Today we're helping Alisha, a high school student in India who says she is new to perfume. Alisha is a "total extrovert" who loves to dance and make new friends. She's looking for a casual-wear fragrance that won't cost more than $100, and it needs to be something from a mainstream brand because that is all she has access to.
Alisha likes sweet, fruity, (maybe fruity more than sweet) lively perfumes. Notes she likes include citrus, strawberry, orange, amber, tangerine blossom, vanilla and wood. Perfumes she has used in the past include Banana Republic Jade, Burberry Brit, CK In2U Pop, CK In2U, and Salvatore Ferragamo Incanto and Pour Femme. She wants to try Hermès Jardin Sur Le Nil.
Alisha doesn't like rose, or perfumes that are too strong. She did not like Chanel No. 19 (too feminine and grown-up).
Here are some of the fragrances Alisha has tried:
Burberry Weekend: nice, but not fruity enough.
Christian Dior Poison: she likes it, but it's too strong.
Nina Ricci L’Air du Temps: she doesn't like it, it smells weird.
Escada Ocean Lounge: she likes the fruity aspect, but it's too strong: "I don't want to be thought of as a fruit basket."
What say you?
Note: image is Postbox [cropped] by rebel rebel at flickr; some rights reserved.
Well, I’m definitely not an expert in fruity fragrances, but as I was reading the first one that came to mind is Calyx by (now defunct) Prescriptives brand cosmetics, which is still available in department store fragrance counters (though I don’t know about its distribution in India). Calyx is a lovely grapefruit-y floral, definitely not too grown up, but not cloying and chemically as some of the “younger” oriented fragrances tend to be. Also, I think you should definitely try Sur le Nil, if you can get your hands on it…the green mango note is marvelous. Also, I really dig the melon note in Un Jardin Apres La Mousson, also by Hermès. You may find however that these Hermès don’t wow you as they are definitely on the subtle end of the fruity-floral spectrum.
If you want to play up the flirt-factor, I would recommend the new Sarah Jessica Parker, SJP NYC, which I recently tested. It’s got that strawberry note you like! And It’s definitely a fruity-floral with a punch – perfect for someone with an outgoing and lively personality (which I think it what they were after in creating this fragrance: to mirror the Sex & the City style, not so much the characters themselves).
Also, if you like strawberry notes, there is always Fresh Strawberry Flowers, which is not straight up strawberry, more like the idea of strawberry created with fruit & floral notes. Fresh fragrances are generally very light however.
Hmmm, let’s see. That’s all that comes to mind at the moment. Best of luck, Alisha!
Oh I just thought of one more: Estee Lauder Pleasures Exotic!
Actually, Lauder will still be making Calyx–at least that’s what I remember coming out of the fall out. Prescriptive cosmetics = gone, but not Calyx. Don’t know if it will be Prescriptives or Lauder on the bottle in the future, though.
No Prescriptives? Maybe I just imagined that I saw those tubes of powder they used to have at Dillard’s over the holidays. Their Chili Red lipstick was perfection.
Based on the list of notes you like, I would recommend Hanae Mori. The parfum in the clear bottle with the butterfly wing top is less than $100/oz (30ml). I haven’s tried the other strengths, but it is a fruity floral that is sweet in a fresh way. Sort of a grown-up Pink Sugar, but nicer.
Hanae Mori is the one that came first to my mind, too! Alisha, you might try Vera Wang Look and Missoni, as well. Best of luck to you!
Third HM, and second Missoni!
I recommend Moschino, Funny!
Fruity (orange) and lively without being too sweet, and a gorgeous balsam in the base.
That is a fun one, I’d second Funny! as well.
What I wouldn’t give to travel to India for some exotic, spicy scents…and Alisha wants mainstream American fruitiness. Sigh. The grass is always greener…
Anyway, I’ve just pulled many of my old bottles out of retirement.
I like Chanel Chance. It’s fruity and sweet and I used to get tons of compliments on it. Sadly, I’ve outgrown it after nearly eight years. It feels young to me (which would be very appropriate for you Alisha). If it’s too bold you can try the two flankers. The Chance Eau Fraiche is lighter. The Eau Tendre is out in April (I think?) so I haven’t sniffed it yet.
I also like Victoria’s Secret Pink EDP. Their website calls it a green floral, but I find it to be fruity. Granted, my bottle is old so there’s a possibility that it has been reformulated.
