Bora Bora

Liz Claiborne Bora Bora is such a beautiful, strong, aquatic floral. The only thing it has in common with Dior J'Adore, however -- to my nose, at least -- is that both are aquatic florals. Well, and they were both blended by Calice Becker. They certainly share the cool, fresh, pale, luminous quality characteristic of aquatic florals. If Bora Bora resembles anything, it is is actually Coach EDT, the one in the small, rectangular bottle with the Coach emblem and fake silver Coach tags. Both perfumes have a prominent water lily note, plus the most beautiful fresh, shampoo-ey feel. But even this comparison is a stretch; Coach EDT is sweeter than Bora Bora, with jasmine and guava, while maybe it's the ginger in Bora Bora that cuts the sweetness...? Because of the ginger, I tried it next to Hermes Twilly, but that ginger-tuberose combo is SO strong on the ginger that I had to put that with my ginger perfumes. Bora Bora, on the other hand, has just a touch of ginger, along with a ton of water lily, and good dose of tuberose. But, in spite of being a tuberose scent, Bora Bora really is, most of all, an aquatic floral. Incidentally, it has really good longevity (especially for a cheapie), lasting for a good 7-8 hours. The perfumer, Calice Becker has also produced such masterpieces as Estee Lauder Beyond Paradise and J'Adore, Donna Karan Gold (an interesting salty lily!), Narciso Rodriguez Fleur Musc for Her, Tom Ford Velvet Orchid (plush!), Tommy Hilfiger Tommy Girl (nice floral tea scent), Oscar de la Renta Coralina (cool violets!) and Oscar Flor (fresh tropical fruits!), Versace Dylan Blue (apple shampoo!), Avon Dreamlife (osmanthus!) and Far Away Gold (ylang ylang!), CK Secret Obsession (interesting plum + nutmeg!), as well as a bunch of Kilian. Truly a master perfumer!

I blind-bought Bora Bora based on reviews and notes and have no regrets. I didn't initially care for it but I've come to love the tuberose note. I'm a fan of orchid, mandarin orange, and orange blossom notes, so purchasing this frag was a no-brainer. It's such a lovely clean, somewhat sweet, and floral fragrance that's perfect for Spring and Summer daytime wear. The ginger and sandalwood temper this fragrance down and stop it from becoming overly sweet. It opens with strong fruity florals but it doesn't take long for the scent to settle. The tuberose note is noticeable in the dry down. In terms of wearability, the only way I'd wear this to an office space where I may encounter people who are sensitive to fragrances is if I use an extremely light hand on my pulse-points but not my neck/décolletage. I may dab a little behind my ears, but that's it. This fragrance packs quite a punch and has good longevity and sillage, so using a heavy hand will induce a headache for you and those around you. When it comes to hot, summer weather, I plan to wear this in the evening when it's cooler, but not during the day. It has the potential to become cloying since it's strong and has sweet florals plus the tuberose. So I prefer it for Spring, cooler summer evenings, and warm-ish fall days. Unless you hate tuberose, it's a safe blind buy and you get a lot of product for the price point. I can see this being a repurchase once I'm done with my flanker.

Because I only re-entered the world of fragrance about a year ago, I knew nothing about Bora Bora. I bought bc a YTer had it in her Summer list & it is heavy on the tuberose. That required a lil more research, it made several ppl’s list, so I bit. Bora Bora is such an easy reach on a hot Summer day, it does so good in our humidity. Even though I had seen/read that is was a good one, I was still pleasantly surprised by this one. This is fresh yet warm. It is watery without being watered down, bc it projects pretty dang good. It is not heavy on florals except the tuberose. The tuberose is not bubble gummy, it with the sandalwood provide a soft creaminess. Mixed with the ginger, you get that warmness. All the while the water lily & mandarin keep it refreshing at the same time. This loves the sunlight as I do, it makes Bora wake up and shout. I am very pleased with my purchase. The performance is not beast mode, but it is really good for the price. I don’t have the think about grabbing this bc it performs so well in our heat. Now, it would be a waste of perfume to wear out in cool/cold weather, it will disappear. I can see the comparison to J’adore, but not a dupe. This is a good everyday, warm weather, day out, to the gym, or to work fragrance. Not complicated, just a simply nice easy fragrance. 10/10

