louis vuitton

Pacific Chill by Louis Vuitton

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Pacific Chill is a new perfume release from Louis Vuitton for 2023. I bought a sample of this scent, as soon as I saw one available, because I really wanted to try it out. I’ve like a lot of the brand’s summertime fragrances and hoped that this one is a hit too. How does it smell? Does Pacific Chill last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Pacific Chill Smell Like?

Notes include: blackcurrant, lemon, orange, ambrette, cedar, coriander, basil, carrot seeds, peppermint

My Full Review

Here’s how Louis Vuitton describes it: Evoking the regenerative vigor of the infinite ocean, Pacific Chill translates the pleasure of the warmth of a new day on the skin. An audacious olfactory creation by Master Perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, this detox-oriented cologne captures nature’s vitality which revives the senses and opens the mind.

Pacific Chill opens up cold, sharp, and very fresh. The citrus notes lead the way, but I get a lot of greener notes involved early on, on my skin. The peppermint, coriander, and basil right away give this fragrance a lot of flavor and makes the opening act quite interesting.

To me, the peppermint is the strongest of the latter three notes and the other two just sort of play background support. That will shift and the basil, will come out more in replacement of that mint note.

Blackcurrant only adds to the sweet-tart kind of vibe that Chill puts out.

After a short while, the mint and blackcurrant notes back off. Pacific chill will be a citrus and basil based fragrance. The orange and citron are distinct on my skin and there is that apricot-like effect coming in, as well. Louis Vuitton doesn’t officially list that as a note, on the page that I saw but something similar is present at least.

Still kind of cool and icy drink vibes. Kind of spicy fresh still, with a greater musk cleanliness than in that initial spray.

Early, this has a refreshing drink feel to it. Later, Pacific Chill is more of a clean shampoo sort of scent. The fruit notes kind of combine into a amalgamated citrus and apricot smell, with the carrot seeds and ambrette giving it a muskiness.

Peppermint and basil are basically non-factors by this point. Fruity clean with a bit of sweetness, but more of a tartness, however.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Pacific Chill opens like an absolute bomb, on my skin. Seriously, this one envelops me in a cloud of iced fragrance for about an hour. Then, it kind of goes into a lighter moderate mode.

It’s certainly got a steep drop off from what it starts off like versus how it finishes, but I was surprised I even got that much of a loud projection. Should give you a nice scent trail.

Even in that lighter state, Chill doesn’t fade away, and carries on. I get about 7.5 hours of wear. With more sprays from a full bottle, I wouldn’t be shocked to hit 9, but 7.5 is about what I expect.

Seasonally, this is spring and summer all the way. Very much a warm weather fragrance, fruity citrus greenery.

Pacific Chill is unisex, but I’d say leans more feminine. Doesn’t entirely stray into the zone, but the fruity shampoo aspects of it certainly push it that way. It also feels a lot more youthful than the other LV summer fragrances. Not a super mature fragrance, kind of like a refined teenager’s perfume.

This one is more for daytime casual wear, anyway. Not going to be something for the nightlife or even formal wear during the summer. So, even if it is somewhat immature, it should be too much of an issue.

Overall Impressions of Pacific Chill

Overall, do I like Pacific Chill? I certainly liked the opening act. When I first sprayed this perfume, it really grabbed my attention. Not that it was a complete love for me, but it was very unique and interesting.

But, even with that being the case. That sharpness can be bothersome at times and not always what I want to smell. Though, the way it comes across as a cold and refreshing drink is really great.

The back half of this fragrance? It’s fine. It has too much of that fruity shampoo aroma for my liking. On the whole, while this is a unisex scent, it does seem to skew towards being something a younger woman would wear.

Personally, I think Vuitton scents like: Afternoon Swim, Cactus Garden, and City of Stars are better overall than Pacific Chill.

For the current $300 price tag, I think it’s too much of a stretch for most people. I don’t think that Pacific Chill is going to be a Louis Vuitton fragrance that is universally beloved. For some folks, sure. I think that it’s worth trying to see if you fall into that camp or not.

That being said, it won’t be a must-have for most people.

Imagination by Louis Vuitton

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Imagination by Louis Vuitton is the last of the LV samples I bought a while back, which needs a full review posted for the site. It wasn’t the one that I was most looking forward to trying out, but it definitely became a favorite of mine to wear. How does it smell? How long does it last? Is it worth a try?

What does Imagination Smell Like?

Notes include: citron, orange, bergamot, cinnamon, black tea, guaiac wood, ambroxan, neroli, ginger

lv imagination review

My Full Review

Here’s how Louis Vuitton describes it: Imagination. The key to the audacity, success and drive of the creatives who make the wildest dreams a reality. An immaterial energy that is nurtured by travel and experiences that forge a new state of mind.

