"Gwen's the muse of the unconventional," said Michele Scannavini, president of Coty Prestige Worldwide. "She has a style that is unmistakable, different, so unique that she can really create trends in the world. We are impressed by how global she is." (Women's Wear Daily, 12/7/2006)
Pop star Gwen Stefani launched her L.A.M.B. (Love. Angel. Music. Baby.) fashion label in 2003, and by all accounts it has been extraordinarily successful even while many other celebrity fashion lines are struggling. A perfume was sure to follow.
I don't really know much about Gwen Stefani, but L (or "L, a L.A.M.B. fragrance", as Nordstrom calls it) didn't sound like what you'd expect from the "muse of the unconventional", what with notes like "sparkling green freshness" and "leafy water hyacinth" (additional notes include freesia, pear, violet leaves, jasmine, rose, lily of the valley, sweet pea, orange blossom, frangipani blossom, peach skin, heliotrope and musk). Stefani noted that she wanted her fragrance to be "light, fresh and clean", another good indicator that we might not expect anything too edgy or unusual. (fragrance notes and quote via Women's Wear Daily, 3/20/2007)
"Sparkling green freshness" is actually the perfect description for L's opening. It is mildly green and citrusy, and has a big "fresh" note. The water hyacinth joins in fairly quickly, and after that, it is all rather a blur. There is a bit of pear, and if you pay very close attention, you might pick out a touch of rose or jasmine in the early stages. The sweet pea is more prominent than the other notes in the heart, but it mostly smells like an airy-watery blended floral with vaguely fruity overtones. It is soft and mildly sweet, but also rather diffusive, and the musky base is clean and pale and summery.
Nordstrom is describing L as a "fusion of masculine and feminine", but the masculine is pretty well hidden — or at least, I couldn't find it. L is light, fresh and clean, and as such, it doesn't have a strong personality. It is more casual than sexy (unless you find "clean" very sexy). It isn't overly sweet or fruity, and while it is youthful, it doesn't, like much of its celebrity fragrance competition, smell like it is geared towards 'tweens. It is very wearable, and despite the fact that I don't find it terribly interesting, it is well done for what it is. Given the weak celebrity fragrance showing so far this year, it might well be the best of the lot. And the bottle is cool. I predict Nordstrom will sell a kajillion bottles of it.
Gwen Stefani L.A.M.B. L is available in 50 and 100 ml Eau de Parfum. The lasting power is very good. It is exclusive to Nordstrom until September, when it will go into wider distribution. A range of body products is also expected to follow, and Stefani is reportedly already working on the sequels.
Fresh, clean…I am staying away. Not a fan of the GS anyway. Thank you so much for the review!
Sounds very nice – for a celeb scent. No pink pepper, no lychee, no cupcake accord!
sooooo very not interested by this one,,,
I've never thought Gwen Stefani was very musically talented, and felt her real talent lay in being a fashion innovator. I've always admired her sense of style, so I too had high hopes of her fragrance being something that stood out. But I also think that the chances of a celebrity fragrance ever being avante-garde or unusual are slim. These fragrances are put out for one reason: to make money. And to that end, it only makes sense that they will always be a little bland – they seek to cater to the largest percentage of the general population, and unfortunately, what most people seem to want is something clean, light, and inoffensively pretty. I worked as a fragrance sales associate at a major department store for two years, and part of what made me end up disliking the job was that, time after time, customers would come in and say, “I want something light and clean”, and attempts to show them something more interesting were usually met with, “That's too old-lady!” So, the marketers of celebrity scents know what they're doing in that respect; the majority of Americans have depressingly boring taste in fragrance.
Wow Kiki…where are you from? I believe some of the most modern and most interesting scents have come from America; Le Labo, CB, Parfums Delrae, ect. It sounds like you worked at Macy's and your right, I bet fragrance enthusiasts are not going there for fragrant inspiration. I know the only time I go there to buy is when it's time for me to buy a gift for my mother in law:-)
I happen to like GS, especially what she did with No Doubt, they were breaking ground back in the day with Ska so let's not take that away from her. I read a while back that her favorite fragrance was VS's Pear Glace… so thats why my hopes of something great coming from her was deflated. Still, I will make my way to smell it soon.
