"Vintage tattoo wear" line Ed Hardy launched their first fragrances this year. The fashion line, from designer Christian Audigier, is inspired by the tattoo designs of Don Ed Hardy, and while I found the bottle a bit less inspiring in person than it was in pictures — isn't that usually the way? plastic always looks better in pictures — it's still a great design. I don't know that I'd wear a hoodie with the "Love Kills Slowly" skull and the "Life Love Luck" trail of roses, but on a perfume bottle it's fun, and it makes a nice change from the dreary parade of cookie-cutter bottles on display at Macy's.
The fragrance itself promised more fun. It was described as "super vibrant and sexy", and "vintage floralcy with a Rock'n Roll Edge" and a "dark eeriness". Anyone who reads here regularly already knows where this is going, right? If you want a strawberry-laced fruity floral this year, you've plenty of choice, and Ed Hardy will probably suit as well as anything else, but if you're looking for super vibrant, sexy, edgy or eerie, you'll have to look elsewhere.
Ed Hardy Woman is not worth describing in much detail since I've already described Ralph Wild and they were clearly poured from the same vat — probably just as well, since bringing 1000+ new perfumes to market this year must be keeping the perfumers very busy and I'd hate to see them fuss unduly over the strawberry fruity floral category. I've worn Ed Hardy Woman and Ralph Wild together three times now, and while they're slightly different, I'm quite sure I'd never be able to tell you which was which in a blind test. I think I like the Ralph Wild juice a bit better, but I'd take the Ed Hardy Woman bottle over Ralph Wild's in a heartbeat.
Neither fragrance is nearly as good as Miss Dior Chérie, which at the grand old age of 3 has become the gold standard for strawberry fruity florals. I am wearing all three fragrances as I type, and the Miss Dior Chérie, while not exactly the epitome of Rock'n Roll Edge, does a better job of it than Ralph Wild or Ed Hardy. It is darned sweet though, and what edge it has comes largely from the relatively dark patchouli base; some consumers, no doubt, will find the freshness of Ralph Wild or Ed Hardy Woman easier to wear. I wish I'd paid more attention to the new Miss Dior Chérie Eau de Printemps, but I gave it only a very brief sniff — if anyone can comment on how that one fits in, please do.
Ed Hardy Woman by Christian Audigier was developed by perfumer Caroline Sabas, and the notes include apple soufflé, mango, wild strawberry, rudy red grapefruit, freesia petals, watery muguet, linden blossom, warm amber, musk, tonka bean and vanilla pudding. It is available in 50 and 100 ml Eau de Parfum, and can be found at department stores or at the online discounters.
Curse them for putting a fruity floral in the bottle. My best friend would love that bottle, but I think if I bought her a proto-teen girlie scent she'd never speak to me again.
Excuse me while I run out to get a tattoo that reads “Love kills slowly”, after which I will spray myself all over with M7, with a top coat of Daim Blonde (going for edgy here).
It really is a shame — such a creative bottle, such predictable juice.
LOL — perfect! But you know, even w/o going so far as M7 or Daim Blond, they could have done better than this…
When I saw a picture of the bottle, I thought I needed to have it if only for the bottle itself. I agree that it was disappointing in person – a plastic overcap and a clear glass bottle. As for the juice, I agree with you, Robin: I would go for Miss Dior Cherie in a heartbeat if I was into wearing these types of scents.
In addition, much as I'm reitcent to admit this, I was an avid fan of the VH1 reality show “Rock of Love”, and there was a lot of Ed Hardy product placement in the second installment of this show. After I smelled the female version of the fragrance, I couldn't help but think that all those girls who were vying to rock Bret Michaels' world all smelled like this! Thank God smell-a-vision does not yet exist!
Oh, but soon it will, when my ScentModule takes over the noses of the world.
They'd have done better to do that design right on the glass and skip the cap, but guessing that would be too expensive? Dunno. As much as I think MDC is the better scent, I'd be hard-pressed to pick one of the 3 — I don't like strawberry to begin with, and MDC is so sweet I might end up with this or Ralph Wild.
I briefly looked up Rock of Love the other day because someone else mentioned it in a comment, and I was entirely mystified — have never heard of Bret Michaels!
LOL — you are spending your earnings already, aren't you?
LOL – I only wish I knew enough to actually build something like that.
I am so out of the loop. I know who Don Ed Hardy is. When I read that there was an Ed Hardy fragrance I was taken back. Was I thinking of the same tattoo artist? Obviously, yes. After thinking about it, duh, tattoo inspired stuff is everywhere. After reading this review, I looked this Christian Audigier brand up and wow. It's everywhere, swimwear, scarves, Britney Spears, everything. Oh, and custom motorcycles. It seems that people just can't seem to buy enough “badness”. So, why as a brand, trying to convey toughness, would you have vanilla pudding in your eau de parfum base?
LOL — no, I guess vanilla pudding doesn't really seem to lend the right image. But neither does apple souffle, right? If they wanted to convey toughness they should have bottled something with woods & leather, but guessing what they really wanted was to make some $$.
