Vanilla Suede

Okay, this is officially my new 'wear-it-to-bed' fragrance. After a handful of really dumb blind-buys, I actually tested this one when I was in town recently. I spritzed it on a cardboard strip which I could tell wasn't really doing the notes justice; so knowing this was going to have to be smelled on skin to get the full effect, I rolled up my sleeve and spritzed the tester into the crook of my elbow (because that's where I could be sure I'd have no other scents already on that area of skin) and waited until I got home to see what it truly smelled like. I made sure to wash off what little was left of the 'Sweet Tooth' by Sabrina Carpenter I still had on my wrist, then rolled up my sleeve...aaand...immediately fell in love! This isn't an altogether "new" scent to me. I mean, it is in that I've only now smelled this offering from the Ariana Grande collection, but it's not the first time I've smelled a fragrance that smells very like this perfume. It definitely smells similar-ish to MFK's 'Gentle Fluidity Gold' (I have the remnants of a small sample size of it that I ordered from MFK along with a couple of other scents from his house, because I've known, loved and owned 'Rouge Baccarat 540' for a long time now and have owned many bottles, but even I'm not cray-cray enough to just drop that much money on any of his other scents without at least getting to try them out first - and there isn't anywhere where I live that has MFK fragrances on any counter where I could get a tester spritz) but what it also reminded me of is 'Feminine' by Dolce & Gabbana. I don't actually know if that D&G perfume is even still in production anymore, but I remember it having that similar mix of gentle musk and gentle citrus with a light touch of underlying woodiness; but whilst 'Feminine' was still a gentler scent than a lot of other perfumes out back in the 2001-ish time when I used to wear it, I know it wasn't AS soft or AS subtle as this 'Vanilla Suede' scent that Ariana Grande's people brought out recently. 'Feminine' was a fragrance that I wasn't sure I liked when I first blind-bought it and got it home (yes I've been this ridiculous in blind-buying perfumes for as long as I can remember), but then after wearing it around the house for a few days it really grew on me. It wasn't a 'clubbing' scent though, so I definitely didn't wear it out when I was having one of those 72 hour long MDMA binges, lol. But it was comforting to put on when I came home and wanted something gentler and that felt like it was more in keeping with my own body chemistry. It was an unobtrusive scent. Then one day I was heading to my job at The Hilton Hotel and running late after getting out of the shower and taking care to dry my long, straight, hair perfectly and then putting on my make-up. I just grabbed the first bottle on my bedside table as I headed out, spritzed it all over and threw it in my bag as I was running out the door. I didn't think much about it until one of the guys who worked in the same hotel but in a different department, came over to where I was stood in the back office of our reception, and after standing next to me, leant in, sniffed me, and said he really loved whatever perfume I was wearing. It took me a minute to remember what I'd sprayed on me in my rush to get to work, but when it occurred to me what it was, I was actually quite surprised; because I'd thought of it as a really subtle, unobtrusive scent that wouldn't really register much with anyone else. But this guy really liked it. And a few weeks later I was getting together with another guy after a few weeks of flirting, and he told me that he REALLY loved whatever perfume I had on. Turns out guys really loved that perfume, because over the following couple of years, whilst I was always buying new fragrances and rotating them throughout the week, that D&G 'Feminine' one got more compliments than any other perfume I wore with any regularity. And this 'Vanilla Suede' perfume has that very similar musk/citrus/woods DNA that 'Feminine' had. It's not the same, so when I created another entry for 'This Fragrance Reminds Me Of' it's not because I think they're identical. They're not. Just as it's not identical to 'Gentle Fluidity'. (I do wonder sometimes if people realise that "reminds me of" doesn't have to mean that we think that two fragrances are carbon copies of one another - memories can be triggered by a single note, a combination of notes, a note and a bottle with some similar advertising, the effervescent feeling that scents might share...despite having zero actual notes in common, or the resulting similar brew that also happens to take place despite two fragrances not having any of the same notes listed on here...#JustSaying.) But all three have some notes in common, and all three definitely share a vibe. Even if 'Feminine' would probably be considered harsher and stronger by comparison today: back in 2000/2001 it was seen as being a gentler perfume (although it's sillage was stronger than many others today - 'Vanilla Suede' included) in relation to a lot of the other scents on the market at the time. I think maybe a bit of white floral possibly contributed to 'Feminine' being less gentle than 'Vanilla Suede' or 'Gentle Fluidity' but it was very different kind of fragrance - when compared to what most other scents were popular - way back in the day. My three previous reviews on here were all either 'meh' or 'bleh' based on my having blind-bought three perfumes because I'm an idiot and just assuming I'd love them based on the other reviews they'd gotten...or my having spritzed one onto my wrist when I already had another scent on, which completely messed up how it actually smelled on its own. So, trying to be 'Captain Sensible' this time around, I went to find a tester of 'Vanilla Suede' after seeing the reviews on here and immediately thinking that this was going to be totally in my wheelhouse, when it comes to having a really nice, gentle, skin-scent. And this time around there actually WAS a tester to try out. I was right about it not really giving much away on the paper strip I spritzed it onto (trust me, you really need to get this one onto your skin to find out how it's going to work with your own skin chemistry, or whether or not you're going to like/love it) and I'm really glad I sprayed some into the crook of my elbow, because by the time I got home (about half an hour later) it had really settled in well and I immediately loved it, wanted it...and of course, wished I'd just gone ahead and bought it then and there! But, if I'd bought it, chances are the fates would've conspired to somehow make it so that the damn thing ended up smelling like cat-pee on me or something (such is the kind of luck I've been having with blind-buys of late) so I really shouldn't be too mad. I was easily able to find a bottle on eBay (I paid about £90 which included the P&P so not really that much more than I think it was on sale for in store - I *think* it was about £79 in store, but TBH I wasn't paying all that much attention, so it may have been more, may have been less...don't take my word for the RRP, check the price-tag beforehand; and definitely try it out first, because I imagine it'll be quite a divisive one...even for those of y'all who are absolute Ariana devotees). Now I just have to wait for it to get here, which should be anytime in the next few days. AND I SERIOUSLY CANNOT WAIT!! When I got the other half to sniff that inside crook of my elbow, his response was: "Mmmm...I REALLY like that one...that's lovely." And he was incredibly surprised when I told him that I hadn't actually bought a bottle. Partly because it's gorgeous, I think it's gorgeous, he thinks it's gorgeous and it obviously really just *works* on me; but partly also because he knows how much of an impulsive nutter I am when it comes to fragrances, buying them without even knowing what they smell like, and then telling him that I'm annoyed that I don't like them either that much or AT ALL. To be fair, he soon realised that this was just a different way of my cray-cray displaying itself but he's looking forward to me getting this one in the post, because he really loves how feminine and soft and good it smells on my skin. So, on the plus side, I at least know he likes it already. And now I DEFINITELY know what I'm going to be wearing to bed every night as soon as it gets here, lol.

