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A strawberry/tiare/coconut treat
I have had this perfume for a while, so today's its day in the sun!
I was originally eager to try this because I love coconut and heady tropical flowers like frangipani and tiare; I can tolerate jasmine and gardenia when they are in supporting roles, otherwise they become a bit headache-inducing to me. They are supporting here. Upon first spray, the sweet and juicy strawberry is very prevalent. It fades within 15 minutes into the florals with a strong dose of coconut. Parfumo calls it "coco blossom," but another perfume site calls it "coconut." To me, it smells like coconut, but it is not strong like suntan lotion. The base notes are stuffed so far in the background so as to be unobtrusive, and by the time the base notes do roll around, one can hardly detect this perfume on the skin.
This is an ideal perfume to make one feel as if one is on holiday in the tropics. However, I am disappointed in it. Sillage is very weak after less than half an hour, and longevity is poor, as well. I love Guerlain's Terracotta, and I had hopes that this would be similar. In comparison, Gold smells thinner and less heady than Terracotta. The tiare in the Terracotta is richer and better balanced. Gold feels watery and inferior; it is also much sweeter, due to the strawberry note. So, performance-wise Gold is not in the same league as the Terracotta, and I paid more for the Gold!
That said, I do like it. I feel that it is suitable for daytime wear, whereas Terracotta is best at night. Gold can transcend all seasons but is perhaps best suited to warmer weather.
The bottle is okay. It feels substantial in the hand, but the font and gold graphics kind of look as if a middle schooler had designed it. It suffices, but I've seen better examples of class and elegance in other bottles costing far less. The sprayer is sufficient--partly misty/part targeted spray.
If I had never experienced Terracotta, I might have rated this one higher. The scent alone is a 7 out of 10. But I am nevertheless compelled to rate this an overall 6 out of 10. Had it been developed with more staying power, stronger sillage, and a better bottle, it might have made it to 8/10. But as it is such a large bottle, I don't feel bad using 20 sprays throughout the day. When the bottle is gone, I will likely not repurchase. If you are waffling between the two, take my advice and buy the Guerlain.
I was originally eager to try this because I love coconut and heady tropical flowers like frangipani and tiare; I can tolerate jasmine and gardenia when they are in supporting roles, otherwise they become a bit headache-inducing to me. They are supporting here. Upon first spray, the sweet and juicy strawberry is very prevalent. It fades within 15 minutes into the florals with a strong dose of coconut. Parfumo calls it "coco blossom," but another perfume site calls it "coconut." To me, it smells like coconut, but it is not strong like suntan lotion. The base notes are stuffed so far in the background so as to be unobtrusive, and by the time the base notes do roll around, one can hardly detect this perfume on the skin.
This is an ideal perfume to make one feel as if one is on holiday in the tropics. However, I am disappointed in it. Sillage is very weak after less than half an hour, and longevity is poor, as well. I love Guerlain's Terracotta, and I had hopes that this would be similar. In comparison, Gold smells thinner and less heady than Terracotta. The tiare in the Terracotta is richer and better balanced. Gold feels watery and inferior; it is also much sweeter, due to the strawberry note. So, performance-wise Gold is not in the same league as the Terracotta, and I paid more for the Gold!
That said, I do like it. I feel that it is suitable for daytime wear, whereas Terracotta is best at night. Gold can transcend all seasons but is perhaps best suited to warmer weather.
The bottle is okay. It feels substantial in the hand, but the font and gold graphics kind of look as if a middle schooler had designed it. It suffices, but I've seen better examples of class and elegance in other bottles costing far less. The sprayer is sufficient--partly misty/part targeted spray.
If I had never experienced Terracotta, I might have rated this one higher. The scent alone is a 7 out of 10. But I am nevertheless compelled to rate this an overall 6 out of 10. Had it been developed with more staying power, stronger sillage, and a better bottle, it might have made it to 8/10. But as it is such a large bottle, I don't feel bad using 20 sprays throughout the day. When the bottle is gone, I will likely not repurchase. If you are waffling between the two, take my advice and buy the Guerlain.
Marshmallow comparison part 2
I recently received a sample of Dolce & Gabbana Pour Femme (the new one from 2012). I really like its marshmallow note, so today I sprayed one arm with it and the other arm with Mariah Carey M to compare this note.
At first, I liked D&G better; it smelled subtler and more refined. Once the heart notes were reached, I liked the M better because it was richer, deeper, and more floral--the gardenia and tiare were really shining through the marshmallow sweetness. In comparison, the D&G smelled like Smarties Candies on my skin; the M definitely had more depth.
Now I've reached the base notes, and the M is a barely-there incense, while the D&G is still sweet with a slight bit of neroli peeking through.
