Ylang in Gold

Ah, it's not as full on as Mancera Holidays, & is more beautiful for it - love this, although it's not my usual thing. It reminds of spending ten days in Ko Samui, a while ago - wherever we went back to our villa mid afternoon, the scent of the ylang flowers would permeate through the sun drenched air, in an almost narcotic way, (I hv red hair, green eyes, & cannot tan - the weather there is challenging for me - it makes me tired,) but I always thought how lovely those flowers were in the mid afternoon heat, the scent was so uplifting & a little unexpected. The mint & artemisia in this also remind me of that holiday, this whole composition reminds me of islands in Thailand - & they themselves are so different from other parts of East Asia - this couldn't be mistaken for another perfume I think - even if it reminds some ppl of parts of other perfumes it's pretty unique bc it's quite subtle comparably - it has a nice balance to it - that keeps it refined & beautiful. Personally, I don't like peach in perfumes, & find Chopped Casmir good on others but could never wear it - too sandalwood/ambre forward, & a bit too vintage - but the tiny amount of peach in this doesn't bother me at all, & this doesn't hv a vintage vibe I don't think, I wasn't familiar with Vanilla Fields, although I was born in the mid eighties - this is vanille in the base, & gorgeous with it - but though it has a similarity with Hanae Mori Butterfly (blue) - this is much better, I feel. Maybe it's a smidgen overpriced, for what it is, but it's v good quality - many M Micallef hv far too much of an Arabian perfume vibe for me, & some are so super sweet I just wouldn't wear them - myself I love many East Asian perfumes, & very clean perfumes, but this is my favourite of this brand, & of the v sweet perfumes - it is, quite sweet, but doesn't overstep what I find bearable - although this is not something I wear in the daytime - it's a nighttime perfume for me & something I enjoy on occasion - am sure it's signature scent worthy, if that's what you want - but that sweetness would be too much for me day to day, & it's a little full on for daytime, for me, & I wear so many perfumes - it's nice to hv some with different vibes for evenings I think, so I use this when the occasion suits. When I say full on - it's not full on, as Holidays or similar is - this is more refined, more subtle - wear lightly & it's beautiful - too much though, would be cloying - is it niche quality? Kind of yes - if you can get it for a decent price & it is what you want, then it's pretty good; I wouldn't pay actual full price for it - occasionally the discounters had it though, so I decided it was worth trying. Ylang itself is often something which makes perfumes smell 'vintage- & is to be avoided mostly, for me- but here it works so well - almost a tinge of banana pudding with a little caramel - which is literally the vibe of those flowers in Ko Samui & the other islands nearby - & all over a beautiful vanille base, nothing cheap about that vanille either, as some of the recent designer releases in the extreme drydown reveal an almost celebrity perfume base - lookinv at JPG La Belle for example, (that base, ouf..) & with a tiny hint of oakmoss which is charming - this has a lovely layered & rich but not too rich vanille base, it's so good. A true vacation inspired perfume - an island vacation in a bottle - & during these rubbish pandemic restrictions it's been nice to hv a little armchair travel by way of this perfume. Beautiful bottle too - & the 'gold glitter' isn't too much so, on the bottle, or on your skin, at all. All is fairly restrained - it's luxurious, in a chic way - nothing to obvious, as long as you apply with a light hand - whereas some v sweet vanille perfumes are too much, too 'try-hard' - this is elegant & beautiful with a sweet vanille vibe.

M. Micallef – Ylang in Gold I love this fragrance in the summer. To me, it is the embodiment of a woman — almost a goddess-like presence. The opening reveals a fresh yet softly sweet rose. It isn’t sharp or heavy; rather, it feels luminous and refined. Bergamot enhances this brightness, adding a delicate sparkle that keeps the sweetness transparent rather than dense. At the heart lies a radiant blend of ylang-ylang and jasmine, gently illuminated by a touch of orange blossom. The florals feel solar and warm, yet never overwhelming. They unfold with elegance, creating a sensation of light rather than weight. The true magic, however, happens in the drydown. Musk and vanilla melt into creamy sandalwood, forming a smooth, golden warmth that feels as if sunlight is emanating from the skin itself. There is a tactile softness — almost a glow. What fascinates me is the presence of actual gold in the composition. The skin truly seems to shimmer, enhancing the sensation of a luminous aura. On my skin, the creaminess and tenderness of the vanilla become more pronounced, while the jasmine reveals a subtle animalic nuance that adds depth and sensuality. Ylang in Gold is incredibly feminine — powerful and gentle at the same time. The blend is seamless; no single note dominates. Instead, each element supports the others in perfect harmony. It is certainly not for everyone. The composition is complex, slightly rebellious in its confidence, and unapologetically radiant. It is not childish, nor does it have any artificial “bubblegum” character — at least not on my skin. Perception is always subjective. On me, it feels like a golden aura — luminous, sensual, and unforgettable. And I truly love it.