I also agree on EL Pleasures exotic. You may want to check out the rest of the Pleasures and Beyond Paradise lines while you’re there.
Good Luck!
I second chance!
I wore VS Pink for years but wouldn’t call it *fruity* – there is some citrus in the topnotes, but it’s largely green notes, peony and freesia to my nose. Unfortunately for Alisha, it’s discontinued. Still available on ebay, I think.
I think you’re right on the grass being greener…
I’m so happy you let me know Pink is discontinued. It’s still on the VS website so I’m going to get the small bottle while I can – mostly for memories’ sake. I sprayed the tiny bit I have left in my bottle this morning and it has turned, turned, turned. Smells like hairspray really.
Eau Tendre was out in February. Ive smelled it already. Its alright.
I’m with you, Lucy. India has always felt like home to me, even though I am from the high plains Texas. Maybe in another life? Who knows. I’ve spent a lot of time there and have travelled extensively in the North and South (east coast – Tamil Nadu), but I need to get back and spend more time in Kerala (west coast). Landing there feels like a big warm hug to me and I’m starting to mist up thinking about walking the streets, the sights, the scents, the trains, the food, and most importantly, the people. I’ve never felt so welcomed by anyone as I did by the people I met in India. It is my true love.
Alisha – I don’t know how postage and customs are, but I am happy to pay the shipping to send you samples of anything you want if it is permitted. I am julia941 at yahoo dot com and also on MUA.
You should write travel brochures
What about Miss Dior Cherie? Strawberry, but not TOO sweet. Fruity isn’t usually my thing and I want to hate this one, but I keep going back to sniff it.
2nd Miss Dior Cherie…that is what came to mind right away. And how about the new Chloe?
Good ones recommended so far and I’d like to add Daisy and Miss Dior Cherie.
Second the Vera Wang Princess. Alisha might also like Marc Jacobs Lola.
What about the DKNY Delicious series? Be Delicious, Red Delicious, and so on…the candy apple flankers might be just the thing.
great minds think alike , we posted that at the same time !!
And me too! Just posted my Nina/Be Delicious comments and up popped yours.
The first one I thought of was Patou Sira des Indes , Annick Goutal eau de Charlotte or Donna Karan Delicious series .
good Luck, there are infinite numbers of scents to try and I hope you enjoy the journey . Don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone !!
Seconding Calyx and Miss Dior Cherie. Nina Ricci Nina might be a good one to try (fruity up top with a vanilla amber drydown…) and also Annick Goutal Eau de Charlotte, if it’s accessible…
Ah, yes, Gilty was typing at the same time I was. Nina in the apple-shaped bottle might be exactly what you’re looking for. And speaking of apple-shaped bottles, you probably have access to DKNY’s Be Delicious, Red Delicious and all the others in that line. There are three new ones in candy-apple colours that are lighter and fruitier and you might fall in love with at least one of them.
Everyone’s on the ball this morning, Alisha, and you’ve got lots of great suggestions already.
Along with the others — I think you might adore Miss Dior Cherie, Hanae Mori, Princess, Lola and SJC NYC, and I’m glad to see you want to try Un Jardin Sur le Nil; do try Un Jardin Apres la Mousson as well — if you’re trying the very pretty Estee Lauder Pleasures Exotic as Lucy recommended, have a spritz of Pleasures Delight while you’re at it. It’s the one with strawberries and it’s very soft and delicious and the quality is very good.
You are a lucky young woman because you’ve got lots of fruity scents to choose from, even though your selection might not be as vast as if you lived in the USA. I wish I could switch places with you and explore all those lovely attars, sandalwoods and jasmines of yours! One of life’s little ironies.
Some really good suggestions have already been posted for you, Alisha. Hope you have fun choosing!
EL Pleasures Delight and Hanae Mori smell somewhat similar to me – delightful berries and sweet vanilla – with HM being a heavier, sweeter scent. Calyx is lovely if you enjoy tropical fruit. How about Juicy Couture?
Alisha, try Escada the summer line – a long-ish parrot – colored flacon. They do a new version each year but frankly they are very similar. The 2010 version is more fruity than sweet – that was your request wasn’t it? Any of them should be good – not too mention they may come with freebies such as pareos or at least body lotion!
Oops you tried an Escada already – in that case:
D&G Light Blue
Dior Addict 2 or even Summer Peonies.
You may also go a bit aquatic – Salvador Dali sea & Sun in Cadaques, or Davidovv Cool Water
And for the ultimate fruity experience, if you get L’Occitane there, try either the cherry blossom or the peach range.
