Adam Levine for Women

Everyone swoons over niche fragrances and designer scents. Just ask the people over at Tom Ford. Make the price unattainable to the masses; stir a sense of mystery, add a dash of elite pretension, and you have yourself a flash-over success story. Even if it doesn't blow one's hair back, the population of those who dislike your product, is automatically reduced, and considerably so. Most will try everything in their power to love a nuance or two, of that gas bill money they spent on a promise or a name. They will devote the better part of a year, pining for one redemption, one sweet nod or breath, to let them know their efforts haven't been entirely in vain. And when all hope is lost vindicating the purchase, at least they are noble in ownership. (Remember Jack Nicholson's coffee in the Bucket List?) It's human nature I suppose. Then there are the subterranean lot: those who hate to love, and love to hate conspicuous scents, for being just out of reach - both in wallet and in concept. Let's face it, good companies can still make bad choices. For the latter populous, perfumes that manage to be delicious, ostentatious and can hold their notes like a baritone built for Broadway, all the while offering budget-friendly, affordable prices, are indescribably delightful! Adam Levine just so happens to be that surprising! This 100 ml bottle was purchased for less than a pack of cigarettes, and although my impulse was to grab without regret for such a low price, I had some serious misgivings. To start, I couldn't give a toot about Adam Levine. He resides somewhere with Justin Bieber, The Spice Girls, and the Jonas Brothers, to name a few. Secondly, the bottle is ten shades of tacky! (I love it though - God help me, I love it!). But mostly, it was an unshakable annoyance of buying a scent that seemed too familiar. At first sniff, I could have sworn this was some knock off of Montana 80, which was already a dupe of Crystal Noir, which was kind of like Seduction Noir - and the band goes on and on. So, I've sat on it...till today. Feeling a little sullen on another grey day, I decided to see how closely related they were by conducting a little Pepsi challenge, and found them to be quite different. Adam Levine does have a vanilla and sandalwood creamy center, which makes it very reminiscent of coconut, but the 'clean' component is colder - sharper. Clever use of benzoin and marigold make this happen; peppery and frozen. "Spice notes" listed are vague both in script and in nose, not that they need to be more specific, for they do their job as counterbalance. Properly juxtaposed, and adding warmth by comparison. Strangely, the smell of saffron is distinguishable, as are the citrus notes, almost illuminating the dry down. Softer tones of jasmine and rose, deepening an already pleasing aroma, seem slightly soapy and clean. Sillage is mid range, which gives this a comfy, versatile swagger. I feel the scent absolutely gender neutral. But, sweet Baby Jesus! The longevity is tremendous! Even still, I indulgently reapplied for the sake of those purely happy top notes. So applause to Adam Levine for achieving something that's frankly wonderful, and with a different name, would have cost more than we'd admit to our priests. And if that simply won't celebrate this cheap and cheerful bounty, you can always use the bottle to serenade a masterpiece of your own. Don't be shy! Grab that mic, and own your space! I did, and it was fabulous! Besides, you just bought a Yann Vasnier for under $10! Hoo-Rah!

