Had a chance to get a good sample of Covet today, and I really enjoy it. It's a very nicely crafted fragrance, and it's full of personality, something I really look for in a fragrance.

The opening notes are bright and spunky, with geranium leaves, green notes, lavender, Sicilian lemon, and I found the top notes fade fairly quickly and the heart notes really start to take control, and that's where it gets interesting. The heart notes have a gorgeous sweet-but-not-too-sweet chocolate note that I absolutely love, plus a blend of honeysuckle, lily of the valley, and magnolia, making the heart sweeter and gentler than the more strident top notes, but, I'm happy to report, it's not very sweet. Regular regular readers will know that I can't tolerate fragrances that are too sweet, mostly because my particular chemistry makes them go even sweeter and it can be really overwhelming. I'm happy to say that there are a few sweet fragrances I can wear, though, and this is one of them. Yay for chocolate!

The heart notes lasted a fairly long time on my skin before they started to very gently give way to the softly sensual base of vetiver, musk, teakwood, amber, and bois de cashmere. I'd like to comment on that last note. I have no idea what that might be. I did look it up, but I can't find any perfumer references to it. I suspect it might be a "made up" fragrance, in the same way that one Donna Karan fragrance has a note of "white t-shirt" and one of the Britney Spears line has a note of "cupcake". I suspect that "bois de cashmere" is meant to be a cross between an exotic wood and a wool type of scent. Whatever it is, I really like it, and the base of this perfume is a real delight to my rather picky olfactory sense.

I'm not the biggest fan of "celebrity" fragrances, I must admit. I'm generally willing to give them a sniff, but far too many of them are really lacking as perfumes, in my opinion, having no real character or style. Covet, however, is a fragrance worth getting to know. It's got personality. And chocolate. Gotta love that.

I have a great deal of respect for Kylie Minogue. I wouldn't say I'm a "fan", exactly, but I recognise that she works very hard and is deeply dedicated to her career. She's also a breast cancer survivor and has come forward to speak about it, which I find courageous and I think it's using her fame in positive ways. I'm afraid I can't say the same for Darling, her perfume.

Oh, it's not horrible. I didn't want to wash my skin or anything. But it was so... ordinary. Pink, fruity, floral, been there, done that, a hundred times. Honestly, the perfume is a yawn. It has apparently become a top seller in the UK, which is fine for Kylie (as I said, I actually have nothing at all against her), but how much must this perfume contribute to the stereotype that the English are boring and predictable?

The top notes are the extremely common and entirely dull combination of freesia, lychee, and (passionless) passion fruit, followed by some other floral notes that apparently include boronia and lily. The only part of the perfume I particularly liked was the base, which is a nicely balanced sandalwood and amber, with a touch of vanilla.

I found the fragrance to be reasonably long lasting, and fairly well constructed, as these things go. What a shame that the fragrance is so very, very dull and so very, very boring. Surely, Kylie isn't dull and boring (at least, I shouldn't think so), so why would she settle for this oh-so-ordinary pink, fruity, floral when she could have had something that would really sparkle?

Maybe I'm just a perfume snob, I don't know. I mean, I've smelled hundreds of perfumes, and I've got a pretty strong sense of what I like and don't like, so maybe that's why I was so completely unimpressed by this fragrance. And my apologies to anyone from the UK (I do know that being boring and predictable is only a stereotype!) and to anyone who loves this perfume. I'm sure it's nice on many, many, many people. Just like beige skirts and brown shoes.

First, a spoiler. I'm not impressed. I'm happy to explain precisely why I don't like it, of course, but if you don't want to read an unimpressed review, stop reading right now. (Better yet, hop out to a shop and try it for yourself; perfume is a very personal thing, so you may find you love it!)

Okay. If you're still reading, I'll continue...

First of all, it's pink. Yes, it's Yet Another Pink Perfume. The design for the box is lovely, though, with a solid black rose on a field of pink, very stylish. The bottle is pretty ordinary, but nice enough. Not iconic or anything.

