Top Notes 
Bosc pear
Raspberry
Blackcurrant
Heart Notes 
Violet leaf
Jasmine absolute
Rose
Base Notes 
Musk
Patchouli
Amber
Oakmoss
09/04/2025
glitterbot
8 Reviews
glitterbot
1
More of a thinkpiece than a review
Disclaimer: Christina is my all-time favorite singer. I am a #Fighter and somewhat known within her fanbase for, shall we say, my honesty. My thoughts on this perfume do not reflect how I feel about Christina as a person.
Christina has a long history of releasing perfumes, with one coming out almost every year since 2007. I have fond memories of opening some of her CDs and smelling the perfume sample that was included within. I remember forcing my dad to drive me to Macy's solely so I could try the then newly released Inspire (2008). Since then, her fragrance line, while very popular in Europe, has been hard to find in the US. Even now, it's not likely you'll be able to test them out in person. They are now available on An. I generally avoid blind buying anything. I made an exception for this one. At $18 for a 1 oz bottle, it's not a huge investment or risk.
Upon discovering that oakmoss is in some of my favorite perfumes, while simultaneously searching for a replacement for YSL Mon Paris, I was pleasantly surprised to find Xtina included on the list of perfumes with oakmoss. Many of the notes in Xtina overlap with Mon Paris, and with my recent interest in violet, I decided to go for it. The difference in quality is minimal (note to YSL: this is a read toward you, not a compliment). Xtina is much more sweet, with the sugared violet sticking out like a sore thumb. There is a smattering of fruit at first, but it quickly dissipates. I don't detect any jasmine or rose. The base notes provide some balance but it leans toward being a little too sweet. It doesn't take long for the notes to blend together. On freshly showered skin, pear, musk and patchouli jump out. With patchouli being a little more prominent, it does bear a resemblance to Mon Paris. Xtina sits intimately, so you won't get longevity or much of a sillage.
I have watched Christina for the last 25 years, and have seen every change in her image and branding, both drastic and miniscule. She is known for being quite the chameleon. She's also known for indulging in luxury, which is why her fragrance line has always left me feeling a bit perplexed. The design of every bottle and box has been questionable. It's what you'd expect to find at the drugstore. When I pulled the bottle out, the X on the back fell off. I suppose I got what I paid for. Fragheads will notice that the formulation quality leaves much to be desired. When I tested Inspire way back when, I felt similarly to how I feel today. I remember thinking Christina deserved a better team of people behind her. This felt especially insane considering this perfume line launched on the heels of a very successful era – Back to Basics, the album and the tour, were favored among critics, stans, and even the general public. Although this line changed hands from Elizabeth Arden to Revlon, there hasn't been much improvement. On a positive note, there has never been a decline in quality; it has remained the same, with only the price and vendors changing. I've noticed the aesthetic often doesn't match up with the scent or with what Christina is doing at the time of release. In this case, the advertisements align with how one might think of Christina, with her signature color (red). I can't imagine her wearing this type of fragrance at all, which is ironic considering it was given the name she often uses. I envy fans of Billie Eilish, whose perfume bottles are a work of art, modeled like an ancient Greek bust. That concept would have been perfect for Christina.
Fans are hoping for a huge rebrand along with new music this year. All things considered, it begs the question: What does Christina want?
If you like violet and raspberry, but crave something more decadent, try La Vie est Belle L'Elixir Lancôme.
Christina has a long history of releasing perfumes, with one coming out almost every year since 2007. I have fond memories of opening some of her CDs and smelling the perfume sample that was included within. I remember forcing my dad to drive me to Macy's solely so I could try the then newly released Inspire (2008). Since then, her fragrance line, while very popular in Europe, has been hard to find in the US. Even now, it's not likely you'll be able to test them out in person. They are now available on An. I generally avoid blind buying anything. I made an exception for this one. At $18 for a 1 oz bottle, it's not a huge investment or risk.
Upon discovering that oakmoss is in some of my favorite perfumes, while simultaneously searching for a replacement for YSL Mon Paris, I was pleasantly surprised to find Xtina included on the list of perfumes with oakmoss. Many of the notes in Xtina overlap with Mon Paris, and with my recent interest in violet, I decided to go for it. The difference in quality is minimal (note to YSL: this is a read toward you, not a compliment). Xtina is much more sweet, with the sugared violet sticking out like a sore thumb. There is a smattering of fruit at first, but it quickly dissipates. I don't detect any jasmine or rose. The base notes provide some balance but it leans toward being a little too sweet. It doesn't take long for the notes to blend together. On freshly showered skin, pear, musk and patchouli jump out. With patchouli being a little more prominent, it does bear a resemblance to Mon Paris. Xtina sits intimately, so you won't get longevity or much of a sillage.
I have watched Christina for the last 25 years, and have seen every change in her image and branding, both drastic and miniscule. She is known for being quite the chameleon. She's also known for indulging in luxury, which is why her fragrance line has always left me feeling a bit perplexed. The design of every bottle and box has been questionable. It's what you'd expect to find at the drugstore. When I pulled the bottle out, the X on the back fell off. I suppose I got what I paid for. Fragheads will notice that the formulation quality leaves much to be desired. When I tested Inspire way back when, I felt similarly to how I feel today. I remember thinking Christina deserved a better team of people behind her. This felt especially insane considering this perfume line launched on the heels of a very successful era – Back to Basics, the album and the tour, were favored among critics, stans, and even the general public. Although this line changed hands from Elizabeth Arden to Revlon, there hasn't been much improvement. On a positive note, there has never been a decline in quality; it has remained the same, with only the price and vendors changing. I've noticed the aesthetic often doesn't match up with the scent or with what Christina is doing at the time of release. In this case, the advertisements align with how one might think of Christina, with her signature color (red). I can't imagine her wearing this type of fragrance at all, which is ironic considering it was given the name she often uses. I envy fans of Billie Eilish, whose perfume bottles are a work of art, modeled like an ancient Greek bust. That concept would have been perfect for Christina.
Fans are hoping for a huge rebrand along with new music this year. All things considered, it begs the question: What does Christina want?
If you like violet and raspberry, but crave something more decadent, try La Vie est Belle L'Elixir Lancôme.
Updated on 09/05/2025
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