Bronze

Very recently, when by chance I smelled a tester for Ellen Tracy Bronze, I could hardly believe my nose! This is the closest fragrance to that erstwhile and elusive perfume that defines for me sunshine, romance, and youth in olde Florida: Parfum DonCeSar. Long ago, I lived in Florida. My favorite Gulf Coast hotel was The DonCeSar. It still looks like a pink fairytale castle, much the same as when it opened around 1930 or so. The hotel had ITS OWN eponymous fragrance that emmanated from the fountain in the lobby. Despite the image that may conjure, the aroma was not oeverpowering -- they had it just right. The place is stunningly beautiful and how cool that they had their own perfume!! The parfum was for sale in the gift shop and small sample bottles were gratis in guest rooms. I absolutely adored that fragrance. I could never quite describe the way it smelled, I just wore it and people always asked what I was wearing. I used to order it by mail from the gift shop if a trip to St. Pete Beach was not on the calendar. For years I was never without my favorite. Then, one day I called the gift shop to order more and the girl had no idea what I was talking about. Hotel takeover and pfffttt, they got rid of their namesake fragrance along with the hotel's lovely and perfect scallop shell signature logo. The hotel has been acquired by upscale chains -- the second and current one is Loew's. The DonCeSar perfume has been unavailable for I'd guess at least 10 years now. I have a very strong scent memory of it and have mourned its loss. The bottle (I kept several) was a simple flat, round frosted glass vessel with the lovely DonCeSar signature scallop shell printed in white. It had a simple gold-toned metal tall cylinder cap. The box was pink with the scallop shell on it. The 2 scents may not be quite 100% match but so close it doesn't matter. I am a happy girl, once again. The second I smelled Bronze, I said DonCeSar!!!!! I get a citrus zest blend backed by orange blossom and vanilla and carmel. And yes, the violets and or iris, that slightly dark tone, maybe amber? Some woodyness (remember Woodhue from Faberge?) Pingui mentions a "sparkle-like quality." I get that too, but can't name it. Because of my scent-memory association with the DonCeSar, ETBronze will remind me of Florida and the world of aromas borne on the tropical breezes. Now I want to compare ETBronze to some of the fragrances mentioned by others here.

Bronze blew me away. I never expected this perfume to be as wonderful as it is. I purchased a set of four rollerballs which included Ellen, Ellen Tracy, Tracy and Bronze. I figured a great way to test four of Ellen Tracy's Eau de Parfum's at a great price. Out of the four, I absolutely love Bronze, adore Ellen Tracy and Ellen and find Tracy a very interesting perfume. These are perfumes that I am surprised are relegated to the discount stores. They should not be. My first impression of Bronze was Lemon Meringue Pie. Don't ask me why, but that was the image that came to mind. From the top note down, every whiff is absolutely delicious. Creamy vanilla mixed with woods-a lovely scent that can be worn year-round. Wait for the drydown and the nuttiness comes through. So nice to have another note announce its presence during the different stages of a perfume. This is what a perfume is about-discerning the variables that a perfumer puts into their mix, and Bronze has its diverse notes, too, and really, they all smell wonderful. Sometimes when we wear a perfume we feel we must get through the top or middle stage because it's unpleasant, not so with Bronze. Each layer is one to enjoy. You stop to take time and discern the notes. Into the middle the sweetness barely lingers as the sandalwood woodiness embodies the heart of the fragrance. Now Bronze is becoming one with the wearer, a skin fragrance, a scent that mixes with your body chemistry, a little salt tossed over your shoulder for good measure. It becomes heady at this point, you're lying on the sands alone in a cove, the air is moist and damp, the tall grasses are blowing around you. It is seasonless, it is just you, the clean hills of sand around you, the whispering tall grass marshes blowing. The sun is warm. Bronze seems to address many needs as a fragrance for its wearers. It's a soft perfume, it's a gourmand, it's a light oriental. Pick how it suits you, as it wears on you for hours. This can be a meditative fragrance or one for yoga. Bronze can fulfill a Sunday afternoon reading The New York Times in bed or one when you spend the day with your friends at home as a Girls Night In. It's possibilities are endless.

