Poison Girl EDP by Christian Dior

Moving right along with my review of the recent sample fragrances that I’ve received, I wanted to do another women’s perfume that was included in the lot, Poison Girl by Christian Dior. This scent was released in 2016.

Now, I received about 4-5 Dior samples for women, so there will be more of them upcoming. However, today I am going to focus solely on this Poison flanker fragrance. How does it smell? What are the ingredients? Is it worth a buy?


What does Poison Girl by Dior Smell Like?

Notes include: Damascus rose, tonka bean, bitter orange, vanilla, almond, sandalwood

Click here to try: Christian Dior Poison Girl Women’s Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce


Full Wear Review

The opening bit of time after spraying on Poison Girl feels quite familiar. To me, it is reminiscent of La Petite Robe Noire Couture, and even Black Opium to an extent. Now, this Christian Dior perfume is not a clone of either one of those scents, but there is a similar feeling and some overlap in the notes.

From the start, I get a rush of the Damascus rose, a blend of tonka bean/vanilla, and the citrus of the bitter orange hanging around.  It is a sweet gourmand aroma that has a definite creaminess to it (particularly in the latter stages).

It is a citrusy vanilla, rose, and tonka bean perfume; with some other floral undertones, but is quite sweet and creamy at the beginning. With that sweetness, you do get a slight powdery aroma from the rose, but it is nothing too intense. Poison Girl doesn’t go full-on baby powder mode.

After a few minutes, I begin to really notice the distinctive almond note, which I feel gives the perfume an enveloping nutty warmth. This is the note, which begins to set it apart from the aforementioned fragrances, and one which I always seem to be drawn to.

As it moves along, Poison Girl retains its sweet vibe with a much softer touch. It is a very smooth and enjoyable fragrance during the dry down period. There is also just a hint of floral notes within the composition of this Dior, which adds a nice layer of depth.

There is much less of the zesty citrus fruit scent and things feel much drier, with some sandalwood, and overall warmth to the composition.

The whole thing feels enveloping, but not heavy, just a smooth and comforting aroma. I ultimately get creamy vanilla/tonka bean combo and almond, with what’s left of the bitter orange, and a fairly light rose hanging around.


Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection is good. Poison Girl starts out with some strength but morphs into something softer, yet still quite noticeable while wearing. Fairly strong sillage at the front end, light to moderate, back end.

In terms of its longevity, this perfume really shines. It’s an all day wear, so you won’t have to worry about it quitting on you. It will go for 8-11 hours, depending on the day and climate. For the designer price, it actually does deliver a quality wear.

Poison Girl is also versatile. It is suitable for office or casual wear but does have a very pleasant and indeed sexy kind of scent to it. I continually found myself wanting another sniff and would love smelling this on a woman, that I was dating.

It has that appeal, but is also light enough to be used as a daily wear, during the autumn and winter months. This is a cold weather scent all the way to me, but it wouldn’t be bad in moderate temperatures.

In the heat? Poison Girl EDP is a pass. It will melt and start to take on a less than appealing aroma. So, if you live in a warmer climate, you won’t want to wear this…at least outside.


Overall Impressions of Poison Girl

Overall, do I think Poison Girl is worth a try? Yes. If you like sweet gourmand fragrances, this is another excellent choice. While there is a lot of similarities with the scent and some others out on the market, it does have just enough of its own style to set it apart.

If you’re not that into sweeter fragrances, this is one that could potentially get annoying. I never found it to be irritating, but it has that potential for some.

The highlights for me are the tonka bean and almond notes. I like the citrus and how that blends with those two, sort of a creamsicle-like experience. This is a very lovely fragrance, that is easy to wear and attractive, without being overwhelming.

Furthermore, it smells great and performs really well. Plenty of power and staying time on skin. Really no weaknesses with this Dior perfume. Mainstream and not completely unique? Sure. Poison Girl just works, however.

This is one that could be a signature scent for the right woman. Since writing this, I have also tried Poison Girl Unexpected, and like that one a bit more. Nonetheless, this is still a great option.

Sauvage Parfum by Christian Dior

So, a new Sauvage fragrance has been released. It will of course be talked about a lot and probably end up a best seller. Naturally, I had to start testing it out, in order to write up a review and determine if this juice is worth a shot. What does Parfum smell like? How long does it last? When should it be worn? Was even worth Dior releasing it?


