parfums de marly

14 Great Perfumes Like Delina (or Exclusif)

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Delina is a very popular fragrance from Parfums de Marly. It’s blend of rose, lychee, rhubarb, and more are a sweet and powdery take on the classic rose perfume. PdM is a higher quality niche brand and their prices match, which can scare some people off.

As such, it can be worthwhile to find something that smells like Delina and/or Delina Exclusif without breaking the bank. Or, maybe you want something similar that’s not exactly the same. On this page, I am going to keep an ongoing list of scents that can provide alternatives that can almost duplicate the experience.

Quick Overview

Duchess by ALT Fragrances is one of the best picks if you want something that stays very close to the original Delina. It uses the same basic lychee, rhubarb, and rose combination, giving it that fresh, sweet, tart floral character at a much lower price.

Miss Congeniality by The Dua Brand– Another one that can give you that inspired take on this fragrance style for less. 

Adeline by Fragrenza is the standout option for fans of Delina Exclusif. It closely recreates the lychee, rose, and rhubarb development of Exclusif while also matching its powerful performance surprisingly well.

Club de Nuit Imperiale by Armaf is the best choice if you want something similar without being almost identical. It blends the Delina and Delina Exclusif styles with a creamier, more powdery rose-vanilla dry down and delivers extremely strong performance for the price.

Fragrance Key Shared Notes or Style Main Difference Best For
Very Good Girl by Carolina Herrera Lychee, rose, vetiver, vanilla, fruity sweetness, and a lightly powdery character Fruitier and tarter, with red currant and less emphasis on rose Those who want a designer alternative with a lighter, fruitier Delina-like style
Rose 01 by Swiss Arabian Lychee, rose, citrus, pink pepper, peony, vanilla, and musk No rhubarb and a muskier, slightly sharper opening Those who want an affordable take on the original Delina style
Miss Congeniality by The Dua Brand Pear, lychee, citrus, rose, and the sweet floral style of Delina Exclusif More specifically modeled after Delina Exclusif rather than the original Those seeking a close Delina Exclusif-inspired fragrance
Duchess by ALT Fragrances Lychee, rhubarb, rose, fresh sweetness, and tart fruitiness Designed to stay very close to Delina rather than create its own interpretation The closest affordable option for the original Delina style
Adeline by Fragrenza Lychee, rose, rhubarb, sweetness, and the layered Delina Exclusif profile Targets Delina Exclusif and has exceptionally strong projection Those who want a powerful and very close Delina Exclusif alternative
Madame Rose by Oakcha Built around the Delina-inspired sweet rose formula Not personally tested on the page, so the comparison is less certain Budget shoppers who want another Delina-inspired option to explore
Club de Nuit Imperiale by Armaf Lychee, rose, vanilla, amber, fruitiness, and powdery sweetness Creamier and more powdery, blending aspects of Delina and Delina Exclusif Those who want huge performance and a more distinctive Delina-style fragrance
Lady Diana by Alexandria Fragrances Rhubarb, peony, nutmeg, vanilla, rose, and lychee More expensive than many of the other inspired options on the list Those comfortable paying more for an inspired Delina-style fragrance
Aqua Allegoria Forte Rosa Rossa by Guerlain Fresh rose, fruity notes, and a light watery floral character Closer to Delina La Rosée, using peach and cassis instead of its sparkling pear Those seeking a lighter summer alternative to Delina La Rosée
Chloé Eau de Parfum Lychee, rose, peony, fresh florals, and a dewy aquatic quality Less fruity and more focused on clean rose and peony Those who like Delina La Rosée but want a cleaner, more classic floral
Rose Extase by Nina Ricci Rose, red berries, vanilla, musk, sweetness, and powder Only loosely similar, with raspberry and red berries replacing Delina’s main fruit notes Budget shoppers who want the same general sweet rose style rather than a close match
Atomic Rose by Initio Rose, vanilla, bergamot, pink pepper, jasmine, amber, and rich sweetness Removes the lychee and pear, creating a more concentrated rose-and-vanilla profile Those who like Delina Exclusif but want less fruit and more rose and vanilla
Angel Nova EDP by Mugler Lychee, rose, sweet fruit, spice, patchouli, and a resinous dry down Much fruitier, with juicy raspberry and an almost tropical quality Those who want a stronger fruity twist on the Delina concept
Delilah by Maison Alhambra An inexpensive fragrance specifically inspired by the Delina formula Not personally tested on the page, so quality and exact similarity are less certain Those looking for one of the cheapest Delina-inspired options

Perfume Alternatives that Smell Similar to Delina

Fruitier with a Similar Style

Very Good Girl 30 ml Eau de Parfum, 1 fl oz– This flanker to Carolina Herrera’s Good Girl, does have quite a lot of overlap with Delina, and is a good option for those who want something similar.

