Fragrances -Guerlain - La petite robe noire Modele 2
kborda 10/19/2011 9:26:00 AM
Have to write a review to counterbalance the negative ones. I LOVE this scent!!! It's fun and comforting at the same time. Opens green, then goes into fruity marshmallow warmth. The greens help it from diving into candy oblivion. It always makes me happy when I wear it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Histoires de Parfums 1889 Moulin Rouge
kborda 4/27/2010 10:45:00 AM
I highly recommend this fragrance to anyone who loves fruity orientals. Moulin Rouge is lush, rich, boozy, tart, warm, odd. Top notes smell like fresh pear to me. Others have mentioned plum (prune is listed in the top notes). Very sexy scent. Notes as listed on the Histoires de Parfums website: Top: Mandarin, Prune, Cinnamon Middle: Damask Rose, Absinthe Base: Coeur d'Iris, Patchouli, Musk, "Fur" (aka Fourrure in French)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Yves Saint Laurent - Rive Gauche
kborda 10/29/2009 11:13:00 AM
Oh, how I long for vintage Rive Gauche!!! Wore it in the early 80's and loved it. Revisited it recently by purchasing a bottle from YSL. Yes, it's similar, but not the same. Yet, it's still amazing. I would even go so far as to say that *IF* I were to have a signature fragrance, this would be it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Cacharel - Lou Lou
kborda 10/20/2009 10:44:00 AM
Ordered Loulou unsniffed online at Parfum1 in a 30ml bottle for practically nothing, and it was instant LOVE!!! Was intrigued by LT's review in Perfumes: The Guide - 5 stars - and the positive reviews here on MUA. I wasn't disappointed...it's wonderful! In fact, I'd say it doesn't seem vintage at all. It's in a similar genre to a few new releases, like Parisienne and Ma Dame; but IMO, Loulou blows them all away. I don't find it sweet. It's an edgy, in your face, floral oriental with a warm base. Addiction.
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Fragrances -L'Artisan Fragrances - Dzing
kborda 3/25/2009 9:19:00 PM
It took me awhile to "get" Dzing! I tried it over and over again, and couldn't decide whether I liked it or not. I somehow kept coming back for more, though. It has mystery, strangeness, a compelling quality that I just couldn't resist! Don't ask me why. Don't ask me what it is. I have no idea. It's like nothing I've ever smelled before. It's warm and comforting, yet weird enough to evoke a sort of obsession, a desire to wear it again, if only to try and figure it out. I've grown to love it, and as a result, had to buy a bottle! I'm finding that trying a scent once does not result in knowing a scent. I need to try it over and over again - at least 4 or 5 times before I can truly say whether or not I like it. There are some scents that I abhor when I first try them. But suddenly, on the 3rd or 4th try, I find that I start to like it more and more. Of course, there are those scents that I can never appreciate...and there are also scents that I think I love on the first try, but I grow tired of after a few more wearings. Moral of the story - give each scent a thorough study before dropping $ on a first sniff love or ignoring a seemed dud.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -L'Artisan Fragrances - Fleur d'Oranger 2005
kborda 3/9/2009 5:50:00 PM
For the 2007 version...This scent is the most incredible I've ever smelled. Oh my - HEAVEN!!! I received a sample direct from L'Artisan, and now I'm trying to figure out how on earth I can afford to purchase a bottle. I can't believe the $295 price tag, though. Wow. There aren't enough words to describe how wonderful this is...
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Fragrances -Jean Paul Gaultier - Ma Dame
kborda 2/26/2009 10:13:00 AM
Sorry, but this fragrance really stinks! From a distance it isn't bad, but up close - ugh! Don't even know how to describe it, but day-old wet laundry comes to mind. EDIT: Okay. I've done this way too many times - judged a fragrance before giving it a fair shake. Then I have to come back and edit my post! Drat! You'd think I'd learn! Believe it or not, this "day-old wet laundry scent" that I criticized so vehemently above, has grown on me. In fact, after I wore it a couple more times, I actually started craving it, wanting to smell it again. That first blast of wet laundry disappears after a few minutes, I've noticed. The after party is sheer, un-abandoned, delicious FUN! I can't stress this enough. When judging fragrances, give them at least three tries. Doesn't have to be an all-over body test - just a dab on the back of your hand or on a wrist. Try to understand it - live with it for awhile - before scrubbing the heck out of it. You just might be surprised at what you end up liking/not liking.
