Last week I sat down to try Usher She and Sean John Unforgivable Woman. She went on one arm; Unforgivable Woman on the other. Within an hour I'd forgotten which was which and had to put them on again, but pretty soon I forgot all over again. It isn't that they smell exactly the same, but they feel the same, that is, it is pretty clear that they're reaching for the same audience.
So, a face-off. First, the facts. Usher She is designated for "a woman of mystery and confidence", and was created by perfumers Honorine Blanc and Richard Herpin. The notes: red currant, pink freesia, apple blossom, frangipani, apricot nectar, jasmine, passion rose, amber wood, musk, cashmere wood, vanilla orchid and incense. Sean John Unforgivable Woman is a "sensual, creamy floral" by perfumer David Apel, with notes of bergamot, orange, neroli, cassis, grapefruit, apple, cucumber, piña colada, orange flower, jasmine, violet, muguet, freesia, cyclamen, amber, tonka beans, coco de mer, vanilla tears, cedar, sandalwood, oak moss, patchouli, vetiver and iris.
Freshly applied: Usher She is juicy and fruity and sweet, with just a touch of tartness. It has a slightly creamy feel right from the outset. Unforgivable Woman is also fruity and juicy, but it is not nearly as sweet, and it has a nice warmth to it. I don't love either of these, but Sean John gets a slight edge.
After 5 minutes: They don't smell exactly alike, but they aren't worlds apart either. Both of them smell slightly fruity, and they're both taking on a warm, tropical feel. The Usher is a bit fruitier (and more apple-ish) and sweeter, and the Sean John is starting to take on a vague "sun warmed sand and coconut" vibe. These both smell like they are supposed to be sexy, but I'd say Unforgivable Woman is a bit closer to the mark.
After 30 minutes: The florals are more obvious on both sides, but they're vague and blurry. Both scents could have used "tropical floral accord" from the same vat and I'd be none the wiser. But the Usher She is still sweet and fruity, and the florals are stronger. Unforgivable Woman is darker, drier and woodier, and while I can now make out the piña colada business, it is subtle, and most of the other fruity stuff is gone. Unforgivable Woman could actually pass as a unisex scent at this point.
After an hour: Unforgivable Woman is now very soft. It is woody-musky and slightly earthy. I not going to race out and buy a bottle, but I like it. Usher She is still much as it was — sweet and fruity over a warm base — just not quite so strong. Perhaps because sweet and fruity over a warm base is so common on the women's fragrance counter, it feels less distinctive than the Unforgivable Woman.
After 2 hours: Nothing terribly interesting has happened on either side, so I won't bore you with the details. Both scents have faded a bit, the Sean John more so than the Usher.
Conclusions: Usher She and Unforgivable Woman are what I think of as "phase two" celebrity scents; they're going with the warm and sexy approach, as opposed to the pale, flirty fruity florals that might appeal to the 'tween set. Both of them are nice enough and perfectly wearable (neither sent me rushing for the liquid Tide), but of the two, Unforgivable Woman is the one I'd be more likely to wear. Since Usher She is the more conventionally feminine, it may have an easier time finding an audience though. Personally, I'll stick with Sarah Jessica Parket Covet as the best celebrity showing so far this year.
Usher She is an Eau de Parfum, and is available in 50 and 100 ml and in matching body products. Sean John Unforgivable Woman is a "Scent Spray" (I'm taking that to mean Eau de Toilette, but who knows), and is available in 75 and 125 ml. Body products are to be introduced at a later date.
Bonus reading: for the men's side, see reviews of Sean John Unforgivable for men and Usher He.
Hmm, they are celeb fragrances created for women by men. I think that's what made them more of a risky perfume than the run of the mill fruity perfumes.
Well, thank goodness for “phase two”. Maybe in “phase three” we'll have daring, leathery-chypry things…and then in “phase four”…there will be none
Robin, I love this format! I really enjoyed the orange comparison that you did a while ago, and this one is terrific, too. Too bad the fragrances weren't very exciting. Well, maybe next time…
Trying to decide if I agree that that's risky. Maybe it is for a celebrity scent, I really don't know.
LOL — can't phase four be Cumming?
Thanks A! I have a feeling the exciting part of the celeb sweepstakes are over for 2007, although we do still have Christina Aguilera & Britney Believe. Maybe we need a face off between the lady singers…
Dear Robin:
The review is superb and professional as always
You are very specific and right to the point in your descriptions.
Practice makes perfect, n'est pas?
or at least easier.
Thank you!
Now about that title..
