Author: Jane Pettitt (Page 2 of 3)

Hi, I'm Jane. I've had a passion for perfume since the age of 18. Purelyfragrance.com answers popular fragrance-related questions and contains guides to all sorts of perfumes, colognes, and fragrances for men and women. I write at home surrounded by cats (we have 4 at the moment) and also blog about these and other pets on petskb.com.

What is The Best Perfume For Older Women in 2023?

March 10, 2020 / Jane Pettitt

There seems to be a belief that at a certain age you should stop wearing certain fragrances when really it’s your life and you should wear whatever you feel suits you and makes you happy.

What is the best perfume for older women?

The ideal perfume for older women is one that’s not too girly sweet and sugary. A fragrance with a sophisticated soapy or powdery smell absolutely suits the older generation but doesn’t have to be one that deserves the name ‘old ladies perfume’.

Perfumes seem to be marketed at the younger generations leaving older women unsure of what to wear. Ultimately, what makes a perfume best for an older woman is subjective and, of course, it doesn’t have to be one particular type – it just has to suit the wearer’s tastes and personality.

The ideal way to choose a perfume is to take a trip to your favorite store with a trusted friend to give you a second opinion on any you try.

For this article, we have selected popular and iconic perfumes with a range of profiles and prices that will definitely suit mature women.

At a glance: Our Top Perfume Recommendations for Older Women

Our recommended perfumes at a glance. Full reviews follow.

Perfume	House	Scent family	Amazon Rating *
The One	Dolce & Gabanna	Floral Oriental	4.6
Code	Armani	Floral	4.4
Mon Guerlain	Guerlain	Woody Oriental	4.4
La Vie Est Belle	Lancome	Oriental	4.7
Mitsouko	Guerlain	Mossy Wood	4.3
L’Air du Temps	Nina Ricci	Floral	4.4
Rive Gauche	Yves Saint Laurent	Floral Aldehydic	4.4
Oscar	Oscar de la Renta	Floral	4.4
Youth Dew	Estee Lauder	Oriental	4.6
Opium	Yves Saint Laurent	Oriental	4.6

* Amazon ratings are subject to change

The 10 best perfumes for older women in 2020

1. Dolce & Gabbana The One EDP

The One by Dolce & Gabbana is a modern take on a classic oriental floral, combining fruit and a classic white flower palette. It’s a beautiful perfume that can be worn day or night.

When you first apply it, you’ll notice a zesty and sweet fruity smell that comes from a combination of mandarin, bergamot, sweet peach, and lychee.

The heart of this fragrance is intense and feminine with a mix of Madonna Lily, plum, and jasmine.

Warm notes of vanilla, amber, and musk make up the beautiful and sensual base of this modern take of a classic floral scent.

There’s a powderiness in the base notes of this perfume that give it a grown-up and sophisticated feel. No woman should be afraid to wear Dolce & Gabbana The One no matter what age she is. It really can be worn by the young or old.

See reviews and the latest price on Amazon

2. Giorgio Armani Code EDP

Armani Code for Women is a sophisticated scent that is versatile enough to wear from day to night and is appropriate for a woman of any age.

The initial aroma is of orange blossom and ginger, followed by jasmine and seringa flower. The long-lasting base is a mix of lavender, honey, sandalwood, and vanilla.

Though The One is classed as a floral perfume, it’s neither too feminine, too floral nor too sweet. The honey in the base, it’s apparent amongst the orange blossom scent as soon as you apply this fragrance.

This is a lovely feminine floral a mature woman can confidently wear without fear of feeling too girly.

See reviews and the latest price on Amazon

3. Mon Guerlain EDP

Mon Guerlain is a wonderful infusion of French lavender, Sambac Jasmine, Sandalwood, and Vanilla. It comes in an iconic bottle that has been used by Guerlain since 1908.

It opens with a hint of bergamot and a beautiful fresh lavender aroma. This is underpinned by a warm, sensual sandalwood and vanilla base.

It’s a beautifully feminine sweet gourmand perfume that is truly delicious to wear. The lavender gives this fragrance a timeless, classic feel that’s grown-up and mature but in no way granny-ish.

See reviews and the latest price on Amazon

4. Lancome La Vie Est Belle EDP

Perfume for older women: La vie est belle

La Vie Est Belle translates to life is beautiful and just as this is true at any age, this perfume can be worn by a woman of any age.

This Lancome classic opens with a fruity note of blackcurrant and pear. The heart is a floral combination of iris, jasmine, and orange blossom. It dries down to a base of patchouli, tonka bean, vanilla, and praline.

La Vie Est Belle is a fruity oriental fragrance. The vanilla and sweet praline give it an almost edible aroma whilst the iris make it oh so elegant and classy. It’s a perfume any older woman can rightfully wear.

See reviews and the latest price on Amazon

5. Guerlain Mitsouko EDP

I own this Guerlain classic, Mitsouko and my mother, who is in her 70s wears it too, so I’m happy to say it’s perfect for older women.

Perfume For Older Women: Vintage Mitsouko — Vintage Mitsouko

Mitsouko is a fruity chypre fragrance that debuted in the early 20th Century. It has undergone many reformulations and today is an alluring mix of peach and jasmine that dries down to a long-lasting base of cinnamon and vetiver.

The top note is fruity and is made up of peach, bergamot, lemon, mandarin, and neroli. The middle note is very flora, combining lilac, rose, yang ylang, and jasmine. The rich base is a complex combination of cinnamon, vetiver, amber, oakmoss, patchouli, and cedar.

Mitsouko is definitely a perfume that suits older rather than younger women. It creates a mature and grown-up, long-lasting impression. It is also surprisingly strong so use it sparingly!

See reviews and the latest price on Amazon

6. Nina Ricci L’Air du Temps EDP

L’Air du Temps is a classic and possibly one of the world’s most recognizable perfumes. The name translates to ‘the air of time’ which basically means fashionable at the moment. This perfume is definitely timeless.

It was created post World War II and was designed to inject femininity and romance back into women’s lives which it does via its array of beautiful ingredients.

It’s classed as a floral fragrance and it’s obvious why when you see the fragrance notes:

Top Notes: rose, peach, carnation, neroli.
Middle notes: gardenia, jasmine, rose, ylang ylang, orchid, lily, orris.
Base notes: ambergris, musk, vetiver, benzoin, cedarwood, sandalwood, cardamom.

L’Air du Temps has a powdery scent that will forever remind me of my very glamorous grandmother and is a perfume any older woman can gracefully and confidently wear.

See reviews and the latest price on Amazon

7. Yves Saint Laurent rive gauche EDT

I have a soft spot for Rive Gauche as it’s the first perfume I ever owned. An older, beautiful, sophisticated family friend used to wear it and I wanted to replicate her!

Rive Gauche means left bank of the river and alluded to the left bank of the River Seine in Paris, an area that was quite hip and boho in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

It is a beautifully soapy, flowery fragrance with top notes of aldehydes, bergamot, and peach; middle notes of rose, jasmine, geranium, lily of the valley, orris, and ylang-ylang; base notes of vetiver, tonka bean, sandalwood, moss, musk, and amber.

For me, Rive Gauche is nostalgic and I can’t resist sampling it whenever I see it. Its floral, soapy note makes it very wearable for women of an older generation.

See reviews and the latest price on Amazon

8. Oscar de la Renta

Perfume for older women: Oscar de la Renta

We’re on to another of my favorite perfumes of which I still own a bottle today: Oscar by Oscar de la Renta.

Perfume for older women: Vintage Oscar — Vintage Oscar

Oscar is a beautiful timeless classic floral perfume created in 1977. It has an abundance of ingredients that give it a strong, powdery floral aroma with a spicy edge.

There are so many fragrance notes and I honestly can’t single out any (I’m smelling it as I write this) but together they make Oscar a truly unique and expensive-smelling perfume.

In case you’re interested, apparently, Oscar contains:

Top notes: Bergamot, Clove, Coriander, Cascarilla, Basil, Peach, Gardenia
Middle notes: Iris, Jasmine, Tuberose, Ylang Ylang, May Rose, Lavender, Orchid, Broom, Lily of the valley, Galbanum, Honey
Base notes: Clove, Sandalwood, Amber, Myrrh, Patchouli, Opopanox, Vetiver, Castoreum, Oakmoss, Cedarwood, Musk, Ambergris

I do feel Oscar is classy, powdery, and flowery, so for this reason, I say it would suit women in their later years rather than younger ladies.

See reviews and the current price on Amazon

9. Estee Lauder Youth Dew

Estée Lauder Youth Dew is a 1950s classic worn by several of my glamorous aunts in their senior years.

It has fragrance notes of orange, bergamot, peach, aldehydes, clove, cinnamon, mimosa, rose, ylang-ylang, orchid, jasmine, frankincense, amber, vanilla, tolu, benzoin, oakmoss, musk, patchouli, and vetiver.

The aldehydes give Youth Dew that classic soapy fragrance that really suits older perfume wearers. It’s a timeless classic that really has stood the test of time.

See reviews and the current price on Amazon

10. Yves Saint Laurent Opium EDT

Funnily enough, though I’m recommending this perfume for older women, it’s one I chose as an 18th birthday present! I haven’t worn it for quite a while but every time I smell it I’m catapulted back to that era.

Opium by Yves Saint Laurent is not a shy fragrance by any stretch. It’s a powerful oriental scent to be worn by someone who likes to make a statement. It’s definitely better for evening wear.

The fragrance notes of Opium are many:

Top notes: Bergamot, Plum, Mandarin, Clove, Coriander, Pepper, Bay
Middle notes: Lily of the Valley, Carnation, Jasmine, Rose, Ylang Ylang, Myrrh, Cinnamon, Peach
Base notes: Vanilla, Amber, Patchouli, Frankincense, Cedar, Musk, Myrrh, Sandalwood, Vetiver

The notes I love in Opium are plum, lily of the valley, and spicy cinnamon. This flowery spicy oriental perfume is voluptuous and decadent and would suit confident older women who know they still have the right to wear whatever they like and be noticed.

See reviews and the current price on Amazon

The best perfume for older women – Conclusion

There is absolutely no reason for older women to rule out any particular perfumes – age is, after all, just a number. If you love a particular perfume, it doesn’t matter if you’re age 60, over or under – just wear it! I hope you find one in this top 10 to love.

What Is The Best Creed Aventus Clone in 2023?

March 8, 2020 / Jane Pettitt

If you love Creed Aventus but on principle refuse to spend that much on a fragrance, fear not, there are other options! Several fragrance houses have captured the very essence that everyone loves about Aventus resulting in a very good selection of clones.

Creed Aventus clone: The search for the best

It’s my favorite fragrance so I went in search of the best Creed Aventus clone. There are many fragrances with a similar scent profile to Creed Aventus but the cheapest one I tried I believe is the best. Which one was it? I’ll reveal all in a moment!

What does Creed Aventus smell like?

What is it that so many people love about Creed Aventus? Definitely not the price! But its scent is addictive. When you first spray any fragrance and instantly love it, it’s not always easy to explain why.

Before I tried Creed Aventus, I read many independent reviews, and all of them listed different notes in its fragrance pyramid. Bemused, I looked at three official Creed sites: the UK, the US, and Australia. Guess what? All three were slightly different too! There’s more about this later on.

What does Creed Aventus smell like? A quick answer is it smells gorgeous and expensive. I know several people who wear Creed but in order to give an honest answer, I headed to a local stockist to try a sample fresh from the bottle. Here it is:

This is a summary of how Creed Aventus is advertised as smelling:

Top notes of apple, bergamot, blackcurrant, and pineapple
Middle notes of birch, jasmine, rose, pinkberries, and patchouli
Base notes of oak moss, musk, ambergris, and vanilla

Ignoring the official fragrance notes, what does Creed Aventus smell like to an everyday person like me?

As I wasn’t wearing any fragrance, I applied a liberal spray to both wrists, gave it a few seconds, and then took a gentle slow, smell. What I immediately picked up was a beautiful fresh, clean ripe fruity scent – citrusy, sharp, and tingly.

After about 30 minutes the fruitiness subsided a little but I could still pick up citrus. I could definitely smell patchouli (t’s one of my favorite fragrances), wood, and rose.

