Pluie de Soleil by Phaedon

I went to Perfumeria Impressium on my tour-de-Warsaw-perfumes, but I got there quite late, ten minutes before they were closing. I know myself how irritating it is to have customers just before closing hours, so I was frantically smelling and trying to decide which fragrance samples to purchase. Key word is "trying", because I had no clue which fragrances I ended up taking with me when walking out the store.

One of them was Pluie de Soleil by Phaedon, which was recommended to me by the seller. I don't know why, but after trying Lamar by Kajal I was on a pineapple mission! Mile High by Parle Moi de Parfum failed me, others I tried where too synthetic, but apparently Pluie de Soleil was acceptable since I got it. Who knows, I was in a frantic haze!

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Pluie de Soleil is sweet and summery at the opening. No specific notes come to mind, however. The fragrance is fruity in a somewhat tropical way and I get a hint of something floral.

The notes in Pluie de Soleil are in fact pineapple, strawberry, Amalfi lemon, freesia, musk, sandalwood and bergamot. I get the mixture of pineapple and strawberry, but it is quite synthetic on my skin. After trying Lamar from Kajal, no pineapple seems to compare!

Pluie de Soleil is in quality more like a designer fragrance, if it stood next to Juicy Couture, I wouldn't be surprised.

The fragrance is also very fleeting on my skin. Three big sprays, but already after dry down, it is very hard to detect.

Fruity fragrances do not have to be juvenile, yet Pluie de Soleil is. Even after dry down, when the musk is more prevalent, the scent is an early twenties fragrance at best. What a shame. I love the bottle and the thought of a pineapple fragrance in my collection, but unfortunately Pluie de Soleil is a miss.

Eau de Soleil Blanc by Tom Ford

You know my stance on Tom Ford fragrances, but for some reason I cannot seem to stay away, because his fragrances are that good. When smelled from the bottle, that is. On skin, it's a whole 'nother story.

This summer, I seem to have been on a tropical hunt chasing pineapple scents and those reminiscent of exotic coastlines. Naturally, I was interested in Eau de Soleil Blanc.

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Eau de Soleil Blanc has a huge composition of notes, on Fragrantica, and I'm not even going to try to write them all down, but all I need to know is this: citrus, coconut, petitgrain, vanilla, benzoin, tonka and amber... I'm sold.

So how is Eau de Soleil Blanc?

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A powerful citrus burst at first spray! Yum! Soon after, I smell the white florals, the coconut, the sunshine, the tropical island.

Tom Ford has a way of luring you in, but will this fragrance last at all?

In all honesty, Eau de Soleil Blanc reminds me of Unforsaken by Kerosene, which is on my wishlist. It's been almost a year since I've smelled it, so I'm not completely sure, but I keep revisiting my old review, because I remember it making a big impression on me. 

Eau de Soleil Blanc might be a more generic version of Unforsaken, a more digestible one. I keep getting hints of tiaré, which is probably the white florals in combination with the coconut. After dry down, there's something Monoï by Yves Rocher about it too... What I thought would be a unique fragrance is actually not that special at all, it seems.

Eau de Soleil Blanc is also more soapy than the other two, but I wore it on a 7 hour shift and I am pleasantly surprised how long I could smell it on me and taking my jacket on at the end of the day, I got full whiffs of it. Never thought that would be possible with a Tom Ford!

That being said, if I had the money to spend, I might have added it to my collection, but my thoughts (and nose) is fully mesmerised by Taj by Yas perfumes and Eau de Soleil Blanc by Tom Ford seems to fade in comparison...

Gucci Flora Gorgeous Jasmine by Gucci

 

Despite not liking the fragrances from Gucci I have tried as of yet, I have always been circling around Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia. Something about it spoke to me, but I only tried it quickly and with a small spray on the wrist. It was nice, but I wasn't enamored. Then, suddenly, Gorgeous Jasmine was launched and something about the two bottles called my name, so I tried it on a paper strip and I just had to try it properly!

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  Initially quite sweet and of course, floral. Somewhat soapy, which I didn't expect when trying it on a paper strip.

I would have loved the juicy fruitiness of mandarin, which is listed in the composition, but it is nowhere to be found.

