Incanto Bliss

NOTES (as listed on sephora.com): yuzu, kumquat, apple, freesia, water lily, rose, musk, sandalwood, cedarwood

CLASSIFICATION: slightly floral, very slightly fruity

AGE GROUP: high school and up

SIMILAR SCENT(s): DKNY Red Delicious

FORM: eau de toilette

Other than stuck up, biased, ignorant perfume snobs – who doesn’t love the Incanto bottles?  They’re beautiful, feminine, lovely additions to any fragrance lover’s collection.  Does the juice justify the purchase of the newest Incanto creation beyond adding a pretty bottle to your vanity top?

In my opinion, no.  But perhaps the smell of strong, slightly musky, even slighter femininity (the best way I can describe this scent) will appeal more to your nose than it did to mine.  I wanted to love Bliss.  I really wanted to love Bliss.

My nose goes through many an emotion throughout the various stages of Bliss.  First, there’s the slightly odd smell of the fresh spray onto the wrist.  It’s a bit strong when it’s still settling in (and for the hundredth time, I’m an extremely sparing sprayer), and the oddness is indescribable other than that it’s unique, and not very “young.”  Keep in mind that “odd” does not necessarily mean bad.  It’s just unlike any other scent (at this point in the dry down) than I have ever encountered.

Once the fragrance actually dries on the wrist, it’s extremely enjoyable (for me, at least).  It’s a concoction comprised of floral goodness and sweet citrus hints, but not so much that I would consider this to be anywhere close to a fruity fragrance (despite seeming so, according to the notes). This blissful aroma does not last long, though.  Once the fragrance has gone through all of it’s settling stages, the end result – for me – is undesirable.

To me, there is a difference between mature and “old lady”-like, when it comes to perfumes.  I personally do not like the term “old lady,” either, but hear me out.  When I say “old lady,” I am referring to the general scent that envelopes you when you open the top drawer in your Grandmother’s vanity; the smell of generic flower power gone slightly sour in a box containing 40-year old cosmetics  in her hot attic; the smell of her closet; the smell of an old bar of some random soap from Avon.  It doesn’t necessarily literally mean old lady, but it is, unfortunately, the most recognizable associative phrase to get my point across.  I will from now on refer to this type of scent as “old,” rather than “old lady.”

That is what I get from Incanto Bliss.  The scent is not bad.  It’s just not for me.  It’s a very “old,” slightly nostalgic smell, but it is not mature.   It is not unpleasant, but it is neither, once dried down, fresh nor fruity nor spicy.. the best classification of it is certainly floral, but that is not to say that this is a richly floral fragrance.  I myself am an avid fan of floral scents, but this one certainly won’t be appearing on my Christmas list.

Samplers, beware. Perhaps you will indeed enjoy this scent throughout it’s stages and determine it purchase-worthy. Congratulations on your new perfume baby, if that is the case.  Do, however, keep in mind that throughout this perfume’s several stages I went from feelings of mediocrity to absolute adoration to apathy.  Be sure to let this sink in before you make a decision in either direction.

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First sniff (bottle): B++

First sniff (skin): C- -

Worn scent: C-

Staying power: B+

Scent as compared to note(s): B+

Bottle: A

Overall: C

Definitely unique.  If you’re looking for a nostalgic scent or just something out of the ordinary, this may be the one for you.  This is not a sweet, or fruity, perfume, and is also not entirely floral, but is best described as such.

NOTES (as listed on sephora.com): grapefruit, cassis, apricot, muguet, rose, jasmine, apple, blond woods, smooth skin accord

CLASSIFICATION: floral, feminine, slightly fruity

AGE GROUP: perfect for any age

SIMILAR SCENT(s): Coach Legacy

FORM: eau de parfum

Get a $25 gift card from Macy’s with the purchase of any DKNY fragrance of $50 or more!*

Just in time for Spring, DKNY releases it’s newest, limited edition, addition to the Be Delicious family of fragrances.  This time, it’s Fresh Blossom, and with a name like that, it better be chock full of floral, feminine goodness.

Indeed, it is!  What a refreshing and pleasant relief DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom turned out to be for me.  Admittedly, the first time I sampled this on myself, I was unsure of it (once again, never leave the house to go to the mall with perfume on; you will almost always encounter a new perfume tester that you want to try and will need a fresh slate to do so).   I gave it a second try, this time a more fair one (clean, virgin wrists, perfect for perfume sampling), and was extremely satisfied with the result.