My first perfume review ever..... First of all, a huge THANK YOU to everyone who pointed me to my local TJ Maxx, where I was beyond thrilled to find a 3.4 oz bottle for $17. Actually, there were two bottles on the shelf and I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to head back to the store, just to see if it's still there, waiting for me. This started out as a sample given to me at the mall around Christmas 2011. I was spritzed during a rushed last-minute shopping spree. Paying little attention, I tossed the sample in a basket on my dresser and forgot about it until a year later. 2012, Christmas again, I am nearly out of perfume (I will never let this happen again), but I know I am getting perfume for Christmas so I hunt around for whatever drops I might have lying around to get me through. I find my Ellen Tracy Bronze sample. Spray it on, go to work. And throughout the day, I find that I can't stop smelling my wrist. It smells fresh, yet delicious, cozy, warm and sunny. It's my perfume equivalent of slipping on my most comfortable jeans. Or sipping a latte on a rainy afternoon, but also like a day at the beach reading a book I can't put down. In other words, it's all my favorite things. It's such a good fit for me, I'm still surprised every time I spray it. My desperate search for exactly what was in this perfume that I loved so much led me to Fragrantica. Since I'm very new at picking out notes, I could only nod my head and smile when I saw that one of the top notes listed was heliotrope. Makes perfect sense, since whenever I am at a garden center, I can't resist smelling this delicious spicy vanilla purple flower. So yummy. And now I am lost in a sea of fragrence reviews on this website. I love this place, it's like getting lost in a library full of personal perfume stories. Although I've been buying perfume for years, I feel like Ellen Tracy Bronze is my first fully informed, grown-up purchase.

For the longest time I've been searching for a lemon, vanilla blend perfume that is a little more complex than just those two notes alone, yet not aromatic, as it is in Jicky and other citrus vanilla blends I've tried. I finally found it after this was recommended to me by a fellow perfumista here. This is perfect. Lemon with a light, airy vanilla, thanks to the vanilla orchid, that's not heavy or drowning out the other notes. The violet leaf, lotv, and honeysuckle add a freshness to this scent keeping any heaviness at bay, and the coumarin a lite herbal touch. All is grounded on a light cedar base, rounded out with smooth amber creaminess. It is all so well blended that it's hard for me to pick out the other notes (apple? orange blossom?), though I do smell the violet and the heliotrope with its powdery almond characteristic on the dry down. The overall composition is citrusy, creamy, powdery, and teetering gourmand. I first bought a small bottle dirt cheap last summer, but I've since purchased a gift set, also at a ridiculously low price. I'm really very surprised with the silage and the longevity, especially when used with the corresponding products. While not a silage beast, I was able to smell it clearly for at least 6 hours, even in the heat of summer, before it became a skin scent. That's very good considering many more expensive perfumes don't perform half as well. Although I was initially hesitant on purchasing this perfume after having been disappointed by this brand before, I'm so glad I added this inexpensive gem to my collection. It has quickly become a favorite. Thanks, Suz, for the recommendation. ^-^

I have seen this fragrance in discount stores for some time now and never gave it too much thought. That is, until I joined Fragrantica. This one pops up in the forums quite a bit so when I saw it priced at $4.99 for 30mL on my last trip to Marshalls, I had to grab it (total blind buy). While I was rummaging through the other fumes, a gentleman approached me and couldn't stop raving about Bronze and Ellen Tracy (which I also bought blind that day). He had purchased several backup bottles for his wife. Let me say, I have never been this impressed by my other blind buy, discount fragrances as I am with Bronze. It starts out very lemony, like meringue or cookies or lemon drop candies. Then after an hour or so into the dry down, I catch whiffs of the beautiful powdery violet, heliotrope, green earthiness, musk and amber. Sniffing close to the skin reveals more citrus, mandarin, bergamot, (apple?), and cedar. Longevity is good at 6+ hours and there is really no need to reapply except that I enjoy the semi sweet lemon opening so much. This is great quality at a value price. I am a bit sorry that I discovered it this late in the summer. I would consider a repurchase when I'm through with this bottle. Edit 4/22/2015: This really is a beautiful scent and once again, I'm amazed at the quality vs value. The sprayer on my bottle sticks and requires some manipulation to pull the nozzle back up after each spritz. I wonder if that's the reason I see so many bottles of Bronze in the bargain bin. At any rate, it was still worth every penny.

