Smashingly Brilliant

I have not been to Capri the island of the virgin daughters of Phorcys known as the Sirens. But I have been very close, the Amalfi Coast. And if Capri smells anything like the junipers and lemon groves of Sorrento in spring then I know I would love it as much as Diana Vreeland did. The new release Smashingly Brilliant by the house of Diana Vreeland was inspired by her love of Capri. Being the newest addition to the line this has burst upon the spring scene like the much anticipated release from winter’s grip that we have all been waiting for. This is a fragrance that will not merely carry one into spring, but on though the high heat of winter and into the lingering warm days of a fading fall. Smashingly Brilliant is the first fragrance from Diana Vreeland designed for both men and women. This is wonderful news, for though I truly believe that many in the line are uni-sex Smashingly Brilliant opens the doors to men of a less adventuresome nature. And that is great! This house should be discovered by everyone who loves magnificent perfumes. The nose behind this Citrus Aromatic is Clement Gavarry who also created two of my other favorites in the line, Extravagance Russe and Simply Divine. Amani Code, Prada Amber, Lovely Sara Jessica Parker and Black Violet Tom Ford are a few of his many highlights as a perfumer. Clement Gavarry opens the fragance bright and sunny and very Italian with the top notes of Italian lemons, succulent Calabrian bergamot, summer warmed aromatic juniper berries and a true Italian touch, basil. It gleams and sparks on the skin, a real wake up happy and ready to go opening. The heart note is a solo star center stage and in full spicy bloom. The aria in Vreeland Red that is a beautiful peppery geranium. It unfolds on the skin in stages like the blooms of the flower it comes from. Fluttering open at the rise of heat from the skin as the flowers do in the full glory of an adoring Mediterranean sun. The geranium carries into the dry down that is as comfortable as a pair of those Capri sandals Mrs. Vreeland first saw in Pompeii. The suede note is soft and caressing on the skin and warms up the dry down in a creamy supple leather note. Not a hard biting leather but buffed relaxing leather like those fine perfect driving gloves one finally finds at Bergdorf Goodman or Neiman Marcus. A perfect fit on the skin. This wonderful leather is wrapped around fresh wood notes that add to the masculinity of this side of the scent. It is smart, bright and ready to go. Purely scintillating from top note to bottom. Silage is low and close to the skin. With a fragrance like this made for the outdoors and sporting around in convertibles and on the tennis court who would want it any other way. For some the longevity may be an issue for on my skin it fades at between three and four hours. For me that is just the perfect excuse to refresh. In the words of Diana Vreeland, “Perfume is an extravagance. But it’s odd that Americans, who God knows are an extravagant people, have never used scents properly. They buy bottles, but they don’t splash it on. Chanel always used to say, keep a bottle in your bag, and refresh yourself with it continually.” And how refreshing Smashingly Brilliant is. Go ahead, splash it on! (FOR A TRIP TO CAPRI WITH MRS. VREELAND CHECK OUT MY BLOG SCENTS MEMORY)

As a fresh and green fragrance lover, I loved this one. Opens with juicy ripe citrus, no bitter rinds. As soon as the geranium shines through I am hooked! It is a unique and gorgeous inclusion. I love geranium as a home fragrance but haven’t thought to explore it as a personal fragrance as for females it is typically combined with rose, or included in many mens fragrances which are not easy to wear as a unisex option. This hits the mark as unisex, fresh and slightly warm with the woodsy notes which don’t seem to take over completely. Sillage is great in the first hour but longevity is moderate to low. I would still consider buying a bottle if it wasn’t so ridiculously overpriced here in Australia. A beautiful freshie without too much crispness that other freshies can lean towards.

The smell was def different. I smelled the typical lemon and a bit of aquatic notes. nice for summer and day wear. I liked russe more but it was soft and i have better fragrances that do get attention.this collection is nice but a bit more on the feminine side. Russe being the most masculine and brilliant being more of the citris day wear that smells generic. better off getting tom ford neroli or acqua di parma for that citris scent. This collection has nice bottles but for the juice aint worth the price. Jo malone collection blows this one away. especially Jo malones Oud bergamot, pomegranate noir, birch blackpepper, incense cedrat & wood sage sea salt.

Shall I say it? Avon Full Speed+ raw petroleum. Why? ... How DV puts these prices of fragrances of such low quality,, is beyond me...

The opening reminds me a lot of first batch Blue de Chanel, before the reformulation, however, after 30 seconds, it’s definitely, an alternative to “Cartier Declaration Cologne” ginger lemon minty, cool twist for the summer with moderate longevity and projection at best