My initial response to the top notes was, "Wow, I wasn't expecting that! What is it? That's different...." It's a floral-spicy sort of opening, featuring notes of forget-me-not, orange blossom, and pink pepper, and it's the pepper that got my attention. Nice.

Unfortunately, it goes downhill from there. The heart is pretty ordinary lush floral arrangement of rose, peony, and lily of the valley, although the lily of the valley is not prominent (normally I recognise it right away, because I love it, but I was surprised to see it's there when I looked up the notes!). It's a nice blend, and the pepper seems to linger for a reasonable amount of time as the heartnotes take full control, but my overall reaction is just... eh. It's nice. Well-balanced, but nothing that excites me at all. I will say that the heartnotes seem to last a good long while. On my skin, anyway, this fragrance has good staying power.

Base notes are very ordinary patchouli, sandalwood, and musk. Lingers nicely, but I'm so unenthused about the fragrance in general that I don't really care. It seems a shame that a well-balanced, long-lasting fragrance of obvious quality is so... well... unexciting.

I would really have expected a perfume with a Kate Moss brand to be a little more unusual. She's this heroin-waif, rock-and-roll-chick, cocaine snorting, rehab woman with the face that launched a thousand ads. I would have expected a note of maybe leather, or to have that nice pepper note carry through the fragrance in a more meaningful way. It's a nice fragrance, and I'm sure people will like it and it will do well enough, but it just makes me feel like I've smelled it all before. Then again, with the way Kate's face has been ubiquitious, on every billboard, in every magazine, on every tabloid, maybe a fragrance that has been there and done that says more about her than I think... For some reason, this fragrance just makes me think "bandwagon".

Anyway, it's a nice floral fragrance, and I do urge people to give it a try on their own (as I always do). If you're a fan of well-balanced florals with a woody base, you might find this suits you quite well.

Okay, this is a fairly classic perfume, and it's a bit of a shock that I haven't reviewed it before now, but, well, I haven't. However, I'm going to make up for that now.

My first impression of this fragrance is a lush floral, and it is, but it's actually quite a bit more subtle than I first thought. There's a very distinct but very delicate green aura to this, a slight freshness that takes some of the edge off the stronger florals.

The opening is floral/fruity and slightly fresh, with notes of fresia, bergamot, peach, and pineapple. You'd think that would be quite sweet, but the blend is only just sweet (anyone who has read my reviews knows I'm not a fan of sweet fragrances, but I do like this and I don't find it overpowering at all).

The heart of the fragrance is found in the green florals of lily of the valley and jasmine, softened by rose and violet, giving way to a base of cedar, sandalwood, iris, musk.

This is, as I said, a classic fragrance. Therefore, it's fairly well-known and easily recognised by anyone familiar with fragrances, and it's also a much-copied fragrance. I tend not to like to wear perfumes that smell like "everyone else" but I'm happy to take that risk with this one. I find the subtleties of this fragrance quite wonderful, although I must say, it doesn't last as long as I'd like (perhaps that just my skin, though I have heard others voice the same complaint). The soft, woody, musky base does linger well, although it's very close to the skin by the time it gets down to the base notes (at least it is on me).

I'd recommend this to any fan of classically feminine floral perfumes, although, as always, you should probably try a sample first to make sure it suits your chemistry.

I had the opportunity to try Daisy last week. It wasn't to my personal taste, but it's certainly a well-crafted fragrance, nicely balanced. Unfortunately, it reminds me of Lancôme Miracle (which, I'm surprised to see, I haven't reviewed here; I might have to do that). I say it's unfortunate not because I dislike Miracle (I actually find that perfume quite pleasant), but because I already have Miracle and thus no need for Daisy. But ANYway...

I liked the opening notes of Daisy very much. They're light, bright, a bit sweet, a bit citrusy (apparently, the top notes include strawberry and grapefruit). The middle notes were less inspiring to me, pretty much a solid, slightly sweet floral heart. Nice, certainly, and a solid blend, but, well, been there, smelled that... I quite liked the base, which is a musky, woody, vanilla (note: as I've said here, I'm not the biggest fan of vanilla, but in some rare cases I do like it; it's nice here). I found the base was quite "close to the skin", and very subtle.