Litchi, rose, vetiver, and vanilla are notes that are shared by both of these perfumes. But, Very Good Girl isn’t an exact match, just closely related.

It opens up with a fruitier aroma that has an added tartness added by red currant. On the whole, Very Good Girl is fruitier and the rose is less prominent than in the Parfums de Marly scent.

The litchi and rose will take over the composition and the vanilla will serve a minor role. It’s somewhat powdery, less so than our target, and has a lighter freshness to it. I got about 7 hours of wear from this fragrance when I tested it out.

It’s a cheaper alternative, that still provides a designer level experience. Very Good Girl Review

Arabian Rose

Rose 01 by Swiss Arabian–  Rose 01 is a very nice and less expensive alternative to the original Delina. The opening with the lychee, citrus, and pink pepper can be sharp (even more than Delina), but it will settle down to more sweetness, rose, and a tad creamy.

Up top, though, it is a sharp tartness…but very rich, also. I think it is interesting, almost like a different take on Angel Nova.  The musk actually comes in with the rose, peony, and vanilla notes to calm the intensity.

The main difference between Rose 01 and our target is the lack of rhubarb. Not a big deal and might even be preferable to some. The muskiness is elevated here, the performance is good, and the price is right in comparison.

Dua Exclusif Inspiration

Miss Congeniality by The Dua Brand– Dua has a whole host of their ‘inspired’ fragrances, based on popular perfume formulas. Miss Congeniality is the one that does a great impression of Delina Exclusif.

I also like, Adeline by Fragrenza (listed below), and both of these scents strike very close to what you get with the Parfums de Marly.

The opening with the pear, lychee, and citrus hits the mark very well. I think that the Fragrenza version might be a tad more powerful, but the Dua is no slouch either. Plus, the pear itself is fantastic in this blend.

Another Inspired by Option

Duchess by ALT Fragrances– If you’re looking for a cheaper option with an aroma near that of Delina, Duchess from ALT fragrances is going to possibly be one of your best bets. ALT has its series of perfumes that are ‘inspired by’ the best sellers, with Duchess being the ringer for Delina.

Lychee, rhubarb, and rose providing that same sort of blend as the expensive PdM. Fresh, sweet, and a lovely rose. As close as you’re going to get, outside of picking up the real thing.

Exclusif Aroma

Adeline by Fragrenza– This is a sample that I picked up recently, which smells more like Delina Exclusif, rather than the original. But, it is actually really close to being identical in terms of smell, and matches its performance too.

Seriously, Adeline is powerful stuff. I sprayed some on a shirt laying in my bedroom and could smell it in the next room, for the opening act. So, not too many sprays needed with this one.

The lychee, the rose, and that rhubarb up top are all here. Adeline does a great job at being similar to the development and layers of Exclusif and does so at a fraction of the price.

Rose Inspired

Madame Rose by Oakcha– Oakcha is another brand that is doing some inspired takes on popular niche and designer fragrances. Madame Rose is their version of the Delina formula.

Now, I haven’t tried this one out as of yet. I will update if I do in the future. But, I’ll add it to the list for those who want to try Madame Rose out.

I’ve heard good things about this brand and this Delina inspired scent has a ton of positive reviews about it. So, it’s probably a good option for currently $30-45 per bottle, depending on the size you choose.

Imperiale 

Club de Nuit Imperiale by Armaf– This one is interesting. It is very similar to Delina, while at the same time, has enough difference to make Imperiale its own thing.

Mainly, the powdery aspect in the dry down is more intense in this than in the Parfums de Marly best seller. But, also this has a creaminess that tends to separate this Armaf perfume even further.

Imperiale is an affordable fragrance with a massive performance. So, if you like the style here, you’ll get your money’s worth. More like a mix between Delina, Delina Exclusif, and it’s own blend.

A familiar start then getting into a rose, vanilla, amber blend with the remaining litchi providing the fruitiness. The opening is probably not as good as Delina, but the back half makes up for it.

