Simply Clinique

Wow. Alright, so... Simply is extremely strange, and not in a bad way. It’s very unusual (I wouldn’t expect a fragrance with a note of soybean to be anything but!), yet incredibly familiar all the same. I couldn’t pick out any of the notes if I tried, save for the dewy sweetness of the melon — it all melts together for a shower-fresh fragrance that doesn’t veer too squeaky clean. It brings to mind a facial cream or lotion marketed as “unscented” but it still totally has a scent, you know the type, but with better longevity and more of an edge than that. Kind of addictive, I can’t stop sniffing my wrist. One spray is more than enough, crazy sillage. Evocative of its era — I’d probably have guessed it was released 5, even 10 years prior — yet still entirely wearable now, and would probably garner more attention than it initially did, if only it were rereleased today. I feel it could work in any season, though I could be wrong, and I’ll definitely be trying it out when things start to thaw. It also reminds me of something I had when I was around the age of 12 — I can’t remember what for the life of me, but it’s giving me nostalgia for those final moments of childhood innocence before the massive speeding freight train known as the teenage years slammed right into me. ‘Simply’ put, I love Simply. I don’t know how often I’ll be wearing it — it’s certainly a fragrance you’ve got to be in the mood for, it creates a vibe, you won’t forget that you’re wearing it — but I wouldn’t be surprised if my mini is gone sooner than I anticipate. It really is a shame that this is out of production.

This smells absolutely nothing like Tea Escape. I really have no idea what similarity 14 people appear to have seen because the only thing they have in common is both being feminine perfumes with vanilla and musk and both having a sort of savory rice/nutty quality to it. But otherwise, they really are nothing alike. I do like this a lot! But it smells very much of its time. I would definitely guess late 90s to mid 2000s if you asked me blind when this was made. I think of watermelon candy, powdery melon mochi, doll heads and play-doh, but elevated. But still definitely dated. There's something about the tropical baby powder accord of this that I feel was literally everywhere during the time. A similar fragrance that comes to mind is Liz Claiborne Mambo, but this is a more classy and less Escada summer fragrance-like take on that kind of 2000s powdery-floral-fruity scent. There is something very unique about it, and it feels retro in a way that demands you to wear it with some brown gauchos or a hibiscus print sundress... it's so aggressively 2005! But I'm not a huge fan of how much the powdery aspect of this fragrance dates it. If someone would bring it back and modernize it a bit, emphasize the nutty soybean accord and tone down the baby powder part that reminds me of Love's Baby Soft, I'd buy it in a heartbeat, but as it is, it's a little too of its time, for better or for worse.

Surprise, surprise! I actually enjoy smelling like soy milk. Who'da thunk it?!? Clinique Simply is strangely common and unusual at the same time. There's not a single thing special about the smell of soy milk. No more or less so than other kitchen staple. Yet it doesn't fit neatly into the world of perfumery, either. Except, in this fragrance. In Clinique Simply, the common, everyday NON-note becomes unusually appealing. The soybean note here is savory, a soft spiciness added. It's not salty at all though. Sometimes the two go hand and hand for me. I'm not presented with any sweetness, despite the melon which I can detect and the listed florals which I can not. Instead, the melon provides a slight watery/aquatic accord. Which is appropriate and welcomed. The longevity is typical of Clinique, it lingers nicely on my skin. The projection is typical of Clinique, staying within your circle of friends. The uniqueness (despite the potential to be otherwise) is not very Clinique-like at all. I depend on Clinique to remain middle of the road. Clinique Simply just happens to be where the road takes an unexpected turn for the best.

This smells very similar to Julianna’s Perfume Scarlet Letter, which is a clone of Mugler’s Alien Essence Absolue. This is a warm, cozy scent. Best in cold weather, or chilly rainy days. This scent profile is synonymous with cozy cashmere blankets and cuddling down with a blanket to read or watch a movie. This type of scent evokes such an emotional response from me. I remember in 2004, when it first debuted. I received it in one of those inexpensive pouches you could buy with another purchase. I live in northern New England, it was October/November... chilly, damp weather. Ever since then, going on 20 years, I have had this one. It’s my fall and winter comfort scent - I, personally, cannot imagine wearing this in hot, or even warm, weather. Edit 11/22/24: So here it is - a rainy, chilly November day and I still immediately think of Clinique's Simply. I was looking at the "this reminds me of" (and I know I put my own, above) - but I realized that this really is so unique. After 20 years since it's release - I have yet to find a fragrance that competes with this one.

I have had a small bottle of this for YEARS and I am finally down to just the tiny little bit left in the bottom. It still smells fresh, sweet, cozy and gorgeous, so I figured it was high time I wrote a review for this beauty. Let me start by saying that I would wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone that needs an unassuming lighter fragrance for an office setting, because this one is clean and gorgeous without being cloying or overpowering in the least. As noted above, this is more linear. You pretty much get the same fragrance from the first spritz well into the 6th hour (yes, it might be light, but it lasts quite some time). So I'm smelling light white flowers, vanilla soy milk, a light musk, and a background of melon on me. It never deepens or changes, but remains a soft white creamy cozy scent the entire day. I really enjoy the vanilla + soy milk notes, they really do work. If this scent were a color, it would be ivory. I am really considering buying another larger bottle now that my mini is almost gone. This one is just THAT good.