Darling

In my opinion, this is a hugely underrated fragrance by the wonderful Thierry Wasser and Ms. Minogue. Yes, it goes on sweetly synthetic, but nothing as bad as others may make it seem. The true beauty of the perfume is the way it wears and it’s progression. The quality and the mastery of its creator makes itself apparent in this regard. As some have noted previously, the middle is where this one starts to shine (largely due to the freesia giving away to lily and then boronia mixed with a light vanilla) and then ends in a gorgeous base that is absolutely delightful and lasts for many, MANY hours. I indeed hold this fragrance in very high regard. This is one that I think many wrote of for being a “celebrity scent,” and that is really a travesty as it is so much more than that. Any fan of Thierry Wasser should check this one out - make notes and study. Overall: 4 stars (minus one ONLY for the overly sweet top).

This for me screams 90s and I love it!!!! I have such a soft spot for Darling, the first blast reminds of Nina Ricci's discontinued gem Deci Dela which holds some special memories for me. Not your run of the mill celeb fragrance and not even what I would imagine Kylie to wear? An impressive silage and longevity, and a great price also! I can certainly see why this is a love/hate scent for some as it can smell a little sour until it settles but with it reminding me so much of Deci Dela (with a hint of Gucci Rush) its a LOVE for me. Best in the colder months day or night. It's a shame Sweet Darling is a gonner I loved that too! The bottle is pretty and reflects the scent well, not too girly, not too young but for me the blocky masculine lid is a little random and is the only thing I can pick fault with.

Darling bomb shelled me with a powerful woody/oud scent that left me feeling bewildered. After 5 minutes the scent settles down to a mildly woody/floral sweet scent. A scent of hidden alien fruits teases my nose, interesting. I have never tasted nor smelled passion fruit or litchi, so this is a surprise for me. It reminds me of a warm humid afternoon where a young girl is getting ready for the nightlife at the beach in the East to meet her friends or a boy she just met. The scent is floral, woody and mildly powdery leaving one feel mature at first impression, yet young with charm. This perfume is unique and I am surprised that it brought many "darling" compliments. ^_^

I have kylie minogue darling 2006 the very original and also its discontinued and I get her original 2006 darling from ebay and even I get the original 2006 darlings from ebay even there been discontinued but the perfume still smells so good and it doesn't last long because it's an eau de toilette but I'm happy and don't mind re applying and the original bottles are worth keeping when there empty because the original 2006 bottle is so pretty and when I run out again I will definitely buy more original darling 2006 perfumes from ebay and there expensive but I can afford it because I get paid really good

Patience is needed with this perfume (this goes for other perfumes). The opening was powerful and woody at first and slowly moved unto a sweet but mildly fruity floral scent. The sweet floral scent lingers for a good amount of time and elegantly moves onto the floral notes. The floral notes slowly dissolve into the a form of floral wood notes. The end note is still floral woody with a teaspoon of sweetness, a gentle sweetness. This is a wonderful perfume for all ages and will suite an elegant or casual occasion. I wore this perfume to a late night Lido show in Paris, I got a lot of compliments ;)

Funny thing... I blind bought it with some other perfume only because it was so cheap and I was curious. The first impression was... throw it away and fast! What an awful hit it was, bitter chypre and non of those lovely notes I had read of. A few hours went by and I decided to give it another try... To my surprise it did not smell that awful anymore. A few more hours and I fell in love with it. I did manage to find this fruity sweet smell with a darker shade of chypre which makes it mysterious and feminine.

This one has gotten me compliments. It's fresh and clean with a bit of a warm and creamy base from the common accord of amber, vanilla and sandalwood. But it stays light and airy. I'm confused as to what is "chypre" about it. I'm surprised to see it rated low. I loved it so much I bought back up bottles when I heard it was discontinued. It's a great daytime fragrance, not expensive and longevity is pretty much all day. Sillage is soft. I like the iridescent bottle as well.

