Evangeline

An underappreciated marvel, this fresh, balsamic, floral-amber goddess paved the way for Dior's masterpiece Dune...brava Roma!

Bursting with sweet, musky berries and freesia in an otherwise nondescript floral accord, this is fruity and fun, flirty and frivolous.

Another glamorous floral-aldehyde from the 80s; dewy and tender clover-y carnations and honeysuckle over creamy sandal and musk. Heavenly!

Lavish, carnation-centered aldehydic floral with fresh fruit at the start. Vivacious, quintessential 80s-style outdoorsy prep...fantastic.

Sweet, bland "gardenia" swiftly giving way to generic florals, vaguely reminiscent of the far superior Beige. Not bad, but disappointing.

Soapy rose and neroli scent devoid of gardenia or anything one might imagine to be the "cruel" part...underwhelming, disappointing.

Roses, musk, btdt; but this beguiling beauty is really about ambergris, elevating these roses to dizzyingly gorgeous heights. Breathtaking!

Luscious, velvety gardenias with a plush, buttery leather mossy base, much more substantial than "pretty"...chic, elegant, androgynous.

It's off my usual path, and I'm genuinely delighted every time I choose this fun, fresh and lovely fruity-floral without excess sugar.

The original unisex power chypre; chic, aromatic, herbal, floral, dynamic, radiant...it checks every box but twee. Restraint is required.