Hot Couture Collection No.1

I can remember the exact moment I first smelled this perfume. They were handing out sample vials at an outdoor Peter Gabriel concert and my Mom and I were both handed one. I popped mine open, took one whiff, and I was in love. My Mom took one whiff, said "Whoa. That's you." I got her sample - she's a resinous amber Casmir type and not very compatible with woodsy orientals. If I had known they'd be discontinuing years later, I would have run around with a plastic bag, begging the samples off all of the less enthusiastic. I get it, as I've purchased things that turned out to be unwearable for me (Versace Blonde, for example - beautiful, but florals like this are horrid on my skin), but any time I see that someone threw this in the trash I want to cry salty, bitter tears. Never throw a good quality bottle of perfume away - just find the right person to love it! On first whiff - peppery woods. I get the "pencil shavings" remark, but for a woodsy perfume lover this is not a bad thing. This softens under a wave of ripe, round, red fruit balanced with warm amber and creamy, dewy magnolia. The kick of bergamot is the perfect twist. It's always spicy and woody, with the other notes weaving in and out like a helix. It's potent - one spray is all that's needed. Even the bath gelee smells up the entire bathroom for a whole day. I don't get bratty so much as rebellious. To me, this is for the woman who never really quite fit into the mold and has learned to own it with a great sense of humor - a constantly-amused, arched-eyebrow rapier sharp wit. Her personality is resistant to pigeon-holing, there's always something that can't quite be nailed down - probably why she never quite fit a niche and why people might describe her as "a hot mess". There's something funky about her appearance - sculptural accessories, naturally wild and untameable hair, unusual features, an artistic temperament. For someone with a strong and self-assured presence, but not necessarily a loud one.

Have you ever picked warm raspberries, fresh from the vine? Juice dripping down your fingers, sticky sweet but simply bursting with flavor as soon as you popped them in your mouth? Well, that's what you will find in HC -the original with the lady visible through the bottle. This is one of my all time favorites! I still have half a bottle of the original, the travel size and the mini velvet body water spray. HC was one of my first purchases years ago as a young adult along with Champs Elysees by Guerlain. Both scents were bold and quite strong for someone of my age at that time. Welcome to the big leagues kid! No watered down body splashes here. Loved them then and still love them now. This started my love for peppery fragrances. HC is a musky, smoke laden, crushed pepper, pencil shaving, sticky, fresh from the vine, warm raspberry fragrance. It is best used in the fall or winter time. It is very heady and rich. The raspberry is always in the forefront of the fragrance, even in the drydown but because it is so warm, you don't get that cloying, cheeky sort of raspberry. I have always gotten compliments when I wear this. Longevity on my skin is a beast too. Transports me to a dark, candle lit, smoke filled piano bar, where the drinks are flowing, glasses are clanking and everyone is happily humming along.

I got this in a gift set in 2001, but it has been stored well. To me this smells soooo sexy! I actually got really eager to buy this perfume 3 years ago, when I smelt in om my boyfriend's mother. Although I don't want to be any more like her in the way of clothes/smell than I already am, I just couldn't contain myself - I HAD to have this!!! At first this is spicy - maybe even slightly Middle-Eastern, then it begins to smell raspberry-deliciousness! Not sour raspberry, nor raspberry candy... OK, maybe a little raspberry candy, but it's a sweet-smelling, *mature* raspberry with spices and woods (a little like pencil shavings - I think it's a contribution from the pepper), which is oh so cozy, but also fresh. Then it becomes a little smoky, but together with the other notes, raspberry among them, it's just magic *o* Ends with raspberry - very natural smelling one. This is alluring and makes me want to smell myself all the time! Please read lonestarlolas review - it describes this perfume perfectly! :)

I remember being very surprised when I first tested this one because the scent is not what you expect when you look at the name and the bottle-I expected something serious,smokey and deep and the first impression you get is berries and fizz ! I was hooked straight away- raspberry was not a commonly used note at the time,and I do love something a bit different. It was the bottle that attracted me at first, I love Art Deco and really wanted that bottle on my dressing table- the perfume was a bonus. What stands out the most is the raspberry and pepper- a little loud and unexpected at first, but of course the perfume does dry down and become more floral with a warm & woody base. The other reviewers are right-this is a compliment getter, everyone wanted to know what I was wearing ! On me a moderate sillage and fairly long lasting- I only have about 4 ml left,so I daresay I'll just have to cherish the memories.

I have both this and the standard hot couture (amber coloured liquid) and I don’t think they smell that alike. The raspberry is the star here and it doesn’t have the full on powderiness of hot couture. It’s much nicer IMO. This one also lasts way longer on the skin. It’s much better blended and allows the notes to sing since the powderiness is not prominent I spent a fortune on a bottle recently as this discontinued many years ago. it worked so well with my skin and I received so many compliments while wearing it so I wanted to try it again. It’s really lovely. I will treasure my bottle. It’s a woody fruity perfume and although vanilla is not listed in the notes, I can smell something resembling vanilla. Really beautiful.