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Chrome 2013. A summer tea fragrance?!
I've owned this one for a bit and I still have about 20 mL left out of a 100 mL bottle. I owned the original Chrome a while back and didn't have fond memories of it. I just remember it being bland. I bought the Summer 2013 version and I've been attached to it from the moment I sprayed it. I wore it a few days ago at work for the first time in a long time and really enjoyed revisiting it. Here's the review:
Smell: When I see the "Summer" tag on a fragrance, I instantly think fresh or aquatic. For Chrome Summer 2013, it has that but with a twist - a tea note. It's instantly distinguishable right off the initial spray and it lingers throughout the life of the fragrance on me. Otherwise, this fragrance would be your typical freshie. The tea note makes this fragrance shine, to me at least. If you like tea and citrus (albeit synthetic), then this might be up your alley.
Rating: 8/10
Projection: Not that good. I spray it on and about an hour later I can barely even tell it's there. I would have to sniff my arm/hand to even notice it was there. I mean it's a designer fragrance so I didn't have super high expectations for it, especially with it being a summer scent. I just didn't expect it to perform so poorly. Unless you're into reapplying it, it's not the best.
Rating: 3/10
Longevity: 6 hours max. For a designer, eh, it's alright. It's nothing to call home about. On clothes, of course it'll last longer. It's almost depressing when I can smell it more on my clothing than my skin.
Rating: 3/10
Price: $80 for 100 mL ($5 per mL) is the only thing I've been able to find and that's on eBay even. You could probably find it on other sites for cheaper but it's a bit harder to find being a summer edition. If this were a recent release, I would say that price point isn't bad. 12 years post-release and people are still asking this much for it? Pass on it. Get it cheaper if you can.
Rating: 4/10
Versatility: One of the big positives for this fragrance is you can wear it just about anytime you want. It's pretty inoffensive. It's not "loud." I've worn it on the job multiple times and haven't received a complaint (yet). You would be harder pressed to find a situation where you wouldn't wear it.
Rating: 9/10
Final Rating: 5.4/10 by the numbers. I agree with this rating as well. Nothing spectacular but it's something that I can casually grab off the shelf when I don't know what I want to wear. I do have other fragrances that I reach for over this one but it's nice to wear every now and then. I'd say it's worth smelling for that tea note alone. It's nothing "special" but it's different than most designer scents on the market.
Smell: When I see the "Summer" tag on a fragrance, I instantly think fresh or aquatic. For Chrome Summer 2013, it has that but with a twist - a tea note. It's instantly distinguishable right off the initial spray and it lingers throughout the life of the fragrance on me. Otherwise, this fragrance would be your typical freshie. The tea note makes this fragrance shine, to me at least. If you like tea and citrus (albeit synthetic), then this might be up your alley.
Rating: 8/10
Projection: Not that good. I spray it on and about an hour later I can barely even tell it's there. I would have to sniff my arm/hand to even notice it was there. I mean it's a designer fragrance so I didn't have super high expectations for it, especially with it being a summer scent. I just didn't expect it to perform so poorly. Unless you're into reapplying it, it's not the best.
Rating: 3/10
Longevity: 6 hours max. For a designer, eh, it's alright. It's nothing to call home about. On clothes, of course it'll last longer. It's almost depressing when I can smell it more on my clothing than my skin.
Rating: 3/10
Price: $80 for 100 mL ($5 per mL) is the only thing I've been able to find and that's on eBay even. You could probably find it on other sites for cheaper but it's a bit harder to find being a summer edition. If this were a recent release, I would say that price point isn't bad. 12 years post-release and people are still asking this much for it? Pass on it. Get it cheaper if you can.
Rating: 4/10
Versatility: One of the big positives for this fragrance is you can wear it just about anytime you want. It's pretty inoffensive. It's not "loud." I've worn it on the job multiple times and haven't received a complaint (yet). You would be harder pressed to find a situation where you wouldn't wear it.
Rating: 9/10
Final Rating: 5.4/10 by the numbers. I agree with this rating as well. Nothing spectacular but it's something that I can casually grab off the shelf when I don't know what I want to wear. I do have other fragrances that I reach for over this one but it's nice to wear every now and then. I'd say it's worth smelling for that tea note alone. It's nothing "special" but it's different than most designer scents on the market.
Nishane Ege. Aegean Sea or Toothpaste?!