This was my go to when I was 16, such a special scent, I Was so disappointed when it was discontinued and seeing it back only to smell so different was disappointing! How I would love the original to come back. It’s a hyper feminine scent and very pretty. If you want a close match I highly recommend lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker. It’s incredibly similar. 🌸

The very nice scent. I always avoided scents from this shelf . Something induced me about and I tried this. Is very pleasant and has a note which reminds to me little ,little sisley Eau de Soir in the modern and younger edition .I feel red fruit .Super , the revelation for this the price.I'm so glad that a nose of this pafum is Thierry Wasser . yoohuuuuuuu.

It's a very nice and oryginal scent and i will always recognize it if wearing by someone. I am in love with this one, even if it's not long lasting.. Very unique for me, never smell something alike, but still it's not very 'rich' if you know what i mean. But I don't care - it's my top and favourite from all the celebrities perfumes!

Love this is perfume and plus this is also Done by a celebrity that Im actually a fan of which is a bonus,on me this smells of sweet sandalwood with flowers and a bit of fruit,it's staying power is pretty good too on me and gets better as it settles on my skin,a great perfume from kylie and one i always repurchase when I run out.

The first celebrity perfume I ever got, I really enjoy it. I’m on my second bottle and I’m halfway done with it. It’s discontinued so I’m going to have to save my current bottle for special occasions and then fork out a couple of extra bucks on Ebay for another one.

My first ever perfume and I'm into my second bottle even though I'm someone who always switches perfume every now and then. This smell will never get me sick, absolutely adoring it. Comes with a great price too!

Wow, i cannot wait for the new dazzling darling one to be released!!! As for this one its mouthwatering and delicous, its a scent that you cna't get enough of! Not too sweet, not too dark, just perfect! Emma x

This is a gorgeous everyday scent, not too overpowering but still noticable through out the day. Decent price too =] I'm a fan of all Kyle Minogue Perfumes, but her first is deffo her best !!

I also got this from b&m for £5.99. to me it smells like al rehab rasha which in turn smells like Gucci rush, only softer. I like this one very much. I shall use it in spring and summer

oh i love scents like this---tropical chypre!! its just so young and sexy and badgirl if you're in to guccci rush/rihanna rebelle fleur/deci dela scents-- you cant go wrong with this.

wow wow wow.. this perfume has Cartier La Panthere quality on its drydown.. I smell a million dollars perfume. I love this perfume. been wear it for a month..looovve it

I love this so much its one of my fave perfumes. I think you can really smell the lily in this very much I think it's a lovely fresh kind of fragrence. :D xoxo

I love this perfume, refreshing, sweet, nothing too busy. It's a great all round fragrance which is why it continues to be Kylie's most popular perfume.

A unique feminine scent. Sweet but not in a sickly, sugary way. I really love this perfume and always get compliments. My boyfriend loves it too!

I love it! Good price, good perfume. It's sensual, sexy, and unforgettable.

very floral and sweet. the most important, quite cheep

I don't understand why this seems to cop so much dislike. It's not the most amazing fragrance I've ever sniffed, but it's certainly not the worst. I think Darling is pretty, feminine and would be fun for the summer :) Darling is harsh at first on my skin, (it reminds me of bergamot) and is followed by a funky chemical sort of vanilla (that doesn't agree with my chemistry). The fragrance then settles into a light and clean (freesia, lily) fruity (passion-fruit, lychee) scent and I think I can detect it mingling with an unusual flower, which must be the boronia. I actually really like how Kylie has created her perfume around the boronia which is native to Australia. And although it's a pretty smell there's nothing very memorable about the scent, which is a shame because there are some really unusual notes here and I don't think they're used to their full potential. A soft sillage that smells clean and fruity; lasts for about 7-8 hours. There is an excellent staying power on my skin with this perfume as well, because I wore the dry-down to the gym and I could still smell it afterwards :)