M, what is your favorite of the celebrity scents (if any)?
It is unconventional in that sense, anyway — it doesn't smell like the standard celeb fare we've been overloaded with the past few years. But then, that is also true of Prince 3121.
The bottle is actually a snazzed-up version of Gucci Envy for Men crossed with Estee Lauder Beyond Paradise. No points for originality there. It's kind of boring, considering what's possible nowadays with advances in manufacturing and packaging technology–look at Betsey Johnson's fantastic bottle (reminiscent of some of those giddy Lalique bottles such as the Clairefontaine).
All true. Cumming: The Fragrance is the only celeb scent that was unusual, and doubt it made a mint.
They hit “clean, light and inoffensively pretty” right on the nail with this one.
Interesting, will have to go smell Pear Glace. This could easily be a mix of various body things you'd find at VS or BBW.
I think way back when I first announced that she was going to do a scent, several people commented about how GS had her own edgy style. She didn't use it here!
Hi Kayliana,
Not arguing that we have some wonderful fragrance companies in the states – we do! (I am a huge Christopher Brosius fan, both from his time at Demeter – I used to live right down the street from their shop when they had a storefront in the East Village, that was fun! – and I also love the I Hate Perfume line) And yes, we certainly have our share of perfumistas and fragrance afficianados. But my point was that the *general public*, to whom these scents are marketed, want something on the safe side.
Trepan me now.
Forgot about Gucci Envy for Men's bottle, good call. Still think it is a less dull bottle than many!
LOL!
I samples this last week at Nordstrom's and I thought it was boring. Not what I expected at all. *disappointing*
Dawn
Bah. Humbug. Sigh.
How can one not like dear, sweet, cuddly Gwen S.? Ok, I confess I've got a crush on G (hoping GF won't read this) 🙂 but in all fairness, I wasn't expecting L to be anything more than a reflection of her public persona – cheerful, childlike and bright. I admit I was hoping for a touch of Gwen's “innocent” glamor to be poured into in L, but since I won't be wearing her perfume anyway, I'll stick to watching her videos 🙂
At least the bottle, though obviously similar to that for Envy, is totally in keeping with GS's glitzy esthetics.
Ah, Gwenny, Gwenny… 🙂
D, very curious what you expected, and if you're a GS fan? I didn't expect much beyond “pleasant”, I guess. The celeb scents have all been so resolutely dull this past year or so.
D, It is easy not to like her if you simply pay her no mind, LOL — seriously, I only vaguely know who she is, and what little I do know is only because she is releasing a fragrance. If she is cheerful, childlike & bright, this is a perfect reflection of her public persona. Innocent fits as well. Glamour & glitz: nope.
We seriously need some celeb to go even *slightly* out on a limb and redeem the whole fragrance category.
Too bad. L could have nicely captured her youthful flirtatiousness and natural grace (someone may argue my view, I'm sure, heh). She radiates, she truly does. And her smile – contagious. Ok, I seem to be steering off the fragrant course, LOL!
Does L'Air de Rien count? If yes, than that's the favorite. At the danger of sounding a little prejudiced, I also like Lovely. Oh, and Cumming was definitely very interesting too.
Gwen Stefani does a fruity floral. . .no doubt.
This one sounds like Snoresville to me. Another fruity floral “How Unique and different?”. Not much of a fan of this chick either. I just can't stand celebrity scents. They are always big letdowns. Plus for me a scent needs to stand on it's own merits and not the ones of a current “flash in the pan” celebrity that might be remembered years from now or not. That's why classics like No.5, Joy, Shalimar, Arpege, etc… didn't need a celebrity to associate them with. BUT No.5 did have many a poster girl for them like Catherine Deneuve, Carole Bouquet, etc…. to keep the mystique alive though I soon forget. But still, it sold like hotcakes just by the name alone…. This one, I'm sure it will be at your nearest Walgreens soon.
I wonder how this compares to VS's Pear Glace – I read that Gwen really loved that scent. Sounsd like it might be sort of similiar, maybe less sweet.
LOL — we're sending a cold shower your way 🙂
It does have fruit notes, but seriously it doesn't smell like a fruity floral at all.
