Code Femme Absolu by Giorgio Armani

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Armani Code is a best seller in both the men’s and women’s space, with each respective version. Usually when the men’s Code spawns a flanker, the women’s gets one as well with the same title. In 2019, we got the Absolu versions of Code, include Code Femme Absolu. I received a sample of this perfume, when I put in my last order with Armani. How does it smell? Perform? Is it worth a buy?

What does Code Femme Absolu Smell Like? 

Notes include: ginger, tuberose, jasmine, orange blossom, orange, tonka bean, vanilla, sandalwood

Click here to try: Code Femme Absolu Eau de Parfum Spray 50ml/1.7oz

My Full Review

Code Absolu Femme kicks things off with a hefty dose of ginger, the floral blend, and citrus. All of this together with vanilla undertones.

At first, I pick up mostly orange blossom, with tuberose and jasmine following. Together it feels slightly waxy and like it has a sweet fizziness. I can certainly recall smelling portions of this fragrance in the original Armani Code.

As it moves along, I pick up more jasmine and tuberose versus the orange blossom. Still, there’s enough citrus fruit to keep the feeling of orange alive. Though, it’s not an overwhelming citrus type of perfume.

Still further, the ginger fades, as does the orange. Tonka bean and vanilla really emerge to join the floral bouquet that is dominating. Not too complicated: flowers, with vanilla and tonka bean, and the hint of a sandalwood base.

Actually, smells quite similar to Dior Addict, at times. That and the original Code. But, a creamier and more enveloping version of each of those perfumes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Code Absolu Femme has a strong sillage, well above average, but not super extreme. I’d say it has the ability to venture across a room, with the right number of sprays, just not one or two. The strength and projection won’t disappoint.

Nor will the longevity. On my skin, it seems to stay in the 8-10 hour range. Which for most purposes, is all you will need. Again, not an elite performer, just a very good one.

Seasonally, colder to moderate temperatures and climates. I’d avoid higher heat and humidity with this one, as it does have a certain amount of thickness. Not a sheer beach wear or anything like that.

Absolu Femme also feels geared more towards adults rather than younger women. It’s well put together and confident. Less of a casual fragrance, but it could work well in the night, just as well as at work (so long as you go easy with the spraying).

Overall Impressions of Code Femme Absolu

Do I like this fragrance? I do. It not only reminds me of Code Femme and Dior Addict. But also, it has elements of the men’s version, which I love. This version? I only like. I’d certainly find it attractive on a woman.

Code Femme Absolu does everything well. It has an intensity that not everyone will find appealing. Very floral and when the vanilla/tonka bean comes in, it can be too sweet and creamy for the tastes of some folks.

Overall? It’s certainly a perfume that I’m not disappointed by. If you’re interested in getting this, do so now, as Armani has discontinued it. A very short run from its late 2019 release date. Kind of odd that they sent me a sample, as it was already being halted.

Tuscan Leather vs Noir de Noir Comparison

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In this head to head matchup, we have to more entries from the Tom Ford Private Blend collection: Tuscan Leather vs Noir de Noir. Which of these popular Tom Ford fragrances, smells the best? Which has the better performance? Versatility? Which one is the better overall buy?

Tale of the Tape

Tuscan Leather

Notes include: leather, suede, raspberry, jasmine, olibanum, saffron, amber

Click here to try: Tom Ford Tuscan Leather Eau De Parfume Spray for Men, 1.7 Ounce

My original Review: Tuscan Leather

Noir de Noir

Notes include: rose, oud, patchouli, black truffle, tree moss

Click here to try: Tom Ford Private Blend Noir De Noir Eau De Parfum Spray Edp 3.4 Fl / 100 Ml

My original review: Noir de Noir

Opening

Tuscan Leather opens with saffron and a very good smelling and rich leather note. If one is a lover of how leather smells, Tuscan Leather is a fantastic example of it at its very best. Add to that, a smooth black suede note and the added touch of raspberry, and you have a delightful fragrance opening.