Nishane is a house that I'm no stranger to. I own 4 fragrances from them (Hacivat, Ani, Fan Your Flames, and Ege). The scents are alright and each one reminds me of something I have smelled before. My first purchase from them was Hacivat and this was before the whole "Creed Aventus dupe-a-thon." I found Hacivat easy to wear and I had no complaints and I thought I found the easiest of the line to wear. This was a lie. I started browsing their catalog and came across Ege. I was intrigued because of the note breakdown but the problem was - I hadn't smelled it. Do I risk the blind buy or do I order a sample? I threw caution to the wind and blind bought it. Don't be impulsive like me. It will bite you more often than not. When I first sprayed Ege on my skin, I was immediately reminded of another fragrance I previously owned. I'll admit I was panicked but I wanted to give it a proper testing before I jumped to conclusion. Here are my thoughts:
Smell: It's meant to be an aquatic. It's meant to evoke the imagery of the Aegean Sea. I will say, however; it ticks this box along with another box that I wish it didn't. The opening reminded me of a very well known designer fragrance - Bvlgari's Aqva Marine. When I had them on side by side, they identical EXCEPT EGE is thicker and has more of a "toothpaste" kind of vibe to it. I assume this is their addition of the mint but mint can go bad if not done properly. Menthe Fraiche by Heeley is a good example of this. Ege does have a very herbal/medicinal feeling after the opening fades. It went from being oceanic to being almost medicinal cabinet and for some, this may be a good thing. While I admit, I liked seeing this side of it, it's not exactly my cup of tea. This biggest knock on this fragrance is that every time I smell it, I think of Aqva Marine by Bvlgari. Granted, this does become better after the initial drydown, by then you're almost wondering if you should have worn the designer instead.
Rating: 7/10
Projection: Nishane seem to follow a certain modus operandi (MO). They want great projection & long-lasting. EGE didn't project as well as Hacivat on my skin (2-3 hours) and I could have sworn it became a skin scent. Turns out I was wrong about that too. People could still smell me from about a 3 foot distance. Maybe it is due to olfactory fatigue but it did better than I anticipated.
Rating: 8/10
Longevity: 12+ hours on my skin. Enough for me to wear it through an entire shift, still smell it and shower it off. It really loves to stick to clothes so keep that in mind.
Rating: 10/10
Price: $250 for 50 mL ($5 per mL) and $380 for 100 mL ($3.80 per mL). It's on the higher side for sure. Buying the larger size is cheaper BUT a lot of decisions go into buying a bigger bottle (e.g. liking the scent, investment into a fragrance versus return, etc.). If you're going for performance and the scent is up your alley, I'd say you get decent value. For me, I do not think that EGE is worth that price tag.
Rating: 5/10
Versatility: I've worn this on many occasions (e.g. interviews, special occasions, meetings) and have gotten only 1 complaint. In the meeting, I was told that it was very "strong" and that it aggravated their allergies. Be mindful where you wear this. It can be worn to high class events but I don't think it will give off the vibe that being in a high class event warrants. I want to say this feels more of a casual scent but with that kinda price tag, I'd be a little demented to say that it fits this category. I believe it works best in a warmer climate. The hotter, the better.
Rating: 7/10
Final Rating: 6.7/10. It's an alright fragrance. The resemblance to Aqva Marine is what lowers the score for me and it may affect others opinions on it as well. For what it is, I still think it smells good and I will often use it as a "just throw it on when I don't know what to wear" kind of thing. It definitely performs in the warmer weather (currently this time of year). I don't think it's a "run out and buy it" type of fragrance but I do think it's sample worthy at the very least.
Smell: It's meant to be an aquatic. It's meant to evoke the imagery of the Aegean Sea. I will say, however; it ticks this box along with another box that I wish it didn't. The opening reminded me of a very well known designer fragrance - Bvlgari's Aqva Marine. When I had them on side by side, they identical EXCEPT EGE is thicker and has more of a "toothpaste" kind of vibe to it. I assume this is their addition of the mint but mint can go bad if not done properly. Menthe Fraiche by Heeley is a good example of this. Ege does have a very herbal/medicinal feeling after the opening fades. It went from being oceanic to being almost medicinal cabinet and for some, this may be a good thing. While I admit, I liked seeing this side of it, it's not exactly my cup of tea. This biggest knock on this fragrance is that every time I smell it, I think of Aqva Marine by Bvlgari. Granted, this does become better after the initial drydown, by then you're almost wondering if you should have worn the designer instead.