Six hours later, there was still a lovely scent on my skin. The citrus was still obvious, mingled with an earthy, musky, leathery scent and a subtle hint of vanilla.

The best Creed Aventus clone

Before we go any further, though the word clone means an exact copy, there really is no clone that is a perfect match for Creed Aventus.

Not one of the following would make a true Creed Aventus fan give up the real thing – unless they fell on hard times and could no longer afford it! There’s a full explanation of why this is a bit later on.

The best thing about any good Creed Aventus clone is it allows someone who can’t afford the real thing to wear something that smells similar enough at a fraction of the price.

For a copycat to be labeled the best Aventus clone, ideally it should be able to fool someone who loves the real thing into believing it is the real thing.

This is a very tall order with a niche fragrance of such high quality. Most clones are at best, great fragrances with a similar scent profile.

Here are some of the best alternatives to Creed Aventus currently on the market, in no particular order except my favorite one is first:

1. Perfumer’s Choice No.9 Victor by Milton-Lloyd London

Best Creed Aventus Clone: Perfumer's Choice No 9

I ordered this particular copycat after several Aventus lovers’ told me it’s the Creed Aventus clone they like best.

It has the long-winded name, Perfumer’s Choice No. 9 Victor, and is produced by Milton-Lloyd Cosmetics, London. It comes as an Eau de Parfum in a 2.8 fl. oz (83ml) glass bottle with a spray applicator.

The reason this is my favorite clone is that a few Creed wearers I know thought I was wearing Aventus and to me that says quite a lot about it.

There are several things I love about this fragrance:

It’s one of the cheapest clones of Aventus and you will see just how cheap if you click the button at the bottom of this review.
It’s a lovely fragrance to wear in its own right, not just as a clone.
Its projection is good enough for people to notice and compliment it when they get to within 3 feet.
A-three spray application gives the right projection and lasts about 4 hours.
It’s in a dark bottle that protects its contents from light damage.

I’m not going to bore you with a fragrance note description, I’m just going to describe the scent and how it changes throughout the day.

A soon as it’s sprayed, Perfumer’s Choice No. 9 has that Creed Aventus fresh citrus fruity hit. There’s no initial, alcohol smell at all which is often noticeable in cheaper fragrances.

Very quickly, a woody, musky smell becomes apparent. Several hours later, there’s still a citrus aroma and a musky, vanilla undertone.

After 4 hours, I felt it was time for another application but I think this is a good amount of time for a fragrance of this price to last. You certainly wouldn’t worry about reapplying it several times throughout the day as it’s such a good price.

My verdict is that Perfumer’s Choice No. 9 is not exactly the same as Aventus – no clone truly is – but it’s close enough to make it a really good choice if you can’t afford the real thing.

Other cologne clones are similar enough too but not for this price.

See reviews and the latest price on Amazon

You certainly won’t regret trying Perfumer’s Choice No. 9

2. Supremacy Silver by Afnan

Best Creed Aventus Clone: Afnan Supremacy

I’m recommending Supremacy Silver by Afnan because I almost mistook it for Creed Aventus recently. I thought I could smell Aventus and asked the person what fragrance they were wearing.

As soon as they didn’t say Aventus but replied, “What do you think I’m wearing?” I knew it had to be a clone.

The projection of this fragrance was about 3 feet – just right and not overpowering. The wearer had applied this particular Creed Aventus clone about 3 hours earlier and assured me it lasted for about 6 hours.

It has that nice citrusy, fruity note of Aventus and a smokey, woody note alongside. It also came over as expensive, more like a niche perfume which is probably why it’s a very good Creed imitation.

I would say Supremacy Silver is a lovely fragrance in its own right that happens to smell quite like Creed Aventus.

The bottle has a classy appearance too and you wouldn’t think twice about buying it as a gift for someone who likes Aventus but doesn’t actually own any. At about $45 for a 3.4 fl. oz (100ml) Eau de Parfum, it is very affordable.

This is available from a variety of online sellers at varying prices so it’s best if you google it and see who has the best price and reviews.

3. L’Aventure by Al Haramain

Al Haramain L’Aventure is a 3.4 fl.oz (100ml) Eau de Parfum and has a very similar scent to Creed Aventus. Though you can’t tell from the image above, the bottle is a solid chunky cube shape.

This Creed Aventus clone has a lovely citrusy top note of bergamot but not the sharp pineapple hit you get from Creed Aventus.

It dries down to a nice woody, patchouli smell after an hour or so. It doesn’t have great longevity so you’ll probably have to reapply it after 2 to 3 hours. But the cost means this isn’t a problem.

It’s an excellent price and many people who buy it are sure they can’t tell the difference between Al Haramain and Aventus, as you will see if you click the button at the end of this review.

Al Haramain is a very nice, wearable fragrance in its own right. It’s kind of like Creed Aventus but not a cologne I would mistake for it.

If you like Creed Aventus style fragrance, and you’re on a budget, this is an admirable alternative.

See reviews and the latest price on Amazon

4. Zara Vibrant Leather

Creed Aventus Clone: Zara Vibrant Leather

Launched in 2016, Zara’s Vibrant Leather EDP is a woody men’s fragrance with a top note of bergamot, a middle note of bamboo, and a base note of leather.

This simple combination gives a nice scent that makes you think of Creed Aventus. It’s a great price at around $30 for a 4.4 fl. oz (120 ml) bottle.

Vibrant leather is a simple but elegant fragrance. As you spray it you’ll notice the citrusy, spicy aroma of bergamot which does make you think of Creed Aventus.

After a few minutes, the bergamot subsided to reveal the woody middle note of bamboo and after about 30 minutes you’re left with a beautiful leathery base.

Although Vibrant Leather is initially like Aventus, this doesn’t last. It doesn’t have great longevity and has to be reapplied after 3 hours or so but as it costs less than 10% of the price of the Creed favorite, this isn’t such a big deal.

It’s quite like Creed Aventus when initially applied but doesn’t dry down to the same scent.

I’m a fan of Zara fragrances in general. They have a vast choice of fragrances at extremely low prices.

How to get Aventus for less instead of settling for a Creed Aventus clone

One way to get Creed Aventus for less is to buy a decant. Shop around and check reviews and you may get a 3.4 oz unsealed bottle for as little as $60. But do be careful to check the seller’s feedback.

Another way of getting the real thing for less is to buy a larger bottle. As with many fragrances, the bigger the size you buy, the cheaper the contents per ounce.

Creed Aventus comes in many sizes ranging from 50 ml (1.7 fl. oz) to 1 Liter (34 fl. oz) bottles:

If you buy this size from Creed it is currently $1600. This works out at about $160 per 3.4 oz, so a lot less than the $435 you would currently pay for a 3.4 oz bottle. Obviously, $1600 is a lot to pay out in one go but this gives you options such as:

Buy with 9 other Creed Aventus loving friends and share it out.
Save up and carefully store it in a dark cool space – it should last several years.
Buy some glass vials and become a decant seller! You can sell varying size, starting from 1 ml at $7.00

Why there are no perfect Creed Aventus Clones

Creed Aventus is a unique niche fragrance and no clone has managed to exactly copy it. There’s are good reasons why:

Creed uses very old expensive infusion methods to produce their fragrances. Replicating these would make clones as expensive and so defeat the object.
Aventus has a complex scent profile that’s difficult to copy exactly.
Creed makes fragrances in small batches which is why you hear of slight variations from one bottle of Aventus to the next. Again clone producers can’t afford to do this at the prices they sell for.
The ingredients used in Creed Aventus are natural, top-end, no expense spared and often hand-picked. Clones can’t afford this luxury.

The Creed Fragrance Pyramid

This is slightly confusing but really, when it comes to choosing a fragrance the top, middle and base notes are just for guidance and I’ll bet most people can’t truly distinguish one note from another when they sample a fragrance.

The fragrance pyramid of Creed Aventus according to creedfragrances.co.uk

Creed Aventus clone: Creed UK fragrance pyramid

The fragrance pyramid of Creed Aventus according to creedboutique.com

Creed Aventus clone: Creed US fragrance pyramid

The fragrance pyramid of Creed Aventus according to creedperfume.com.au

Creed Aventus clone: Creed Australia fragrance pyramid

Best Creed Aventus Clone – Conclusion

Creed Aventus is difficult to clone exactly but there are several colognes that are similar enough and sell at fantastically low prices.

The best Creed Aventus clone as far as I’m concerned is Perfumer’s Choice No.9 Victor by Milton-Lloyd London because it has a similar scent profile, smells very like Creed Aventus, and is the cheapest of all the clones.

If you also like Oud Wood by Tom Ford, you’ll love this gift set on Amazon which contains Perfumer’s Choice No. 10, a very good likeness to Oud Wood, along with the Aventus clone, No.9.

If you love Creed fragrances, Royal Oud clones are popular too.

7 Best Oriental Lampe Berger Fragrances: Lolita Lempicka

7 Best Oriental Lampe Berger Home Fragrances

January 26, 2020 / Jane Pettitt

Maison Berger (also known as Lampe Berger) is a French company that makes beautiful diffusion lamps and home fragrances to purify and perfume the air in your home whilst completely destroying unwanted odors.

Simply pick a lamp that suits your taste and then choose a lamp fragrance to use in it. There are literally dozens of beautiful Lampe Berger fragrances to choose and you won’t struggle to find several that you’ll love.

There are several classes of Lampe Berger fragrances, of which my favorite are the sensual orientals – also known as amber fragrances. Each one has its own unique warm and sensual aroma created from heady fragrance notes such as amber musk, vanilla, and precious woods.

If you like oriental fragrances, here are 7 fantastic Lampe Berger fragrances you’ll find irresistible:

1. Amber Powder (Poussière d’Ambre)

Best Oriental Lampe Berger Fragrances: Amber Powder — Lampe Berger Amber Powder

Lampe Berger Amber Powder home fragrance is warm and intense. At the heart of its alluring aroma is the secret ingredient, amber.

The amber used in a fragrance oil is not, as you might think, fossilized tree sap. It is a manmade substance used in place of the very rare natural ingredient, ambergris. Ambergris – a product expelled from the digestive systems of only about 1% of Sperm whales – is not easy to come by and is banned in some areas, so perfumers have created amber to use in its place.

No one knows the exact recipe of the amber used in fragrances except the perfumers who create it, but it often contains quantities of benzoin (tree resin), labdanum (resin from a Mediterranean shrub), and vanilla.

Amber Powder instantly fills a home with a sensual warm aroma. It is mildly spicey, has hints of rose, sandalwood and patchouli and the full-bodied essence of ambergris perfectly mimicked by the amber.

The fragrance pyramid of Amber Powder

Head notes – Rose, Cinnamon, Pepper
Heart notes – Sandalwood, Patchouli, Amber
Base notes – Vanilla, Balms, White musk

Amber Powder is my all-time favorite Lampe Berger room fragrance. If you love sensual, warm elegant aromas and are particularly a fan of ambergris this is one I recommend for you.

To see reviews and the latest price of Amber Powder, follow this link to Amazon

2. Enchanting Sandalwood (Santal Envoûtant)

Best Oriental Lampe Berger Fragrances: Enchanting Sandalwood — Lampe Berger Enchanting Sandalwood

Lampe Berger Enchanting Sandalwood home fragrance has a warm, fruity, sweet honey aroma. Its heart is filled with powdery soft sandalwood.

Enchanting Sandalwood combines earthy blackcurrant and tangy mandarin, sandalwood, and the bouquet of lily of the valley and rose. All of these aromas are underpinned by comforting honey, sweet coumarin, and therapeutic Mysore sandalwood.

The fragrance pyramid of Enchanting Sandalwood

Head notes – Tangerine, Blackcurrant
Heart notes – Lily of the valley, Sandalwood, Rose
Base notes – Mysore Sandalwood, Musk, Coumarin, Honey

Lily of the Valley and rose give this oriental fragrance a captivating, feminine edge, making it perfect to diffuse in a pretty bedroom.

