Time flies. Paris Hilton got into the fragrance game way back in 2004; by now, she's something of an old hand. Her latest fragrance for women, Siren, launched earlier this summer. Siren is Hilton's sixth fragrance for women and her ninth overall (there were three scents for men early on, but she seems to have given up on the men's fragrance market as of late).
To recap: I thought the original eponymous Paris Hilton fragrance was just fine — not the stuff of genius, but adequate. Just Me was a bit less than fine, and Heiress was comically less than fine, so much so that I have a kind of a soft spot for it. Can Can was less than fine without anything funny about it to liven things up, and Fairy Dust was about the same. So there you are. I guess you could say that I'm not a huge fan, and in general, despite the stamp of official industry approval, I think the line is not as well done as some other celebrity efforts — Britney Spears, J Lo and Mariah Carey, among others, all do a better job.
Siren is fine, maybe even marginally more than fine. I suppose I should have dragged out Paris Hilton by Paris Hilton and decided which I liked better, but I didn't. Siren's opening is sweet and fruity, with loud but mostly indistinct florals joining in fairly soon after it hits skin. There's something screechy about it very early on, but the creamy "coconut orchid" smooths that out (other notes: mandarin, apricot nectar, frangipani, honeysuckle, water lily, vanilla, sandalwood and creamy musk), and lends a short-lived tropical / beachy sort of slant.
As Siren dries down, the florals quiet and so does the tropical stuff, and we're left with warm candy: vanilla and caramel over some woody musk. For a time, it smells rather like a flatter, cheaper version of Juicy Couture's Viva La Juicy*, then it mostly fizzles out altogether. If you like Siren and you're not on a tight budget, you might do yourself a favor and give the Viva La Juicy a try: it isn't as screechy in the opening and it isn't as flat in the close.
Paris Hilton Siren was developed by perfumer Honorine Blanc. It is available in 50 ($45) and 100 ($55) ml Eau de Parfum and in matching body products.
* Thanks to readers APassionateJourney and jonr951 for pointing that out, because otherwise I'm sure I would have said my usual "It smells just like something else that I can't quite put my finger on..."
Hmm. Thanks for the review.
All I have to add is that the bottle looks like some kind of Erté-Cher-Bob Mackie thing.
The bottle is very puzzling to me…it does not seem like the sort of bottle that would appeal to her presumed target market.
Agree. But — I think it’s supposed to be a fish tail?
Yep.
I see the seashell/ mermaid tail thing going on with the bottle and it seems well suited to the rest of the ad….in fact, I kinda like the bottle…..unfortunately the bottle may well be the best feature of this venture.
Look at me not making a single snarky anti-Paris Hilton comment! I am being sooo good.
Hardly! I caught that ‘bottle is the best thing’ dig!!
that there tweren’t no dig…that there wuz jest the true facts.
What? Are you shooting to be an honorary Kentuckian with the accent?!? LOL!
Ha! I have the most mixed up accent —I’ve lived in New Jersey, Idaho, Montana, New York, Virginia (where I went to school with a bunch of girls from S.Carolina and Mississippi) Texas and Michigan….plus I’m a natural mimic…put me in a room with some heavily accented folk and in 10 minutes I’ll sound just like em without even realizing I’m doing it. J thinks I should have been a cartoon voice over artist. Not a lot of call for that in small town mid-michigan…
Ha!
Funny, I look at the bottle and see more of an Egyptian-Cleopatra headressy thing. As bottles go, I think it’s kind of interesting in a cheapish way. Love her or hate her (and I’m indifferent in an amused way) the woman is certainly a master of self-promotion.
Robin, I commend you for continuing to test these PH scents even though you haven’t been too impressed with them!
Your mention of Viva La Juicy reminded me that I rubbed a Lola scent strip on my wrist the other day, and it reminded me quite a bit of VLJ. Did you get that from Lola, too? Are they all from Firmenich? Funny that as a review of VLJ in one of the PTG updates, Tania wrote:
“I suspect that Firmenich keeps a swimming-pool-sized vat filled with a diabolically saccharine standard mixture of fruit flavor, vanilla, and musk, fixed with a tap, for perfumers to decant for clients who use pink in the packaging.”
