Overture Woman was a blind buy which really took me by surprise. It’s a fragrance I’ve really had to explore and spend time with to be able to fall in love with it, but I’m very glad I granted it that patience - I’m enjoying it more and more with every wear. I can however see why this could be a rather polarising scent, I myself sometimes wonder if I even like it at all, but always find myself back in the comfort of loving it. The most powerful note here is the apple - of course there is no raw material which comes from apple, and so a synthetic accord is the only option. Admittedly, it does smell noticeably synthetic and a little plasticky which can be off putting in the opening, this is what I struggled with. I had the same issue with Frederic Malle’s Promise when I first got that, I almost sold it after having it a week, but I gave it time and now I adore it - I sense the same is happening with this. This juicy, slightly rubbery apple rests on a bed of intensely dry sweetness. Spicy cinnamon and rugged leather combined with a touch of smoky, almost papery resins contrast the apple beautifully. This is perpetuated by an almost obnoxious overdose of sweet saffron, which can be headache inducing if smelled up close! I was expecting the brandy to be more prominent, but I actually find it rather subtle. Overall this is a gorgeously unique evening-wear fragrance, one I definitely recommend testing but probably not blind buying.
The combination of lavender and vanilla is one which has been consistently popular in the 21st century, which few manage to perfect. Chamomille Satin is the perfect example of a decent attempt, but falls short of what could have been an amazing scent. Unfortunately it comes off rather noticeably cheap and plasticky as many other lavender/vanilla fragrances do in the designer market. The vanilla is the nicest part about this fragrance: it’s sweet, creamy and smooth almost like a delicious vanilla custard. However when it’s combined with the aromatic, almost herbal notes of lavender, chamomile and petitgrain the contrast becomes quite rough and messy. There’s no real balance or harmony between the notes, it smells rather overcrowded. It’s pleasant, don’t get me wrong. It’s not a fragrance I feel repulsed by or inclined to wash it off, but it’s not something I would ever consider buying for the simple reason it smells too basic and far cheaper than it actually is. This is my first encounter with Dries Van Noten and so far I’m not very impressed.
your lover's sweat mixing with your own, the smells of your night out soaking into the sheets
Smells like my mum
Belfiore is delightful and bright scent for summertime. There is nothing groundbreaking in it but it's well blended like all perfumes from Omanluxury. Apricot note comes from Osmanthus and that is the reason why it's not juicy nor fruity and it's not realistic Apricot. Osmanthus brings the soft and sensuous touch into this concoction. The same thing with Suede - that note comes as well from Osmanthus since it has woody and leathery nuances. So suede is not utterly realistic leather which is the case when that note is made synthetically or it comes from Oud for example. I think all that is the reason why people are voting this as synthetic. When The scent of Apricot and suede comes from Osmanthus they just appear that way and that doesn't mean the scent is synthetic. The creamy feeling which some people may find here is also from the same flower but I don't think this is creamy. I think it's rather slightly milky and lactonic but I want to emphasize that very lightly. About Gardenia here: it's not earthy here but sophisticated and it doesn't offer intoxicated experience like is the case in many perfumes with Gardenia. So if you have some problems with that flower you shouldn't overlook this one. Belfiore is not sweet imo, at least not like for example Royal Incense. Honey is moderate, not at all sticky sweet or realistic. This scent is excellent to wear at the office. It's not so powerful like many other scents from Omanluxury. It's soft, sophisticated with a velvety feeling in it. Anyway it doesn't give me any wow effect and I don't get obsessed with the scent but it doesn't mean that it's not good. It's versatile easy reach for sure. Thank you for reading and I would appreciate if you follow my IG: @ninamariah_perfumes It gives me a lot of motivation to write more. 🤗
After testing a small decant I bought a bigger one for my husband, hoping he'd add it into his Musc Ravageur/L'Homme Ideal rotation. It's a sweet, masculine leaning perfume, one that you can't get out of your mind.
It’s FINALLY back!
Standalone review: opens with a blast of sweet candied apples, then the caramel and bubblegum ease into view. Anything floral is just there to add depth, the star of this show is apples and sweets. This is average longevity and projection but smells so delicious, it’s worth reapplying. Way in the dry down this turns into sugar and soft amber.
Listen, this is not complex, it’s not totally unique, but it is damn good. To me, compared to all the things up top… it’s better. Eden Juicy Apple is too sharp and musky. Candy Apple Cauldron is too sour. Dylan Purple, Irresistible and Dolce Rose are too floral. Sugarful is a synthetic mess that disappears in minutes. Sugar Fleur is perfection.
These days getting a 3ml bottle under 80usd is unheard of, but I got mine under 60 thanks to a sale. I definitely feel it’s worth it because I have begged for them to bring this scent back.
OG comparison: the OG was sharper and didn’t last as long. That’s it. The new one feels sweeter and better quality, more refined if you will. I also prefer the new label/ribbon. Very demure… other than that, we have back the scent we fell in love with. I’m grateful.