To see reviews and the latest price of Enchanting Sandalwood, follow this link to Amazon

3. Winterwood (Bois d’Orient)

Best Oriental Lampe Berger Fragrances: Winterwood — Lamp Berger Winterwood

Lampe Berger Winterwood home fragrance is sensual and spicy, combining cedar and sandalwood to effectively banish all unwanted odors.

With Winterwood you get a fabulous combination of spices, citrus, lily of the valley and wood. Lemon, pepper, and ginger provide a fresh zingy aroma that combines perfectly with sweet lily of the valley and cedarwood. Musk, sandalwood, and amber provide a luxurious base to complete a stunning oriental mix.

The fragrance pyramid of Winterwood

Head notes – Lemon, Pepper, Ginger
Heart notes – Lily of the valley, Cedarwood
Base notes – Sandalwood, White Musk, Soft Amber

The cedar in Winterwood is really noticeable and makes it a sweet and woody fragrance, with warm, comforting, qualities. It is also a natural sedative that helps to create a relaxing atmosphere. Diffuse this Lamp Berger fragrance for half an hour after dinner and then chill out for the rest of the evening.

To see reviews and the latest price of Winterwood, follow this link to Amazon

4. Oriental Star (Etoile d’Orient)

Best Oriental Lampe Berger home fragrances: Oriental Star — Lampe Berger Oriental Star

Lampe Berger Oriental Star home fragrance is a pure oriental dream. You will instantly be drawn in by the floral, spicy, bergamot note which is the signature of many high-end fragrances. It has a definite fruity heart and beautiful amber and patchouli base with a perfect balance of sweet vanilla.

The fragrance pyramid of Oriental Star

Head notes – Bergamot, Tangerine, Coconut
Heart notes – Red fruits, Peach, Jasmine
Base notes – Vanilla, Amber, Patchouli

Oriental Star is an attractive and alluring fragrance. It almost smells like something you would wear.

To see reviews and the latest price of Oriental Star, follow this link to Amazon

5. Mystery Patchouli (Esprit de Patchouli)

Best Oriental Lampe Berger home fragrances: Mystery Patchouli — Lampe Berger Mystery Patchouli

Patchouli is a sweet, earthy, musky fragrance note used in some of the most popular perfumes in the world. Lampe Berger Mystery Patchouli captures the very essence of this South-East Asian shrub.

Lampe Berger Mystery Patchouli home fragrance has a bewitching aroma. There’s a captivating sweet, fruitiness mingling with the richness of patchouli. In sharp contrast is the beautiful creaminess of sandalwood with a distinct aroma of leather.

The fragrance pyramid of Mystery Patchouli

Head notes – Rose, Blackcurrant
Heart notes – Patchouli
Base notes – Sandalwood, Leather, Balms

With Mystery Patchouli, Maison Berger has created an extraordinary woody, oriental fragrance. Forget the hippy connotations and embrace this truly intriguing and addictive fragrance.

To see reviews and the latest price of Mystery Patchouli, follow this link to Amazon

6. Virginia Cedarwood (Cèdre du Liban)

Best Lampe Berger Oriental room fragrances: Virginia Cedarwood — Lamp Berger Virginia Cedarwood

Lampe Berger Virginia Cedarwood home fragrance is very woody, wonderfully piney and citrusy with a hint of clove and coconut.

If you close your eyes as you use this oriental fragrance you can imagine you are in a pine and cedar forest on a warm, sunny day.

An earthy, almost vanilla scent, comes through from the Gaïac wood of the base notes.

The fragrance pyramid of Virginia Cedarwood

Head notes – Pine, Orange, Lemon
Heart notes – Clove, Coconut
Base notes – Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Gaïac

Virginia Cedarwood is ideal if you adore hearty, woody oriental fragrances.

To see reviews and the latest price of Virginia Cedarwood, follow this link to Amazon

7. Lolita Lempicka

Best Oriental Lampe Berger home fragrances: Lolita Lempicka — Lamp Berger Lolita Lempicka

The aroma that stands out in Lampe Berger Lolita Lempicka is delicious, alluring aniseed and cherry.

You’ll notice a variety of scents starting with sharp, earthy ivy leaf. Star anise adds the sweet aniseed scent and along with licorice flower, gives this fragrance its sensual oriental air. The use of orris root (the root of an Iris species) adds a floral heart that’s very close to violet.

Through all of these aromas comes a spicy, almondy, vanilla essence from tonka beans, and caramel sweetness.

The fragrance pyramid of Lolita Lempicka

Head notes – Ivy leaves, Star Anise, Licorice Flower
Heart notes – Violet Flower, Cherry, Orris
Base notes – Tonka bean, Creamy Wood, Caramel, Cistus Labdanum

Lolita Lempicka as a woody oriental fragrance with hints of the chypre family, mainly because of the labdanum in its base notes. It is truly sensual, verging on hedonistic and a perfect way to refresh the air in your home on a balmy summer evening.

To see reviews and the latest price of Lolita Lempicka, follow this link to Amazon

Using Lampe Berger

If you haven’t tried Lampe Berger lamp and home fragrance before it is very easy and safe to use.

The fragrance is made from very pure alcohol infused with high-quality fragrance oils, just like those used in perfumes.

Our article, What is Lampe Berger, explains exactly how the system works and how to safely use it.

Best Armaf fragrances for men: Club de Nuit Intense

10 Best Armaf Fragrances for Men in 2023

January 24, 2020 / Jane Pettitt

Armaf is a relatively new fragrance collection produced by leading perfume company, Sterling Parfums.

They have an exciting new line, Armaf Niche, which is a collection of colognes that closely resemble many expensive niche favorites for just a fraction of the price.

Since launching Club de Nuit Intense for Women in 2013, the Armaf brand has gone from strength to strength. Many of their fragrances are revered for being excellent clones of famous fragrances from the likes of Creed, Tom Ford, Kilian, and Dolce & Gabanna, to name but a few.

There are many fragrances in the Armaf collection but if you haven’t tried any, where should you start?

We compare the top Armaf scents to other leading brands in this list of the 10 best Armaf fragrances for men:

1. Armaf Club de Nuit Intense Man

Best Armaf Fragrances for Men: Club de Nuit Intense Man

Armaf Club de Nuit Intense Man is well-known as an excellent clone of the iconic Creed Aventus. Whether this was intentional is unconfirmed.

Comparing the notes of each fragrance gives a clue as to why they smell very similar.

Creed Aventus Eau de Parfum has:

Top notes of bergamot, blackcurrant, pineapple, and apple
Middle notes of jasmine, birch, juniper berries, and patchouli
Base notes of vanilla, ambergris, and oakmoss

Armaf Club de Nuit Intense Man has:

Top notes of bergamot, blackcurrant, pineapple, and lemon
Middle notes of jasmine, birch, rose
Base notes of vanilla, ambergris, and patchouli

As you can see, there are many similar notes.

Armaf Club De Nuit Intense Man is fruity and fresh. The bergamot in the opening is subtly sweet and citrusy with a warm hint of spice. The birch adds a masculine, woody note which perfectly compliments the intoxicating, musky patchouli. Ambergris gives it a sweet, earthy expensive note that is becoming so rare in the perfume world today.

If you’re searching for a fragrance to wear any day, any time, any season no matter what the occasion, Armaf Club De Nuit Intense Man is a perfect choice. It won’t fail to get you noticed.

Now, back to Creed Aventus – if you are a fan of this amazing scent but your fragrance budget just can’t stretch to the price, Armaf Club De Nuit Intense Man is one of the best alternatives. It really is similar enough and at about 1/10th of the price, it won’t bankrupt you!

To see reviews and the latest price of Club de Nuit Intense Man, follow this link to Amazon

2. Armaf Tres Nuit

Best Armaf Fragrances for Men: Tres Nuit

Armaf Tres Nuit is a great fragrance in its own right but is also a popular clone of Creed Green Irish Tweed. Again it isn’t known if this was Armaf’s intention. The result is a fresh, woody, gentlemanly fragrance.

Comparing the notes of each fragrance shows why they are similar.

Creed Green Irish Tweed has:

Top notes of lemon, and verbena
Middle notes of violet leaves, and peppermint
Base notes of iris, sandalwood, and ambergris

Armaf Tres Nuit has:

Top notes of lemon and verbena
Middle notes of violet leaves and spices
Base notes of sandalwood and ambergris

The lemon and verbena in Armaf Tres Nuit are an invigorating, fresh combination. The violet leaves will remind you of freshly cut grass whilst the spices add a hint of warmth. The sandalwood and ambergris add a long-lasting layer that you’ll still get a hint of on your skin the next day.

Overall, Tres Nuit is a fresh, summery scent that’s perfect to wear from late Spring to early Fall but there’s nothing to stop you from wearing it at any time.

If you love Creed Green Irish Tweed, Armaf Tres Nuit is something that may interest you. It is very similar but a fraction of the price.

To see reviews and the latest price of Tres Nuit, follow this link to Amazon

3. Armaf Derby Club House Blanche

Best Armaf fragrances for Men: Derby Club House Blanche

Armaf Derby Club House Blanche is an aromatic, aquatic fragrance classed as unisex. There’s a likeness to Creed Silver Mountain Water but is it a deliberate clone? I wouldn’t like to say. Here’s a comparison of their fragrance notes.

Creed Silver Mountain Water has:

Top notes of bergamot, mandarin, and neroli
Middle notes of green tea and blackcurrant
Base notes of sandalwood and musk

Armaf Derby Club House Blanche has:

Top notes of orange, bergamot, and mandarin, plus aquatic notes
Middle notes of green tea and blackcurrant
Base notes of sandalwood, musk, and galbanum

There is a definite aquatic note that gives Armaf Derby Club House Blanche a light, fresh scent and this combines perfectly with the citrus of the bergamot and orange. Green tea gives this fragrance a beautiful soothing quality. Galbanum adds an enticing hint of fresh pine to the creaminess of the sandalwood base notes.

Armaf Club House Derby has the sort of clean, fresh fragrance that smells perfect on cool but sunny Spring days.

If you are like the fragrance of Creed Silver Mountain Water, Armaf Derby Club House Blanche is very similar. It’s the perfect, affordable alternative.

To see reviews and the latest price of Derby Club House Blanche, follow this link to Amazon

4. Armaf Shades Wood

Best Armaf Fragrances for Men: Shades Wood

Armaf shades wood is a rich and powerful oriental cologne that’s alluring and exotic. It smells like a clone of Kilian Rose Oud so let’s compare their fragrance notes.

Kilian Rose Oud has: :

Top note of rose
Middle notes oud and saffron
Base notes guaiac wood and vanilla

Armaf Shades Wood has:

Top notes of rose and geranium
Middle notes of pepper, clove, and cumin
Base notes of sandalwood, cedarwood, and oud

It’s the rose and oud that stand out in both of these fragrances and make them very similar.

Armaf Shades Wood has a beautiful rose opening that is not out and out feminine. The wood and oud in the base notes add enough masculinity to make this a fragrance that can truly be worn by anyone. The cumin adds a strangely irresistible, attractive animalistic odor.

If you like a fragrance for each season, choose Armaf Shades Wood to wear during the fall – but it really can be worn at any time. It’s a great choice for an intimate date night because it is quite powerfully arousing.

If you love Kilian Rose Oud but loathe the price, Armaf Shades Wood is the ideal, affordable clone.

To see reviews and the latest price of Shades Wood, follow this link to Amazon

5. Armaf Tag-Him

Armaf Tag-Him is a woody, spicy fragrance with a fresh edge. Though not a direct clone of Bleu de Chanel, it is very similar. Let’s see how the fragrance notes compare.

Bleu de Chanel has:

Top notes of lemon, pink berries, mint, and nutmeg
Middle notes of ginger, grapefruit, cedar, vetiver, sea accords, and jasmine
Base notes of patchouli, sandalwood, frankincense, and labdanum

Armaf Tag-HIm has:

Top notes of lemon, pink berries, grapefruit, and bergamot
Middle notes of ginger, mint, and nutmeg
Base notes of patchouli, sandalwood, cedar, and vetiver

As you can see, Armaf Tag-Him has 9 ingredients in common with Bleu de Chanel so it’s no surprise that it compares quite favorably to it.

