Jersey Les Exclusifs de Chanel

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When I picked up my last batch of Chanel fragrance samples, I made sure to get a few from the Les Exclusifs line of fragrances. One of those was Jersey, which I didn’t have any prior experience with, and wasn’t particularly clued into what it was all about. Now that I have given this perfume a fair shake, I’m going to share my thoughts on Jersey. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a buy?

What does Jersey by Chanel Smell Like?

Notes include: lavender, musk, Bourbon vanilla, wildflowers, rose, tonka bean

My Full Review

This Les Exclusifs Jersey opens up with an initial blast of the familiar Chanel aldehydes. Close to what you get with No.5, but I’d says it’s more like L’eau No. 5. It’s got a very cold and fresh aroma, at the start.

One thing I get immediately is the lavender. There is a lot of it in this mix. Surrounded by a heart of wildflowers and a pretty herbal/grassy aroma. It’s pretty sharp in the early stages.

As it moves along, Jersey gets smoother and with a muskier finish. The lavender is tempered by the other floral notes somewhat. A bit powdery with a sweetness, there might be a violet note or something resembling that in here.

This one doesn’t get all that complicated. It’s a simple scent, but what’s interesting is that the aldehydes last for the duration, at varying levels of strength. In many of the other Chanel’s, those notes have a tendency to fade.

Jersey dries down to lavender, musk, and a touch of creaminess from the vanilla/tonka bean. The vanilla and tonka bean do become more noticeable the further along you get into things.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Jersey has some decent ability to project itself, but isn’t super heavy or one that is going to reach across a room. Expect more of a moderate scent bubble, that will at times extend to the 4-6 foot range, but settle much closer to the skin.

The longevity is solid, but again, not amazing. On my skin, I got around 7.5-8 hours of wear during testing. It’ll provide you with plenty of opportunities to wear it, and Jersey, is by no means a perfume that performs poorly.

The strong suit of Jersey is probably its versatility. While it’s not a romantic wear or something that is going to scream for attention, it can be worn in a wide variety of situations and basically year round.

It does strike me more as something to wear during the spring, but it really wouldn’t be out of place in most climates. Maybe avoid the extreme heat and cold, but in moderate to warmer temperatures, you’ll be golden.

This one could serve as a daily wear or something for casual to semi-formal wear. I think Jersey is listed as a unisex perfume, but it really leans much more towards being a traditionally feminine wear.

Outside of having to test it for the site, I don’t think I’d be wearing it as a man.

Overall Impressions of Jersey

Overall, do I like Jersey by Chanel? It’s pretty nice, but not something that I’d be clamoring to wear or would go crazy for smelling it on a woman. You definitely get that Chanel vibe right from the get go and it is a pretty pleasant and somewhat unique floral.

I like the chilled aroma and the vanilla finish with this one. It’s got an attractive freshness. The lavender isn’t too overpowering here and the perfume still manages to come across as feminine. There’s nothing that stands out to me, as being ‘bad’, in this composition.

But, nothing that truly jumps out to me as being spectacular. There are many other Chanel perfumes, that are better than this one, and I’d rather wear or be around.

However, if it sounds appealing to your personal tastes, the performance is quite good and while it probably isn’t a value play…it’s a fair deal.

Roses on Ice by Kilian

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Roses on Ice is one of the releases from The Liquors collection by Kilian. I have been excited to try out all of these since discovering the gem that is Angels’ Share. But, this is the one that I was least intrigued by as it seemed like a rather simple gin based aroma. Is it actually? Is Roses on Ice actually a sleeper pick? Does it have good performance? Is this one worth a try?

What does Roses on Ice Smell Like?

Notes include: juniper, cucumber, lime, rose, musk, sandalwood

My Full Review

Here’s how Kilian describes it: Anyone for notes of gin, distilled with rose and cucumber? The perfume Roses on Ice opens with the aquatic freshness of cucumber and the aromatic uplift of juniper berries, creating an icy sensation, rounded in an accord with voluptuous Rose Centifolia.

Roses on Ice kicks off with a semi-aquatic profile of crisp cucumber and a bright lime note. It is indeed quite a cold feeling, juicy, with a spicy finish thanks to that cucumber. It is a heavy weighting to that note early on, so be prepared.

Beyond that, juniper and rose start to come up from the heart early on, and will only grow in strength as we move forward. Very much a gin-like aroma with tonic carbonation, super boozy in its presentation.

After some time, the cucumber note will fade. Juniper and rose take the top, with a growing strength of sandalwood and a general muskiness.