Category: Powdery, vanilla, fruity Notes: Very pleasant from first spray, I immediately pick up the sandalwood and vanilla, and “rice” if rice just means powder. There’s something very juicy and a little sour in the mix, perhaps its the bergamot, but - and call me crazy if you want - to me, it reads exactly like a ripe cherry, unmistakably so in fact. This goes through phases; it starts out medium powdery, with time gets incredibly powdery, only for the powderiness to subside significantly. In that medium stage I can also see where the “suede” aspect of this fragrance comes from, as it is almost reminiscent of leather or tobacco - a very deep & musty, yet smooth smell. That juicy, ripe cherry that I’m picking up on only gets stronger with time, and the scent eventually lands in what I’d describe as a sweet, mildly powdery cherry-vanilla scent. The overall scent impression reads to me like a cherry chapstick once it reaches its final stage, or an expensive face powder - not the vintage 70s kind, definitely something more modern and wearable - for the first two, more powdery stages. Vibe: Resort vacation. Cherry chapstick. Face powder. Raisins and other dried fruits. Using your mothers make-up. Candle lit dinner at an Italian restaurant. Felt. Silk nightgown. Pearl necklace. Blowing bubbles with gum. Waking up on the couch after a cozy nap. Quilts. Fireflies on a hot summer evening. Sillage: 5/10. Very middle of the road kind of sillage. Not quite a skin scent, but definitely on the intimate side. No major projection, just enough to be present and waft over if you’re passing by or leaning in close. Longevity: 5/10. Remains noticeable on skin for about 4-5 hours, but quickly dissipates after that. I can still faintly pick up on it about 7 hours later but it's more intimate than a skin scent and barely there so I wouldn't really factor that as performance beyond the 5-ish hours. Wear: Day or night, leaning day. I’d say this fragrance likely works all year round, but probably best suited for spring and fall. Definitely office wear approved as it is very sweet, mild and inoffensive. For an Ariana Grande fragrance this is surprisingly mature - I’d say the most appropriate age range for this fragrance is anywhere between 25-50 but could definitely range further up as well. I’d say this leans quite feminine, but could definitely work on a man with the right aura or if layered with something more masculine. Overall rating: 6.5/10. What an intriguing fragrance... I went from liking it, to unsure, to kind of disliking it, back to liking it and now? It might even be a love, honestly. Although there’s officially no cherry in the mix, I can't help but smell it - it's there, loud and clear - bright, juicy and youthful without ever feeling juvenile. Quite a complex fragrance development; we start out with a distinctly modern powder and end on a luscious, sweet and deliciously tart fruity vanilla. In between the start and finish you get this deep, musty, smooth almost leather-like impression which is what I suspect earned the fragrance its name - vanilla suede. Much more grown up and well-rounded than some of Ariana's other fragrances, this fills a niche in her consumer base previously uncatered to. On a more personal note, I am not a fan of powdery notes. That's an understatement, I genuinely cannot stand anything that comes even close to baby powder, talcum powder or vintage face powders. I either feel like a baby or a grandma and neither are a vibe. Vanilla Suede however is perhaps the first truly powdery perfume that I have come across to really appeal to me. When looking at rice notes in perfumery I compare everything to the queen of photorealistic rice notes - Robert Piguet Zazen - and this is as far from a realistic rice note as they come. The rice is just powder, but it is ripe and fizzy in a way that lends it a particularly modern and adult feel without leaning either baby or grandma. The powder here reminds me more of a Korean setting powder with some cutesy packaging rolling around in some 29 year olds handbag on a night out with the girls. Eventually the powder settles and that beautiful, mysterious tartness that I am convinced is a hidden cherry gets to shine. This is when the scent reaches its fullest potential and my god is it good. My only gripe with this scent is its longevity which leaves much to be desired, and ultimately knocks the overall score down by a few points. The projection could also have been better but it isn't abysmal. While I haven't tried it out yet myself I can imagine this being perfect for layering, perhaps with something the likes of Amouage Love Tuberose or Armani Acqua di Gioia. Overall a great fragrance that I definitely think is worth adding to your collection if you don't mind topping up your fragrance every now and then. It's going on my wishlist and will without a doubt be filling a massive hole in my collection once I get it as this is the first ever truly powdery fragrance I've come across that really appeals to me. Who would wear it?: Cameron Diaz in The Sweetest Thing (2002).