Well, doesn’t look like Siren has that pink packaging theme, and Lola doesn’t really either, but sounds like they all may come from similar vats!!!
(BTW – I don’t hate either VLJ or Lola, but they’re both a bit too sweet for my taste.)
You know, I really didn’t get VLJ from Lola. And I didn’t love Lola, but I’d say it’s better than either VLJ or Siren, and not quite so “pink” & sweet. It does, however, have tons of pink pepper, and I think I’m getting really sick of pink pepper — it has a way of making everything smell like it came from the same vat, even if it isn’t quite the same vat as the one VLJ came from
Wow, doesn’t NST have better perfumes to review? Sorry to be so negative: I saw the ad in a magazine, and was hoping to avoid further encounter with this particular addition to celebutante genre, let alone on NST.
But you never know when you will find a gem hidden among the sweet, fruity rubble!
Exactly. And if there turn out to be no gems amidst the fruity pebbles (er, rubble), then your world-view is thereby affirmed. It’s all good.
I like the mixture of high-end and normal perfumes here. Not all of us can afford to buy expensive perfumes all the time, and I don’t care what anyone says, Wind Song is still one of my all-time favorites.
We try to cover everything from mass (which admittedly we don’t do such a great job on) to celebrity to mainstream designer to niche. I’ve done all of the PH scents so far, and won’t give up now, LOL…
Robin, you have a constitution of cast iron for sure.
While I would no more stick a bottle of this under my nose than sniff the gift the neighbor’s dog leaves on my lawn, I ALWAYS read Robin/Kevin/Angela’s reviews of these things. The entertainment value is priceless!
Robin covers the celeb fragrances. She isn’t a perfume snob. That’s another reason why she’s great. She’ll test anything once
Thanks for shoputing me out, Robin!
That’s kind, but I’d still say I’m a perfume snob…and certainly other people say it
And thank YOU for taking the time to comment about the VLJ…they really are quite similar, esp. after the top notes wear off.
Robin, I wouldn’t say you’re a perfume snob. A real Perfume Snob wouldn’t have even taken the time to smell a Paris Hilton fragrance, let alone post a review of it on their website. I love that you give everything a chance
That being said, I don’t get why people act like they’re afraid to say what they’re wearing. If it’s what you like, it’s what you like, and anyone who turns their nose up at you because you’re wearing a PH fragrance isn’t someone you’d want to be your friend anyways. No harm, no foul
No, Paris Hilton shouldn’t be a role model for young girls, but no celebrity should be. We don’t know these people personally. They should entertain us and that is it.
No, I wouldn’t mind saying I was wearing a PH scent if it was good! And have a feeling it would get a better reaction than whatever obscure thing I’m usually wearing.
Kess, I totally understand your utter fatigue over the omnipresence of annoying celebutantes….Let’s lament together (chant with me now) “oh, why won’t Paris just GO AWAY!??” but like Death, Taxes and Saved by the Bell reruns….Prayers, chants and voodoo dolls full of pins don’t seem to do the trick. But maybe it’s like you can’t fully appreciate happiness if you’ve never experienced sorrow……
For a minute I misread “Just Me” and thought it was called “Bite Me” and kept right on reading without thinking that this was, perhaps, a misreading on my part. I think I have too much difficulty separating the person (or “the brand”) from the product!
You must have been confused with the perfume *I* put out in response to Paris Hilton’s fragrances (and Paris Hilton in general), which was, in fact, called Bite Me. It was of limited distribution, so many may not have heard of it. I will soon be releasing the companion fragrance, in response to her continued attempts at cornering the market on crap perfume, called Suck It.
Lol, miss kitty v. Do either of these come in a limited edition 2 ml parfum extrait encapsulated by a Swarovski-covered flacon, numbered and signed, of course?
If the Juicy Coutures come in a roller ball (even if the MJ Lola does, too, I suppose) I might just buy them. I bought a bottle of PH’s original after liking a sample I got, but it most often sits unused now. I think both the fragrance, and the face behind it, are just tolerable in small doses a couple times a year. Strike that. The *fragrance* is just tolerable a couple times a year. Paris much less than that.