Tag-Him is a light, fresh fragrance with a woody base that is best reapplied a couple of times throughout the day. It has quite a subtle, low projection which makes it perfect if you don’t want your fragrance to enter a room before you do. It has a summery feel and can be worn day or night.

If you like Bleu de Chanel but are looking for a good quality lower-priced fragrance, give Tag-Him a try.

To see reviews and the latest price of Tag-Him, follow this link to Amazon

6. Armaf Ventana

Armaf Ventana is a traditional men’s floral, woody fragrance that is very similar to the timeless classic, Dior Sauvage. The fragrance notes tell us why.

Dior Sauvage has:

Top notes of bergamot, pepper, and mint
Middle notes of geranium, lavender, and patchouli
Base notes of cedar, labdanum, and ambergris

Armaf Ventana has:

Top notes of bergamot, grapefruit, mandarin, lemon, and red berries
Middle notes of geranium, lavender, patchouli, and vetiver
Base notes of cedar, labdanum, and ambergris

The seven fragrance notes they have in common do make Ventana and Sauvage very similar.

Armaf Ventana is light and refreshing when first applied because of the citrus fruits in its opening notes. As it dries down it really is like Dior Sauvage. It’s a great fragrance for evening wear as it is quite masculine and romantic – the sort of fragrance that many people are drawn to.

Dior Sauvage appreciators will probably appreciate Armaf Ventana as it is one of the most popular alternatives and will save you quite a few dollars.

To see reviews and the latest price of Ventana, follow this link to Amazon

7. Armaf Craze

Armaf Craze is a sweet, oriental fragrance with a calming aroma. It is quite like Pegasus by Parfums de Marly in the dry down phase. Here’s a comparison of their fragrance notes.

Pegasus by Parfums de Marly has:

Top notes of bergamot cumin, and heliotrope
Middle notes of lavender, jasmine, and almonds
Base Notes of amber, vanilla, and sandalwood

Armaf Craze has:

Top notes of bergamot cumin, and heliotrope
Middle notes of lavender, jasmine, bitter almond, and sage
Base notes of amber, vanilla, and sandalwood

They do have virtually the same ingredients so it’s no surprise there’s a similarity between the two.

The heliotrope gives Armaf Craze a sweet opening fragrance. As it begins to dry calming lavender and almond are very apparent. Finally, the warmth of amber and wood comes through accompanied by creamy vanilla.

Armaf Craze feels like a fragrance that should be worn in cooler seasons with a chunky jumper. It’s relaxing, charming and comforting.

If you enjoy the scent of Pegasus, Armaf Craze is a fragrance you’ll also find great to wear and, as is usual with Armaf, it’ll save you quite a bit of money too.

To see reviews and the latest price of Craze, follow this link to Amazon

8. Armaf Le Parfait Pour Homme

Best Armaf Fragrances for Men: Le Parfait Pour Homme

Armaf Le Parfait Pour Homme is an Asian-inspired fragrance with an interesting fruity crispness. It is believed to be a combination of two other popular Armaf fragrances: Club de Nuit Intense Man and Tres Nuit which of course means it is almost a cross between Creed Aventus and Green Irish Tweed.

Armaf Le Parfait has:

Top notes of bergamot, blackcurrant, pineapple, and lemon
Middle notes of rose, spicy accords, and jasmine
Base notes of ambergris, musk, and vanilla

Armaf Le Parfait has an extremely masculine aroma that is similar to Creed Aventus but with a twist of Green Irish Tweed. Even though it has a low price which means you can wear it every day, it really does smell like an expensive, niche fragrance.

To see reviews and the latest price of Le Parfait Pour Homme, follow this link to Amazon

9. Armaf Hunter Intense

Best Armaf Fragrances For Men: Hunter Intense

Armaf Hunter Intense is a powerful fragrance. It’s not really an exact clone of any other brands though some people say at first it smells like Yves St Laurent Invictus and dries down to smell more like Dior Sauvage.

Armaf Hunter Intense has:

Top notes of bergamot, grapefruit, mandarin, and lemon
Middle notes of ylang-ylang, lavender, tuberose, black pepper, cardamom, and geranium
Base notes of patchouli, cedarwood, musk, labdanum, and vetiver

With Armaf Hunter Intense you get an aromatic, woody, and floral fragrance that’s an invigorating blend of bergamot, grapefruit, mandarin orange, and lemon. It dries down to an intense base that projects well – it is certainly hard to ignore.

This fragrance is quite daring and is perfect if you want to get really noticed! It is better suited for outdoor activities where you won’t overpower other people too much.

To see reviews and the latest price of Hunter Intense, follow this link to Amazon

10. Armaf Italiano Nero Uomo

Best Armaf Fragrances for Men: Italiano Nero

Armaf Italiano Nero Uomo is an Oriental Fougere fragrance for men. Some believe it is a clone of Paco Rabanne Black XS. Let’s compare their compositions.

Paco Rabanne Black XS has:

Top notes of lemon, sage, and tagetes (marigold)
Middle notes of cinnamon and praline
Base notes of ebony wood and black amber

Armaf Italiano Nero Uomo has:

Top notes of bergamot and lemon
Middle notes of lavender and cypress
Base notes of amber and patchouli

I’m not sure there is a great similarity here. The opening notes of both are citrusy but after that, they are not really that similar.

Armaf Italiano Nero Uomo has an irresistible amber and patchouli base which renders this fragrance as one that could be termed magnetic i.e. it does draw people to the wearer,

Wear this as a fragrance in its own right, not because you are looking for a fragrance that reminds you of another. It’s affordable and I recommend it for a date night.

Conclusion

Armaf has a pretty amazing array of fragrances to choose from. If you’re on a budget or don’t believe in spending ridiculous amounts of money on a fragrance you can’t go wrong.

Amongst our 10 best Armaf fragrances for men, you might find a clone of your favorite, expensive, niche cologne and save yourself a small fortune.

Armaf fragrances may have skimpy prices but there is nothing whatsoever skimpy about their quality and you can absolutely wear any of their fragrances with pride.

Best tobacco fragrances for men: Pipe and tobacco image

11 Best Tobacco Fragrances for Men

January 14, 2020 / Jane Pettitt

Tobacco colognes are amongst the best smelling fragrances for men so don’t let the thought of cigarettes deter you from trying one. Perfumers use the intense aroma of fresh tobacco leaf, not that pungent stale odor that results from burning a cigarette.

Tobacco cologne won’t harm you when you inhale it or wear it and it has causes none of the nasty side-effects associated with smoking.

Further down, you’ll find descriptions of some of the best tobacco colognes on the market but first …

What does tobacco cologne smell like?

There are several variations of tobacco perfume found in cologne including fresh tobacco leaf, sweet cherry tobacco, vanilla pipe tobacco, bitter pipe tobacco, and freshly rolled cigarettes.

The tobacco note can be found in the top, middle and base of a variety of perfumes and sometimes it’s obvious from the moment you spray it on and lasts throughout the day. Tobacco is an aroma that’s surprisingly addictive!

Many other fragrance notes such as vanilla, cherry, and cinnamon are complemented perfectly when used with tobacco. It injects a sweetness to create an incredibly intense and attractive fragrance.

If you have a craving to try a cologne with the beautiful scent of fresh tobacco, here are 11 of the very best:

1. Tobacco Oud by Tom Ford

Description

Tobacco Oud is a fragrance with a sweet-smelling mix of pipe tobacco and whiskey. It’s an intoxicating, bold fragrance that cannot be ignored.

The sweet whiskey note is noticeable straight followed by pipe tobacco. You can almost imagine you have just poured yourself a measure and prepared a pipe ready to smoke. Cinnamon and sweet oud come through during the dry down with a hint of cedar and sandalwood.

Fragrance Notes

Top note: Whiskey
Middle notes: Cinnamon, coriander
Base notes: Tobacco, oud, sandalwood, cedar, patchouli, vanilla, frankincense

When to wear it

Tobacco Oud has class and is a perfect fragrance for a fairly formal occasion. It suits cooler temperatures but can really be worn as you please. Be ready to receive plenty of reactions from anyone you might meet!

See reviews and the latest price of Tobacco Oud by following this link to Amazon.

Best Tobacco Fragrances for Men: Tobacco Oud by Tom Ford

2. The Dreamer by Versace

Description

The Dreamer by Versace is a fragrance for those who love the fragrance of tobacco and like to stand out in a crowd. Wear this and you’ll exude confidence and sensuality. This has a clean fresh scent that won’t fail to impress.

This 1996 Versace classic is an Oriental Fougere fragrance with a long-lasting aroma. It starts off fairly sweet and dries down to a gorgeous scent of freshly picked tobacco mingling with cedarwood.

The geranium mixed with rose is quite bold and floral, and some people are not so sure about it, but it works really well with the tobacco if you just allow it time to dry down.

Fragrance Notes

Top notes: Clary sage, lavender, mandarin orange
Middle notes: Geranium, rose, tobacco
Base notes: Cedar, tonka bean

When to Wear it

The Dreamer is a warm fragrance suited to the cooler temperatures of fall and winter. It would be perfect for a weekend away, a romantic walk or an intimate night out.

See reviews and the latest price of The Dreamer by following this link to Amazon.

Best Tobacco Fragrances for Men: The Dreamer by Versace

3. Spicebomb Extreme by Viktor & Rolf

Description

Spicebomb Extreme by Viktor & Rolf has is a tobacco fragrance with an incredible mix of sweetness and spice.

At first, the citrusy bergamot and sharp grapefruit are apparent but soon after the comforting and wonderfully intoxicating aroma of tobacco kicks in.

The elemi adds a hint of Christmas pine needles. This is a fragrance that no one can ignore and will earn you compliment after compliment.

Fragrance Notes

Top notes: Bergamot, grapefruit
Middle notes: Elemi, pink berries
Base notes: Tobacco, black vanilla, amber, and cistus (rock rose)

When to wear it

Spicebomb Extreme is a statement tobacco fragrance so wear it if you want to create a lasting impression. Being warm and alluring makes it perfect for cold seasons. Wear it on a date and you’ll be irresistible!

See reviews and the latest price of Spicebomb Extreme by following this link to Amazon.

Best Tobacco Fragrances for Men: Spicebomb Extreme by Viktor&Rolf

4. Herod by Parfums de Marly

Description

Herod by Parfums de Marly is a fragrance with a delicious aroma of fresh tobacco leaves. The opening note of cinnamon and pepper add sweetness and warmth and are followed by a smokey scent of incense mingling with the edible aroma of vanilla.

This fragrance will definitely get you noticed and should be worn with confidence.

Fragrance Notes

Top notes: Cinnamon, pepper
Middle notes: Tobacco, incense
Base notes: Vanilla, musk

When to wear it

Herod is one of those fragrances that works well day or night. It’s also comforting and warm which makes it perfect for colder weather.

See reviews and the latest price of Herod by following this link to Amazon.

Best tobacco fragrances for men: Herod by Parfums de Marly

5. Havana by Aramis

Description

Havana by Aramis is a fragrance with a name that invokes thoughts of infamous Cuban cigars.

It has a freshness created by the grapefruit and orange in its top notes. Carnation adds a spicy, peppery sweetness and the patchouli and oakmoss tie this down as a very masculine scent.

Fragrance Notes

Top notes: Artemisia absinthium, birch tar, juniper berry, mandarin orange, grapefruit
Middle notes: Tobacco, carnation, fir, cinnamon
Base notes: Sandalwood, patchouli, oakmoss, vetiver

When to wear it

Havana is a fragrance that makes me think of a gentleman’s club. It’s elegant and fits well when you need to be suited and booted at a formal occasion – perhaps at a dinner party with a cigar and whiskey in hand.

See reviews and the latest price of Havana by following this link to Amazon.

Best tobaccoc fragrances for men: Havana by Aramis

6. Angel Men Pure Havane by Thierry Mugler

Description

Angel Men Pure Havane by Thierry Mugler is also referred to as A*MEN because of the bottle design. This tobacco fragrance is pure boozy, chocolate, vanilla, intoxicating heaven!

It’s one of the most well-reviewed and well-loved Thierry Mugler creations for men. If you like edible-smelling gourmand fragrances, you’ll adore this one.

