Provocative Woman

I bought this a while ago, in the summer--which was totally not the time to try it. So I have waited, then I forgot I had it, and it stayed hidden in a box under a sweater. I remembered it, and when I did it was nearly summer. So I made a mental note. After reading many reviews on this site, and realizing that my tastes change with the seasons I decided to wait until it was fall and give it a try. I am SOOOOO glad that I did. One reviewer wrote that you should always give a new perfume at least 3 chances. At first, there is a freesia monster clubbing me in the face, but it disappears pretty quickly, like with in 15 mintues that monster has fled, but then an amber ghost comes in. This is a Hinoki Woods powerhouse on me. Being half Japanese, I recognized the scent instantly--now that it is cooler and less humid, I am able to figure out what it is. The amber gives it a bit of a sour smell on me. However, after an hour in on this, the amber has disappeared. It is now a woody, warm, slightly sweet, and spicy scent. It smells a lot like a warm, sweet Japanese incense...not quite like Nag Champa [which is not Japanese, I know], but has a very Buddhist temple feel to it. I am really loving this scent. I wish I could describe the notes, but I am sitting in a warm cloud of powdery, incense-ie goodness. Words that come to mind are mysterious, spicy, mesmerizing, sexy, confident. Amber and patchouli hardly ever blend well with my system. Oddly enough, this scent has a hint of both in it, although patchouli is not mentioned. The red amber and the hinoki wood may blend this way on me. Which is awesome, since I love patchouli but can't wear it. There is a salty hint to it, a note that strikes me in the nose like the ocean after a storm. Not so much a scent I can describe, but one that I recognized the feel of. As of yet, there are no flowers that I am aware of, but perhaps someone with a better nose can sense it. I am not very familiar with orchid, that may be part of the spicy scent. When I see 'floral' in a perfume description, I think white flowers-- lilies, gardenias, roses, which is probably some weird knee-jerk reaction to the word. More emotion based than experience based. I have some pretty hard core allergies, and usually florals make my nose run and I sneeze. I wear them anyway, but Provocative Woman has no flowers in it that I am allergic to, so perhaps that is why I don't think I smell them! I think the sillage is pretty good, my dad could smell it from about 4 feet away. He looked puzzled about the scent until he realized it was me, "You smell like Japan." I'll have a while to wait to see how long it lasts! EDIT: It disappeared rather too quickly for me, like in 2 to 4 hours. I do really like a longer lasting scent. However, what is left after 4 hrs is a very light powdery Hanoki wood, almost to the point of baby powder, and that is close to the skin. We'll see, it may just be my system adjusting to the scent. re-EDIT : It is no longer a strectch, after trying this off and on for two months now, I get Hot Couture Collection #1. It is not quite up there, but it's close. The scent is developing more quickly, and lasting longer-- depending on how cold the bottle is when I put it on! And now I realize what is SOOOO familiar about this scent, more than the Hanoki, it reminds me of a sexy powerhouse perfume that was spicy, warm, and sexier than this one. A keeper if you miss HC#1, but I still wish the Givenchy role-model was not discontinued.

I just bought 30ml of this at the supermarket because it's so cheap and EA fragrances usually work well with my skin chemistry. Honestly, part of what drew me to it was that mother in-law hasn't owned this one and we both gravitate towards EA fragrances for casual occassions (she doesn't wear daily) and daily or day/casual occasions for me. It's safe and I might update this review after the next family gathering. I'm not trying to "wow" my husband with this one (nor am I trying to put him off) I just hope it draws positive compliments from women in my life and maintain a good impression with them. Oriental-florals/florientals are usually a success with my skin chemistry and based on the notes and a quick test spritz in the shop, it seems like a warm, comfortable, somewhat sweet fragrance without being overbearing, at least not on me. I'll admit that I was a tad disappointed that the bottle/fluid was completely clear because when it first came out, I remembered something being purple and the box looks like the original. Maybe the simple clear design is so that they can sell it cheaper in supermarkets. It's not important, I was just hoping it'd look good sitting there with Lancome Tresor Midnight Rose,TM Alien and HB Deep Red.:D Others have written that it doesn't last on them. That's a bit sad, but I'll be wearing this one to make good first impressions and I don't mind if it wears off because I'll be wearing it in settings where they bring in increasingly heavy, warm dishes. I can see that some of those who've raved about Provocative like some of the same fragrances as me, ie. one of you is currently/or at time of writing wearing Hugo Boss Deep Red, which is my other casual, go-to fragrance. I'll update on the longevity when i've had a few weeks to test it out. First Update: OT - if I write another update, it'll be a separate one because this one's long enough already. On first spritz it's very bright and sparkly and close to my skin which made me very worried,, because those types of fragrances usually die quickly on my skin. It's Sunday, I don't care, so I decided to sit and pin a bit on pinterest and with my wrists at 1⁄2 arm length from my face, I noticed this warm, spicy, creamy scent. I hestitate to use the word sweet because so many people have negative connoctations to that word in the context of fragrances. Something about this fragrance reminds me of something along the lines of Red Door Velvet which I never owned because I discovered it in my 20s and I didn't feel ready for it, this is lighter though, but there's something EA signature about it, that I can't quite find the words for. Based on my last line, some will be apprehensive about this fragrance but it's that signature something about EA classics (6th Ave. series and Red Door series from a few years ago,) that I like and which is a safe choice for me. I hate being so freakin' impulsive! 4 spritzes because I thought it was weak and sparkly. Wth. was I thinking?! 1-2 spritzes will be enough. *blush!*. At least I'm not going anywhere and husband and sons are with colds, good, good....LOL!

