Belle en Rykiel

On spraying I get a bit of an alcoholic burst that dissipates quite quickly and the scent settles on my skin quite comfortably into its lovely warmish, woodsy, sweetish, slightly heady (for want of a better word) yumminess. There is no definite top, middle, base change. For me, BeR is rather linear after the initial burst. I think that slight headiness that I get comes from the lavender and the heliotrope, but it mingles just in the right dose with all the other notes. They all are so well put together that I only get the scent as a whole composition rather than being able to pinpoint the individual notes. That's why I wouldn't say BeR is a coffe scent per se. It's more than that. Everything works really well together, adding to the smoothness and the coziness of the scent. It has a unisex vibe to it and on the right male it could work really well, but I’d still say it is a feminine scent. When I sampled Reveal by Calvin Klein in cooler weather I thought it had some similarities to BeR (the overall vibe) but Reveal is lighter. In hot weather Reveal changes considerably and the BeR vibe is gone. BeR is a casual to semi-casual scent that works for about any occasion in every day to day life, pleasant, warm, and inviting enough to make people feel comfortable around you. On skin it settles quite quickly to a comfortable level – not a loud scent. On clothes it projects really well and lasts a long time.

Belle on Rykiel by Sonia Rykiel is a lovely concoction of coffee, lavender, incense, patchouli, and citrus. The perfume possesses a cozy, warm, and spicy elegance. When initially sprayed, you are hit with the sharpness of lavender and citrus, but that quickly warms to a powdery spice bomb. It is rich and sweet. The powder quality has a vintage vibe but the overall perfume has a modern feel. The powdery will intensify but eventually will smoothly fall back to reveal a warm woodsy sweetness. It’s the kind of perfume you would wear in fall and winter. It’s a cold weather companion. Who May Enjoy: Fans of Guerlain Shalimar, Molinard Habanita, YSL Opium, Dior Miss Dior Le Parfum, SPJ Stash, and Kate Walsh Boyfriend may enjoy this perfume. If are looking to dabble in coffee scents, this may tickle your fancy. If you want to experiment with powdery scents with a kick, you might find this one appealing. However, I must caution that this perfume has been discontinued and finding a bottle at a reasonable price is becoming more problematic. Would I repurchase? Absolutely! I am on my second bottle. I used my first one up two winters ago and last year I missed it. Thankfully, I recently scored a reasonably priced bottle and have been cautious about how often I wear it. It’s wonderfully warm and cozy. It pairs well with a good book, warm fire, soft blanket, and a hot cup of coffee.

This is Shalimar 2.0, the North San Diego County Edition. Like Shalimar is it is vanilla-sweet, almost balsamic with an earthy touch of patchouli. However, one of my most cherished memories from my time in San Diego involve notes that are particular to this perfume. I was entertaining out of town family members from MA with a tour to one of the lavender fields in the northern part of San Diego. This specific one was nestled next to an orange grove and as we were strolling through the fields of white, various shades or purple and pink, an easterly breeze sent this sweet citrusy smell from the neighboring orchard. Although most of my family was drinking wine and champagne while taking our tour, I was drinking coffee since I was driving. The combination of lavender, citrus, coffee was an absolutely transcendent combination. I thought I would never encounter that scent experience again until I received a sample of Belle from Amazon. And now, after a sweet and simple spritz, I am back walking among those pink and purple rows breathing in the citrusy air as I enjoy my French Roast.

Beautiful, warm, spicy, and cozy. Definitely unisex, although the opening smells and feels to me like classic ladies perfume--not vintage, per se, but just a smell from my past--a hug from my Sunday school teacher or my grandma passing me her hanky during church. It evolves past that, but that haunting quality is still there for me. I suspect the amber and heliotrope are what is giving me that bit of powdery nostalgia...mixed with the lavender and coffee it definitely is evoking memories of days gone by. The incense and mahogany only enhance that feeling for me, and are also what make this more unisex. This is perfect for Autumn/winter---but I can see it blooming in the heat, if worn sparingly. All in all, a very successful blind buy and I'm glad I managed to snag it before it's too hard to find.

Having read a review that this fragrance smells like an old lady I again do not understand why would anyone use that wording. The right word is "mature". Young ladies also have a mature taste in perfumes, as well as older ones love fruity or light "immature" simple scents. This EDP is not for those who prefer smelling like a strawberry or lily of the valley body spray. Coco Chanel said that she did not want to smell like a flower (I would also add a fruit), but she wanted to smell like a woman. To my nose Belle en Rykiel is very French. I LOVE the opening, unfortunately it does not last. Still I like this Sonia Rykiel fragrance.