Can I suggest a third for your line?.. Choke (on) It.
LOL comment win, misskitty.
Spewing my tea here this a.m., Miss Kitty!!!
Thanks, Miss Kitty, you totally made my day!
LOL! I don’t think I can beat Miss Kitty’s answer.
Hahaha. I’m the sort of person who would love to where a fragrance called Bite Me. Think of the the fun you’d have when people ask what your wearing?
I’m a little snobbish because I don’t want to admit I’m wearing Paris Hilton. She just shouldn’t be little girl’s role model. And I know little girls who fixate on her. I actually like Hannah Montana. Does she have a fragrance?
If she does, I’ve never heard of it. But I know nothing about HM either. Will have to take your word for it that she’s a better role model. Still, seems to me the best route is for little girls to not make celebrities their role models, or at the very least to have a healthy amount of skepticism regarding consumer products fronted by celebrities.
Hmmm…after reading the keywords “sweet and fruity”, “loud”, and “screechy”, I think I’ll pass.
LOL…surely you won’t give up so easily as all that?
I was going into some sort of sugar shock reading the notes, I”m afraid that “loud” “screechy” “sweet n fruity” just nudged me over the edge.
and see? still no anti-PH snark from me! —my self control is made of pure twisted blue steel! grrrrr.
I say let loose before you have a coronary.
that would be bad….my brain might be swelling a bit…I mean, Paris Hilton is sort of a Snark Smorgasbord.
The packaging looks as if she must have asked her creative team to create the design that is least likely to attract anyone with a sense of shame, regardless of how decent the perfume may be. Does this girl-woman have an ounce of taste? I’m waiting for the punch line, actually…OK, petty rant over.
That’s assuming she has a creative team at all. I have a feeling she wisely leaves everything up to Parlux: they’ve made her quite a tidy sum so far with very little effort expended on her part.
Hey, I’m the last person to defend Paris Hilton, but it’s well known she has great stylists and make up artists that make up her ‘team’. And I agree with Robin, she probably leaves it all up to Parlux and just signs when appropriate.
it’d be the only time Paris Hilton did something that was appropriate.
oops, a little tiny bit slipped out….
btw, I’m not afraid to say that I’m a snob when it comes to PH fragrances.
No way, no how am I going to try this!
C’mon. If I said it was the best fragrance of the year, you still wouldn’t try it just because Parlux stuck her name on it?
Okaaay, I would! lol If it were my dream perfume, I wouldn’t care if it was made by Paris
There, see? LOL…
I want to know who buys these. I’m not being snobby (I think she’s pretty useless, but hey now, I did buy her album), just honestly curious: are there legions of Paris fans across the country snapping these up? Or in international markets? Is she Big In Japan…?
Maybe people don’t care it’s a Paris product and honestly just like the stuff. Which I can’t hate on…
The girls that came in asking for PH frags were about 13-17.
On the one hand, it puzzles me too, on the other, I know people buy all sorts of fragrances just for the name.
A lot of Paris Hilton fragrances come off to me as knockoffs of fragrance predecessors.
Paris Hilton reminds me of Ralph, Fairy Dust of Juicy Couture, and Can Can of Flowerbomb.
Coincidence?
True, but also true of many, many mainstream fragrances: they’re all copying what works.
Ralph. Now there’s an unfortunate name for a fragrance.
Agreed. Its just not a pretty name, imho.
Great review, as always! Can’t wait for your review on Queen and Fancy Love. Yeah I find Siren to be much better then all of her previous afforts. Even her original. Still, its just a Viva copycat. Viva is extremely popular and I think Siren will be even more so for its price compared to Viva. I wont be needing a bottle though. Thanks again for the review!
But you know, despite the fact that I don’t love the Viva bottle nearly so much as the original JC bottle, the Viva bottle blows this PH Siren bottle away. I never am sure how much the bottle matters, but I just cant’ see the right age group loving this bottle.
The most amazing thing I find that someone actually buys it! No offence
Apparently so!
Thanks for taking yet another bullet for us!
De nada.