Fragrance Notes

Top note: Fresh tobacco
Middle notes: Honeyed tobacco, vanilla
Base notes: Patchouli, cacao

When to wear it

A*MEN Pure Havane is a perfect winter fragrance: strong and warm. It’s also a favorite clubbing or night-out fragrance that won’t fail to create a lasting impression.

See reviews and the latest price of Angel Men by following this link to Amazon.

Best tobacco fragrances for men: Thierry Mugler Angel For Men Pure Havane

7. Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford

Description

Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford is a very popular tobacco fragrance and for good reason: it is simply gorgeous. It’s considered to be unisex so it is excellent for sharing.

The scent is reminiscent of aromatic pipe tobacco mixed with warm spices and vanilla. With Tobacco Vanille, you get a fragrance that lasts all day long and into the evening.

Fragrance Notes

Top notes: Tobacco leaf, aromatic spices
Middle notes: Tonka bean, tobacco flower, vanilla, cacao
Base notes: Fruit accord, wood sap

When to wear it

Tom Ford’s inspiration for this fragrance was an English gentleman’s club and it is a classic masculine scent that pairs perfectly with black tie attire.

A fragrance this good doesn’t come cheap so it’s probably something to keep for the right occasions unless, of course, money’s no object.

See reviews and the latest price of Tobacco Vanille by following this link to Amazon.

Best tobacco fragrances for men: Tobaaco Vanille by Tom Ford

8. Burberry London For Men by Coty

Description

Burberry London For Men is a refined, sophisticated tobacco fragrance with a delightfully boozy, Christmassy aroma. It’s a warm, cinnamon spicy mix with a hint of leather and lavender.

Fragrance Notes

Top notes: Bergamot, lavender, warm cinnamon
Middle notes: Mimosa flower, rich leather, port wine
Base notes: Tobacco leaf, guaiac woods, oakmoss

When to wear it

Burberry London is a perfect cold-weather fragrance. A romantic fireside evening springs to mind. Or wear it to a Christmas party where you’ll really smell the part.

See reviews and the latest price of Burberry London by following this link to Amazon.

Best tobacco fragrances for men: Burberry London for Men

9. Chergui by Serge Lutens

Description

Chergui by Serge Lutens is a tobacco fragrance designed to be unisex. I think it is slightly more masculine than neutral. There is an air of mystery surrounding this scent, possibly an Eastern influence that stems from the incense.

The tobacco, hay, and honey are a sweet, prominent mix. This is not a shy and retiring fragrance and it will get you noticed.

Fragrance Notes

Top notes: Hay, iris, rose
Middle notes: Tobacco, honey, musk, incense, amber.
Base note: Sandalwood

When to wear it

You could really wear Chergui at any time of year and for any sort of occasion as long as you don’t mind being noticed. It is powerful and long-lasting so a little goes a long way.

To see reviews and the latest price of Chergui follow this link to Amazon.

Best tobacco fragrances for men: Chergui by Serge Lutens

10. Black Walnut by Banana Republic

Description

Black Walnut by Banana Republic is a great budget tobacco fragrance. It has a simple woody tobacco aroma with a slight hint of fruity cognac.

Fragrance Notes

Top note: Cognac
Middle note: Tobacco
Base note: Virginia cedar

When to wear it

You can wear Black Walnut all day every day and in any season. It has quite a low projection and needs reapplying throughout the day. You won’t mind doing this as it’s such a low price.

To see reviews and the latest price of Black Walnut follow this link to Amazon.

Best tobacco fragrances for men: Black Walnut by Banana Republic

11. Tobacco Collection Rich Warm Addictive by Zara

Description

Tobacco Collection Rich Warm Addictive by Zara is an amazing tobacco fragrance at an amazingly low price – as is typical of all Zara fragrances.

Once the aromatic top notes of peony and coconut fade, the rich sweetness of honey and vanilla make Rich Warm Addictive a delicious gourmand fragrance. After dry down, there’s a nice aroma of fresh tobacco mixed with powdery sandalwood and sweet cedar.

Fragrance Notes

Top notes: Coconut, white pony
Middle notes: Rum, honey, vanilla bourbon
Base notes: Tobacco, sandalwood, cedar

Rich Warm Addictive is a cozy cold-weather fragrance. It brings to mind evenings by the fire, wearing a roll-neck sweater, with a glass of bourbon in your hand.

The best place to buy this is from zara.com

Best tobacco fragrances for men: Rich Warm Addictive by Zara

Tobacco cologne – Conclusion

A tobacco cologne is a great addition to any scent wardrobe. With so many variations you’re sure to find the perfect one for you at a price you can afford. Tobacco really is a beautiful fragrance note.

8 Best Cinnamon Fragrances For Women

January 12, 2020 / Jane Pettitt

Cinnamon is a spice derived from tree bark, well-known as a cookery ingredient. But it’s not just used in the kitchen. Cinnamon also makes a perfect ingredient for fragrance where it adds a sweet, spicy aroma. This appealing spice works well in perfumes for all genders.

Why Cinnamon is Best in Fragrances

Before we look at some of the most gorgeous cinnamon fragrances on the market, here’s why cinnamon is so popular as a fragrance note.

Cinnamon is sweet and sensuous and it’s no surprise that it has been considered an aphrodisiac for many, many years. Fragrances containing cinnamon oil definitely very attractive.

Cinnamon is so versatile when it comes to fragrance. It blends beautifully with a whole raft of other ingredients including lemon, lime, orange, neroli, grapefruit, ginger, cardamom, clove, sandalwood, and vanilla.

The scent of cinnamon is nostalgic and there’s nothing quite like it for invoking memories of Christmas, heartwarming wintry recipes and delicious hot drinks by a cozy fireside. Fragrances using cinnamon with its deliciously warm aroma are perfect to wear during cooler weather.

With so many to choose from, what are the best cinnamon fragrances for women? If you’re searching for a fragrance that really does exude cinnamon, check out the 8 listed here:

1. Dolce Vita by Christian Dior

Description

Dolce Vita is a wonderfully fruity floral fragrance with warm undertones of cinnamon mingled with calming woody cedar. The rich and intoxicating note of magnolia floats in the top notes. As the scent begins to dry, cinnamon becomes sweetly apparent. Finally, the wonderful woodiness of cedar mingled with the cinnamon lingers long after application.

Fragrance notes

Top notes: Magnolia, rose, lily of the valley
Middle notes: Cinnamon, peach, apricot
Base notes: Cedar, sandalwood, vanilla, heliotrope

When to wear it

Though Dolce Vita is quite heady at first, this effect quickly fades to leave a beautiful cinnamon fragrance you will want to wear every day and can do without fear of overpowering everyone you meet.

There’s nothing to stop you wearing Dolce Vita all year round, but its warm spiciness makes it perfect to wear in cool weather, from the middle of the fall season through to the middle of spring. Its fragrance may not project so effectively on very cold, wintry days, so bear that in mind.

See reviews and the latest price of Dolce Vita by following this link to Amazon

2. Mitsouko by Guerlain

Description

Mitsouko was the first fruity chypre fragrance to appear in the fragrance world early in the 20th Century. It has since undergone many reformulations and today it is a fabulous mix of peach and jasmine which dries down to a longlasting base of cinnamon and vetiver.

Fragrance notes

Top notes: Peach, bergamot, lemon, mandarin, neroli
Middle notes: Lilac, rose, jasmine, ylang ylang, clove
Base notes: Cinnamon, vetiver, amber, oakmoss, patchouli, cedarwood

When to wear it

Mitsouko is a grown-up fragrance that creates a lasting impression. So wear it on occasions when you would like to create a mature and unforgettable impression. For an Eau de Toilette, it is surprisingly long-lasting and quite heady, so use it sparingly.

See reviews and the latest price of Mitsouko by following this link to Amazon

3. Amouage Epic Woman by Amouage

Description

Amouage Epic Woman is classy, elegant and sensual. The warming cinnamon in the top notes is balanced beautifully by the Damascene rose as it begins to dry down. The patchouli and oud in the base balance out the rose to create an incredibly irresistible fragrance to suit anyone.

Fragrance notes

Top notes: Cinnamon, caraway, pink bay
Middle notes: Damascene rose, geranium, jasmine, tea
Base notes: Amber, vanilla, frankincense, orris root, patchouli, oud

When to wear it

Epic Woman is a smoldering, oriental fragrance. It is not overly feminine and could almost be classed as unisex.

Wear it or share it at any time. As it’s quite expensive, you might want to save this fragrance for special occasions.

See reviews and the latest price of Amouage Epic Woman by following this link to Amazon

4. Celebrate NOW by Escada

Description

Celebrate NOW is an oriental gourmand fragrance with ginger top notes that really stimulate your senses. The fragrance of magnolia develops as it dries down to reveal a warming aroma of vanilla, cinnamon, and almond from the Tonka bean

N.O.W is an acronym for Nature Of Women and this fragrance was created to honor the female spirit. Celebrate NOW inspires confidence in its wearer.

Fragrance notes

Top note: Ginger
Middle note: Magnolia
Base notes: Vanilla, cinnamon, and tonka bean

When to wear it

Celebrate NOW should be worn whenever you want to make a statement and exude confidence – day or night.

See reviews and the latest price of Celebrate NOW by following this link to Amazon

5. Cinnabar by Estee Lauder

Description

Cinnabar by Estee Lauder has a name that seems to be inspired by the word cinnamon. If you want to exude an appealing air of exotic mystery this Eastern-influenced, oriental fragrance is for you.

As soon as you spray this fragrance you’ll be overwhelmed by the warm, heady aromas of incense and spice – you’ll almost feel the heat.

As Cinnabar dries down you’re left with a strong and sensual floral scent that will really turn heads as you enter a room. This is not a shy and retiring fragrance.

Fragrance notes

Top notes: Jasmine, orange flower, tangerine, bergamot
Middle notes: Cinnamon, clove, muguet (lily-of-the-valley), lily
Base notes: Olibanum (frankincense), sandalwood, patchouli, vetiver

When to wear it

With Cinnabar, as it’s an Eau de Parfum, a little goes a long way and lasts a long time. A morning application will still be very apparent come the evening.

For daytime use, if you don’t want to be too obvious apply sparingly to your wrist pulse points. For evenings, apply to all pulse points and expect to be noticed!

See reviews and the latest price for Cinnabar by following this link to Amazon

6. Jasmine Rouge by Tom Ford

Description

Jasmine Rouge is a sensual, feminine fragrance with a spicy floral aroma. You’ll be struck by the fresh opening notes of bergamot mingling with ginger and cinnamon. As it dries down the intense sweet scent of Sambac jasmine and neroli float up. When it’s completely dried, tones of amber and leather appear.

Fragrance notes

Top notes: Bergamot, mandarin, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, pepper
Middle notes: Sambac Jasmine, ylang ylang, neroli, clary sage
Base notes: Vanilla, labdanum, amber, leather, wood

When to wear it

Jasmine Rouge is definitely the perfect choice for a date night as it really is an attractive, irresistible fragrance. It’s also great for clubbing as it has the strength to survive the heat of dancing.

See reviews and the latest price of Jasmine Rouge by following this link to Amazon

7. Omnia by Bvlgari

Description

Omnia is another cinnamon fragrance with an alluring and sensual aroma. The aroma of mandarin, ginger, cinnamon, and creamy white chocolate make this scent deliciously irresistible.

Fragrance notes

Top notes: ginger, mandarin orange, saffron, pepper, cardamom
Middle notes: nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, almond, masala chai, lotus
Base notes: sandalwood, tonka bean, white chocolate, guaiac wood

When to wear it

The low projection of Omnia means it is a fragrance you can wear every day. It is also perfect for a romantic dinner date because it is alluring but not too overpowering at close quarters.

See reviews and the latest price of Omnia by following this link to Amazon

8. Zara Black

Description

Zara Black is one of many fragrances from the Zara fashion retailer. Though it’s a lot cheaper than many designer fragrances the quality is excellent.

Zara Black is an Asian-inspired Eau de Toilette that is surprisingly long-lasting on the skin especially considering the low price.