Oops again – Davidoff Cool Water
If there’s the option to shop online, Lancome released a “travel retail” Voyage series, and the first release, Tropiques, has a wonderfully fruity opening with lots of mango and a sweet floral drydown with lots of vanilla. It’s a couple years old, so I don’t imagine it would be something everyone’s wearing, and it works well in all sorts of weather. Notes include cranberry, kumquat, jasmine, vanilla, mango blossom, tonka bean, sandalwood, blackberry blossom and raspberry. It reminds me a bit of HM with more flowers and less berries, at least on my skin, and I love it.
I second Tropiques, come to think of it there is also Benghal, from the same collection, I believe there are three.
If mainstream is all that’s available, that’s a pity.
Are there no Indian “noses” there? I love lighting Indian sticks and think many people would love a sandalwood and incense fragrance designed by an Indian nose, to complement JCE’s.
Apparently, in Tunisian holiday resorts they use oil imported from India to scent the inside of wooden cupboards in hotel room – and we thought it was an Arabic thing!
I love Hermes Sur de Nil..but I think it is quite green…if you like fruity, you may prefer the other Jardin fragrances from Hermes.
What about a trying a sample of Ormonde Jayne Ta’if? or Fragipani (a bit over $100, but can buy it online, I think)…
Escada Ocean Lounge was a fav of my daughter because of the heady, strawberry scent!
How about some of the other Hermes scents? Eau des Merveilles is a beautiful salty orange and Elixir des Merveilles is more of a sweet candied orange with spices and chocolate. Eau de Pamplemousse Rose is a really nice citrus (grapefruit) rose. I also like the Armani Prive “eaux ” that I just bought – Rose Alexandrie. It is a bergamot, rose, citrus that is more sweet than spicy. Light but with good staying power.
For a lively, fruity fragrance that’s wears light and lovely, how about Creed Acqua Fiorentina?
Top Notes: Lightly sweet (mostly tart) plum
Middle Notes: roses (don’t worry, just a smidge), pink carnations, bergamot orange and Calabrian lemon
Base Notes: Virginia cedar and Indian sandalwood
The only problem is the price. Neiman Marcus has a 1 oz for $130.
Par Amour Tourjours by Clarins smells of tangerines to me, with a little rose (Par Amour is much rosier). A lovely summer scent…
I think I always recommend it, but I do love it – Ed Hardy Love & Luck. It’s nice and fruity, but not too much so (there’s a review here for more details).
I would also second several of the recommendations above: EL Pleasures Delight, Marc Jacobs Lola, and Missoni (also all reviewed here at NST).
There’s some great suggestions above.
I immediately thought of Dior Addict 2 — my friend, who loves zippy sweet fruity fragrances, adores it.
Also, I’m not sure if Jo Malone is accessible at the department stores, but if so, Nectarine Blossom & Honey might fit the bill.
Miss Dior Cherrie… will change your life.
I second the EL Pleasures exotic!
Going off some of the notes that you like I would recommend SJP NYC by Sarah Jessica Parker(strawberries) and BCBG Girls Nature by Max Azria (tangerines).
Organza and Organza Indecence by Givenchy. They both are “extrovert” perfumes and are young, rich, and full of laughter.
Hi Alisha,
I’d like to second Marc Jacobs Daisy. It’s definitely got a strawberry note you might like, but enough green to temper the sweet. Best of luck with your search!
how about vera wang princess? here is a description i read on another website. Oriental-floral fragrance, launched in 2006 as a modern and playful magical elixir. It celebrates youth and femininity in its top notes that bring the aquatic nuances with pure and sharp notes of water lily, apple, freshly-sweet mandarin and apricot.
The heart is composed of exotic guava, Tiare flower, tuberose, with a touch of dark chocolate. The base brings powdery traces of vanilla, amber and wood.
The bottle looks like a heart-shaped jewel, very fine and elegant, a symbol of magical charm and romantic in lilac tones. The fragrance comes as Eau de Toilette in 30ml, 50ml and 100ml bottles.
The noses behind this fragrance are Ilias Ermenidis and Harry Fremont.
Maybe the new Bebe perfume?
Sorry for the late late comment! As a Londoner I’d recommend Miller Harris Citron Citron. But is that too niche and not main stream enough?
Otherwise as mentioned above, DKNY delicious serious, D&G light blue and Hermes Eau des Merveilles are definitely good shouts.