I HAVE BEEN SITTING ON THIS PIECE OF PERFECTION, AND I AM ASHAMED. I avoided (blind) buying this because of the top notes. Spices, marigold, saffron, and citruses doesn't sound like a mixture that delights me. Spices (sorry, SPICES) is wildly vague - just makes me think of an old pantry. Marigold as a perfume note confuse me. I grow marigolds in my garden, and my Dad was King of the Marigolds (No joke, they gathered as a bouquet and crowned him) and... they don't really have a fragrance aside from 'vegetation'. Saffron is a bit hit-or-miss for me. In "BR540", it's fine. In "Agent Provocateur", it's unnoticeably (but that smells like pink musk sticks to me, so take that with a grain of salt), and I don't enjoy it in "Black Saffron". Citrus after all the spices? Weird, man. I also avoided this because of Adam Levine, honestly. I'm not a big fan. Like, I don't despise the guy, but he's never won me over with his acutely irritating singing voice, his terrible tattoos, and the less said about that God-awful bleached hair era, the better, I say. But I don't despise him. THIS PERFUME, THOUGH. Sh*t, it's good. I've slowly been developing a love of certain spicy, woody, arguably-unisex scents such as "Stash", "Santal Blush", "Santal 33", and "Sensuous" (why do they all start with S?! Conspiracy rising), and this is most definitely the sweetest out of them! It's not a lolly/sugary sweet. This is warm, honeyed, smooth vanilla (and benzoin, I suppose). When I first bought it, I couldn't smell a thing. Not a single note. It had to sit a day or two to give off something. Truly, though, it has to sit on your skin to bloom. And bloom it does! It starts with a sweet, salivatory woodiness. Just warm, sweet, sexy, and womanly! Then it calms down a bit and becomes a *smidge* powdery...or even creamy! The florals come out a tiny bit. Oddly, it makes me think of individual jasmine flowers and rose petals floating in a bowl of warmed oil in a dimly-lit room. Quite oriental. All the time it has this beautiful sweetness that never overwhelms. It's so much better on skin, I can't tell you. I feel like I intoxicate the room when I wear this. Whether I do or not is irrelevant. It's gives me that buzz, and that's hella important. The box packaging is uninspiring, Jesus H. Christ. The bottle as a microphone is...understandable with a celebrity singer as the face, but still seems weird given the actual scent. As in, I don't understand what singing has to do with the perfume - is there an advertisement I don't know about that explains it all? Longevity is pretty good. Projection is okay - could be better. I want people in Antarctica to smell me when I wear this. Repurchase-worthy! *** Kitty rating: 9/10.

As a longtime devotee of the original EL Sensuous, I'm always looking for similar scents that I might like as much or better, so I put aside my aversion to Adam Levine's music and overall mien after hearing that his juice was remarkably like Sensuous, and I bought a bottle blind (in my defense, it was heavily discounted online). I find the bottle slightly cheesy (a microphone: you're a singer, I get it, but please don't remind me) but the packaging was weirdly nice and highly functional for a cheapie, and the fragrance is indeed a hell of a lot like Sensuous, something I really did not want to admit. It might even be a bit stronger than the current formulation of Sensuous, which doesn't seem to last on me nearly as long as it did back when my FIL gave me my first bottle, in 2008 or 2009 or thereabouts. (I don't wear it that often, so I know it's not anosmia by overuse). And perhaps most like Sensuous, Adam Levine for Women has a name that I find deeply embarrassing to say out loud, should anyone ask me what scent I'm wearing. For years Sensuous was the only scent quite like it, but it would appear that AL and others have bit its steez. Fine by me, because I really like that sweet balsamic peppery sandalwood note on my skin. It's a bit of a break from my usual ultra-femme florals, and I like to reset my olfactory receptors sometimes. The two fragrances are not exactly the same. ALfW has (at least to my nose) a more dominant jasmine note in the drydown, with somewhat less honey and pepper. Sensuous smells a bit drier and less "perfumey," and I think the sandalwood accord might be composed of slightly better ingredients (not that I am capable of discerning necessarily). I'm pretty sure they are both discontinued now (EL Sensuous is for sure), but one is heavily discounted and the other is more expensive than ever and likely to get more so as the supply shrinks. I feel less compelled to look for backups of Sensuous knowing that alternatives exist, cheaper ones with names that are only equally embarrassing. Update: I just looked up the nose, and it's Yann Vasnier. I like that so much I am going to refer to this perfume as Yann Vasnier for Women. Problem solved! Update: I ordered a larger bottle because this actually outperforms Sensuous in its current formulation, and I'd say I like it about 85% to 90% as much as Sensuous in its glory days, so what the hell? I have enough room in the cold locker.