This is for the girls and guys who like to smell like a candy shop. If the name and notes didn’t make it clear, allow me. This is a bottle of cavities. I love it, but it may be too much for you. Don’t be mad at a Sugar perfume for smelling like sugar if you know you don’t like sugary scents…
To me on its own it’s definitely traditionally femme. But as a layering scent, surprisingly unisex. This adds such a nice touch of sweetness to so many scents, it’s definitely worth keeping an open mind.
Anyhow, I’m in love and so happy to have this missing piece of my collection on the shelf where it belongs🥰
A modern and Luxe Cashmere Mist. Not the same scent, but the same vibe😍
Literally the perfect quiet musk. They picked the right fruit, the right florals, the right accords and the just the right amount of all of it. Not too juicy, not too sweet, not too floral, not too woody, not too powdery, not too musky…. It has the perfect amounts of all these elements.
This dries down warm and sweet and in my opinion is better than Skin. As much as I love praline in fragrance, it’s too heavy in Skin for me and ruins the scent. But this gets its sweetness from a juicy, almost preserved, pear that balances well as a skin scent. It feels more natural.
I was lucky to get an older batch on deep discount at a rack store, as I’ve heard this has been reformulated. Sad to see perfection tampered with unnecessarily.
Overpriced J’adore. Why was this made?
I have never requested a refund so fast in my life.
I paid nearly 40 bucks for what translates to a dollar store body spray. The worst Fantasy I’ve tried, this being my 9th.
So, what do I get? Someone down the street yelled bubblegum while spraying an off brand air freshener, and the wind blew in my direction. The end.
This is faint in every way imaginable, and on my skin, what smells like a two week old body mist test on paper, turns into a jumbled chemical mess. Yes, on paper 5 fresh sprays are hard to detect.
I purchased from the Britney Spears store front in Amazon, and assume this is authentic, but who knows. This could be scented tap water🤷🏽 Either way, it’s a no for me. What a wasted release.
Just added the beautiful Shaghaf Oud Tonka to my collection. This is the perfect almond tonka vanilla blend to me. The almond leans into its fruitier nuances and is not bitter at all. The cinnamon is sweet and almost honeyed and the rose essence is just so perfectly blended only a rose lover would even notice she was there. There is no way in the world this should be so inexpensive! This smells amazing!
If you love Velvet Tonka, you may love this. They are in the same world. The tobacco in VT gives it a smooth and sophisticated feel, and I just love that fragrance. Shaghaf Oud Tonka, by comparison, feels more lively, decidedly more feminine, and more captivating. Different vibes but that same gorgeous take on the main accords.
I don’t find it overwhelmingly sweet, loud or dense. It has an airiness to it that offsets the heaviness of its accords. It is a powerhouse though, so no need to overspray. Its powdery feel is a bit more textured than Velvet Tonka. If VT is pressed powder foundation, Oud Tonka is pressed highlighter with texture provided by glitter. Stunning 😍
I’m glad I got this now and not in summer. This is perfect for cooler weather and will sing in the cold. Ugh… I’ve fallen in love
On the nozzle, I get milk and raw greenish honey. They should’ve skipped Davana and Bran and went with Patchouli. Thankfully it’s fleeting.
On my skin, I smell like I’ve been bathed in honeyed spiced rum by the maidens of a goddess. Heavily honeyed. Raw honey. Immediately the rum and cinnamon are boldly present, then davana and bran pass through sourly, just enough to keep this from giving you a headache.
This dries down really beautifully and is a perfect fall gourmand.
I see what this is trying to be, mildly sweet, understated patchouli. It wants to be soft. It wants to stay close. It wants to be a breath of fresh air to anyone catches a whiff. And there are times when I want just that. Not to smell like perfume, but to smell like a clean, refreshing breeze.
Sadly, from my wearer perspective, I can’t get past the cleaner vibe. Windex or Comet cleanser is ruining the wear for me. I’ll stick with underspraying Gucci Rush when I need this vibe.
Way in the dry down this is slightly reminiscent of Valentino Donna. I much prefer Donna to this, however.
Compared to other recent releases, this is the most Tom Ford smelling scent I’ve smelled in a while, and it’s gorgeous.
In the same world as Ebene Fume and Myrrh Mystere and the more elegant amber centered releases, Black Lacquer has a solid seat at the table imo. The fantasy notes in the opening add to the overall experience but don’t define the fragrance as the name suggests that it would. I was pleasantly surprised when smooth booze, deep woods, warm spice and sensual and elevated amber collided beautifully in this modern take on a classic private collection profile.
I’ll come back with updates after a full wear, but I feel firmly this may be one of the best releases since the acquisition.
Update: I remain firm… best TF release since the acquisition. The longevity is so good on this, the sprays on my HANDS are going strong after 6 hours and handwashing. A little goes a long way for me. But even with that, this doesn’t become cloying or overwhelming… it is SO WELL DONE. This one is definitely worth the cost to me.
On skin I get a beautiful incense. The type you would use as bakhoor to scent your surroundings and yourself… as a westerner, do you know how good a scent must be for us to want to use it that way? Usually we separate home scents from personal scents and make clear distinctions.