Citron, bergamot, and orange. The citron will come to be the strongest of the citrus notes, but early it is rather evenly split. Orange is at its peaks upon first spraying, but will take a back seat to the other two.

That orange and citron mix is really great.  A nice juiciness that will evolve as the cologne dries down. The citron will become more prominent, also.

Update: coming back to Imagination, I’ve been getting a heavier sense of the citron with some sprays earlier on, along with a sort of light smokiness (guaiac wood?). It’s interesting, sometimes it feels way more of a pure citrus and other times, more mixed.

Ambroxan is present at the beginning of this one, taking time to outlast other notes, but sort of lurking underneath it all.

Black tea with neroli. The neroli does give it some further spice and orange influence, but that will fade along with the main orange fruit note. It’s got a fresh spiciness from ginger and just a touch of cinnamon. I don’t pick up all that much.

The opening citrus blast will be more of a citrus floral. Fresh with a watery aroma, not a pure aquatic but gives you a light blue impression, after that greenish smell early.

A juiciness that will turn more into a light citrus tea. It’s a warm ambroxan, black tea with citron squeezed into the cup. The opening has a chilled scent, but it warms up without ever becoming too heavy.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage is pretty strong for about an hour or so. After that, it’s more in the moderate range. Though, I have to say, the projection is solid throughout and never disappoints me, with its strength.

The longevity is actually quite good. I can get as much as 9.5 hours on my skin. Though, it tends to hit the 8-9 hour mark more often. For a citrus based scent, that’s pretty darn good, especially since it’s not all that heavy.

Seasonally, this is a spring and summertime fragrance. One that will capture attention with how pleasant it is, while not being something that’s super sexy.

Update: Yes, people seem to really enjoy this one, when I wear it. Now that it’s spring and heading into the summer, it really stands out and hits its stride in this weather. It really hangs around your person well and is extremely pleasant to have on.

It is very versatile in that, it can be worn to work or casually or even up to the right formal even during the day. It does have much more of a daytime vibe, than a nightclub beast or something that is reserved for evening.

But, I do wear it out at night still. Not screaming for attention, while it still receives plenty of it.

Imagination is a Louis Vuitton scent that could become a signature daily wear for a slice of the year for some men.

Overall Impressions of Imagination

Overall, do I like this fragrance? Absolutely. It actually might be the best men’s cologne released by Louis Vuitton thus far (update: it is). It’s certainly among the best of the more unisex offerings, as well.

That’s with the tea and ambroxan notes, which have a tendency to get on my nerves. That’s probably my only real personal complaint here, is that those notes just get somewhat bothersome to me after a while.

It’s way less the case here and probably only something that applies to me individually.

Update: Honestly, it isn’t bothering me at all, the more that I wear Imagination. I don’t wear the same thing everyday anyway, so, I doubt that I really get irritated by any aspect of this fragrance.

Also, I have since this initial review purchased a fragrance ‘inspired by’ Imagination from the Dua Brand, called, #Imagine. Which, if you’re looking for a much cheaper alternative, is fantastic and really hits the mark.

imagination dupe

Outside of that, this scent is phenomenal. The opening is so great. Juicy, fresh, a bit spicy, and the black tea giving you a glimpse while not being fully ramped up yet.

The dry down is still great, but I truly love that first hour to hour and a half. It’s awesome.

The performance with Imagination is also great and isn’t a problem, at this price point. There’s no real weakness with this cologne. It’s safe to blind buy and almost anyone would appreciate it.

Imagination isn’t too complicated, but it is extremely well done.

4 Fragrances that Smell Similar to Afternoon Swim

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Louis Vuitton’s Afternoon Swim is one of their best fragrances and a simple yet potent fragrance that is amazing in the summer months. It’s also one with a hefty price tag. But, if you enjoy the smell, here is my running list of perfumes that can deliver a closely related experience

What Perfumes Smell Similar to Afternoon Swim?

Swimming Scent

Gone Swimming– If you’re looking for a near perfect match, Gone Swimming by the Dua Brand is the one that you will probably want to go with.

Personally, I went with their inspired blend of the Louis Vuitton and Creed’s Virgin Island Water, called Gone Swimming in Caribbean Waters.  The added coconut and rum notes are really great and create a beachy fragrance.

However, the original Gone Swimming formula has the citrus notes that make the LV perfume great, done right. The price is also currently $60 for the full bottle, with a smaller size now available too. Performance is actually better than the Vuitton original, also.

