Vanille Pamplemousse

Pure rock and roll. You wouldn't think so to look at the notes and hear the name, believe me I was surprised at the scent! Here is my account of my first real experience (not just testing) wearing this perfume: Saturday night, I was going to a different city to perform (I'm a singer-songwriter and pianist) at an old pub in a mansion. The pub houses a huge collection of craft beers and has therefore been popular with young and old for decades. The decor is always well kept inside. I perform there once per year, pays well. I got out of the shower, dried, wrapped my hair up in a towel, and walked forward into a light spray of Shalimar Parfum Initial. Since perfume doesn't last well on my skin right after showering, I sprayed again behind me and walked backward. Then I applied some of Bath and Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar body lotion onto my legs, elbows and hands. I got dressed... black sequin tank, oversized gold chain necklace, wide blue leather sash/belt with a gold panther's head detail, and thigh-high, distressed brown boots with a low heel. Then I applied two tiny dabs of vintage Molinard Jasmin to the inside of my wrist because it's a habit of mine. I was wearing cranberry lipstick and black eyeshadow. Leaving home, I was feeling very nervous, because it's a hard gig to play, and suddenly I ran back upstairs and grabbed Vanille Pamplemousse off my dresser. All I could think was, this will calm me down, this will calm me down.... I clutched VP in my hand the whole way to the pub (my partner was driving). Before getting out of the car, I sprayed my hair and my coat, and inhaled deeply. Yes, yes, it was working, it was calming me down. I threw the bottle in my bag. My partner and I set up our pa system and my instruments and did a soundcheck. I threw my Besty Johnson coat over my chair as I always do so that the hot pink and black leopard print lining show to the audience, then I took VP and gave it and surrounding area a good spray. I was awash in the scent for my first songs. Second set? Another "spray and play", lol. Third set? Spray and play. When I was finished, I went to the bathroom, and sprayed my hair again before finding the manager to collect my fee. I can't tell you how good a gig that was. There were big sing-alongs during the covers I played, I sold albums, everyone wanted to talk to me in between sets, and I received many enthusiastic compliments. Most importantly? Everyone in the place was in a good mood. Smiling faces everywhere, even the one-nasty-drunk seemed quelled, people were moving around easily, and those in the back room kept visiting the front, where I was stationed, to listen. And, I believe, smell!!! :) What more can I say. I ordered a backup bottle. Update: My partner just a bought a used car from a man whose wife, the owner, died a year ago. The first thing he said when I got in the car? "I think it's a bit stale in here. It could really use a spritz of your perfume." And, my baby niece has been trying to eat my hair when I'm wearing VP. Soooo.... I think I have to say this is my signature until the seasons change. :)

I am really in love with this one. I received a small mini as part of a past Secret Santa exchange on here, and it was so delicious and comforting. Almost like an orange creamsicle on me. Very soothing and nostalgic. I was actually raised in Florida, USA so getting this in the cold London winter gave me a tiny slice of paradise, and reminded me of the good things about my hometown. (I used to have a grapefruit tree that naturally grew in my backyard and as a child would often have fresh grapefruit juice from the fruit we picked off the tree.) The scent of Pamplemousse (and what a funny, adorable name!) Brings back those memories of a more innocent time. Swinging on my playground set (before it was knocked over in a hurricane) and trying to swing high enough so my feet touched the top of the tree leaves. Longevity and silliage preform quite well, lasting about 5-6 hours on me and radiating nicely. 10/10 However, very sadly in all the recent moving I have done, my mini has been lost and I cannot seem to find this one anywhere...anyone know where I can locate it currently, or have one they would like to swap or sell, please do message me. EDIT: I just thought I would edit to say I found my mini of this, so all is well in this perfume story :)

Vanille-Pamplemousse is what I hoped Dior Addict 2 to be: The grapefruit that I had dreamt of for years, but never found. The perfect grapefruit. Vanille-Pamplemousse is a modern, youthful, fresh, juicy, sunny and sweet grapefruit. At no point is this fragrance tart, bitter or sour. It is the ideal mix of sweetness and freshness that is perfectly wearbable even in desert heat. Vanille-Pamplemousse is a linear scent that does not develop on my skin. But it is very well done and I cannot detect any other note apart from the juicy grapefruit, not even the vanilla, although I guess that it is the vanilla that provides this lovely and refined sweetness. This EDP lasts around 6 hours on my skin and projects nicely; it surrounds me in a soft fragrance cloud that I really love! Great news: 100 ml of this EDP cost less than £ 20. On top of that I have the feeling that this fragrance takes years off me in an instant - and not because it is in any way childish (it is not) but because it is so full of energy! Vanille-Pamplemousse is my new fragrant darling and I know that I will always have it in my collection. 11 stars!

I agree wholeheartedly with Baseeta's review. Everything is so nicely balanced and works very well together. It is a very joyous concoction which is perfect for summer wear and which will enliven many a drab winter's day. Edit: VP has quickly become one of my favourite scents. I love vanillas and this one is just so, so wearable...VP is my little treasure, to be sure, and I have already a few back-up bottles sitting in my wardrobe. Heavenly juice...

The sourness of the grapefruit keeps the vanilla from being too sweet, the citrus keeps it afloat, the vanilla rounds out any sharp edges, and the musk keeps it from being too innocent. I'm just a bit blissed out from just how beautifully crafted this scent is. The notes play off of each other so well, not one is aggressively standing out.