Fresh Blossom is indeed a floral fragrance, true to it’s name and the delicate peachy-pink color of the juice itself.  It came out just in time to coincide with the dewy afternoon goodness that occurs from those April showers, sure to bring us the May flowers that we love.  It’s fresh, and to me, is a bit dewy with a beautiful floral bouquet and some sweet, yet sharp, citrus accents.

This is a very feminine scent, which I love.  It’s soft, and “pink,” and very light hearted.  I can indeed very slightly detect traces of the original DKNY Be Delicious, but this is definitely it’s own scent.  In the past, the problem with most of the DKNY Be Delicious limited edition releases was that they were almost identical to the original, making the consumer try to decipher what the difference even is, and which version they should go with.  You won’t have that trouble here.  Prior to Fresh Blossom, the releases (with the exclusion of the Night edition) were true to their roots in that they were fruity (whether it be a sourness, tartness, sweetness, or crispness, it was still fruity).  Fresh Blossom is a welcome change from that pattern, and in my opinion DKNY did a great job incorporating citrus and floral bouquet notes into a balanced mixture of femininity.

I do think that I enjoy the scent more so from the nozzle than what actually ends up on the skin, but that’s not to say that I don’t enjoy it on the skin.  From the nozzle it’s a bit more crisp and slightly more citrus.  On my skin, it dried down to a calmer, more flowery scent.  One thing that I cannot ignore when I sniff my wrist after the scent has settled down – it has a pretty strong undertone of a rather generic lotion scent.  Unfortunately, that is the best I can do to describe it.  It just reminds me of an “unscented” lotion that still has a slight scent that cannot be pegged to a specific note or derivative.

Overall, I’m a fan of Fresh Blossom and I have already purchased it.  I do, however, feel compelled to discuss a few qualms that I have with the bottle choice before I wrap this review up.

While I do find the bottle very cute, unique, and relevant (apple-shaped, for an apple-based fragrance), it’s practicality and actual functionality leave a bit to be desired.  When sprayed, instead of coming out as a spritz or a mist, it shoots out more like a jacuzzi spout – much harder and quicker than I’m used to from all of the other bottles I’ve ever used, and in a much smaller, more concentrated shot.  As a result, if your skin is too close to the bottle upon spraying, it causes a backlash effect and the top of the bottle gets a fair share of perfume.  Not only is this wasteful, but because of the finish on the silver top of the bottle, it can leave marks if you’re not careful to keep it pretty and polished at all times.

Speaking of the finish, I think I would be willing to overlook the lacking functionality of the bottle if it were a Satin Nickel-type finish.  As it is, it gets dirty way too easily, and finger prints are unavoidable.  I find myself polishing it off before I put it back down after use.

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First sniff (bottle): A+

First sniff (skin): A-

Worn scent: A-

Staying power: C- (reapplication will probably be necessary throughout the day if you want this scent to be apparent beyond a couple of hours)

Scent as compared to note(s): A-

Bottle: C (A for the appearance, D for the functionality)

Overall: A- -

Recommended, if you’re looking for a new Spring fragrance that promises a feminine and flowery scent with a slight twist of delicious, juicy, citrusy goodness.  Beware of the bottle, though!

*FROM 3/21/09 TO 3/30/09, get a $25 gift card from Macy’s with the purchase of any DKNY fragrance of $50 or more.  At select Macy’s, get a free gift with any DKNY Women’s fragrance purchase of $55 or more.  See our post here for details!

SHOP: March 21st through 30th for any DKNY fragrance at Macy’s.
SPEND: Make a purchase of $50 on any DKNY fragrance at Macy’s and mail your receipt to Glamour.
GET REWARDED: You’ll receive a $25 Macy’s gift card to use on your next purchase at Macy’s!

Details of this fabulous offer, including mailing information, can be found on page 42.

About DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom, the newest release from DKNY Fragrances (as posted on dknyfragrances.com):

Inspired by the beauty of the Apple Blossom, this new fragrance is lighthearted, intensely feminine, and radiant. A blend of sparkling grapefruit, cassis and sun-kissed apricot, blended with sheer muguet, petally rose and jasmine.

It is available in 1 ounce, 1.7 ounce, and 3.4 ounce sizes.

