Tainted Love

I am puzzled by the dislike for this fantastic fragrance. It is supposed to mimic the scent of lipstick, and it does so with probably the most accuracy of any lipstick/makeup scent I have tried, which are many because this is one of my very favorite styles of fragrance. For those of us who seek out this type of scent, this is an absolute 10. It would be so helpful if users reviewed fragrances that appeal to them. If something specifically says it mimics the scent of synthetic lipstick fragrance, be prepared to get just that. It's very frustrating that something as perfectly executed as Tainted Love gets a huge blue bar of dislike, when it has given EXACTLY what it aimed to do. For those of us who seek out this type of scent, it can be really misleading. I assumed by the reviews that it must smell nothing like lipstick when the reality is it smells EXACTLY like it, and moreso than anything else I have tried. If you truly like the waxy, musky violet rose scent of lipstick, this is an absolute must for your try list.

Trying this one again in cold-arse winter, JUST to be sure. In another universe, I would jump at this -- I would fail head-over-heels for this. But, in this universe, there is just one teeny-tiny issue that is holding me back from doing so. Early uni, I worked in a supermarket and worked in the dairy case, going in and out of a walk-in freezer, about 25 to 30 below zero (and I mean degrees, not your one-country-only-unit-of-measurement 'Fahrenheit'), and there is a unique smell that you get in the cold mist, especially at that temp. It only exists in enclosed areas, like the freezer, I didn't get it in Finland when it was 15 - 20 below zero. It might be the pear -- pear does have a frosty, frigid element to it, and it *could* be what 'breaks' this scent for me, so, to be really honest, had I not worked in dairy case, I might be seeking this one out. It's still an 8 / 10 scent, though, it's just that there are too many associations going on here...

Bought way below retail so price value for me is pretty good. In the UK we have a rose flavoured gummy sweet called 'cherry lips' which are a big favourite of mine. This fragrance smells almost exactly like them to my nose. I'm definitely a fan. It smells like lipstick on the initial spray to me. But the synthetic nature settles and the rose and Peach burns through. Don't get much iris (I know it's not listed but in the notes it is there) To me this is definitely a rose fragrance but its nowhere near as in your face as rose usually is. And I paid £75 as opposed to 240. So I paid the same price as a high street perfume. Which is very good to me. Big fan. Don't think I'd like it as much if I paid retail, definitely a more female leaning fragrance. But could definitely be worn by a man as well in tbe right situations

I took this with me overseas and spritzed it on in some cold temps, and I made my mind up there and then that this just COULD NOT work. Firstly, I have quite a few similar scents that fall into the same kind of scent category and trope, and even though I do LIKE these scents (possibly love), I just don't fiend over them anywhere near as much. Lastly, it's also the fact that the plastic element (the iris note, I imagine), is just too...it's just TOO much. I have scents where this is part of the make-up, but in Tainted Love, it's just TOO much for me. It's still an 8.5 / 10 kind of scent, but just one that I sorta-kinda have already, albeit in different forms. I'll be happy with my 2 ml decant, which I'll pop one once every year or two and I feel that will be enough...

I pivot violently on this ALL the time -- some times I'm all like "FIND THIS NOW!", and most other times I'm a little more restrained, measured and composed on the matter. I do find this a little too fruity-rose dainty, truth be told, and I need to be 100 % HONEST with myself here, that this IS unfortunately like a few other iris-violet scents I already have (and don't actually wear), so I don't think this is going to work, unfortunately... It's just a little *too* dainty sweet, and I have a few of these kinds of scents already, so if I'm being honest with myself, it's just NOT going to work... ...but I do really like it.

I really hate that I like this so much. Rose, violet and iris together in a really REALLY well-blended It's got all three in a perfect balance and everything is exactly to the level it needs to be. Quite femme and possibly a little *too* sweet, but the whole scent works quite well with no jarring elements or components that just don't fit... Next stage!

I didn't expect to love this as much as I do but I'm blown away. The beginning strangely reminds me of sweet booze and after a few minutes it turns into pure powdery sweetness - something I absolutely love about the Prada Candy line. I'm slightly worried about the longevity compared to its price tag though.