After trying Cloud Pink and Angels Kiss, I wasn't looking forward to trying this one or had high hopes for it. (Cloud Pink not being that good and extremely bad at first and Angels Kiss being fine but underwhelming for me - like it lacked that signature scent). So I was originally in search of something that was hyper and just pure vanilla smelling (and Kayali's Vanilla 28 and Lake & Skye's 11 11 Vanilla ended up being exactly what I wanted because they were just vanilla) and unfortunately this wasn't exactly what I was looking for but I'm so glad I found it. This is still very vanilla however the only catch for me was that it is extremely sugary. I actually like the sugary sweetness of this, although not what I had bargained for, I fell in love. I didn't really have plans on getting more than two vanilla perfumes but this one really became an exception for me. Definitely wearing this and buying more. When spraying this onto my skin it started smelling a tad bit minty but that went away almost instantly. It really smells sugary sweet but in a GOOD way. A lot of sugary smelling perfumes can really overdo it or just be sickening and this one is absolutely not! To me it sort of smells like petit filous vanilla yoghurts or halfvolle vanille vla if you had added an excess amount sugar into it and added a small blend of cherry. I have to admit, it's more sugary than vanilla but the vanilla is still so easily identifiable. It's like a vanilla mixed with a faint cherry without having cherry in it. The longevity is quite moderate. For sillage, it's between intimate and moderate - I speculate that it's more difficult to pick up the more clothes you are wearing and you do have to be quite close to someone to smell this but it's really good and shines for enclosed environments or settings. I'm kind of surprised this has a high winter season rating and low summer because I will say it's quite versatile in that I think it works with any season. Love it so much!

