1st quarter Fragrance Tray
I’ve been in the mood for some rose-centric scents, so this tray has a bit of that as well as some vanillas and ambery scents. Also, all price ranges as I find that there are gems to be had in each category. From affordable, to designer, to Niche. From celebrity to middle eastern to French. I love it all.
Left to right, back to front:
• Lancôme Idole Now and Idole- regular Idole is probably one of my most worn fragrances and it was such a sleeper hit. I thought it was so boring at first, and now I can’t live without it. It’s a fresh and clean shampooey, slightly woody, pink rose with a bit of sweetness. Idole Now is kinda like Prada Paradoxe, except where Paradoxe features Jasmine, Idole Now features rose.
• Carolina Herrera Very Good Girl- I prefer original good girl, but my craving for roses led me to include this version on my tray for now.
• Donna Karan Cashmere and Palo Santo- a warm, ambery vanillla. Palo Santo is present, but slightly more in the background than a main character. I get mostly a warm, suede-like vanilla with a bit of peach or apricot. Has pretty decent longevity and makes me feel comforted.
• Dior J’Adore Infinissime- a bright and ladylike white floral, with a hint of a vintage vibe. My favorite version of J’Adore.
• Boucheron Ambre D’Alexandrie- this is from their more expensive line. It’s among the lines of Hermes Ambre Narguile, Kilian’s Angel Share, PDM Oajan, Arabian Oud Blue Moon, Attar collection Blue Moon and so forth. I’m sure there are many more fragrances in the same scent family, as it’s really gorgeous. I would say that this one, while delivering a the same feeling, does it with a bit of restraint. I don’t find this to be very loud or obnoxious, nor do I find it to be too sweet. Though it does project, last all day, and is certainly sweet. It’s hard to describe. If you like this scent profile, you’d probably love this one. And even though it’s more expensive than the brand’s regular line, it’s still a lot more affordable than other smell-alikes.
• Lattafa Mohra Silky Rose- I’ve heard it said that this is a dupe for Penhaligon’s The Favourite. I have never tried that one, so I can’t confirm. But to me, this is a much prettier take on Delina. It’s softer, and more delicate. It makes me think of what a ballerina would wear. I’ve had this for about a year, and the bottle definitely benefited from time. It used to have a quality about it that made me feel a bit sick, but that’s completely gone now. It’s so pretty.
• Regime Des Fleurs Little Flower- for a long time, this was one of my favorite rose scents of all time. I don’t know why I never bought it. I received this as a Christmas gift, and I don’t know how I went so long without owning it. It has always had this effect on me where it makes me feel dreamy and reflective. It’s another bright, clean rose, with palo santo and tea. It lasts like 10+ hours on me, but it isn’t loud. Though I wouldn’t say it’s completely quiet either. People close to me notice it, but it’s not a room filler. It’s really stunning.
• Lattafa Mazaaji- This was another one that benefited from time. Really, most of my lattafas have needed time. This one is a very interesting white floral and rose with a big dose of honey. I’d say it’s equal parts floral and honey, and it’s more of a perfume honey than a gourmand honey. There’s a sweetness to it, but this would be a fragrance for floral lovers not gourmand lovers. It’s very pretty, and has good lasting power.
• Boucheron Place Vendome- this is probably the prettiest, highest quality bottle I’ve ever seen for an affordable fragrance. It’s a slightly woody, honeyed white floral, but I’d say this is done in a more Chanel style… so it’s clean, aldehydic, and has a work/office feel to it. It sits fairly close to the skin, so it’s not intrusive, and it lasts about 4-5 hrs.
• Maison Crivelli Iris Malikhan- this is a warm and ambery Iris. Most of my iris perfumes are cold and austere, this one is the opposite. It’s so beautiful to me.
• Givenchy Irresistible- In my opinion, this is a lot like Idole, but not as good. I’m sure some of you will disagree with me on that, and I do still like it, and sometimes find myself in the mood for it. I’d say while still clean, it’s less shampooey than Idole. And maybe a touch sweeter.
• Jovoy Remember Me- this is a comforting tea scent that reminds me of earl grey with milk… or I guess a London fog. Interestingly, it also reminds me of a bowl of fruity pebbles and milk. I really enjoy this a lot, it puts a smile on my face.
• Kayali Sweet Diamond Pink Pepper- this is along the lines of Shaghaf Oud, roses Vanille, etc. but I find this to be a fluffier take on the scent profile. It really makes me imagine a fluffy texture when I spray it. Whereas other brands have a bit more of a velvety quality and sometimes more of a smoky quality. I like other brands offering of this scent profile too. If you aren’t familiar with it, it’s sugary rose, a big dose of saffron, vanilla and a touch of Oud.
• Kylie Jenner Cosmic- My son gave this to me for Christmas. It actually smells really good, and the bottle/cap are very nice quality. The cap is actually weighted like some of the more expensive brands do. It lasts 7-8 hrs, which I think is really good especially for its price range and the fact that it’s a celebrity perfume. I know a lot of people won’t buy it on principle, but if you do ever want to try it… it’s really pretty in my opinion. It’s like fruity floral musk with a bit of vanilla and ambery notes.
