1.7 fl oz– I wasn’t too high on the Wanted line, based on the first release. But, they’ve only gotten better, and The Most Wanted is a great release.

Yes, this is going to be more for younger guys (Try The Most Wanted Parfum, for something a bit more mature). But, it is certainly a sexy fragrance to break out for the nighttime.

Cardamom leads the way, this one is a bit lemony. It is joined by caramel and bourbon vanilla to sweeten things up.  Warm, sweet, and a bit spicy. Very nice performance and one that can absolutely attract those around you. The Most Wanted Review

The Sauvage Entry

Sauvage by Dior Eau de Parfum Spray 100ml– Yes, you can go with the original EDT, as it is the best seller. Everyone has it and it does get complements.

However, when Dior released the EDP version of Sauvage and changed up the composition, everything I disliked about the EDT went away. This one is sexier, better performing, and better all around. (Sauvage Elixir is pricier and spicier, but also a great choice).

The ambroxan led opening is smoother and the citric harshness is gone. It feels more refined, clean, and more pleasant to wear.

It is joined by a dark and somewhat smoky vanilla note and a much quieter lavender, which add to the clean creaminess of Sauvage EDP. The Sichuan pepper is also toned down and joined by lighter spices like anise and nutmeg.

It also lasts for over 10 hours and can be worn in a variety of climates in situations. This one is sort of an all-purpose fragrance. Really great job from Dior on this variant of a popular scent. Dior Sauvage EDP Review

The Other Kilian Option

Straight To Heaven Extreme by Kilian/1.6 oz.– You could also go with the original Straight to Heaven, which is awesome. But, Extreme is the better of the two.

Rum, is a star here. Vanilla, dried fruits, and patchouli. Sweet, but mainly boozy with a masculine woody finish. Throw in some earthiness with the patchouli and you’ve got a nightlife winner.

Expensive, but it lives up to the extreme title, as the projection is awesome. It gets smoother as it settles, less of a rummy punch to it. Sexy. Always got me complements when I bought and wore samples of it.

The One

The One EDP by D&G– I revisited or tried the entirety of Dolce & Gabbana’s ‘The One’ line, this year. The eau de parfum version is far and away the best of the bunch and a fragrance that I had forgotten how much I loved.

Naturally, I ordered a full bottle for myself. Man, does this stuff work. Best-seller? Sure. Crowd pleaser? Absolutely. Still, it is a nighttime gem and an easy one to spray on and feel sexy.

The One is highlighted by it’s warm blend of amber and tobacco. It’s dark and rich, with ginger and cardamom spice. Plus, a nice grapefruit opening which gives it an addition dose of zest.

One you’ve got to spray pretty heavy, but it is totally worth it. The One EDP Review

the one edp review

Stronger With You Leather by Emporio Armani

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Stronger With You Leather is the last of the decants I bought of this series. Now, there still currently are two more that I need to review, but this is the fifth full review that I’ve gotten to. Leather was released back in 2020 by Emporio Armani. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it actually worth a try?

What does Stronger with You Leather Smell Like?

Notes include: leather, elemi, spices, chestnut, vanilla, sage, lavender, oud, guaiac wood

My Full Review

SWY Leather opens up with an interesting take on the Stronger with You line. I mean, from the jump you can tell that it is apart of the series, but it lacks a lot of the hallmarks of entries like, Intensely.

The sweetness is taken way down, to where it’s basically only the vanilla note. Yes, it still has sweetness, just not from multiple sources. This one does feel nuttier to me in the opening act, with that signature chestnut out in full. But, one thing I do notice is that the spice mix is weaker here too.

Sure, some generic spice and a bit of sage wafting up from the heart. However, it doesn’t really bring that strong kick.

Now, the leather here is potent and you get plenty of it. Though, from the elemi to the guaiac wood, there is a real resinous aroma that surrounds the leather note from the start.

So, at the opening this one comes across as more of a blend of chestnut, leather, and vanilla. With the other notes providing a basic level of support.

Out of the entire series of fragrances, Leather is the closest to Absolutely, in terms of smell. Again though, even the lavender note is weaker here versus the others.

The dry down here is basically a takeover of vanilla and leather. On my skin, the chestnut sticks around, but is less prominent and the third strongest note.

The resinous smell has faded, oud is a bit stronger than the remaining guaiac wood. But, really neither is massive. It’s not really all that spicy or sweet. Just warm, vanilla, with a very nice leathery finish.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, I think this one has some sneaky power. The others do have pretty huge projections and leave scent trails in your wake. But, the sweetness and spice of the Stronger With You lineup, really makes them seem bigger.

Here, I think you get a lot of ability to project. Though, it doesn’t punch you in the face in the same way as a bold spice or sweeter scent can. Nonetheless, I can spray this on clothing in my house and pick up the scent from far off.

The longevity here is fantastic. Double digit hours and it goes beyond, most of the others too. 12-ish hours, maybe a bit more depending on the day.

Now, this does become softer than its initial strong stillage, but this Emporio Armani cologne really sticks around for a long time. Awesome.