Bora Bora was a surprising blind buy. I almost expected this to smell dated because of the bottle but to me this is kind of a timeless, clean sunscreen, white floral. It smells tropical, like a beautiful floral, tropical shampoo without being “coconut.” There’s something in the dry down of this after about three hours that gets a little vanilla candle- ish, but I’m not mad at that. I just recognize it as the same base note sent that diamonds and emeralds by E.T. has. I love that one too but they are different enough to own both. This one is more of a white floral blend where you really get sort of a gentle jasmine-tuberose, and diamonds and emeralds strongly features the gardenia! I even looked up the perfumer and noticed it’s Calice Becker, and then tried to compare to see if they had the same perfumer but there’s no listing for diamonds and emeralds. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were made by the same perfume company if not the same nose. Anyway, this is really mood lifting— a pleasing, fresh, creamy floral well blended for anybody who’s into that like I am. The great daytime perfume but I think I’d actually like to wear this to bed. It also reminds me of Tease by Paris Hilton and J’adore.

I am giving this post an edit because this has become my most used perfume. This is such a beautiful, fresh scent! It has mandarin orange in it but I don’t smell that at all here. This does not smell citrusy at all to me, and definitely not tropical or beachy as some have described. I do think it’s more floral and maybe a bit powdery, but overall, very clean, soft, pretty and feminine. Sometimes I enjoy spraying this on myself before bed. It’s one of those type of calming scents. Longevity-wise, I don’t think it’s all that fantastic, but for the price it’s acceptable. My only issue with this is the cap. As others have said, it’s awful. Very cheap plastic that’s a pain to put back on. Still worth it, though. I paid $15 for a large bottle of this at Ross and would definitely repurchase! There’s another variation of this perfume as well that I am very excited to try.

I am so impressed with this perfume. I was a little scared it would be crap. But I read all the reviews and I'm glad I listened. The bottle is a huge, bamboo-shaped, opalescent monstrocity, in a kitchy sort of way. I am glad that someone compared this to J-Lo's Miami Glow. Bora Bora is less fruity than Miami Glow. The tropical florals really stand out--but not in a passionflower fruity sort of way. More like ginger-flower and pikaki. I also detect something green and woody, like bamboo or maybe even a touch of sugarcane. As soon as you spray it on, it's magnificently sweet without being too young. When it wears down, the fruity freshness steps aside to make way for the heavenly florals. What I love about this scent is that it smells sweet without any vanilla. The staying power is wonderful--much longer lasting than Miami Glow. This was a smart "cheap" pick.

Seems reviews here agree that this is a summer scent. I found this tropical enough, just TOO tropical and it was very agressive...in my face! I used it this winter hoping, like many heavy scents, it would soften this a bit, and it did. The cooler air brings out the iris in this MUCH more than the cloying tuberose I got in the summer. This doesn't SMELL like Prada's Infusion d'Iris but it has that exact iris smell IN it. This scent, for me, is winter all the way. I've gotten many compliments on this scent this winter. It's not even the same scent I get during the summer. For this, if you find it too strong and cloying in the heat, by all means, try cold crispy air! don't give up on this because it is fresh fresh fresh and OH so lovely! This may be a new classification...Winter fresh tropical aquatic!

I got this on clearance at Ross for 9.99. I really like it. Alcohol and big florals at first, but then mellows down to tropical flowers with a coconut vibe, but no coconut, pina colada or sunscreen. Tuberose and I don’t get along, but Bora Bora’s is mellow. Familiar and comforting. Very 80’s and 90’s with the florals, but not super dated or overpowering. In the realm of Charlie White and White Musk, but more unique. I wish it was stronger and lasted longer. You definitely need to overspray because this is similar to a body spray. The atomizer does spray a lot which I don’t mind since it’s light and cheap. Tacky bottle, though. I thought I didn’t like J’Adore, but this is making me curious. Mine is Elizabeth Arden. I wish I tried this in it’s heyday when it was probably better quality and stronger.

I love this! I remember wearing Bora Bora when it was first introduced and I loved it then as well. For the price you can't beat it. I found a 3.4 oz EDP at Ross for $12. It doesn't smell like $12 perfume at all. I think Liz Claiborne fragrances don't get enough accolades generally. This is fruity, ginger-y and floral, simply lovely. I get lots of Ginger and Tuberose supported by Orange Blossom and Jasmine. I've always thought this was so well blended. Is it synthetic? Yep. But on my skin it reads more natural...perhaps I'm lucky?! I say grab this the next time you're shopping at Ross/Marshalls/and all the discount stores. P.S. I'm getting strong Tiare though it's not listed in the composition. That's great, I love Tiare.