But, Black Lacquer is a vibe. Stunning start to end with the florals making the briefest welcome appearance in the mid and the finish being a sueded frankincense. A must have for me.
Sweet orange cream and smooth matcha for most of the wear… soapiness appears in the mid and slowly transitions this to a powdery clean vanilla cashmere.
This is a warm weather fragrance that I would reach for on a gloomy or quiet day. It is a comforting and cozy green tea entry, and should be named Verde or Soft.
This will layer very well with Sweet and Vanilla Milk.
I wish this stayed aquatic and had some driftwood in the base for depth and interest… this is an expensive BBW mist.
If you are looking for a straight up watermelon candy, just get Aroma Concepts Batikh. Watermelon candy with no weird edges.
A jammier less dank noir de noir. Redundant for me, but if you like that scent profile and can get your hands on this… do it!
I’ve finally found my rose vanilla ❤️ this is what I wanted from Intense Cafe and Roses Vanille. I even see me reaching for this before Atomic Rose. Delox is stunning.
I got lucky and got a bottle that was perfect from first spray. My goodness this is gorgeous. I love the opening and dry down of Noir de Noir, but I HATE the moldy mid and lackluster longevity. A scent that heavy should have great longevity, and in CDNIW, it does.
The opening and mid feel well blended and, and although there is no truffle listed, I get a fragrant, soft, dried, and edible feeling truffle accord… a welcome contrast from the fresh-in-the-dirt presentation in NdN. The movement in this fragrance is very enjoyable and addictive to me. The drydown smells identical to NdN, but is stronger. After several hours, the strength begins to mellow and you are left with the same beautiful exiting essence that you get with NdN after only about 30 minutes.
If you like NdN or Mugler Angel, you need this in your collection.
10/10
I was already nervous about applying Blind Date to my skin when I saw the notes, raspberry and leather is a combination I have a tough history with - it’s just a smell I very rarely remotely enjoy. Unfortunately with this fragrance, it really wasn’t my thing. The raspberry/leather combo smells like what can only be described as Tuscan Leather, I truly believe this is a riff on the famous Tom Ford fragrance. If you’ve smelled Tuscan Leather, you’ll know it’s a love it or hate it fragrance - personally I despise the stuff. There is a touch more balance here from violet, saffron and juniper but overall they cannot compete with the head-pounding strength of the raspberry and leather. It’s safe to say I really don’t enjoy this one, the longer I leave it on my skin the worse it gets. If you’re a lover of Tuscan Leather, you might love this too. If you’re like me and you can’t stand it, steer clear.
Vaniglia del Madagascar feels intensely Italian, as I suppose it should considering the house’s heritage. It’s a shockingly strange combination of notes which at first I found a little weird and off putting if I’m honest, but the longer it’s been on my skin the more it’s growing on me. Lily of the valley is a note I love and adore, a flower which provides no natural raw material to use in perfumery, and so synthetic accords vary drastically in accuracy. This doesn’t smell like the lily of the valleys I know and love, but that’s not a bad thing. Instead it comes across intensely soapy, like sudsy white bars of soap in a sparkling garden of flowers. The creamy vanilla brings a much needed sweetness to the party, but doesn’t dominate, they mingle with each other in perfect harmony. To me, this smells like an expensive bar of soap in a fancy Italian hotel. Glorious, but I’m not sure I’d buy a bottle.
Durocaffe is one of those perfumes which slaps you round the face as soon as you spray it, and will continue to brutally overpower those around you for the entire day. I think it’s great, but it’s not the easiest wear if I’m honest, you have to really love coffee for this one. Of course the coffee is the star, hence the name. It smells intensely bitter, steamy and slightly earthy, as though you’re inhaling the scent of freshly roasted and then ground coffee beans. A sweet touch of sugary vanilla helps to temper this slightly, but pales in strength to the coffee. It’s got that earthy, slightly chocolatey patchouli base furthering that bitterness, resulting in a scent you simply cannot escape from. I think it’s great, an astoundingly unique and innovative creation. For those big on coffee fragrances this will be a hit for you. Whilst I’m enjoying it on my arm, I can imagine I’d have a hard time wearing it - I can’t really imagine when I’d reach for it if I’m being honest. Lovely, but not full bottle worthy for me.
Tonkade was not what I expected given the name and the note breakdown. I was expecting something intensely sweet, creamy and vanillic, something overwhelmingly edible. And whilst it has elements of these things, overall I feel it heads towards a slightly sharper, smokier dimension. The tonka is there, front and centre - it’s addictively sweet and creamy, alongside copious amounts of vanilla of course. From here it begins to become a bit spicy, the warmth of cardamom amongst dried fruits darkens the scent profile. Not long after, a sudden smoky sharpness emerges, I imagine from the combination of frankincense, patchouli and cedar. It’s a lovely fragrance, one that I will enjoy wearing my sample of, but I had hoped it would lean into gourmand territory a bit more. For me, it could have done without the smoky woodiness. But either way it’s a gorgeous scent, and if you enjoy your tonka/vanilla not too sweet then this may be the scent for you.