I bought Fresh Blossom and personally love it. It’s a very “pink” fragrance with traces of the crisp apple that we love from DKNY Be Delicious. Perfect for Spring! (Review coming soon!)

Also, at Macy’s while supplies last, receive a free DKNY gift with your $55 purchase of DKNY Women’s fragrance purchase. Gift includes .24 oz DKNY Be Delicious Eau de Parfum spray (perfect for your purse!), 1.7 oz DKNY Be Delicious Apple a Day Body Lotion, and 1.7 oz DKNY Be Delicious Shower Gel.

In 60 words or less (TL;DR):

- Spend $50 or more on any DKNY fragrance at Macy’s, send in your receipt to Glamour Magazine, get a $25 gift card to Macy’s in the mail

- If the purchase that you make ends up being $55 or more and is on a DKNY Women’s perfume, you’ll get a free gift at Macy’s with your DKNY Women’s fragrance purchase

Maybe you ended up falling in love at first smell with the new Fresh Blossom, or maybe not – don’t forget this is good for ANY DKNY fragrance.. perhaps your bottle of original DKNY Be Delicious or DKNY Red Delicious is dwindling away and needs replaced. Either way.. this is a great offer!

NOTES (as listed on fragrantica.com): orange, watermelon, red berries, pear, violet, bergamot, orchid, freesia, gardenia, peony, teakwood, vanilla, tonka bean, patchouli

CLASSIFICATION: floriental, slightly fruity

AGE GROUP: mature

SIMILAR SCENT(s): n/a

FORM: eau de toilette

I first heard about Halloween Kiss a couple of weeks ago while dilly dallying on Dillards.com.  I had previously done a review on the original J Del Pozo Halloween, so I’ve always been interested in the editions that have followed it.  When I read the following excerpts of the description from Dillards.com, I fell in love before I had even smelled it.

…begins with the fresh juices of orange, watermelon and red berries fused with pear, violet and bergamot. The opulent heart of Japanese orchid is strengthened with a bouquet of freesia, gardenia and peony…

Fresh juices? Pear? Freesia? Peony?  This was pretty much my dream fragrance.  I must have fallen so deeply in lust at first site that I failed to acknowledge the patchouli factor.  Don’t get me wrong, I don’t dislike the actual scent of patchouli – it’s just not something that I personally enjoy wearing.  I can admire it from afar quite easily, but anything more than that is a bit too much for me.

I went on to read some reviews of Halloween Kiss to further acquaint myself with the scent before deciding to go ahead and sample it.  Here are some excerpts from various reviews that I read:

“..fresh, soft and cute..”

“..strikes with a punch of fruity notes with a strong hint of some of my favorites, including freesia and orchid. It’s a very sweet scent, girlish.. ..energizing.”

“It’s a nice fruity-floral fragrance which stands out from the rest of new mainstream offers, and that’s to say a lot.”

Needless to say, I was expecting something fruity, sweet, juicy, and pretty amazing.  My favorite fragrances are fruity ones, so I figured this was a sure thing.

Smelling this directly from the bottle can be a bit overwhelming, so please do go ahead and sample it on your skin if that initial impression leaves a bad taste in your mouth.  Once sprayed on the skin, it can still be a bit intimidating, but rest assured, the lion quickly turns into a lamb and the fruitiness that everyone spoke of begins to slowly introduce itself.

I wouldn’t, however, consider this a strictly fruity fragrance, or even a fruity floral fragrance.  While it is an eau de toilette and does indeed begin to fade rather quickly, it still does have a bit of a zest to it that most fruity, or fruity floral fragrances lack.  Halloween Kiss has a shy, sweet side, but once you get to know her, the stronger, bolder side surfaces.  Sort of like getting the quiet, timid girl liquored up and seeing how wild and crazy she can be – this is Halloween Kiss.  As a result, I’d consider this a floriental with a slight fruitiness to it.

While previously I was never at all interested in floriental fragrances on myself, lately I have noticed that my tastes are starting to broaden a bit (however, my true love still lies where it always has, and most likely always will), and I’m starting to like having a bit of a kick in my normal rotation of perfumes.  Unfortunately, I don’t think this will be that additional kick anytime soon.

That darn patchouli strikes again.  I’m not against this rich, earthy scent, but it’s just not for me.  It’s not strong or overpowering in the least bit with Halloween Kiss, however, I believe that without it I’d probably love this stuff.