I don't know which one I prefer. The marshmallow note is carried differently by both perfumes. If I had to hazard a statement, I'd say the D&G is best for daytime wear and/or spring and summer wear, as it is lighter and won't knock anyone over the head. M is best suited for evening use and/or fall and winter wear, as it is deeper and richer and has better sillage. Try one during the day and spray the other on at night!
At first, I liked D&G better; it smelled subtler and more refined. Once the heart notes were reached, I liked the M better because it was richer, deeper, and more floral--the gardenia and tiare were really shining through the marshmallow sweetness. In comparison, the D&G smelled like Smarties Candies on my skin; the M definitely had more depth.
Now I've reached the base notes, and the M is a barely-there incense, while the D&G is still sweet with a slight bit of neroli peeking through.
I don't know which one I prefer. The marshmallow note is carried differently by both perfumes. If I had to hazard a statement, I'd say the D&G is best for daytime wear and/or spring and summer wear, as it is lighter and won't knock anyone over the head. M is best suited for evening use and/or fall and winter wear, as it is deeper and richer and has better sillage. Try one during the day and spray the other on at night!
Marshmallow comparison
I recently received a sample of Dolce & Gabbana Pour Femme (the new one from 2012). I really like its marshmallow note, so today I sprayed one arm with it and the other arm with Mariah Carey M to compare this note.
At first, I liked D&G better; it smelled subtler and more refined. Once the heart notes were reached, I liked the M better because it was richer, deeper, and more floral--the gardenia and tiare were really shining through the marshmallow sweetness. In comparison, the D&G smelled like Smarties Candies on my skin; the M definitely had more depth.
Now I've reached the base notes, and the M is a barely-there incense, while the D&G is still sweet with a slight bit of neroli peeking through.
I don't know which one I prefer. The marshmallow note is carried differently by both perfumes. If I had to hazard a statement, I'd say the D&G is best for daytime wear and/or spring and summer wear, as it is lighter and won't knock anyone over the head. M is best suited for evening use and/or fall and winter wear, as it is deeper and richer and has better sillage. Try one during the day and spray the other on at night!
At first, I liked D&G better; it smelled subtler and more refined. Once the heart notes were reached, I liked the M better because it was richer, deeper, and more floral--the gardenia and tiare were really shining through the marshmallow sweetness. In comparison, the D&G smelled like Smarties Candies on my skin; the M definitely had more depth.
Now I've reached the base notes, and the M is a barely-there incense, while the D&G is still sweet with a slight bit of neroli peeking through.
I don't know which one I prefer. The marshmallow note is carried differently by both perfumes. If I had to hazard a statement, I'd say the D&G is best for daytime wear and/or spring and summer wear, as it is lighter and won't knock anyone over the head. M is best suited for evening use and/or fall and winter wear, as it is deeper and richer and has better sillage. Try one during the day and spray the other on at night!
Blind-buy Gem!
I saw this in my local Marshall's in a gift set (full-sized perfume, body wash, and lotion) for only $15. I returned it to the shelf and left the store, but I kept thinking about it. Marshall's usually doesn't have scents that I've never heard of!!! I went on to read up on reviews about it, and it contains some of my beloved perfume notes: orange blossom, amber, and musk. I was very intrigued about it because I had never seen nor heard of this perfume before and was worried that Marshall's would not continue to carry it. I ended up going back to buy it. It's a wonderful scent and such a steal!
The very first thing I smell upon application is the bergamot. I do not like bergamot, personally, but very quickly--within seconds--the orange blossom joins the party, and it is wondrous! I love the melding of the orange blossom into the ginger, and then the other florals join in, making this a gently spicy/sweet floral. It is really beautiful. It does have a bit of an oriental vibe, but I would not call this outright spicy. Amber and musk are strong supporting partners, and the drydown is delicious. I don't get much patch or cedar. Cedar turns tangy on me, and I don't experience an overload of that here.
Sadly, the performance of this gem is not very good. Sillage is barely within arms' length, and the longevity is maybe a couple of hours. These two facts keep this from being a 10 out of 10 for me.
But it is a very warm, resinous, and cozy scent while it lasts. It is best for the autumn and winter seasons and evenings out. But as the sillage is low, this could be a suitable fragrance for office, school, and church.
If you should find this for such a low cost, snap it up! It is definitely worth it.
The very first thing I smell upon application is the bergamot. I do not like bergamot, personally, but very quickly--within seconds--the orange blossom joins the party, and it is wondrous! I love the melding of the orange blossom into the ginger, and then the other florals join in, making this a gently spicy/sweet floral. It is really beautiful. It does have a bit of an oriental vibe, but I would not call this outright spicy. Amber and musk are strong supporting partners, and the drydown is delicious. I don't get much patch or cedar. Cedar turns tangy on me, and I don't experience an overload of that here.
