Vivienne Westwood • Boudoir • Fragrances

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chanel22 on 3/10/2007 10:38:00 PM more reviews by chanel22

Age: Unknown   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

When this fragrance was launched back in the late 1990s, I dismissed it as just another super sweet heavy dessert type fragrance. Recently, at my book club, a lovely scent wafted gently from the lady next to me. When she said it was Boudoir, I replied, "Really?" "Yes, I just love it!" I was shocked. Of course, I'd never actually sprayed it on my skin, which is key, especially with this fragrance. What does it really, really smell like? Real sex? I think not. How about: Simple sugar syrup, iris face powder and blonde tobacco. Blonde tobacco, yes, Caron's Tabac Blond in a stronger example. Blonde tobacco, or yellow tobacco, is tobacco that is like a yellow leaf on a tree, in time it will be brown and crisp with a burnt dusty smell, but when it is yellow, the smell is quite unique and not burnt or dusty at all. Yes, Boudoir is sexy and yes, it probably smells like a lot of 18th century French royal boudoirs with the orris powdered wigs and newly discovered Virginia tobacco. Vivienne Westwood was stated as saying she wanted Boudoir to show the power of women's sexuality and she wanted it to be an intellegent fragrance. Yes, the French court was all about power and money. I think she wanted to remind us that being pretty, sweet and smart, will get a gal a lot farther in this world than being just smart and tough. Femininity is an asset, so use it, intellectually...

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*TOP REVIEWER* Gracious_Lady on 2/15/2007 9:05:00 PM more reviews by Gracious_Lady

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Medium Brown, Warm   Hair: Brown, Relaxed, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

IMO few other fragrances were so critically acclaimed on mua as Boudoir, so I just had to try this. Well, Boudoir is weirdness on me. Now, sometimes weirdness in a fragrance is okay, but Boudoir's note's weirdness on me is far from good.

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*TOP REVIEWER* jinglecat on 2/12/2007 9:58:00 AM more reviews by jinglecat

Age: 36-43   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I've owned this for over a year, and am still trying to decide how much I like it. When the bottle arrived, I was letdown by the first whiff- it instantly reminded me of a bottle of Alfred Sung I'd busted in the bedroom years ago and had to suffer its odor for weeks. On the skin, Boudoir is much warmer and more complex. It is super potent in silage and last on me. You only need one short quick spray. I have to apply it low on the body or it becomes consumptive. I have worn this in the day time, but it is really not appropriate for work. It does offer a certain tang that, while not duplicating the feminine flower, certainly offers its sexy note in the mix. I'm thinking of mixing my own edc of this. I think the primary offense of this frag is its omnipotence and a light version for mere mortals might be worth considering. I like that it is not a lacey powdery femme- this reeks of sexual confidence, and like any confident woman, can sometimes scare off weaker specimens. This frag walks a fine line. I find that my chemistry can work with it just right, or sometimes scare myself off. I'm glad to own it, and still working out how to best deploy this olfactory sex bomb (And reading the review below, I agree, it does smell of illicit sexual encounter. I'm thinking of the scene from 'Unfaithful' when Diane Lane's lover shows up at a cafe where she is meeting friends, and follows her to the ladies room- its soo very hott. If you've ever had a lover that you just couldn't keep from having inappropriate sex with, this frag will surely have you reliving those moments, and possibly, if your'e very lucky, repeating them.)

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*TOP REVIEWER* SensualSusanna on 2/9/2007 11:26:00 AM more reviews by SensualSusanna

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

Oh how I longed to try this perfume! I have read that it works really well for Leo women and how women rave about Boudoir being the sexiest perfume ever made. Well -- brutal honesty here girls -- if Hai Karatee (a really awful stanky after shave for guys cira 1970 --imagine disco and white suits) and Joy (which I love full of roses -- jasmine and vibrancy) had a sex romp this would be the smell on the sheets afterwards. Skanky, sweaty and two highly fragrant scents fighting for attention! It's awful and such a big disappointment. DH actually has FORBIDDEN me from ever wearing this one again. It's ok --- I agree with him. He actually joked around snarling --- "Susanna if you are having an affair in our bed -- at least have the decency to change the sheets afterwards dear!"

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*TOP REVIEWER* lillie_munster on 2/8/2007 5:48:00 AM more reviews by lillie_munster

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Bettie Page made into a perfume.
Innocence and lust.
A big orgasm that leaves a broad smile upon your face all day long.
Spices, dry leaves and the body of your lover dripping with honey. Powdered cheeks that invite for a clap on them...
This is Boudoir.