The orange blossom provides a light refreshing aroma and the warming cinnamon is quickly apparent as it dries down. The musk is what really gives this fragrance a sensual aroma with staying power.

Fragrance notes

Top note: orange blossom
Middle note: cinnamon
Base notes: vanilla, musk.

When to wear it

Zara Black can be worn day or evening in any season. A light spritz is best for daytime and you can really get away with a more liberal application in the evening.

Cinnamon Fragrances

There’s something special about cinnamon and I would always recommend having a cinnamon fragrance in your collection. Each of the above fragrances showcases cinnamon in its own unique way.

From the above list, you can find a cinnamon fragrance to compliment any occasion or situation but most of them are versatile enough to wear anytime.

10 Best Fragrances For Teenage Girls For 2023

January 8, 2020 / Jane Pettitt

Teenage girls seem to discover fragrances before teenage boys. I don’t know why that might be – however with so many different types of fragrance available and targeted to this particular demographic, it can be very difficult to find the right type of perfume for her.

There are many things to look out for and it would be easy to just fall back onto the more popular brands. This is an all too common mistake though and there are many fantastic fragrances available to teenage girls from slightly less-known brands. Another advantage to this is that they are the vast majority of times a lot cheaper also!

To help you understand some of the terminology (it’s not hard):

Top Notes – this is what you smell when you first apply the fragrance. These are sometimes known as ‘head notes’ and will consist of the strongest, freshest scents.
Middle Notes – also referred to as ‘heart notes’ – these are usually scents that are more rounded than the top notes and usually replace the top notes after 15 to 20 minutes.
Base Notes – this is what’s left once the heart note dissipates. It is common not to be aware of the base notes until around 30 minutes after applying the perfume.

So, sit back, and let me do the work for you. Here, are the 10 best fragrances for teenage girls for 2020 – enjoy!

10) Jessica McClintock

Whereas some fragrances are obviously designed to be shared between guys and girls, Jessica McClintock is most definitely a fragrance designed for girls. It is floral, sensual and warming.

Initially, after spraying, you are greeted with a citrus scent in the form of bergamot, tart, blackcurrant, cassia (the spice made from the bark of East Asian evergreen trees) and basil.

The top notes are nice but can’t compete with the heart notes. Jasmine, rose and lily provide a floral explosion just when you thought it was fading. These transform after 20 minutes or so with the bass notes which are musky and earthy. A lovely balance of woody-flora scents will then stay with you for many hours after.

This isn’t a particularly new fragrance on the block. It’s established and well-received, as you will see by the reviews if you click on the link below.

Jessica McClintock – See latest price on Amazon

9) Light Blue (Dolce & Gabbana)

When you buy something from Dolce & Gabbana, you expect quality. You also expect to pay a high price but that’s not the case with Light Blue. I wouldn’t say it was exactly cheap, but it’s also not exactly high-end expensive! For what you are getting here, this is actually quite good value for money.

The initial top notes are apple and cedar, a combination that seems to work really well. Just as you’ve become familiar with it, you’ll start to get hints of jasmine and white rose. This is followed up with the base notes that consist of musk, amber and citronwood. This will stay with you for several hours.

Dolce & Gabbana’s Light Blue is a lovely scent for the teenage girl. It’s relatively cheap, has a great name and a great fragrance. Check out the reviews and you’ll see how happy other buyers are with this!

Light Blue – See latest price on Amazon

8) Cool Water (Zino Davidoff)

Zino Davidoff’s Cool Water is for those girls that love something fresh. You’re initially hit with a fruity, fresh blast of pineapple and watermelon. This will linger for some time but certainly not in an offensive, overpowering manner.

The top notes are eventually replaced with more delicate floral hints with definite lily hints. Later still, a deeper woody smell is complemented with blackcurrant notes.

This is another one of those fragrances that have been around for over two decades and still smells as fresh now as it did then. Another big positive Cool Water has is that it does not cost a lot! You have to wonder how such a great scent could be sold for such a great price!

Cool Water – See latest price on Amazon

7) Calvin Klein Contradiction

Not the only CK perfume I’ve included in this list but I couldn’t leave it out just because I have another one here!

Calvin Klein’s Contradiction is a feminine scent, which is convenient as this is, after all, an article about the best fragrances for teenage girls!

After you spray on your neck or wrists you will love the immediate fragrances of rose, jasmine and lily which are replaced with more floral heart notes a short time later. You may also notice pear blossom, orchid and eucalyptus which fades into sandalwood and tonka (a raisin-like legume).

This is a wonderful smelling fragrance so see what other people think of it by clicking on the link below or grabbing yourself a sample next time you pass a fragrance store!

CK Contradiction – See latest price on Amazon

6) Calvin Klein CK One

It would almost be a crime to not include CK One in a list like this. Although, I have to say I was a little tempted to ignore it considering it’s on the more expensive side of the scale.

Calvin Klein’s CK One is one of the most recognizable fragrances available and this is simply because so many people use it. So many people use it because it smells so good!

CK One has an unmistakenly fresh smell. Its top notes consist of mandarin orange, pineapple, papaya, bergamot, cardamom and a hint of lemon.

The middle notes will hit you around 15 minutes after application and if you know what you’re looking for (err smelling for) you’ll get orris root (this is a name for the roots of Iris germanica and Iris pallida), jasmine, lily, rose and nutmeg. If you can pick out all of those then you’re in the wrong occupation!

The base notes, which will stay with you for several hours after application are musk, cedar, oakmoss, amber and sandalwood.

You won’t be disappointed. Well, you won’t be disappointed with the fragrance. It’s certainly a long way from one of the cheapest fragrances but you get what you pay for with this – highly recommended.

Calvin Klein CK One – See latest price on Amazon

5) Lucky You

‘Lucky You’ is a fragrance you may not have heard of but I would really recommend you give this one a go. There’s a good reason that I rated this so high and that’s simply because it smells so good!

This is a fragrance that is popular in the summer but I’m not sure why it’s not fashionable all year round. Initially, after spraying, you’re greeted with a light grapefruit scent with green leaves and hyacinth to make it a fresh and floral (but subtle) experience.

The middle notes won’t hit you for some time but when they do you’ll be rewarded with poppy, jasmine and other floral notes. Considering the price, none of these scents will give you any reason to not believe this is a more expensive fragrance.

The base notes (otherwise known as dry notes) will provide you with long-lasting sandalwood, musk and amber.

This is a fragrance that doesn’t have to be just used for nights out. Its long-lasting scent will keep the teenage girl smelling great for most of the day without requiring frequent top-ups!

Lucky You – See latest price on Amazon

4) Fantasy Britney Spears

We may not hear as much of Britney as we did 20 years ago but don’t write off this fabulous construction of hers. Well, when I say ‘hers’ I can’t really imagine her in a lab somewhere experimenting with different fragrances in test tubes! Whoever created it though – they did a good job.

Once sprayed, you’ll find it opens with a fruity scent of kiwi, golden quince and lychee. If you like this then enjoy it until it diminishes after around 15 minutes and is replaced with a heart of white chocolate and jasmine. This gently mellows into woody, musky notes combined with orris root.

Considering how some ‘celebrity’ perfumes seem to have over-inflated prices, Fantasy Britney Spears is remarkably good value for money. Its recommended use is during the evenings rather than during the day – save it for special occasions!

Fantasy Britney Spears – See latest price on Amazon

3) Jimmy Choo

Certainly not one of the cheapest fragrances available but I can’t leave this one out, despite that. It’s that good.

Jimmy Choo is quite a rich fragrance that will give you a lovely warming feeling inside after application. Immediately after you spray it behind your ears or on your wrists (recommended spray-on points) you will smell orange (apparently sweet Italian orange but I’m not sure I could distinguish Italian orange against French orange).

The top notes are complemented with Pear nectar. Again, if I didn’t know what it was I’m not sure I would have said, ‘oh, that smells like pear nectar!’ – no, but it does have hints of pear, which is nice.

The top notes are followed around 10 minutes later with the heart notes – definitely a hint of orchid here but it’s a very subtle blend. After an hour or so, smell the base notes and you won’t be disappointed – the longevity of this perfume is maintained via a gentle toffee and Patchouli (if you didn’t know, this is a rather bushy herb).

Jimmy Choo has been around for around 25 years now but certainly hasn’t aged badly!

Jimmy Choo – See latest price on Amazon

2) Tommy Girl (Tommy Hilfiger)

Tommy Girl by Tommy Hilfiger is an extremely popular fragrance for young women. Unless it smelt great and didn’t cost a lot then it wouldn’t be so popular, simple as that. Launched back in 1996, it’s almost 25 years old now but still retains a fresh, modern appeal to many.

After application, the first scents to hit those nostrils will be blackcurrant, orange, camelia (a flower) and apple tree blossom. As soon as you’ve absorbed this, the heart notes will start to take effect (well, 15 minutes or so later). Honeysuckle, mint, grapefruit, lily, lemon and some rose.

A cacophony of scents will inject your sciences with warmth and sensuality, you won’t be disappointed.

It doesn’t end there though. The base notes, the ones that linger for the longest amount of time are leather, sandalwood, cedar, jasmine and magnolia.

Don’t be put off by the name. This is a very popular fragrance and as I said earlier, there’s a good reason for that. This is a great perfume, check out the reviews and take a look yourself below.

Tommy Girl – See latest price on Amazon

1) Beyonce Heat Rush

Beyonce’s Heat Rush is another one of those celebrity perfumes that you wouldn’t be surprised to discover was pretty average. Not so the case with this one, Heat Rush has gone down very well in the market since it was introduced back in 2010. So much so that I couldn’t resist putting it at number 1 on my list of best fragrances for teenage girls!

There’s no mistaking the femininity of this scent. It’s also been described many times as warming and you definitely get that impression straight away.

When you first spray Heat Rush on your neck, you will discover top notes of a distinct fresh nature. Passion Fruit Sorbet, cherry and orange hit you hard but in no way overpower your nose. After 10 to 15 minutes you’ll start to sense the heart notes. Orchid, hibiscus and mango are the identifiable scents and are followed up with some deep base notes. These consist of teak wood, musk and honey amber.

This is a fragrance that can be used during the day or in the evening, it’s very versatile and incredibly good value.

Beyonce Heat Rush – See latest price on Amazon

Conclusion

I hope you’ve found some new fragrances in the list above. I know not all of you will agree with the number one spot but it would be pretty boring if we were all wearing the same fragrance, right?

At the end of the day, there are hundreds and hundreds of fragrances out there that might work with teenage girls but I’m pretty confident that after a considerable amount of research – these are the best 10! You can’t go wrong with any of them!

Should I Buy Eau de Parfum or Eau de Toilette?

January 7, 2020 / Jane Pettitt

I love shopping for a new fragrance but some people find it mind-blowing. Perfume is expensive but, fortunately, there are many amazing Eau de Parfums and Eau de Toilettes at more affordable prices. These can be similar in price so what is the real difference and is one better than the other?

Eau de Parfum or Eau de Toilette – what’s the actual difference?

In a nutshell, Eau de Parfum has a higher concentration of perfume oil than Eau de Toilette. This difference in strength makes Eau de Parfum last longer on your skin than Eau de Toilette.

Should you buy Eau de Parfum orToilette?

If you want a stronger smelling and longer-lasting fragrance, the choice is simple – buy Eau de Parfum. Eau de Parfum contains 15 to 20% perfume oil whereas Eau de Toilette has 5 to 15%. Eau de Parfum is often more expensive but it does have a better scent projection and longevity.

You might find that one brand of Eau de Parfum has the same concentration of perfume oil as another brand of Eau de Toilette. So make sure you check the ingredients.

Eau de Toilette vs Eau de Parfum price

The most expensive component of any fragrance whether it’s Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette or any other concentration, is the perfume oil. Hence, the higher the perfume oil concentration in your chosen scent, the higher the price.

If you buy an Eau de Toilette because it has a lower price than an Eau de Parfum, bear in mind you may find you use twice as much to achieve the desired scent projection and longevity because of the lower perfume oil content. You might get through the same-sized EDT twice as quickly as an EDP so not really save any money.