Overall, this is a well-made, nicely balanced fragrance, a moderately sophisticated blend. I could see this as an "all purpose" fruity floral, something you'd wear when you haven't got anything else in mind. It's good, I don't want to imply that it isn't. It's just quite unremarkable, in my opinion. I would recommend it to someone who wants a good fruity floral that isn't too overwhelming or unusual, and who doesn't already have too many fruity florals in their collection.

Miss Dior is a classic chypre (see the Fragrance Facts page if that confuses you). Top notes are bergamot, aldehydes, clary sage, gardenia and galbanum, lush heart notes of rose, lily of the valley, carnation, orris and jasmine, and a gorgeous base of patchouli, oakmoss, amber, vetiver,leather and sandalwood.

Miss Dior actually caused quite a sensation when it was released in 1947. It was quite different from the other fragrances that were popular then, all soft, soapy, oh-so-genteel florals, for the most part. Miss Dior is spunky, and a little bit cheeky, and pleasantly chic. It was a sensation in it's day; it's still sensational.

But wait! There's more! Continue reading Dior Miss Dior....

Okay. I've decided to take a different approach to writing in this blog. Part of why I haven't been is that I set a standard for myself with regard to how things had to be written, what style I had to use to present them, etc. But the fact is, my own natural "voice" is fairly entertaining, and I do a lot better when I write freeform than when I follow a strict pattern.

From now on, my reviews will continue to include some basic stuff (like the notes in the fragrance), but I'm just going to write my own impressions of it, perhaps with a bit of social observation, perhaps not. I'm just going to write because I like to write, and I love perfumes and I've been restricting myself too much, so much that I wasn't writing at all.

From now on, look for much more "freeform" entries here, including in the reviews. And look for more frequent entries, now that I've decided to lift the restrictions on myself.

This is a somewhat strange review, because this lovely fragrance has been discontinued. What a shame! It was released in 2000, and it's lush and amazing. I have a good-sized bottle of it, so it should last me a while, but still... what a shame that it's been discontinued.

This is a very lush, earthy, oriental type fragrance. It's very exotic, with green and spicy top notes, a heart of tuberose, frangipani blossoms, neroli, ylang-ylang, and jasmine, and a classic oriental base of vetiver, vanilla, and sandalwood. I also smell something in there that reminds me very distinctly of coconut, but that might be my imagination.

But wait! There's more! Continue reading Guerlain Mahora....

Created in 2002 by Donna Karan, this fragrance is richly mysterious and as smooth as silk. Notes include clove, rose, white pepper, Ethiopian incense, vanilla, amber, patchouli, and an unusual but delicious hint of saffron. Sensually exotic!

I tried this on recommendation because I wanted something "incense-y". Well, this fits that bill and more. It's absolutely delicious, and the saffron note is fantastic. Really, the entire fragrance is fantastic. It starts out with floral and spice and winds down into spicy wood, and then finally to an ambery woody base that's slightly sweeter (but not especially sweet; sweet in the sense of sweet exotic wood, not sweet in the sense of fruit or something sugary).

But wait! There's more! Continue reading Black Cashmere Mist by Donna Karan....

Introduced in 1996, dolce vita means "sweet life" in Italian. This feminine scent has a senusal, soft, romantic blend of magnolia, rose, cinnamon, peach, apricot, and luscious bottom notes of vanilla, sandalwood, and heliotrope. Warm, inviting, and sensual!

As anyone who has read many of my reviews knows, I'm not a big fan of sweet fragrances. On me, they tend to become extremely sweet. I wasn't, therefore, expecting to like Dolce Vita, but I tried a sample on a whim and was very taken with it.

But wait! There's more! Continue reading Dior Dolce Vita....

Introduced in 2004, Curious is designed on the concept of temptation, thrill, and satisfaction. The temptation is represented in the top notes of magnolia, pear, and lotus, followed by the tuberose, jasmine, and cyclamen "thrill" of the heart notes. The base notes of vanilla, musk, and sandalwood bring the experience to a satisfying conclusion. Fabulous!