I love this fragrance and wear it almost everyday. I got it when it first came out and at first the longevity wasn't the best, but after a few months it became so much stronger and sweeter. I mainly smell a powdery vanilla with a milky undertone that kind of reminds me of oat milk. I can always still smell it throughout the day and when I spray at night it still lingers in the morning especially on clothes. I think the people saying it doesn't last long should wait a few months because it really becomes stronger, although it's sad you have to wait. I love to spray this all over kind of like a body mist (the scent is very gentle and not overpowering so it doesn't feel like much) and then layer with other scents, especially ari ♡ feels more sophisticated and expensive than ariana's other scents and more like a continuation of her first 3 fragrances (ari, sweet like candy, and moonlight) that were a lot softer, rather than the more plasticky strong perfumes like all the clouds, thank u nexts, rems, and the mods, so if you dislike those because they seem cheap I would really recommend this to ariana fans (because unless you are biased towards her already I feel like this scent isn't that distinct or revolutionary that the average person would really want or need it, but as a fan I find it exciting). also it kind of reminds me of britney spears fantasy intimate just without the fantasy/cupcake/sugar dna because of the soft powdery aspect 🌫️🍨🌾

This might honestly be my new favourite perfume!🍨💕 It’s absolutely incredible! one of the most beautiful and addictive vanilla fragrances I’ve ever experienced!! I’m someone who usually gravitates toward very sweet, almost headache-inducing gourmand scents, so this feels like such a lovely way to switch things up while still staying firmly within that comforting gourmand realm!! 😆 It’s a gorgeous, more mature interpretation of vanilla, not “mature” in an old-fashioned sense, but refined and effortlessly elegant. To me it smells like someone who is perfectly put together and completely confident in their own style. The lactonic facets blend seamlessly throughout the fragrance, giving it this incredibly smooth, creamy texture that unfolds in such an elegant way on the skin. I get a soft, lightly powdered vanilla with a comforting rice pudding nuance, and there’s even a subtle hint that reminds me of a cherry Bakewell tart which all together just smells absolutely GORGEOUS!! 💖 It’s honestly stunning, and Ariana has absolutely done it again with this fragrance. I would highly recommend getting your hands on it if you can!

This is a high quality piece that does smell nice. I am glad I was able to purchase a bottle on Lyko website though I live in EU not US. I will try again the Angel Kiss but when I tested it in Douglas I was not impressed. I try not to overdose myself with vintage rose perfumes. The Vanilla Suede however was a successful blind buy. The design and the scent are different from her past releases and it makes me think she was trying to reach the upper middle shelf mark. I am not a perfumer but I feel like though the packaging says made in Poland the ingredients in this bottle have higher quality than let's say, Cloud pink or Sweet like candy. This scent is same high quality as REM or Cloud Intense, in my opinion. I appreciate that the scent is mature in a good way but fresh and comfortable at the same time. I think it has some unisex component too. My husband liked it as well. I sprayed this in my t-shirt in the morning and was still able to detect some skin scent in the evening. Successful purchase that can become my signature scent, to sum it up.

So my friend recently went on a trip to London and brought this back for me as a gift. Now, I had already tried Pink Woods at Sephora and, honestly, was pretty underwhelmed. It didn’t quite live up to the hype and felt a little flat for the price. So, when she handed me this bottle, I was excited as maybe this would be the fragrance I’d been missing. The scent itself is light and feminine and instantly reminded me of Gentle Fluidity Gold by MFK. Now, I love a good dupe but it is a bit disappointing when you realize it’s essentially a cheaper version of something you already adore. But hey there’s still charm here. It’s soft, elegant, and easy to wear without feeling too overpowering. As for projection, I’m not totally sure but it does have solid longevity on my skin. I’d say it lasts a solid 5-6 hours, which is honestly more than I expected from something that’s a bit lighter. It’s not a showstopper but it’s definitely a nice, wear everyday type of scent that I’m glad to have in my collection.