Roses on Ice isn’t all that complex. In the end, I get a generally chilled scent with a heavier weighting towards the juniper, musk, and the lingering rose.

It really is exactly how it is described by Kilian. So, if you can imagine that impression in your mind, you have a close idea of what this perfume is all about. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage is lighter to moderate. That’s a good thing in this case, as I really wouldn’t want a heavy gin based scent. Well, maybe 212 VIP, but that has a whole lot else going on with it. 

With Roses on Ice, you’ll be able to notice it from 4-6 feet away, at its short-lived peak. From there, it will sit approximately 3 feet from the wearer. Not terrible and pretty standard issue for many perfumes.

Longevity is surprisingly good with up to 8 hours, on my skin. It isn’t a powerhouse, but I was impressed that it stuck around that long. I wasn’t expecting a lighter wear like this to pull it off, but it does keep itself going.

Seasonally, I’d go with wearing this in the warmer weather of spring and summer. The chilled quality isn’t all that amazing in the cold. More of a casual daytime wear than anything. Not super versatile, as it does have that booziness.

I’d say it is for sure unisex. It doesn’t really lean one way or the other. Anyone can be fine wearing this. They may not enjoy it, but anyone can wear it. 

 

 

Overall Impressions of Roses on Ice

Overall, do I like this Kilian fragrance? Not particularly. It’s the worst of the Liquors collection that the brand has come out with thus far. It’s not completely terrible, but I don’t find it to be really appealing, especially at this price point. 

I get the gin as inspiration, though, it isn’t a favorite of mine and it’s pretty heavy on the cucumber note…that’s better in smaller doses. 

Roses on Ice isn’t going to be a mass appealing fragrance, very much niche, and something that’s going to be for your own personal enjoyment. So, really it will have a small subsection of fans, and a large quantity who either hate it or are indifferent. I lean toward the latter camp.

Unless you really really love a rosy gin and cucumber aroma, I’d probably skip this one. It’s Kilian prices, but not really worth that for most people. If you happen to find yourself intrigued, I’d definitely get a sample first to see how it works with your chemistry.

Performance, is pretty solid. Which, at least it isn’t a total ripoff, but one that most of us can do without. 

Gucci Bloom Acqua di Fiori by Gucci

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Gucci Bloom is a series that seems to keep cranking out new flankers every year. I grabbed samples of the whole collection up to this point, in order to provide full reviews for these popular ladies’ perfumes. Today’s entry will be Acqua di Fiori, which was released back in 2018. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does Bloom Acqua di Fiori Smell Like?

Notes include: cassis, lemon, galbanum, tuberose, musk, sandalwood, jasmine, lily of the valley

Click here to try: Gucci Bloom Acqua di Fiori for Women 3.3 oz Eau de Toilette Spray

My Full Review

After spraying Acqua di Fiori on myself, I am immediately hit by a scent that has a watery clean freshness full of greenish highlights. The opening act does have an almost grassy feeling to it.

Galbanum is the note that I get a lot of early on. That, along with a slight hint of lemon. The citrus is very light and doesn’t add any real sharpness to it, does lend some juiciness to things.

Acqua di Fiori has a cooler vibe, slightly aquatic, and feels like sitting next to a garden pond on an early spring day. This Bloom is pretty naturalistic with the way it smells. Throughout the wear, honeysuckle and cassis aromas will be present and add some nice depth here.

When it transitions into its more floral stage, I notice that there isn’t as much of the tuberose note, as other Gucci Bloom fragrances. Instead, lily-of-the-valley and freesia really take center stage, and will be the focus for the rest of the wear.

More of a green floral than the typical white floral from this line. You get the watery garden scent with some grassiness and bits and pieces of sweetness, which will waft up during the wear. Not a very complex perfume and you’ll know what you’ve got, about an hour in.

There is a greater muskiness here, later on. To me, the sandalwood is one of the weakest notes, and doesn’t really do all that much.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

In terms of its sillage, Acqua di Fiori starts off pretty moderate and then is light for the rest of the wear. I’d say it projects on my skin or off of a t-shirt, about 3-5 feet, more towards that lower end once it has settled in.

It’s not a beast, rather, this Bloom is a low key kind of fragrance with an airy vapor.

The longevity is actually pretty decent, though. With the sample, I was getting 6.5-7 hours of wear out of Acqua. Not super marathon level of performance, but it will be useful for most purposes, when you don’t want to overtake a room.

Seasonally, this will fit right in with the spring and summer months. The cooling sensation is a nice contrast from when it is warm outside.

Acqua di Fiori is a nice choice as a daily wear. It’s safe for work. Not a total formal perfume, better used casually or in semi-formal situations. I wouldn’t expect to use this one in the nightlife. It’s not sexy or anything attention grabbing.