Piahellgren, I wondered the same thing. I had Darling a few years ago and remember trying to reconcile what I was smelling with the perfume's classification of "chypre". I read somewhere that chypres can be characterised by a feeling of contrast or separation, and that's the main aspect of Darling which I feel is chypre-like. I think the perfumer has substituted the bergamot chypre top-note of bergamot with the tangy and tart passionfruit. The heart is floral so big tick there. The base of this modern chypre is hard to pin down because it's missing the notes we would normally look for in a classic or even modern chypre, but I think the amberwood note might give it the woody-mossy character. These are my thoughts on how this fits into the chypre category. Other thoughts anyone? Have a look at the Perfume Shrine. There's some excellent info there on classic and modern or nouveau chypres. BTW I didn't realise that Cipria was a colour. Google that one : ). And fwiw I like it.

A clean, soapy smell. Like you have just had a really long bath with lots of bubbles. This will suit all ages, an unoffensive scene for older women or a soft gentle fruity scent for younger girls. There is a "vintage" element to this, like a classy dressing table full of crystal perfume bottles and makeup. I can imagine someone from the 50s wearing this, but that isnt to say that its an "old" fragrance, just old fashioned maybe. The bottle itself is a lovely half moon shape and a lovely colour, but I don't like the clunky black lid which is plastic and cheap. Like all of the coty products I have tried (other Kylie scents, Kate moss etc) the lasting power and sillage isn't that great, an hour and half at most. But the giftsets are cheap so you cant complain too much. The lotion is less powdery than the perfume and has a bubblegum hint to it. Overall a nice, timeless scent perfect for all ages who want to smell clean and pretty. Good price but poor longivity.

Found this little gem at Marshalls for under $20. I purchased this trusting my instincts based on the ingredient list. This apparently seems to be a bit of a hit or miss among the masses. Being a fragrance junkie, I adore all scents; commercial, fashion, high end, drugstore, or celebrity. Immediately it smelled great. It was powerful, definitely delivers some sillage, but completely powdery and womanly. I was drawn to it as something I might have owned or perhaps had. In fact I did. IMO this smells very much like Thallium for women. Same dry musky, powdery scent. I believe the Thallium may be a smidge drier and lighter. Darling has a higher, tartier note (but still quite sweet), and perhaps slighter happier (for a lack of a better description) in the fragrance but still soooo alike. Very happy with the purchase. If you're into sweeter scents, this is up your alley.

The ad campaign for Darling, featuring a coquettish Kylie and her cute pixie-cut, was inescapable in the mid-noughties. I received this scent as a present a few years later in my teens. I didn't expect much, given the pink bottle and girly name. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I am a fan of Thierry Wasser and did not realise at the time that this was his work. Darling is a fairly sweet floral/fruity with tropical elements thanks to the passionfruit and lily accords. Vanilla is very much evident, synthetic but not overpowering, and balanced out nicely by the woody base notes. The drydown is woody with gently fading florals. The vanilla base notes last throughout. Sillage is subtle and longevity is weak, but this is a light, inoffensive feminine fragrance, subtly sweet and surprisingly pleasant. Nice spring/summer day scent for young women. 3/5.

The perfume is a bit of fun. It's fruity, flirty (*gasp* that's not me!) and a bit retro. It's definitely Kylie Minogue Darling, but with a bit of Zsa Zsa Gabor 'daaaahhhling' old-school glamour. Not an everyday perfume for me but when I'm in the right mood I do enjoy it alot. The opening is sweet and fruity. The boronia really shines in the mid-stage, all the time supported by the vanilla. I found the dry down of creamy sandalwood and vanilla lasted reasonably well on my skin. I like that the boronia flower, native to Australia, has been given star treatment in this perfume. I used to grow this in my garden and it was a heavenly sweet perfume.