What Does Sauvage Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, bergamot, cedar, sandalwood, vanilla, tonka bean, ambroxan

Click here to try: Dior Sauvage Parfum Spray for Men 3.4 Ounces


My Full Review

Before we get into my personal review, let’s see what Dior has to say about Sauvage Parfum: A new, highly concentrated interpretation of Sauvage, melding extreme freshness with warm oriental tones and wild beauty that comes to life on the skin. The fragrance is a new frontier: an interpretation with a rich, heady trail that celebrates the magic of wide-open spaces.

Sauvage Parfum opens up with its citrus top notes. We have the familiar bergamot, found in the rest of the Sauvage lineup, and mandarin orange. The mandarin adds a nice touch of juiciness, but this opening isn’t as sharp as, the original EDT Sauvage.

It’s interesting, that the mandarin note, is the citrus that hangs around the longest for me. It stays a surprisingly long time during the wear.

One thing that is immediately noticeable about Parfum, is that, the ambroxan here is tempered. The EDP had a strong ambroxan, as did the original, so this will be an option for guys who want something calmer. It’s a really smooth scent, without the same periods of in your face intensity, as the others.

The next layer that hits me, is the sandalwood led middle, with vanilla and tonka bean coming through. Parfum doesn’t have that pepper spiciness, but it does have a warm and creamy quality, that the EDP has elements of.

Parfum begins to feel a bit dry, smoky, and the amber come through more.

The final dry down, Parfum is a dark and somewhat sweet, woody cologne. The cedar and sandalwood, are covered by a smoked vanilla with a hint of mandarin juice, and dipped in ambroxan.

Refined and smooth with a dry freshness, Parfum has just the right amount of light spice, and sweetness.


Sillage and Longevity

Perhaps, it is because this isn’t as sharp, but it can feel as if Parfum isn’t projecting as much as it actually is. The sillage is strong, but not monstrous, and the latter stages are pretty moderate.

It’ll probably reach about 6 feet for much of the time, away from the wearer. I’ve put on 5-6 sprays and it didn’t seem to be a problem. Early on, it’ll have more of an impact. Overall, it’s well above average and will give you a very nice scent trail.

The longevity is really good, it’ll go for over 10 hours, on my skin. Better than EDT and about the same as the EDP version. Definitely not one that disappoints in its performance.

Even if you’re not a fan of the Sauvage line, you still get your money’s worth, in terms of how long it will stick around.


Versatility

Parfum is a more refined version of this namesake, as such, it can be worn on many occasions. I actually like it best, for nighttime. It has a dark and a more mature vibe.

However, it wouldn’t be a problem, formally or in an office environment. Just don’t go crazy with the sprays.

Seasonally, it’s good year round, outside of the summer. Actually, summer nights, it’d be okay but avoid the daytime. It will be at its best in cooler temperatures, though.

This is another strength of the Sauvage line, you get plenty of opportunity to wear it, rather than just being restricted to colder weather.


Overall 

Do I like Sauvage Parfum? I do. I still prefer the EDP, to this, but I think it exceeds the EDT. Parfum is a gentler formulation, so, guys who didn’t like the intense/sharpness of various ingredients in the other versions; should enjoy this one.

Actually, now that Elixir has come out too, I’d go with that or EDP over Parfum. If you want a more traditional interpretation of this formula, go with EDP. If you want the bold spiciness, Elixir can fit that bill.

The performance is great, I like the development of the scent, and its dark richness. The vanilla, mandarin, and the ambroxan doesn’t feel as oppressive (which is a downside for me, with the original).

You are paying Dior prices, but the value it still there with its use case and longevity. Dior Sauvage ‘clones’ (or at least attempted) have been popping up for years with the EDT version, and might make you reconsider that original. But, that’s less of a case with this Parfum edition.

If you like the EDP, I don’t really see why you’d need this, but give it a try. You might find this to be a more enjoyable version.

Sauvage Parfum is interesting yet familiar, but not completely redundant. It could be the version of Sauvage some folks need, to actually enjoy this title.

Eau Sauvage Cologne by Dior

Eau Sauvage Cologne is a flanker of the 1966 classic Dior fragrance, which was released back in 2015. I bought three of the Eau Sauvage scents to test out and finally do full reviews on and Cologne is the last one on the list. How does it smell? Is it long lasting? Is Eau Sauvage Cologne worth a try?


What does Eau Sauvage Cologne Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, mandarin orange, bergamot, galbanum, hedione, petitgrain, pink pepper, and vetiver


My Full Review

Right away, one thing that is noticeable is the resemblance of Eau Sauvage Cologne with Dior Homme Cologne. Now, this one is more complex than that fragrance, but the bergamot and grapefruit are the shared commonalities.