And no, it is NOT being discontinued.

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*TOP REVIEWER* AbsoluteScentualist on 2/8/2007 12:36:00 AM more reviews by AbsoluteScentualist

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Black   Eyes: Hazel    

Magnificent! I purchased a sample vial of this back in November due to the strong feelings it seems to inspire here in the reviews. The first time I wore it, I wasn't sure how I felt about it. It was heady, floral and had a strangeness in the top notes I was undecided about. It was a blustery autumn day and I spent a lot of time outside. When I came back inside, I kept catching the most delicious scent and couldn't place it. I attempted it again the next day and voila! The hauntingly lovely scent I had noticed was Boudoir! I walked around in my own little cloud of bliss that afternoon. A pink, sultry and seductive cloud of roses and marigolds, and when my husband came home from work, he was floored.

The first thing he asked me was how much it cost, which is his way of saying I should buy some. It was a long and wild chase to locate a bottle of the EDP for a somewhat reasonable price. I refused to pay $150 US for it on Ebay, instead prowling online until I finally tracked it down.

It's on the way as of tonight, and I feel like the undaunted suitor of a fair and coy maiden. I have been lusting for this addictive fragrance for almost three months, and will have a bottle in my eager little hands soon. It's addictive, enchanting, seductive and if you fall beneath its spell, it will haunt you! Please try before you buy, as it is quite a polarizing scent, but I can't recommend at least trying it highly enough, as it's filthy cute and damn erotic! I love it!

Top Notes: Viburnum, marigold, orange blossom, orris
Heart Notes: Red rose, cinnamon, coriander, cardamom
Base Notes: Amber, vanilla, sandalwood, patchouli

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Tartini on 2/4/2007 3:20:00 PM more reviews by Tartini

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I thought I'd like this. It has a nice touch of sweetness but it mostly smells of a certain chemical on me (can't put my finger on what, but it was my problem with Dior Addict too - a harshness which I'm ashamed to say reminds me of the fart-gas kids used to spray at school when I was little, and I just cant shake that association).

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1hotredhead on 1/19/2007 5:58:00 PM more reviews by 1hotredhead

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Blue    

I fell in love with this scent from the first sniff of a magazine sample; and HAD to have it RIGHT AWAY!!! It's a gorgeous, luxurious, heady, mesmerizing, and absolutely HOTT scent that is described quite well by its name. The only drawback is that it is very hard to find and very expensive. Whenever I wear this scent, perfect strangers tell me I smell good. Men particularly LOVE this perfume; and most of the complements I get come from guys as well as lots of sideways glances and disguised attempts to get closer to me...it casts quite a spell! Wear it when you're around someone you'd like to seduce... >;) It is liquid bold sensuality-not for the timid or plain jane type. This is a scent for women who revel in their femininity and enjoy being sexy, seductive, and self-confident. My favorite comment about it came from a guy who told me "Your perfume smells like taking ecstasy...and it's very addictive!" LOL! It IS a very addictive, euphoric, decadent, lustful, and yes, naughty smell...but the naughtiness is what makes it so irresistable! I guess it IS rather like a drug... It is truly unique in a world of cookie-cutter fragrances-I can't rave enough about it and don't want to ever be without it!

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Laurely on 11/24/2006 4:18:00 AM more reviews by Laurely

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Other, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

Boudoir is the most bewitching scent, it starts out with a aldahyde blast, then morphs into a otherworldy dream , only to re create itself again. I found this drama in a bottle back in the late 1990s, this is one of my top 4 HG fragrances.
This parfume is so hard to describe, Westwood for whatever her reasons has discontinued this very well crafted creation. A few years back i was able to locate & buy 4, 0.67 oz bottles of the pure parfume, the box is like a stage with the crystal encrusted crown atop the bottle, lovely detail. I have opened only one bottle for myself the others are to be handed down to my daughter & so on.I feel that this scent is such a treasure. The edp is also getting harder to locate, i have stockpiled quite a few 2.5 & 1.7 oz bottles along with the velvet body veil.
This is not an easy to wear cookie cutter fragrance, but when this one works well with your skin its heaven. Yes this is pure sensuality in a bottle, some reviewers have stated that this smells of sex or whatever, is that so bad? We as humans are sexualy driven, its a good thing. As always less is more a little goes a long long way, also store your parfums/edp in a cool dark place, beautiful bottles can be displayed when empty.