WOW ! I'm amazed at how much I LOVE this scent ! I usually prefer fragrances with strong projection, but this one is a close to skin scent. It's super long lasting on my skin. I put it on yesterday at noon, and it's still going strong this morning ! I have the bottle with one side flat black. At first, I was not sure I would like Provacative Woman. It is so very very different, and I was afraid it would be bitter, but it is not bitter at all. When sprayed, Provacative leaves an oily sheen on skin. This scent envelopes me with a soft yet very deep rich smooth Hinoki wood cloud. It's an unusual wood, not like anything I've experienced before. Not dark, not light, not heavy, not too sweet, just very pleasant, deep and rich, with no sharp edges. Though marketed a feminine scent, and with no cedar or pine smell, I think this one could easily be unisex. Don't let the name "Provacative Woman" stop males from trying this one. The Hinoki wood and the sandalwood in it is a beautiful mix. Expertly blended, Provacative could easily be mistaken for a high priced niche fragrance. I can understand why some reviewers say this is a mature scent. It's certainly not modern, not fruity, not very sweet, not light. But since it's a skin scent, I enjoy wearing it . I think it can work for other young people who enjoy rich unusual wood fragrances. I would suggest that people should try a sample first. Most unusual, pleasing, non offensive, richly deep woody scent I own ! I just can't get enough ! Beautiful, unique, smooth, highest quality, smells expensive. For me, definitely a favorite and a keeper ! EDIT : AMAZING ! I've NEVER had so many compliments in one morning ! I was out shopping , wearing Provocative Woman, and 6 different strangers, 3 young teen boys, an older man, a young woman, and an older woman, stopped me to say they thought I smelled great, and wanted to know the name of my perfume ! I'm thrilled ! Guess this one does project after all ? Good thing, because I'm becoming addicted to it !

Such wonderful and thought provoking reviews you fellow 'Fragrantica' members have written . Well Done! I have this, though I did purchase it some time ago and it still seems fairly virile despite it's age. The bottle version I have is the deep violet painted on one side which sadly chips quite easily. I just fill in the chipped specks with a permanent marker to keep the bottle looking somewhat decent. I actually saw the clear version on sale last summer for 7 aussie dollars at "Price Line' for a 100 mill EDP. That was crazy . CHEAP. Anyway, getting back to this fragrance. I can't really top or elaborate on what's been written except to say. Upon first whiff, this fragrance reminds me of nearly all of those wanna be perfumes floggering Celeb's fragrances under Celeb names. It's like 'Provocative Woman' was used as a prototype fragrance for many of those fragrances in the fruity floral woody range. That's saying something positive in that this fragrance is the one to aspire to. I feel the naming of this a little cheesey. I think Mamsell Arden should have left the name at 'Provocative'. Like other 'Ellie Arden' Fragrances, this one also has that ability to out perform many more expensive fragrances on longevity. This is not like her other fragrances at all, and seeing that there's only one spin off, more or less the least popular. I loved what I read about the Japanese experience with the 'Hinoki' wood note. Those reviews were absolutely enchanting. The bottle design seems to reflect this too in the shape and design reminding me if the simple geometric pagoda and or Japanese footwear design. Simple and elegant. The actual fragrance itself smells like late Winter cherry Plum tree blooms in Victoria, when the nature strips in some suburbs are in full bloom with 'Cherry Blossoms', the streets are pink and frothy, the footpaths a pink cloud with soft petals and very oriental. Yes fellow 'Fragrantica' reviewers. Thank you. Cheers T.

