Cynthia Rowley

So there I was, face to face with another perfume being auctioned on eBay. Cynthia Rowley sounded more like a mother in law than a perfume, and apparently out of date as to her accolades, I was justifiably hesitant to place a bid. During periods of doubt, I come back here for a jumping point, and when I saw Lemon Verbena in the ingredients, I thought for sure this was going to be another Salvador Dali experience. Lemon Verbena has always been a bit of a misfit toy in my world, so often infusing candles and lotions meant to repel living creatures, my olfactory associations don't vary much from that of the insect world. Still, bargain bin prices and a reputable satisfaction score on this site inflated my courage, and away I went with another purchase. An opening of intense bergamot and lemony herbaceous notes sang through my sinuses with wire-like conductivity. I mean this in the most flattering way of course, for I felt instantly and absolutely invigorated! Not to be outdone, the brightest of freesia and honeysuckle, sparkled amongst white chords of neroli, and powdery clouds of heliotrope. Finally surrendering into the velvety sweetness of current kissed musk. Cyclamen presents itself only to encourage lingering whispers of lily of the valley and translucent honeysuckle nectar a lingering song, while a soapy cleanness clings to the skin in a ready position to wash away all the day's impurities of attitude and spirit. The journey is an optimistic phantasm. With agreeable top notes, and delightful depth, it is hard to imagine there would be any aversions to its scent. Although discreet, gentle reminders of synthetic ingredients present themselves around periodic bends, but aren't so aggressive as to pose a threat to the composure entire. It just goes to show greatness can exist anywhere, and in these moments of brave discovery, we command greatness too.

I'm ashamed to admit I've owned this lovely fragrance for years and have NEVER worn it. I bought it unsniffed, based on the notes alone, and then just never got around to spritzing....shame on me!! The notes that drew me in and inspired me to purchase were the bergamot (love love love bergamot), and the lily of the valley (I obviously love this note)....and I spent a lot of time sniffing the bottle and putting it back, unspritzed, because I felt it might give me a headache. I liked it, but....well, you know how it is. So today I went for it, and I have to say...the first sprays are citrusy and spicy...just a bit, not enough for headaches...and after about an hour the drydown seems to be mostly lily of the valley and a hint of freesia. Sillage is decent...nothing too strong but definitely noticeable, and it lasted about 11 hours before fading on me completely.... Oh? And the bottle? Adorable! I'm so ashamed that this gem sat in my perfume cupboard for so long untouched. I would definitely repurchase.

First 'fume of the summer and I couldn't be more pleased. It's like capturing late spring/early summer in a bottle before the really hot weather scorches the earth and makes everything unbearable (Love from Chicago, Everyone!). This fragrance is about delicate new sweet blossoms that have just been rained on and the scent is everywhere. For me, it's reminiscent of Coty's Muguet des Bois - by capturing a gentle floral scent but what Muguet does for lily of the valley, Cynthia Rowley does for lemon verbena and honeysuckle. A happy scent that captures the spirit of summer: working in the garden, reading books for fun, taking the dogs for long walks, being with someone you love - the SO, the kids, or BFF. This particular fragrance IS getting harder to find: Grab it while you can and it's still inexpensive. Better yet - it should be in every drugstore and easily available to everyone. Sillage is very good and lasts on me until the next morning! And yes, the bottle is so cute!

I was so disappointed when Bath and Body Works discontinued their Wild Honeysuckle. It was perfect for spring and a great light pretty everyday scent. It worked great for work too. I have been looking for something that was a strong honeysuckle note for a couple of years now and I saw that a several people compared Cynthia Rowley to Wild Honeysuckle. It is very affordable so I took a chance and ordered it off line. I am so glad I did! It was just what I was looking for, clean pretty floral with honeysuckle and freesia. Light,clean,casual, perfect for everyday or work. Cynthia Rowley is also perfect for when you just want a scent of honeysuckle and citrus. This was a blind buy for me but it just what I was looking for spring. I will certainly be buying this one again.

What a lovely scent. I was surprised that I like it so much. It reminds me very much of "L" by Gwen Stefani, which I love...in fact, it smells identical to "L" on me. This is a bonus for me as Cynthia Rowley is about 1/3 of the price of "L". Sillage is nice, not overpowering. It doesn't last as long as "L" but it is so inexpensive you can afford to reapply throughout the day. It's very floral and fresh, not too sweet. I don't get a lot of base notes. It seems mostly freesia from top to bottom, but that's okay with me, as I love freesia and how it reacts with my chemistry. This is a great casual weekend and/or workday addition to my wardrobe.