First things first. The bottle is fantastic. I have a mini, and it's just absolutely adorable, with little charms hanging from the neck, not unlike the blue silk tassle that used to be on Guerlain's Shalimar all those years ago (except, of course, that the charms on Curious are plastic beads rather than silk).

As for the perfume, it's not as bad as I feared it would be. Well, that's stating it broadly. It's actually very nice, and I'm surprised, because I was really expecting to hate this.

But wait! There's more! Continue reading Britney Spears Curious....

Introduced in 1991, White Diamonds is an elegant, smooth, floral fragrance. It is comprised of notes of neroli, lily and tuberose, with softer heart notes of rose, orris, narcisse and jasmine, with a sensual base of sandalwood, oakmoss, amber, and patchouli. Pure class!

I'll be honest. I wasn't really expecting to like this. I don't know why, really, but I just wasn't expecting to enjoy this perfume much. I'm happy to say I was suprirsed by it (and that's one of the nicest things about perfumes; sometimes they surprise you!).

But wait! There's more! Continue reading Elizabeth Taylor White Diamonds....

Introduced in 1989 by Elizabeth Taylor, Passion is soft, oriental, woody fragrance. This feminine scent blends jasmine, bergamot, and rose, and is accented with tuberose, vanilla and musk. Smouldering!

I hated this in the bottle. I would never have tried it in a shop, but I had a bottle that I got as part of a multi-pack of mini fragrances (yes, me and my minis, again!), and I thought I'd just try it on my skin to be fair. I suspect this may be one that really grows on me after a couple of wearings (like Vivienne Westwood's Boudoir did).

But wait! There's more! Continue reading Elizabeth Taylor Passion....

Introduced in 2003 by Givenchy, this feminine fragrance is bursting with roses and spiced with star anise and verbena leaf, a fresh and sensual departure from the traditional floral fragrance. Notes include Centifolia Rose, Peony Rose, Fantasia Rose, Passion Rose, Emotion Rose, Verbena Leaf, Star Anise. Lives up to its name!

I read that this perfume, "is a homage to Givenchy’s early days when fashion and cinema were intertwined," and that it "unites the elegant tradition of French style with the energy and pop-culture pizzazz of American film." Interesting concept, and now that I think of it, the bottle is rather art deco in style (and the box, just as a side note, is extremely cool with raspberry-rose colored iridescent coloring, very pretty).

But wait! There's more! Continue reading Givenchy Very Irresistible....

Introduced by Yves St Laurent in 1977, Opium is an exotic blend of lush florals, rich spices, and deep wood notes. This delicious and sensual fragrance has notes of coriander, clove, bayleaf, and sandalwood, and is accented with vetiver, pepper, amber, and patchouli. A real classic!

I've mentioned many times that I tend not be be a big fan of orientals. Many of them have ingredients that I just don't like, or combinations that don't appeal to me at all. Lately, though, I've been wanting to try more orientals, as a break from my usual florals, and so I've been experimenting. Opium is one of the fragrances that was recommended to me time and time again, so I gave it a try at a perfume counter. I was very impressed with it.

But wait! There's more! Continue reading Yves Saint Laurent Opium....

Introduced in 1934, Caron Pour Un Homme (also seen as "Caron Pour Homme") is a fresh scent with lavender, bergamot, lemon, cedarwood, rosemary, sage, and vanilla for a delicious concoction that is a masculine fragrance classic. Delightful!

I bought this for myself on recommendations when I was asking about something lavender based. Normally, I don't like to buy any fragrance "unsmelled" (with the exception of minis, which I will sometimes buy that way, particularly in a variety gift pack), but this one was so highly recommended and I got it for a very nice price (less than or the same as I'd pay for a mini!), so I went ahead an ordered it. Oh, yes, it is intended to be a masculine fragrance, but I've never been afraid to "switch sides" where fragrance is concerned.

On me, it's nice. The lavender is a bit strong and it seems a little astringent, but it's nice. It develops into a pleasantly fresh, slightly soapy vanilla base. As I've mentioned, I'm not the biggest fan of vanilla, but this is nice enough.

