Worth • Courtesan • Fragrances

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*TOP REVIEWER* FlameDancer on 12/24/2012 8:14:00 PM more reviews by FlameDancer

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Hazel    

I've been wearing Courtesan for 3 days now, and having swapped for it unsniffed, I am happy to say that it's a real winner for me.


Like other reviewers have noted, it is subtle, but definitely present, with an average sillage that fades considerably in less than 3 hours, and then it becomes a subtle skin-scent.


Courtesan is lovely to me because it's a slightly sweet, ultra-feminine fluffy white-marabou powderpuff scent, but it has a bit of slightly tart pineapple and a very piquant, spicy warmth to it, too, without delving into oriental or gourmand territory. It starts with light, sweet pineapple, which to my nose isn't oppressively sweet in the least because it's a dry, high-pitched sweetness, laced with classic rose-violet floral notes and face powder.


There's a strong undercurrent of dry, hot spice, which seems like a perfect blend of cinnamon and cedar with a sigh of cumin. I usually detest cumin in fragrance, but here it's very light and lends humanity to the perfume. The effect smelled instantly familiar -- hot, dry skin, warmed by the sun or sauna in a dry heat, with no glow of perspiration at all.


I don't find Courtesan over-the-top sexy, but it *is* an unmistakeably high-femme fragrance with hints of clean, warm skin, which make it feel intimate. I see myself wearing this more at home and to bed than out. The notes stay pretty linear throughout, but eventually blend into one-another in a perfect, cuddly radiation of warmth.


It's not a remarkable perfume to me, but it's an easy, appealing pick for ultra-feminine, classic, but never dated moments.

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debrsl on 12/10/2012 4:38:00 PM more reviews by debrsl

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Sadly, I couldn't get past the extremely sweet pineapple in the beginning. It was really intense on me.

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cdlloyd on 10/12/2012 8:47:00 PM more reviews by cdlloyd

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Other, Cool   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I bought this fabulous perfume having never smelled it first! (Quelle Horreur!) I bought this fabulous perfume on the recommendation of some fellow Perfumistas whose opinions I value - some of them on various perfume blogs, and some of them right here on MUA.

It happens that I adore Courtesan. It is a beautiful yet subtle fragrance. There is something vaguely familiar about it, not that it smells like a particular perfume I already know, but that it smells like a wonderful amalgam of feminine things. To my nose, it smells like a boudoir -- like one has just entered the dressing room of a Courtesan who has prepared for an evening at the Opera -- traces of perfume hang in the air, there is a subtle suggestion of face powder and lipstick, there is the delicate scent of silk stockings, possibly worn during the day and now hang carefully, draped over a dressing screen. I can smell the warmth of skin, fresh from a steamy bath.
That is my impression of Courtesan by Worth. I think the creator of this perfume, Pierre Bourdon, has captured the essence of how that elegant boudoir, belonging to a beautiful Courtesan, might smell upon entrance to that special domain.
Courtesan is somehow familiar, but it is different enough, and changeable enough to be a delight to wear from beginning to end. It wears lightly on my skin, but has enough presence to be detectable from close proximity. It is the kind of scent that I don't think most people would identify as "perfume" - it is the kind of scent that would elicit the simple comment "oh, you smell nice!"

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*TOP REVIEWER* BigEars on 7/6/2012 11:34:00 AM more reviews by BigEars

Age: 44-55   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

One of the sexiest scents out there. It is a sweet spicy scent with notes of the bakery and apothecary. I get mixed spice, honey and vanilla. Lovely and unusual and doesn't get nearly enough love imo

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*TOP REVIEWER* Moonchitaa on 12/4/2011 11:15:00 AM more reviews by Moonchitaa

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Black, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

Good Lord this scent is sexy! It certainly has the right name because I find this scent to be outrageously carnal and alluring. It is a floriental really, with top notes of fruit drenched in liquor and cinnamon with a flower bouquet heart and a soft peachy base. It features notes of: cinnamon, cardamon, clove, pineapple, red berries, bergamot, orange blossom, magnolia, jasmine, rose, sandalwood, peach, caramel, cocoa beans, amber, vanilla and musk.
I see that others have described it as "sweaty" or "skanky" and I totally concur with that (but not in a negative sense), this fragrance DOES smell to me like pure carnal, sweet, amber -fragranced sweat. When it first goes on I get an overwhelming sense of the power of vanilla and amber (which are two of my favourite scents)- almost like a lighter, sweeter and more sultry version of CK's Obsession. As it dries down it smells more like a velvety smooth musk on me. To me, this fragrance screams lust and passion and I cannot get enough of it. I think Courtesan is a very apt name and it actually does bring to my mind the image of a lady of the night from times past. For a modern day equivalent - think the TV series- True Blood- I can imagine this being a popular fragrance among many a female vampire. I cannot be without this fragrance. Ever.

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tsth on 10/14/2011 3:41:00 PM more reviews by tsth

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Black    

This was my first head-over-heels-must-have fragrance...and it was because it was sort of a "tabu"scent....heady/naughty/sensual/spicy/sweet. It was everything I want in a fragrance. Very indicative of it's name....it is seductively beautiful to me. There is an under current of a dirty note as mentioned previously, that is mild enough that it just hints and does not overpower. This fragrance is very distinct and I don't have anything else like it.