I love this. I don't really get the bergamot and occasionally I smell the rice fleetingly. Or at least I think I do. Mostly I get milk, vanilla, and musk and ....talc powder (which isn't listed). It's a pretty subtle scent. Something good if you're going to be in a car for a long time as it's not a huge projector. Oddly, when I first smelled this it was incredibly nostalgic and comforting to me. I immediately loved it and it's taken me about a month but I figured out why. It smells vaguely of Cabbage Patch Dolls' heads. Back in the 80s in the US, Cabbage Patch Dolls were the IT toy and parents were fighting to get them and luckily my mom managed to get me one. This is what they smelled like! Slightly talc-powdery and vanilla! I don't know if Cabbage Patch Dolls were a big thing in the UK (where this is being exclusively released apparently) so I don't know if anyone else gets that connection (I moved to the UK in my 20s) but this immediately takes me back to the US in 80s.

Oh my... Vanilla Suede is exactly what I was looking for! Despite the misleading name, I’m almost glad it didn’t meet my initial expectations because the scent is absolutely divine. It opens with a rich, creamy blend of sandalwood, musk, and vanilla. Some reviews compare it to MFK’s Gentle Fluidity Gold, but I find Vanilla Suede lacks the overly distinct quality that makes GFG a bit nauseating for me. It carries a similar elegance but feels more palatable and balanced. I tested it at Boots today and already plan to return tomorrow to buy it! This is the perfect light and airy vanilla fragrance for fall and winter. It strikes the ideal balance between being a comforting, creamy skin scent and remaining sophisticated—not juvenile at all. It’s also refreshingly distinct from Ariana Grande’s usual super-sweet perfume line. P.S. It’s an amazing layering perfume! I’ve been pairing it with Delina as my daily scent, and it’s been perfect. I want to smell like this forever!

This is by far my most favourite fragrance. I own most of Ariana’s perfumes as I’m a longtime fan and liked to collect the bottles but upon reaching adulthood, I no longer blind buy perfumes that will be left to evaporate on my shelf. I smelt this on a paper strip back when it was launched but couldn’t justify spending €97 on a perfume at the time as I thought it smelled very similar Ghost. The perfume stayed with me since then, it was all I could think about for months. I am a lover of all scents powdery and vanilla—it reminds me of old Hollywood starlets, timeless and chic. This is a big step up from her previous fragrances in terms of maturity, while there aren’t many notes, each addition is purposeful and blooms in this perfume. I don’t personally get much of the bergamot but I do get a laconic rice note that smells creamy paired with the vanilla and milk. This is a beautiful, year-round perfume that I am delighted has become my signature fragrance.

Have owned this fragrance since it came out and I’m now just over halfway through the bottle. Over the last week I’ve worn it layered with Lataffa Angham every single day. I work in a small office with three other girls, all of whom have been pinching the bottle to spray themselves with all week. One of them even went a bought it for themself. I saw a group of guy friends last night after work. While trailing me into the pub, one them asked what perfume I was wearing and said I smelled “fucking gorgeous”. And yes, it does smell very close to MFK Gentle Fluidity Gold. The only real difference is when you sniff them straight out of the bottle—Gentle Fluidity Gold has more coriander in the opening, and Vanilla Suede has that rice note that can be confused with a beer-ish smell. After spraying and letting them bottle settle for a minute or two, they are indiscernible. Smells clean. Warm. Classy. Elegant. I love it. And so do the people around me.

This is such a good scent. Great longevity and silage as well. Not too strong, it’s creamy, cozy. A classy take on vanilla. I only wished this perfume was less sweet, but I'm probably alone in this I picture a beautiful, styled woman in beige and white clothing, minimalistic makeup, perfect done hair with a home that’s always clean, minimal, cozy and tidy. This is her in the evening, when she is finally able to relax after a long day, home alone with a cup of warm cup of tea, a blanket and a book. This is a more grown up fragrance. Not like the other synthetic and cheap-smelling fragrances from Ariana grande that reminds me of young girls. Well done! For more darkness and complexity I layer this with Guerlain Shalimar. It was an accident at first, but I found it works very well together This is not my «go out» fragrance, this is my cozy up in the bed with a book fragrance

This is so so so beautiful - it reminds me of the baby Burberry perfume from like 2004 (I can't remember the actual name, I'm sorry!) It's powdery and sweet and delicate, the projection isn't massive but definitely creates a very pretty intimate scent bubble around you. It's not cloying in the slightest and I appreciate that it's sweet but not too sweet from the savoury rice/milk notes. It smells exactly how you'd imagine from the name. It smells like makeup powder in the best way. This is the first time I have ever bought an AG perfume despite being a long-time fan and I am really, really pleased. On first impressions, the box is so pretty and has a nice texture, and the bottle is heavy and feels really high quality. It's definitely a very safe blind buy.