Yesterday I was making some cleaning and discovered my 15 ml bottle of Darling. After having it for four years as a total dislike, I decided to give one last chance. I don't know if it's the flu I am recovering of, or my taste changes, but I couldn't stop sniffing my arm. The passion fruit smells so summery, exotic and the fragrance is perfect for cold weather at the same time. I am so glad I didn't give away Darling. It has amazing longevity - about 24 hours and even more on clothes. Only two light sprays are enough to full a room. This winter I am gonna wear proudly my Darling.

Found this for under £5 in BM. Couldn't test it, but I wasn't going to ignore something by Thierry Wasser at that price! Opening is like tropical fruit juice, sweet and tangy. It's lovely, but doesn't last long. Drys down to a nice warm, creamy vanilla with just a hint of fruity/floral. Smells like it cost a lot more than I paid for it. I like it, it's not a sweet inoffensive perfumy smell like most celebrity perfumes, but it's not going too far out of the box either. The bottle is nice, similar to the perfume - it's pretty without breaking any boundaries.

Hmmm... now this smells like a bit of everything pinky flowery themed that u have tried so far...and unfortunately tipping towards generic drugstore feminine. The name "Darling" doesn't suit it either because it's trying to be a bit more night and sultry... not a darling. Its projection is decent but longevity is really poor =( Still if u are looking for a safe gift fragrance. This is it! The packaging makes it fancy and the perfume wont offend anyone =) U can follow me on YouTube @ BeautyOnSale

This is a soft, refreshing spritz with a nice waft. I think it smells like expensive hairspray. I bought Darling, a great bargain, since it has some similar notes to Deci-Delà by Nina Ricci--boronia, freesia, sandalwood, vanilla and amber. I then supplement with an ubiquitous raspberry vanilla scent to capture similar fruity gourmand notes. I am very happy right now! It's 1995 all around me...

This is the first perfume I've repurchased, initially I received it as a gift when it first came out. With my body chemistry it is a slightly woody and musky vanilla with a hint of florals - no fruit notes show on my skin. I feel with the way it presents on me it is more an autumn/winter perfume. It is long lasting with good sillage. Darling would be suitable for an everyday perfume.

agree with @katemax - resembles a softer ersion of Gucci Rush -like a summer aquatic Rush. Not bad, Im using it for Sport to refresh myself with a nice simple aquatic tropical creation by Thierry Wasser, The guality is of course not really good, as you can expect from the price tag, I wouldnt use it to impress anyone, for the gym bag only ;)

This is flowery niceness in a bottle, just like Kylie looks: ageless, tiny, pretty, pleasant. It's one of the timeless happy ones that doesn't offend anybody. I have to add that the most enjoyable part for me was the succulent passionfruit scent in the opening. It was nice for one summer but I would not go for a second helping.

I was very disappointed when I tested it. I'm a Kylie fan, I thought her first fragrance was to be very amazing but it was not, not at all. Darling is too common. The other Darling fragrances, and other Kylie perfumes, are better.

I have always owned a bottle of this since it was released. It's not in my top favourites but I like it and enjoy the fruitiness of the lychee and the drydown note of the vanilla makes this really feminine and beautiful.

I have an original bottle of this with only a small amount left, I refuse to use it because i want it to last forever and the new reformulated version is no where close to the original. They butchered this scent!!

My coworker sprayed this in the nurses station yesterday and everyone went wild! It smelled so beautiful. It gives me a hint of medicinal which I absolutely love. I’m absolutely buying at a bottle!

Really like this perfume..but can't quite put my finger on "Why?".. It's just different and I like different! It's sort of an "unperfumey" perfume..in a good way!

Too strong for me....and frankly makes me sick. Too sour....doesn't work with my chemistry.

Wow, this is totally intoxicating:) Love the drydown, pure freesia!