As I said above, it really doesn't smell like a fruity floral, and I'll be VERY surprised if it doesn't do well. Whether it will outlast Chanel 5 is another matter entirely 😉
Someone mentioned that above, too — from the sound of it, it probably isnt' as fruity, but I'll have to get over to VS and see!
Thanks M, was just curious if you liked any of the “mainstream” celeb things — which Lovely certainly is 🙂
This post got me musing. Perhaps it isn't so much that the scents celebrities put out are so indistinguishable, as it is that the celebrities themselves are so indistinguishable.
What do you suppose we would get if Meryl Streep, Glenn Close or Helen Mirren put out a women's fragrance? Or if Anthony Perkins, Paul Newman, or Geoffrey Rush instituted a fragrance for men? I would think that the greater depth of these perfume issuers or others like them would result in a fragrance of greater depth?
Just sayin' 😉
Oh, I'd love to see a Helen Mirren scent! But in general, I rather doubt her fans are of the age where they'd buy a scent just because she put her name on it. I could be wrong, but I think younger women are far more likely to buy celeb fragrances than older women (?)
Patti Smith, Lucinda Williams, Keith Richards . . .
I'm sure still it will be a tired scent that will end up in Walgreens and Walmart very soon. Britney's Curious and her other scents can be found at those places. What wouldn't make this scent any different?
GS (as a brand, not a singer) seems to have a very different (more upscale) audience than BS, probably because her clothing line is doing well in in pricier stores. The scent may end up in Walmart — you can get Shalimar at Walmart too — but BS Curious was never a 6 week exclusive at Nordstrom.
I admit, this wasn't as interesting as I'd hoped. However, she's only just getting started. And anybody can see a mile away that her next fragrance will be called “A”, and then we will get M and B. I predict at least one of the following ones will be a lot more interesting.
If L were marketed as a genuine unisex fragrance, it could certainly have the potential to do well on the men's side, along with Fluer Du Male and Antidote (as a nice alternative to the other men's fragrances on the market)
It will be funny if she follows with A,M & B, since Mariah Carey is already doing M this year. Of course, L was already taken by Lolita Lempicka so perhaps they don't care 🙂
Hope you're right that her next effort will be more impressive.
Smelled this on Thursday, and it was just O.K
I expected more from Gwen
“Just ok” seems to be the word on the fragrance forums so far…
Yep, sounds like you must have worked at Gottchalks or Macys. When a customer thinks Chanel Coco Madamoiselle is old-lady-like, you direct them to the J-Lo counter. I work at a place where the 20 somethings think Hello Kitty Momoberry is cutting edge! For the big date night, it's Bath and Body Works SweetPea.
I heard someone liken “Cumming” to smelling like Fonzie from Happy Days! LOL. The same person said it smell like Desenex Jock Itch powder. Frankly, I did NOT have the same reaction to the scent. I thought it was much more interesting and complex than the Desenex description!
No way! That brain is too important! 🙂
I used to think Gwen was pretty cool when she was with No Doubt. Suddenly, she became a Diva, welcomed the 70's/80's disco glam, and became duller than watching paint dry.
Oh, I love Cumming — it's a great scent! I just doubt it made a ton of $$.
“Yep, sounds like you must have worked at Gottchalks or Macys. When a customer thinks Chanel Coco Madamoiselle is old-lady-like”
That would be me! I don't wanna be smelling 100 years old! Marilyn Monroe used to wear those perfumes!!!
I don't know about Hello Kitty though
Hey guys, aren't you being a bit harsh? Plenty worse have come out than this one. That pear note mingles nicely with the mid florals creating a honey note, a little like mead (honey wine). I reckon it's quite nice and thankfully a world away from Daniele Steel, M, Kylie and the rest.
Eye-catching bottle.
The scent could be fine as a every-day number…
Agree it is miles ahead of Danielle Steel! Haven't tried M or Kylie yet, but didn't think L was bad, just not terribly exciting.
Agree 🙂
yep, agree, the bottle is great 🙂 Haven't smelled it yet, but seems to be a safe bet, rather than unconventional and outside the box, as it was described before release. I've smelled Kylie, to me it's kind of reminiscent of Gucci Rush, is this crazy?
I haven't smelled Kylie yet myself, in fact, not sure it is going to be released in the US.
