Coco Mademoiselle EDP Intense by Chanel

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Coco Mademoiselle’s success allowed Chanel to release a whole host of flanker fragrances to capitalize further on that perfume formulation. The most popular of these newer releases, is Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum Intense. So, what’s this one all about? How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does Coco Mademoiselle Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: patchouli, amber, tonka bean, vanilla, orange, jasmine, rose, musk

Click here to try: Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Intense Eau De Parfum Spray, 1.7 Oz 

My Full Review

Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum Intense opens up with less of the orange and other citrus notes, than the citrus had, but with an even stronger initial punch. While this is the intense version, to me, it isn’t that much more powerful than the original Coco Mademoiselle.

What I do get more of in the opening act is patchouli and amber. The citrus is there, but that bold and juicy orange is tamped down, and seems to share duties with other citrus notes much more so.

Intense is pretty heavy on the patchouli note, which I don’t usually love, but it works very well within this composition. The perfume has plenty of sweetness and smoothness from the vanilla, amber, and tonka bean notes.

Moving deeper into the wear, the jasmine and rose begin to come through more. In this edition, the jasmine still has predominance over the rose, but the rose is present and noticeable.

Again, the original is not only more citrus dominant, but also has a greater use of the floral notes.

Mademoiselle Intense finally finishes its development with an amber, patchouli, and vanilla blend. I do still get jasmine on my skin, at this point, but it’s basically just supporting those three notes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Is this a strong perfume? Yes. Is the sillage that much greater than the original? Not really. Again, you’re going to notice that this is there and you can indeed overspray Coco Mademoiselle Intense.

However, it really doesn’t strike me as a super heavy or thick kind of perfume.

The longevity is also great. Like the original, it will last for over 10 hours on me. No issues with the performance, in my experience.

Seasonally, I would just not wear this out in the heat. Autumn through mid-spring is fine, but you should probably find a summertime option. What I do like about Intense, is that it doesn’t get relegated to the cold weather only.

You will get plenty of use from this as a daily wear or even one that can be used out at night. Go easy with the sprays and it can fit in at the office. Good for casual or even more dressed up events. Versatile just like the EDP.

Overall Impressions of Coco Mademoiselle Intense

Overall, do I like this release from Chanel? Yes, it’s a great flanker of the now classic Coco Mademoiselle EDP. I don’t think that it is quite as good, but it comes pretty close in my book.

This perfume isn’t as heavy nor does it have the insane projection that you might think. Yes, it is strong and performs extremely well, it’s just not an unbearable mess.

If you are someone who prefers patchouli and vanilla, this actually might be the Coco Mademoiselle fragrance for you. In totality, you’re not going to get the same level of citrus that you do with the EDP. Depending on your style, that might be a good thing.

I can absolutely recommend giving this one a try. It does everything well and gives you another versatile staple in a perfume rotation.

Contre Moi by Louis Vuitton

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Contre Moi is one of the fragrances released by Louis Vuitton back in 2016. It is also one of the many decants that I picked up from this designer, a while back in order to try out and review. I didn’t have any expectations about what this scent was like, when I first tried it, and no real preconceptions to influence me. What does it smell like? How long does it last? Is it worth a try?

What does Contre Moi Smell Like?

Notes include: vanilla, orange flower, rose, magnolia, and cocoa

My Full Review

Contre Moi opens up with its blend of vanilla notes, light citrus, and orange flower. The vanilla is smooth, creamy, and a bit smoky. While you’ll notice that there is both vanilla and cocoa in this Louis Vuitton perfume, it isn’t a sugary or refined version of either.

After a few minutes, I don’t pick up on any citrus any more. From here, it is mostly a warm vanilla floral blend, where the different floral notes get their own time to shine. 

Really, the rose is the weakest of the bunch. At first, it’s more orange flower, then the magnolia. For the dry down it’s a bouquet effect without much differentiation. 

That’s basically what I get for the rest of the wear: vanilla, cocoa, bouquet, and some ambrette in the base of the composition. Not a super complicated perfume, but it does develop somewhat, within that simple framework. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

In terms of the sillage, this is a light fragrance without much projection, after the first 30 minutes or so. It stays pretty darn close to the skin, unless you overspray. Even then, it isn’t going to get you much more.

However, the result does stick around for 6-6.5 hours, on my skin. Again, that’s not great, but it isn’t absolutely dreadful. At the price point, I would want much more from Contre Moi’s performance, especially since I enjoy the smell so much.

 

Seasonally, I’d just avoid the hottest days of summer with this one. Nighttime, might work then, but Contre Moi is fine pretty much anytime outside of that. It’s warm, but not a heavy or enveloping perfume, that would get stuck in the winter.