Something you want to reach for when you want a simple semi-aquatic floral. It’s going to be a perfume that more for your own personal enjoyment.

Overall Impressions of Gucci Bloom Acqua di Fiori

Overall, do I like this scent? I do. It’s very much a Gucci Bloom perfume, but it also will give you more of a variation than many others in the series.

The opening act is intriguing and gives you that mix of citrus, grass, and the floral notes coming up from the heart. I do like the lower reliance on the tuberose note, as other Bloom’s can start to smell way too much like one another.

You should be a fan of lily-of-the-valley and freesia, if you’re going to give this one a go. They are pretty well behaved here and nothing overwhelms the composition. Just expect a greener semi-aquatic with a solid floral middle.

Very versatile for daily wear and a good enough performance. This is worth a try, if this sounds at all interesting to you. Pretty safe as a blind buy, as it probably won’t disappoint most people out there.

But, it also might not ‘wow’ you either. Acqua di Fiori is a solid fragrance, just not spectacular.

Update: I’m pretty sure this one got discontinued. I’m still seeing some bottles online, but they’re pretty expensive.

L’Homme Le Parfum by YSL

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L’Homme has become a long running and popular series of men’s fragrances for Yves Saint Laurent. In 2020, they released a Le Parfum version of this scent, and I’ve been recently testing it out to give it a full review on here. What does it smell like? Does it have good performance? Is L’Homme Le Parfum worth a buy?

What does L’Homme Le Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, cardamom, cedar, vetiver, amberwood, basil, violet leaf

Click here to try: L’homme Le Parfum by Yves Saint Laurent Eau De Parfum Spray 2 oz Men

My Full Review

The opening of L’Homme Le Parfum really matches the color of the juice. This is a very modern blue-ish fragrance. You can tell the original L’Homme’s DNA is here. But, it is infused with elements of other YSL colognes.

L’Homme Ultime and Libre, come to mind. Those aren’t made anymore, but when it is all blended together, the opening gives off strong Y EDP vibes also. So, it becomes the original L’Homme blended with Y EDP.

The opening act features a strong blend of citrus and the basil. That basil note is what L’Homme Libre was built around and along with the violet leaf brings me flashes of that scent, within Le Parfum.

The basil, lemony spicy cardamom, and actual lemon are all sitting on top of the fresh and dry cedar wood and that synthetic amberwood aroma. The amberwood really steers the blue-ish feeling of this fragrance, like other modern colognes which pair that with citrus.

Unlike Libre, Le Parfum’s basil freshness is tampered down by the sweet spiciness of the cardamom note. Which gives it those L’Homme Ultime vibes, with the geranium. Strip out the sage and apple of Y EDP and Le Parfum is a good approximation, in its early stages.

This fragrance starts out leaning more towards the fresh end of the spectrum, with a solid amount of sweetness. However, in the dry down that flips and Le Parfum becomes sweeter than the other releases that I’ve mentioned.

It’s a woody sweetness with that fresh and hefty dose of geranium in the middle. It ends up being smoother and sweeter in the end, versus the somewhat sharp and synthetic opening act.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

I really appreciate the performance of Le Parfum. I have a recent bottle of L’homme and the sillage and longevity are terrible. With Le Parfum, YSL changes course and delivers something much more substantial.

Early on the sillage is strong. Not a bomb, but one that could easily be over-sprayed. That phase will last 30 minutes or so. After that, Le Parfum fall much more in the moderate camp with its projection. It’s a good deal.

The performance here is also solid. It isn’t elite in regards to how long it lasts, either. But, I’ve been getting around 8 hours of wear on my skin.

So, it will deliver what you will need for most purposes and circumstances. Better than almost any other release in this series (it might actually be, but I can’t think of any which exceed it, off of the top of my head).

Seasonally, I’d wear this in the moderate to warmer temperatures of early autumn, the whole of spring, and much of the summer months. It’s a bit too sharp for the cold and probably wouldn’t hold up all that well in the extreme heat and humidity.

Plenty of use, though.

I don’t consider this to be a formal wear. It’s office safe, if you don’t overdo it. However, I’d prefer to wear this out on the town or casually day to day. Think more of evenings in the spring and summer months.

Can easily be worn be any age group. It might be too sweet for some guys, however. That blue-ish ambroxan mix can be a turn off for some and you get plenty of it with Le Parfum.

Overall Impressions of L’Homme Le Parfum

I like it. It has enough of the DNA of the original and blends it with other releases. Not my favorite by any means, but it can do a nice job of replacing L’Homme, which now has atrocious performance.