I have three tiny sample bottles of this and I am absolutely in love with it! I've worn it for a week straight and I'm into my second vial already, I will definitely be getting several bottles of this as I can see it being one of my signature scents. The juice in my samples is a light peach colour, I've seen some bottles which are a deep amber shade. On my skin it is a beautiful warm, sweet sandalwood with some light florals and a lovely vanilla base that never gets cloying (for me). I don't personally find it to be all that spicy, on my skin any spice in this seems to just translate as warmth and cosiness. I initally detected a note I didn't enjoy too much, maybe the marigold? However it doesn't bother me anymore and I love it from start to finish, it's just a gorgeous cosy sandalwood. Perfumer Yann Vasnier created Tom Ford Santal Blush in 2011, and then this in 2013. I can see Santal Blush is currently the most similar in the "this perfume reminds me of" section. I haven't ever smelled Santal Blush, but I have a copy of it from Superdrug (Artiscent Atelier Exotique Musk) which I LOVE, but the longevity isn't too great. I get maybe 4 hours from it, it's a creamy, soft, cosy and warm sandalwood (not really any spice) with maybe a touch of florals, I don't know how similar it is to Tom Ford but I love it. The Superdrug copy and Adam Levine are very similar but Adam Levine is more floral and "perfumey". What I really appreciate about it is that whilst it's warm and cosy, the vanilla is never too much. In some fragrances I have (Mon Guerlain + flankers, Dior Addict, Dior Hypnotic Poison, NR Musc Noir Rose), I can find the vanilla to become too rich, cloying, sickly and heavy. This is cosy and warm but it's never once veered into cloying territory and I REALLY appreciate that! This feels gorgeous, warm and classy. It's also really making me want to sample Tom Ford Santal Blush!

Contemporary EXOTIC SANDALWOOD. Signed by perfumer Yann Vasnier, this baby opens with a burst of spicy, buttery marigold with faint aromatic & citrus nuances, that deepens into a creamy sandalwood heart with floral touches from jasmine & rose, all resting on a benzoin-vanilla base. On the skin, I get additional creamy nutmeg, honey & ylang (not listed). Requires a few months of dark storage after first sprays, even with aged vanilla, for the sandalwood to be consistent (new bottle was touchy, sometimes pulling dill), and performance to develop. Above average performance with fantastic projection. Overall: beautiful sandalwood scent profile, this is the perfect scent to wear for an exotic vibe. Totally Addictive. It's a love for me. Enjoy! Contrast to Sensuous EDP Estee Lauder: These are different but there are some similarities. Adam Levine for Women has a much bolder approach with aromatic touches, Sensuous starts softer, building momentum, and dries down with more honey and a smoother approach. Adam Levine for Women projects better in the opening, but both have good longevity. Update 12/12/24: Sprayed this on yesterday and today. Love this deep, warm, sandalwood scent in this cold weather we're having. Something so comforting here. There's a mix of creamy sweet sandalwood and dry sandalwood here, and although it's predominantly a sandalwood-vanilla scent, but I'm also enjoying the spice blend - a mix of cardamom, cinnamon, pepper and others if I had to guess. It's not a beast, but has quite good performance nevertheless. The juice is a dark caramel colour and lasts about 12 hours on my skin with good projection for the first 4-6, and 24 hours on clothing. Still a love.

I have to say that I love Sensuous more than any perfume I’ve ever had. The original version was so perfect for me, but I still love it even though it has been reformulated at least twice. Right next to it in my top 5 are my most-mourned scents - the original Organza Indecence and the discontinued Spark by Liz Claiborne. That said, Adam Levine for Women is not a dupe for the honeyed, deep, woody, amber joy that is Sensuous, but that’s just fine. It doesn’t have to be. AL definitely resembles it, but it’s a great perfume in its own right. Oddly enough, I couldn’t bear it for the first two months I had it. It was a blind buy that I thought was a failure. I kept trying it every now and then, but it smelled just awful on me - wet hay and Grey Flannel. I put it away for nearly a year, and while getting together items to donate to the thrift store, I pulled it out of exile and tried it again. Oh my, I was so glad I did! Beautiful!! Amazing performance! I went a little crazy with it and applied it each day in the morning and before bed for a solid week. I simply can’t believe the bargain price of this gem. If you like Sensuous, to me there is a soapiness in AL in the first couple of hours that is never present in Sensuous. AL is drier, a little stand-offish, and not as rich, but quite similar to Sensuous while still being very beautiful in itself. The performance is just outstanding. I have a back-up bottle and plan to order a second. This perfume may be the best thing Adam Levine ever produced, and I mean that in the nicest possible way.