For die hard fruity and/or floral fans, I’d say to skip Halloween Kiss.  Not that it’s bad, but, it’s just not what you’re looking or hoping for.

For those of you who tend to lean towards florientals and don’t mind a bit of a fruitiness to yours, this is right on par for you.

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First sniff (bottle): c

First sniff (skin): B

Worn scent: B

Staying power: B

Scent as compared to note(s): C-

Bottle: A-

Overall: B-

Not as fruity or sweet as it was cracked up to be, but a nice floriental if you’re looking to add a new one to your collection, or if you’ve been following J Del Pozos Halloween releases.

Girl Next Door

Girl Next Door is a scent achieved from two of Sula’s fragrances — Butterfly Kiss and Lily Lotus.  Both scents, as well as the layering pack,  are available from Ulta.

NOTES (Butterfly Kiss): freesia, heliotrope, and jasmine.

NOTES (Lily Lotus): water lily, lotus, freesia and a faint hint of mint.

Please note:  All grading is on Girl Next Door, which is Butterfly Kiss and Lily Lotus combined.

CLASSIFICATION: floral, fresh

AGE GROUP:  High School and up

SIMILAR SCENT(s): N/A

FORM: Eau De Parfum

I was beyond excited when an Ulta store opened up in my neighborhood, and it was there that I happened upon the Sula fragrance line.  I was entranced by the scents and the multiple layering sets they had available, and I quickly made it a point to sample Butterfly Kiss.  I loved it immediately.  A fresh, modern, and light floral that was slightly sweet and very pleasant.  I almost bought Butterfly Kiss that day, but it was so close to Christmas, and I had a fit of temporary insanity — I actually told myself that I had enough perfume.  What?

My sanity returned, and I ended up buying not just Butterfly Kiss, but the layering set which also contains Lily Lotus, as well. I did note that although Ulta is possibly the only store on the planet that sells this fragrance line, and despite their thousands of perfume testers available, they only had Butterfly Kiss available to sample.  Lily Lotus was happily sealed in the box, with no tester in sight.

I’m sure you can see where this is going.

Lily Lotus isn’t horrible, but it’s a bit strong.  Worn alone, it is almost a bit on the masculine side… if you can picture a man wearing a perfume called Lily Lotus, that is.  The “slight hint of mint” can indeed be smelled from the nozzle, but rest easy — you will not pick that up on skin.  I was counting on that.  It is not a horrible fragrance, but definitely not my style at all.  If I had purchased only Lily Lotus, it would have been already re-packaged and returned to Ulta.

A bit discouraged at this point, and also thinking that the layering set should have been named The Boy Next Door That Likes To Dress Up In His Mother’s Clothes, I decided to stick it out for reviewing purposes.  Directly on top of Lily Lotus, I sprayed a full spray of Butterfly Kiss, and waited patiently for the dry-down.

Surprisingly, the results were much better than anticipated.  While still slightly on the strong side of the floral realm, the two scents mixed together were better than either of them worn alone.  The masculine side of Lily Lotus was quieted down, and Butterfly Kiss received a bit of an shove onto the dark side that I didn’t even realize it needed.

I need to play around with the set more to perfect my ideal concoction, but ideally, I am thinking 1 part Lily Lotus to 2 parts Butterfly Kiss.  I personally recommend to spray Lily Lotus first so that it can act as a base, and then layer the lighter and fresher Butterfly Kiss on top of it.

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First sniff (bottle):  N/A, as I am grading the two fragrances combined

First sniff (skin):  B

Worn scent:  B+

Staying power: A

Scent as compared to note(s): A

Bottle:  C (Sure, gotta love the quiet simplicity of the sticker design, but the generic bottle design is just borrrrring)

Overall: B

This fragrance set is highly customizable and just plain fun to play around with.  Perfect for the jaded fragrance lover that is bored of the same ol’ same ol’, and perhaps wants to experiment with finding her perfect mix.  Check out Ulta for the other Sula layering sets — Vixen, Socialite, Beach Beauty, and Supermodel.   You’re bound to found something you’ll be able to connect with.

Petal

NOTES (as listed on avon.com): no real list of notes, however, it is described as “a youthful blush of fresh-blooming lily of the valley.”

