Kai Perfume Oil

I have always been curious about trying Kai. I believe it came out around the same time as Child, which was the jasmine sambac to Kai's gardenia. I had both the body wash and the moisturizer at one point, and can't say I loved them, but this year, when I was putting together my list of potential perfume gifts for my husband to get me, this was on sale for 50% off at Macys, and I added it. Well, I received it today, along with 2 other far more costly fumes that I will review separately. I rolled some on and discovered the cleanest, freshest gardenia skin scent I've ever encountered! This is so perfect after a shower! I am going to try to get my hands on a sample or decant of the EDP spray, but I doubt I will love it as much as this simple little oil that was meant for snuggling, especially in the spring and summer, though I wore it today and it still smelt beautiful! I'm late to the show, but now I understand why this was all the rage in California over a decade ago!

I have loved this oil for years. It's a deliciously green gardenia with hints of white lily, lily-of-the-valley, and perhaps a touch of syringa (Japanese lilac)? Opens a bit fizzy and green and dries down to a soft, full, slightly lactonic gardenia (but not coconut or vanilla). This is a big compliment getter on me and never gets too heady or distracting. I prefer it most in spring and early summer, but you could slap some on in the dead of winter for a little vacation in a bottle because the drydown is strangely comforting – like getting a hug from the tropics. Highly recommended for lovers of gardenia & white florals.

I originally reviewed this fragrance under the profile for the spray. However, I've only ever owned the oil version. I bought this around the same time I bought Susan D. Owens' Child perfume oil, and I recently reordered both perfume oils. Child is probably my favorite just because I like jasmine, but I also love Kai which is more of a gardenia scent. I will say that Kai lasts a long time. The sillage is only moderate, but that's not a great concern for me. This perfume has a real pure and natural quality to it, high-quality all the way! If you like white florals, you should like this fragrance.

Smells straight up gardenia. I put it on a dress and a week later when I was doing laundry it’s still going STRONG

Very nice gardenia and Lily of the valley fragrance. A little goes a long way. This would be perfect for spring.

This was a blind buy for me. Since 2002 I’ve been devoted exclusively to Dior Addict, and all her iterations, but I thought I should divert to a floral. Kai at first gave me distinct memories of high school Tuvache Jungle Gardenia. As the hot New York day went along what appeared was Chantecaille Wisteria. Both perfumes I’m ambivalent about. I put the Kai back in its box and decided to give it a whirl in the fall, cooler months. It’s too florist shop, cloying for me. I’m a Dior Addict addict since 2002, I’ll stick to that. It’s safe. It’s lovely and after 24 bottles I can’t divorce her over a floral cheap linear scent.

Simple white florals, but not overpowering. Like tiny bathroom soaps shaped like seashells, from the 90s. Clean and delicate. Smells identical to "Fragrances of Ireland" Heather and Moss solid cologne (clear jar, green wax).

I feel like I am missing something here. I had been wanting this for years because it is so popular, but had never gotten a chance to actually smell it. I was running out of my perfume and decided to blind purchase it, because it’s so popular, how could I not like it? I rolled it on and was genuinely shocked at how basic it smells. It smells like any random hand soap you smell at Marshall’s. It doesn’t smell bad but I wish I could say that I liked it. It doesn’t smell special at all and I truly don’t understand the hype. I rolled it on my arm and keep waiting for the moment it changes to something amazing but it’s literally the same basic smell I smelled 30 minutes ago. I’m so disappointed.

I just bought a tiny roller ball bottle of this from Nordstrom. I’m not really into florals but this is very nice. This is a linear fragrance that’s very long lasting... actually, extremely long lasting. It smells like gardenia but I feel like there’s a sweet chewy accord as well, I don’t know how to explain it, maybe like a sweet chewy gardenia cookie. Simple but nuclear! I liked it!

Made in Malibu, California. This scent smells wonderful, it is my signature scent. Heavenly and realistic gardenia surrounded by sexy and soft white florals. Great for the beach.

A soft,transparent,realistic gardenia.Absolutely clean and beautiful!