I’ve been in the mood for some rose-centric scents, so this tray has a bit of that as well as some vanillas and ambery scents. Also, all price ranges as I find that there are gems to be had in each category. From affordable, to designer, to Niche. From celebrity to middle eastern to French. I love it all.
Left to right, back to front:
• Lancôme Idole Now and Idole- regular Idole is probably one of my most worn fragrances and it was such a sleeper hit. I thought it was so boring at first, and now I can’t live without it. It’s a fresh and clean shampooey, slightly woody, pink rose with a bit of sweetness. Idole Now is kinda like Prada Paradoxe, except where Paradoxe features Jasmine, Idole Now features rose.
• Carolina Herrera Very Good Girl- I prefer original good girl, but my craving for roses led me to include this version on my tray for now.
• Donna Karan Cashmere and Palo Santo- a warm, ambery vanillla. Palo Santo is present, but slightly more in the background than a main character. I get mostly a warm, suede-like vanilla with a bit of peach or apricot. Has pretty decent longevity and makes me feel comforted.
• Dior J’Adore Infinissime- a bright and ladylike white floral, with a hint of a vintage vibe. My favorite version of J’Adore.
• Boucheron Ambre D’Alexandrie- this is from their more expensive line. It’s among the lines of Hermes Ambre Narguile, Kilian’s Angel Share, PDM Oajan, Arabian Oud Blue Moon, Attar collection Blue Moon and so forth. I’m sure there are many more fragrances in the same scent family, as it’s really gorgeous. I would say that this one, while delivering a the same feeling, does it with a bit of restraint. I don’t find this to be very loud or obnoxious, nor do I find it to be too sweet. Though it does project, last all day, and is certainly sweet. It’s hard to describe. If you like this scent profile, you’d probably love this one. And even though it’s more expensive than the brand’s regular line, it’s still a lot more affordable than other smell-alikes.
• Lattafa Mohra Silky Rose- I’ve heard it said that this is a dupe for Penhaligon’s The Favourite. I have never tried that one, so I can’t confirm. But to me, this is a much prettier take on Delina. It’s softer, and more delicate. It makes me think of what a ballerina would wear. I’ve had this for about a year, and the bottle definitely benefited from time. It used to have a quality about it that made me feel a bit sick, but that’s completely gone now. It’s so pretty.
• Regime Des Fleurs Little Flower- for a long time, this was one of my favorite rose scents of all time. I don’t know why I never bought it. I received this as a Christmas gift, and I don’t know how I went so long without owning it. It has always had this effect on me where it makes me feel dreamy and reflective. It’s another bright, clean rose, with palo santo and tea. It lasts like 10+ hours on me, but it isn’t loud. Though I wouldn’t say it’s completely quiet either. People close to me notice it, but it’s not a room filler. It’s really stunning.
• Lattafa Mazaaji- This was another one that benefited from time. Really, most of my lattafas have needed time. This one is a very interesting white floral and rose with a big dose of honey. I’d say it’s equal parts floral and honey, and it’s more of a perfume honey than a gourmand honey. There’s a sweetness to it, but this would be a fragrance for floral lovers not gourmand lovers. It’s very pretty, and has good lasting power.
• Boucheron Place Vendome- this is probably the prettiest, highest quality bottle I’ve ever seen for an affordable fragrance. It’s a slightly woody, honeyed white floral, but I’d say this is done in a more Chanel style… so it’s clean, aldehydic, and has a work/office feel to it. It sits fairly close to the skin, so it’s not intrusive, and it lasts about 4-5 hrs.
• Maison Crivelli Iris Malikhan- this is a warm and ambery Iris. Most of my iris perfumes are cold and austere, this one is the opposite. It’s so beautiful to me.
• Givenchy Irresistible- In my opinion, this is a lot like Idole, but not as good. I’m sure some of you will disagree with me on that, and I do still like it, and sometimes find myself in the mood for it. I’d say while still clean, it’s less shampooey than Idole. And maybe a touch sweeter.
• Jovoy Remember Me- this is a comforting tea scent that reminds me of earl grey with milk… or I guess a London fog. Interestingly, it also reminds me of a bowl of fruity pebbles and milk. I really enjoy this a lot, it puts a smile on my face.
• Kayali Sweet Diamond Pink Pepper- this is along the lines of Shaghaf Oud, roses Vanille, etc. but I find this to be a fluffier take on the scent profile. It really makes me imagine a fluffy texture when I spray it. Whereas other brands have a bit more of a velvety quality and sometimes more of a smoky quality. I like other brands offering of this scent profile too. If you aren’t familiar with it, it’s sugary rose, a big dose of saffron, vanilla and a touch of Oud.
• Kylie Jenner Cosmic- My son gave this to me for Christmas. It actually smells really good, and the bottle/cap are very nice quality. The cap is actually weighted like some of the more expensive brands do. It lasts 7-8 hrs, which I think is really good especially for its price range and the fact that it’s a celebrity perfume. I know a lot of people won’t buy it on principle, but if you do ever want to try it… it’s really pretty in my opinion. It’s like fruity floral musk with a bit of vanilla and ambery notes.