After all these years, this one still smells so very good, and close to the original. It does have a tropical smell to it. It's reminds me of Hawaiian White Ginger in the opening and a bit like Jadore in the drydown. My boyfriend loves Jadore and he can't tell the 2 apart. Jadore is more full bodied and richer. This smells like Jadore's little sister...simpler, less strong, less sophisticated. But, still good. Really nice over the Jadore body milk. In fact, when sprayed over Jadore lotion, it's a great dupe! For so much cheaper.. I really love it for summer and for $16 ??? Heck, yes! Can't beat this orange blossom/jasmine beauty. And yes, it was expensive at one time.

I just received this perfume today, which was a blind buy. I bought it because I read that it resembles J'adore to some people and it was a more affordable alternative. After testing it, I have to say it DOES resemble J'adore, but more on the dry off. But if not comparing it to J'adore, I would say it has a very pleasant, flowery, sweet scent that is neither too young or too mature. It is slightly tropical, but I don't find it too fruity or watery smelling. I like it very much, a very good and affordable buy for me, esp if you like J'adore. I think the bottle is a little tacky and I hate the top, but that I can get over.

It opens with a sweetness that consists of sweet mandarin and water lily it surprises me that Bora Bora and Alfred Sung Shi both have a cloying to the skin style and opens sweet and watery but shi is more woodsy and deeper in Incense more superior staying power then Bora, bora dries to a honey like scent of tuberoses that dominates this perfume completely overshadows the other notes orchid is an elusive to the senses hard to find but it's in there. ginger faint traces of it barely noticible is there any sandalwood in this thats hard to tell unless you have an scent of an Canine but to my senses no dice.

this is something the little mermaid would wear on land . very aquatic clean floral and powdery i enjoy this so so much . its easy to overspray though, it lasts into the next day . i can tell this is for spring/summer but the water lily is subdued enough with powdery tuberose and jasmine to make me feel comfortable wearing in cooler/rainy weather . also, the ginger and orange are barely detectable but im neutral on those notes anyway . a must try for anyone who loves white flowers, and this pairs very well with musk or sandalwood scents . wearing this to sleep is like melatonin to me

I've loved this perfume since I smelled it many years ago and I always keep a bottle on hand. It's so feminine, youthful, soft and fresh. I definitely detect the Jasmine mandarin and tuberose. The water lily gives it an aquatic, watery vibe. This fragrance transports me to a relaxing island when I wear it. It's just an overall pretty scent. Not heavy at all. It's very light and clean which makes it best suited for warmer weather. This is a safe blind buy in my opinion and the affordable price makes it that much better. Love this fragrance a lot.

Smells nearly identical to BBW Enchanted Orchid. Has some very similar notes to it as well. Slightly more green and aquatic in the opening, but the fresh clean airy florals and orchid in the dry down is a spot on dupe. Lasts a bit longer than BBW scents too. I can still smell it on me even after an 8 hour work day. I have both and did a side by side comparison. Enchanted Orchid was my favorite scent of all time, so I'm thrilled to have discovered this dupe.

I received this in the mail today and I sprayed it on immediately. It smells of tropical flowers with an aquatic note to it. It's sweet but not gourmand sweet. It doesn't smell dated but there's a hint of 90's-00's here. It's long lasting, I've had this on for a few hours now and it smells strong but not in a bad way. The dry down it woody but clean. I'm happy with this purchase. This will definitely get you compliments.

I am so glad I picked up this fragrance. I just love it. It is really similar to Hawaiian white ginger by Avon as mentioned by other reviewers and I loved wearing that scent in my teens. Lotus, tuberose, jasmine, ginger, sandalwood and a touch of powder. It's not overpowering and the longevity is pretty good. I got the edp 3.4 oz for 12.99 at Burlington so I am very happy with my purchase.

Reminds me of Hula practice and going to PCC to watch the night shows. I wear it layered with Tiare Flower oil to really ground the scent. Definitively a tropical scent and harkens back to a vintage, far gone era of island getaways. Girls in sarongs with gardenia tucked behind their ears and armfuls of tropical fruits, brings back good memories. Clean, fresh, tropical floral.

I love this.SWeet,but not sicky sweet.On me,theres a pronounced hibiscus smell,Bamboo which i love,topped off with ginger.It makes one want to go ahhhhh when u smell it.Makes Others want to nuzzle u.Would b beautiful any time of year but,smells most like spring.fresh,ck=lean,yet u no its there,sweet and yummy.Smells better than JAdore to me and lasts longer.

So glad they are still selling my childhood favorite. I remember stealing sprays of this from my mom. This is an awesome floral! It evokes sunshine and happiness and the best floral gardens. Really enjoy this perfume. I had bought bora bora exotic years ago but it wasn't as nice as this original Bora Bora. I will stick to this one. Score: 8/10