Category Archives: Perfume L-Z

This is by far my favorite oud fragrance; it’s versatile, unisex, and tends to induce feelings of confidence and positivity even in the most chaotic of circumstances. This is either extremely sexy, or I feel incredibly sexy wearing it; the roses and amber are warm and addicting. Honey Oud makes me feel as though I am hanging on the arms of a very powerful man who wrestles bears for fun and wears a letter “S” on his chest.

The opening is a sparkling cloud of honey and woods with rose petals blossoming throughout. Musk and patchouli are mildly perceptible but its presence is dominated by the appearance of spicy vanilla and amber. The agarwood, rose, and vanilla combined smells like old prayer books and church incense, incredible. Honestly I can’t think of a more harmonious blend of notes; these facets go so well together–as if they were created solely for the purpose of this perfume.

Besides the attractive appeal, Honey Oud reminds me of old Roman cathedrals with vaulted ceilings and wood panels on praying altars. It’s like sitting in church on a bright Sunday morning, taking in the scent of virtuousness that exudes from the layers of stone and architecture that has persisted for centuries.

I honestly love this fragrance, and for such an expensive scent…its price is very agreeable too; overall a true masterpiece worthy of its reputation.

Longevity: 8/10  Sillage: 7/10

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This perfume has a distinct scent of fresh tea mixed in with gingerbread and sandalwood; it’s a lovely a gourmand with an herbal twist rather similar to Sacrebleu by Nicolai Parfumeur. Un Crime Exotique smells similar to a coffee shop/vintage book store during Christmas time; it’s festive and warm with a penchant for nostalgia.
The opening is cinnamon, chai tea and gingerbread. Though on my skin I find the gingerbread to be dominant, with cinnamon notes contributing subtle whiffs of spiciness. Sandalwood and tea create a cozy accord that makes me think of pumpkin pie fresh out of the oven and sprinkled with a generous amount of nutmeg and allspice.

I see comparisons to Pacifica’s Mexican Cocoa and I have to disagree, MC smells to me like dark chocolate with a heavy dusting of coco powder and an almond filling. It smells decadent and buttery unlike UCE which is spicier in a totally optimistic and cheerful way.

Un Crime Exotique is a wonderful scent that manages to encapsulate the holiday spirit for all seasons and occasions. It’s simply a delicious and happy fragrance, nothing complex or extravagant. It’s a perfume I’ll end up using as a room deodorizer because it reminds me of pies baking in the oven; it’s also great for concentration or to help with relaxation and sleep.

Longevity: 8/10  Sillage: 5/10

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Very Sexy Now 2016 smells so cozy, like warm island sands under a hot tropical sun. This is a gorgeous and subtle coconut scent that reminds me of the beautiful coasts of Hawaii. 2016’s opening is a bit heavy on the alcohol but it dissipates within seconds to be replaced by an inviting scent of white sands and salty sea air. A very unique fragrance that is decadent like buttered popcorn, and just like buttered popcorn the fragrance can be a bit too “rich” and cloying if over sprayed. The dry down has hints of lotus which gives VSN a very aquatic and fresh undertone; this perfume has the spirit of a hot California summer with sandals in one hand and a bottle of suntan lotion in the other.

Very Sexy Now 2014 is a beautiful golden coconut fragrance crowned with garlands of fresh Gardenias. This version is a bit more floral than its older sister (Very Sexy Now 2016) and not as beach-y, however she’s still a warm tropical scent that is versatile year-round and for all occasions.

VSN starts off much like the 2016 version sans lotus and hot sand. Instead you are enveloped with fresh florals and a hint of quince; this brightens into a warm coconut accord that underlies a bouquet of orchids and gardenia. This is actually my favorite gardenia note in a perfume: white, dewy, and very island fresh. I think VSN’s coconut is the perfect background to its flowers center stage, it’s not synthetic nor overwhelming like most coconut fragrances, this one is done just right with a very subtle amount to give character.

Overall both perfumes are well done, they are weak in performance and the longevity is not great (even the EDP is skin soft) but I think these fragrances work so well because they aren’t heavy hitters, the coconut and sands would become too synthetic and messy otherwise.

If I would have to pick between the two I would certainly choose VSN 2014; it’s white florals, beach, and suntan lotion all in one bottle. It’s never cloying despite my obsessive spraying, can be worn day or night and is perfect whether you are having lunch with girlfriends or lazing around the house. In my opinion these are great fragrances by Victoria’s Secret, and both should be considered if you’re longing for the essence of summer.

Longevity: 6/10  Sillage: 6/10

Fragrance Notes for Very Sexy Now 2016:

Fragrance Notes for Very Sexy Now 2014:

This scent is like a woman’s pantsuit from the eighties: extravagant, timeless, and effortlessly gallant. This is a power bomb of aldehydes, civet, and vetiver; trademark ingredients from the golden age of perfumes. I was a little apprehensive about this fragrance, it’s certainly a statement piece with an extremely loud presence and great endurance, however I feel Must can also come off as slightly cold and intimidating.

On my skin this is a heavy composition of galbanum, woods, and aldehydes. Must phases out into a vetiver and sandalwood base with dry downs of carnation and supple leather. I can detect mild notes of civet but it isn’t overwhelming; I don’t pick up any roses, jasmine, or pineapple unfortunately. The dry down is a bit lackluster with mostly amber, aldehydes, and sandalwood. This is not a safe blind buy, like most fragrances from that time period, Must veers heavily into the “masculine” territory.

Personally I have yet to find a vintage chypre that doesn’t remind me of damp rotting earth; Must is actually quite enjoyable and one of the only eighties fragrances that I can stand. This is a power house, with the first application being strong enough to command the attention of a small village, and the longevity is incredible.