Disclaimer: I recently recovered from covid and my sense of smell is still a little wonky. Take this review with a grain of salt. Man, what can be said about this that others haven't said already? I love this, and it's been a while that I've been this happy with a super cheap blind buy. It's bright, powdery, creamy, and sweet. Very well blended, and I love the transitions it goes thru. It starts off a tart, high-pitched lemonade scent. As the violets & heliotrope and coumarin & amber join in, it settles down to a sweet, powdery, creamy, and more rounded smell that reminds me of Insolence and Infusion D'Iris mixed together. The dash of greenery in the middle and cedar at the end helps tie everything together and keeps it from becoming too violet-y and heavy (Insolence has a thicc violet). On my skin, this is a rich & creamy, powdery, violet-centric scent. The amber grounds it, and the citrus & cedar keeps some energy in it and gives it some lift. It's dreamy, casually elegant, and comforting. And there's def something nostalgic about it. It reminds me of both summer vacation and back-to-school days as a kid in the 90's/00's. My fiancé said it reminds him of the mall in the early 00's, and I can see that too (Annapolis Mall. Maybe when you first walk into Macy's by the purse/jewelry section? Close to the fragrances & cosmetics counters, but not so close that you're getting all the fragrances at once) Whatever it is, it reminds me of the magic of the late 90's and early 00's, and I'm all the way here for it.

As previous reviewers state, Bronze is an unexpected gem. I first tried a roll on a year or more ago that was very pleasant, even beautiful. Lemon cream pie, I thought. But it wasn't love, so I included the roll on alongside various items to share with a friend. Fast forward to this week. A generous, kindly fragrantican sent me her large spray bottle and I immediately sprayed away, haha. OH HAPPY DAY. Applying a larger amount than a roll on can is the decisive factor between 'nice' and Wow. A generous spray or so of Bronze yields a seductive amber scent with orange blossom and powder and gorgeousness. Creamy sweet Lemon is still vaguely there, in a background way. While I usually abhor ozonic elements or Violet Leaf, happily neither of these are evident on me. In short, I'm excitedly enjoying a gorgeous yet comforting Floriental with warmth and feminine wiles! Worn lightly Bronze could go anywhere - shopping, work, school, etc. More than one spray, however, and you have a truly seductive Venus on your hands. Beware! ;) Update - Absolutely enthralling in cold weather. I am now noticing violet alongside the powdery,dreamy-creamy goodness noted before. Not violet leaf, but lovely sweet violets themselves! Smells expensive and even almost vintage in dry down. I cannot say enough about this beauty!

I found a bottle and a purse spray of this at Ross for a steal. I had heard good things about it here and bought it blind. A good decision, because this is a fun fragrance. But first we have to get something straight, the name Bronze has nothing at all to do with the beach or getting a tan. It has almost nothing in common with Estee Lauder's Bronze Goddess line, which I own several different variations of. So please, if you are looking for beach, keep looking. This is a very wearable citrus and violet fragrance, built on a base of vanilla and amber. The name Bronze, in my mind, is because there is a metallic feeling to the fragrance. And not in a bad way, but in a cool, refined sort of way. I think this is at least partially due to the sparkling lemonade opening. I can see why some people say it is similar to Lolita Lempicka, but really I think it is just because they both have violet. Bronze is much more citrusy and the dry down on me is not similar at all to Lolita, which is more green and licorice-y. Bronze is much more straightforward. I enjoy wearing this fragrance, especially when it is warm outside, because it does feel cool. I wish they would have made a better cap because the darned thing does not stay on the bottle for anything. But for less than $10, I guess I can't complain.