After dry down, Gorgeous Jasmine becomes quite powdery.

And alas, it is boring. Absolutely boring, like any other Gucci fragrance I have tried...

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It's been a while since I've reviewed a fragrance based on the scent on a paper strip, hasn't it?

So, because of the difference, I've sprayed generously on a paper strip and let me tell you, the mandarin is detectable even from afar!

I sprayed the test strip and layed it to evaporate the alcohol, just in arms reach, I could smell the fruity mandarin. After dry down, it is much milder and up close, Gorgeous Jasmine is a fruity and juicy floral! This is what made me so intrigued in the first place, the charming fruitiness with the mild floral in the back. On skin, however, Gorgeous Jasmine is nothing gorgeous, just a floral simpleton.

So simple and generic that I'm struggling to describe it, whereas on paper many words come to mind; fruity, fresh, feminine, delicate, perfect for summer, and even spring, a little peachy, reminding me of The Scent by Boss, I could go on. 

Once again, I must admit that designer fragrances aren't for me.

Taj by Yas Perfumes

I went to Warsaw where I had a couple of perfumeries on my to-visit list, but the most pleasant surprise was that of Sense Dubai, right next door to one of the other perfumeries. I went in and was met by an amazing woman, who knew her fragrances and made the experience that more exciting.

I was in heaven. I tried a dark musk attar on my hand, rich and sensual, which she dripped white musk on after, revealing the most mesmerising floral scent I have ever smelled! If florals could be as creamy and sensual as dark and white musk together, I would love to have them in my collection.

I went out after an hour smelling and feeling like a million.

One fragrance in particular had me in absolute awe.

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Spicy, rich, warm, oriental, Taj doesn't open faintly, but already with a statement. After a minute, it becomes sweeter with fruity notes. 

Masterfully crafted, because I usually cannot wear Oud and I don't like rose. Taj, despite not having any fruit in the composition, is an elegantly fruity scent that is sweet with tonka without being too sweet. 

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I am staring at the cursor trying to figure out how to describe Taj, it is indescribable in fact. Elegant like Baccarat, rich and powerful like Oud for Greatness, sensually sweet as only a scent from Dubai can be.

I need to have this. Period. The dry down also reveals a smokey sandalwood and I feel like a Goddamn million when wearing this. Honestly, BR540 and OFG are meek in comparison.

Taj, still not having any fruit notes, smells like an elevated cherry fragrance. Deliciously tart and sweet. Over time, it keeps evolving. Changing, but remaining the same.

It's oriental composition makes it perfect for warm and humid weather, but the same quality makes it perfect for winter too. 

This is a signature fragrance and it has my name all over it.

Valkyrie by Sylvaine Delacourte

Sylvaine Delacourte perfumes have been on my radar for a hot minute. They've been on my feed and all I needed to hear was "vanilla", I was sold immediately. Finally, I had the opportunity to smell these amazing scents, because I found them at Perfumeria Impressium in Warsaw by chance.

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You know how much I love vanilla and you know how much I love citrus, naturally, I got my hands on Valkyrie.

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Valkyrie opens with a zesty and fruity lemon, yum! But soon vanilla reaches my nose too, and an interesting note like that of sandalwood, smoke or even burned wood. The note is sour, contrasting the delicacy of citrus and vanilla. Valkyrie is like its name, something to be feared!

After dry down, the sandalwood calms down and the three most prominent notes are in an equal balance. A unity of citrus, vanilla and sandalwood. 

However, that doesn't remain so very long...

If you are looking for a citrus vanilla, like that of Davana & Vanille Bourbon by 100Bon, this isn't it. On me, Valkyrie becomes a solid sandalwood fragrance, with just a sweet touch of vanilla in the background.

It's beautiful and I imagine many being seduced by it if they are lovers of these notes. I am too, but I like my fragrances with a little bit more personality these days. Especially after visiting Sense Dubai and smelling amazing and mesmerising scents of ridiculous quality.

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In the evening, ten hours or so after applying, Valkyrie is a wonderful pure vanilla fragrance, that I must admit. And to my surprise! I thought the sandalwood would have it's last say, but vanilla perseveres.