Kenzo Amour Le Parfum

First - I've been using other oriental scents for the past decades, mostly by Chopard: Casmir during winter, Mira-Bai during summer, and similar scents. Now that Mira-Bai isn't with us any longer (and what a sad good-bye it was), I searched for a new and striking fragrance. I found it in Kenzoamour, and fortunately I got the new parfum right away. The saleswoman told me that it's much too rich for her, and that one dash is enough for a long day. Now, I know that a perfume smells different on different skins, but the difference here was striking. Where it might be too sweet for some, the rich, colourful bright oriental sweetness will be perfect for others - like me! It stays with me all day long, true, but never overwhelmingly, so that I can even dare a dash more, or a renewal 'for an evening.' It's love. I must admit that I can hardly go out without it. Like a loving cocoon...

Not expected this at all! I was going to travel by airplane, and went into a shop to let myself smell like the nice creamy kenzo amour which would also not annoy others around me. I saw this edition, and though it would have better staying power or so, and I spritzed it.. one two three.. four times (maybe five). Ojojoj. I went out as a cream and spice BOMB. I almost choked myself, and I suppose I did a few others too. Happily my flight was delayed so the perfume had the time to fade away a little before gassing the whole airplane. Don't get me wrong, the perfume is delicious actually. It is kenzo amour with 'óumph'. An evening-dining-fancy-party-dark kenzo. With a big touch of oriental-spice-bazar added. Maybe how I supposed indian holi would be. Very nice, but please, learn from me and be careful. A little bit is enough of this peace of gold.

I only got a tiny sample bottle of this but holy MOLY I'm going to have to save up to invest in a bigger bottle because this stuff is MAGIC!! I first tried Kenzo Flower and bleh. After that I tried Kenzo Amour but was still less than impressed. Then I tried Kenzo Elephant and WOW! After I fell in love with that I thought I'd give this Le Parfum a chance. Man am I ever glad I did! The incense and vanilla are *perfectly* balanced so that one never outweighs the other. They're rich and thick and delicious! The amber and frangipani on the drydown are gorgeous and compliment the vanilla wonderfully. This lovely concoction is perfect for cold weather and I'd say ideal for autumn but don't discount it for winter either. Lasting power is wonderful as well. It's a little on the pricey side these days if you're on a budget but WELL worth saving up for.

I found the original Amor nice but too bland, this one is similar but so much more interesting and richer with its exotic twist. I really like it. Still predominantly sweet, cozy, dense vanilla, but with the sensuous depth of spice, smoke and resin. Imagine a cold desert night...you are safe and warm, in a cozy, luxurious Arabian tent, illuminated by the soft golden glow of lanterns, fragrant resins and incense burning in the corner, and you are being served a rich, creamy yummy dessert (vanilla rice pudding to be specific...topped with a few pinches of slivered almonds...my favorite Arabic dessert) by amber scented dark-eyed ladies. I love that it evokes the near east without a trace of oud to be found, I would consider this scent to be an oriental-gourmand. Perfect for fall and winter. Longevity is excellent and leaves a beautiful trail.

I purchased this unsniffed because I'm loving the LE flankers for the more popular original launches of K-Flower and K-Amour. Neither of which impressed me. If the original Amour was just "meh ok" for you or you're looking for its seductress alter ego, give this a try. This is definately a richer, warmer version of the original Amour. To my nose this closely resembles Kenzo Flower Oriental; both are warm, balmy, sensuous and intimate fragrances. BUT for me, there is "something" that keeps this from being in the "OOO I LUV" category alongside Oriental. Maybe because LeParfum is a bit spicier??? Or maybe it's just the the "k-Flower DNA" in Oriental that makes the difference for me. I'm not sure. But I do like it though very much. If you like Kenzo Oriental (which is now hard2find) I highly recommend this little golden jewel.