CLASSIFICATION: floral

AGE GROUP: high school and up

SIMILAR SCENT(s): n/a

FORM: eau de toilette

I have wanted to sample both Petal and it’s “older” counterpart, Flower, ever since I first saw their debut in the ol’ Avon catalog.

A very cute idea, Petal and Flower are marketed as mother-daughter fragrances.  While Petal comes in a smaller, pink colored bottle, Flower comes in the same bottle, but white,  in a larger size.  Customer reviews of Petal enticed me as they described the scent as youthful, slightly sweet, and pleasantly floral.  It seemed to have had my name written all over it.

My first smell, from the nozzle directly, told me all that I thought I needed to know about it.  It was much stronger, both as far as the depth of the scent as well as the strength of it, than I was expecting – especially when taking into consideration that this is something for younger girls to wear.  It’s a singular floral, rather than a mixed bouquet of flowers.  It doesn’t have many facets (not that I was expecting it to).

I sprayed it on my skin and was immediately surprised.  Not sure if I got some sort of rotten mixture or what, but it was white and milky.  It did not sink into my skin very well, or very quickly.  Despite this odd start, I waited patiently with my wrist level so as not to lose any of the milky goodness.  Finally, it sunk in, and my first impression remained the same.

No doubt that this is a floral fragrance.  It is much stronger than I was expecting it to be, and it was also a bit more mature of a floral fragrance than I was expecting. If I had a daughter, I don’t think I would buy this for her unless she was well into her high school years.  While it is, as previously mentioned, a singular floral, this also has a bit of a grassiness to it, so this fragrance may be for you if you’re a greeny/crispy floral fragrance fan.

Despite what you would probably expect for a young girl’s perfume, this has great staying power.  Reapplication would be the last thing on your, or your daughter’s, mind.  Since it is not a particularly multifaceted fragrance, the consistency is quite dependable.  No surprises here.

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First sniff (bottle): B-

First sniff (skin): C

Worn scent: C

Staying power: A

Scent as compared to note(s): A

Bottle: B

Overall: C

Pretty strong, as far as how it is marketed, and for who it is “made for.”  While I wouldn’t recommend this for young(er) girls, if you are a true fan of floral fragrances, this may be worth a shot if you can find it at a good enough price.  It’s a very fresh-cut-flowers smell.

NOTES (as listed on fragrantica.com): freesia, mango, citruses, tuberose, gardenia, rose, sandalwood, musk, valencia orange flower

CLASSIFICATION: floral, feminine, very slightly fruity

AGE GROUP: high school/college and up

SIMILAR SCENT(s): n/a

FORM: eau de parfum

Ahh yes, another celebrity perfume.  Most perfume snobs practically burst into flames when coming into contact with their nemesis, the celebrity perfume.  We here at Scent Addicts love em!  More power to all of the marketable celebrities out there.  More perfumes for us to review that way!

So, here it is – Inspire by Christina Aguilera.  I’m a Christina fan – not die hard or obsessive, but I’ve generally enjoyed her music through the years and she’s never really gotten on my nerves.  When I heard she was coming out with a fragrance, I was excited, and ultra curious.  Christina is saucy, to say the least, and I was therefore assuming that her fragrance would be on the spicier side.  I couldn’t wait to catch a whiff and find out.

I had read somewhere that it was a “fresh” fragrance, which threw me through a loop.  At this point, I was on the edge of my seat.  Upon initial sampling (as in, spraying it on a piece of paper) at my local department store, I didn’t dislike it, but I wasn’t necessarily impressed.  It wasn’t something that I wouldn’t wear if it were in front of me, but it also wasn’t something that I felt the need to spray myself with, either.

The time finally has come that I devoted my wrist to Inspire, to give it a worthy review, and pick apart it’s every facet.

Call me crazy, but when I sniff Inspire from the nozzle of the bottle, I somehow get a slight banana smell out of it.  Maybe it’s just my nose that detects this, maybe not.  This sets the tone for the rest of the strong feminine and ever so slightly fruity fragrance.

Inspire is described as a floral, or more specifically, white floral fragrance.  While it is indeed floral, such a description doesn’t do it’s very aromatic scent justice.  It’s floral with an added sweetness, and extra pinch of femininity.  This probably sounds good to any fruity floral fragance lovers out there, however, sometimes one can have too much of a good thing.

