I’m always on the lookout for my new signature scent. Though I will always love YSL’s Black Opium - the absolute classic that it is – I’ve been reaching for it less and less. So, after a (small) spending break, I decided it was time to add some new goodies to my ever-growing collection. Now that I’ve worn all of them and given them a good test run, these are my thoughts.
Carolina Herrera | 212 VIP For Her
My first fragrance from this designer was Good Girl, an incredibly well loved EDP. I wanted to dip my toes into their other offerings and ended up with 212 VIP, an Amber Vanilla offering from 2010. What really drew me in was the rum note, as I find liquor and vanilla usually make for a great sultry, evening scent.
At first, I honestly was not impressed. For me, the opening smells cheap and chemical, like a bad hairspray and it really put me off. However, on the dry down, wow, just absolutely wow. The rum is offset by the vanille, keeping it from being too thick or heavy, and the passionfruit really shines through after it’s settled. This is a leather jacket and red lip, sat in a jazz lounge kind of vibe fragrance, and I’m living for it.
Top Notes: Rum, Passionfruit
Middle Notes: Gardenia, Musk
Base Notes: Vanille, Tonka Bean
Givenchy | Hot Couture EDP
After getting my hands on Givenchy: l'interdit – a fragrance I adore – I did a little digging for another that would pique my interest, and ended up with Hot Couture. Unlike l'interdit, which is a powdery, floral scent; Hot Couture is dark and smoky, leaning heavily on its raspberry and vetiver notes.
This smells like a sexy ashtray. I know that sentence may sound odd, but it really does smell like that. When I wear this, I think of the Lana Del Ray - Born to Die music video, because it’s a lot like that. It’s feminine, wild and just a little dangerous. I’ve worn this a few times to dinner and once to the cinema, in which the lovely lady handing me my tickets couldn’t stop telling me how amazing I smelled.
Top Notes: Raspberry, Bergamot, Orange
Middle Notes: Pepper, Vetiver, Magnolia
Base Notes: Sandalwood, Amber, Musk
Calvin Klein | Euphoria
I realise I’m a little late to bandwagon for this perfume, and the reason? I simply looked at the notes and thought I’d wouldn’t like it. Well, this is a self-reminder, to never judge another perfume purely by its notes again. Euphoria is both cosy and pleasant, the whipped cream giving it a pop of sweetness. It gives off those cosy, chill vibes, the kind of perfume I’d wear on a self-care Sunday.
Though initially wrong about disliking it, I will say it didn’t quite live up to the hype for me. There are some CK scents I love, but this is just a like for me, something I will use but probably won’t repurchase.
Top Notes: Pomegranate, Persimmon, Green Accord
Middle Notes: Black Orchid, Lotus, Champaca
Base Notes: Mahogany, Amber, Black Violet, Whipped Cream
Mancera | Wild Candy
Mancera: Roses Greedy is one of my all-time favourite scents, so you can imagine my excitement when I picked up Wild Candy. It promises a candy shop of gorgeous fruits, wrapped up in a beautiful black bottle. Ooohh the excitement! When sprayed, it really does smell like a tropical paradise. The frangipani really stands out and, the best way to describe this is tropical fruits mixed with delectable chocolate.
However, the only time it smells that amazing is on the initial spray, because after that…nothing. It disappears from my skin, my hair, my clothes almost instantly. On my final test, I think I sprayed this about thirty times – no exaggeration – and it was so faint it was barely noticeable, disappearing with the wind altogether in around an hour. Actually, gone like the wind is a great way to describe this. I have never owned a perfume with such bad longevity and projection, especially straight out of the bottle. So, you can imagine my disappointment, especially given the price tag.
Top Notes: Fruity Notes, Chocolate, Bergamot, Lemon
Middle Notes: Frangipani, Turkish Rose
Base Notes: Vanilla, White Musk, Guaiac Wood, Sandalwood, Salt
Viktor&Rolf | Bonbon
BonBon is what I had hoped to get from Wild Candy, a dreamy gourmand fragrance wrapped up in a bow. The caramel is potent here, followed by the peach and orange. It is divine, but definitely on the sweet side. I wouldn’t say this was a safe blind buy, unless you absolutely adore sugary scents. BonBon is what I would consider a fun and flirty perfume, definitely a fragrance I whip out when I want to smell like a snack. It has great longevity and some damn good projection aswell.
If I were to compare it too anything, I would say it’s the grown-up version of Aquolina’s Pink Sugar. It has that same lovely sweetness, but it’s tempered by the Sandalwood and Jasmine, giving this far more depth and wearability. The sexy older sister, as it were.
Top Notes: Peach, Mandarin Orange, Orange
Middle Notes: Caramel, Orange Blossom, Jasmine
Base Notes: Amber, Sandalwood, Guaiac Wood, Cedar
Any new additions to your collection? Let me know in the comment section.
Thanks for reading!
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