Rating: 7/10
Projection: Nishane seem to follow a certain modus operandi (MO). They want great projection & long-lasting. EGE didn't project as well as Hacivat on my skin (2-3 hours) and I could have sworn it became a skin scent. Turns out I was wrong about that too. People could still smell me from about a 3 foot distance. Maybe it is due to olfactory fatigue but it did better than I anticipated.
Rating: 8/10
Longevity: 12+ hours on my skin. Enough for me to wear it through an entire shift, still smell it and shower it off. It really loves to stick to clothes so keep that in mind.
Rating: 10/10
Price: $250 for 50 mL ($5 per mL) and $380 for 100 mL ($3.80 per mL). It's on the higher side for sure. Buying the larger size is cheaper BUT a lot of decisions go into buying a bigger bottle (e.g. liking the scent, investment into a fragrance versus return, etc.). If you're going for performance and the scent is up your alley, I'd say you get decent value. For me, I do not think that EGE is worth that price tag.
Rating: 5/10
Versatility: I've worn this on many occasions (e.g. interviews, special occasions, meetings) and have gotten only 1 complaint. In the meeting, I was told that it was very "strong" and that it aggravated their allergies. Be mindful where you wear this. It can be worn to high class events but I don't think it will give off the vibe that being in a high class event warrants. I want to say this feels more of a casual scent but with that kinda price tag, I'd be a little demented to say that it fits this category. I believe it works best in a warmer climate. The hotter, the better.
Rating: 7/10
Final Rating: 6.7/10. It's an alright fragrance. The resemblance to Aqva Marine is what lowers the score for me and it may affect others opinions on it as well. For what it is, I still think it smells good and I will often use it as a "just throw it on when I don't know what to wear" kind of thing. It definitely performs in the warmer weather (currently this time of year). I don't think it's a "run out and buy it" type of fragrance but I do think it's sample worthy at the very least.
Straight to...Heaven? Definitely a good boozy scent.
My second by Kilian review on this site. Straight to Heaven is probably my favorite by Killian scent that I own but not the best that I've smelled. I do wear it fairly often, mainly in the fall. Something about the leaves falling and the fields near where I live, it just fits. I do have some memories with this one and I look forward to diving into this with you.
Smell: The first spray makes me feel like I'm in the woods. This scent is very woody so if it ticks a box for you for that reason, congrats. It is also paired with a bit of booziness. It feels like you're in the cellars and you're surrounded by that whiskey in those barrels. I will give it props by saying it captures that feeling. Killian really nailed his vision while putting out a such a good scent. I love my woody, amber smells and if you can make the booze fit somewhere in of that, then it just takes it to another level. Boozy scents don't necessarily appeal to everyone and I warn anyone I recommend fragrances to about that fact. If you do, however; then this one might be up your alley. The reason I believe this scent fits the description from my opening lines is that during the fall, I live in a rural area. It's not uncommon to be near the woods and fields. Many will argue about what "Fall in a Bottle" feels like for them. To me, with the leaves falling, fields burning, and those memories of having a few drinks outside while the sun has set, this is what that reminds me of and that's why I gravitate toward it.
Rating: 8/10
Projection: To preface my testing on this, I work in healthcare. With this, it becomes a double-edged sword. On one hand, 12 hour shifts are perfect for wearing a fragrance and getting a feel for how long it's going to last. If it can handle all that I go through in a shift then it's going to get good marks from me. To describe how it performs, it started off great but it starts to fall off at around the 3 hour mark. It felt close to the skin but occasionally while I would get up from my desk, I would catch a whiff of it. Knowing that it was still there was, in a way, comforting. It does become somewhat of a "comfy" scent bubble but I'd argue, with what they're going for, I think that's a success. It's not meant to be the attention seeker like many will post about on Youtube/tiktok nowadays. It's meant to pull that person close and make them want to smell it more, then more again, until they can't stop.
Rating: 8/10
Longevity: It lasts 10+ hours, therefore, it gets good marks. Short and sweet.
Rating: 10/10
Price: This one comes in one size only and this is pretty standard for by Kilian. 50 mL bottle, $295 dollars ($5.90 per mL) per Kilian's website. You can always grab the travel refills and they'll go a bit cheaper. Doesn't go much lower than that I'm afraid. After giving the prior sections such good scores, you had to wonder when the negative remarks would come into play. Well, here it is.