The original Stronger EDT felt way too youthful to me, at times. Frankly, I wouldn’t want to wear it at my age. That being said, Leather feels much more appropriate for guys in their 30s and up.

Not to say that is the only group that can wear it, but it does have a nice refinement that some of the others like EDT and Freeze do not.

Seasonally, this is an autumn and winter scent entirely. I wouldn’t be wearing this out in the heat. Not that it’s too heavy, just the notes are conducive to that environment.

If you don’t go too heavy with it, Leather is a fairly safe fragrance during daytime activities. Personally, I’d want to reserve it for the nightlife. It is warm and does have a sexiness to its scent that simply works.

Overall Impressions of SWY Leather

Overall, do I like this fragrance? Yes, it is probably my second favorite of the Stronger with You lineup. The top three go back and forth, but as of now it’s: 1. Intensely  2. Leather  3. Absolutely.

This one offers something a bit different. You get the basic DNA, but without the same level of sweetness and spice. More of the spice remains, but even that is pretty weak in comparison. Instead, that title note, takes a bigger slice of the aroma.

I like the mix of chestnut and the leather note. The underlying vanilla and oud/guaiac wood are also nice. I’m not super thrilled with the resinous aspect, but it doesn’t distract me all that much.

The performance here is still great, like most of the rest of the Stronger With You scents.

This is probably pretty safe for a blind buy. You’re going to have to like leather (but it is well-blended and not just a leather bomb), obviously, and this does have more of a mature vibe than some of the others that have been put out. Nonetheless, this is a worthwhile fragrance to try out.

This does seem to be in pretty limited supply, as of posting. At least in the US. So, the price is probably going to be elevated versus others in the SWY series.

Narciso Rodriguez for Her EDT

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Narciso Rodriguez is a designer that seems to gather more and more fans, as time marches on. I recently grabbed a sample of the eau de toilette version of the brand’s namesake fragrance, in order to revisit and finally post a full review for the site. I always mix this one and the EDP up, since they are similar, but I’ve worked it out. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it actually worth a buy?

What does Narciso Rodriguez EDT Smell Like?

Notes include: orange flower, bergamot, honey, musk, osmanthus, patchouli, vanilla, vetiver, amber

Click here to try: Narciso Rodriguez For Her by 1.7oz EDT Spray, 

My Full Review

Narciso Rodriguez for Her starts off with a fresh top led by a bit of citrus bergamot. This brief foray into the fruity realm is offset by floral notes of osmanthus and orange flower.

It’s a very nice beginning to the fragrance, that obviously shifts to a greater use of that musk note. But, the osmanthus is very nice here, reminds me of Flowerbomb to an extent.

That shift comes fairly quickly after the opening. The middle act will unveil the musk note, along with vanilla. It’s still got some sweetness from the vanilla and a honeyed aroma. However, the musk allows this warmth to have a clean and fresh quality.

Orange blossom is the strongest floral note here. It is interesting, that the further you get into the middle to more of a powdery finish becomes apparent with this Narciso perfume.

The musk will be dominant from this point on. There is an amber note providing some extra smoothness and the warmth. The dry down is a clean musk and orange blossom with touches of the vanilla that is leftover.

The EDT version doesn’t seem to have very much patchouli, as you would get with the EDP, but I do get a tad here.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is light, but above average with how it projects early on. It will settle closer to the skin, while providing the wearer a nice intimate scent bubble. You’re just not going to blow out the room with Narciso EDT.

The longevity is solid. I routinely got 7 hours out of it and this perfume is capable of getting just over 8 hours from time to time. That high end, isn’t consistent, but the 7 hours was pretty much clockwork.

The versatility here is pretty great. You can basically wear Narciso EDT, anytime and anyplace. I’d certainly have others to go for, during nights out and maybe some more formal scents. But this, just kind of fits in and never feels too out of place.

I don’t find it to be particularly sexy and it does have a more mature feeling. So, some can feel that a fragrance like this strays more ‘old lady’, but I don’t think that it does at all. It’s just one you might want to skip if you’re younger.

It might not be the biggest attention grabber, though it works well. The spring and more moderate days of the summer are a good time to wear this. Autumn and winter too, if it isn’t all that cold outside.

Overall Impressions of Narciso for Her

Overall, do I like Narciso for Her EDT? I do. It’s a very feminine, versatile, and clean-ish sort of perfume. I’m not completely amazed by it, but I do think that it is a very good example of this type of scent.

However, do keep in mind, not everyone enjoys musky fragrances, that present as clean soap or even detergent-like  aromas. To me, this isn’t too harsh or synthetic, especially once you settle into the middle of the wear.

It’s not a super heavy perfume, but it does have pretty great staying power, especially considering that it is an EDT.

This is a super safe scent to buy. Again, if it doesn’t sound like your type of thing, I’d go in another direction. It’s fairly straightforward with what you should expect from this fragrance. No major surprises, just an all around good perfume that does what it was designed to.