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NarcissaM on 11/7/2006 11:04:00 AM more reviews by NarcissaM

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

A lovely, heavy scent but make sure you try a bit on yourself and leave it for a while before you buy this - whatever way it reacts with my natural scent, it makes me smell like an old lady after about 1 hour. Taken off a lippie for that of course, but it is a very nice perfume on its own and of course a very pretty bottle.

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jannejanne on 10/27/2006 2:16:00 PM more reviews by jannejanne

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Red   Eyes: Blue    

I love the name, the concept and even the way the bottle looks in my Boudoir ;)

You shouldn't let yourself be offended by the first wall of flowers and that suspicious raw,slightly sour edge this potent love-brew first strikes you with.Give it time, a few hours to calm down and melt into your skin. Its just perfect to spitz generously on after bath and before preparations for a night out, and by the time you are all ready and feeling fabulous, this beauty will tempt as a sweet,warm and naughty invitation.The best part with it is the way it seem to compliment your natural odor.Much like an old fashioned powdery innocent floral perfume,honey sweet but with a warm and very promiscuous twist.The staying power is great,it will still linger on in the morning as a reminder.My Favorite evening perfume by far.

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*TOP REVIEWER* orisha_girl on 9/29/2006 1:41:00 AM more reviews by orisha_girl

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Red, Curly   Eyes: Green    

Oh yes. Yes! This is the stuff! I adore Boudoir. After reading some of the more outrageous reviews on here I decided to try it and I was not disapointed. I was surprised at first, because at first dab it smelled green and herbal, menthol-y, which isn't what I was hoping for. But that fades very quickly and you're left with the most amazing, intimate "come closer" kind of smell. I've never smelled a perfume that seems SO natural before; it's as if everything your nose detects is coming from right inside your own skin. On the -ahem- "crotch" comments, well, yes, in a word. It IS reminiscent of post-sex musk - Boudoir smells of sweet, warm, clean female juices, and there isn't anything wrong with that; in fact, its unashamed nature is what makes it so wonderful. It seems to be the musky smelling marigolds and the earthy pachouli that creates the skin note. I guess people who like the "clean", airy perfumes are never going to like this, but for bolder or more earthy types, give it a try. It has a strange, completely natural smelling composition that is definately worth sampling. More importantly, it has character, something missing from most frags on the market. *UPDATE* I still love it, but I've found that the sexy, warm "come closer" thing only applies when it's dabbed on VERY sparingly - full sprays from the bottle were so strong they made me ill. Bear the strength in mind before you go on a mad hunt for a full bottle.

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CrystalMoon on 8/15/2006 8:15:00 AM more reviews by CrystalMoon

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

My Boyfriend deems this "Instant sex in a bottle" and to say that he becomes intoxicated when I wear it, would be the understatement of the century... ^_~

As someone rightly said, it is very definitely a "Love it, or hate it" fragrance - absolutely no in-between.

Personally, I adore it. It smells heady and gorgeous, makes me FEEL sexy, and it drves the man in my life wild with desire, and that is more than enough for me.

I am lucky enough to own not only the Eau De Parfum, but also the Pure Parfum Extrait {the man in my life loves Boudoir SO much HE bought it for me} which is fiendishly expensive, but so, so worth seeking out, if like me, you adore this olfactory masterpiece.

On a side note, I once had a man follow me almost INTO the Ladies loo in a nightclub to ask what perfume I was wearing, as he thought it the most amazing thing he had ever smelled.

Ail :-)

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coolfreshair on 8/14/2006 5:41:00 PM more reviews by coolfreshair

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I hated this the instant it was sprayed on me. I can STILL smell it and hours have passed, even though I've washed my arm over and over. It just smells so musty on me, like an old stinky carpet somebody's prayed some air-freshener over; no matter what, you can still smell that musty undertone, and that's what this scent is like on me.

Ugh! Revolting!! This has got to be the stinkiest perfume I've tried over the last few years.

I didn't think it would be possible but I think I hate this even more than Thierry Mugler's Angel.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Moondeva on 8/5/2006 8:59:00 AM more reviews by Moondeva

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Dark, Cool   Hair: Black, Kinky   Eyes: Brown    

This is Kouros for Women! A true love it or hate it perfume. Hubby sniffed my wrist and said it reminded him of 'nice toilet duck'(a toilet cleaner)! LOL! Kouros is notorious for being likened to urinal cakes so the two are a good pairing.