Lady Rose

Lady Diana by Alexandria Fragrances– Another inspired creation that I haven’t tried, but I’m more familiar with this brand, and they’ve produced lots of great stuff in the past.

Their version is called Lady Diana, and while still being cheaper than the PdM perfume, this is a higher price when compared to the other scents seeking to mimic our target scent.

Rhubarb, peony, nutmeg, vanilla, rose, litchi…all of the ingredients are there to strike up a close comparison and I highly doubt that it’s very far off.

La Rosee Possibilities

Aqua Allegoria Forte Rosa Rossa by Guerlain– With the Delina La Rosse now becoming a pretty popular fragrance, I thought that I’d add some alternatives to it.

Forte Rosa is apart of the Aqua Allegoria collection by Guerlain. Aside from having an extremely long name, it has a very similar, yet distinct aroma from that of La Rosee.

The PdM fragrane has that fresh watery note, along with a sparkling pear, which only adds to that quality. The Guerlain comes out with a peach note and some cassis.

La Rossee and Forte Rosa are lighter and less overwhelming rose options for the summer. Again, not entirely the same, but they do hit a very similar chord overall.

Delina La Rosee with More Florals

Chloe Eau de Parfum– Delina La Rosee does end up smelling quite a bit like this best selling Chloe fragrance.

It’s no surprise when you share lychee, rose, and peony as main notes. Chloe and Delina La Rosee both have an aquatic sort of finish to them, but with the Chloe, it comes from the use of freesia and lily. Less of a pure water and more of a dewy floral sensation.

A very clean rose and peony blend is the dominant force here, it also doesn’t have that same massive fruitiness that some of the Delina scents do. Easy to wear, classic, with a powdery aroma playing off of the dewy lightness.

Not Exactly, but in the Same Vein

Rose Extase by Nina Ricci- Pink rose, red berries, and vanilla. This Nina Ricci perfume is pretty affordable and hits a lot of the same chords as our target does. But, they don’t smell exactly the same. 60-70%? Perhaps.

The opening is a mix of being super sweet and actually fairly tart. The raspberry and red berry blend, do come on strong. But, it settles, you get more rose, vanilla, and musk. At times, it feels creamier. Then, you get bouts of powder.

Clean and pretty easy to wear once it settles. Not nearly as high as quality as the Parfums de Marly. It just gives you another option to consider, a decent price, and solid overall performance.

Focused Rose and Vanilla Exclusif

Atomic Rose by Initio– If you want something closer to Delina Exclusif, but without all of the sharper fruity notes, Atomic Rose can be a good choice.

This one does have light citrus note (same bergamot), but that litchi and pear aren’t present, which allow for a more focused concentration on the rose and creamy vanilla.  With a pretty strong pink pepper, early on at least.

Though, Atomic doesn’t give you a price break and can actually sell for more than the PdM perfume that it resembles. The performance, however, is outstanding.

You still get some great sweetness here, along with a developed jasmine note, and the wonderful amber without the underlying oud or other woody-like notes.

Raspberry Lychee Rose

Angel Nova EDP by Mugler– Now, I’ve only tried Nova EDP, as of now. However, the EDT version is supposed to have a greater use of the rose note and be a closer comp to Delina. So, you might want to check that one out.

Either way, Nova EDP has a similar style and construction, without being the same. This one takes the fruitiness early on to another level. The lychee is the same, but Nova adds a very sweet and juicy raspberry note.

Actually, to my nose there also smells as if there might be a mango in the mix. Nova has vaguely tropical smells, early on.

The fruitiness will settle and reveal the Damask rose note. There’s some spice, earthiness, and a resinous quality during the dry down. Patchouli and benzoin.

Very strong sillage early on, that will settle into something moderate. But, I got about 9 hours of wear from Nova EDP. It isn’t an inspired by rendition of Delina, but it’s got enough overlap to bear a resemblance. Nova EDP Review

Another Option

Delilah by Maison Alhambra– Delilah is another inspired by Delina fragrance, that seems to have a good reputation of coming pretty darn close to the original for cheap. If even comes in a similar looking bottle.

Now, I haven’t actually tried this one out, but I figured that I should include it for those who want a less expensive alternative perfume. It seems to sell for around $45, with positive reviews about its resemblance to our target.

I’m not familiar with the Alhambra brand, so I can’t actually speak to its quality. Nevertheless, there it is for those who want to try.