Meanwhile, Noir de Noir, opens up with rose and patchouli. It is a sweet smelling rose with a very earthy and slightly spicy patchouli. Oud sits underneath this combination and give it that familiar aroma.

Which is better? I like the way both of these fragrances smell at first, but I think Tuscan Leather has the better opening act. Noir de Noir is at its best once it starts to dry down, but Tuscan Leather tops it at the start.

Edge: Tuscan Leather

Projection

Tuscan Leather starts off with pretty heavy sillage and then becomes a moderate fragrance the rest of the way. Noir is moderate pretty consistently throughout the wear and never really goes that big. It will stay within 3-4 feet of your skin.

Edge: Tuscan Leather

Longevity

With the current incarnation of Tuscan Leather I get 8-9 hours of wear and I get about the same with its Tom Ford compatriot. No clear winner.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Both of these fragrances shine in cold weather. Tuscan Leather can probably take the heat better, but it’s not a warm weather scent by any means. They are both listed as unisex, but I think Noir de Noir can be worn by a greater number of people.

They are also both best served to be worn while dressed up or for a night out. However, I’d wear Tuscan Leather casually, but probably wouldn’t with Noir. I do also think that Noir is probably considered sexier. Again, this is a tough call but I think Tuscan Leather has a slight edge.

Edge: Tuscan Leather

 

 

Overall Scent

Noir de Noir is a great scent. The rose and oud notes, which I’m usually not a fan of, are actually something that I enjoy with this one. Beyond that the dry down actually does get earthy and a bit dirty with moss and patchouli, but also sweet and creamy with black truffle and vanilla.

It’s all very warm, complex, and strikes a lot of different chords while wearing. It is definitely the more unique scent of these two.

Tuscan Leather is a fantastic leather fragrance with solid performance and an intriguing smell. It isn’t all that unique and does have a rather straightforward composition, so it won’t score high on originality, but it does outshine Noir in some respects or at least equal it.

In the end, I think I’m going to give the nod to Noir de Noir. While it doesn’t have beast sillage, it is good, and lasts all day. Most importantly, the dry down is outstanding, and has such an interesting development throughout. Even with ingredients that I’m usually not a fan of, it makes me enjoy wearing and smelling the fragrance.

That’s a pretty high complement in itself. Is it remarkably better? No, but I can get a similar experience with Ombre Leather or Godolphin, as I can with Tuscan Leather. I cannot say the same about Noir.

Winner: Noir de Noir

Paco Rabanne Lady Million vs Prive Perfume Comparison

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Alright, so, I’ve already reviewed these two Paco Rabanne perfumes and now it is time to do a full head to head comparison between: Lady Million vs. Lady Million Prive. Which of these eau de parfums, is the better buy? What are the differences? Which performs the best? Please continue below for my full breakdown.

Tale of the Tape

Lady Million EDP

Notes include: jasmine, gardenia, patchouli, orange blossom, neroli, bitter orange, raspberry, honey, and amber

Click here to try: Lady Million by Paco Rabanne Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 2.70 Ounce

Read my original review: Lady Million EDP Review

Lady Million Prive EDP

Notes included: raspberry, vanilla, patchouli, cocoa bean, honey, orange blossom, heliotrope, wood

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne Lady Million Prive Eau de Parfum Spray, 2.7 Ounce

Read my original review: Lady Million Prive EDP

Opening

The original Lady Million opens up with white floral notes like jasmine, gardenia, and orange blossom. These are paired with a juicy raspberry note. The raspberry isn’t super powerful and is tempered by the floral notes.

The honey and patchouli are hanging out in the background, but those really emerge 30 minutes in, and take over the composition.

Prive, on the other hand, has the same raspberry note except that it is really juicy and fully developed. Prive is darker than the original Lady Million and has much more of a fruity vibe.

The raspberry is paired with a creamy vanilla note and the same orange blossom. It is sweeter and has more warmth than does Lady Million.

