Believe

I'm excited to write this, as I have both the original and the reformulated version. If you're looking for a review comparing the two side by side, this is it. BACKGROUND: I had this perfume literally 13 years ago when I was 15 years old. Honestly it was my favorite Britney perfume. The scent to me was so beautiful, it made me cry! Part of the reason is I know how personal this scent is to Britney. I remember how unique it is, especially for a celeb scent. And I LOVED the advertisement and presentation. So last year, I re-purchased this for nostalgia and because I wanted something sweet with honeysuckle. I was disappointed... it just wasn't the same. It had changed and lost its character and the honeysuckle was GONE. Then I found out it had been reformulated. Despite this, I still wore it regularly as it as reminiscent of its old self and doesn't smell bad. It's just not the same as I remember. Recently, I found the original version and the minute I smelled it, I thought, THIS IS IT!!! So let me compare the two. COMPARASSON: The first thing I noticed is the original is sweeter, fresher, and has more depth. I get a lot of the patchouli in the original, but it's a clean patchouli that doesn't take over. I also get the floral notes more here, and definitely the honeysuckle. The guava adds to the sweetness but it's not cloying. It's more well-blended. It smells sensual and mature, especially for a celeb perfume. It smells way more expensive than it is. But it still has a youthful quality to it, it smells like a young woman who believes in herself. The title is so fitting! The bottle is gorgeous, especially with the silver plate that has her signature. The bottle is way better quality. It really works for all ages, but not too young... I'd say over 18. The reformulation is stronger and will definitely fill the room if you spray too much. You get the patchouli, a bit of amber, and guava, but that's about it. No floral notes. It also smells more unisex. The biggest distinguisher here is the reformulation smells outdoorsy. It's a dirty patchouli, not a clean one like the original. The reformulation is also earthier. It's more animalic. It's less feminine and sensual, more hippie and unisex. So, it's actually pretty cool in its own way, sense it's stronger and more earthy. And I'm sure some people would prefer that! My gripe is that it has more of a chemical smell to it and can give me a headache if I'm not feeling well that day. That and it lacks depth. That said, the reformulation isn't BAD hence why I was still wearing it. It's just more straightforward. More for an outdoorsy tomboy. The original just... blends right into my skin. I think the scent is gone, but then I realize it just works really well for my chemistry. It just becomes ME. It mixes with and brings out my natural scent instead of masking it. Therefore, it's more subtle... sensual... feminine. The reformulated sits ON my skin and really projects out. It's a lot heavier. It doesn't mix with my natural scent well and masks it but is more of a head turner because of its larger sileage and projection. Longevity is about the same between the two... I get about 4 hours before I need to reapply. All in all, I prefer the original any day. I'm SO pleased with the original and glad I found it!

When it comes to celebrity perfumes, Britney Spears is known for being top of the line. Indeed, there are some real gems, very well-crafted, that have been pleasant surprises, few disappointments, and even flashes of genius. Believe is a bit of an anomaly. It appeared, I believe, in 2007, right around the time of our friend's memorable meltdown. A meltdown that I understand better and better as I get older, by the way. Plus, there was a controversy surrounding the promotional poster; supposedly it wasn't her, or at least it was heavily photoshoped. It was amidst this uproar that Believe arrived in its somewhat "precious stone" bottle, not always easy to handle, especially if you have small hands like me. The juice is a bright, acidic green, not very inviting, but it certainly piques your curiosity. When I received my package, it was very cold; it had been sitting in my mailbox all day. I only got it in the evening when I got home from work. Precisely because of the temperature, I could barely smell it. I had to wait several days, several tries, before I could fully appreciate it. A patchouli that isn't overpowering, even though it's very present, is softened by juicy guava—a happy marriage I haven't seen anywhere else. There's a discreet but definitely present praline. But there's also mandarin and honeysuckle! This fragrance has character and can be quite surprising! Could Believe have been categorized as a "catch-all" fragrance called fruit-chouli? As a reminder, this term was coined by detractors of La Vie est Belle to ridicule all the patchouli-praline-sticky fruit perfumes that have sprung from this iconic perfume house by trying to imitate it. But here's the thing. La vie est belle was released in 2012 (or so I think), Believe in 2007. So, was Believe ahead of its time? No, not for the accusation of the crime of fruit-chouli, in any case. Not guilty. It remains a special case. Extraordinary, in the sense that it defies the ordinary. Not just original for a celebrity fragrance. Simply original. Don't blind buy unless you're a daredevil like me. It's divisive. You either love it or hate it.