 

Darley by Parfums De Marly

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Parfums de Marly is a high end brand, that I’ve extensively covered on the site. I’ve for whatever reason, never got around to using my sample of Darley, probably because I have so many other. This one was released by PdM in 2009.

Recently, I began testing Darley, and wanted to post my Darley review here today. What’s it like? What’s inside? How does it perform?

Quick Overview

My Verdict

Darley opens with lemon, lavender, cinnamon, and mint. It has a fresh spicy feel that immediately brings Le Male to mind, though it is not an exact clone.

As it develops, the citrus fades and the mint, lavender, and rose become more important. The sandalwood, tonka bean, amber, and patchouli give it a smooth, sweet, creamy warmth.

It is clean, elegant, and versatile, with good longevity and a softer but noticeable scent bubble. It is enjoyable, but not necessarily the best Parfums de Marly to buy at full bottle pricing.

🐎 Darley by Parfums de Marly — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Fresh Spicy Aromatic Fougère
Key Notes Lemon, Lavender, Mint, Cinnamon, Rose, Sandalwood, Tonka Bean, Amber, Patchouli
Season Fall Winter Spring
Occasion Casual Wear, Work, Night Out, Romantic Wear, Mild Weather, Cold Weather
Longevity About 8-10 hours
Sillage Moderate — creates an airy scent bubble, but not a heavy room-filling cloud
Rating ★★★★☆ 7.7 / 10
Quick Verdict A clean, elegant, warm fougère with lemon, lavender, mint, cinnamon, rose, sandalwood, tonka bean, amber, and patchouli. It is versatile and long lasting, but sample first before paying full Parfums de Marly pricing.

What does Darley by PdM Smell Like?

Notes include: mint, tonka bean, lemon, sandalwood, lavender, rose, cinnamon, amber, patchouli, and more

Click here to try: PARFUMS DE MARLY Darley, 4.2 Fl Oz 

My Full Review

Before we get into my review of Darley, let’s see how Parfums de Marly describes it: Darley, inspired by the refined Arabian stallion, bred for speed, is embodied through this masculine fougere scent, with lavender and rose notes unfolding unto a sensuous oriental base.

The opening of Darley gives me: lemon, lavender, cinnamon, and mint. This immediately brings to mind Le Male by JPG (review). Are they exact clones of one another? No, but it’s hard to miss the overlap between them. 

The sharpness of the lemon is kept in check by the lavender’s influence, which allows for the spices (mostly cinnamon) to give Darley a warm freshness. 

One of the main distinctions between this and Le Male, is the presence of the rose note. It’s not super loud, but it does have a further softening effect on the composition, when brought together with lavender.

As it moves further along, the citrus begins to fade, mint takes over as the dominant spice, and the base notes come through. Amber, sandalwood, and patchouli. 

Darley becomes warmer, with a smooth and sweet creaminess, provided by the sandalwood and tonka bean. The notes on top are mint, lavender, and rose.

That’s what I get for the rest of the time. A trio of lavender/rose/mint, with an amber laden sandlwood, tonka bean, and a dash of patchouli. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This is a fairly soft fragrance, but it actually does project itself well. I kept getting whiffs of this scent, while walking outside, on a mild day. It was really great. It’s not a room-filler, mind you, but it will create a nice airy scent bubble around you. Not a thick cloud.

Actually, kind of does have the same level of strength as my bottle of Le Male.

The longevity is really good. 8-10 hours, on my skin, and not a completely weak performance during that time either. This isn’t meant to be a heavy or bold cologne, but I can say that it is quite good, with how long it lasts.

Is this a versatile scent? Yes, it is. Darley can be worn casually, at work, out at night, or romantically. It’s not a super sexy type of cologne, but on that is indeed very attractive, and will get noticed. 

Seasonally, it will work well almost year round. Not for extreme heat, but in the mild temperatures and cold, it works perfectly. So, I’d call it autumn through springtime. Pick something else up for the summer months.

Overall Impression of Darley

Do I like this scent? Yes, it’s not the best Parfums de Marly fragrance, but it is a very enjoyable one. If you like Le Male, you’ll like this, it’s of better quality and with a different take. 

Not way better, in terms of smell versus the Gaultier fragrance, if at all. Sure, more sophisticated, but Le Male can be a very nice fragrance to wear at times.

I really like the cinnamon in the opening. Also, when the sandalwood, rose, lavender, and mint are working in conjunction…it’s great.