Which is better? I actually prefer the opening of Prive more so than the original. I enjoy the raspberry top and the sweet darkness more than the floral opening of Lady Million.

Edge: Prive

Projection

These are both moderate fragrances overall. However, Prive does start off stronger, even if they are eventually both on the same level of intensity.

Prive feels heavier from the jump and then becomes a moderate, while Lady Million is pretty consistent.

Lady Million just doesn’t have that same initial pop that Prive can give you in the early stages.

Edge: Prive

Longevity

These two perfumes seem to be equal in terms of how long they last on the skin. In my testing, they both could hit 8 hours without issue.

Each of them are pretty good and will stick around for a standard workday. However, they don’t go beyond that. No clear cut winner, here.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Both of these perfumes can be worn on many occasions from casual to office to a night out on the town. However, Prive is much more limited to colder weather.

Lady Million is a cold weather scent, but it can venture into the springtime or early summer. In that regard, it takes this category.

It’s not much of a difference, but it could be useful those who live in a climate that takes a while to build up to summer temperatures.

Edge: Lady Million

Overall Scent

Ultimately, both of these fragrances are led by a honey note. In Lady Million, the honey note is paired with the white flowers, raspberry, and some patchouli. It is sweet but more of a floral/honey sweetness.

Prive, has that same honey, but adds more patchouli. The dry down is full of cocoa bean and a warm gourmand quality. It is rich and dry and there s even an emergent woodiness to the fragrance as it moves further along.

Which Paco Rabanne do I prefer? Ehhh, neither of these perfumes is amazing. Both are solid and have plenty of similarities.

However, I would lean more towards Prive than the original. I like the dark sweetness, the cocoa bean, and how it develops from juicy raspberry to dry woods.

If you prefer floral fragrances, then, Lady Million will probably be the better bet. It’s not a huge distance between the two, as they have solid performance, but I give the slight edge to Prive.

Winner: Lady Million Prive

Royal Rose by Juicy Couture

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Taking a break from the Tom Ford reviews for a minute, I wanted to do a write up on another Juicy Couture perfume sample that I received a while back, this one titled: Royal Rose. It was released in 2017 and with a name like that is obviously going to be centered around that famous flower. How does it perform? How do the other notes interact with the rose? Is it any good?

What does Juicy Couture Royal Rose Smell Like?

Notes include: rose, incense, suede, musk, heliotrope

My Full Review

Before we get into the review itself, let’s see what Juicy Couture has to say about this fragrance: Royal Rose evokes a mystical world of romance and enchantment. Sumptuous rose and heliotrope stir the spirit while suede and incense shroud the scent in luxury.

The opening of Royal Rose is a rather sharp blend of rose and heliotrope. The rose note comes off as sort of a bomb, in terms of how intense it is and the aroma has an oriental sort of flavor to it.

Meanwhile, there is the smoky incense, which serves to warm up the composition and clouds the floral notes, in its mist.

About 15 minutes in, I start to detect suede and more musk. This is where to rose tones down a bit and Royal Rose becomes smoother.

The strange thing about this Juicy Couture fragrance is that the rose which is in the name, gets weaker as the scent moves along, until its almost non-existent. You’ll eventually get lots on incense, musk, some heliotrope, and suede. Warm, smoky, earthy.

There really isn’t much development at all beyond that. The rose just really falls off of a cliff.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage of Royal Rose is actually quite strong. This one will only require a few sprays to be effective and can definitely take over a room. The performance is probably the best attribute of this perfume and better than many other Juicy scents.

The longevity is also really great, with at least 8-9 hours of solid wear, and some extra hours sitting closer to the skin.

Seasonally, this one should stick to the colder months of the year. It’s not going to be great to have on during the summertime or anything like that. It can be worn casually or dressed up.

If you go light, it might be office safe, but one must be easy with the sprayer. It’s not really a sexy or a scent that draws people in, so I wouldn’t call it all that versatile or crowd pleasing.