I finally got my hands on this and I am in love! I will admit, I was a bit nervous blind-buying this at first, especially considering how polarized reviews are. Despite that, I took my chances and snagged it for just over $20 on Amazon. This perfume is so unique, as many others have said, and it is surely a standout in Brit's fragrance line. The bottle is so eye-catching (although I do wish it was still produced with the engraved metal plate on top), and probably one of my favorite designs from Britney's fragrances! I agree that this perfume is definitely more mature than the other Britney fragrances I have tried, but definitely not in an "old-lady" way. As Fantasy, Curious, and the like would best appeal to teens (in my opinion), I could see this being a great fragrance for young adults (probably best suited for end-of-high-school, college-age, and older)! I cannot place exactly what it reminds me of, but this smells a lot like another popular fragrance from the late 2000s (for some reason, it's giving me Armani Code vibes even though I feel like that guess is wrong?). The bright citrus opening transforms into a warm, spicy patchouli in about 30 minutes. The sweetness from the praline and amber really complement the dirtiness of the patchouli base, and I adore the way this smells on me: I just recently got it, and I'm already getting complimented on it! Considering the spiciness and fruitiness of this perfume, I feel that its uniqueness makes it pretty versatile. I can see this performing beautifully in spring, summer, and early autumn, and can't wait to give it a fair chance in all of those seasons. Overall, if you are a fan of fruitchouli fragrances and feel nostalgic for the 2000s, Believe is a fantastic contender that is worth a try.

TROPICAL GUAVA-CHOULI. Opens with a burst of tropical guava with near-pear facets supported by tangerine, and already the patchouli base is coming through a little. That deepens into the floral heart of honeysuckle & lime-blossom that elaborate the beautiful guava further. This all rests on a patchouli base that over time manifests praline & amber in addition to some sparkly and earthy patchouli facets. The patchouli is really the star of the show here and is on display in all its multi-faceted splendour. Contrast to Gucci by Gucci EDP: These are different, but there are similarities with tropical guava & patchouli. GbG dries down with a more forward honey quality, while Believe has honeysuckle but dries down more patchouli-praline. Both have excellent performance. Contrast to See by Chloe: These are different, but there are some similarities with dewy, sweet fruit blossoms. Believe has a much more forward patchouli. Believe outperforms. Contrast to Sotoor Seen Rasasi: These are different, but there are similarities with guava & patchouli. Sotoor Seen is more a dupe of Gucci by Gucci EDP where there is a tropical fruity opening that dries down more honey forward. Sotoor Seen outperforms. Overall: Beautiful tropical guava-chouli scent with excellent performance for a year round wearing experience, although due to the tropical facets, I would be more likely to wear this in spring-summer. It's a love for me. Enjoy!

People seem to read very different things into this fragrance. Without looking at the notes, I would have described the scent as non-sweet citrus (like lime, grapefruit or green orange peel) and (conifer) woodsy. It’s sharp. I do not feel the floral or fruity at all. But I have to trust everybody that it’s guava, because my knowledge of guava does not extend beyond drinking juices with guava included. What I think is woody must be patchouli, except for me it’s woody from the beginning rather than as it dries down. I must be a fan of patchouli because many of the fragrances I like contain it, but I wouldn’t be able to tell it apart. But I do know the praline aroma, and I’m surprised to see it among the ingredients. I don’t know if this scent is unique to people who’ve gone through dozens or even hundreds of fragrances, but to me it is. Without intending to try it, I am glad that - by chance - I did. I find it to be very pleasant. That’s enough for me. So many interesting observations have been made about this fragrance over the years. I’m such a latecomer. PS: as I wear it again, I do detect sweet fruity notes at the opening. Not sure how I missed them initially. But I also feel the praline in the dry-down! I didn't wait long enough the first time. So, it’s even better than I thought before.