Woman in Gold

Perfect! THIS is the one! I have had such good luck this last year discovering new fragrances to love and revisiting fragrances sampled years ago to find my appreciation has grown. I've gone several years without finding a single full bottle worthy fragrance, no problem, I enjoy my wardrobe. Then Woman in Gold comes along and I'm absolutely stunned by how much I love it. By Kilian's Woman in Gold is that shockingly perfect-for-me fragrance that catches you off guard. I kid you not, about five minutes into my first wearing, I knew this fragrance would be with me for a very long time and boy am I looking forward to our time together. I sampled it because I saw it listed as a Reminds Me Of suggestion for Tocade and it is (thankfully) Tocade-like with the beautiful vanilla rose combination, but it is SO MUCH BETTER and that's saying a lot. The top immediately surrounds me with rose, vanilla and geranium. It's both graceful and persistent in presentation. The combination is unmatched. A couple of minutes in, the listed citrus top notes, not distinguishable specifically as bergamot or mandarin, are available to me if I just push my nose into my wrist, but they don't jump off my skin as I expected the citrus might. Second wearing the citrus top lifted a bit more, but not as with an accompanying aldehyde. The heart remains vanilla, rose and geranium, but it really warms up. I know amber is not listed but I get an Amouage Ubar-like amber here. It's not a prominent accord, but my nose says I'm enjoying amber as well. The rose and vanilla are a little powdery, maybe even dusty (?) but smoooooth and welcoming. It's a bit nostalgic as a result and wonderfully affecting. No freesia was found. The base remains vanilla and rose for me, but also a bit woody. I'm not overly familiar with akigalawood, but it's wood :) and maybe a little peppery. The smell of patchouli typically holds the base together in many fragrances for me, but that's not the case with this fragrance, unless it is hitchhiking on the akigalawood. I don't have the words to describe how lovely I find Woman in Gold. Sensibly I know it's my reaction to something remembered in this By Kilian offering, not just the composition. That being said, it's just lovely. I'm convinced EVERYONE should love and wear it while simultaneously wanting to be the ONLY ONE who smells exactly like this *shakes head* Noteworthy rose, vanilla, geranium nostalgic perfect! It feels more special occasion than every day, so every day will just have to be a special occasion :D

Although I've been reading the commentaries on this site for a while now, this is my first review! Quick note: My interest in fragrances renewed very recently during the pandemic with an intense desire to explore this world again. It could be that I needed a lift or something wonderful to look forward to in the mail. Or maybe I really am turning into my father who circled the perfume counter at our local department store each Saturday. I still remember his bottle of Grey Flannel nestled in with dozens of other bottle names I wish I could recall. I want to start with Woman in Gold because it takes me on the same kind of journey that I remember going on as a kid when I opened that cabinet cluttered with my father's scents. The opening of this fragrance is bright and citrusy. But already with the tart (lime?), there is something strong and rich but also bitter waiting on the other side. I am guessing it's the vanilla mixed with geranium that enters quickly in. Together the scents are not harmonious at all. Yet they work to evoke something that feels like an acquired taste for a unique cocktail. It makes me think of what the name of this perfume implies: sophistication. The innocent sweetness is balanced by experience which then dries down and loses its edge. Over time the scent softens, turns more powdery as if it's giving itself permission to give in and be soft and sweet. But you have to wait. You have to like the wait--which I do. I bought a small 7.5 ml bottle blind based on the reviews. I am utterly delighted!

I have found so beautiful perfumes with citrusy touch lately. That note isn’t easy for me but when it’s blended seamlessly with other notes it’s absolutely charming. I’m totally in love with Woman in Gold. Creamy composition with a captivating combination of vanilla and bergamot, refined rose and deepening Tonka and patchouli create a special and unique scent. Believe me, this has nothing to do with Lira nor Ani. It feels like a fragrance from decades past updated for the modern era. It has a glowing glamour, a stylish, sensual and seductive character, and yet it is extremely versatile. The scent is powdery, fluffy, a bit hazy, but still bright. The patchouli doesn’t make it dark in any way. This is not a rose perfume in the way that you can smell clearly it’s petals. The most prominent notes are Bergamot and Vanilla. I’m totally hooked on this. Woman in Gold is great for parties with an evening dress, but I can’t resist wearing it after a shower in the evening. It brings a touch of luxury to an ordinary day. Longevity is excellent and it leaves a seductive scent trail behind you. The scent is office safe and it’s suitable to wear year around. Thank you for reading, I hope my review was helpful. I would appreciate a lot if you want to follow me on IG and/or YouTube (English subtitles): @ninamariahperfumes It gives me a lot of motivation to write more.

This is so beautiful. I wasn't taken aback when I first smelled it but the more I wore it the more I liked it. It smells like a really fancy dryer sheet to me. It has that fabric softener dryer sheet vibe to it but in a good way for sure. It specifically reminds me of the time I made a valentines day mailbox in grade school out a cardboard detergent box. The way it smelled after it was full of candy is almost spot on to this for me. I can only detect a little patchouli when I very first spray. After that it becomes pretty linear for the rest of its life. It turns to a soft air-y powdery ever so slightly woodsy scent. You get those little hints of sweet vanilla and citrus. I thought the performance on this would be less than impressive because it is such a soft scent but no. The projection is moderate-stong. I can smell it through my mask and it radiates around me while I move my arms. It last a very long time. It will last you all day. You won't fill up a room with it but anyone close to you will think you smell good. A kind of soft refined clean and comforting kind of good. This works as an every day scent. Since it is kind of on the soft side I think you could get away with wearing it to school and/or work as long as you don't over spray. an elegant soft understated scent

Contrary to the below reviews this scent is unique on my skin. It is not powdery on me, I do not get soap or baby wipes vibe on my skin. Few years ago I would say "try it before you buy it" but unfortunally it was REFORMULATED!!! Black bottle vs white bottle - a test side by side: The opening is different, I loved the opening in the black bottle from the start. With the white bottle I had to check the name if I got the right one. The opening in white bottle is ... nothing special for my nose. If you wish to know how the old version smelled like please wait for the drydown. The drydown in both versions is very similar at the begining but .... the similarity fades with time. When it comes to longevity and projection on my skin the old version also wins. For my nose it is no longer the same scent. I wonder if it was Estee Lauder (new owner) forcing the changes or using less quality ingredients. The scent from black bottle is longlasting, strong, sophisticated, rich, a real complement getter. The juice in the white bottle is merely a decent dupe for me. Don't get me wrong, the drydown is similar, especially at the beginning but I will not repurchase it. I can not forget the scent from the black bottle. In my very unprofessional opinion a masterpiece has been distroyed.