A delightful amber-infused scent that can sit close or further depending on how you spritz with a hint of ginger and a slight peppery nuance in its' character. Provocative is a sophisticated perfume that embodies unique and unusual wood scents uncommonly found in todays' scents. I like the unusual and this fits that category perfectly. Lotus notes are deeply ensconced in its ethereal watery qualities. It's not floral, nor is it a deep, dark, mysterious wood of the forest. This is a unique wood, the kind that you might be shopping for in a custom furniture gallery in SoHo and you inhale the grainy woods around you that have lovingly been carved, oiled and molded by artisans. Unique lemony green scents from the Hinoki Wood, a Japanese cypress, stay strong throughout the duration of this perfume. Hinoki Wood is a prized wood used for palaces, temples and shrines, so I'm not surprised that using it in a perfume would be heavenly. This is really quite a beautiful surprise for wood lovers because of its uniqueness. Sophisticated, airy, and deeply erotic, Provocative turns out to be a mature choice for the right individual. Sensual lines and curves form the bottle with its seemingly juxtaposed look. When you look at the clear bottle in a certain way, you see two images. Longevity is at least six hours, a definite plus for perfumes made today. A excellent choice for year-round wear.

I recently bought a new bottle of this perfume, and loved it so much, I just ordered two more bottles! This was my signature scent for a while, and I don't know why I ever stopped using it, other than being enticed by the bountiful array of other perfumes out there. Well, I've reembraced this beauty! Provocative Woman would make a great everyday perfume. because it's not too "in your face" if you know what I mean? It's a nice, lowkey citrus floral. I don't get a lot of the individual notes. PW is a bit too blended for that. I pick up maybe a little bit of the quince and lotus, a bit of sandalwood and amber, but otherwise it's its own scent that is Provocative Woman. This blended quality makes it soft. Consequently, the sillage isn't terrific, but I think that just makes it hard to overdo. I like that someone has to lean into you to smell it. It makes it more intimate, more sensual. I would say this perfume is an easy reach and a crowd pleaser. It's not going to offend anyone that's for sure, but I wouldn't say it's boring. Rather, it's natural and easygoing. I can still buy it from Elizabeth Arden's site, but it's not listed as one of their collections. I don't know if the company is winding down production or what? I sincerely hope the company keeps making it.

I think this scent is everything 5th Avenue is except this is a touch sweeter and younger, with more personality. It's one to have if you've a collection. I'm still shocked this perfume isn't loved by more people. This is "thee" perfume that set off my illness (perfume addiction). As soon as I saw the bottle, I felt that certain something...like a true drug. The smell put me into a fantasy world, a perfect world that I didn't want to leave. This is so expensive smelling to me. If I were to meet with royalty, I would wear this fragrance. This is truly womanly, refined, delicate, pretty, and soft. It's strong in the sense it lasts forEVER. This would give me confidence in such a situation. I would expect to be asked what sent I was wearing. I just can't believe my eyes when reading the negative reviews. There must be a "rescue" for abused old bottles of this stuff! I will foster my share until we find good homes for them!

I really like this perfume. After the initial rather strong, unusual opening (which might be the quince, but I'm not sure!) it settles down into a lovely, sweet, sexy, sultry scent which becomes more fruity and soft and it lasts for ages on my skin. The raspberry is the predominant note on me at this stage and it's lovely. This has become one of my favorite scents and one which I use very frequently because I find it's great for any occasion, night or day. I've noticed that, to me, Carolina Herrera's 212 Sexy smells a little bit similar to Provocative Woman. I'm not sure why because I don't think there are similar notes in the two perfumes but for some reason there seems to be some similarity. Maybe it's the sweetness and the warmth which both perfumes have. Either way, I love both of them!

After finding an unopened bottle tucked away in a cupboard, I must confess that am absolutely seduced. It wears beautifully on the skin, enveloping in a feminine and sensual haze; slightly powdery, aquatic, sweet, and fresh all at once. The dry down is elegant woods; subtly sexy and mysterious. It has garnered compliments for me all month long; a lady in a clothing boutique stated that "I smell like a dream," and promptly asked what I was wearing. My mother and I both revered this scent with fond memories upon its initial release with the stunning Catherine Zeta Jones as its model. I would absolutely love a revival of this sensual beauty. With so many generic disappointments, Provocative Woman deserves to see the light of day once more.

I have the perfume and my bottle is clear on all 4 sides I have in the past had the other bottle which was purple on one side with a black pattern. On the Arden website the bottle is clear on all 4 sides so I think she just has 2 bottle designs. I got mine from a chemist and it lasts and lasts on me. It is not a strong fragrance but it wafts up whenever I move around so I am really pleased with it. In the past when I purchased it I didn't like it. It smelled very peppery and didn't last and that one was the one with the purple on the bottle. I may have had the edt so maybe the edp for me is better that is the one I have now which is a clear bottle on all sides and it lasts and is not really peppery. Maybe Arden has changed it slightly?