Overall I can see why this was a classic for over 30 years, it’s a legendary scent meant for the most sophisticated and powerful woman.

Longevity: 8/10  Sillage: 9/10

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Hanae is ambitious, girly, and inoffensive; nothing groundbreaking or original but simply sweet and pretty. This is a typical fruity scent done in a Bath & Body Works fashion, it literally smells like something I could buy for much cheaper at a drugstore but regardless, I find it rather whimsical.

I went from disliking gourmand fragrances to being quite neutral about it–to enjoying it immensely. The truth is I didn’t grow up in a baker’s household so the smell of cookies and candy won’t necessarily provoke the strong feelings I often associate as nostalgia. But I do find comfort in warmth, and Hanae tends to conjure a sense of affection and coziness which I accredit completely to the toffee and vanilla mix.

The main ingredients are a buttery accord consisting of toffee, strawberries, and vanilla. These are the top notes and they remain rather consistent on the dry down as well, I barely sense any apple and if there were it would be buried underneath the many layers of candy and sugar. I am relieved to find very subtle patchouli notes and the addition of black currant makes for a very “jam-my” dry down. Sillage is pretty low even after a rigorous application; longevity is decent (3-4 hours).

Hanae is typically linear and has zero complexity; it’s a standard fragrance for younger individuals, or for someone unfamiliar with perfumes. It’s also great if you were in the market for a basic scent that can be worn daily and has a zero chance of offending someone.

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This perfume is gorgeous! I’ve been searching for a body lotion scent for ages and I think I might have found it. Simply Belle smells heavenly without being too sharp on my skin; this is reminiscent of warm ivory soap and powdery cream. I was surprised to find this little gem in an innocuous tester that came with one of my purchases. This is a love for me, I wear this after every shower and I feel instantly happy. It’s always the little things =].
SB starts off very green with a burst of violet leaf and lily-of-the-valley, within seconds it is phased out by fresh peaches and white jasmine. The water lily notes combined with warm benzoin vanilla are so creamy and delicious; I have never smelled a cleaner and more indulgent vanilla, I love it.  Heliotrope softly accents a very mild citrus, and the musk is concocted so wonderfully. Combined it smells like clean soapy skin that’s been deeply moisturized and swathed with the most decadent of body creams.

Unfortunately, the bad news sets in within half an hour. SB is terrible on longevity; I get that it’s supposed to be a “skin scent” but this is awfully stingy for such a beautiful fragrance!

Overall an ideal Dove soap imitation; I also want to add that this smells incredibly close to Glow by JLO minus the hideous screech of synthetic roses that plague the opening of that fragrance. Minus the endurance, Simply Belle is fairly sweet and wholesome; it’s a great soapy alternative for those in search of the perfect clean scent.

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No offense to anyone who loves the perfume but this is an overpriced fragrance for a rather mediocre scent. I’m not suggesting that Lady Million smells awful—quite the contrary–but if you had told me this was a gas station original I would have agreed. Nonetheless this would be excellent if paired with a leather jacket and a gold sequined dress; but other than a swift kiss and a few empty promises, it’s a rather forgettable experience.

Honey and raspberry are one of my favorite combinations and this duo becomes the primary players of Lady Million; there’s a hint of jasmine and other white florals simmering below the surface along with warm amber and patchouli. This fragrance really does smell like something gold; it’s bright and optimistic yet a little linear. Nothing develops over time; you’re pretty much stuck with what you’ve got.

LM doesn’t smell sexy to me, it seems preppy and “dressed up”; like a good girl trying to be bad but really just doing it out of peer pressure. On the bright side, LM has great sillage and longevity; a few spritzes will probably last for an entire day.
Overall I’m not completely disappointed with this perfume; it just ends up in the back of my cabinet lost amongst other superior fragrances, spinning about woefully on its side–desperate for an opportunity to redeem itself. Luckily this gem is rather popular and if you find yourself not feeling like a million bucks, you can always swap it away.

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I don’t think people give Ivoire much of a chance, indeed this fragrance goes on super sharp…but it mellows out to be exactly what was promised: clean white soap. The galbanum is perhaps a little too prominent throughout, but after a few hours it settles perfectly into the skin leaving a very sheer and creamy scent.

I was originally on the fence between Ivoire and Glow by JLO, both were exceptionally harsh in their opening but Glow came off being too synthetic and stayed that way for hours. Although I prefer the latter for its more floral character; Ivoire has better tenacity on the long run and is overall less offensive and pleasant in its performance.

This perfume really sets off after 45 minutes on my skin; it’s really quite strong in composition so longevity is of no concern. My end goal was to smell like fresh ivory soap that smells like clean skin after a bath, and although Ivoire achieves this somewhat—the heaviness of the vetiver might come off being a little damp/earthy for those who find such things unpleasant.

There is Iris immediately in the opening and it blossoms into galbanum and roses, it’s refreshing and very powdery, but overall clean and sharp. This shifts into a slightly clammy stage which is no doubt due to the vetiver and patchouli combined with ylang-ylang. It feels a little woody and ozonic at first, yet the heart of this fragrance is flowers and cream…the earthy base produces a warm and inviting skin scent. Beware though that sillage is enormous and the more you apply the worse that chemical scent will become. It’s really quite unbearable after 3 spritzes, and veers uncannily into bug spray territory.

Overall this is the closest I have ever found to a real “Dove” soap fragrance, there is always Nivea by Nivea, but that product is not available in the United States. Until I can find something better that fulfills my standards for French soap, Ivoire will have to do.

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