I like the opening spray of this but then it settles to Gucci Rush on me. I like Rush so it doesn't bother me. If you can't be bothered paying for Rush then try this. It is a sweet thick musky drydown. The opening spray is very fruity and fresh but the dry down is very plain. I found it lasted a long time on me unlike Sexy Darling which I prefer but doesn't last on me. This will not offend anyone including little kids so it is safe like others have said. Kylie had this one out before many of the celebrities of today so I think in that respect it was original. She had this when JLo had hers so it was ok back when it was first released now it is a little redundant but I still use it frequently it could be worse. It suits Kylie's image because it is pink and sweet and I don't think any of her perfumes are trying to be anything other than what you see is what you get which is Kylie to a T. She is happy with her showgirl image and she doesn't try to be something she can't be she is just happy and positive and genuinly nice I think that is her perfumes and that is why I really like them I don't try to be something I am not and I don't feel my perfume needs to make a statement I can do that myself thankyou I have a tongue in my head so I enjoy the whole Kylie range she really can't go wrong with me.

I used to like this perfume and then a couple of weeks later it started to annoy me. The perfume opened with a fresh burst of florals (like the ones you smell in scented shampoos...so... is it a shower in a perfume bottle?) and then the middle note started to make itself known. I guessed this was the boronia note as mentioned in the perfumes's notes description. It smelled awful. It was like being in a deserted rotten garden/backyard after the storm. The fresh scent of the rain hung in the air but with it came the putrid stench of rot and decay of dead vegetation. The base note? Musk, I suppose. Sorry Kylie, not a fan of this perfume. I like the bottle though, it's like a soap bubble shaped like a woman's front cleavage.

DARLING is an uncomplicated blend of lollipop-sweet fruity notes and unidentifiable florals which never fully develop on my skin. I can only identify the passion fruit in the top note [which can become sickly on me in warmer weather], the floral notes could be anything; the top notes dominate DARLING, and then the fragrance dies along with the fruit, leaving a faint scent of sandelwood and musk. The staying power is awful - it burns out within one hour. The bottle looks nice in pictures, but is cheap in real life. There's not much to say; DARLING is safe and flat. It'd make an OK present for Kylie fans, as it's so mild that there is nothing for wearers to find disagreeable about it.

I bought this for my mother ( she is obsessed with perfume so you can never go wrong with a nifty treat of a bottle of scent!!) personally I stay well clear of " celeb scents" fearing them to be well, naff, ...but bought this as knew my mom would be thrilled at a " new niff" I should have known how bad it was when 2 weeks later she discreetly passed it over to my 9 year old daughter, its not good....way to sweet in a none gourmet sense, just sickly over bearing, soon as i had a crafty spray within 2 mins I was forced to gulp down two nurofen for the beginnings of a headache, and washed the rest off, sorry kyles think your a fab gal but your perfume well, stinks, .....x

Remember when you were a child, long before you started using perfumes yourself...your mother put her lipstick on, sprayed some perfume on her neck and you smelled it when you hugged her before she went out? That smell that represented perfume when you were a child, thats how Darling smells like. Its a weird combination of cliché perfume scent and the smell of make up. Reminds me of some kind of Barbie perfume. The lasting power is very poor. After 30 minutes its gone. Darling is a weak fragrance and not very impressive. Its a shame because the other Darling perfumes are very good, especially Sweet Darling.

Darling has floral & sweet fruity notes, and it’s very easy to wear. The EDT is inexpensive & I like the old time glamour of the bottle (It's modelled on her smile). Plus It’s non-cloying & inoffensive to my work colleagues. But there is nothing to make Darling stand out from the crowd. We’ve all got these notes already with other fragrances. Plus, it's very sickly in warmer weather. I find it very ‘safe’ & there's nothing individual about this fragrance. Nothing to recommend a re-purchase. Also; the lasting power is very poor.

Well, I've been sullen because I mistakenly ordered this one instead of Sweet Darling. That's just impossible to find, and the one bottle on Amazon is $80. I didn't want it *that* badly. Now, I see the notes of Darling, and think maybe I'll like it. I don't have anything with boronia, so it will certainly be a first. I'll report back once it's arrived, if I decide to keep it. Update, I do enjoy this quite a bit. Orientals work well with me, and boronia and Australian sandalwood make this one extra-exotic to me.