However, the differences are also very noticeable. Eau Sauvage Cologne is spicier, greener, and has a good amount of orange in the mix. Galbanum and petitgrain really give this one a green and somewhat bitter smell early, while the pink pepper kicks in the spice.

A bit further in the galbanum and pink pepper will subside a lot. It’s still more green than spicy underneath the influence of the citrus. The hedione gives it a light floral feel, with an additional stem-like smell, and the bergamot and grapefruit take charge in the citrus accord.

The rest of the way, this gets drier and fresh, rather than herbal green. I mean, the petitgrain stays for the duration, but everything else has pretty much burned off save the bergamot, grapefruit, and increasingly strong vetiver. That’s essentially the dry down.


Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This one doesn’t come across as huge or having some long trail sort of sillage. It is though, one that creates a nice and somewhat far reaching aroma for that first hour to hour and a half.

There after it is a lighter moderate, but I don’t find it to be weak at all. Of course in the latter stages, it will sit closer to the skin. That’s not a problem because it does hold up better than similar colognes.

On my skin, this one lasts somewhere in the 6.5-7 hour range at its best. For this sort of summer scent, that’s not bad. I wasn’t expecting some long-lasting powerhouse, but I did get enough power and time to spend with Cologne that I was pleasantly surprised.

Seasonally, again, this is spring and summer all the way. It’s suited for that environment and is actually very nice in the warmer weather. I’ve had some days like that to test it out in during this winter. Eau Sauvage Cologne is awesome with a light breeze going.

This is more of a casual daytime scent or a fresh garden party sort of wear. You can also wear it during business you may have during the summer. It has a clean and fresh appeal, while still holding a level of maturity.


Overall Impressions of Eau Sauvage Cologne

Overall, do I like this fragrance? I do. It might have a slight edge over Dior Homme Cologne, due to its depth and slightly better performance, though it isn’t crushing its compatriot in terms of enjoyment.

The herbal green element here gives a nice change of pace and you still get the great citrus notes found in the other Eau Sauvage scents. It’s a very nice pickup for the spring and summer months, when you want something well put together but isn’t going to fall apart in the heat.

The citrus notes are great, I like the orange, but I actually prefer once it has settled and I get more of the grapefruit and bergamot. It might have to do with the galbanum taking a back seat, as well.

This is worth getting, if you’re in need of a summer cologne. Fresh, cold, and clean. Really one of the better designer warm weather citrus fragrances. Better than Allure Homme Sport Cologne, also, which shares plenty of overlap too.

Eau Sauvage Extreme Intense (2010) by Dior

Eau Sauvage Extreme Intense is one from Dior that I have not tried. It actually first came out back in the 80s and was updated for release back in 2010. Going through the list of Eau Sauvage fragrances, this was one that I was excited to try out. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a buy?


What does Eau Sauvage Extreme Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, lemon, grapefruit, cedar, lavender, elemi, mint, basil, jasmine, patchouli, oakmoss, vetiver

Click here to try: Eau Sauvage Extreme Intense


My Full Review

Cold, bright, and fresh. There is the usual Eau Sauvage citrus notes, this time however, they are sitting underneath a blend of basil and mint up top. I actually get a bit more of the basil on my skin, then I do the mint note. Herbal, sort of a menthol kind of effect, when put together.

I like it. The fresh spiciness doesn’t overwhelm and still has balance within the composition. It’s held in check by the lavender note and the resinous elemi, which was also a big factor in Eau Sauvage Parfum. Here, it has less of a long-term influence.

After a while, the basil and mint will calm down and the citrus starts to come through more clearly. Lavender, elemi, cedar start to follow in gaining strength. Less green than the opening act, but the basil and mint do stick around at a lower level.

Patchouli breaks through a bit after this. It’s not heavy, but it does dirty up the scent somewhat, for at least a little while. Nothing too intrusive, but it plays well with the general green and woody aspects of Extreme Intense.

For me, the rest of the way is a cedar, lavender, elemi, and citrus affair. Very little spice and patchouli left. More of a clean and somewhat fresh aroma. Some moss thrown in for good measure.


Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

After having both this and Parfum at the same time, the performances are essentially identical for me. Fairly strong sillage when initially sprayed, then, staying more inside a 3-5 foot radius of the skin.

Again, like Parfum, Extreme Intense hits the 8-8.5 hour territory. Those last hours aren’t super powerful, but it does indeed stick around. With the name Extreme Intense, you might expect something with a lot more kick, but it’s not bad overall.

Seasonally, I really like the versatility of Eau Sauvage Extreme. It’s great in the slightly warmer weather, but doesn’t feel completely out of place in the cold either.