I may learn to like this on very cool days VERY lightly applied but I am not holding my breathe (except when wearing it maybe). :cP

I have way too many truly feminine, seductive perfumes to waste time trying to love a perfume that smells like the female equivalent of the men's toilets at London's King Cross (a public toilet notorious for being a place that homosexual men go 'cottaging')!

You will be the first to know if I change my mind...

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LeLe21 on 7/22/2006 9:49:00 PM more reviews by LeLe21

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

After reading reviews about this product, I ordered a minuture bottle on-line (it is not available around here), because I was very curious to see what all the fuss was about. I must say that it is a very complicated and thought provoking fragrance, unlike any I have ever expirenced. It is extremely sexy, almost to the point of being slutty, yet at the same time classy and elegant. I wore it the other night, while out with my fiance, and the whole time he was constantly commenting how wonderful I smelled. At one point, on the way to the restroom, I brushed by a man who instantly turned and gave me a quite devilish look, no doubt due the scent. I can not pin point what, but it reminds me of something that my great-grandmother wore, only a very naughty version of it. It is deffinatley something that should be worn at night, and when out on the prowl, I am of course engaged, so I will only bring it out for special occasions. I will deffinatley purchase a full sized bottle as soon as I finish this minuture....it is so intoxicating, I just can't imagine not having it around from now on. I would reccomend everyone ginving this a test run, a word of waring however.....this is not for the timid!

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perfumefanatic on 7/8/2006 3:50:00 PM more reviews by perfumefanatic

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

Boudoir reminds me of Halston with a rosy note. I also do pick up on the BO note, but its not unpleasant, sort of a "skin smell". Its too bad this is so expensive for what it is; the only place I see it is on ebay and the bids do end pretty high. I will keep my bottle for now, the perfume is unique, best for cool weather imo and the bottle design is fab!

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*TOP REVIEWER* freegracer on 7/3/2006 10:56:00 AM more reviews by freegracer

Age: 36-43   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

Candidly, I was expecting something full throttle and incautious, lustily witty and raunchy, something to make a man halt in his tracks. But sadly, Boudoir smells . . . unfinished. It's like leaving the house with a shoe untied. Or eating French fries sans the salt. It's like going out in public and realizing you've worn a dark navy jacket with black slacks. Something went wrong here. Boudoir is missing something. I don't smell the sauciness, and I don't smell the raciness. To me, it's Tabu which is saucy and racy, and considering its cheap price tag, it's a highly affordable fix when raw lust is on the menu. Tabu is unabashedly full bodied, and Boudoir? Well, Boudoir is more like a no frills training bra. Eh. . I'll pass.

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mildred on 6/25/2006 10:34:00 PM more reviews by mildred

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

Smelling this reminded me of dirty sheets in a teenager's bedroom-too much unwashed and smelly hormonal things going on.I don't want to smell like this,and I don't want anyone near me to smell like this.So now I have tried all of VW perfumes,and to my nose they are all stinky.I do like her clothing line,though.

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*TOP REVIEWER* pennypencil on 6/3/2006 3:00:00 PM more reviews by pennypencil

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Kinky, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

When I first sprayed this I thought it smelt like a rancid l'heure bleue and hypnotic poison had ravaged each other and given birth (placenta and umbilical cord still intact). At first, to me, it’s all rough edges and scrambled notes – a crude mishmash – a powdery, aldehydic, earthy sweet shambles. A couple of hours later and I keep catching a lovely sillage wafting around me. When I put my nose to my arm I’m not altogether convinced but I must admit there is something compelling – addictive even – about Boudoir. I can’t say I think it’s classy. It’s a bit like I expected Musc Ravageur to smell like actually, and has a similar animalistic quality (although note wise they’re not even on the same shelf). The official notes are: top – aldehydes, begramot, hyacinth, orange blossom… middle – jasmine, narcissus, rose, carnation… base – sandalwood, patchouli, orris, civet. There must be some vanilla in there too. I think the ‘dirt’ note comes from a particularly uneven dirge of dirty patchouli. Many perfumes do patchouli well but not this one. Saying that, I still find the whole very intriguing, especially if I hold my nose a couple of inches away from my arm instead of right on it. As for the idea of it smelling like sex. I shan’t be wearing it around boyfriend’s parents or any reverends to be safe.

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