4
Very helpful Review
Very Synthetic
Top Notes: Black Currant and Pear.
Heart Notes: Iris, Jasmine, and Orange Blossom.
Base Notes: Patchouli, Tonka Bean, Vanilla, and Praline.
I heard so much about this fragrance. According to my on-line research, it is the best selling fragrance in Paris, which I found truly surprising because after all, in Paris one can find every Guerlain, Chanel, and Dior in production, and all three houses offer outstanding fragrances. Therefore, I was very curious about LVEB, so I pushed myself to go to the shopping mall to test it.
Although citrus notes are not listed for LVEB, I smelt pure citrus upon initial application, and citrus is all I smelt for well over half an hour---perhaps it came from the orange blossom? I soon began to wonder where were the sweet and warm gourmand notes everyone mentions as I could not detect any. I could not detect any black currant, pear, or iris, much less praline. Finally, after an about an hour, the base notes began to come through, and I was able to discern some vanilla and other sweet notes, probably praline.
Projection and sillage were excellent. I could see that everyone around me noticed the fragrance on me, and I had only spritzed one good spray on the back of one hand! Longevity was outstanding to say the least. I could still smell LVEB quite strongly late in the evening before I bathed but after I had washed my hands a couple of times. LVEB has tremendous tenacity. I suspect it would last for days and days on clothing.
Unfortunately, I am unable to understand why LVEB is so very popular. I certainly do not think the huge point of sale photos of Julia Roberts is what makes LVEB sell well. Yes, it is sweet and gourmand, which is one type of fragrance that I enjoy, BUT it smelt very synthetic. In fact, it smelt so synthetic that it actually made me feel a bit embarrassed as people noticed it on me. The only other fragrance I have smelt that was this synthetic was Jessica Simpson Fancy EdP, which I purchased blindly and then quickly got rid of it. If you like this kind of fragrance, then definitely go for Jessica Simpson Fancy as it is much less expensive than LVEB.
I cannot say I hate LVEB, but I also cannot say I truly like it, and I would not purchase it even at half the price. If it were gifted to me, I might keep it just for the pretty bottle, but I could not imagine I would wear it very often--maybe only on exceptionally cold winter days. If I want a delicious, praline fragrance, I would use my Bath and Body Works Sensual Amber every time over LVEB. Sensual Amber smells so much better than LVEB, and Sensual Amber does not smell so synthetic. As a bonus, Sensual Amber is quite inexpensive, too.
Some people have compared LVEB to Angel, and I certainly understand why the two have been compared, but I own Angel in both the EdP and EdT formulations, as well as Angel body creme, and I think Angel is far, far superior to LVEB. Angel does not have the strong synthetic vibe to my nose. I cannot say Angel smells "natural," but it certainly does not smell as strongly synthetic as LVEB, and Angel has a lot more development than LVEB.
Therefore, if you want a sweet, gourmand with prominent praline/chocolate, my best advice is to try Sensual Amber first, and then try Angel second if you want to spend more money. If you want to stay within a low price point range, Sensual Amber is by far the best choice, though. Sensual Amber is so good that I cannot imagine ever not having it in my collection. As for LVEB, well, I am disappointed in the fragrance, but it does have excellent projection, sillage, and longevity. I only wish my Chanel Exclusifs had as good projection, sillage, and longevity as LVEB.
Fragrance: 2.5/10
Projection: 10/10
Sillage: 10/10
Longevity: 10/10
Heart Notes: Iris, Jasmine, and Orange Blossom.
Base Notes: Patchouli, Tonka Bean, Vanilla, and Praline.
I heard so much about this fragrance. According to my on-line research, it is the best selling fragrance in Paris, which I found truly surprising because after all, in Paris one can find every Guerlain, Chanel, and Dior in production, and all three houses offer outstanding fragrances. Therefore, I was very curious about LVEB, so I pushed myself to go to the shopping mall to test it.
Although citrus notes are not listed for LVEB, I smelt pure citrus upon initial application, and citrus is all I smelt for well over half an hour---perhaps it came from the orange blossom? I soon began to wonder where were the sweet and warm gourmand notes everyone mentions as I could not detect any. I could not detect any black currant, pear, or iris, much less praline. Finally, after an about an hour, the base notes began to come through, and I was able to discern some vanilla and other sweet notes, probably praline.
Projection and sillage were excellent. I could see that everyone around me noticed the fragrance on me, and I had only spritzed one good spray on the back of one hand! Longevity was outstanding to say the least. I could still smell LVEB quite strongly late in the evening before I bathed but after I had washed my hands a couple of times. LVEB has tremendous tenacity. I suspect it would last for days and days on clothing.
Unfortunately, I am unable to understand why LVEB is so very popular. I certainly do not think the huge point of sale photos of Julia Roberts is what makes LVEB sell well. Yes, it is sweet and gourmand, which is one type of fragrance that I enjoy, BUT it smelt very synthetic. In fact, it smelt so synthetic that it actually made me feel a bit embarrassed as people noticed it on me. The only other fragrance I have smelt that was this synthetic was Jessica Simpson Fancy EdP, which I purchased blindly and then quickly got rid of it. If you like this kind of fragrance, then definitely go for Jessica Simpson Fancy as it is much less expensive than LVEB.
I cannot say I hate LVEB, but I also cannot say I truly like it, and I would not purchase it even at half the price. If it were gifted to me, I might keep it just for the pretty bottle, but I could not imagine I would wear it very often--maybe only on exceptionally cold winter days. If I want a delicious, praline fragrance, I would use my Bath and Body Works Sensual Amber every time over LVEB. Sensual Amber smells so much better than LVEB, and Sensual Amber does not smell so synthetic. As a bonus, Sensual Amber is quite inexpensive, too.
Some people have compared LVEB to Angel, and I certainly understand why the two have been compared, but I own Angel in both the EdP and EdT formulations, as well as Angel body creme, and I think Angel is far, far superior to LVEB. Angel does not have the strong synthetic vibe to my nose. I cannot say Angel smells "natural," but it certainly does not smell as strongly synthetic as LVEB, and Angel has a lot more development than LVEB.
Therefore, if you want a sweet, gourmand with prominent praline/chocolate, my best advice is to try Sensual Amber first, and then try Angel second if you want to spend more money. If you want to stay within a low price point range, Sensual Amber is by far the best choice, though. Sensual Amber is so good that I cannot imagine ever not having it in my collection. As for LVEB, well, I am disappointed in the fragrance, but it does have excellent projection, sillage, and longevity. I only wish my Chanel Exclusifs had as good projection, sillage, and longevity as LVEB.
Fragrance: 2.5/10
Projection: 10/10
Sillage: 10/10
Longevity: 10/10