Rating: 5/10
Versatility: It feels strange to say that a fragrance is my "go to" for a particular season but I think that this statement would be accurate. Straight to Heaven is my go to for the Fall and it's not even close. It's not really overbearing so I can wear it to any meetings I attend, a dinner, errands, or whatever the case may be. I've worn it in just about every scenario and it was such a good feeling knowing it gave me such confidence. You could possibly wear this in any climate scenario. The only hesitation I have is wearing it is around the summer time. Boozy fragrances, for me, are typically a no go during the summer. The heat and the booziness typically don't mix on my skin. For me, Straight to Heaven wasn't super strong or cloying in the heat and I could actually get away with wearing it.
Rating: 10/10
Final Rating: 8.2/10 by the numbers. My objective rating for STH sits between a 7.5 to an 8.5. For me personally, I'd say it's sitting at a solid 8. I could see myself buying another bottle of it eventually. It really grew on me over time. Those first few months of me testing this one were not fun. I despised it because of the fragrance's main gimmick - the booziness. I said in the beginning that if it were more of a woody musk, I'd be sold easily and wear it pretty consistently. When I browse my collection, I typically smell the atomizer of each before I pick one out for the day. I feel this helps me pick something based on my mood or the feeling of the day. When I get to Straight to Heaven, I've never had a moment in where I don't take a good, deep breath and visualize myself in years gone by. It really does evoke memories (good and bad of course) and for that, I'd say it's truly art and I believe that it's worth a try. If you like boozy, woody, and/or amber scents or what I've said during this review appeals to you, I recommend giving it a shot. Let me know if you feel the same.
Smell: The first spray makes me feel like I'm in the woods. This scent is very woody so if it ticks a box for you for that reason, congrats. It is also paired with a bit of booziness. It feels like you're in the cellars and you're surrounded by that whiskey in those barrels. I will give it props by saying it captures that feeling. Killian really nailed his vision while putting out a such a good scent. I love my woody, amber smells and if you can make the booze fit somewhere in of that, then it just takes it to another level. Boozy scents don't necessarily appeal to everyone and I warn anyone I recommend fragrances to about that fact. If you do, however; then this one might be up your alley. The reason I believe this scent fits the description from my opening lines is that during the fall, I live in a rural area. It's not uncommon to be near the woods and fields. Many will argue about what "Fall in a Bottle" feels like for them. To me, with the leaves falling, fields burning, and those memories of having a few drinks outside while the sun has set, this is what that reminds me of and that's why I gravitate toward it.
Rating: 8/10
Projection: To preface my testing on this, I work in healthcare. With this, it becomes a double-edged sword. On one hand, 12 hour shifts are perfect for wearing a fragrance and getting a feel for how long it's going to last. If it can handle all that I go through in a shift then it's going to get good marks from me. To describe how it performs, it started off great but it starts to fall off at around the 3 hour mark. It felt close to the skin but occasionally while I would get up from my desk, I would catch a whiff of it. Knowing that it was still there was, in a way, comforting. It does become somewhat of a "comfy" scent bubble but I'd argue, with what they're going for, I think that's a success. It's not meant to be the attention seeker like many will post about on Youtube/tiktok nowadays. It's meant to pull that person close and make them want to smell it more, then more again, until they can't stop.
Rating: 8/10
Longevity: It lasts 10+ hours, therefore, it gets good marks. Short and sweet.
Rating: 10/10
Price: This one comes in one size only and this is pretty standard for by Kilian. 50 mL bottle, $295 dollars ($5.90 per mL) per Kilian's website. You can always grab the travel refills and they'll go a bit cheaper. Doesn't go much lower than that I'm afraid. After giving the prior sections such good scores, you had to wonder when the negative remarks would come into play. Well, here it is.
Rating: 5/10
Versatility: It feels strange to say that a fragrance is my "go to" for a particular season but I think that this statement would be accurate. Straight to Heaven is my go to for the Fall and it's not even close. It's not really overbearing so I can wear it to any meetings I attend, a dinner, errands, or whatever the case may be. I've worn it in just about every scenario and it was such a good feeling knowing it gave me such confidence. You could possibly wear this in any climate scenario. The only hesitation I have is wearing it is around the summer time. Boozy fragrances, for me, are typically a no go during the summer. The heat and the booziness typically don't mix on my skin. For me, Straight to Heaven wasn't super strong or cloying in the heat and I could actually get away with wearing it.