I love this! Its waxy and play dough like - this is one of those 'scent memory' fragrances that present more pleasant emotions than a fragrance that smells like a truly beautiful garden or natural setting. Yes, this is more fun than elegance and from how happy it made me, I really don't mind that.

Tainted Love smells like straight up lipstick and or lip gloss. Very waxy, like paraffin wax which can be an unpleasant petroleum smell but here it works. I get fruity notes that would be in a lip gloss and a very waxy smell like the paraffin wax they used in vintage lipsticks. A nice friend gave this sample to me. I see that full bottles are going for very expensive prices now, such a shame. This isn't something I would buy a full bottle of, but I do like it. If you want to smell like what Debra Harry's lips looked like in the Heart of Glass music video this is that perfume.

This really doesn't smell very much like lipstick to me. Or make-up for that matter. Nothing waxy here to my nose, though vaguely powdery. Goes on very synthetic, which I think is how the combination of pear and raspberry is coming across. It is not a nice mix to me. I think I can smell the violet, though not really sure, but at this point I really don't care. I'm surprised by this one. I thought I would love it because I love Heat Wave so much. But this was a real letdown as far as expecting a true make-up scent. It pales in comparison to something like Lipstick On, which is a true make-up scent to me. I was really hoping this would be a good replacement for the now discontinued Lipstick On. Sadly, it is not. I'm also not getting the fantastic silage that many mention here either. I am using a factory sample, so I know this is authentic, but maybe they've changed the formula. Or maybe it's my chemistry that is playing havoc here, or the climate right now, which is hot. I still have plenty of this sample left, so I'll put this away to try again in cooler weather before writing it off. Hopefully, I'll get better results then, though I doubt it will ever replace my love for Lipstick On.

I think this is supposed to smell a little like lipstick, but I get really waxy musk that's very sharp and acrid. It was still SUPER LOUD even after an hour. It did take a very long time for any hint of violet to appear and when it did, it was a relief. I think my body chemistry hates this one. It's sadly a scrubber for me.

Много роза, ужасно....мразя роза. Предполагах, че леко ще се усеща розата в предвид, че е в средните нотки но уви. Купих го заради крушата, обожавам я но само роза усещам. Дори не изчаках време да се развие, измих си ръката след 30мин.

This scent is overwhelming. Not a fan. Very loud!

This was a very interesting one for me to try. I get a few different things in here: in the beginning, there's a juvenile, 2000s lip smacker/hairspray fruity scent (probably the pear). That is followed by a bright and slightly tart peach. The raspberry and rose blend together into a sickly sweet, jammy accord that is covered (for the most part) by the powdered violet-orris combo. All together these elements combine into what I imagine old sweet tarts smell like if they were left of a vintage vanity filled with cosmetics.

Smells like vintage makeup. Parafinny, softly musky with a strong hit of powdery violet and damascene rose. Only the ghost of pear. The overall effect is a tube of Helena Rubenstein lipstick from the 50s. You'll smell like a product. You're much better off with a bottle of Lipstick Rose by Frederic Malle, which is the same vibe but elegantly and attractively composed.

I am stunned by how much this smells like the makeup of all of the beautiful women in my life whom I so looked up to growing up in the 90s. It has that synthetic powder quality to it with some florals. This brought me right back to my childhood. I don't know if I would wear it but man do I love it for how it hit me with nostalgia.

Bought a 2015-batch almost full bottle at the incredible price of 3400 yen (~$25) and it was so worth it. I'm over the moon, lipstick and powdery are my favorite fragrance type. There is a strong musk that can be a little overwhelming but mellows out quickly.

Very classy. A beautiful violet, ionona, a little orris, rose de mai, aldehydes and a pear note. Simple yet complex, makes me think of a beautiful empty beach in Aruba. It's a solar perfume.

Lipstick,make up , powdery.. Very creamy and friuty but those creamy friuts not sweet or soure Very feminine and nice Perfect for spring and white shirt or dress and golden accessories

I don't know how to explain this, but it smells "salmon pink" (like the juice); I would not have guessed violet and musk, but definitely "makeup".. A bit typical

Almost sure it's the same fragrance than the discontinued "Rossetto".

Same formula of "Infusion de Rossetto".