The Five Fragrance Concentrations

Now you know the difference between Eau de Toilette and Eau de Parfum you might like to know that fragrance actually comes in five different strengths – just to blow your mind that little bit more.

Keep reading and you’ll soon be buying and wearing your favorite fragrance like a pro.

Here’s a little infographic to help you visualize what we’re about to talk about.

Should I Buy Eau de Parfum or Eau de Toilette? Fragrance concentration guide

Fragrance is simply perfume oil blended with alcohol and occasionally a tiny amount of water. The ratio of perfume oil to alcohol gives rise to five different fragrance strengths which have been named as follows, in ascending order of strength:

Eau Fraiche
Eau de Cologne (EDC)
Eau de Toilette (EDT)
Eau de Parfum (EDP)
Perfume

1. Eau Fraiche

The term Eau Fraiche translates to fresh water, but there isn’t really any water in it to speak of. This fragrance type has the lowest concentration of perfume oil at just 1 to 2%.

What this means is that in a 100 ml bottle, 1 to 2 ml is perfume oil and 98 to 99 ml is alcohol. It’s the cheapest type of fragrance there is.

Eau Fraiche is light and refreshing to wear and its scent lasts for about 2 hours on your skin before it needs to be reapplied.

It suits a variety of people: those who don’t like strong scents, teenagers, and anyone who doesn’t want to spend too much on fragrance.

You can also wear it in situations where you really don’t want to overpower others with a strong fragrance.

2. Eau de Cologne (EDC)

The term Eau de Cologne literally translates to Cologne water. In 1709, an Italian designer living in Cologne, Germany created a light, fresh fragrance which he named after the city. Since then the name has been applied to any fragrance of similar strength.

Eau de Cologne has a concentration of between 2% and 5% perfume oil and lasts for about 4 hours before it fades. It is slightly stronger than Eau Fraiche but is still a light fragrance with a low scent projection. It is perfect for summer days and nights and won’t overwhelm or offend other people.

This fragrance type is usually inexpensive because of its low perfume oil content and is more affordable than the higher concentrations if you’re on a budget.

Contrary to popular belief, women’s and men’s fragrance comes in Eau de Cologne form – it’s not just for men!

3. Eau de Toilette (EDT)

Eau de Toilette means quite literally toilet water. But don’t worry, no water from toilets is used to make it – honest!

In French, toilette refers to “la toilette” of a woman, pertaining to the clothing and make-up she wears for a special event. So the term Eau de Toilette once referred to the perfumed water a woman applied before going out. Now it’s a fragrance type anyone can wear, not just women.

Eau de Toilette is the most common type of fragrance. With 5 to 15% perfume oil, it can last anywhere from 6 to 10 hours per application.

Eau de Toilette seems strong when it’s first applied but dries down fairly quickly to become a scent with a fairly low projection. You can apply it quite liberally without fear of overwhelming everyone you meet.

4. Eau de Parfum (EDP)

Eau de Parfum means perfume water. With a concentration of 15 to 20% perfume oil, it’s a reasonably strong fragrance that can last anything from 8 to 12 hours with one application.

The higher concentration of perfume oil means this fragrance type is that bit more expensive but you should need to apply less than you would an Eau de Toilette.

For daytime, 5 sprays are a nice amount but for a night out you can apply more for a stronger effect.

5. Perfume (Parfum)

The word perfume comes from the Latin “per fumus” meaning “by smoke”. This term came about because perfumes were originally released as fragrant smoke by burning incense.

Perfume has the highest concentration of perfume oils, generally 20 to 30% (and occasionally higher), making it the most expensive of the fragrance types.

Perfume should easily last on your skin for 12 hours and often longer. It’s not unusual to find you can still faintly smell it the next day.

As it’s so expensive, perfume is not something many people wear every day. They usually save it for special occasions. Often, people also buy the EDP or EDT version of their perfume for daily use.

Another difference between perfume and the other four fragrance types is that it is not applied via a spray – this would be a waste! Instead, it has a cork or screw top and should be dabbed onto pulse points.

Though it’s the most expensive type of fragrance, if you use it sparingly and store it in a cool, dark place, a bottle should last a long time.

Where to wear fragrance

Eau Fraiche, Eau de Cologne, and Eau de Toilette

Here’s a simple diagram showing you the best spots to apply fragrances with a lower perfume oil concentration in order to get the best out of them.

Should I Buy Eau de Parfum or Eau de Toilette? Wear to apply fragrance

Any fragrance works best when applied to dry, warm skin. Ideal areas for application are the lower jaw, neck, chest, wrists, forearms, inner elbows, and shoulders. In these areas, body heat helps to project the scent and make it last longer.

Only use small sprays and only add another layer over the top if you’re sure you haven’t achieved a strong enough level of scent.

A good trick to increase how long fragrance lasts on your skin is to dab on a little petroleum jelly first. This absorbs the fragrance and locks it in to prevent it from evaporating so quickly. Another thing that helps your scent linger is to spritz it onto your hair and clothes.

Eau de Parfum

As it’s stronger, you won’t need to wear Eau de Parfum in all the spots shown in the diagram above. Start with wrists and neck and see how strong it seems. If you think you need more, apply it to one more site at a time and stop before you become that person who wreaks of too much scent!

Perfume

The best way to apply perfume is carefully and sparingly. It’s expensive so you don’t want to waste it! Put a dab of petroleum jelly on the pulse points of your wrists and kneck and then dab a little perfume on each spot. Do not rub your wrists together as this evaporates the scent more quickly.

When to wear each fragrance type

Eau Fraiche

Eau Fraiche can be worn at any time. Wear it on hot summer days, for a workout or when you just want a lighter scent. It’s refreshing and inoffensive.

Eau de Cologne

Wear Eau de Cologne in the same way as Eau Fraiche. It can be a little stronger but is a great everyday fragrance type.

Eau de Toilette

You can wear Eau de Toilette day or night. For more of an effect, spray on a bit more. A more intense Eau de Toilette is great for a night out or date night.

Eau de Parfum

As it’s stronger than the first three, Eau de Parfum is great for nights out, clubbing, dating and can be quite irresistible to anyone you might be trying to impress.

In the summer, Eau de Parfum can be a bit overpowering so save it for cooler weather.

Perfume

Perfume is expensive and special so save it for special occasions and when you really want to impress – think hot dates, valentines, engagements, weddings, Christmas and New Year.

Perfume doesn’t always cope well in hot weather and can leave you smelling more overpowering than sultry.

Fragrance jargon

You may have noticed your perfume has one scent as you apply it and then changes as the day goes on. This has nothing to do with the percentage of perfume oil or the quality of the scent but has everything to do with what we refer to as the fragrance notes.

Should I Buy Eau de Parfum or Eau de Toilette? The fragrance pyramid

Top notes or opening notes or head notes

These notes are the ones you notice when you first spray a fragrance. They are what really make you decide if you like it or not. They evaporate quite quickly as the fragrance dries.

Middle or Heart notes

As the top notes evaporate, the middle notes develop and are the ones you’ll notice for quite some time. They mingle nicely with the top notes to give the fragrance its heart.

Base notes

Once the top notes have completely evaporated you’ll notice the base notes intermingling with the middle notes. They create a lasting impression and will linger the longest of all the notes.

Eau de Parfum or Eau de Toilette? – Conclusion

If you want a reasonably strong fragrance at a reasonable price, you’ll be happy with the performance of Eau de Toilette – it’s the most popular fragrance out there.

If you’re after something with a light fragrance and light price to match go for Eau Fraiche or Eau de Cologne.

Eau de Parfum is the next best thing to perfume and doesn’t quite cost as much.

Perfume is the creme de la creme of fragrances and is perfect if you want a strong scent for a special occasion – brace yourself for the price though.

One last thing

After investing in a fragrance you might be interested to know the answer to the question Can Fragrance Go Bad?

What is The Best Creed Royal Oud Clone?

January 5, 2020 / Jane Pettitt

Creed is one of the most talked-about fragrance houses today with people wondering why their products, especially Creed Royal Oud, are so expensive and if they live up to the hype. If you love Creed Royal Oud but can’t afford it, don’t despair as there are a few excellent clones and similar fragrances available.

Instead of inundating you with information about dozens of Creed Royal Oud clones, I have selected one that I believe smells so similar only a trained nose can tell the two apart, and another very close match – which is what you really want from a good clone. I’ve also chosen two fragrances that are not clones but have similar enough aromas to Creed Royal Oud at more affordable prices.

What is The Best Creed Royal Oud Clone? Lomani Intense Black is one of the best clones of Creed Royal Oud on the market for three reasons: it has a very similar fragrance, it is less than 10% of the price of Royal Oud, and it’s very nicely packaged.

The Fragrance Notes of Creed Royal Oud

It’s the notes that give a fragrance its unique scent. In Creed Royal Oud these are:

Top Notes

Lemon
Pink berries (AKA pink pepper)
Bergamot

Middle Notes

Cedar
Galbanum
Angelica roots

Base Notes

Sandalwood
Oud
Tonkin musk

You’ll find more about these fragrance notes further down.

Why Fragrance clones exist

Lots of people love expensive niche fragrances. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford them which creates a market for copycat scents which are far less expensive than the real thing.

What do you get from the best Creed Royal Oud clones? Niche-style fragrance at a fraction of the price!

The Best Creed Royal Oud Clones

1. Lomani Intense Black

Lomani Intense Black is the best clone of Creed Royal Oud I’ve tested. Whoever created this clone has given us an amazing replication. Like Creed Royal Oud, Lomani Intense Black has exhilarating citrusy top notes of lemon and bergamot. It dries down to the same alluringly warm fragrance of wood and spice.

Fragrance Notes of Lomani Intense Black

Top notes: lemon, bergamot, and pink berries (AKA pink pepper)
Middle notes: cedar, galbanum, nutmeg, and herbal notes
Base notes: sandalwood, agarwood (oud), white musk and incense

Why Lomani Intense Black is one of the best Creed Royal Oud clones

Lomani Intense Black has many of the same scent notes as Creed Royal Oud. These give it almost the exact same opening and dry down fragrance. You would have to be quite an expert to tell one from the other.

There is one blatantly obvious difference, however, but it’s not one that will disappoint you because it’s the price! To give you an idea, at the time of writing this article for the price of a 3.33 oz (100 ml) bottle of Creed Royal Oud, you could buy 30 same-sized bottles of Lomani Intense Black. That’s a huge difference. See the current price of Lomani Intense Black on Amazon.

2. Royalty by Alexandria

Alexandria Royalty is a relatively new fragrance that compares very favorably to Creed Royal Oud. It does have a very similar scent. The top notes are a little more citrusy than peppery but the base notes are close enough to make it a very wearable clone.

Fragrance Notes of Alexandria Royalty

Top notes: lemon, bergamot, and pink berries (AKA pink pepper)
Middle notes: angelica, galbanum, and cedar
Base notes: sandalwood, agarwood (oud), and musk

Why Alexandria Royalty is a good Creed Royal Oud clone

Alexandria Royalty has many of the scent notes found in Creed Royal Oud. The lemon and bergamot are a little more powerful in the opening notes which suggests it has less pink berry oil in its composition. Once dried down, the lack of incense isn’t really apparent and it feels as nice to wear as Creed Royal Oud.

A particularly welcome difference is that Royalty seems to have better staying-power than Royal Oud. Again, this clone is cheaper but not as cheap as Intense Black.

This time the same price as a 3.33 oz (100 ml) bottle of Creed Royal Oud could buy 8 same-sized bottles of Alexandria Royal, so it’s still a great deal cheaper. You can find the latest prices on Amazon.

Similar Fragrances to Creed Royal Oud

1. Memoir Man by Amouage

Amouage Memoir Man has a very memorable fragrance as does Creed Royal Oud. It’s not a clone but is a scent that feels like it’s in the same league. Amouage has a reputation for using traditional Middle Eastern perfume ingredients such as agarwood, incense, musk, rose, and spices.