I've just ordered this blindly going off the reviews. Also, such a cheapie that's supposed to be a dupe to a perfume that's over a 100 bucks?! Count me in! Will be updating as soon as I have tested it! EDIT Ok so it's in! I love it, but it takes some getting used to! It's slightly more (soapy) floral than I'm used to, but I'll try layering it with a vanilla to see how it works on me. If you take Versace Crystal Noir, and you amped up the woodiness x2, and add a bunch of white flowers and jasmin, this is what you'd get. This holds the EXACT middle between a 'rich bitch'-perfume and a cozy gourmand for fall, leaning just a tad bit more towards the first. Very well executed, and original! Because of this combination, I would personally classify this as 'niche'. If I didn't know this was a celebrity perfume, I would have never guessed. Not totally safe blind buy, but if you're feeling adventurous and can appreciate woody unisex leaning scents, go for it! For this price it's a steal! Edit 2 Soapiness gets more and more in the background as time goes by. It becomes more of a skin scent, a day at the beach where you've lathered yourself with Hawaiian Tropic but you've also gone for a swim and there's some sand on your arms, your skin is warmed by the sun. This is what your arm would smell like (though not at all sunscreen like!) I'm loving it more and more as I wear it. It's so good, and hella underrated. I don't understand how no-one (on perfumetok) is talking about it. Blows my mind!

Ok so,I was going back and fourth on this fragrance for weeks/months now. I was literally driving myself crazy on weather to buy this,or not! I finally just said F it! and blind bought this. And OH MAN! Let me tell you! I'm sooooooooo glad I did! This is absolutely beautiful! I paid just under 11 dollars for a 1.7 ounce bottle that was brand new! (eBay) The bottle is gorgeous,and the cap stays on so nice and snug. The box is so sleek and chic. ON MY SKIN,The marigolds are so prominent,I smell them from start to finish,they are absolutely beautiful! I get very mild jasmine. I get the vanilla,and benzoin. It's fruity,sweet,floral,and golden. It's definitely a warm gourmand fragrance. With the notes listed, and the way things are blended,it almost has an underlying butterscotch smell. On myself, I do not get a lot of spices or sandalwood like everyone else (I'm glad for that) This smells like a sweet,cashmere sweater! Super comforting! As for this being unisex,I really don't see this as a unisex fragrance. I think it may be a tad too sweet for a male,but that's just my opinion. For me it definitely leans more feminine. All in all,I really think this is a winner! From the juice,to the bottle,to the design and font. My ONLY negative opinion with this fragrance is the lasting power. It doesn't last past three hours,on me. As for lasting power on clothing, not entirely sure. I'm super happy none the less :) Definitely worth it!

What a warm, sensual goodie this Adam Levine is. It is also complicated in that the scent morphs quite beautifully over time. This is a really great sandalwood that has the quirky marigold note and a touch of spice to shake things up and add a unique quality to this perfume. Marigolds smell really weird in real life so I was kind of hesitant at first. Not to worry. Smooth vanilla gives a comforting sweetness that isn't gourmand, but for lovers of sweet fumes like me, makes this a comforting choice that's oh so easy on the nose and feels heavy and thick like a warm blanket. This scent kind of hugs you. I also agree with those who found the thick coconut vibe for awhile. The dry woody drydown is similar in character to that of JLo's Glowing on me. This perfume starts to fade down to balsamic woods after about 3 hrs, BUT something amazing happens after that, and you get a lingering benzoin/sandalwood skin scent for at least 3 more hours-it comes off as kind of dry/spicy/smoky, maybe also salty? I could hardly believe it. The spot where I sprayed my shirt smelled divine for over 10 hrs. All in all quite cozy. My nose loves this. This is really well done and a bargain find.