And then Andrew came home and I thought I'd like to see how it went on him, with his chemistry. And suddenly that pleasant little fragrance turned into a major WOW.

But wait! There's more! Continue reading Caron Pour Un Homme....

Boudoir was created by Vivienne Westwood in 1998, and it is a blend of a classic oriental and floral (a "floriental" as they're known). Boudoir is an intimate, luxurious and sensual combination of viburnum and marigold, rose and orange blossom, cinnamon, sandalwood and vanilla. Powerfully feminine!

I have to admit, I didn't like this much at first, but it's grown on me over the course of several wearings. As I've stated, I'm not a huge fan of orientals, although there are a number of floral orientals I like and wear. This one is more oriental than floral in my personal estimation.

But wait! There's more! Continue reading Vivienne Westwood Boudoir....

Created in 1981 by Giorgio Beverly Hills, Giorgio is an intoxicating, exotic floral fragrance, glamourous and sophisticated. This feminine scent possesses a blend of mandarin, rose, carnation, orris, and sandalwood blended with notes of jasmine, cedar, and musk. An absolute classic!

My grandmother, always a fan of perfumes, started wearing this in the early-mid 80s (when she was in her late 70s and early 80s!). Now whenever I smell it, I'm reminded of her. The scent therefore has pleasant associations for me, but I normally don't wear it, myself.

Still, today I put some on (borrowed from my mother-in-law, for whom I bought the fragrance) and I'm finding it to be quite pleasant just on its own merit, totally aside from the happy association with my beloved grandmother.

But wait! There's more! Continue reading Giorgio Beverly Hills Giorgio....

Created by Chopard in 1997, Wish is a elegant, sweet, oriental fragrance. This feminine scent contains a blend of woodsy and spicy florals, with notes of pear, blackcurrant, Chinese gooseberry, patchouli, incense, sandalwood, toffee, and amber. Elegant and exotic!

I'm going to first say that I don't personally like this. I know people who do, and with all things, I always encourage individual experimentation because there's no accounting for taste (including mine) and what smells icky on me may smell heavenly on someone else (and vice versa).

But wait! There's more! Continue reading Chopard Wish....

Designed by Lancôme in 2001, Miracle is a fresh, floral fragrance. The refreshing top notes are bright with freesia and lychee, followed by spicy, playful middle notes of ginger and pepper, softened by magnolia, all supported on sensual basenotes of amber and musk, softened with jasmine. Perky, feminine, and fantastic!

There are a number of easy to wear, floral, "pink" fragrances on the market lately (in fact, this one has another version called "Miracle Ultra Pink"). Miracle is, in my opinion, one of the nicest of the "pink" perfumes.

But wait! There's more! Continue reading Miracle by Lancôme....

Designed by Christian Dior in 1956, now a famed classic. A romantic and carefree bouquet is composed around Christian Dior’s lucky flower and the emblem of Dior couture, lily of the valley. The fragrance is further softened with notes of jasmine, lilac and sandalwood. Diorissimo is a chance to indulge yourself in the soft, delightful scent of springtime. Classically feminine!

Years ago, I worked as a support tech at an ISP. Yes, a very geeky job (don't worry, I was pretty good at it), and the entire workplace was dominated by men. Since I was always in the back in the "tech lair" as we called it, I never bothered to wear makeup or wear anything especially dressy (jeans and t-shirts was - and is - my usual uniform). I wore some jewellery because I always wear rings and frequently wear earrings, but other than that, I was always pretty "butch" at work.

One day, though, I came to work wearing perfume (probably an Estée Lauder one like White Linen), just because I felt like it. A co-worker who was also a pretty good friend and who also happened to be a reasonably funny guy sniffed the air as I entered the tech lair and said in a slightly funny accent, "Somethin' smells kinda.... FLOWERY in here!"

But wait! There's more! Continue reading Dior Diorissimo....

Launched in 2003, Paradise celebrates the glory of balancing state of mind and environment. Paradise is a lush, green, fruity, floral fragrance, a heavenly blend of tropical greens, tagete absolute, white peach, jasmine, gardenia, rose de mai, orchid vanille, sandalwood, and musk.

