Chocolate Dream

Alexandria has two of the best, highest quality vanilla perfumes out there for the price: Chocolate Dream (inspired by Lira) and H'ani (inspired by Ani). Yes, they're dupes, but a much better 'bang for your buck' and arguably better performance based on reviews of the originals [Lira] or reformulations [Ani]). So Chocolate dream/dupe of Lira: gorgeous bordering on aromatic orange-y, caramel-y chocolate vanilla that is very gourmand, vanilla-centric, and did I mention gorgeous? Dry down is ridiculously good, just keeps delving deeper and deeper into this complex vanilla accentuated by the other notes that you truly have to experience to understand. It's difficult to explain. Truly beautiful, like fresh snow falling on a winter morning....but vanilla. It's really a whole vibe. Go get you a sample. Multiple other reviews call this a lemon pound cake scent, but my experience with lemon pound cake is that it's usually a little dry and lemon-focused, whereas Alexandria's Chocolate Dream is effortlessly creamy til the end and vanilla-focused. Chocolate dream somehow manages to be light, fresh, but creamy at the same time. And it's definitely orange you're smelling, not as much lemon to my nose, but again it blends in beautifully to give off a creamified (yes, made up word) lemon pound cake type of vibe overall if you get what I'm saying. The citrus is never overly dominant on skin, beautiful from start to finish. Different experience on clothes (citrus is stronger at beginning for me on clothes); I think this one is definitely meant to be sprayed on the skin directly. I can smell it all day if I spray on my neck/chest and it rubs off just a little on clothes. Can still smell 48hrs later on clothes as well, so um. Not bad. Compared to H'ani, which is also a citrus vanilla, Lira is a little 'cooler' in vibe, still creamy, fresher than H'ani, but vanilla is at her heart. H'ani, on the other hand is a warmer, spicier, almost musky citrus/ginger vanilla with vanilla prominent in the dry down as well, but a totally different vanilla there. Both are LOVESx1000000000 for me. Seriously. I will never be without these in the fall/winter. Please never stop making this. (or H'ani). Omg.

I am not going to repeat much of what other people are saying. Ignoring the fact that they explicitly state that it is inspired by Lira, it very much smells mostly like it. I am comparing a bottle of this that I bought a few years ago compared to a sample of Lira also from a few years ago. The opening is where the largest difference is as the blood orange is the most noticeable note. Lira is more airy, light, and smooth throughout the evolution of the fragrance whereas Chocolate Dream is a tad darker, spicier, and, as I like to describe it, "crunchier" (mostly due to the more prominent blood orange note). I get a good amount of compliments when wearing this fragrance (I used this as a signature scent for quite a long time), but I definitely wouldn't say it is an exact replica. During the dry-down, they become a lot harder to distinguish between the two. If not comparing them side by side, most people won't notice the difference but I think that Chocolate Dream suits my preferences better. Unfortunately, I can't help but want Lira instead due to its legendary status amongst gourmands and also because of it being the inspiration for this fragrance.

I love Chocolate Dream soooo much from start to finish. The sillage/strength of it is not overwhelming at all. One spritz is a noticeable but understated presence. I smell expensive and luxurious. I got a sampler pack and I am so glad I chose Chocolate Dream! It reminds me of creamy pistachio kulfi dessert but with orange flavor. I do detect subtle bits of chocolate, but I mostly have a spicy orange delight. Not sure if this has lavender like its inspiration, but this Alexandria fragrance is amazing as is. Lavender can be too herbal/soapy, but this is great. I suppose it is unisex but it feels pretty enough for someone ultra feminine like myself. It does not smell like Aquolina Pink Sugar to me at all (someone suggested the original does?).

So insanely good. Amazing silage and longevity, with an unreal smooth caramel/vanilla wrapped in citrus. Almost smelling the crust of a lemon square dessert. Just divine. Also I wear this as a guy, it is admittedly a bit feminine, but who cares when I smell this delicious. Comparing to Lira, this is way more chocolate and less fruit. The performance is through the roof, but it isn't a perfect clone compared to something like AF's Italian Caramel which literally made me sell my Italica. This I will keep the decant of, but won't be giving up Lira anytime soon.

Nice and sweet, Same type as the blue discontinued Lempika and the infamous Lira. Chocolate Dream is a must try for gourmand lovers looking at the Alexandria sample collections. It's a bit similar to his Alexandria signature scent, I actually like Alex signature better at the top , it's more citrus at the top, And I like this one better at the bottom, So you could easily layer them, That's why it's a idea to try them both and see witch one works best for you, they are similar but not the same.