Rating: 10/10
Final Rating: 8.2/10 by the numbers. My objective rating for STH sits between a 7.5 to an 8.5. For me personally, I'd say it's sitting at a solid 8. I could see myself buying another bottle of it eventually. It really grew on me over time. Those first few months of me testing this one were not fun. I despised it because of the fragrance's main gimmick - the booziness. I said in the beginning that if it were more of a woody musk, I'd be sold easily and wear it pretty consistently. When I browse my collection, I typically smell the atomizer of each before I pick one out for the day. I feel this helps me pick something based on my mood or the feeling of the day. When I get to Straight to Heaven, I've never had a moment in where I don't take a good, deep breath and visualize myself in years gone by. It really does evoke memories (good and bad of course) and for that, I'd say it's truly art and I believe that it's worth a try. If you like boozy, woody, and/or amber scents or what I've said during this review appeals to you, I recommend giving it a shot. Let me know if you feel the same.
Lime & Coconut. Summer in a bottle?
Whenever I took the dive into niche perfumery, I went where my nose was first introduced - Creed. My co-worker from my past reviews introduced me to Millesime Imperial and Green Irish Tweed. Of course I bought both and I enjoyed GIT so much that I need a new bottle. MI was a different experience but I wouldn't mind having it again in the future (possibly). I've owned several from the house of Creed (GIT, MI, VIW, Himalaya, Original Vetiver, Original Santal, Aventus, Viking) and Virgin Island Water was my 4th Creed purchase. Out of all of those fragrances listed, only Viking, VIW, Original Santal, and Aventus remain. Virgin Island Water was a blind buy for me as I was still very early in the fragrance journey and I lived on the edge with my purchases. I blind bought so much stuff I've lost track. I will say that Virgin Island Water proved to be one of my better decisions. It is one of my most reached for fragrances for the Summer.
The Smell: When you first spray it, you're hit immediately with the coconut and the lime. Front and center. It's not a true coconut, rather, more of a coconut oil or a tanning lotion vibe. The scent is called Virgin Island Water after all so to have one component remind you of tanning lotion is not completely farfetched. The note that really got my attention and the reason I love the fragrance is that lime note. While it's more pronounced in the opening, it kind of fades and mixes with the coconut to almost give a pina colada vibe. While I may not be the drinking type, I do enjoy the smell of a freshly made pina colada. The florals are to help uplift the fragrance and keep the lime in play as a supportive role. Coconut is a note that can be naturally sweet (those who know it for its valuable cooking properties) so the tonka bean in the base feels like a way to help bring that coconut out a bit more. On my skin, this comes off very much as a musky, lime & coconut fused, cocktail vibe. For those who like to party in the summer, it ticks that box and I think you'd enjoy the scent. This is one of the few Creed scents that I spray it on and as I'm holding the bottle, I'm thinking, "I made the right call."
Rating: 10/10
Projection: I feel like I'm venturing into Millesime Imperial territory. For those who know, this is not a good thing. It projects for 4-5 hours on me, then it's very much a skin scent. For those first 4-5 hours though, it performs so well that I was ready to mark it as a 9 or 10. Every time I've worn it (and I have exactly half 60 mL out of 120 mL remaining), it's faded after this point and gone to a skin scent. It's like clockwork. It's better than MI in that sense because MI fades on my skin after 1-2 hours which is absurd for a niche fragrance. So for VIW to run 4-5 hours before fading to a skin scent will at least give average marks.
Rating: 5/10
Longevity: Piggybacking off of the previous section, while the projection is primarily for 4-5 hours, the longevity is what you would expect from a niche fragrance. Every wearing I've had of VIW, excluding the winter months, I've gotten a solid 9-10 hours out of it. For a summer scent, that is outstanding. Not many will be able to pull that off so while the projection is not the best, if you at least enjoy the scent, you'll be pleased to hear you can enjoy it for a while at least.
Rating: 10/10
Price: Here's where it goes downhill for Creed. Per their website, a 50 mL bottle will run $345 USD ($6.90 per mL), a 100 mL bottle will run $470 ($4.70 per mL), 240 mL will run $755 ($3.14 per mL), and 500 mL will run $1,205 ($2.41 per mL). Expensive stuff! Almost 7 dollars per mL is crazy and it is definitely on the higher side as far as pricing goes.
