A Floral Fragrance Skeptic Reviews 5 Popular Spring Scents
Ira is the email marketing specialist at Adore. Likes: lip oils, hand creams, people letting her look up their birth chart, and her cat. Dislikes: when moisturisers smell like roses.
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*Sigh* I stand before you with a confession: for the longest time, I maintained that I did not like floral fragrances.
What I really meant was that I am not a fan of things smelling very sweet. I had made the easy mistake of boxing floral into the sweet category, but there are many flowers in the garden, and not all of them smell so intensely.
Last year, when I was in Italy, moment of silence for the fact that it has been a year, I was sniffing around a local perfumer and fell totally in love with a mild, fresh, spring-like scent. I bought her, used her up, and now it is time to find an alternative.
As much as I would like to, I cannot get to Italy any time soon, so the Adore Beauty fragrance page will have to do.
I Googled my Italian love's notes so I could match them to a fragrance Adore stocks, and, you guessed it, she is a floral beauty.
Shock, horror, embarrassment.
1. Burberry Goddess Intense EDP.
Notes:
- Head: Vanilla infusion and lavender.
- Heart: Vanilla caviar.
- Base: Vanilla absolute.
My Burberry Goddess Intense EDP review:
Just like Burberry Goddess, this Intense version is a vanilla sensation. It’s the elegant, elevated floral.
The spritzing is part of the ritual with Burberry Goddess.
The golden aesthetic, the heaviness of the bottle in your hand, and the first smell of the light but sensual perfume: I was planning my next date night straight away.
To me, this rich fragrance is made to be worn at night, or whenever you need a boost of confidence.
2. Gucci Flora Gorgeous Magnolia EDP.
Notes:
- Head: Dewberries accord.
- Heart: Magnolia essence.
- Base: Patchouli essence.
My mini Gucci Flora Gorgeous Magnolia EDP review:
I sprayed this one workday morning and spent the rest of the day enjoying every moment that I caught the scent on my skin and clothes.
Much like I believe floral fragrances should do, Gucci Flora Magnolia brightened my whole day. I felt lighter and chic, like I could bounce through the day.
Not to mention the bottle! So feminine and pretty, the retro floral artwork is good enough to frame.
3. Marc Jacobs Daisy Wild EDP.
Notes:
- Head: Banana blossom and accord.
- Heart: Jasmine, macadamia and accord.
- Base: Sandalwood, vetiver and des sables.
My mini Marc Jacobs Daisy Wild EDP review:
This Marc Jacobs parfum is for the sweet-toothed.
The banana blossom transports you to your childhood instantly. One spray and I could taste the lolly bag and feel the sun on my skin, it was like I was on the playground again.
It’s youthful and bright, bursting with energy. It's a tad sweet for me, but I wouldn’t rule it out as a gift (my mind instantly started racing through all my sweet-lover friends I need to buy gifts for this Holiday season).
4. Chloé L'Eau De Parfum Lumineuse.
Notes:
- Head: Sambac jasmine.
- Heart: Rose.
- Base: Balsamic Notes, Amber and vanilla.
My mini Chloé L'Eau De Parfum Lumineuse review:
Chloé Lumineuse is very feminine, and less bright than Marc Jacobs. If Marc Jacobs Daisy Wild is an instant bright pop of colour, Chloé Lumineuse is a slow fade-in of elegant, light, femininity.
It settles beautifully on the skin and feels like the prettiest accessory all day long.
This is another floral that isn’t quite for me – but that’s okay, this floral fragrance search is a journey. Chloé Lumineuse may not be my taste, but it may very well be yours (especially if you're partial to a vanilla perfume).
5. Gucci Guilty Parfum Pour Homme.
Notes:
- Head: Juniper, lavender and lemon.
- Heart: Orange blossom, nutmeg and Spanish labdanum.
- Base: Dry wood, patchouli and musk.
My mini Gucci Guilty Parfum Pour Homme review:
Spicy! Sexy…
This is what I assume Roger Federer or Lewis Hamilton smell like…
Anyway, enough of me getting distracted, we’re not here to talk beautiful men, we’re here to find my new floral fragrance.
The scent settles on the skin and finds a comfortable musky aroma. I can see this being an ideal scent for gifting season - not much longer now!
Final Verdict.
Have I reformed from rejecting floral fragrances? Absolutely!
Florals get a bad rep but it’s a wide-ranging category and to rule all of them out would be to seriously limit your floral closet.
Want more Adore-approved fragrances? Head here for scent inspo!
