Chanel no. 5 Sensual Elixir Review

Whoever reads my blog is probably going to ask, isn't one Chanel no. 5 review enough? My answer is no. I want to try all of the formulations of Chanel no. 5 (parfum, EDP, EDT, etc.). So far, I have tried and reviewed the parfum, EDP, eau Premiere, but have not gotten to sample the EDT yet.

I had received the Sensual Elixir as an early Christmas present and wore it for the first time today. I have never dealt with a perfume that comes in gel form like the Elixir. Sensual Elixir is not something to be sprayed on but dabbed on. After application, I don't get the normal blast of aldehydes. The aldehydes are very faint in this version of no. 5, but I get a huge blast of the heart notes of iris, jasmine and ylang-ylang. I noticed within the heart notes that there is a powderiness in this version that I have not noticed in other versions to have. The odd thing is I view this after a day's wear, that this version is probably a version for those who don't really get no. 5. But I also find that this is very similar to the EDP version of no. 5. I think that Sensual Elixir is probably meant for those who might not want to spend the money on a huge bottle of EDT or shell out the money for the EDP or parfum version. As much as I love and adore no. 5, I probably won't be getting another bottle of this.

Lubin Idole Extreme Review

When I heard that Lubin had created an EDP version of Idole, I had to try it. Luckyscent was offering samples of it, but I wasn't interested in a dabber. I get a better feel for a perfume when I spray it on my skin. Dabbing perfume doesn't help me at all. After the Perfumed Court had spray decants of this, I ordered a decant. After two days of wearing Idole Extreme and one day of Idole EDP, there are a few differences. The Extreme version is a lot more peppery than the EDT version. That gives the Extreme more of an oriental feel to it. Idole Extreme has a little more depth than the EDT version along with being a little louder. After wearing both, I don't find them to be that different. I do find Idole Extreme to still be on the weak side with very little depth. I think that my nose has gotten accustomed to wearing Amouage's Epic for women though.

Molinard Habanita EDT Review

Habanita, according to Now Smell This, is a perfume that started out as a packet that flappers used to scent cigarettes. But Habanita has morphed from scenting cigarettes in the 1920's to a perfume. The Perfumed Court had and still has a large decant special on Habanita and that is how I have come to acquire a large decant. I find Habanita to be a cross of many classifications of perfume. I can see where it can come across as an oriental or as a gourmand. But I mainly associate Habanita with being a oriental. I find Habanita to be smokey and similar to two other perfumes that I have in my collection. Habinita shares many traits with Serge Lutens' Chergui and L'Artisian Havana Vanille. I get a huge dose of tobacco and vanilla plays a supporting roll. What makes Habanita different is the powder note. For an EDT, Habanita does have pretty good lasting power on my dry skin. It's nice but I don't find myself reaching for Habanita very often let alone get a full bottle.

Amouage Honour for Women Review

I received my sample of Honour for women when I had ordered Amouage Memoir for women from the Lady Ruth website. In many ways, this reminds me of Amouage's Reflection for women but slightly different. Instead of a watery freesia, I get a watery gardenia. But the gardenia is anchored by the tuberose and jasmine that I smell 15 minutes after application. As much as I like it, it's a big white floral. It's the type of big that I have come to expect of Amouage. Three years ago, I was a huge lover of white florals, but my tastes have changed to accommodate leathers and aldehydes. I love how Honour lasts at least 12 hours on my skin. At the end of the day, I can't see myself buying another big, white floral.

Creed Fleurs de Bulgarie Review

Fleurs de Bulgarie is my first foray into Creed. I do have a liking to rose dominant perfumes. I have been wearing this off and on for about two months for a few reasons. On the first wearing, I wasn't wowed or moved by this perfume. Fleurs de Bularie kind of smelled like something Victoria's Secret might throw on the market if they wanted to be viewed as higher end with their perfumes. I did notice that there was a metallic element to this whole thing that picked up on with the first wearing and thought that it was probably too close to that time of the month. Nope, no matter what time, the metallic note is there. After about a half an hour, the rose is anchored to my skin with musk, turning the rose into a powdery or dusty rose. At the end of the day, I just don't understand this perfume, I really don't enjoy this perfume like I thought I would. Will I be buying it? No.

Faberge Babe Perfume Review

In October, I had a little bit of a hankering for vintage perfumes. Looking around the Perfumed Court and E-bay, price became a factor. But I did decide that I better get a larger decant of it. I wish I hadn't though. It's fruit, fruit and more fruit. The fruit aspect has this rotting/overripe smell to it that drives me up the wall. I find it to be a typical '80's perfume as well, loud and in your face. Babe, according to my nose, smells cheap and way too young for my 29 years in spite of being released in 1977. I am not amused with this dated, overripe perfume.

Amouage Lyric for Men Review

I've been wearing a 1.5ml decant of Amouage's Lyric for men off and on for a few months now. I still don't know what to make of it still. I adore Lyric for women and decided to try Lyric for men. Lyric for men started out with a blast of what I thought smelled like celery seed but turned out to be lime. Then out came the rose along with the orange blossom and incense. The reason I don't know what to make of it is that it smells more on the feminine side of unisex. This offering of Lyric is not what I am used to smelling in a men's cologne. I did wear this in 90 degree heat and I didn't get the wonderful bloom like I did with Lyric for women. It's sweet but not sickeningly so. Staying power is what I have come to expect out of Amouage. My pocketbook is sighing with relief because this is perfume is not working for me at all.