I definitely got baby wipes on the first spray lol but now that I’ve made a dent it’s more than that. This is a very soft and powdery vanilla. I don’t necessarily get milk or rice milk but I get a cold creaminess. This is not a warm vanilla or a warm scent period. I actually really like this. It’s a clean vanilla and musk scent. I love sandalwood but don’t detect much from this. My signature body care is Saltair Santal Bloom and this compliments it so well. This doesn’t bear much resemblance to Mod Vanilla but feels more mature. My preference for either depends on my mood. I wear this around the house or running errands if I want to feel clean. A great “clean girl” fragrance. And of course I love the Lovenotes bottles and the size.

First and foremost: Yes, the rice note can be akin to fermenting beer, but this is only subtly present within the initial spray. I tested this in store and found it enjoyable, but didn’t buy. A clean sweet vanilla—however, 18+ hours later, I could still smell the tester wafting out of my coat pocket while watching a movie! The longevity on this fragrance is so phenomenal that I went back and bought it. It smells like walking into the lobby of a luxury hotel + sweet vanilla. It’s very enjoyable, well-blended, and a brilliant quality fragrance. Sophisticated. Elegant. Enjoyable. It may not be unique enough or unusual enough to be your all-time favourite, but it’s delightful nonetheless and worth owning.

I have historically leaned towards more unisex and "masculine" fragrances in the past. The furthest I pushed the boat out into "feminine" was a Gucci memoire d'une odeur, which is arguably unisex. I wanted to explore more feminine fragrances as my nose has adapted overtime and I learned more about skin chemistry. Identifying notes that I know work well with my chemistry like Vanilla, Sandalwood and Musk, I figured I'd give this a go. On my skin, it's a creamy, soft vanilla and the sandalwood note really comes out. I get the hints of musk. The rice and milk generally fades in about an hour or so after applying. I think it's a delightful second skin vanilla scent and will be repurchasing.

Very pretty grown up sophisticated vanilla. It's fantastic for the price. I wish I got more milk and rice on my skin but I like it anyway. It smelled very familiar and I went to my fragrance cabinet to see if it was similar to Lalique Le Parfum but no, too much tonka and almond so what was it that was making it feel so familiar? GFG...it smells almost entirely the same as Gentle Fluidity Gold to my nose. If you can't or don't want to spend the money on GFG then get this. It's barely indistinguishable and once on skin, no one could say it wasn't. The dry down is a sweeter, soft vanilla skin scent. Absolutely perfect transition scent bridging the gap between late winter and early spring.

Obsessed - this is SO SO good. I realllyyy thought Angel's Kiss was my fave - and it really is amazing - but I cannot count this out. This, as well as Angel's Kiss & Plush Vanilla, is SO good. I really do not have any complaints. I love this because something about it is unique. It's creamy, but bright, and almost milky. I just really like this - it's not the typical vanilla, it really stands out on my skin, and clothes even in cold weather. It's easy to wear. The opening I'm not obsessed with - it's heavy on the wheat, I think, then, and musky. But the sweet warm up and dry down is amazing. I got a good 10+ hours out of this,s too. I'm really obsessed.

When I say I want a milk perfume, THIS is what I mean!!! Other milk fragrances lack balance and end up being too sweet. This is the absolute perfect blend of vanilla, milk, and rice, not making it cloying, but light, fluffy, and airy. I don't feel "dirty" when I wear this. I think the milk here really just supplements the entire fragrance and rounds it out, adding this soft velvety creaminess. This is such an intoxicating fragrance, and I'm so happy my aunt was able to get this for me from the UK. If anyone is looking for something similar in the US, there's this fragrance called Velvet Muse by IGK in Ulta that has a similar dry down to this!

Right right right, this is not your usual ‘slebritty perfyoom’ - this is something else. I was not initially impressed by it; thought it was too quiet and too nothing-y. Hence, it’s been languishing at the back of the shelf. But she’s gone and did a transform! This is now a beautifully woody, musky, milky vanilla treasure! I am astounded by the difference. It feels much more ‘settled’ now and it’s definitely a better performer for it (don’t make me espouse maturation here because I refuse). I was considering giving this bottle away because I didn’t love it, but we’ve now been reacquainted and I can admit my mistake. I smell great today.