I just received this yesterday. I am so happy that is does NOT smell like Pink Sugar! I was so excited to get it and WOW I am blown away. This fragrance is DIVINE. MAGICAL. TIMELESS. It is a very soft flowery honeysuckle and violet scent with a hint of lemon and vanilla. Beautifully composed. Perfect. .. So beautiful. I got the big 3.4 ounce bottle off of EBay for 12.00 and could not be more delighted. I got 3 compliments when I wore it yesterday. Amazing scent. It lasts on my skin a long time but I reapplied it sparingly every 4 hours. It's my 2019 summer signature scent. I can't stop smelling my wrist. It's angelic and lofty. If you do not have this fragrance you really should try it. It's magic in a bottle. EXTRAordinarily superb. I know the real reason why this perfume was called Bronze because of her clothing line but this fragrance really is Bronze...a light beach scent on me and I'm loving it ever so much! I can also see this scent being used by Brides. It's breathtaking and calming. One of the very best. Don't let the cost fool you this scent smells expensive and luxurious and I like the bottle I think it is unique. In fact, I am eating a Lemon Drop cookie from Panera Bread and it tastes like Bronze smells, if that makes any sense!... A soft lemon powdered sugar delight!

At first I thought I liked it, but every time I wear it I fall a little bit more in love. The amber and heliotrope are the most prominent notes on my skin, and every time I catch a whiff of it, it's like I've just overheard a delightful secret. I find it appropriate for both daytime and evening wear, and my husband adores the scent so much that he will hold me just so he can sneak a sniff. I wear it year-round, and it seems to evolve with the seasons. In summer, it smells almost tropical (but not in a hackneyed, coconut-and-sunscreen kind of way). In winter, it smells warm and inviting, but not overpowering. I have started to collect Bronze in various configurations; I now have a full bottle at home, a rollerball in my desk at work, and a purse spray in my handbag. I'm a Bronze hoarder. One thing I will say--and I know that packaging shouldn't matter--but the bottle is truly hideous, and the cap is an abomination to both function and design. Don't buy it for display, folks. Update regarding longevity: a few days ago, I applied this at 6:30 AM for an early workday, and I could still smell it when I stumbled into bed at 2:00 AM after attending a concert that went late. Pretty good, if you ask me.

After smelling this fragrance for the very first time, I wasn't really that impressed, I thought to myself "wait, isn't this like what Prada's Infusion d'Iris smells like?" I found the initial citrusy blast in combination with something woody and powdery very similar to that. However, I changed my mind pretty quickly. After it dried down, it turned itself into this nostalgic smelling, sweet, yet refreshing powdery scent that reminded me so much of 1999/2000, 2001 and how my first Barbie dolls smelled like, in combination with mom's cosmetic products from those times... very beautiful scent that turned out to be very different from Infusion d'Iris (I still love that perfume, I love both of them now). The citrus/woody note remained, but underneath it all there is this sweet-ish scent lingering, also my nose can catch the violet, heliothrope and maybe tonka, very nice, powdery. So, with Bronze I found another airy scent ideal for summer. :) Fresh, yet not "simply citrus/drugstore" fresh... it's difficult to describe, really, but it's more complex than that. It really feels nostalgic, like some nice memories from the past, from younger years, or childhood. I'm so glad I got the fragrance.