Fragrance Notes of Memoir Man

Top notes: absinth, wormwood, basil, and mint
Middle notes: rose, frankincense, and lavender absolute
Base notes: sandalwood, vetiver, guaiac wood, amber, vanilla, musk, oakmoss, leather, and tobacco

Why Amouage Memoir Man is similar to Creed Royal Oud

Amouage Memoir Man is a fragrance masterpiece with a similar quality to Creed Royal Oud. An abundance of ingredients combine perfectly to give it a rich, woody and spicy aroma that will suit you if you like Royal Oud but fancy an alternative with the same high-class vibe. Remember, it’s not a clone but it is still quite a bit cheaper than Creed Royal Oud. Check out the current price on Amazon.

2. Gucci Pour Homme II

Gucci Pour Homme II is often compared to Creed Royal Oud. I had to find out why. Pour Homme II is like a subtler version of Royal Oud. It has the same citrusy bergamot top notes toned down by the light powdery bitterness of violets. The black tea note is cozy and almost reminds me of chai tee and the cinnamon gives it a sweet, spicy edge. The overall effect of Gucci Pour Homme II is a rich warm fragrance that is reminiscent of Creed Royal Oud, but not a clone.

Fragrance Notes of Gucci Pour Homme II

Top notes: bergamot and violet leaves
Middle notes: pimento, black tea, and cinnamon
Base notes: tobacco leaves, musk, myrrh, and olive wood

Why Gucci Pour Homme II is similar to Creed Royal Oud

These two are similar because of the fresh bergamot aroma in the opening notes and the musk and wood scents in the base notes. Both can be classed as woody, spicy fragrances.

So if you like Creed Royal Oud you might like Gucci Pour Homme II as an alternative that gives off a similar vibe. A sure sign that this is a great fragrance is it’s often out of stock! You might be lucky enough to get your hands on a bottle! See the latest price on Amazon.

An explanation of Creed Royal Oud fragrance notes

It’s the perfect mix of ingredients that give Creed Royal Oud its spectacular aroma. But how? What is each ingredient and what does it add to the fragrance?

Creed closely guards the full list of ingredients because they don’t want to make it easy to copy. These are the ones they are happy to share. Guessing the rest is what makes the clones similar but not exactly the same fragrance.

Top notes

1. Lemon

The fresh citrusy lemon scent in perfume cones from lemon essential oil. The oil is cold-pressed from the lemon peel. It takes the peel from 450 lemons to produce 3 oz of lemon essential oil!

2. Pink berries or pink pepper

The pink berries used to produce the essential oil used in perfume come from the evergreen tree, Schinus Molle. They are sometimes referred to as pink pepper but are not related to peppers.

PIn berry essential oil has a fresh, intense, sweet-spicy aroma with a light floral note.

3. Bergamot

Bergamot is a fragrant citrus fruit from the Citrus bergamia plant. It is common throughout the Mediterranean and produces fruit the size of oranges and the color of limes. Unlike other citrus fruits, bergamot has a distinctive, heady fragrance that’s slightly acidic, bitter, spicy and floral.

The essential oil used in perfumes is cold-pressed from the peel. It takes about 100 Bergamot fruits to produce approximately 3 oz. of Bergamot Essential Oil.

Middle Notes

1. Cedar

Cedar has a clean, balsamic woody odor. The essential oil used in perfume is produced from the foliage, and sometimes the wood and roots.

2. Galbanum

Galbanum is a resin ingredient essential in the chypre family of fragrances and adds a distinctive spicy bitter green note It is extracted from an umbelliferous (umbrella-like) Persian grass.

3. Angelica roots

Angelica roots have an aroma of earth, musk, and pepper, with a hint of citrus. The essence of angelica roots is obtained through steam distillation.

Base Notes

1. Sandalwood

Sandalwood comes from trees in the genus Santalum class which are woody, flowering plants. It has a creamy, spicy and freshly cut wood aroma.

Sandalwood oil is extracted by steam distillation whereby steam is passed through the powdered wood.

2. Oud

Oud is an oil extracted from Southeast Asian agar trees. The tree must be infected with a specific mold (Phialophora parasitica), which causes it to react by producing a dark, scented resin. Infected wood is chipped then soaked in order to distill the oil from them.

OUd has a warm sweet woody aroma with balsamic notes. It’s an aromatic and complex scent.

Oud is possibly the most expensive wood in the world. Sometimes referred to as ‘liquid gold’, it is ounce for ounce more expensive than gold.

3. Tonkin musk

Tonkin Vietnamese pure musk oil is one of the rarest in the world and ounce for ounce is more expensive than gold. Musk is a strong-smelling secretion from a gland in the abdomen of male deer. The glands are harvested from deceased animals, chopped and soaked in alcohol to extract the required fragrance.

Musk has a strong, animalistic, woody, aroma. Most perfume makers now use only synthetic musk for obvious reasons.

A final word on Creed Royal Oud

If you’re after a Creed Royal Oud clone that’s a fraction of the price of the real deal, then I recommend you try Lomani Intense Black.

If you want something similar then Royalty by Alexandria is a good choice.

If you really want Creed Royal Oud but it’s the price that’s holding you back you could purchase a decant – a small vile decanted from a larger bottle and usually in 5, 10 or 15 ml sizes. Shop around on the internet for the best price but beware of fakes!

Why are Fragrances Reformulated?

January 4, 2020 / Jane Pettitt

Fancy bottles and packaging may draw our eye to a fragrance but what actually makes us buy it is the scent. So when a popular scent we know and love suddenly doesn’t seem quite the same anymore it comes as a bit of a surprise.

Why are fragrances reformulated? Fragrances are reformulated for several reasons such as increased costs or decreased availability of ingredients, ingredients becoming classified as allergens, lowering the cost of producing the fragrance and appealing to a fresh audience. Reformulation can change the scent for the better, but not always.

Some fragrances are reformulated without any obvious changes but with others, the difference is really noticeable. We’ll take an in-depth look at all the reasons for reformulation in a moment. But first:

What is a reformulated fragrance?

A reformulated fragrance is one that’s recreated with a change to the original ingredients which are often referred to as the notes. The individual notes blended in specific quantities give the fragrance its unique aroma. Therefore, a company will only reformulate a fragrance for what it deems to be a necessary reason.

Sometimes ingredients become too rare and expensive, leaving a company with no alternative but to reformulate a fragrance with synthetic alternatives. Many of these synthetic ingredients are indistinguishable from the real thing, such as ambergris, but others do affect the overall scent.

Reformulating a popular fragrance is always a risky move as there’s no way of knowing how the fanbase will receive the changes. Sometimes they love it and sometimes they don’t. Here are a few scenarios and outcomes:

The scent is unchanged – everyone’s happy.
The scent is subtly altered in a good way – some people are still sad because it no longer smells like their favorite scent, some people embrace the change.
The scent is noticeably different and some say it’s an improvement – true fans are distraught, however, new fans are won over by the new fragrance and it becomes their new favorite.
The scent is different and not in a good way – no one wants to buy the reformulated scent and mourn the loss of what was a classic fragrance.

Occasionally, even though a reformulation doesn’t alter the scent of a fragrance it does change its projection or longevity on the skin.

Reasons Why Companies Reformulate Popular Fragrances

As touched on earlier there is more than one reason for reformulating a fragrance. Here they are in greater detail:

1. Banned and restricted ingredients

Oakmoss was a key ingredient in some of the most popular and profitable fragrances until industry regulators, the International Fragrance Association (IFA), restricted its use.

Testing showed it to occasionally cause skin complaints such as dermatitis. Perfume makers had to find an alternative to this strong, earthy-mossy aroma. Classis fragrances such as Chanel No 5 and Miss Dior were affected.

Oakmoss is an integral ingredient of all chypre and fougère scents for women and men. Chypre fragrances have citrus top notes and woody base notes of oakmoss and ambergris, while fougère fragrances have lavender top notes and oakmoss and coumarin base notes.

Other ingredients have been banned or restricted for health or environmental reasons, including substances that have been used for centuries. These include:

rose oil
jasmine absolute
spice extracts
bergamot and other citrus oils

The list of banned and restricted ingredients is always under threat of change so there’s is no telling what great fragrances will become endangered by the reformulations this might necessitate in the future.

2. Cost Cutting

Reformulation can occur as a cost-cutting exercise. Companies are first and foremost interested in making a profit. If profit margins reduce they have to look at ways to increase them. Sometimes they lower the concentration of perfume in a fragrance and sometimes they swap expensive ingredients for cheaper ones. This does reduce production costs but, unfortunately, often alters the scent.

3. Keeping up with an everchanging market

The perfume market is ever-changing and sometimes a little reformulation breathes new life into a fragrance – enough to renew its popularity with the up and coming generation of fragrance buyers. If a classic is not selling anymore it has to move with the times or it might disappear altogether.

4. Ingredient shortages

Even if ingredients aren’t limited or banned by regulatory bodies, mother nature has her own way of necessitating changes. She sometimes naturally leaves the perfume industry in short supply of crucial ingredients.

Some ingredients are becoming extinct meaning their rarity hikes their prices beyond affordability. Perfume makers are left with no alternative but to replace ingredients that would simply make the fragrance unaffordable.

Ambergris is a classic example of a perfume ingredient that costs the Earth. It is very effective as an agent that fixes fragrance to our skin, making it last longer. Ambergris only forms in the intestines of sperm whales and pygmy sperm whales and then only in a very few of them.

Ambergris’ purpose is to trap indigestible items from the Whale’s diet, such as squid beaks. If and when it is expelled (through their rectum), Ambergris floats around in the ocean, sometimes for years, until it is washed up on to beaches. As it’s so rare, it costs a small fortune – in excess of $10,000 per pound.

When a different aroma isn’t caused by reformulation

Many fragrances contain natural ingredients and the scent of these cannot always be guaranteed to be exactly the same all the time. There will be subtle differences.

When a batch of fragrance is produced and bottled, the scent of every bottle should be the same. However, the next batch may vary ever so slightly because of subtle differences in the aromas of the perfume oils.

Quality control should ensure that perfume from one batch to the next smells virtually the same as, obviously, consistency is expected from its purchasers.

If you are regularly using a fragrance you probably won’t notice any difference from batch to batch but if you stop using it for a couple of years then go back to it you might think it has changed quite a bit and even suspect it has been reformulated.

Famous reformulations

1. Chanel N⁰ 5

Chanel N⁰ 5 has been around since 1921. It was reformulated in 2012 as soon as there was talk of banning the use of oakmoss. It has also incorporated changes to appeal to the preferences of a new audience who will hopefully grow with it. Many fragrance wearers today are too young to have experienced the aroma of the original Chanel N⁰ 5. I first tried it in the 1980s and today’s formulation really isn’t that different.

2. Oscar by Oscar de la Renta

Oscar by Oscar de la Renta came out in 1977. My friend’s mom wore this in the 1980s and I loved it. At the time I didn’t realize it was the combination of lavender, rosemary, and carnation, with sweet, powdery, musky base notes that made it so irresistible. I bought a bottle the moment I could afford it.

Today’s version of Oscar is definitely different from that late 1980s scent I bought but it’s still a beautiful fragrance.

3. L’Eau D’Issey by Issey Miyake

L’Eau D’Issey came out in 1992. I first experienced it in 1998. It has since been reformulated and there are mixed reviews from fans. Some say it is not the same and some say it doesn’t last so long on their skin. The bottle pictured above was bought about a year ago by my hubby and we both think its scent is as great as always and it seems to last as long too.

4. Angel by Thierry Mugler

Thierry Mugler Angel hit the perfume shelves in 1992 and became my mom’s new favorite. We still have a couple of bottles as pictured above. It has undergone a reformulation related to the oakmoss crisis but still smells the same to us.

5. Aramis by Estee Lauder

Aramis appeared in 1964 and is still around now. The reformulated version has less clove and the oakmoss has been toned down. It’s still a gorgeous fragrance.

Conclusion

There’s always a reason behind the reformulation of a fragrance but it’s not something a perfume maker usually discloses. Many fragrances have been reformulated over the years without us even knowing.

If your favorite fragrance changes and you don’t like it, move on – there’s not a lot else you can do and there’s definitely no point in sulking about it. The best thing you can do is get over it and have fun deciding on a new one.

Most of the time reformulated fragrances still have great aromas and continue to be as popular as ever.