I love this. It is easy to dismiss because it seems unspectacular at first but it is something really nice. I think of it as a sophisticated pfruity floral for grown women. I am constantly catching wonderful whiffs of this stuff. Not heavily spicy, but it's still an oriental. The fruit provide a delicious richness without being sweet and syrupy. This is the only fume that EA makes that I like. My sister thinks she wears better perfume than me (all she has is J'adore. You should have seen her craning her neck to see what that wonderful perfume I was spritzing when we went out to celebrate my b day! This has great sillage and longevity. Great for evening or even during the day,

Best blind buy ever. The more I wear it, the more I love it and I even find myself craving it sometimes after I've switched to something else for a few days. The combination of the mysterious woods with the not-too-sweet fruits and clean florals is just perfect for me. It even got a compliment from a stranger, which is a pretty rare experience for me - when we were boarding a shuttle to the airport a man sat up, smiled, and then looked at my husband and said "Oh! Your wife's perfume smells really good" - and I had put it on four hours before. This might become my signature and I'm already tempted to go back and buy another bottle as a backup.

I totally agree with Sande-Mac who says that although Provocative Woman has an unusual opening smell which can seem slightly strange at first, and it might not appeal to everyone, once the perfume settles it becomes really lovely. On my skin it becomes soft, warm, slightly powdery and the raspberry really makes its presence known, which I love! The bottle of Provocative Woman I initially got was a tester bottle which was priced very reasonably. I liked the perfume so much, and the price was so good, I immediately ordered a couple more so it'll be quite awhile before I run out of this! Definitely a keeper for me. :-))

Provocative Woman is my new signature scent. It's not very provocative, but it is unique and beautiful. I would describe it as a slightly sweet citrus floral. It has moderate sillage and longevity. Never offensive, this fragrance takes you from the office to church to a night out. My only complaint is that you can't buy this in the store. Elizabeth Arden only sells this through their online store, which I think is a mistake. How do you expect to get new customers if they can't smell it first. I received it as a Christmas gift. Oh well, I only hope they continue to stock it. I've never smelled anything quite like it.

My daughter bought this for me. I was bowled over by this fragrance. I love the spice, the fruit and the wood notes. I think everyone's body chemistry work on fragrance differently. On me, this smells gorgeous. I have had people stop me, asking what scent I was wearing. Male and female. I see this as a confident, elegant, sensual fragrance. My signature scent. My daughter told me that when she first smelled Provocative Woman in the store, she told the sales woman. "This is my mom. Everything about it. I'm buying this now" I'm on my fourth bottle and have backups.

The notes I get with this one are: very slightly aquatic, flowers and as it matures after about an hour it's beautifully woody. It's unlike any other wood smell and it's just beautiful. I didn't expect this but it is becoming my favourite. It's addictive. And very very classy. Because of the dominant wood note I can see a male carrying this off too. Having said that, it is not a masculine fragrance, I think this is one of those fragrances that can be carried by the wearer. I think the name with this one can be a bit misleading. It makes me love my day.

Warning: not for the shy. Provocative Woman by Elizabeth Arden is definitely strong and can induce headaches if oversparyed. It's a very sweet, Oriental perfume - heavy on the Oriental side. I tend to wear this more in the winter and in the evenings. I love the smell, very feminine and sexy but I can't see this working at an office during the day or the hotter months. Starts out very strong but quickly fades in to a warm, sweet scent. This one has to be tested before purchse, I can easily see it not working with people's chemsitry.

I'm 23 and I love this fragrance! It was a blind purchase for a 1.7 oz bottle at walmart for 20 bucks around Christmas, but I sprayed it when I got home and thought it was okay. But it quickly grew on me! Such a sweet, oriental fragrance. You can definitely over spray this one, so be careful. I've gotten several compliments on my smell when I wear this. Elizabeth Arden has done well this several of her perfumes, and I was shocked to see that she even did my other favorite, Fantasy by Brittany Spears!

I just love this! It's one of the Elizabeth Ardens that actually works for me and stays with me. It's a little dark, a little daring, and I love that it has two ambers in the base as I love amber, I can definitely detect the woodiness which is in perfect balance with the flowers and fruits. it's sultry but not too sultry for daytime. It's different from anything else I have and I got 50 ml for ten bucks. A great find and hope to always have this among my collection.

I think this is an underrated EA fragrance. Mis-named because I do not feel it is "provocative"... however it is different and subtle. And I feel this could be versatile and be a from daytime/work to an evening out, fragrance. I wear this to work often. Lasts a fairly decent time on me. Edit: some note in the opening of this perfume reminds me of estee lauder "pleasures" . I think it is the ginger which reminds me of pepper. Still really like this one.

I can put this on early in the morning and still detect the sutle, warm base notes late in the evening. I can't say that about too many perfumes. Thankfully, this was given to me as a gift, because it isnt something I would have picked at the counter for myself since I dont particularily care for the initial scent when I apply it...HOWEVER, once this warms up and blends with my chemistry I LOVE it. This is now my favorite.