I bet her own mother wouldn’t be caught dead at the country club smelling like any of these scents. Denise
HA…her mother has her own scent. I’ve already forgotten what it’s called.
It’s called “My Secret”. Clever!
Right, thanks! We posted about it but I still forgot.
Oh. Well. Ummmm. Let’s see, she’s got on more clothes on the box than she usually does. Then there’s that Greek ruin behind her. Ok, that’s enough. No. Wait. Fish Tail. NOW I’m done.
P.S. Wouldn’t wear it to a skunk rassle.
ok, ummm….just what WOULD you wear to a skunk rassle? Not that I’m planning on attending one in the near future, just curious and all. And for clarification….would the fragrance be to get them rassling, stop them from rassling , or just to blend in with said rassling? ( enquiring minds want to know)
When one attends a skunk ‘rassle, one can choose to be appropriate and wear black tie (if the ‘rassle starts after 6 p.m., of course), or, at a more formal ‘rassle, white tie. Or, if one is a rapscallion at a ‘rassle, one wears a straw hat, gingham chaps, chews jimson weed, and wears a LOT of fruity-floral perfume with red pepper, lychee and, ummm, mayonnaise and tomato juice.
You know, I actually DID observe a skunk rassle once. Two baby skunks were play-fighting in a friend’s backyard, making funny little chirping noises and emitting stink bombs. The whole house smelled like skunk! It would have taken some pretty powerful juice to cover that up.
LOL!
Or to blot out the inevitable results of a skunk rassle? Hey, there’s the topic for a Lazy Poll: What WOULD you wear to a skunk rassle and why?
The bottle is not bad, a bit gaudy. If you’re after ornate bottles may I suggest googling famous Arabic fragrance designers – yes they exist although I don’t remember reading a review here – anyway they usually sell fantastic bottles, some set in silver, with the fragrance, and when your fragrance runs out you can send the bottle back to be refilled. Ecological or what?
No way will I buy this fragrance and if I get it as a present – very unlikely – it will be recycled.
Next on my budget are Lalique Encre Noire (for her or for him, depending on how the new feminine version develops) and Artisan’s Havana Vanilla.
Niles Goddess, I’d be very happy to google those famous Arabic fragrance designers if you’d mention a few names!
try Ajmalpefume.com then go to Brands and Ethnic chic….gawgeous bottles….I have decants of 3 of their frags…nice and spendy
Those 2 are big on my list too! Hope to review the L’Artisan on Thursday.
I love your Celebrity Scent Hierarchy: “just fine” “a bit less than fine” and “comically less than fine.” You are so kind. xoxo
Ha, although this review does not encompass the best case scenario: “much darned better than you’d expect” (Halle Berry, SJP Lovely, etc)
I made a special trip out this week to smell Miss Hilton’s line. It wasn’t bad, but it certainly wasn’t memorable. Smelling one after the other, I was able to decern the differences, but none of them mattered to me. Glad she’s making money and giving people jobs, but she will have to do something else to get money from me.
Guessing you, like me, are not in her target audience: she doesn’t apparently have to do anything new to make money from her target audience except put out a new perfume every year
sorry to post this late ( I had no internet recently) but I had to say I’m SO with you there APassionateJourney!!!!!
The bottle is gorgeous. I might have to buy it just for that. ^_^;
I’m sure they won’t mind
Siren = Alarm
I still haven’t stopped sniggering over Can Can.
“I smelt Paris Hilton’s Can Can.”
“Darling, half of Hollywood has done that.”
Does she come up with these names on purpose? Is she secretly friends with the uberarch Alan Cumming, who has his own amusingly named fragrance range. Or is it all a tragic reflection of the fact that the poor child was named after a hotel near the Arc de Triomphe. The trauma obviously marked her.
Ha! But what does she care, she’s laughing all the way to the (Swiss) bank.
Paris’ new one is called Tease!! It comes out in the summer. I like the ad and name. The bottles not doing anything for me. Its purple. The notes are Fuji apple, white peach nectar, bergamot, sunny sea mist accord, frangipani, night blooming jasmine, tuberose, amber, blonde woods, and a warm sand accord. I’ll try it when I see it. : )
Thanks, will keep an eye out for it too!