This is one of the perfumes that Christian Dior has put out as if it were a trial balloon. It is true that the perfume has been something of a “hit and miss” job. There are times when it dazzles and there are those that are worried about the leather overtones that come with the perfume. However I still believe that that strength of the brand can still come to the rescue.

The Brand

The genius that is responsible for the perfume is Paul Vacher. The brand is very strong and points towards the fashions of the pre war and post war periods for the upper classes. Leather seems to be a running theme in the perfume. They are normally associated with the great stars of Hollywood of that time. It is a celebrity perfume but not in the grotesque way that we are exposed to in the modern times.

The Fragrance

The predominant flavor of the perfume is leather but you have to keep it one for more than twelve hours before you can get the hints of oak moss and patchouli. One might feel that the leather is a little bit too much but this is really the brand identify for the perfume and it would be such a shame if they lost that quality. For example we no longer need yet another floral perfume. It is nice to be able to sample something that is totally different.

The Packaging

This one of those packages that must be nice but it fails to touch the right buttons with me personally. I know that the companies have to come up with interesting ideas on a regular basis but it would be nice if they could be normal as well. The packaging on this one is nice enough but I am not entirely sure what they are trying to say with it.

General Customer Feedback

There is a feeling of awe when people are reviewing Christian Dior items because of the great reputation that the company has acquired and this is no different. However the consensus was that this was a perfume that did not disappoint from a brand point of view.

Popularity: 11% [?]

This is yet another of Britney Spears’ forays into the world of perfumery. This one is released under the great name of Elizabeth Arden.  The creator of the perfume is none other than Jim Krivda. The name is rather interesting but conjures up images that are not altogether pleasant. However the substantive perfume is worth a great review.

The Brand

The Britney Spears brand has had its share of challenges but at the center of it is a young girl who has a talent for entertaining millions of people across the globe. The target group for the perfume is between eighteen and thirty. For the older generation the perfume might not have the gravitas that they are looking for in a quality perfume but for the younger generations this is a perfume that they can aspire to in the short run or even the long run if they are given enough sentimental reasons.

The Fragrance

The notes consist of  red lychee, golden quince, kiwi, cupcake accord, jasmine, white chocolate orchid, musk, woods, and orris root. There is a rather disturbing hint of confectionery in the way that the perfume is made but when looks at the target audience then it makes perfect sense that they should choose to structure it in this way. The other alternatives would have been far too grown up for the target market. If you like sweets then this is definitely a perfume that you will enjoy.

The Packaging

The packaging is very feminine with a pink theme and some silver highlights. I like the sequence of circular shapes and the color seems to indicate a celebratory mood. One might have wanted a darker theme but bearing in mind that the target audience is into all things floral and fresh, it makes sense that they have presented the perfume in this way.

General Customer Feedback

Unfortunately for the perfume it suffers from a conspiracy of low expectations but this might yet prove to be an advantage when people are pleasantly surprised to learn that the perfume is actually quite good and merits a mention in the highest levels of the industry. It is true to say that the perfume is not likely to make an impact outside its core market but within it chances are that it is going to be a roaring success.

Popularity: 15% [?]

This is a perfume that is meant to make a statement and a bold statement at that. It follows in the line of its predecessors in shocking the public but bringing a new spiciness to what they think of perfumes. The Montale is somewhat tempered by some of the other ingredients which might increase the appeal of this particular perfume. At the same time it is relatively powerful when compared with other perfumes.

The Brand

Montale has a distinct fragrance that runs throughout their perfumes. What you get is the occasional variation to suit the current label but usually you can smell a Montale fragrance from a mile away. This has led to complaints about the similarity among the fragrances that they produce. One can only hope that they produce some sort of distinction because it would be such a shame to lose such a powerful perfume.

The Fragrance

We start off with the surprising red pepper, cumin, saffron, iris root and sandalwood which then gives way to the obligatory vetiver. At the same time aoud is never far from the fragrance notes as they waft through your nostrils. The final impression that you get is a perfume that combines the deep tones of leather with the hints of chocolate. The fragrance list is challenging and so is the final perfume product.