I just love this one and am finally writing a review as I always read up on perfumes on Fragrantica before I buy, no matter how it smells on me. I agree with an earlier reviewer who was puzzled that this wasn't Loved more often by reviewers. It's just gorgeous on me -- musky, floral and slightly spicy. With my skin chemistry it lasts ages, as do most EA fragrances. Love it and always get compliments when I wear it.

This fragrance surprised me. Oriental floral not normally my thing, but this just smells divine and definitely made me feel womanly and sexy. Also agree that it lasts long. Wouldn't wear this in summer though. Definitely a winter perfume.

I love this scent. It's interesting to read all these reviews and how different they are.I would think this is very light and suitable for anyone but from what I read, most don't agree. I'll keep looking for more reviews!

I really loves this scent :-). It is one of my favorites. It's vary sexy and would be perfect for date night. I ran out of my 10ml and would like to get another one in a bigger bottle even if it's not full size.

very beautiful..loved it all the way...used to last all day on me..can't seem to find it anywhere these days except online..which takes far too long for me to wait for...

I have loved this fume a long time! It`s warm and cozy, sexy and spicy, fruity and fresh. All in one! It`s similar to my other favorite Carolina Herrera`s CH.

I have the deodorant spray of this scent, and I absolutly love it. I would love to try the edt as well. I just didn't have the chance yet.

To Tigerlillian: It`s the same bottle, just different side of it. Only the back of it is dark, so if you look sides, they will be clear.

Opening reminds me of arden beauty... powdery floral. The drydown is warm spicy. I don't get the pear or lemon. Very pleasant perfume.

I loved it!! Although too much can give you a headache... Makes you feel sexy and worth a million dollars!!

It was a blind buy that I do not regret. I layer this with Elie Saab Royal. Wow wow wow! Stunning!

Really love it. It is fresh and sweet also. Long lasting.

I found an unused bottle .33 fl. oz. EDP spray at a yard sale for $3 so I got it since I liked the smell of it from the bottle. I didn't know the name of it but I like other EA fragrances I have tried, too. My bottle has one dark side, being on the only side that is a completely straight rectangle. It evokes the straight, statuesque quality of a self-assured woman. The interesting shape with the rest of the sides holding clear glass that is molded into a thought-provoking curve, maybe of a woman's body---maybe the sensuous curve of a breast, or even the femme fatalle's curvaceous waist...and then the angle of viewing the bottle makes very interesting prisms into the bottle, a very faceted & multi-dimensional glass scuplture, IMHO. The design of the bottle speaks a lot to me & I wish I had a BIG version of it. I just love it!!! As to the name of the fragrance, yes, I agree with so many others as posted here about that. Maybe if they wanted to somehow use the word "Provocative" they could have researched that word & implications to something like "Provocateur" or such. I do not think the name of it is a good choice. I find this to be a nice fragrance, a refreshing spin on my fave group, the orientals. It surprised me somewhat in it's opening, which seems very strong, quite intense with the refreshing quince, sweet lotus & spicy ginger lily, orchid, freesia, more fruity refreshing with sweetness of peach & apricot, sandalwood & amber dancing around so softly as if to tease. Within just a few minutes, it begins to transition to the heart. I noticed the bridge to the heart is distinct on my skin, within 15 minutes. The heart holds the sweet fruity-floral quality but it has softened a lot & I begin to notice the berry in it more. This lasts maybe about 2 hours. The drydown is very nice, amber, sandalwood & cedar begin to really awaken as if they had been hiding like a slow smouldering fire. Now they are soft, sweet, almost powdery, only enhancing all the other notes that much more. It is one of those fragrances that is very interesting as it morphs through it's phases. Its very pleasant with my chemistry, IMO it is a nice change for my collection but would not be a signature fragrance for me. It is rather sweet, IMO. The sillage is moderate & longevity pretty good at 5-6 hours for me. To me this is a "safe" anytime fragrance but one that lacks that UNIQUELY UNUSUAL something that stands out that I love so much. But I will enjoy using my little bottle!