“Battle Of The Celebrity Fragrances” is making me smile even while I am writing this… I first pictured Paris Hilton vs. Britney Spears (that is an idea I do not recommend you to try reviewing, unless you want to be sweet-fruit-marinated into oblivion) battling in a wet sand coconut smelling beach at sunset.
I guess I have an overactive imagination today.. because also everytime I see the Sean Paul ad, it reminds me of that Eddie Murphy vampire movie!!!
Is that what an unforgivable woman gets for wearing the fragrance and being unforgivable? bit in the neck by sunglass-wearing Sean Paul on an elevator? Geez!
Have a nice weekend!
thanks for tolerating this rant…
Regards from Argentina.
And I meant Sean John.. not Sean Paul
I did not see the Eddie Murphy vampire movie, luckily — the ad is creepy enough as it is!
And totally forget that we've still got Paris Hilton Can Can coming. Perhaps if the timing is right, Paris & Britney can battle after all, LOL…
Thanks as always for the very kind words!
No comparison. Sean John is the best perfume since Guerlain's Insolence.
It's too bad that Usher and Sean John's fragrances got compared because there are many celebrity fragrances out there including the Mariah Carey, Sarah Jessica Parker, Britney Spears, David Beckham, Jennifer Lopez, etc.
Sean John is high quality scent that lasts on the skin. It has Iris on the dry down and when I tried it on, I woke up in the middle of the night (12 hours later) from the intenseness of the scent which got more powdery, creamy and sensual. It's hands down a sensual fragrance that's reminscent of an island vacation.
(Coconut smell comes from Coco de mer which is a sea coconunt that grows in the Saychalles Island where Sean John likes to vacation)
I didn't find it all that special, but to each his own, of course! Glad you've found a favorite
“Last week I sat down to try Usher She and Sean John Unforgivable Woman. She went on one arm; Unforgivable Woman on the other. Within an hour I'd forgotten which was which and had to put them on again, but pretty soon I forgot all over again. It isn't that they smell exactly the same, but they feel the same, that is, it is pretty clear that they're reaching for the same audience.”
HAHA! Same thing happened to me! I had my friend try both on her arms and I couldn't tell which was which. I do like Sean John's a little more, but when I first smelled it it felt like I should get drunk drinking it. It smelled like alcohol!
I'll bet SJ will outsell Usher though!
I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE the Sean John Unforgivable Woman perfume! I came across this perfume in Sephora when I was visiting the states, and I decided to test it out by spraying a little on myself. The perfume lingered for the rest of the day and I asked myself why I didn't pick up a bottle when I had the chance. I tried to look for it in Canada; I didn't remember the name, but I did remember the smell of the perfume and the bottle that fitted into my palm nicely. A month later, the perfume finally made its way to Canada! I recognized the bottle but I wasn't sure (because I didn't know the name of the perfume). I tried it on myself and I told the sales associate, “That's it! This is the perfume!” I think this perfume should be called Unforgettable!
Glad you love it, sounds like you've found a favorite
During today's foray into the fragrance counter (with my younger sister…it's always good to form another addict) and while talking to a very lovely saleswoman who gave me lots of samples, she asked me if I'd smelled Usher yet. I said I had heard of it, but not smelled it. She told me in no uncertain terms that it smelled like BEER. I didn't really believe her- after all, perfume is always perfume, and I don't think it could really smell like beer. Oh, how niave I was. She sprayed it on a card for me (away from where we were standing) and let me smell it. Ack! It really smell like beer. God forbid you get pulled over if you've been spraying Usher in your car because you're taking a looong trip to the pokey.
Beer! I don't remember it that way, LOL — will have to try it again w/ that in mind
Interesting, I didn't initially get beer, but given some thought, there is most definitely a 'fizzy' quality (even 'hoppy'? Hehe). Good catch there.
I think maybe it's because she just sprayed it on a card…I didn't try it on skin (it was bad enough smelling like several different perfumes, let alone ALCOHOL. way to have my mother kill me). Maybe it has a totally different scent on the skin. But, on a card, it was downright drunk!
It's funny y'all say Usher's Perfume smells like Beer, I smelled Sean John the perfume and as soon as I got a whiff of it I felt drunk. Mind you I haven't ever been drunk before, but I imagine thats how it would be
That being said, I really like Usher she. The bottle isn't very nice looking, though
I found this and I wonder if it’s real. I have never heard of it. I wonder if it’s something new coming out. I rather enjoyed the original for women. I even liked the Black. I wish they had the notes on this one. http://www.beautyencounter.com/882739004074.html