It’s got enough style to fit into more formal occasions, but isn’t so stuffy, that you couldn’t wear it casually. Not really a ‘sexy’ perfume, but it feels like it’d be appropriate in the nightlife. 

Overall Impressions of Contre Moi

Overall, do I like Contre Moi by Louis Vuitton? I do really like how this one smells. It’s a great vanilla floral blend, with its own unique take on the genre. I like the different types of vanilla in this one, the nice unprocessed cocoa, and the orange flower.

The downside? The performance is lacking. That may or may not be a problem for you, just know that you’re not going to get a workhorse fragrance.

It is a very pretty and attractive scent, that could have been absolutely great with better longevity and power. As it is, it’s an enjoyable perfume, but not necessarily a must have.

J’adore EDP by Christian Dior

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I still have a handful of samples that I need to review and they’re all ladies’ perfumes. Two of them are Dior scents from the J’adore line and today, I am starting with the original eau de parfum. J’adore eau de parfum was released in 1999 and has enjoyed wild success ever since then. I will cover what’s in it, how it smells, performs, and whether or not I think it is worth a buy.

What does J’adore EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: jasmine, orchid, plum, rose, mandarin, musk, ylang-ylang, blackberry

Click here to try: Christian Dior J’Adore Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Review

The opening of J’adore is a very clean and refined blend of floral notes. Mostly, I pick up on jasmine, ylang-ylang, freesia, and orchid.  Rose is also apparently in there, but it isn’t a strong rose scent, to me at least.

The florals have a juicy/watery aroma to them, this isn’t a ‘dry’ smelling perfume. Nice green undertones. Lily and melon, give it that juicy almost aquatic sensibility.

J’adore has a light fruitiness to it. It is mostly a floral dominated composition, but the melon/plum/mandarin trio do come through. and add to the juiciness of the fragrance.

It is very bright and uplifting but with a sophisticated air to the aroma. Sharp and pretty. During the latter stages, pear and melon are the main fruit notes that remain, and really don’t have intense aromas associated with either.

Finally, I’m left with lots of jasmine, some light musk, fruits, and a bouquet effect of various floral notes coming together. To my nose, it becomes rather difficult to distinguish between each.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection on J’adore is pretty good. It isn’t a loud fragrance, it’s actually quite soft. However, that doesn’t mean that it is weak, you’ll know that J’adore is still there.

I also got a full day of wear out of this one. 8+ hours of solid performance, so there won’t be any problems on that end. Coming back to J’adore and trying it out a few more times, has produced very similar results. Not a perfume that will disappoint with its longevity.

Seasonally, I guess I would say that it is more of a springtime smell. Though, it really wouldn’t feel out of place in any season. It’s pretty solid year round, but performs best in warmer weather. During the summer months, J’adore can handle the humidity without completely falling apart.

It’s a good choice for office or casual daytime wear. Fits an age range of 20s+, as it retains a mature sensibility without being too ‘grandma’. J’adore doesn’t particularly strike me as sexy, I’d say that it’s attractive and pleasant.

This is a daily wear scent, if you’re looking for something more specific, J’adore isn’t going to fit a mold. Clean, floral, with greenish hints throughout.

Overall Impression of J’adore

Overall, would I recommend J’adore? It pretty much is a classic perfume from Christian Dior at this point. I like it and find it to be a well put together floral. If floral fragrances aren’t your thing, you would probably do well by looking elsewhere.

J’adore isn’t flashy and might not be a go-to perfume for all occasions but it does just about everything, extremely well.

Crystal Noir EDT by Versace

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Taking a break from the Tom Ford reviews for a second, to bring you a new ladies fragrance review from a popular Versace: Crystal Noir EDT. IN this post, I am going to share my experiences with this scent, describe its smell, how it develops, performs, when it should be worn, and if it is actually worth a try.

What does Crystal Noir by Versace Smell Like?

Notes include: black currant, fig, violet, tuberose, frangipani, jasmine, sandalwood, cashmeran, vanilla, heliotrope

Click here to try: Versace Crystal Noir by Versace for Women – 3 Ounce EDT Spray

My Full Review

Crystal Noir opens with a fairly sharp black currant leading the way. It is juicy and joined by a distinct fig note, the smell of tuberose and violet. This perfume has apparently been reformulated from what it was originally and now includes a whole host of new notes.

So, keep in mind that I am reviewing this newer eau de toilette version of Crystal Noir.

The fig and black currant are on top of this composition for quite a while and sitting on a bed of flowers, with some creamy undertones, and a woody base. It all strikes me as very fresh with slight oriental vibes coming through during different times of the wear.

There is some spiciness in the heart of the perfume, not sure what it is from the new notes listed, but the older edition had ginger and cardamom. So, maybe those are unlisted but still within the EDT.

As it dries down further, the black currant sharpness subsides quite a lot and the floral notes fully emerge. Plenty of jasmine and heliotrope to join up with the tuberose and violet.