While the sillage isn’t huge, it does hang around the wearer, and will last a full work day. Occasionally, I have gotten it to that 10 hour mark. I just wouldn’t count on that being the norm. 

Very clean and elegant. I’ll definitely be wearing the rest of this sample, over the next little while.

Is it worth the full bottle? Maybe. I’d get a sample and test it out for yourself before dropping $300+. Again, there are better Parfums de Marly scents. Personally, I went with Oajan before this, and would go with others ahead of it as well.

FAQ: Darley by Parfums de Marly

What does Darley by Parfums de Marly smell like?

Darley smells fresh, spicy, clean, creamy, and warm. It opens with lemon, lavender, cinnamon, and mint, then dries down into rose, sandalwood, tonka bean, amber, and patchouli.

Is Darley similar to Le Male?

Yes, Darley has some overlap with Le Male because of the mint, lavender, spice, and sweet warmth. It is not an exact clone, but the resemblance is noticeable.

How long does Darley last?

Darley lasts around 8-10 hours on skin. It is not a heavy fragrance, but the longevity is very good.

Does Darley project well?

Darley projects fairly well, but it is not a room-filling scent. It creates a pleasant airy scent bubble around the wearer.

When should you wear Darley?

Darley works well casually, at work, out at night, and romantically. It is best in fall, winter, spring, and mild temperatures.

Is Darley good for summer?

Darley is not the best choice for extreme summer heat. It can work in mild weather, but hotter days call for something fresher and lighter.

Is Darley worth buying?

Darley is worth trying if you like clean, warm, aromatic fougère fragrances. However, because of the high Parfums de Marly price, sampling first is the smarter move.

Is Darley a good office fragrance?

Yes, Darley can work well at the office. It is clean, elegant, and noticeable without being too loud.

Is Darley a sexy fragrance?

Darley is attractive, but not super sexy in a bold or seductive way. It is more clean, elegant, and refined.

Is Darley one of the best Parfums de Marly fragrances?

Darley is enjoyable, but not one of the very best Parfums de Marly scents. It is good, versatile, and well-made, but there are stronger options in the brand’s lineup.

Oriana vs Love don’t be Shy

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Oriana and Love Don’t be Shy are two fragrances with plenty of similarity in terms of style, which are often the final two choices of perfumes, that someone is deciding between. Each of them has their strengths, but which is better: the Parfum de Marly or Kilian scent?

In this post, I want to do a full head to head comparison between these fragrances. Which lasts longer? Smells better? Is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Oriana vs. Love don’t be Shy

Oriana

Notes include: orange blossom, marshmallow, grapefruit, orange, bergamot, raspberry, black currant, whipped cream, musk, ambrette

Click here to try: Oriana

Love don’t be Shy

Notes include: caramel, marshmallow, jasmine, rose, honeysuckle, orange blossom, sugar, vanilla, musk, and more

Click here to try: Love

Read my review: Love don’t be shy

love don't be shy review

Opening

Oriana opens up with raspberry and citrus up top. Early on, it is more of a light and sugary sweet type of aroma, with some tart qualities.

The light creaminess and powdery aroma will come along more so in the middle act, once some of the fruitiness burns off, and the marshmallow takes on a larger role. Orange blossom and marshmallow with a sweet fruitiness, is the core of what I get.

The opening of Love EDP really comes with the orange blossom, honeysuckle, and neroli, as the floral notes. Those are joined by the sweetness of marshmallow, caramel, and some vanilla.

The main two are going to be orange blossom and marshmallow here, early on. It’s sweet, sugary, and a warm floral scent that is quite captivating.

So, early on it’s the orange blossom. Then, you get a slight powdery aroma from iris and rose (not too much of either), and finally jasmine starts to show up more on my skin.

Edge: Love

Projection

Oriana is solid with it’s projection but has an airy quality to it, for a good portion of the wear. Still one that you’re not going to forget that you’re wearing, just not a powerhouse or a heavy kind of scent.

The sillage here with Love, is stronger for a time. It is ultimately a fresher and lighter kind of sweet perfume, like Oriana, rather than a massive thick cloud. But, the projection is good well into the wear on me.

I think that the Kilian fragrance has a higher high in terms of level of projection. It’s also a somewhat heavier feeling scent, just a tad more noticeable throughout.

Edge: Love

Longevity

Oriana will go for 6.5-8 hours, on my skin. It’s fine, just nothing too crazy in terms of the performance that you’ll get from this PdM perfum. 