To begin with, the most pronounced notes for me are quince and fresh fruitiness in general moderated by the spicey peppery ginger. I love ginger. This also has some pleasant dusty woods and amber which I really enjoy. Projects only softly, longevity is pretty average. It's clean and refreshing- this is probably one of the few wearable fruity fragrances for me as I generally don't like fruity frags but this has some warmth and elegance to it. This is completely inoffensive and office friendly and I would like my own bottle just because I really enjoy the combination of freshness, spicyness and woods. It is very nice indeed but don't expect anything spectacular. I must say though it definitely is not what I would describe as sweet or gourmand at all like the review below mine. This is fresh, spicey, fruity and woodsy. Not very sweet- it's just right. Things that I would describe as too sweet are LVEB and Diesel Loverdose just so you get where I am coming from. Update: An hour in, this is actually predominantly a wood fragrance. I often hate some wood fragrances- but this has a dusty amber and oriental woods scent that I really like. Have actually decided I love this, because once you really give it some time, you realise how unique it is. First impressions are of fruitiness and smells sort of common, but the longer you wear it you realise it actually have a very unusual oriental quality. Smells very Japanese tbh. Therefore this fragrance is a woodsy, slightly floral spicey composition and very elegant. Definite want, especially at such a low price. Dry ambery woods, white florals give it clarity, nice hint of spice, and fresh almost aquatic quality. I think too many people have discounted this because of its price & the fact that it is Elizabeth Arden so they think it is cheap before it even gets a chance. It actually projects better now that I am in a quiet room by myself.

I'm surprised to see so few people ticking the 'love' category for this one. Don't get me wrong, it's far from being the best perfume out there, but that first impression, that first whiff from a family member passing by and me going "What is THAT?" - wow. It leaves a great first impression. Totally unique. It's the quince, I think, that tiny, yellow fruit-thing that I could literally attempt to shove up my nose all day to smell. It's that addictive to me. Out of my eye, I spy someone saying this reminds them off Davidoff's CW. I'm shocked. My mom wore CW for 20 years and I smelled it every day, and hated it (She even tried to convert me by gifting me several bottles over time) - watery fragrances makes me run away faster than a kid let loose in Disney Land. This is all sexy, sharp (probably mildly headache inducing to some) and probably the only fragrance I've ever immediately categorized as 'evening' that has sweet fruits, berries and ginger in it. Yeah, don't let the note list fool you. This is a dark beauty, a lady in her best evening wear, dark and mysterious without the usual spicy and oriental scents you'd usually associate her with. It's a formal fragrance I feel could be worn by just about anyone, from mid-teens to the lovely ladies who are +50. The sillage is pretty decent for a scent of its price tag, and the lasting power is in the moderate to heavy end. It's pretty much a steal. If you're the least bit intrigued, don't pass it up. You may not like it, but definitely get a sample, see for yourself. It might surprise you, like it surprised me.

I bought it for myself back in the day when it was just out, because I thought the bottle, the name and the scent were in perfect harmony and I just had my hair cut short, so I thought it suited me somehow to wear something different, something less `wallflower-ish` as before..Then after the first 50 ml bottle I thought is was enough for me and switched on to Moschino Cheap and Chic, Chopard Casmir and so on..Today I was walking around in a pharmacy in town and there it was, 50 ml for 17 euros - and I simply couldn`t resist, had to reach for the tester once more. This was at 5 in the afternoon, now its 11 pm and I can still make out that one spritz quite clearly. So it still does last as it used to.. I think this perfume is sweet, sour and bitter all at once, a very strong, but very-strong-in-the-feminine sort of way scent, a bit like `girl-power`, so to speak. It`s not spicy though, not on me anyway, so that`s why it is strange to say something like that of it. I get mainly orchid, woods, fruits - not quince or if it is then it is a quasi-synthetic try to copy quince, but definitely a bitterish kind of fruit scent - and maybe lotus and a pinch of amber, or fruit musk. Nothing `provocative` but yet it is a statement perfume in my book, no doubt. Sexy, but NOT on the animalistic side, more on the fruits-flowers-woods side instead. I also own the deodorant, which is also long lasting, so I would defo count this one as a quality piece, and recommend to try to anyone who likes scents on the darker side!

Another fragrance with a misleading name and imagery. Women who are hoping for a jaw-dropping experience will be disappointed. Women who want to incite interest and whimsy will be delighted. Those expecting a spice-laden Oriental experience will also be left somewhat disoriented. Barely Oriental, with it's use of lotus, gingerlily, ginger, white tea and woods that help it meet the classification criteria. I would call this a sheer Oriental, reminiscent of austere north east Asia--Korea perhaps--rather than the tropical south of the continent. The welcome is bright and sparkling which transforms into a luscious, soft roundness of fleshy fruits. Then an abundance of shy flowers bloom, full bodied but with a non-aggressive personality where freesia shines amongst the bouquet. Soon after, a pretty aquatic note appears like a clear pond full of lotuses rather than the ocean. Dry down is gently warm--amber, sweet woods and a freckle of ginger, which surprisingly lasts at least 8 hours or more. Not provocative or sexually intimidating, but definitely charming and inviting. Friendly and cheerful without being flighty. No wonder narcotic had so many inquiring gents as this scent is very approachable. I'm not sure what the difference is between the clear bottle and purple bottle pictured. I have the crystal clear bottle that is marked Eau de Parfum, which I think suits the fragrance much better.