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*TOP REVIEWER* CecileCecile on 10/3/2010 10:34:00 PM more reviews by CecileCecile

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

Not bad! Courtesan on my skin is simply cherry-sweet and powdery balanced, and with just a hint of cumin-like spice in its deepest heart. I now regret ordering such a small sample since I'd love to mist it on here and there and test-drive it on a grander scale. Interesting and memorable. Glad to have sampled, will most likely repurchase a larger quantity in the future.

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whitecountess on 9/2/2010 6:29:00 PM more reviews by whitecountess

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

Courtesan, made by the Worth Family, is perfectly named. I almost blushed when I first smelled it!! At first sniff, it smells like expensive makeup and perfume, and then *bang* it smells DIRTY. Dirty in a hot, sexy and almost raw way. WOW. It smells like a beautiful woman walking down an expensive street in Paris after having an "assignment" with the president.

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chrystelica on 7/2/2010 11:19:00 AM more reviews by chrystelica

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I'm not hating on this perfume. However, it has the overly perfumed rankness of a young, inexperienced girl who is too brash for her own good, and doesn't quite know what she's doing. Or a stripper who does. (Sorry, I had to say it, this -is- a stripper perfume). It smells like something else I have smelled many times... like parties in the Northeast about 10 years ago.
Something about this I enjoy, even though it's slightly too sweet and cloying, smells a little cheap and too strong.

This smells a lot like VS Heavenly, or Body by Victoria perfume, but this is a little better quality.

I can imagine men loving this one, though. They can probably smell it for sure. Most men I know have a hard time really detecting a scent unless it's quite strong, or you've just applied it, and this one is definitely noticeable. But not this 'lady' is not classy to my nose at all, just naked and ready for a good time. lol

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*TOP REVIEWER* drc98x on 12/5/2008 6:12:00 PM more reviews by drc98x

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I love this fragrance, I ended up getting a sample in a swap, I had to e-mail her to find out where I can buy this! It stands out to me, lasts a very long time on my skin. It has cardamon, rose cinamon, orange blossom, caramel and vanilla/chocolate in it. Smells very classy. FBW.

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*TOP REVIEWER* mary66 on 7/8/2008 2:12:00 AM more reviews by mary66

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Green    

Close your ears Serge Lutens fans, but Courtesan for me was a whisper of Chergui with a dose of expensive face powder and lipstick. It's not the 'After Hours' Courtesan - the hot, shameless, dishevelled Courtesan I personally was hoping for. It's the 'For Show' Courtesan - impeccably dressed, perfumed, powdered and blushed with not a hair out of place. Once the powder and lipstick settle, it develops a soft blend of spice, vanilla, musk and fruit which results in a beautifully suggestive hint on the skin. I'm not sophisticated enough to carry off Courtesan but it would smell terrific on you elegant, well dressed, slightly intimidating ladies who like to let their hair down when the curtains are closed.

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*TOP REVIEWER* tessture on 5/25/2008 3:21:00 PM more reviews by tessture

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

First on, it’s powder and makeup, then spices and sweetness come in. Definite chocolate notes, florals and such sneak up. Dry down is a lot like Joop pour Homme: Spiced vanilla musk, with a slight perfume undertone. Lasts forever. Just a very nice elegant made-up woman scent. Too bad it’s expensive, coz I’m loving it. EDIT found better prices online and have the full bottle now. Love the creamy, slightly powdery spice. And I've always hated powder in perfumes, always. Funny that I'd like this so much.

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Dorothy_M on 9/19/2007 3:13:00 PM more reviews by Dorothy_M

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

What are we all smelling? On me this is the scent of a nice hard milled European soap. Pleasant clean and mildly floral. Not worth all the money or the fuss. It's nice but so what?

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*TOP REVIEWER* janebkrn on 9/10/2007 6:04:00 PM more reviews by janebkrn

Age: Unknown   Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

This is as complex as a scent by Serge lutens, but much nicer. Yes, all kinds of spices are there, but they don't scream at you. Yes, it is sweet, but not noxious. I usually don't like orientals, but there is that element. I agree somewhat with a previous comment about smelling like Indian food, but it definitely is French. I think it's misnamed, because it does not smell cheap or overwhelming-just very sexy lady!

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*TOP REVIEWER* amyhuskiewicz on 9/6/2007 2:53:00 AM more reviews by amyhuskiewicz

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

oh no! why do I get the "indian food accord" that is so common with serge lutens scents on me? there is no cumin listed, but whoomp! there it is - cumin! i cannot wear this! smells like curry on me! some courtesan i'd make with this on - try me, good enough to eat! (with a side of raita and nan...)

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*TOP REVIEWER* expat on 9/2/2007 4:34:00 AM more reviews by expat

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Tan   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

After reading numerous rave reviews on various sites, I was ready to buy a full bottle of Courtesan, untested. That's how sure I was that I'd love it. Luckily, sanity prevailed and I ended up just getting a generous sample. Unfortunately, on my skin this is one of the most "generic" perfumes I've ever smelled... in other words, there is nothing horrible about the scent, but there is also absolutely nothing wonderful about it. No "WOW" factor here at all, not even a softly suggestive one, which is what I would expect of something called "Courtesan." What a disappointment... loved the beautifully written reviews of this, loved the name, and loved the bottle...just not the fragrance itself.

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*TOP REVIEWER* sarakat on 8/20/2007 7:23:00 PM more reviews by sarakat

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

OH MY. This is a lovely one, although I'm not sure whether I should call it a gourmand, an oriental, or even a woody fragrance, because it has outstanding elements of all three. I was a bit scared when I put it on because it was so sweet, but that went almost totally away within moments to become something spicy and woody. Men LOVE this scent...it seems aptly named!

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