With Love don’t be shy, I also get around 8 hours as the max. There’s not too much of a difference here, if any, in my experience.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Seasonally, the Kilian fragrance is best served in autumn through early spring. While Oriana, is more of a spring and summer wear.

So, colder weather goes to Love. While a warmer day, will be advantageous to Oriana. Probably a slight edge to Oriana, as it works fine otherwise, even if it’s not a winter wear.

Both are better served as daytime wears, neither are particularly formal. I’d probably give the edge to Love, don’t be shy in terms of nighttime wear.

Pretty even between them.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these perfumes do I prefer? I do have to say that each is quite likeable and they’re not tooo far apart in terms of just overall enjoyment of wearing them.

With Oriana, you’re going to get a fruitier mix early on, with a bit of a lighter fragrance throughout the wear. The citrus, raspberry, and whipped cream are the most noticeable difference makers between these two fragrances.

For some people, Oriana might make sense if  they happen to greatly prefer those notes. Or, if you want one that’s more usable in the warmer weather.

For me, I still lean more towards the Kilian scent.

I like the use of the orange blossom and caramel especially. The floral dry down with the sugary sweet finish playing the background is also nice. 

I don’t have a massive preference for either of these perfumes. I think that they’re both quite good, but just short of amazing. Though, Love is the slightly better bet, if I have to pick.

Winner: Love don’t be shy

Oriana vs Delina by Parfums de Marly

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Oriana and Delina are two of the most popular women’s perfumes from Parfums de Marly. As such, they are many times the two final choices, that people will decide between buying.

I have tested each of them and actually really like both of these scents. However, which of them actually smells better? Lasts longer? Is the better buy? Here is my full breakdown of this competition.

 

 

Tale of the Tape: Oriana vs Delina

Oriana

Notes include: orange blossom, marshmallow, grapefruit, orange, bergamot, raspberry, black currant, whipped cream, musk, ambrette

Click here to try: Oriana

Delina

Notes include: rose, rhubarb, litchee, musk, vanilla, peony, and vetiver

Click here to try: PARFUMS de MARLY Delina, 2.5 fl. oz.

Read my review: Delina

Opening

Delina starts off with a very pleasant fruity and powdery blend. The rose is already out and prominent alongside that litchee note.

It’s sweet, yet also tart and juicy. The litchee is joined by a bright bergamot citrus aroma and a tart rhubarb bringing it all together.

Later, the peony and vanilla will ascend, but this is what I get early on with this PdM fragrance.

Oriana opens up with raspberry and citrus up top. Early on, it is more of a light and sugary sweet type of aroma, with some tart qualities.

The light creaminess and powdery aroma will come along more so in the middle act, once some of the fruitiness burns off, and the marshmallow takes on a larger role. Orange blossom and marshmallow with a sweet fruitiness, is the core of what I get.

So, Delina is more powdery in the front end of things, and Oriana in the back half.

Which is better? I like both of them. I think that I have a slight preference for what I get out of Delina, at the start.

Edge: Delina

Projection

Neither of these have too heavy of a scent, but do a good job at hanging around and projecting themselves.

With Delina, it hangs out in the 4-6 foot range from the skin. Pretty moderate, for the most part, but definitely not weak.

With Oriana, it’s somewhat lighter and more airy than is Delina. Not so much so, but I feel like it’s a step behind its competitor in this category.

Edge: Delina

Longevity

Delina gets me in the 9-10 range, on skin. It’s a very good performer, but just shy of being an elite one.

With Oriana, it’s not a beast performer. 6.5-8 hours or thereabout. I’ve never found it to be totally lacking, but it doesn’t last super long, and doesn’t match what I’ve gotten with Delina.

Edge: Delina

Versatility

Seasonally, I think both of these are more suited for the spring and summer months. But, anything from a temperate climate to higher heat works.

Each of them is more of a daily wear and potential signature scent. But, I think that Delina is more well put together and ‘mature’, I feel like it’d fit in better in more places.

You could wear them at night, but both are better served in the daytime. Not really sexy ‘night club beasts’, though they are attractive.

I’d give a slight edge to Delina in more formal situations.

Edge: Delina

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these Parfums de Marly perfumes do I enjoy more?

In actuality, these are two of my favorites from the women’s side of things by this brand. As such, the competition is closer than it seems.