Rating: 3/10
Versatility: If you've been reading up to this point, it's obvious what I think. This is when you want to wear something and you know you're gonna be outside with friends. You can wear it to the gym, to the classroom, sporting event, and the possibilities just keep going. It does so well in the warmer months. Spring and Summer are where this baby shines. It also goes a long way in boosting VIW's performance. Fall is also a possibility as well, depending on how cold it gets in your region. Cooler weather does stifle VIW a bit but it's still wearable. I definitely noticed a decrease in the performance category. With that said, it sounds like a pretty versatile fragrance and that's why it gets great marks here.
Rating: 9/10
Final Verdict: 7.4/10 by the numbers. VIW, to me, smells great with the performance being a bit lackluster on occasion but it's alright. I blind bought it knowing that I could be stepping into MI territory again and I was glad to be alleviated of those fears after the 4-5 hour mark. In the niche market, I've struggled to find summer scents that will last a long time that I enjoy the smell enough to keep wanting more. VIW and maybe a handful of others in my wardrobe fit the bill for that occasion, which is why I reach for it so often during the warmer months. If any of what I've written about appeals to you so far, then I suggest you sample it. If I had to suggest specific fragrances from Creed to try out, then I would easily suggest GIT (of course) and Virgin Island Water.
The Smell: When you first spray it, you're hit immediately with the coconut and the lime. Front and center. It's not a true coconut, rather, more of a coconut oil or a tanning lotion vibe. The scent is called Virgin Island Water after all so to have one component remind you of tanning lotion is not completely farfetched. The note that really got my attention and the reason I love the fragrance is that lime note. While it's more pronounced in the opening, it kind of fades and mixes with the coconut to almost give a pina colada vibe. While I may not be the drinking type, I do enjoy the smell of a freshly made pina colada. The florals are to help uplift the fragrance and keep the lime in play as a supportive role. Coconut is a note that can be naturally sweet (those who know it for its valuable cooking properties) so the tonka bean in the base feels like a way to help bring that coconut out a bit more. On my skin, this comes off very much as a musky, lime & coconut fused, cocktail vibe. For those who like to party in the summer, it ticks that box and I think you'd enjoy the scent. This is one of the few Creed scents that I spray it on and as I'm holding the bottle, I'm thinking, "I made the right call."
Rating: 10/10
Projection: I feel like I'm venturing into Millesime Imperial territory. For those who know, this is not a good thing. It projects for 4-5 hours on me, then it's very much a skin scent. For those first 4-5 hours though, it performs so well that I was ready to mark it as a 9 or 10. Every time I've worn it (and I have exactly half 60 mL out of 120 mL remaining), it's faded after this point and gone to a skin scent. It's like clockwork. It's better than MI in that sense because MI fades on my skin after 1-2 hours which is absurd for a niche fragrance. So for VIW to run 4-5 hours before fading to a skin scent will at least give average marks.
Rating: 5/10
Longevity: Piggybacking off of the previous section, while the projection is primarily for 4-5 hours, the longevity is what you would expect from a niche fragrance. Every wearing I've had of VIW, excluding the winter months, I've gotten a solid 9-10 hours out of it. For a summer scent, that is outstanding. Not many will be able to pull that off so while the projection is not the best, if you at least enjoy the scent, you'll be pleased to hear you can enjoy it for a while at least.
Rating: 10/10
Price: Here's where it goes downhill for Creed. Per their website, a 50 mL bottle will run $345 USD ($6.90 per mL), a 100 mL bottle will run $470 ($4.70 per mL), 240 mL will run $755 ($3.14 per mL), and 500 mL will run $1,205 ($2.41 per mL). Expensive stuff! Almost 7 dollars per mL is crazy and it is definitely on the higher side as far as pricing goes.
Rating: 3/10
Versatility: If you've been reading up to this point, it's obvious what I think. This is when you want to wear something and you know you're gonna be outside with friends. You can wear it to the gym, to the classroom, sporting event, and the possibilities just keep going. It does so well in the warmer months. Spring and Summer are where this baby shines. It also goes a long way in boosting VIW's performance. Fall is also a possibility as well, depending on how cold it gets in your region. Cooler weather does stifle VIW a bit but it's still wearable. I definitely noticed a decrease in the performance category. With that said, it sounds like a pretty versatile fragrance and that's why it gets great marks here.