Here's the commercial for Gwen's new fragrance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nW54YPfF7k
That commercial makes me want to own it! I think I'll buy it tomorrow!
Thanks, I just posted that yesterday! Have you smelled it yet?
Yes, I've smelled it. I didn't like it at first, but its growing on me
This is in reply to a few comments back…a Keith Richards fragrance, I love it! It would smell of crematorium ash, cocaine, and the way bar carpet absorbs the smell of raunchy beer and cigs after 25-30 years…Now THAT would be original
Good call on the notes! But hope there are a few rock stars left who are willing to maintain their dignity and stay out of the fragrance biz — I'm still disgusted over Carlos Santana.
I just got back from my Ottawa trip and sure did a lot of sniffing,the first bottle that I reached for was L and instantly did not like it,I found it to be extremely floral,I was dissapointed since I love Gwen,oh well I can't love everything.
Exactly — you can't love them all, and you'd be bankrupt if you did 🙂
The bottle reminds me too much of “Very Sexy for Him” from Victoria's Secret. Not as exciting as I wished it would be. The scent itself is not very exciting either. I was a little disappointed.
Hope she'll do something way more interesting with number 2!
I love Gwen, but this fragrance didn't work for me. It was too much like celery or cut grass, scents that arent' exactly my favorites. So disappointing! 🙁
Hoping her next one (and I'm pretty sure there will be more than 1) will be better!
I personally am sick to death of Gwen Stefani, but I wasn't expecting this perfume to have her name on it, of all people. It's so… generic to my nose. Not dull, or bad, just… nothing new.
I wasn't too fond of M when I tried it. I tried it side by side with one of Celine Dion's perfumes and I was surprised to find I liked Celine's better.
Yep, that pretty much describes it.
I never see the Celine Dions anywhere, but did get to try M. Liked M better than LAMB L, but don't love it by any means.
I think you can get samples mailed to you if you search around the internet for a while.
Wow! This fragrance is REALLY selling at my Macys! This fragrance, Diamonds and M by Mariah Carey were all sold out!
I heard Mariah Carey's was doing really well; haven't heard about the other 2.
I caught a whiff of this a couple of days ago and I was HIGHLY unimpressed!
I guess it just might be me, but I found the scent to be very off-putting.
It reminded me of Britney Spear's Curious – perfume gone bad, very bad! I DEFINITELY would not purchase this, nope nope!
I didn't love L either, but it didn't remind me of Curious at all.
Robin, is there any news on another Gwen Fragrance?????
I haven't heard any, sorry!
Hmm. The fragrance doesn't WOW me, but I do like the Body Lotion. Does that make sense?? If she comes out with a Body Cream I might get it. I may get the lotion. This is the highest celeb scent and the lasting power is the WORST. After an hour I can't smell it at all! What gives??
Wow, it is not that short lived on me at all. Wondering if it is just giving you olfactory fatigue — that is, if others can smell it even after you can't?
grr i dont know if i like this one or not, im trying to find a perfume that matches my chemistry and what not and cant seem to find a strong one..
i like floral but more spicy things suit me more.. dont really want to waste my time buying new things and they aren't for me.. ive been wearing angel and its ok but im so sick of it everyone wears it blah! i want something like it though.. hmm
my body is lame!
This is pretty darned far from Angel — have you tried the Angel flankers Rose Angel, etc?
no.. =S i havent even heard of it before today! do u know if it lasts long?
x.
There are 4 of them, under the “Garden of Stars” collection. The lasting power seemed fine. If you go to Perfume Houses T (bottom menu) and scroll to Thierry Mugler, you can find links to all of them.
I'm sooo late on this review but wanted to add that I don't get anything hinting of VS Pear Glace. What I do get is a paler, muskier version of Bath and Body Works Plumeria line. I love Frangipani, so this is okay for me. I would really like it as a candle or lotion. Still, I found it surprisingly wearable.
Better late than never 😉
I found it wearable too.
I find this perfume works better in tropical weather more than a dry atmosphere — probably due to the frangipani.
I would never have bought it for myself but my partner gave it to me for Xmas when i was in sunny tropical Queensland and i was pleasantly surprised by how much i liked it. But when i got back home to dry cool Canberra it just didn't smell the same.
Guess i'll have to save it for my tropical holidays.