Autumn and spring are probably the best time to wear it. It might be too fresh initially for the dead of winter, but outside of that, it’s not really a problem.

Day or night wear. It’s attractive, somewhat sexy, but one that’s easily enjoyed without having to completely stand out. Could absolutely be a daily wear for some guys. Very versatile, not overly formula but can cover a lot of bases.


Overall Impressions of Extreme Intense

Overall, do I like Eau Sauvage Extreme Intense? I like it well enough, but I prefer Eau Sauvage Parfum from this series as a regular wear, and the Cologne version as a summer specific fragrance.

That opening with the basil and mint is nice. Those two combined with the underlying citrus (bergamot) is one of the highlights for me. It resembles some of the Eau Sauvage scents thereafter, but I just like those others more than this.

Not to say that this is bad, it’s not at all. I like it. This one might suit you better, particularly if you want a greener and woodsier take on this Eau Sauvage DNA.  The performance is good enough and it is wearable in plenty of scenarios.

I like it. If you can try before you buy, I would do so. That’s harder to do, since I’m not even sure that this is still in production. Extreme is at least worth trying out and may be a great addition to your collection.

Eau Sauvage Parfum (2017) by Dior

Eau Sauvage is a fragrance that I’m familiar with, but I have to say, I never really got into the flankers. I acquired three of them recently to test out and review for the site. One of which, is today’s entry from 2017, Eau Sauvage Parfum. How does this one smell? How long does it last? Is it worth a try?


What does Eau Sauvage Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: citron, lavender, hedione, wild flowers, bergamot, elemi, vetiver, anise, cinnamon, labdanum


My Full Review

Wow, I really like the start to Parfum. The bergamot is the most prevalent, at this stage, but it is already being buoyed by the base notes. I get a good amount of elemi, already at this stage. Sort of reminds me of Chanel’s Allure Homme Sport Cologne, with the citrus and resinous aspects.

Also, the newer Dior Homme Sport (which I dislike) shares a lot of elements with this, except this is actually good.

The citron and bergamot really help to make this one bright and juicy, but the profile feels cold, and you do get a woodsy dryness wafting from the base.

At the start, this leans more floral with lavender, jasmine, etc. It’s somewhat earthy lavender, but greatly leans towards a cleaner lighter aroma. But, I do get a very outdoorsy lightly dirty undertone.

There’s some spiciness here, mostly vetiver providing that, but apparently there is a touch of anise or cinnamon. Not really distinct to my nose, but maybe?

As we move further along, Eau Sauvage Parfum this transitions to a vetiver floral fragrance, with citrus highlights. The earthiness pulls back somewhat, but still feels like being outdoors near a grove.

The elemi and labdanum come through for an even more resinous feel. I know the older versions of this had a stronger myrrh aroma, but I didn’t ever get around to trying it, and so can’t compare. This, resinous base is somewhat sweet, with a vanilla-like aroma.

The final dry down really goes towards the elemi’s vanilla like aroma. The vetiver is still kicking around and some of that lavender.


Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This one doesn’t project super strong, but you get an hour or so, where it does have a nice bubble and scent trail going. After that, it’ll stick to a 3-5 foot radius for much of the wear.

It’s slightly above average, but not weak by any means.

On my skin, the longevity is better than I’d expect based on the sillage alone. It will hit the 8-8.5 hour territory for me, with regularity. For the price point, that’s about what I’d want at minimum, but it clears the hurdle.

Seasonally, I’ve worn this on a warm winter’s day (more like late spring temperature wise) and Parfum smelled great. I think a little hotter and it might start to falter. However, autumn through spring should be fine.

This version of Eau Sauvage is more approachable than the original 1966 release. It’s modern, well put together, but still has a casual vibe. It can be worn in a wide variety of situations, by any age group, and has a mass appealing style.

It’s not specifically a nightlife beast or anything, though it absolutely works in that situation.


Overall Impressions of Eau Sauvage Parfum

Overall, do I like Eau Sauvage Parfum? Absolutely. This is my favorite from the Eau Sauvage line, more so than the original, and the other two testers that I received.

It’s so well-balanced, but has a great richness, and I love the citrus aromatic blend with the elemi. It has subtle depth to it, without feeling heavy. Classy, yet relaxed, and very approachable for men of any age.

The sillage isn’t going to blow the doors off, but it’s a bit above average, with good longevity.

The bottles aren’t being produced anymore, so what’s out there now is all you’re going to have to choose from. Prices for some discontinued scents can get crazy, so, if you want to try you might have to move rather quickly.