Rating: 9/10
Final Verdict: 7.4/10 by the numbers. VIW, to me, smells great with the performance being a bit lackluster on occasion but it's alright. I blind bought it knowing that I could be stepping into MI territory again and I was glad to be alleviated of those fears after the 4-5 hour mark. In the niche market, I've struggled to find summer scents that will last a long time that I enjoy the smell enough to keep wanting more. VIW and maybe a handful of others in my wardrobe fit the bill for that occasion, which is why I reach for it so often during the warmer months. If any of what I've written about appeals to you so far, then I suggest you sample it. If I had to suggest specific fragrances from Creed to try out, then I would easily suggest GIT (of course) and Virgin Island Water.
Sandalwood with a slight cucumber feel
The second of my Le Labo purchases was definitely an interesting journey. I bought this one along with Rose 31 after sampling a few different scents from the house. There are a few I have my eyes on (Patchouli 24, Fleur D'Oranger 27, and Baie Rose 26) with a few others that I want to test. The main reason I purchased Santal 33, other than the good testing I had initially, was that I like sandalwood as a note. It's one of my favorites. I wanted to add a few to my collection and Santal 33 happened to be one of them. Rose 31 is my favorite if I had to pick between the two because I feel like Rose 31 is a bit easier to wear and I also happen to like rose as a note as well. My journey with Santal 33 was an interesting one and I still own it. It doesn't see as much use nowadays but I do wear it primarily for going out with friends.
Smell: This fragrance is polarizing. Everyone who I have known to wear this has been split as far as how they feel about it. In one camp, I'm told they like the smell because it's very "woody" and "spicy." The other camp, which I've seen in just about every other reviewing site, says this smells like pickles and it's very off-putting. Throughout my initial testing, I think I was grasping at straws but it's "vaguely" there. You really have to look for it and even then, it feels like I'm gaslighting myself to believe that it's there. I agree more with the first camp as far as how it smells but with a twist that echoes the concerns of camp 2. It's spicy (that cardamom is very noticeable), it's very dry+woody (like almost freshly made furniture dry), leathery, and it smells slightly like cucumbers to me. You may be saying, "Bro, cucumbers and pickles are basically the same thing" and you would be correct to an extent. I'm talking about a cucumber that has been freshly peeled and has been cleaned and cut. That's the type of vibe I get and it's pretty much consistent for the majority of the life of the fragrance for me. It may just be my skin that gives it that vibe but that's what I get. The name "Santal" is very misleading on this fragrance. Santal (aka Sandalwood) was what I was looking forward to the most. Sadly, I got most of it at the end. I was hoping to see the sandalwood be the star and I don't believe it was in this case.
Rating: 7/10
Projection: For the first few (4-6) hours, it's pretty good. After that it's closer to the skin but not quite a skin scent. For those who want something that is loud and is in the air more, it's alright in that department. I will say, however; that this fragrance feels like it was not made for that. I feel like when a house is going the artistic route, performance is weighed as much as the vision of the scent's smell but I would tip the scale more in the direction of how it smells. Don't get me wrong, Le Labo aren't throwing duds out on the market that don't perform. This performs just fine. That's both a blessing & curse. It performs fine but it's just that - fine. Nothing worth raving about.
Rating: 6/10
Longevity: Santal 33, on average, lasted anywhere from 8-10 hours on me any given wearing. For a niche brand, those are definitely the numbers you want to see. Anything past that is a bonus. I told you in the prior section - Le Labo performs.
Rating: 10/10
Price: Per Le Labo's website, 50 mL is $235 USD ($4.70 per mL), 100 mL is $335 ($3.35 per mL), and 500 mL is $1,095 ($2.19 per mL). As you can see, as the prices go up, the price per mL drops and this is expected. I'd be worried if we went the other direction. When I originally purchased it, it was $192 for 50 mL ($3.84 per mL) and $280 for 100 mL ($2.80 per mL). As you know, as time changes, so do the prices due to manufacturing costs, material procurement, etc. I own the 50 mL bottle and I think 50 mL is plenty for my usage. Overall, the pricing is not bad, especially if you really enjoy the scent and want to upsize.
Rating: 6/10
Versatility: Santal 33 is super versatile. You can wear it in just about any scenario. I will say that it tends to perform better for me during spring, summer, and fall. Winter seemed to really throttle Santal 33's performance each time I tried wearing it. I will say that wearing this to the gym was not a good idea for me. It came off as BO (body odor) and that is never a good thing. The main times I've caught people wearing it and I tend to agree are dates and going for a night out with some friends.