I had no idea that this existed, until it showed up in a 'This perfume reminds me of' on Estée Lauder Sensuous. That comparison and that Yann Vasnier is the nose behind this fragrance, convinced me to blind buy this one and I'm so glad that I did! The packaging (once you remove the photo slip cover!) is quite nice. The box is minimalist as is the bottle, which is weighty with a well fitting silver cap, showcasing the amber juice inside. This is a lovely creamy, spicy sandalwood. The Saffron and Marigold are there with a dry citrus note, like orange rind. I don't detect any Jasmine or Rose. The vanilla and Benzoin add a light, slightly boozy sweetness, which thankfully doesn't smother everything else, leaving the Sandalwood as the dominant note. Longevity and projection are both moderate. I've only had this for a few days and have already been complimented a couple of times. One lady even asked if it was Estée Lauder 👌 Confirmation that this wonderful cheepy smells much more expensive than it is! My 100ml bottle came from Notino for just £8! I've already ordered another 2 bottles because know that I'll be using it a lot 😊

I was pumped to find this at Burlington even though the 100ML was $20 (twice the price I've seen it online.) Quickly snatched it up, only to discover the sprayer was broken once I got to my car and opened it. I returned it, but I'm glad I was able to get a whiff of it, I'm happy to know--it smells fantastic. I'm definitely going to purchase online for the tiny price. I think it smells strongly of sandalwood (which smells more sweet, resinous, and creamy than woody, if you don't believe me, buy a pure sandalwood perfume oil. I was surprised when I bought one, and discovered that the "woody" smells in a lot of perfumes are not coming from the sandalwood.) I also get the other spicy notes which are very pleasant. I don't think I own any other perfumes with a saffron note, so for the price, I'm gonna try again. With my limited testing, it reminds me of CK Obsession without the aromatics. Nice! Update: my bottle arrived, it's pure bliss. The bottle and cap aren't too cheap looking, and the scent is fantastic, as I remembered from the store. Heavy on sandalwood and very feminine, warm, alluring.

I really love it!!! I think it will shine better in the cooler weather, but I wear whatever I want to year round. It smells beautiful to me and smells a lot more expensive that it was, even at its original, higher price. If I didn't know the price, I'd put this up there with other $130 perfumes. I bought 2 bottles at Ross for $9.99 I think it's perfectly unisex, so I wonder if that's why a lot of women don't like it? Maybe they associate the scent more with males? It's a gorgeous, creamy sandalwood and Amber fragrance that's a somewhat spicy and balsamic vanilla! Some of the bold florals are noticable like saffron & marigold, but they don't overwhelm the fragrance, just like the spices don't either. It's very well blended. It's VERY long lasting with great sillage! I hate that this got discontinued. I think it was probably from lack of enough marketing. I never heard about it until it was already at the discounter retailers. I've never smelled Santal 33 by Le Labo, but a lot of people tell me that this smells just like it and the 2 smell just alike.

AL for Her is smooth, vanilla-woody, unisex, boozy, and lasts longer than 90% of my other perfumes. It’s still in the category of “whaaaa?” and “how?” For me in my collection. I got a 2-pack for around 8 bucks at Burlington one time and it gave me such a surprise! Warm, almost smoldering... the richness of the juice was beyond my expectations. Maybe it’s that benzoin? The liquid is dark golden brown. When autumn 🍂 🎃 hits, this fragrance comes out like the queen she is! I like Santal Blush but it doesn’t hit like this one, and Sensuous gave me a sort of gag reflex so while I see the comparison, AL is its own animal! P.S. I think you might have to like mature and/or unisex fragrances to enjoy this one. Sometimes the marigold + spice can come off as a dusty/bitter layer, giving a short-lived note of vintage that I actually enjoy, but different noses might find unpleasant? Blind buy worthy if this note doesn’t scare you!👻

This is so warm, spicy and comfortably cosy. The amount of sweetness is perfect, it takes some of the masculine edge off without making it overtly sugary. The blend is really smooth, which isn't always the case with woody scents in my opinion (this wood is almost silky). I found out that it's made by the same nose who mad Tom Ford Santal Blush, so I guess it makes sense that they're similar in scent and quality. I think everything about this, from scent to longevity and packaging is really high quality. The value for the cost is unbeatable. I still understand why the rating is a bit low, it's not a typical celebrity scent so there can definitely be a bit of a mismatch between buyers and the product. It leans unisex, so if you're not into that it's probably not for you.