Although, this Versace has plenty of flowers, it doesn’t hit me like a ‘greenish’ bouquet or like walking through some kind of garden.

From this point, pretty much what you’re going to get is established. A whole lot of florals, especially the white floral notes: tuberose, jasmine, and frangipani.

These are on top of a woody base of smooth sandalwood, fig, and cashmeran. Add in a dash of vanilla, purple flowers, and what’s left of the opening combo.

Sillage, How Long it Lasts, and Versatility

Projection wise, the EDT is a fairly light to moderate fragrance. The sillage on this one isn’t huge and is going to stay pretty close to the body. I wouldn’t call it weak, by any means, but Crystal Noir isn’t going to fill a room unless you go crazy with the sprays.

The longevity is solid but not amazing, seems to stick around for 6-8 hours, on my skin. That’s good enough for most purposes. Indoors, in air conditioning, it seems to track closer to that 8 hour wear mark.

Seasonally, this EDT reformulation, is pretty versatile. It’s floral component screams springtime, but it wouldn’t feel out of place at all, in the winter or fall. Maybe not the best for the height of summer, but very good for the rest of the year.

Crystal Noir has an air of maturity about it, but not stuffy or uptight. It can be worn to the office, dressed up, or for an evening out. I especially think the evening wear, is probably its best use. It is attractive and has some sexiness to it, but not a super seductive fragrance by any means.

Mostly, this will be a versatile daily wear for most women. Not too intense or bold, but pretty enough to gather some attention and complements.

Overall Impressions of Crystal Noir

Overall, do I like Crystal Noir EDT? I do. I think that it’s a very good choice for a versatile floral that isn’t too girly or flowery. It’s woodiness and slight spice/sweetness keep it from becoming some overwhelming bouquet.

It has solid performance and a grown up disposition. The original EDP had coconut and gardenia in it, I’m not sure which I prefer, but that is the main difference between them.

This is a great Versace option for those who want something rather simple and clean, without being a complete bomb.

Dot Eau de Parfum by Marc Jacobs

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In today’s review, we have an entry from Marc Jacob’s line of women’s perfumes, Dot EDP. This one was released back in 2012 and quickly became a popular fragrance and well-known for its lady bug shaped bottle. In this post, I’m going to explore it ingredients, how it smells, develops, when it can be worn, and if it is actually worth trying out.

What does Dot by Marc Jacobs Smell Like?

Notes include: jasmine, red berries, honeysuckle, coconut, musk, orange blossom, dragon fruit, vanilla, driftwood 

Click here to try: Marc Jacobs Dot Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

Before I get into my review of Dot, let’s see what Marc Jacobs has to say about it: Chic and charming, a lush floral bouquet of beautiful jasmine and juicy red berries.

Dot opens with a blast of the juicy red berries and the tropical sensation of dragon fruit. There is also the coconut water, which isn’t too heavy, but it is definitely present throughout the wear. Dot is much more fruity than it is floral and the berries are the main attraction here.

As it moves along, I do start to get the floral bouquet in a more pronounced aroma. It never takes over the fruits but I get jasmine, honeysuckle, and orange blossom in descending order of strength. It’s all very light, pretty, and low key.

These florals are joined by just a hint of vanilla which brings a sweet creaminess to the composition. It’s not super noticeable all of the time, as it kind of blends with the coconut.

Finally, during the dry down, a bit of musk and a woody undertone help Dot to have more substance and a solid foundation. It is ultimately a fresh fragrance with red berries, jasmine, dragon fruit, woody, and hints of coconut/vanilla sweetness. Clean, juicy, with a tropical vibe.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage of Dot isn’t very strong. This is a very light perfume that is going to hang close to the skin, throughout the wear.

It isn’t weak or a super under performer, as the scent will get about 6-7 hours of solid staying power. For an EDP, that’s not amazing, but it’s usually good enough for most purposes.

Seasonally, it feels more spring/summer, but is kind of a year round perfume. It’s not going to be horrible in any particular climate, which gives it a bit more versatility versus other fragrances.

It is good for casual or office wear or other functions. It’s not really sexy, just pretty and pleasant. Since it is not really ‘loud’, it isn’t going to overpower or choke out a room. It smells youthful, but not like a teenager’s scent, it just doesn’t give off that ‘mature’ vibe.

 

 

Overall Impressions of Dot

Overall, do I like Dot by Marc Jacobs? Yes, I think that it is a very nice smelling perfume. It isn’t a bomb, by any means, but it gives a solid performance and has an interesting aroma.

The red berries and dragon fruit pair, really sets it apart from so many of the other fruity scents out there. Then the added layer of a floral bouquet, gives the perfume an added depth. It’s versatile and a really good choice for an everyday wear.