By Invitation Peony Noir

I discovered this about a month ago and what a discovery! I haven't been too keen on either of Michael Buble's previous fragrances, but found this at a bargain price, and having a weakness for dark bottles, decided to treat myself. Well what a beautiful perfume it is! It is SO similar to Tom Ford Noir Pour Femme, perhaps with a little touch of Roberto Cavalli Nero Assoluto that just sweetens it a little bit (NOWHERE near as sweet as the Cavalli though, just a touch) It's stunning in my opinion. I get compliments on it all the time from men and women alike. I actually own both TF Noir Pour Femme and RC Nero Assoluto, and this is the most wearable of all of them in my humble opinion. It isn't anything like as sweet as Nero, but also isn't as heavy as Noir. I would (and have) worn this on a winters day which I wouldn't do with Noir, I prefer that one for winter nights - that said, I would (and have again!) also wear this on a winters night - it just isn't as strong as Noir. Longevity is moderate, as is sillage, but it lasts on clothes for ages and I love sniffing the previous days clothes and smelling it around the collar! You aren't going to get the super power of a Tom Ford perfume, but you are also going to get it for a LOT less money, so to me, it is well worth it. I would also say it is longer lasting and has more depth to it than the Roberto Cavalli too, so again, this is much better value for money. To me, this is an absolute gem of a perfume and I am over the moon that I bought it! If you like either of the comparable perfumes, especially TF Noir, then I really don't see how you can't like this! Give it a whirl!

It's getting close to the time of the year when peonies start to flower so I felt like wearing this perfume today and I noticed there's hardly any reviews. It certainly deserves more attention in my opinion. You probably wouldn't know it was a celeb perfume in a blind testing as it has better than average quality. I impulse bought this earlier in the year after testing it just once. I immediately loved it and especially appreciated how it was true to the dark purple peony smell. There is a complexity to it that's not obvious from the notes listed. The peonies are dark, musky and creamy. There is sweetness in the woody vanilla and rose which reminds me of Dsquared Want. In colder weather it's cosy and comforting but on warmer hot days it's headache inducing. I find it has decent longevity and sillage for a celebrity scent. Almost too strong for me personally. I'm not shy with bold perfumes, there is just something in this that can get a bit much for me when it's oversprayed. I've mixed a little of this with Dsquared Want when I was more in a mood for vanilla and they blended really well together.

Its Good Friday, we are all self isolating, I have a slipped disc so can't move anyway and its half way through Autumn on my island ( I do not like Autumn) This is my "lift my spirits" perfume, so I have sprayed it on quite heavily today and it's lovely smell is helping. Not great with notes but I know what I like and this is a big like, even love and it's so cheap, but smells expensive. I have a back up bottle or two - they were on sale at Christmas.

This is a beautiful scent; a muskier, sensual version of the original. I'm not mad on sandalwood but I really enjoy it in this scent. Orange blossom is always a favourite note of mine. Out of the original, rose gold and peony I'm not sure which is my favourite. They all have a similar DNA but are all individual. Beautiful scents that smell more expensive than they really are. Worth the money!

I might be alone on this one but it gives me La Petite Noir Black Perfecto vibes but I think I might like this one a little bit more. Its dark and rich and sweet and pretty at the same time. For whatever reason it took me three wears to actually like this and four to love it and decide I *always* want a bottle in my collection.