The Packaging

For some reason the bottle reminds of India but in a good way. I like the dark red that is broken by the golden tops. It gives off a feeling of elegant sophistication but also a sense of grandeur that eludes some perfume. I think the packaging pays great homage to the title of the perfume itself.

General Customer Feedback

The customers who looked at the perfume found it very interesting from a fragrance list point of view. However there was concern that the perfume might not be getting the full credit for its individuality because of the similarity in ingredients to its other counterparts. Some people also felt that the perfume had the capability of completely overpowering them. All in all I think this is a great perfume that can add individuality to your attire.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Chocolovers is the second fragrance that has come out courtesy of Aquolina. It has a sister perfume that is much more popular and goes by the tantalizing name of Pink Sugar. The perfume has a chocolate feel and in fact some people even reported that it made them hungry. I for one find it rather strange that people are supposed to wear confectionery as a cosmetic substance but somehow the perfume has managed to work despite the weird combinations.

The Brand

The brand is based on producing imaginative perfumes at a reasonable cost. With the first success of the products, the perfume makers have decided to go deeper into the perfume market. Their target audience is generic but to fully appreciate their perfumes, you need to have a good palette. You also need to be open minded enough to explore some of the unusual combinations that they come up with. More often the perfume is much better that what the ingredients would suggest at first blush.

The Fragrance

We start off with the obligatory bergamot. A citrus not is confirmed by the presence of an orange scent and some lemon. We are then taken back to the lily of the valley. This leads to the kitchen with coriander, hazelnut, vanilla, malt and musk. Overall this is a basic perfume structure but with a wonderful product at the end. The chocolate flavor works well with the gourmet theme but I am not sure whether it clashes with the citrus thing going on.

The Packaging

I have to say that I find the packaging quite dull. All we have is a white bottle with a few hints of chocolate hearts. There is really not romance or drama in the bottle and I find that it is a letdown. I also find it irritating that you cannot tell whether it is a perfume by just looking at a bottle. You need to do further investigation to smell it and dissect the different notes that it brings.

General Customer Feedback

There was lots of curiosity about the fact that a perfume was going to be using chocolate as its main theme. Perhaps the trepidation was justified by the distinct lack of presence when the final product came out. It is pleasant enough but I did not see many people who felt that they had to rush out to get it. I have to say that I would buy it if only for curiosity’s sake. It is not often that you get to own a chocolate perfume so when the chance comes you must grab it.

Popularity: 8% [?]

I just landed on this perfume by chance and had never had a chance to see it or even wear it. However I know a friend who had a sample which she kindly gave me for purposes of this review. I have to say that for an innovation perfume, it was quite pleasant and I felt that it is something that I would quite happily buy for a loved one.

The Brand

This is not one of the highly branded products that we often hear about over and over again. There are no visible celebrity push sales. However I believe that the perfume speaks on its own terms and in due course it will become a major brand. I particularly like the simplicity with which it has been presented.

The Fragrance

The fragrance list can read like a confectionery store. It starts off with a strong presence of tangerine which leads to freesia and marigold. Those who have used the perfume on a regular basis also talk of white rose mixed with apricot and jasmine. This fruity top is then counterbalanced by the warmer flavors of sandalwood and vanilla.  You are left with a perfume that is both fresh but also deep when you take time to really smell it.

The Packaging

The packaging is composed of clean golden lines that suggest understated luxury. I actually like the packaging better than the perfume which is somewhat of an anomaly. However I have to point out that the packing does fit in well with the extravagant scents described above so it is all good.

General Customer Feedback

Most customers who reviewed the product were ladies and they felt that the perfume was quite good. A certain apprehension was expressed about the fact that it was not a well known brand but in the end everyone felt that the perfume more than compensated for this obscurity. I would definitely buy that perfume for a friend over Christmas but I would not go out of my way to search for it. It is nothing more than an adequate addition to your collection. This is not about being pithy but providing an overview of this perfume.

Popularity: 8% [?]