Oh. My. What a beauty. The opening has the classic marigold/spices that feels vintage for the first few minutes if this bothers wait for the dry down please. Originally bought because it was such a decent price and compared to TF santal blush which I adore but would never pay for a full bottle. Vibes are the same but I would say sisters not twins. This is such a beautiful cozy sent. The dry down smells like an effortless everyday sent. Perfect for sweater weather. Sandalwood is slightly dry and has a toasted coconut feel. Benzoin and vanilla give a creamy and suttle sweetness, but not too sweet. This is a 10/10 for me and my style. It is femme leaning Unisex. Blind buy worthy. Edit: This might be my favorite Sandalwood I own. Lasts ages on clothes and skin.

This is definitely to me unisex. With that said. I got it in the mail, proceeded to spray it on. then right before the door I sprayed it on again. I went out for dinner. The bartender asked me is that you that smells so good? Normally I am resigned to Hey, if I don’t get a compliment I’m good. but it took me sideways cause she noticed it right away... this reminds me very much of Chanel although Chanel is more in your face.. best budget buy I have ever made. It smells expensive leans unisex to masculine, but still women can wear it and easily get away with it because it is for women .. it reminds me very much of Coco mademoiselle only lighter, not as sweet, and not in your face. Just a really good cheap buy that smells way more expensive than it is.

In a limitless realm of scents, "Adam Levine for Women" defies namesake bounds, embracing all genders. The bottle looks like a rockstar’s mic, while the fragrance is a map leading to uncharted unity. Imagine a scent where spices entwine with marigold, a prelude to a warm journey. Australian sandalwood steals the show, a cozy embrace of earthiness. Affordable yet opulent, it leaves aromatic whispers on fabrics, a fragrant secret keeper. As autumn arrives, it radiates warmth, filling spaces with its allure. Elegance and sophistication blend, crafting a chic aura that captivates subtly. Floral-woody amber evokes a distant Hindu puja, merging devotion with grace.

I just got this and I really like it. It reminds me of a Byredo scent that I have previously smelled from a bunch of samples I bought in a lot. I can’t remember which one, but it was the mulled spices one that I said I would love to have for Christmas. Byredo is not in my price range so this is a nice alternative. Very spicy, I smell the sandalwood, it’s not for everyone but I appreciate this type of scent from a celebrity. He didn’t go straight to the sugary sweets to get the numbers. Oh yes I like this a lot I keep sniffing my wrist. Glad I got my hands on this and at 9 dollars on Amazon, I’d say it’s a steal.

An unqualified triumph from Yann Vasnier! Don't let the deep discounts or the skeezy celebrity behind the name deter you from trying ALfW. It's one of the nicest celebrity fragrances out there, especially if you enjoy sandalwood, balsam, and jasmine. It's more of a cousin to Estee Lauder Sensuous than a sister, and I see no reason not to have them both. The late drydown is vaguely Guerlainish, a nice sweet accord of vanilla and benzoin. It becomes a skin scent after about eight hours, but dear lord, what do you expect from a perfume that costs ten bucks?

I see lots of reviews that say this lives up to the hype. I’m gonna go out on a limb and say this is still grossly under appreciated. Just get a bottle. Don’t think twice. Whether this is your style or not, you will appreciate how this is executed. For me, this is less Adam Levine and more Sam Smith if you know what I mean. Really soulful but not trying too hard. Incredibly bright not loud/screechy. Smooth AF. Polite spicy. Steady for hours. I wear this to Trader Joe’s in a crop top when I’m not bloated.