With Oriana, I enjoy the lightness and the fruity/sugary sweetness that it provides. The whipped cream and powdery dynamic is awesome.

Hints of soapy clean. The marshmallow, orange blossom, musk are really great in the back half. However, that also might not be for everyone.

The performance is decent, but not spectacular for the price.

Between them, I’d say that Delina gets the nod for me. I think that it smells somewhat better overall. The rose and peony are used better than the orange blossom or Oriana. It’s got more of a balance and I also enjoy what it develops into.

Plus, the performance is better. 

For most people, I’d say Delina. Unless that sweet fruitiness of Oriana sounds like more your style, go with Delina.

Winner: Delina

Pegasus Exclusif by Parfums de Marly

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Pegasus Exclusif is a follow up to the popular fragrance Pegasus by PdM. It was released back in 2020, but I recently received a sample of this stuff with another order, so I thought I’d test it out and post a full review on the site.

How does Exclusif smell? Does it hold up or exceed the original Pegasus? Is it worth a try?

Pegasus

Notes include: cardamom, heliotrope, almond, pink pepper, vanilla, bergamot, lavender, geranium, jasmine, guaiac wood, sandalwood, amber

Click here to try: Pegasus Exclusif on Amazon

My Full Review

I was never too much of a fan of the original Pegasus, so I wasn’t expecting much from this edition of the scent.

However, the opening of Exclusif, is a much better balance of notes than its predecessor. This one doesn’t feel like a bomb of almond and vanilla. Instead, there is a tad more of the bergamot citrus, a better spice from pink pepper, and the soft heliotrope.

I’m still getting some of that almond and vanilla, but I also don’t get the same sort of chemical overhang that I do with the original (maybe it’s just me who got that smell).

After 10 minutes or so, the pink pepper and bergamot have faded substantially. Cardamom steps up and I get more of the influence of the middle notes. Yes, almond and vanilla are here for the duration, still not completely dominating anything.

It’s softer with a dry freshness to it. On my skin, I pick up lavender and geranium jockeying for influence at different times during this wear. I do like when the geranium hits its heaviest, really adding a colder aromatic vibe to the blend.

The main difference between Pegasus Exclusif and the original, is the guaiac wood. The sandalwood probably also has a stronger influence here than in the original. However, the warmth and smokiness that is unleashed here by the guaiac is a really great addition.

The dry down is much the same. It’s woodier for sure, but we still get the vanilla and some almond that’s left. It’s an ambery wood finish with those two other notes adding support at the tail end.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

I don’t think Exclusif is that much more powerful than the original, if at all. It’s difficult to tell since I don’t have a vial of Pegasus currently. But, Exclusif also opens up with a pretty strong and far reaching blast.

Then, it will settle down into something that is noticeable, but fairly moderate in how it presents. On the whole, Pegasus Exclusif is above average with its sillage, and probably about equal with the original.

Also with this edition, I get double digit hours of wear from it. Again, I don’t think there’s much of a difference and those last handful of hours aren’t particularly strong. Though, Exclusif definitely is there.

Seasonally, Exclusif is still built for colder weather. Stick to autumn through early springtime with this one.

It’s more of a going out type of scent versus a daily wear. But, I’d still find a way to make this more of a daily wear type, if I had a bottle. It’s got an attractive aroma and the smokiness isn’t too powerful as to be useless at the office or something like that.

It can be worn casually or dressed up. The seasonality can limit it somewhat, but Pegasus Exclusif works well in a wide variety of situations you’d find yourself in.

Overall Impressions of Exclusif

Overall, do I like Pegasus Exclusif? Yes, I do think it’s better than the original. With that one, it was always a scent that I thought was ‘okay’. Exclusif isn’t a complete love for me, but I did enjoy wearing it.

The balance here is better. I’m not just blasted by a wall of almond and vanilla early on. The increase of the woodiness is a fantastic change of focus. This one feels more wearable and just more likeable than the first fragrance.

The longevity and performance don’t seem any different to me. Though, that wasn’t anything that I had a complaint about with Pegasus, since it’s a good performer already.

Basically, if you liked the original, you will get much of the same here. However, there is enough change presented with Exclusif to make it a better and more well-rounded cologne.

It’s not a fragrance that I’m personally going to run out and buy, but it’s one that I wouldn’t mind having a bottle of. Which, I couldn’t say about the first Pegasus. Exclusif is one of the better Parfums de Marly scents, just not among my absolute favorites.