"The inspiration for Alfred Sung Paradise fragrance comes from a very special place in my heart. It is a personal interpretation of an idyllic escape, transporting one's thoughts to a peaceful and tranquil setting. It is a place that brings one complete happiness." - Alfred Sung

The first thing I want to say about this fragrance is that it's subtle. It's not one of those fragrances that immediately assults your olifactory system. This one is much, much more laid back.

The second thing I want to say about it is that it's very different, and not quite like any other fragrance with which I'm familiar. This one really does smell tropical, but not in a fruity tropical way (not like coconuts and pineapples or anything remotely that overt). The tropical sense comes from its lush, subtle, "green" qualities. The fruity notes are soft ones, not too sweet.

But wait! There's more! Continue reading Alfred Sung Paradise....

Introduced in 2001, Miracle Homme is a sharp, masculine, fresh blend of fresh and spicy florals, with notes of maple leaf, red pepper and oak moss blending into a heart of coffee granita and cedar wood, and base notes of rosewood, gaiac wood, amber, and jasmine. Sensual and surprising!

My husband wears this. He wears it because I chose it for him, really. The thing is, he's not a very perfumey kind of guy (he's not even vaguely metrosexual, although he's also not particularly blokey, either). He can say when he doesn't like something, but that's about it. If I like it and he doesn't hate it, he's okay with it.

But wait! There's more! Continue reading Lancôme Miracle Homme....

Introduced in 1997, Davidoff Cool Water Woman is a fresh aquatic, with notes of citrus, water lily, jasmine, peach, and sandalwood. Fresh, light, fruity and highly feminine, this is a unique fragrance for the woman who possesses vitality and revels in her sensuality.

I like this one, and I wear it, although not as often as some other fragrances I have, for various reasons. Cool Water Woman was released as a followup to the popular and successful Cool Water for Men (a review I'll do someday when I've got an appropriately sized sample and my husband nearby to wear it for me). This fragrance is deceptively light, pleasantly fruity, slightly sweet (not too sweet, though, and not cloying), and very, very fresh. It's appropriate for young women, but it's not a "girlish" scent (we forty-somethings like it, too). It's also a lot stronger than people tend to imagine, and it's easy to overdo it, I find, so it's a "go lightly" fragrance until you're absolutely sure of how much you can get away with wearing.

But wait! There's more! Continue reading Davidoff Cool Water....

Designed in 1925 by Guerlain, this venerable scent is a refined oriental, and is often said to be the quintessential oriental. This sensual, ultra-feminine fragrance contains a rich blend of bergamot, lemon, iris, and patchouli, and is accented with vanilla, sandalwood, and musk. Shalimar is exceptionally well made, and surprisingly chic for its age. Utterly classic, utterly romantic, utterly unforgettable.

I've admitted before that I really don't care for Orientals much, and I'm going to admit that I don't really like and I don't ever wear Shalimar. However, I can appreciate it for what it is: classic, sensual, elegant, and, on the right woman, stunning.

But wait! There's more! Continue reading Guerlain Shalimar....

Winner of the 29th Annual “FiFi” 2001 Awards for U.S. Women’s Fragrance Star of the Year, J’adore by Christian Dior is a sparkling fresh floral bouquet that is deeply sensual, totally feminine...and as contemporary as you are. It exudes top notes of tangy mandarin and ivy leaves, softened by the champaca flower, the heart of rare orchids, roses, and violets, with a base of damascus plum, amaranth wood, and blackberry musk.

This fragrance is fabulously floral, really lushy so. The orchids in this are just gorgeous. There's a stage in the development of this perfume that I honestly find nearly intoxicating, and almost arousing. That's how good it is (on me, anyway).

But wait! There's more! Continue reading Dior J'adore ....

Casmir was created by Chopard in 1991. Top notes are fruity and include mango, coconut, peach, and bergamot, with floral middle notes of jasmine, geranium, and lily of the valley (muguet), on a strong base of amber, musk, vanilla, sandalwood, and patchouli. Casmir captures the charm and mystery of the Orient in a beautiful, exotic perfume. Scintillating!