This is quite a fresh clean smell. It doesn't overly smell like any note in particular. At first this has a slightly chemical "perfumey" smell but after drying I get a light floral with green and woody aspects to it along with a watery smell likely from the top fruit notes. More into the dry down it becomes a little bit earthier but still very clean and fresh, a slight amber smell is present but it's very subtle. I really don't understand why this is called Provocative Woman when it's a very standard light fresh floral fragrance. It's been almost 4 hours since I sprayed this on. Wow! What a gorgeous dry down! It's actually quite a unique dry down with a strong white tea and hinoki fragrance! Never knew what hinoki smelt like but I assume it's the beautiful fresh green mossy aroma I'm getting. If you want to try this definitely wait for the dry down because it is so lovely and not like anything I've smelt before. Initially I thought, oh this is nice but a bit boring, but now? I'm in love. I still think the name is overkill. I tried this a third and final time. It's really lovely but you have to love hinoki to enjoy this fragrance, unfortunately I find the hinoki is a little overpowering for my liking. It's undeniably gorgeous though just not for me. Definitely worth trying though if you ever find a tester of it.

I've owned a bottle of Provocative Woman for several years, and I just can't quite decide how I feel about it. Sometimes I really enjoy it and think it smells really good, but sometimes it's just "meh!" Something about it prevents it from being an all out LOVE. I love ginger, big time -- in Liz Claiborne Mambo, Hugo Boss Deep Red, Givenchy L'Interdit Rouge, Arden Beauty, Twilly d'Hermes -- but the ginger gets outshone by the freesia, in my opinion, and freesia can be a difficult note for me (I am a fan of Iceberg Twice, however, but that one is sooooo aquatic, the freesia note just WORKS). Maybe it is, in fact, the way the freesia and ginger play together; freesia's just so soapy and clean and ginger's just so warm and spicy that it may not quite work, but I'm not sure. Moving on to other notes, I don't get a lot of quince as I do in, say, My Burberry -- now THAT is a quince perfume! I do get a lovely sandalwood and maybe an astringent tea in the drydown, and the drydown is really nice, for sure, and it lasts well for an inexpensive perfume (maybe 3-4 hours). It's funny but, through writing this review, I see that while I have my reservations, Provocative Woman is a perfume that I do enjoy enough to keep. :)

I really took my time before starting to write this review, because Provocative was a blind buy, guided by the reviews on this site and i wanted my remarks to be accurate enough to help readers make a decision. First impression when applied on me: i feel a beautiful blend of fruits. I tend to see fruity perfumes suitable for a younger segment of consummers, but this is somehow ripen, mellow( not girly, not old-fashioned), and vivid . There is also a touch of floral notes. These two -fruity and floral- create a pleasant smelling fume, that, nontheless, does not have the "je ne sais quoi" that i was looking for. I also want to note that, in about one hour, no trace of perfume is left, and i never get to its second phase. When applied on my mother: 1. the same fruity impression. 2. it starts to change its smell after two hours. It looses its fruitiness and becomes a bit sweet, more floral and also a bit woodsy. Very nice. It lasts for about 4 hours and it can be felt from 2 metres. I should underline that, when i wear it, i don't feel it, yet other persons notice its presence. I think that it can be worn by women from their 20s to as-long-as-coquetry-lasts.

I got a 10ml spray of this around 8 years ago. I tried it and dismissed it, along with the other Elizabeth Ardens, as 'orrible. There was a common note in all that I didn't like, and they seemed so sour and ...bland. Leap forward 8 years - I did a lucky dip into my samples yesterday evening and pulled this one out. My heart did not exactly leap, but I stuck with the random choice, after all,I do it to make me revisit the neglected or forgotten. I am so glad I did. This is a lovely, lush, woody, fruity floral, big on ginger, grapefruit (quince?) and raspberry at the top. I am wearing it again in the office today to enjoy it some more but I hope that none of my colleagues ask what it is. That name, Provocative Woman, it is AWFUL! I'd be embarrassed to say it, lol. It just goes to show that tastes and perceptions can change over time, never say never! I experienced the same change of heart with EA 5th Avenue too.

This one I bought a few years back as a present for my sister in law, just tested it once and thought she would like it. Well she just LOVED it...everytime she would come over, I could smell this on her and I began to like it, it was hard to find it then in the Netherlands. I found this on eBay and began to sample it everyday, in the beginning I did not like it very much, but after it settled on my skin...Gosh it smelled so nice on me!!! Except for the ginger, orchid and tea leaf notes I cant recognise any of the other notes, I dont know why but I can smell a hint of vanilla in its drydown. This scent seems very powerfull after its first spritz but after is drydown it becomes a very nice,light,powdery and sophisticated scent. If it goes well with your body chemistry it even smell very seductive and sexy. Its lasting power is tremendous!!! This is a very beautifull but unfortunately underestimated fragrance!!