I like the basil touches, cardamom, and the cedar freshness. Very easy to wear and versatile. A true ‘blue’ cologne with plenty of ambroxan in the base. It is very much an amalgam of other fragrances from this brand, so if you’ve tried any of the one’s that I’ve mentioned, you basically know what this one is like.

I enjoyed wearing it during testing, but it still wasn’t something that I’d personally want a full bottle of. L’Homme Le Parfum does everything well enough and be a solid addition to someone’s rotation.

Ariana Grande Cloud vs. Ari Comparison

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Ariana Grande has a whole line of fragrances now, but the first of the series was Ari. While it isn’t the absolute best of them, in my opinion, it still ranks pretty highly. Meanwhile, Cloud has become one of the uber-popular perfumes from the pop star, and now exceeds the original release in terms of sales. But, which one is actually better? In this post, I break it down.

Tale of the Tape: Cloud vs. Ari by Ariana Grande

Cloud

Notes include: pear, lavender, bergamot, praline, whipped cream, vanilla orchid, coconut, musk, wood

Click here to try: Ariana Grande Cloud Eau de Parfum Spray, clear, 3.4 oz

Read my review: Cloud

Ari

Notes include: marshmallow, pear, orchid, grapefruit, raspberry, musk, rose, lily of the valley

Click here to try: Ariana Grande Ari Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)

Read my review: Ari by Ariana Grande

Opening

Cloud opens up with a blend of notes lead by pear, that is both sweet and bright. The lavender note makes itself known early on, but has sort of a rough finish to it. Cloud itself has a light, fluffy, and sort of airy style to it.

Later on, more of the praline, musk, and whipped cream will emerge in support of the main stars of this perfume.

The opening act of Ari is mostly about the fruit notes, which are sweet, and compelling. The marshmallow note at the base, is always present, but becomes much more noticeable later on. For now, it is playing a support role for the raspberry and grapefruit.

Raspberry is the strongest aroma to my nose at first, then, grapefruit. To me, the pear will get a little bit stronger and have its moments in the light. Though, it’s not all that powerful on my skin.

Then, after 15 minutes the vanilla orchid and marshmallow play a greater role. The fruits will move into supporting those two.

Between the two, it’s actually pretty close. Personally, I prefer the opening of Ari to that of Cloud. The raspberry and grapefruit are a nice mix of fruity and sweet, without the lavender of Cloud. Though, it’s not a huge win.

Edge: Ari

Projection

Neither sillage is too heavy and they aren’t projection monsters. Interestingly, they both have that airy or fluffy marshmallow-like softness in terms of sillage. It’s a very close comparison.

Though, I think Cloud has an ever so slight edge over Ari. Cloud Intense is stronger than Ari and that’s somewhat more powerful than the original.

Is it a huge distinction? No. It might not even be completely noticeable, but Cloud takes it.

Edge: Cloud

Longevity

So, neither of this fragrances are super long lasting, nor are they complete disappointments. Just don’t expect all day wear without reapplying.

With Ari, I consistently got around 5 hours during testing. Pretty middle of the road, but useful.

Cloud, on the other hand, goes for about six. It isn’t above and beyond better than Ari, but it does have a distinct edge.

Edge: Cloud

Versatility

Seasonally, Ari probably has a better use case. Outside of the hottest days of the year, it’s fine. With Cloud, it’s best served to be worn autumn through the spring.

Neither of these is a formal fragrance, but can be used in a wide variety of circumstances.

I think that the distinction for Cloud is that it is a bit more mature. Ari is closer to a teenager or early 20s type of perfume. Cloud isn’t super mature, but the age range extends further. That gives it the edge here for me.

Edge: Cloud

Overall Scent

Cloud is a nice perfume that has gotten a lot of attention. Most of that seems to be less because of its own unique aroma and more of its association as a Baccarat Rouge like fragrance.

The early stages of this fragrance are my least favorite. The lavender needs time to settle. Though, once it has the airy sweetness of coconut, praline, and whipped cream is great. I like the fluffiness and how it gives you whiffs of it throughout the day.

It’s also a bit better than Ari with its intangibles. You get more power, longevity, and maturity. It’s got a wider use case than its competitor.

However, I think Ari smells better. Yes, you do have to probably be in the younger demographic to wear it, but that’s most of Ariana’s fragrance audience anyway.

The marshmallow and orchid in the dry down is great. I like the fruitier opening better and the overlap between these scents, doesn’t give cloud much room to take this win.

It’s super close, but just going off of smell, I’d go with Ari.

Winner: Ari