I’m so happy to have this beauty back in my life! My bottle was shattered early in the year and I was devastated. I missed it the entire time until I received my new bottle today. The scent to me is lemon cookies + powdered cosmetics. Now that I think about it this reminds me of those lemonade cookies the girl scouts sell. Nothing about it really calls out to me that this would be a “bronze” or tropical style perfume, but it can be worn in the summer months. In fact it could be worn year round. There’s something about it that is nostalgic, intriguing, and light heartedly whimsical. I will enjoy wearing this on breezy spring days, and hot humid summers. It’s impressively long lasting and well projecting for how affordable it is, and it doesn’t smell like a drugstore cheapie, don’t let the affordable price fool you. It’s one of my favorite perfumes in my entire collection, I’m so happy to gave this back in my life. The only issue I have is that the bottle must be made of cheap, easily breakable glass. If you buy this try to store it in its box or in a place that it won’t topple over on itself. But its scent is absolutely delicious and a hidden gem.

Ellen Tracy's Bronze is a beautifully soft perfume with a fun little twist. This is a lemonade-kissed, clean powder scent that is perfect for picnics and Easter egg hunts, as well as around the workplace as it is very inoffensive. It's also gentle enough to wear to bed right after your evening bath to really dive into that fresh and clean feeling. I would not describe this as a warm scent, but more like a perfume you'd wear on a breezy spring day or early summer day to cool yourself off. You can absolutely layer with this to balance out heavier scents. If you are not a fan of powder then you'll want to stay away, but otherwise, this is a very safe purchase. — Update: I actually went back to Burlington and purchased another bottle (set with the lotion) for $9. I had to get a backup because this is my favorite scent for winding down to sleep. I can’t help but feel so incredibly relaxed when I have this on. I also love layering this with D&G Light Blue because of the similar notes. They blend together well on my skin, so I recommend giving this combo a try if you can (it helps Light Blue’s longevity problem, at least for me).

My best blind buy in the last 5 years (maybe 10)! Here's why: First it smells incredibly iris on me- don't know why. The powdery dry down on my skin is like Prada Infusion d'Iris EDT meets my beloved Liz Claiborne Vivid. And secondly, it's like a dog whistle for men. Three men, in different areas of my workplace, inquired about it IMMEDIATELY after I walked by them. One 30-something who has tatts, and tough-guy attitude, kept asking "Is that vanilla? What is that?". The guy who usually gives me feedback (same age range), asked for the name so he can add to the wife-gift-list. And the third one (baby boomer), has re-named it "Scrumptious" (insert flirty-eyes). So, great sillage tops it off! I have to add a bit of caution, because I bought this in purse spray size which came in a twin pack with Love Notes. Following the workplace reaction, I rushed to Ross to grab a large bottle, only to get home and discover that it was spoiled. (Cap had leaked inside box, product must have also been exposed to heat.) So, I'm using my purse spray sparingly until I get the courage to trust a large bottle purchase again...

The olfactory equivalent to a soft, cuddly blanket. Calming, soft, happy fragrance. Heliotrope, coumarin, and amber shine in Bronze. I deleted my original review.... Something strange happened, and my initial dislike for Bronze has morphed into a love. I wore it to work the other day, and at the end of a 10 hour day, it smelled like powdered almond cookies on my shirt. Just lovely. There are no sharp edges to this. It really has many stages. At first it is lemony-vanilla and has a thick feel. I don't really know how to describe that. Then, about an hour later, it becomes powdery- a bit vanilla and woodsy, soft. Maybe that's heliotrope. This has good, moderate sillage- but not too much, which is work appropriate. I think the amber and coumarin are lending to the fantastic powdered vanilla sweet dry down which honestly lasts for ages!! Sorry, Bronze, I just didn't "get" you at first for some reason- so glad I do now. Plus, this was under $10 for a 3.4 oz. Look for it at TJ Maxx and Marshalls. This is the only perfume for which I have an actual back-up bottle. Won't be running out of Bronze, ever!!!!