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Fragrances -Kenzo - Flower
kborda 12/4/2008 3:27:00 PM
I'm surprised by all of the references to powder in this fragrance. To me, it doesn't smell like powder at all. It's much creamier than that. In fact, when I first sprayed it, it reminded me a lot of Monyette Paris - a heady, creamy, intoxicating floral. If you like Monyette Paris and other heady white florals, give this a try.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - S-Perfumes 100 percent Love
kborda 11/24/2008 3:40:00 PM
Yes, it's unusual, but I LOVE this scent! Hard to describe. Not sweet or cloying. Not spicy. But addicting. It's on my "to buy" list. As soon as I have a spare $100, it's mine! EDIT: Okay, I'm somewhat disappointed. Turns out that there are a number of iterations of this scent. The latest, released in 2008, is not at all like the decant I had. There were apparently also 2005 and 2006 versions, then a MORE version in 2007 (now discontinued). The decant I had was much softer, ethereal, with less candy, less sweetness, and more incense. This 2008 version is much sweeter and overpowering - smells exactly as it's described - chocolate, red berries, and rose. It smells exactly like filled chocolates. And I just bought a bottle of the latest, not realizing there were different versions. It's good, but not in my mind as good as one of the earlier ones (not sure if I had 2005 or 2006).
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Fragrances -Chanel - Coromandel
kborda 11/18/2008 2:02:00 PM
This is the most amazing scent!!!! Heaven in a bottle. If you're looking for a luxe, warm, comforting scent, this is it. Of course, there's no way I can afford a bottle. It's outrageously expensive. But that won't deter me from giving it a 5. In fact, I'd give it a 10 if I could. Perhaps I'll have to start saving my pennies. :-) To me, this scent is all about amber, spice, and soft patchouli, caressing the air around you, wrapping you up in a warm blanket. And I personally detest most amber scents. Can't stand the stuff, actually. Why does it work here? No idea. All I know is that it's absolutely stunning.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Lancome - Magnifique
kborda 11/18/2008 1:56:00 PM
OK. Seeing all the negative reviews, I just had to put in a plug for this. I think it's an awesome scent. I have so many perfumes that I rarely wear the same scent two days in a row. I had a sample of Magnifique, and wore it FOUR days straight. Yes, folks. I couldn't get enough. And now I'm anxious to get a bottle. Perhaps it's this fall weather that's made it so appealing, but the subtle woods and spice are perfect. Why did I rate it a 4 instead of a 5? Though I'm in love with the scent, I feel as if it's just a bit TOO subtle. I want it to be more intense, stronger. Maybe they'll come out with a perfume...
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Frederic Malle - Une Fleur de Cassie
kborda 9/26/2008 10:12:00 AM
Ordered a free 2ml sample directly from Editions de Parfums - great way to try the Malle scents (though you do have to pay shipping from Paris). Have tried it once so far. Though I can appreciate the scent, it's not for me. I get lots of indolic florals in the beginning, but after about 1/2 hour, everything turns to cumin. Sorry. Can't do cumin! Especially when it dominates everything else. If you like cumin and florals, you'll probably like this scent!
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Fragrances -Frederic Malle - Noir Epices
kborda 9/26/2008 10:06:00 AM
Got a 2ml sample of this (along with Une Fleur de Cassie and Carnal Flower) directly from Editions de Parfums. Great way to try their scents - samples are free, but you pay for shipping from Paris. I've worn Noir Epices twice so far, and it's really growing on me. When I first spray it, I get a lot of orange and spice. Reminds me a bit of Hermes' Elixir des Merveilles without the incense on the initial spray. As it dries down, the patchouli becomes more pronounced, though it still retains a bit of the sweetness of the orange and complexity of the spices. Great fall scent if you like spice, citrus, and patchouli.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Le'a by Saffron James
kborda 7/16/2008 5:52:00 PM
On a trip to Hawaii, I wanted a scent that reminded me of the islands, but I didn't find what I was looking for while I was there. After I returned from the trip, I did some web research and discovered Saffron James. I ordered samples from The Perfumed Court, and loved all three scents--Le'a, Punono, and Ume. The bottles are pricey ($85 for 30ml) so couldn't justify buying all three...but I finally decided on Le'a. Why Le'a? I had purchased a necklace with a plumeria charm on it while I was in Maui, and Le'a is based on plumeria! Le'a is a tropical floral - a perfect reminder of the islands! I wear it whenever I want to daydream of beaches, warm water, and the Hawaiian aloha spirit. :-) The scent comes beautifully packaged in a large patterned red box that opens like a book. The back of the box gives a dictionary-like definition of the word le'a. The inside cover describes the history of the plumeria flower. And the scent itself is nestled in the floral fabric covered heart of the box. Well done. Interesting trivia that I discovered while researching, the owner of Saffron James, Kate Growney, worked with perfumer Sarah Horowicz-Thran to develop the three scents. Also, I just saw in my August copy of Elle that they have an article on Kate! I highly recommend these scents if you like tropical florals...and if you, like me, love Hawaii. :-)
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Fragrances -Marc Jacobs - Daisy
kborda 7/15/2008 3:28:00 PM
Daisy is a great light summer scent. Not sweet and not overpowering. I wear this when it's hot outside and I can't stomach wearing a heavy scent. It's not earth shattering, but pleasant, in a good way. Love, love, love the bottle, too! Edit: Dropping to a 3 overall rating. Compared to other scents, Daisy is adequate, but not jaw-dropping. Like not love.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No