Similar Citrus, Designer Style

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Forever for Men by Dolce & Gabbana Eau De Parfum,3.3 Fl Oz– Whereas Afternoon Swim goes with the orange and bergamot combination, Light Blue Forever is much more focused on the grapefruit note. Very realistic grapefruit, with a side of bergamot.

Instead of the amber, this one goes more greenish/ozonic with how it comes across. Violet leaf, a dry vetiver, and fresh musk round things out and have a greater influence later on in the wear.

Forever is a fresher cologne than Afternoon, but doesn’t have the same level of dynamic mix from the citrus notes. Really wonderful grapefruit, though. Light Blue Forever Review

A Tygar in Your Tank

Tygar by Bvlgari– By no means is this a cheapie. Tygar is right up there in price, if not more expensive than a bottle of the Louis Vuitton. It just provides you another great luxury summer citrus, with a simple formula.

It sort of splits the difference between Afternoon Swim and L’Immensite by LV. L’Immensite is spicier and might have a tad more amber. This one goes with a heavy use of grapefruit (feels like some orange is there too), as the citrus. With amber and wood to round things out.

A fresher citrus, but has enough in common with Swim, that you’d probably enjoy wearing this one too. Also, Dua Brand has a blend of their version of Tygar and Afternoon Swim available.

Another Cheaper Option

Turathi Blue by Afnan– Ok, this one is in the same vein as Tygar and Afternoon Swim, with some similarities to Bleu de Chanel too. Again, if you want a closer alternative, go with the Dua.

Turathi gives you it’s own blend of citrus, not as grapefruit dominant as Tygar, but  for sure leans that way. There’s some other stuff here, maybe bergamot? The opening is fairly sharp, but this one settles nicely.

It’s got some fresh musk, the amber, and a general woodiness. I don’t think the amber is quite as heavy, as the other scents. For the $40 or thereabouts, this is a nice and easy to wear citrus, that actually lasts a long time.

Sur La Route by Louis Vuitton

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Sur La Route is one of the better Louis Vuitton fragrances for men that the brand has released thus far. I got another sample of this scent, a few months back, in order to give it a full and proper review on the site. How does it smell? Does it last a long time? Is it actually worth a try?

What does Sur La Route Smell Like?

Notes include: leather, grass, cedar, Peruvian balsam, bergamot, musk, pepper, nutmeg, cardamom, and more

My Full Review

Here’s how LV describes it: A metaphor for each individual’s personal path: the journey is as important as the destination. One projects onto it dreams for the future; the past flashes before one’s eyes; energy is drawn from it with which to accomplish the wildest of dreams.

Sur La Route starts out with its citrus notes on full display, along side a potent grassy note, and some light spices.

This aspect of the scent actually reminds me of a higher quality Hilfiger Athletics, a scent that’s been discontinued for 20 years, but had the same bergamot, other citrus, grass, with some herbal spices.

This Louis Vuitton is super fresh from the start, early it is a green freshness, and then it will move into a citrus and cedar based freshness. The citrus is less pure juiciness and seems like some water that’s had added drops of bergamot/lemon into water.

Pepper and a light touch of nutmeg provide the spice here. It isn’t too heavy in the mix and will pretty quickly fade from being prominent or detectable.

The leather note here is going to become the strongest of the bunch, when the citrus lose some of their potency. However, it isn’t completely overwhelming or ever really veering towards being more of pure leather scent.

But, I will say, the middle act here presents as being quite unique. Leather, citrus, grass, cedar, and some Peruvian balsam. It has a super clean aroma, but exactly smelling like any other scent that I can think of.

The tail end of Sur La Route is about that leather and cedar combination. Less spice, but some patchouli with the remaining grass, let this keep some of its greenish smell. The citrus is still there, but doesn’t have the same strength.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

That opening sillage is a pretty bold punch. Not a ‘heavy’ sort of aroma, but it’s got plenty of projection and will leave a trail in your wake.

It might not be one which you can smell from across the room for a long time, but it has that presence for a little while. After that, it’s above average and slowly descending into skin scent territory towards the back half of the wear.

The longevity here is slightly above average, but nothing extraordinary. On my skin, Sur La Route will last between 6-7 hours. It’s fine for most days, when I’d want to use it. Though, it is by no means a workhorse.

Seasonally, late spring and through the summer. Sur la Route is a warm weather fragrance to wear during the daytime.

It’s clean and well rounded. Not one for the nightlife or what would be considered ‘sexy’. It can go casual or more dressed up. Though, it isn’t super serious or stuffy. Clean and bright.