Agreed - there is no reason NOT to like Bronze unless you dislike any and all powder. There is enough lemon and creaminess here to balance it out for most. The powder here is not dry talc but just enough for an agreeable and pleasantly balanced Floriental. See my full review a long way down! I should add two things: If you have not had good experiences with other Ellen Tracy scents, do not worry. I cannot wear them - a metallic, odd note appears on my skin - but nothing like that here. It is the scent that accompanied the more exclusive 'Bronze' clothing line. Violet here reminds me of YSL Paris, only here without that bright rose and with a lovely balance of creaminess and lemon. If you admired Emeraude but couldn't wear it, here is a totally modern interpretation! I suppose the violet leaf is responsible for the 'ozonic' bar listed? I cannot wear ozonic scents in general but happily smell no 'calone' here. Hurrah - a beautiful, easy-to-wear scent that positively blooms in winter! Voila - a total winner. :)

I had to review this for a second time. Since my first review I've had the pleasure of trying all kinds of perfumes Niche and higher end. I even developed somewhat of a "snobby" nose because after collecting for awhile, you sometimes can pick out the higher end fragrances as they seem to sometimes just smell better. I must tell you that Bronze is an exception to the rule. Don't write this one off as a cheapo scent. It smells way more expensive then it is. If someone put fragrances in front of me and blindfolded me, I would have suspected this was a high end perfume. It's got striking similarities to Tom Ford's Violet Blonde. The big difference between the two is Bronze is cleaner less animalic where as TF has a bit of a dirty girl thing going. I do like TF better but i've got to say this one is without doubt a damn good perfume. Lasting power and projection are quite good also. I sprayed this on at night before bed and it is still there although faint.. present! Not many of the higher end ones do this. ;)

Violets, sweet and fresh. Sparkling lemonade and heliotrope in good size quantities. I also note some amber which is warming gives a good base to the scent, some musk (not a lot) and some apple. I do actually love this scent, but there is a bit of a synthetic blip in there that I force myself to ignore (I think it is the apple). Overall ET Bronze is a refreshing scent that calls to mind sunshine-y days and happy outings. This would be lovely to wear on a picnic, or out for a stroll in the park, antiquing, playing tennis - actually for anything that makes one happy :) If you LOVE violets, and I raise my hand high-high for that, then give Ellen Tracy a try. Wonderful price in the US at Marshall's, TJ Maxx,- super great deal, and a good quality scent. I can't help thinking if it was a different label/bottle/marketing ET could have been such a different story... Really a beautiful scent if you are looking for violets at a very reasonable price. Sillage: 5/5 Longevity: 5/5 Overall Beauty of Scent: 4.75/5

What a SWEET score. I got this on clearance for $9.99 3.4 oz spray, body wash and lotion. My opinion on the fragrance is that it is totally fantastic. I mean gorgeous. Not cheap smelling at all. It's up there with all the other $70 fragrances. If you are looking for a lovely warm summer scent this is for you. I can't stop sniffing myself. I sprayed it in the car, the house, on myself, the bedroom and I am in love. This is one of those totally inexpensive massive gems. Grab this at TJ's if you see it - you will not be dissappointed. This reminds me of sitting on the beach soaking up the sun. This is not really a beachy scent or sun lotion yet for some reason it just reminds me of summer. It could even be worn in the winter months. It smells like a warm comfort smell just like the warm sun comforts me so does this fragrance. I strongly agree with the poster below regarding the bottle. It is cheap and tacky looking - moreso the cap then anything.

I agree that this is an underrated and hidden gem. It’s lovely - soft, powdery, a little sweet, warm, and fresh. Heliotrope, coumarin, cedar - I love them together. While Bronze is similar to other perfumes, the green apple and honeysuckle make it unique. It’s beautifully blended. A very easy reach (lightly applied) when you want to smell pretty without calling a lot of attention to yourself - office, church, lunch with friends, shopping. Liberal application takes it up to sexy and alluring, bringing out the warmth and woodsy depth as well as increasing longevity. Mid-development I caught a passing resemblance to Esprit d’Oscar. The drydown is gorgeous. This scent lasts a good 12+ hours on moisturized skin. I just love it! There’s something almost Egyptian about the bottle design, which I find very beautiful. Bronze was a ridiculously inexpensive blind buy that I’m delighted to have in my collection.