I’m not quite sure whether Inspire constitutes as such.  As I sniff it from the bottle and on my wrist, there is absolutely nothing that I dislike.  I can’t quite put my finger on whether I love it enough to wear it regularly or if it’s too floral-y and sweet to pull off having in a normal rotation.  This is definitely a girlie scent, which I like.. but I also generally prefer that my girlie scents are, while they indeed must have a little bit of a bite to them, just a tiny bit softer.  I suppose that this desire of mine will indeed slowly take effect throughout the duration of my wear time, though, so this isn’t a huge deal.

Is it a good thing, or a bad thing, that Inspire is a very strong fragrance, and borderlines being overwhelming?  Can a gal ever really find the perfect intensity for her perfume – isn’t it always wearing off too fast, or way too strong to the point of choking strangers as you walk past?  While Inspire isn’t that strong, it’s a very intense, rich scent, so sprayer beware – and may I remind you that I am a very sparing sprayer, myself.

Let’s get down to the nitty gritty of the actual scent itself.  I do smell the tuberose in Inspire, which is, at least according to what I have read in countless articles, what Christina Aguilera wanted to base this fragrance around.  I also smell a pleasant (albeit it, in case you didn’t catch my drift earlier, strong) array of feminine florals, and a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down.  I must admit, I do enjoy the sweetness of the floral bouquet in Inspire. Many times, at least in my experience, with floral perfumes they can be a bit bitter, or become too woodsy.  No need to worry about that happening with Inspire.

In a nutshell, it’s sweet, it’s floral, it’s feminine.  I think if Britney’s name were on it, it would have received a lot more flack than it did.  Do I like it? Yes.  Could I potentially love it? Certainly.  I need a few more trial runs before I can successfully determine whether it’s rotation worthy, or just something that I will end up admiring from afar.  If I had to put money on it today, I’d bet that I’ll be adding this puppy to my perfume shelf in no time.

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First sniff (bottle): B-

First sniff (skin): B

Worn scent: A-

Staying power: A++

Scent as compared to note(s): A

Bottle: B- (not bad, but just doesn’t do anything for me)

Overall: A-

Sweet, strong, floral, and feminine.  If that sounds as good to you as it does to me, what are you waiting for?  Go sample it today.

NOTES (as listed on perfume.com): crushed raspberry leaves, freesia, jasmine, apple blossom, lily of the valley, wild cyclamen, amber, precious woods, transparent musk

CLASSIFICATION: clean, feminine

AGE GROUP: perfect for any age

SIMILAR SCENT(s): n/a

FORM: eau de parfum

While there isn’t much to say about OP Juice, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.  If you’re looking for a nice perfume that isn’t too complex, this is your man.. err, girl?

While the notes would lead you to believe that this is a fruity floral drenched in delicious sweetness, it’s not.  Instead, it’s a simple, clean smelling fragrance that evokes a very feminine aura.  It’s nice.  And that’s that.  Sometimes it’s a good thing not to have a list of so many bad things, or not being able to put your finger on what you like, about a fragrance.  Such is the case here.  This is just a relaxed, girlie scent.

My only complaint is that, especially with this being an eau de parfum, the staying power leaves a lot to be desired.  Such matches the light and airy personality of this fragrance, though.  If you do end up being a fan, get ready for some serious reapplication throughout the day.

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First sniff (bottle): B-

First sniff (skin): B-

Worn scent: C

Staying power: D

Scent as compared to note(s): C

Bottle: D+

Overall: C-

Don’t get me wrong, OP Juice is a very nice smell.  I enjoy the clean femininity about it.  Combine it’s simplicity with lack of staying power, in addition to being unfortunately forgettable, and you have an average-smelling fragrance. I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a non-offensive scent to wear around the house or out running errands, or even for a bit of a younger crowed – middle school and up.

Rock 'n Rose Prêt à Porter

NOTES (as listed on fragrantica.com): bergamot, black currant, crispy green, cassis, rose, gardenia, lily of the valley, orange blossom, sandalwood, orris root, musk, vanilla, heliotrope

CLASSIFICATION: floral, slightly powdery, feminine

AGE GROUP:  College

SIMILAR SCENT(s): N/A

FORM: Eau De Toilette

Rock n’ Rose Pret A Porter is a fresh, floral fragrance that makes me feel significantly more feminine than most perfumes.  At first spray, it is quite possibly my favorite scent ever.  Soon after initial application, however, the powdery notes become more prominent.  While this doesn’t ruin the fragrance, it doesn’t help it.