Rating: 7/10
Final Verdict: 7.2/10 by the numbers. I actually will rate this lower than the numbers. I give it a 6/10. I considered making it a 5/10 at one point. I don't know what changed from my first sampling/testing of it versus me owning it for several years but it wasn't good. My taste toward this scent definitely deteriorated over time. I think if it were more "front and center" with the sandalwood then my rating would have definitely been higher. Sadly, it didn't do that for me. I do recommend sampling Le Labo because they have some interesting creations. Santal 33 is worth a sample in my opinion because the smell is unique from what I've smelled from a sandalwood-based scent.
Smell: This fragrance is polarizing. Everyone who I have known to wear this has been split as far as how they feel about it. In one camp, I'm told they like the smell because it's very "woody" and "spicy." The other camp, which I've seen in just about every other reviewing site, says this smells like pickles and it's very off-putting. Throughout my initial testing, I think I was grasping at straws but it's "vaguely" there. You really have to look for it and even then, it feels like I'm gaslighting myself to believe that it's there. I agree more with the first camp as far as how it smells but with a twist that echoes the concerns of camp 2. It's spicy (that cardamom is very noticeable), it's very dry+woody (like almost freshly made furniture dry), leathery, and it smells slightly like cucumbers to me. You may be saying, "Bro, cucumbers and pickles are basically the same thing" and you would be correct to an extent. I'm talking about a cucumber that has been freshly peeled and has been cleaned and cut. That's the type of vibe I get and it's pretty much consistent for the majority of the life of the fragrance for me. It may just be my skin that gives it that vibe but that's what I get. The name "Santal" is very misleading on this fragrance. Santal (aka Sandalwood) was what I was looking forward to the most. Sadly, I got most of it at the end. I was hoping to see the sandalwood be the star and I don't believe it was in this case.
Rating: 7/10
Projection: For the first few (4-6) hours, it's pretty good. After that it's closer to the skin but not quite a skin scent. For those who want something that is loud and is in the air more, it's alright in that department. I will say, however; that this fragrance feels like it was not made for that. I feel like when a house is going the artistic route, performance is weighed as much as the vision of the scent's smell but I would tip the scale more in the direction of how it smells. Don't get me wrong, Le Labo aren't throwing duds out on the market that don't perform. This performs just fine. That's both a blessing & curse. It performs fine but it's just that - fine. Nothing worth raving about.
Rating: 6/10
Longevity: Santal 33, on average, lasted anywhere from 8-10 hours on me any given wearing. For a niche brand, those are definitely the numbers you want to see. Anything past that is a bonus. I told you in the prior section - Le Labo performs.
Rating: 10/10
Price: Per Le Labo's website, 50 mL is $235 USD ($4.70 per mL), 100 mL is $335 ($3.35 per mL), and 500 mL is $1,095 ($2.19 per mL). As you can see, as the prices go up, the price per mL drops and this is expected. I'd be worried if we went the other direction. When I originally purchased it, it was $192 for 50 mL ($3.84 per mL) and $280 for 100 mL ($2.80 per mL). As you know, as time changes, so do the prices due to manufacturing costs, material procurement, etc. I own the 50 mL bottle and I think 50 mL is plenty for my usage. Overall, the pricing is not bad, especially if you really enjoy the scent and want to upsize.
Rating: 6/10
Versatility: Santal 33 is super versatile. You can wear it in just about any scenario. I will say that it tends to perform better for me during spring, summer, and fall. Winter seemed to really throttle Santal 33's performance each time I tried wearing it. I will say that wearing this to the gym was not a good idea for me. It came off as BO (body odor) and that is never a good thing. The main times I've caught people wearing it and I tend to agree are dates and going for a night out with some friends.
Rating: 7/10
Final Verdict: 7.2/10 by the numbers. I actually will rate this lower than the numbers. I give it a 6/10. I considered making it a 5/10 at one point. I don't know what changed from my first sampling/testing of it versus me owning it for several years but it wasn't good. My taste toward this scent definitely deteriorated over time. I think if it were more "front and center" with the sandalwood then my rating would have definitely been higher. Sadly, it didn't do that for me. I do recommend sampling Le Labo because they have some interesting creations. Santal 33 is worth a sample in my opinion because the smell is unique from what I've smelled from a sandalwood-based scent.