Sadly, the performance of this gem is not very good. Sillage is barely within arms' length, and the longevity is maybe a couple of hours. These two facts keep this from being a 10 out of 10 for me.
But it is a very warm, resinous, and cozy scent while it lasts. It is best for the autumn and winter seasons and evenings out. But as the sillage is low, this could be a suitable fragrance for office, school, and church.
If you should find this for such a low cost, snap it up! It is definitely worth it.
Smells just like the beautiful bottle would have you believe! Delish!
Wow! What a gorgeous little bottle of a shell! It has some gold flecks in it. And naturally, it has been discontinued, which just goes to show you--people don't know what's good.
I smell honey. There are no honey notes listed, but that's the sort of syrupy-gooey smell I'm perceiving. I normally don't like watery florals like freesia, but the structure of the stronger-smelling florals (carnation, jasmine, ylang-ylang) drown out the freesia, thankfully. I do get a semblance of peach, which is Grosjman's signature note. I normally avoid anything with peach because it usually devolves into canned peaches on my skin, but here it's lying under the mix and not wreaking havoc. I do think it's contributing to that honey note I'm smelling, but it is not bad. I grant you, I don't like honey OR peach in my perfumes, but here there are other things happening that keep me thinking this is more of a grown-up floral. It's a bit sweet, but not too much. The tarragon is an interesting addition. It's not overtly herbal, but it keeps the sweetness dialed down. I admit: Very interesting top notes! This is definitely a 90's perfume. I miss them. Don't get me wrong: I do love many of the modern fruity-gourmands, but I long for thick florals like they used to make them in the 90's (and the 80's, to a lesser extent--Poison, Giorgio, Liz Claiborne...those were killer!!).
Sillage is impressive. It's not as bold as Givenchy Organza or JPG Classique, but it's close. The floral vibe I'm getting here is in the same vein as the Organza, but with more honey/peach and less nutmeg/floral. Both have delicious vanilla in the drydown. Mouthwatering.
Longevity seems to run all day, especially in hair. It's smells fabulous, wafting around me! I like it a lot.
I think this one could be suitable for the office, school, or church, but don't over-apply. I, personally, would wear this one in summer because I love big, loud, syrupy florals in the oppressive heat, but I know that I'm odd, and this scent may not work for everyone in high summer. It's great for fall, winter, and spring though, and also for evenings out. Or evenings in, as it's quite cozy.
Overall, I give this one a 7.5 out of 10. But it may grow on me in time. It also may be less honeyed in cold weather. I look forward to the adventure!
I smell honey. There are no honey notes listed, but that's the sort of syrupy-gooey smell I'm perceiving. I normally don't like watery florals like freesia, but the structure of the stronger-smelling florals (carnation, jasmine, ylang-ylang) drown out the freesia, thankfully. I do get a semblance of peach, which is Grosjman's signature note. I normally avoid anything with peach because it usually devolves into canned peaches on my skin, but here it's lying under the mix and not wreaking havoc. I do think it's contributing to that honey note I'm smelling, but it is not bad. I grant you, I don't like honey OR peach in my perfumes, but here there are other things happening that keep me thinking this is more of a grown-up floral. It's a bit sweet, but not too much. The tarragon is an interesting addition. It's not overtly herbal, but it keeps the sweetness dialed down. I admit: Very interesting top notes! This is definitely a 90's perfume. I miss them. Don't get me wrong: I do love many of the modern fruity-gourmands, but I long for thick florals like they used to make them in the 90's (and the 80's, to a lesser extent--Poison, Giorgio, Liz Claiborne...those were killer!!).
Sillage is impressive. It's not as bold as Givenchy Organza or JPG Classique, but it's close. The floral vibe I'm getting here is in the same vein as the Organza, but with more honey/peach and less nutmeg/floral. Both have delicious vanilla in the drydown. Mouthwatering.
Longevity seems to run all day, especially in hair. It's smells fabulous, wafting around me! I like it a lot.
I think this one could be suitable for the office, school, or church, but don't over-apply. I, personally, would wear this one in summer because I love big, loud, syrupy florals in the oppressive heat, but I know that I'm odd, and this scent may not work for everyone in high summer. It's great for fall, winter, and spring though, and also for evenings out. Or evenings in, as it's quite cozy.
Overall, I give this one a 7.5 out of 10. But it may grow on me in time. It also may be less honeyed in cold weather. I look forward to the adventure!