Despite the powdery spin on the perfume, I do enjoy it.  It is ultra modern, and a deliciously light spin off the original Rock n’ Rose (which, to me, is simply too much rose).  Pret A Porter is obviously aimed at the younger crowd, and perhaps it would fit in quite nicely, if not for the dry down.

It is not overly rosy, although I can detect just a hint of roses from the fragrance.  Admittedly, I was a bit worried about that aspect of the fragrance — let the buyer beware that if you love roses, the perfume name may be a bit misleading to you.  I was fortunate enough to sample this juice at my local mall before finding it way (and I mean waaaay) cheaper at TJ Maxx.  a 1.6fl oz bottle only cost $29.00 USD before tax!

I read on a few different websites that the staying power of this perfume was a bit of a joke.  I didn’t have a problem with that all.  After hours, I can still smell it on my skin.  The scent is pretty consistent after initial dry-down, as well.  No complaints from me.

It goes without saying that I will be adding this to my collection, even despite the powdery notes that I generally detest in fragrances.  Although this is aimed at the young perfume wearer for casual occassions, I feel that it is one of the more mature scents that I own — in a light, fresh, and feminine way.

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First sniff (bottle): A

First sniff (skin): A+

Worn scent: B+

Staying power: A

Scent as compared to note(s): A

Bottle: C

Overall:  B+

I recommend Pret A Porter to college aged and older women that want an elegant (yet light!) spring or summertime fragrance.  I feel that it can be dressed up or down, but mostly up.  And, don’t forget to check your local TJ Maxx to see if they have any in stock — you’ll save a bundle.

NOTES (as listed on fragrancenet.com): red sake accord, bergamot, blood orange, nectarine, sandalwood, patchouli black currant, pink peppercorn, forbidden plum, jasmine, cedarwood, sensual musk

CLASSIFICATION: unique, floral, earthy

AGE GROUP: college

SIMILAR SCENT(s): n/a

FORM: eau de parfum

Through and through, and no matter how much crap I get for it, I am a true fruity, floral fragrance lover.  Unfortunately, I did not smell the overwhelming strawberriness that others seemed to when they smelled the first Ed Hardy scent, nor did I get any sort of fruity feel from it.  With the bad track record with Ed Hardy, and from some of the notes listed for Love and Luck for Women (red sake accord and patchouli black currant, specifically), I must admit that I was less than thrilled to sample this scent.

Much, much, much, much to my surprise – I love it!  I’m not sure if it’s “for me,” necessarily, but I really do enjoy this scent.  It’s pleasant, calm, and earthy – and if you consider earthy a bad thing, it’s meant to be a compliment here.

The consistency of this fragrance deserves lots of praise.  From the initial spray while my wrist was still wet, to a couple of hours later – smells exactly the same.  No surprises with this stuff (I personally am not a fan of surprises in fragrances turning into something totally different after a little while of wear)! Score!

This is a very calming, pleasing scent that reminds me of my favorite time of year – late Summer/early Fall.  Love and Luck for Women isn’t strictly a cool or warm weather fragrance, it’s just an all around nice and non-offensive (at least to my nose) aroma.

While some of the other notes (bergamot, forbidden plum, jasmine) may lead you to believe that this is a fruity/floral fragrance, it’s not.  While there is a femininity to this one, it’s not what I would consider a feminine perfume (it is certainly not masculine, though), and while it is slightly floral, it’s not so floral that someone who typically dislikes floral scents would automatically dislike this one.

Love and Luck for Women is a pleasant surprise!  While I’m not sure if it’s something I’d like to add to my collection, I’m almost positive there is a mini of this in my future for further sampling.

REPORT CARD

(We highly recommend reading our guide to understanding our grading system if you haven’t already)

First sniff (bottle): B

First sniff (skin): A

Worn scent: A

Staying power: A

Scent as compared to note(s): B

Bottle: A- (it’s unique, and I love the tattoo inspiration behind it)

Overall: A

If you’re looking for a pleasant, non-offensive change of pace from the normal floral and/or earthy fragrances, give this a shot.  For die hard fruity/floral fans who are scared – don’t be!  Give it a sample spray the next time you’re at your local department store.