Despite the fruit notes, this fragrance, is not perceptibly fruity. It is more in line with Estee Lauder's Spellbound, but without the bright notes and sweetness. On me, it is warm and spicy with nuances of cocoa and nuts. While not sweet, there is definitely a bit of powdery vanilla in the undertone. Not a lot in the way of silage after four hours but the fragrance wafts up whenever I move. The water lily emerges occasionally. While it doesn't smell artificial per se, it feels cheap- the bottle for me does nothing to enhance the fragrance. It is a round, warm fragrance that makes me think of snuggling with a fuzzy blanket. While not an aggressive fragrance, it is inviting in a cozy sort of way. Overall I like it, although it is not remarkable. (My bottle is clear on all four sides as well. It lasts quite a long time- 6 hours, which is more than most on me! My skin type is normal to dry.)

The combination of notes and how they play out in the scent is very interesting, I don't know where this fits in, but it's a very unique scent- spicy (courtsey of ginger and quince), fresh in the opening from the lotus, and woody in the dry down. I'm not a fan of freesia and there's plenty of it in this fragrance and the tropical fruits don't seem to fit in well with the spicy notes in the mid... I'm on the fence about this one. Will hold out on a verdict until I wear it some more. Update: Eight months later and I'm still unsure of where I stand with this fragrance. Sometimes I find myself so in love with the uniqueness of the quince note, so different from anything mainstream, and at other times I am put off by the freesia. I suppose that is the quality of a provocative woman. Her disregard for anyone but herself puts you off, while her spicy charm draws you in. Aptly named!

Forget the name of this perfume. In today's fragrance trends I don't think this is Provocative. It is however, a really pretty floral and fresh perfume. Having purchased it for a mere $10 at the discount store might make it more appealing as well. I have a lot of fragrances but there's a spot in my collection for scents that are appropriate for warmer spring and summer days. That's what Provocative Woman is IMO. I get the freesia from this and the wood notes come out after it dries down. Overall it is an office appropriate fragrance or one for occasions where you just want to smell fresh and not walloping people over the head with a loud perfume. It does remind me of one of the pretty Avon scents I've loved but I can't quite place it. Perhaps it's the Crystal Aura someone else mentioned? A nice addition to my summer repertoire of scents.

I generally find that E.A. fragrances do not last long on my skin, even if in EDP form. Provocative Woman is sinfully cheap in South Africa. I still have an old 10ml roller ball EDP. It's probably about 9 years old now. I used to love it. I tried it again this evening and LOVED the opening. About 45 min in I get a bit of burnt vinyl which I never previously noticed. It may just be clashing with my Shalimar Parfum Initial that I wore today or it's shelf life isn't great. Will try again. This is not a cheap smelling fragrance. Value for money and won't offend your co-workers. I also happen to love peach juice in fragrances. I do not smell the ginger which is supposed to be the most prominent note on this one though. A nice enough fragrance and bang for your buck!

I got this in a trade. I had seen it at TJ's but did not want to blind buy it. As the other reviewers state this is a sweet fragrance. The saving grace in this is that there is a hint of spice/wood in the background. This helps buffer that typical gourmand sweetness that I tend to avoid. With that being said I think it's a very lovely scent for the price. I find absolutely nothing offensive about this and I think it's a pretty safe bet if your seeking something comforting, sweet and spicy at the same time. Is it niche or groundbreaking? No but it's very pleasant. To update I sprayed it on my arm before bed and in the morning it was still very noticeable on my arm. This stuff lasts!

I was given this as a birthday present by my sister. She knows that I love perfume. I do love the name of the perfume and the box is great. I also love the shape of the bottle. The juice inside is just not for me. It does have at first, a clean, fresh floral scent. I can smell the ginger and the lotus. On the right person it would make a nice daytime scent,not to strong or spicy. I don't smell spicy at all. The problem for me is that it does'nt last at all. The siliage isn't good either. If this scent works for you it would make a good office scent. It does remind me at first of Ellen Tracey Inspire,but Inspire last a lot longer on me and has a very nice dry down.

Really enjoyable (I almost want to say yummy :-)), this fragrance is very feminine and pleasant and a little sweet. The frisky fruits and quite rich flowers seem to be nicely grounded with abundance of amber and greenery/woods and spiced up and then again lifted with the ginger. Jolly, flirty and classy at the same time, it is quite intense and noticeable without being sharp, arrogant or aggressive as some fragrances in the "provocative category" tend to be. I like the add too. :-) The downside - it slightly reminds me of CK Obsession Night, even though it should not (the composition seems quite different) and on me the longevity is is not particularly great.