Overall Impressions of Royal Rose

Overall, do I like Royal Rose? Not really. The Juicy Couture scent just isn’t that good. It starts off powerfully and has good performance, which are its strengths.

However, it doesn’t have a really attractive scent, the rose kind of just goes away, and there’s way too much of a musky smokiness.

The thing is, that aspect isn’t even a great example of this sort of scent. It’s all kind of bland, while being in your face about it. A strange release from this brand which usually tries to go super ‘crowd pleasing’ with its perfumes.

I’m not sure where this fits in or who to recommend it to. It’s pretty niche, in its appeal. I’d say pass on it.

Update: This one has been discontinued, anyway. Unless you can find a bottle for dirt cheap, don’t bother getting a hold of Royal Rose.

Mont Blanc Legend vs. Legend Night

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In this head to head cologne comparison, I want to take a closer look at the always popular Mont Blanc Legend versus its flanker fragrance, Legend Night. Which smells better? The original or the nighttime edition? Which lasts longer? Has better sillage? I am going to break down each by category, before declaring an ultimate winner between them.

Tale of the Tape

Mont Blanc Legend

Notes include: Bergamot, Pineapple Leaf, Sandalwood, Apple, rose, oak moss, lemon verbena, geranium, lavender,  And Tonka Bean

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Legend Eau de Toilette 3.3 fl.oz.

Read my review: Mont Blanc Legend

Legend Night

Notes include: candied apple, cedar, vanilla, cardamom, vetiver, sage, mint, bergamot, fir, lavender, violet, patchouli, and musk

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Legend Night Eau De Parfum, 1 fl. oz.

Read my review: Legend Night

Opening

Legend opens up with crisp and clean fruit notes including pineapple, bergamot, and apple. These are joined at first by a prominent tonka bean note, before lavender comes in, in a big way. So, you get mainly the pineapple and bergamot, with tonka, and then a surge of lavender.

Legend Night, opens with bergamot and candied apple. It isn’t as fruit dominant, as Legend, but these notes blend in more so with the composition. It is a vanilla and apple based mix, but the sage, cardamom, and mint really bring in some nice energy. There’s a brief time in the beginning, where it has an Eros-like vibe.

Which is better? For me, Legend Night is the better smelling cologne at the start, and the more interesting one. Legend is nice and clean, but has an aroma like a more upscale version of Playboy New York, at the start.

Edge: Legend Night

Projection

Legend is pretty moderate throughout the wear. It isn’t a heavy fragrance, but the sillage is good, and it isn’t weak.

Legend Night is also a moderate, but has a thicker, more enveloping quality. If I do two sprays, on each side of my neck, the sillage is quite strong. That’s not the case with Legend, so, I give Night the advantage.

Edge: Night

Longevity

The original Legend, lasts about 5-6 hours on my skin, with normal spraying. Legend Night goes for about 7, with normal sprays. I can up that to around 9, with double spraying.

Edge: Night

Versatility

Legend is a very versatile fragrance. It can be worn in all seasons and climates, without issue. It feels more like a daytime wear, that can go into the evening, as well. Legend Night is more autumn/winter, but can go safely into spring, just not the heat.

It is more geared toward the nightlife and has a sexier vibe. However, the original is the more all around wear, and is safe to wear whenever.

Edge: Legend

 

 

Overall Scent

The original Mont Blanc Legend has a lot of fans. I get why, as it does smell nice, and it is so versatile. The longevity is just okay, but as a fragrance, you really don’t have to think when reaching for it. The smell is nice, but fairly simple, and commonplace. I like it, but not amazed by it.

Legend Night is still flying under the radar. I love this cologne when I’m in the mood to wear it on certain nights. It smells great, has better performance, and has gotten me way more complements than when I ever had on Legend.

To me, it’s the better option, and it has quickly become one of my favorite colognes to throw on. Is it for everyone? No, but I think it is superior to the original.

Winner: Legend Night