Honestly, when I received this perfume from France and sniffed it for the first time, I didn't like it. But in a split second I realised why I didn't like it. That is because I base my opinions about perfumes, on what other perfumes they remind me of. There's always another perfume to make referrence to. And then if it smells like something I already like, then I know I like it. Ylang in Gold had me feeling insecure and unsure of myself... because it doesn't remind me of ANYTHING AT ALL. It doesn't remind me of any other perfume, or any place, or anything that has happened to me in my life, so on and so forth. It is a completely clean slate! I felt like a fish out of water. But then I quickly realised that this is exactlty what I want and what I need! A clean slate to build brand new memories and brand new experiences on! Ylang in Gold is so very exquisitely done, that it reminds of no other! I don't know how this is possible... but they made it possible! I have found my signature scent for life. One that I can REALLY build foundation on and TRULY call my own! This perfume is both sweet and sharp at the same time and to equal degrees sharp and sweet! This is the only thing I am capable of describing it as! A butterfly meets a bee. The love child of a bee and a butterfly! I will have to build all of my other opinions every day as I go through life wearing it. A true signature scent, a perfume like no other. A fragrance that has to be built with one's own experiences in life. Exquisite. Exquisite. Exquisite. A masterpiece. I am so glad that it is so expensive. That way not everyone can have it!!

This is very close to Chopard Cašmir, so it's hard to write a review without comparing them, but I'll give it a try for those who haven't tried Cašmir yet: This is a sunny, happy vanilla scent with an airy, creamy ylang-ylang that is especially prominent in the opening along fruity notes like peach. In the heart powdery florals come out to play and give the scent a face powder vibe, but in the end the vanilla wins over them. Everything has a dry, almost dusty overlay of coconut and sandalwood that make this a little less summery than the notes suggest. This is not a beachy or very foody coconut. I can't detect any of the green and herbal notes from the list. For those who do know Cašmir, I think this is a more fine-tuned, modern version of the same concept with the amped-up ylang-ylang and fresher fruit notes. This is not as oriental and balsamic as Cašmir, instead it has a tropical feel, so it doesn't feel that wintery. I have a (now very low) bottle of Cašmir in my collection for over a decade and don't plan to repurchase something very similar when I finish it, but I still really enjoy the general scent profile. Ylang in Gold is more sophisticated and nuanced and feels softer in character, but not necessarily weaker. If I had to chose between the two now, I would pick this. If you haven't tried both, definitely do before you decide if the big price difference is worth it to you.

Was lucky to get a sample of this from a friend, and it's really nice. I'm not the hugest fan of ylang ylang when it's done in a traditional floral but if there is added sweetness and a little gourmand character, I'm all for it. I love the warmth this perfume has. With the added coconut and vanilla and hint of fruit, I get the feeling of a thick, rich, white suntan lotion being rubbed onto warm skin that is getting hot in the sunshine on the beach. I also own Chopard Casmir and Hanae Mori, so I can totally see the resemblance to those as well. I wasn't thinking it at first, but once I saw the comparisons here, I was like, yep, I see it. Of course it's not an exact replica, but it's definitely a sibling, or maybe a half-sibling, with a tropical sunscreen/coconut/ylang ylang twist. Between the three, I think I like YiG the most! It is warmer, thicker, and sweeter than HM, although HM is my second favorite, and then Casmir last. Casmir is really nice but it is a little thin/watery for me, so I like how the others are thicker and richer. HM is so nice but I never really reach for it, and I can see myself wearing YiG more often, so I would rather buy a full bottle of YiG :)