Game of Spades Bonus

#149 of My Fragrance Journey - Jo Milano Paris Game of Spades Bonus: A Fresh Take on Summer Brightness People keep lumping this in with Louis Vuitton's Pacific Chill, and I get why, but wearing it a few times now, I think that's a bit lazy. Feels more like a cousin than a copy - same sunlit optimism, sure, but this one's got its own rhythm, a bit more controlled. Opens strong. Chilled citrus, juicy fruit, hits the skin almost like silk over warm skin - citron, lemon, orange all bright at once, then this snap of crushed mint comes in right after. Doesn't go toothpaste on you either, which a lot of mint notes do if the house isn't careful. But honestly, black currant's the one doing the real work here. Not the dark syrupy currant you're braced for - more like fresh juice caught in morning light. Bright. Tangy. Genuinely magnetic, that one note. Once the fizz settles down a bit, coriander shows up with this dry, herbal edge that reins in the fruit before it gets too sweet. Underneath that you've got rose, basil, carrot seed - none of them trying to be the main event, just quietly layering a soft floral base under what still reads like a tailored jacket. Keeps it green, keeps it clean. No aquatic cliché here, no shower-gel sweetness either, which I was half expecting. Drydown's where it earns its keep, I think. Citrus fades into this warm, close blend of fig, ambrette, dates, all wrapped in a clean musk. Not dessert-sweet at all - more creamy, powdery, the kind of warmth that pulls people in rather than announcing itself across a room. It's the sort of scent you want when you want someone standing close enough to actually notice it. Now - the brand's whole "commands attention" line? A bit much. Projection's strong for maybe an hour, then it pulls in tight to skin, though it does cling nicely to clothing if that matters to you. If you're the type who wants a beast in a bottle, this'll feel a little shy. Spray heavy if you need more presence - the price point makes that an easy call, honestly. So where does that leave it? Not a clone, not really - it's its own thing. A little greener, a touch warmer, more musky once it settles than Pacific Chill ever gets. Captures that same fruity, sunlit lift, though - perfect for bright mornings, windows open, heat shimmering off the pavement outside. If you're into fresh fragrances generally, this is an easy blind buy. Versatile, likeable almost immediately, familiar in a good way without feeling like it's tracing someone else's outline. It's not going to rewrite anything or dominate a room, and that's fine - not every fragrance needs to. Sometimes you just want something that lifts the first couple hours of your day and leaves a clean, warm trail behind it. Vibe: Fresh fruit juice over crushed mint. Warm skin. That specific quiet of a cloudless summer morning. Performance: About an hour of real projection, then it settles into a soft, musky skin scent. Spray generously if you want it to carry longer. Fit: High heat, holidays, daytime wear - anyone wanting something fruity and uplifting that still feels a bit polished. That cool, confident friend who never needs to raise their voice to get noticed - this is basically that, bottled. Does it hold up as well on you as it did on me? More scent stories and visuals on Instagram - @lavendercloudsjd

Amazing dupe for Pacific Chill, basically no difference between the two. Lasts about six hours on skin with moderate projection. Smells like a super fruity and citrusy mojito. Highly recommend if you want to get the Pacific Chill DNA but don’t want to pay LV money. Overall 9.2/10

I LOVE this tuff. I am a huge fan of Pacific Chill and this stuff nails it! Now I can use this more as a grab and go and save the more expensive stuff for more specific occasions. If you like pacific chill this one is a NO BRAINER!

This is a hot cup of Lipton tea with half a lemon squeezed into it... You can’t convince me otherwise. It’s nostalgic and straight up delicious! On a hot summer day, they will chase you down to ask you what you’re wearing.

Just got this today. Smells almost toothpastey but not a lot and not in a bad way. I honestly really like this. It’s very citrusy, minty, and a little fruity. Did a full review of this on my TikTok - @ilovemygffinalboss10

Never smelled the OG but I don't care truthfully. Ill try the og one day as of right now though this smells absolutely incredible.

Huele como a un limón mentolado, ligeramente fresco y dulce a la vez. delicioso!

Omg this is like 95% same as LV pacific chill love it this is the best one

Ok, there seems to be a lot of debate online if this is a 1 of 1 for Louis Vuitton Pacific Chill. It is not. Don't get me wrong this is still a really good summer/spring fragrance. If the price tag for Pacific Chill is out of reach this is a great alternative. I find that Bonus is a tad bit sweeter than Pacific Chill and doesn't have that "depth" that Pacific Chill has but to me it falls into that 85-90% similar category. For the price point Bonus is at I think it's a must need for summer/spring. Jo Milano always delivers when it comes to making expensive fragrances affordable for consumers, with that being said if you have the opportunity to purchase I recommend.

Great summer quenching freshy, if you like paying top dollar. Minty citrus pops out predominant on top. I already own Lueur d'Espoir Serene Grove by Paris Corner, which is almost half the price. I find that Games of Spades Bonus is 85% the same. Save yourself some money and get Serene Grove instead. Middle notes...carrot seeds. Carrot seeds? Really? Oh yeah I LOVE the smell of carrot seeds in the morning. Jeez, gimme a break!

Totally agree with other reviews this does not last long at all. Maybe 2 hours. I get about an hour of projection then a skin scent for another hour. Not worth the money for just a few hours and a lot of respray. Has a great orange citrus burst when first applied and then quickly fades away. If they could make it last longer, it would be a good scent.

Scent 8/10 Sillage 5/10 Projection 6/10 I had high hopes for this a it's a nice scent that gets closer to the OG than I thought. On skin only got 2 hours. Gotta overspray like hell to get something out of this. Fragrance is very subjective this is just my thoughts on this particular one.

Amazing fruity sweet smell,decent projection but doesn’t last. After a few wears I’m getting about 3 working hours then turns to a skin scent.

Definitely similar to the OG, but it smells a lot less juicy. It smells a lot more dry.

Beautiful citrusy/lemony scent but it last about 1 hour working and a faint skin scent by hour 2. Removed it from my main collection and now use it for work.

I’ve smelled this before when I was young but I can’t put my finger on it... Updates to come.

It’s a pacific chill dupe...idk why it’s not in the reminds me of section

It’s similar to Pacific Chill, but it definetly doesn’t last at all. After 1 and a half hours the scent trail is missing and transforms into a skin scent. Doesn’t project at all

i feel as if someone is paying someone to place hate on this fragrance because why does it have no longevity & projection ?

Esto es riquisimo mucho mejor q rare reef de afnan pero cn menos duracion

Riquisimo vale totalmente la compra!!