Never hurts to have a “vacation scent” 🙂
Hmm, when I dislike a perfume it's either because I find it “boring” or I find it “repulsive”. This L is in the “repulsive” pile – it is so overripe fruity that it's almost rotten and yet somehow it's sour too… I can't STAND it. I expected to be totally bored but at least when I am repulsed it can mean they've “gone out on a limb”! so… repect for that at least! Nevertheless, it's still a fruity floral. ugh
;P
I actually think it might be the combination of lily of the valley (which I usually LOVE) and fruity apple that is making my stomach turn in this one.
Too bad, but money saved, right? I didn't find it repulsive, but then again, didn't love it either.
If I can find the Solid cheap somewhere I'll get that. I don't want to pay 75 bucks for something that doesn't really last long on me. Robin, I saw the Body Cream on Ebay. Why isn't the body cream on her website, and how come I can't find it in any stores? I saw 3 body creams on Ebay. One came with the box that was green like her lotion bottle and two were un-boxed. Will it ever be sold in stores?
Usually that means some people got hold of some advance items…so guessing that yes, it will appear in stores. But I don't know, that's just a guess.
I got the Solid! It was 17 bucks! Its 42 in the store! I hope the Body Cream does arrive in stores! I really love the solid. I won it on Ebay on the 30th of September and it came in the mail on the 3rd of October! I looove how you open it up with the two Ls! Its beautiful. I thought Solids were bigger though. I thought they were the size of Compact Mirrors. The square compact mirrors. Its heavy also. I love it so much!
So glad it worked out, and boy, you got a great price!
YAY! Robin, I got the BIG bottle SEALED and BRAND NEW for 27 bucks on EBAY!!
Wow, another fabulous deal — congrats!
Hi Robin, Have you smelled pear glace yet? I have been thinking of buying L.A.M.B.(how do you pronounce this?) It is here at the Wichita Kansas T.J. Max for $20.I don't know whether to get it or Anais Anais by Cacharel (an old love affair). The Pear Glace by Victoria's Secret is pushing me towards L.A.M.B.
Since V.S. started putting the notes on their Garden Collection; Pear glace's notes are: Pear nectar, cassis, and violet. now I know why it's my favorite. To me, pear doesn't smell that much of a fruit to me; it seem to me to have a muskier earthier fruit…it's not as sweet as must fruits. Do you like pear as a note? I don't know whether to go with a known favorite, Anais Anais in it's discounted beautiful bottle ( I collect bottles). and it would go with my cottage shabby chic decor in my bedroom
Could you give me your input? It isn't life or death. I can always take something back I think????
Joy,
Becca
Becca, I don't really love pear, and I did look for PG but couldn't find a tester last I was in there. That's a pretty good deal on the Lamb, but then again, the AA bottle *would* got better w/ shabby chic decor. I'm not much help, am I? If it were me and I was going on bottle, I'd take AA, on scent, I'd get more use out of the Lamb.
Oh my gosh, I wrote that post last night on a heavy dose of Oxycontin for my back pain. I am surprised I made any sense at all. I apologize for any weirdness and all the typos. I just got a wild hair.
Pear glace smells, to me, like A.G. Petite Cheri only not quite that bright. I hope that's not blasphemy to you. The V.S. P.G. (ha ha aren't initials handy?) just seems to be smoother and a little darker. There, you don't need to smell it…like I'm an expert!
The Anais Anais is a coup too, $30 for the large bottle. But it's sealed. I remember it's soft and if someone was wearing it I would know exactly what it was-it is very distinctive. But I don't know if my taste has changed. I bought Glamorous by Ralph Lauren last week and I didn't love it anymore. Scary. Where might I find a review? and have you ever had this experience of a fragrance you've always loved, not smell lovely anymore?
Thank you for your time,
Becca
Not blasphemy at all. I do like Petite Cherie, but not enough to buy it I guess. Isn't the VSPG sweeter than PC? I would have guessed it was, but obviously I don't know.
And yes, have “grown out of” a number of perfumes. But then again, I've “grown back into” some later — so maybe hold onto that Glamorous!
