Paris91

Inspired by a certain thread here, I had the idea to write a review of this fragrance.

I owned the EdT many, many years ago, but at some point I just couldn't stand the smell anymore. I literally felt nauseous just smelling the spray head. Well, I gave it away and said goodbye to Hypnotic Poison. I had it for too long anyway..

Last year, however, I stumbled upon the videos of a well-known YouTuber here, who often recommended the EdP in her videos. I was a bit confused because normally the EdT is the "star" for most people. So, I eventually tested the EdP during a sniffing tour through the city.
And I must say: I fell in love immediately!!

To me, Hypnotic Poison Eau de Parfum does not smell like the Eau de Toilette! Yes, there is a certain similarity, but only towards the end! I like.
The EdP starts for me with vodka-soaked cherries. Yes, alcoholic cherries and vodka could fit, since vodka doesn’t have such a strong scent :D
After a few minutes, the cherries disappear and the fragrance becomes lush and oriental right away! Where the vanilla dominates in the EdT, here it’s a combination of all the notes.
I hate licorice, but here it didn’t bother me at all. On the contrary, it just fits!

I can't say it any other way, but the Eau de Parfum was simply sex in a bottle for me.
Riper, more seductive, and not as sweet as the EdT. Just beautiful!
However, the longevity and sillage leave much to be desired.
While the EdT lasts for hours!! this version fades away after about 4-5 hours. Well, you can’t have everything.

Now you’re probably wondering why I chose this title after such a declaration of love? ;)

Normally, I read the statements etc. here BEFORE I test a fragrance or maybe even buy it blind. Then I know roughly what I’m getting into..... But I didn’t do that here.....
To me, it smelled as described in this review. After wearing it a few times, I felt like reading the statements and often read that one can detect a rubber/car tire note here. Since then, I smell it too!! Now it stands here, eagerly waiting for me to wear it again..
What do I learn from this? No more reading statements once the fragrance has already been purchased! :D

Ah yes, at first Angélique and I didn’t get along particularly well.
Everyone raved about her. She was praised to the skies.. And what did I do? I naturally grabbed her! Even though she was already used..

When she was finally with me and I sprayed myself with her in full excitement, there it was again: the disappointment.. My own fault. Always these blind purchases, I guess I’ll never learn!!

Where was this beautiful vanilla that everyone was raving about? Where was the wonderful pear?
Probably in nowhere..
What I got: an ethereal-"rooty" scent with bitter caraway, reminiscent of some herbal tea. And the vanilla? Well, it was there, but not in the way I had imagined...
We went out together two or three times, but it just wasn’t meant to be for us.
My husband didn’t like her either. I always had to hear what a terrible fragrance I was wearing..
I gave half of Angélique to a friend and mine went to the back drawer to gather dust.
I occasionally sniffed the bottle, but it never caught me...
But yesterday after exactly 1001...
Just kidding!
(By the way, it was 79 nights ;))

So what’s different now?
I’ll tell you: THE VANILLA IS HERE!!!
I have no idea if Angélique needed to "mature," or maybe I did too ;) But finally, this beautiful Guerlain vanilla (which I love so much) has combined with the -no longer so disturbing- herbal notes and created a very lovely perfume.

In the top spots remain Spiritueuse Double Vanille and Tonka Impériale! But I’m already looking forward to wearing her again tomorrow. Screw what the husband says ;)

I hate winter and love Spiritueuse Double Vanille!! I could drink it like good rum. Yes, really!
I bought SDV in August and was blown away. And yes, I still am.

Just sniffing the bottle puts me in heaven. This vanilla!!!
Guerlain knows how to do vanilla, but with Spiritueuse Double Vanille, they have created a dream vanilla! Paired with the rum note: jackpot!

I have to say that's about it for my nose. Although, wait.. There’s also the incense..
Well, that sometimes makes it hard for me.. Sometimes it gives SDV that slightly warm-spicy feeling that I love, but sometimes I also smell a bit like an ashtray... Which I find terrible as a non-smoker (Well, okay, there’s an exception about twice a year).

If it weren't for that cigarette note every now and then, I could really pour it all over myself, which I did again today.
And lo and behold, I see myself on the beach, with a good glass of rum (My alcohol consumption is still within limits, yes really) in hand and sprayed with the most beautiful vanilla in the world.

Feliz Navidad friends!!

Who can still remember a certain comment about Don Alejandro de Marco Cassius de la Vega and Bo?

I guess those who have been following the reviews of Addict 2014 regularly for at least two years, or those who - just like me - almost always did a little happy dance when a new comment from him appeared...

Well, in any case, that comment not only amused me greatly back then, but also encouraged me to test the 2014 version two years ago.
I had the 2002 version for a long time, but I must admit that I always felt a bit too young when I wore it, and then it got neglected in the cupboard...
However, I didn't notice a really big difference between the two and had put the whole thing aside until my old Addict bottle tipped over this year...
Well, who doesn't know it? When it's suddenly gone... ;)

Unfortunately, his comment is no longer available, but it immediately came to mind when I was browsing here, and the ratings are good too.
So I took a closer look at this version again.

After all my rambling, I must say that even at 30 years old, I still feel a bit too "immature" for Dior Addict... I don't know what it is. It has a nice progression, starting green and a bit "bitter." After about 10 minutes, the - as often mentioned - (for me warm) cinnamon roll note comes through. Towards the end, it becomes slightly more vanilla-like, but it really doesn't change much on my skin. The similarity to the 2002 version is definitely there, but this one is really not very "potent" (I don't like the term, but it fits here). After 3-4 hours, it is really only very subtly perceptible.

I am still glad about the many great, informative, or funny comments here that always encourage one to test certain fragrances, even if in the end it just isn't meant to be ;)

Narciso by Narciso Rodriguez I tested a few years ago, but I didn't really like it, so I wrote it off. A few weeks ago, however, I gave it another chance. THANKFULLY, because today it arrived in the mail :)

The beginning is really not that impressive. Very soapy-pungent. After a few minutes, it feels like I'm actually smelling a Nivea jar. But if you give it some time to develop, it becomes the most beautiful cream scent I've ever smelled!

I'm usually not the biggest fan of cream scents, as they tend to be boring, etc. And I also don't like to smell like I've just applied lotion.

But Narciso is different! At least on my skin. Once the Nivea note has faded, it also develops a slight powderiness, (but completely different from Poudree) that is delicate and soft! Not stuffy or old-fashioned. Also no baby powder like maybe in L'Instant Magic. I can't describe it. But perhaps that's also the reason why it remains so feminine and even a bit elegant despite the cream and powder, because that's exactly what makes it so beautiful for me!

My mom is not a fan of creamy, powdery scents at all, but when I held my wrist with Narciso under her nose, all I got was a surprised Wow and the question of what beautiful scent I was wearing :)

I think everyone has their favorites in their collection, and many probably have their signature scent, which I never really wanted, because I can never decide and prefer variety.

But if I had to choose one, it would be this one!


Addendum, 13.12.2021:

As much as I like it, it still didn't quite make it as a signature scent :D