Lady Rem

I bought this perfume mainly because I really like Black Saffron by Byredo, but currently I'm having different priorities as far as expensive perfume purchases goes (I want to spend that much money on some other perfumes). Lady Rem appeared to be a nice, yet cheaper dupe and so far I'm absolutely loving it. :) The opening is kind of sweet and raspberry like, almost mouthwatering, then it proceeds into this ashy, sweet yet quite bitter tobacco scent I really, really like and I can't stop sniffing my wrist. Longevity and sillage appear to be quite potent, too. Black Saffron is a little bit sweeter, but that doesn't matter, the sweet raspberry is in Lady Rem, too, although it's way more timid than in BS. If you like perfumes that are sweetish yet bitter, tobacco and leather like, this may be a good blind buy. But only if you like this kind of scent, because it's really "bold" and strong, too (I do understand why some people may smell ash tray in it). The only thing I don't really like is the cheap looking bottle. :P it looks really cheap, but the juice is way better, trust me.

SOTD If you like TF leather, you will like this one. It adds a floral scent that makes it smell "fresher" than TF to my nose. I kind of get why it is categorized as a female scent; however, it can absolutely be worn by a man. For under $40, it is definitely a good value.

A wonderful leather perfume, very classy and wearable for women and men. Same quality as niche offerings and to be had for a decent price. I got myself a Black Friday bottle 100 ml for 40 Euro postage included, very happy with it.

I heard this one was very smoky, so I avoided it, as many things that smell smoky on me end up smelling kinda sour and "campfire-y". It is true that it's smoky - it's like a tobacco-leather kind of smoky, but it's also very smooth and non-cloying. Kind of a clean smoke, without the coughing and it also smells quite expensive. It smells like something Amouage could have had in its line, similar to Black Iris, but without the carrot-like smell. Totally unisex, despite the raspberry - I would have loved this on a man. My husband smelt this further away and said it smelt feuity and fresh winter air (it smells fresh to him although winter air often contains smoke from people using fireplaces). I think this is a really good representation of the time people used to smoke everywhere and tried to cover up the scent with a nice perfume. Some of those people still smelt disgusting, but some actually ended up smelling really good - this is the smell of those people. BTW: I'm not a smoker myself and have always hated it. It doesn't mean that the smell of tobacco is bad. The bottle design is... not my cup of tea, and doesn't represent this fragrance well at all. I guess I was just a popular choice of style before. Hot Couture from Givenchy is totally in the same lane as this fragrance - I absolutely get the comparison, and it too comes in a style of bottle that isn't at all representing the smell of the fragrance.

This shiii is BOLD. I blind bought it after briefly looking it up here on Fragrantica. I saw on the accords that the sweetness dominates (btw. this needs to be changed here guys) and that there is some raspberry with the heavier tobacco-leather-patchouli combo which seemed very intriguing. For some reason I was convinced the previous reviewers must have been a bit too sensitive to darker fragrances - who puts a pink etiquette on a heavy perfume and calls it Lady REM after all? Boyyyy I was wrong and I apologise to all the people below for underestimating your words. This is the strongest, boldest, most headache-inducing, suffocating fragrance I have ever smelled in my entire life. After the first spray I thought it went bad but no - apparently that is it. Imagine a one tiny ripe raspberry buried under a ton of freshly dried tobacco with a few patchouli leaves put in a particularly fragrant leather suitcase sprinkled with more leather ... IN A ROOM MADE OF LEATHER. This is quite something. It is NOT a safe frag. People will be bothered, relationships will be broken, wars will start if you wear it on regular basis. This is the first scent I think I might seriously struggle to pull off. If anyone has any advice on how or what to layer it with to make it more approachable please share! xoxo