This sounds perfectly ghastly. Why do so many scents now have to smell like dessert? If I was going to bottle tattoo shop I'd have to do CdC Garage with some green soap and AD&E Ointment (what my fave tattooer soothes me with) blended in, with, of course, plenty of roses.
I don't know that I found it ghastly — it's perfectly wearable, it's just so close to Ralph Wild as to be pointless.
Well, you know, seeing as how I am a tattooed person and have had most of my work done by a guy from Ed Hardy's shop, I will have to at least give it a chance. I only like about 3 of those notes, but you never know. I guess my sensibilities are a little outre for this fruity frilly sugary trend (some of which I like, but mostly not. Actually, I do like it better than the “clean” “sport” scents – I'd rather smell like a cookie than a bar of Zest).
If you try it, do come back & comment — will be interested to hear what you think of it. And given that you're familiar w/ EH's work, wondering if you love the bottles?
Well, I like the bottle enough to buy a small $15 bottle unsniffed. I will report back when it arrives and I have test-driven it a bit.
Wow, didn't know you could get it that cheaply! Will wait to hear what you think…
It was a little 1/4 oz bottle, complete with the little cardboard tube it was snuggled into . Quite cute. I wore it today and though it is borderline too much melon (or whatever that is that is in everything these days) it was okay. I can see wearing on a nice summery day. I liked the sillage better than nose-to-skin (can you smell your own sillage?). The final wear-down was pretty nice, and it lasted all day. So, not as bad as I thought!
That sounds adorable, I wouldn't mind having one!
oops thought I mentioned where I found it – on Amazon!
My friend and I went shopping; I sampled Omnia Amethyste and she sampled this. I nearly gagged; it's just so darned cloying. It was her revenge (I gave her a migraine with a spraying of Rochas Man, I think was the name, earlier) and, man, this Ed Hardy stuff is awful.
I don't like strawberry either. I had a bottle of Miss Dior Cherie but I recently gave it away about half-full (an elderly friend of the family who wore White Linen for about 30 years caught a whiff on me and remarked how MDC would be the one perfume to which she'd actually consider switching, so, of course, I had to give it to her) . I'd weaned myself off of it after being constantly annoyed at how dry and yet very astringent it always turned out. I'd definitely say it's my favorite of the three aforementioned and, though I never got around to it when I had a bottle, I suspect it'd be a nice layer-er; after all, it doesn't really progress.
And MDCEdP was more orange than strawberry.
And what did you think of the Omnia Amethyste?
I found it wearable enough; I did like the soft, lush florals. It just wasn't interesting enough to warrant spending my money on it. I'd wear it if a bottle fell into my lap but I wouldn't buy it for myself.
Agree it was not interesting enough…
I don't tend to like it when there isn't a progression and everything is just all out there. Maybe if had had a darker base…. Oh well. More money saved. =P
I'm trying the Ed Hardy today–not sure I'm going to make it thru the day! It's so disappointing! Great bottle though. . . I love tattoos when they are done right. . .way to go Tama! I'll bet you look fierce! My favorite perfume for this sweet and fruity is Délices de Cartier Eau Fruitée layered with its matching body oil.
It is a great bottle, but the scent can't live up to it 🙁
I took a small whiff of what I am guessing is the men's version of this with the tiger on the bottle and it is no better. Although this isn't the worst thing I have smelled, the whole thing is disappointing – I mean really, tattoo scents should be roses and leathers! Not cantaloupe!
I didn't like the men's either. Totally agree about roses & leathers!
I'm a part time tattoo artist and a Hardy fan so I was very interested when I saw this one at Ulta whenit came out. I'm not really a wearer of desert scented things but i have to say, after wearing this for awhile I really loved the deeper and warmer parts of this scent. In my opinion, the musk is nice and the berry is not overwhelming. It doesn't last long enough but has been a good summer fragrance for me.
Glad it works for you! Hopefully the new ones will be even better.
Goodness me, most people seem to be ragging on this scent. I picked up a 100mL bottle at a department store for $60AU (half price, yay), and I have to say, I'm thoroughly impressed! I'm a young lady with tats and piercings that would make grandma faint, but this one sits fine on me, haha.
I think that the 'Rock 'n' Roll edge' of the advert is expressed; it has some darker bass notes smothered in sugary florals, which is very 50s rockabilly. (:
Glad it works for you, and congrats on the half price!
Someone gave me a sample of this and I was actually pleasantly surprised. It is predictable, but I did find it to be wearable and pleasant in a jeans and a bright pink t-shirt kind of way. One thing I actually really like about it is the dry down, which on me smells pleasantly of burnt sugar and lasts for a good while. I don't need a bottle, but I like it for a casual weekend.
And everyone needs a “jeans and t-shirt” scent, of course! I've got mine as well…
OH MY GOD! This perfume Is UH MASING!!! NO DOUBT ABOUT IT! super fruity and sweet and delicious, mmm mm, my mouth waters every time i smell this. If you have an attraction to perfumes lthat are fruity. BUY THIS! I guarentee you will fall in love ♥
Glad you like it.