First, I must confess that I'm not a fan of Orientals. I don't like opopanax (myrrh), which seems to be common in orientals, I generally don't care for patchouli (in rare instances it's okay, but mostly I really just plain don't like it), and while I like sandalwood, I like it only in certain situations and with certain combinations.

But wait! There's more! Continue reading Chopard Casmir....

Sensi is as sensual as light cashmir; oriental romance with italian spirit. Introduced in 2003, it is a sweet, light, oriental-floral blend. The main scent is fresh vanilla which is accompanied by amber, benzoin, jasmine, and exotic woods. Fabulous!

I didn't expect to like Sensi. I'm not a big fan of vanilla. Well, let me rephrase that. I thought I wasn't a fan of vanilla, but the fact is, I do like it, I just don't like it when it's too sweet or cloying. It turns out that I do actually quite like vanilla in many cases (I thought I didn't like asparagus, too, until I found out that I do like it if it's prepared well; same thing here, I think).

The initial notes are very light, mostly citrus, and then it quickly settles down into the sweet-but-not-too-sweet middle notes and eventually works its way into a very pleasant warm vanilla.

One of the things I like about this fragrance is that it's subtle. It's very sensual, but it's not all "in your face" about it like some perfumes are. And, of course, it's not too sweet, despite the vanilla base. It's nicely sophsticated in a soft, feminine, inviting way that isn't overpowering. I think you could happily wear this in an office setting as well as you could wear it on more formal or showy occasions.

I haven't had much personal experience of Armani fragrances, but if this is indicative of the kind of things they produce, I'll definitely have to look into their line further.

Introduced in 1993, winner of the Fifi Award for Best Women’s Fragrance in 1994, Sunflowers for women is a refined, aquatic, upbeat fragrance. Its fragrant nature explores essences of melon, peach and jasmine. Blended with notes of tea rose, sandalwood and moss, Sunflowers is a casual, spunky, cheerful type of fragrance. Fresh and lovely!

And on a personal level, I love this one. It really is fresh, and while normally you wouldn't think of perfumes as being "cheerful", this one is. Sunflowers is spunky, fun, cheerful, and extremely appealing. I've never met anyone who disliked it (I'm sure there must be people who do, but I've never met any of them).

By the way, it doesn't smell like actual sunflowers. I think the name is meant to refer to "sunny" flowers, not the actual sunflower (which, in my opinion, don't smell very nice at all!).

Sunflowers is an extremely affordable fragrance. There's nothing wrong (in my opinion) with expensive perfumes, but when you find a really good one that you like and it's also very affordable, well, there's something to be said for that!

Sunflowers is generally available primarily in an Eau de Toilette strength. I haven't personally seen it in anything stronger, but pehaps it's out there and just uncommon.

Suitable for daytime and casual use, and I would feel comfortable wearing it to more formal occasions, as well.

Created by Lancôme in 1990, and named after the French word for treasure, Trésor is a fresh and spirited fragrance. This sophisticated, floral, semi-oriental fragrance has notes of rose, apricot blossom, peach, iris, jasmine, musk, and vanilla. This tantalizing fragrance is great for office and evening wear. Outstanding!

If I could wear only one perfume for the rest of my life (perish that thought, but for the sake of argument), it would be this one. The name means "treasure" in French, and it lives up to that. The original "face" of this perfume, Isabella Rosselini, said that it's like "a rose at sunset". This fragrance is remarkably sophsticated, smoothly floral and just slightly exotic (it's technically a floral-oriental), and is just plain gorgeous from top note to bottom. It is my "true love" fragrance (not to be confused with Elizabeth Arden "True Love" which I'll review at another time), the one to which I always return. I love it, and it loves me.

As with all things, your mileage may vary. If you don't like rose (which is the major note of this fragrance), then you might not find this anywhere near as appealing as I do, and if you prefer a spicier or more playful fragrance, well, Trésor isn't really either. I do recommend that you give it a try next time you walk past the Lancôme counter in a department store, particularly if you like a nice, smooth, sophsticated and elgant floral.