Overall Impressions of Sur La Route

Overall, do I like Sur La Route? I do. Again, it’s one of the best 6 or 7 men’s scents from the French designer thus far. It’s not at the top of that list, for me personally, but there is plenty to like here…and you get a unique fragrance.

The citrus and green grass opening can be quite sharp and intense. The freshness never truly goes away, but you do get some settling and Sur La Route moves into different phases.

The leather is a note which helps this LV have a bit more uniqueness, and coming from a leather goods company, that ingredient is really top notch.

Performance isn’t elite, but it gives you enough to where it isn’t a total disappointment. Sure, it could be better, it’s just also not terrible.

Is this worth buying? Sure, it may not be for everyone, however. I’d probably want to try it out first, to see if you like the grassiness or the leather notes, surrounded by all that freshness.

Attrape-Reves by Louis Vuitton

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Louis Vuitton has come out with an extensive line of fragrances over the past handful of years, after it had little in that way previously. One of my favorites out of the women’s lot of scents is Attrape-Rêves, which I found rather captivating back when I first tried it. Now, I grabbed another sample, in order to finally do a full review of this scent. How does it smell? How long does it last? Is it really still worth a try?

What does Attrape-Reves Smell Like?

Notes include: cocoa, litchi, ginger, patchouli, peony, bergamot, Turkish rose

My Full Review

Here’s how Louis Vuitton describes it: Cocoa as airy-light as a wondrous journey somewhere between dream and reality. Like the Northern Lights appearing out of nowhere, Attrape-Rêves is the fragrant embodiment of supernatural phenomena forever embedded in the memory of some far-flung exploration.

Attrape-Rêves opens with its fruitier and fresh notes, taking center stage. The litchi leads the way, flanked by you typical bergamot clean brightness. What’s nice here is the bit of ginger spice that kicks early on.

The ginger won’t be a major player throughout, but I like the touch during these opening stages. Sweet, fresh, and a bit spicy early.

The next main note to really pop is the patchouli. Attrape-Rêves does have a significant amount of patchouli, but it isn’t the focus. However, it’s probably the second or third strongest note throughout the wear.

So, we have a fruit-chouli start, that morphs into being more floral dominant.

Here, the peony is going to be the star. The bergamot and ginger begin to fade from the composition, which allows the cocoa, peony, and rose to emerge.

At this point, it’s a lot of the peony, patchouli, and remaining litchi. On my skin, the litchi moves on out and the cocoa takes its place.

Not a strong Turkish rose, this one will mostly be about the peony. Attrape-Rêves starts to have less of that initial freshness and things become more gourmand thanks to that cocoa.

The ending part of this is very much your typical floral-patchouli aroma, but seemingly dipped in a dry cocoa, almost like its powdered form.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Attrape-Rêves is a perfume that will leave a above average to strong scent trail behind the wearer. Usually, the first 2 or so hours gives me strong projection, whether it is on the skin itself of an old t-shirt I spray it on.

Testing that out, it seems like 6-8 feet of projection is about what Attrape-Rêves is capable of with normal sprays. But, that also will come in closer. Much of the rest of the wear will be more moderate, but still better than the average perfume.

In terms of how long it lasts, I get up to 8.5 hours with the Louis Vuitton. The range falls into the 7-8.5 hour frame, which is absolutely good enough for most uses. Though, some might expect more from a high end designer.

Seasonally, it’s a versatile option that can work pretty much year round. But, it’d be a good idea to stay away from extreme heat and cold. The springtime is probably the ideal, but in summer, probably stick to the evening.

It’s not too heavy of a fragrance or super cloying, but the heat and humidity isn’t going to present Attrape-Rêves at its best.

Daytime wear or nighttime is fine. It’s attractive, non-offensive, but not the most formal of fragrances. Casual, semi-formal, dates, nightlife are all fine, however. This is a perfume that will provide plenty of use cases.

Overall Impressions of Attrape-Rêves

Overall, do I like Attrape-Rêves? Yes, it is indeed one of the best of the Louis Vuitton lineup, nothing has changed on that front.

The formulation itself is familiar to many other fragrances that you’ve come across before, but steeped in quality, with the cocoa note really helping it to create a distinct identity among the pack.

It gives you a perfume that can be used daily or for somewhat dressed up occasions. Very versatile, pretty, and one that can gather complements. While the performance isn’t elite, it doesn’t really disappoint, even if you’d still might like more from something at this price point.

On the balance, Attrape-Rêves is a very good fragrance that is bordering on being absolutely great. It’s probably safe to blind buy, but with the price you still might not want to. However, it is for sure one that you should give a try, if interested.