I actually fell in love with it. The top note is disgusting (no doubt)… but the second note is really sweet, and the third note blends perfectly with me. I'm not a perfume person… but I often find them to be just wrong. I sort of liked several vanilla smells, and Clinque Happy… but both were just mildly pleasant to me. I had never found a scent that was me. I went with a friend- and she approved of this one… after a 1/2 an hour of wearing it she smelled me and she said “it smells like you, when I smell it- I don't go “mmm, perfume” I go “mmm, christina”. ” ha ha, loved how she phrased that. Anyways, I always wanted something that was like that perfect guy cologne, only feminine. Gwen's L seems to fit me perfectly. Although, you do have to have the right chemistry for it. It smells horrible on my friend, and the top note isn't good. The second note is positively addicting and the third note was just what I was looking for. It lasts all day for me.
Glad you found your perfect scent 🙂
I tried this today….
didn't like this it's too “tropical” and fruity for me, I could easily mistake this one for one of those “escadas”
Ouch! I didn't find it quite as sweet as all that, but then, I didn't love it either.
I hardly ever wear this….I absolutey loved it when it first came out but then it leaked a tiny bit in my bag and all of a sudden the smell was a bit much for me.
well i put it on today and within about a minute I had a headcahe and felt sick….! aaargggh! I can't bear to sell it so it will just stay on the shelf looking nice.
I found out that the harajuku lovers are meant to be coming out here in February so I'm looking forward to those…especially as the reviews suggets they're not that strong……!
What a shame! Yes, I do think the HL scents are lighter, and if you liked L you might like “Music”.
thanks, can't wait to try it!
My friend from Macy's said that a COTY rep told her that they're taking out all of the Ls out of stores and are getting ready for Gwen's new fragrance
Cool, look forward to it!
I made the mistake of testing this on my wrist before sniffing it on a test strip. It smelled as though I had sprayed myself with air freshener. I expected the chemical/synthetic smell to fade with the dry down, but it didn’t. My friend wears this and it smells pleasant enough on her, but it unfortunately disagrees with my chemistry.
The fresh note fades on me, luckily…sorry it didn’t on you!
I love this one it’s for a lunch out with my girlfriends wearing jeans and heels. No doubt I will always have a bottle of it somewhere
Hope they’ll keep making it then 🙂
Im wondering if shes going to come out w/ another scent soon.
I really don’t know. I don’t think L sold nearly as well as the Harajuku Lovers…if I had to guess, that’s where I’d say they’ll do more fragrances.
I sure hope thats not the case! I dont need 5 more fruity florals! Another L.A.M.B. fragrance really needs to happen.
Only Coty knows for sure, I’m just guessing!
omg!!! love is tha best smellin spray ive ever smelt!?!?!!? it smells soooooo good…love it!! have it!!!! gettin more of it!!! 🙂
love always steph:)
Glad you love it!
Yeah what a bummer. I guess it didnt do as well as i thought it did. I stopped seeing it at Nordstrom and Macys last yr. And I see bottles of it at Marshalls all the time for 20 and 15 bucks. I rather enjoyed it. It didnt last very long in the stores did it? Poor Gwen. I guess we’ll be seeing nothing but HL fragrances. I emailed Coty about another L.A.M.B. fragrance and they werent very helpful. : (
Poor Gwen nothing — she’s made a mint off the HL, I’m sure!
True. But I dont think she herself really enjoys all those fruity florals. Im sure L was more her. If all she has is the HL line, it has to get a little boring. Im sure she enjoyed the process for L more than the typical fruity HLs. I guess its all about the $$$. : )
I loved this when it first came out and couldn’t wait to buy it. Admittedly that was 4 years ago but I’m sure it stopped smelling the same shortly after so I don’t wear it much! Really want her to do another one.
I bought this when it first came out as I was looking for something that was fresh for a Spring/Summer fragrance. For some reason, any male that has come close to me wearing this perfume has asked me to write down the name of it and where to buy it so they can purchase it for their girlfriend or wife. I’m not entirely sure why this is, as this scent isn’t your typical ‘opposite sex’ pleaser; to my nose I pick up mostly freesia, hyacinth, orange blossom, and a VERY VERY clean and bright white musk. To me, it is the least remarkable of every fragrance I own, but when I wear it, I get a ridiculous amount of compliments. I’m not sure really if I like this scent overly, but it is something light and fresh to wear to work once the weather gets warmer.