Rykiel Woman

I acquired this in a swap. It came with no box, and it had been dropped and the cap was missing a good chunk. But the bottle was basically full. I blind swapped for it because I figured if it had a leather note, I couldn't go wrong . . . and that assumption has almost always been a good one for me! At first, this seemed like the leather in Bvlgari Black and Midnight in Paris, both of which I had at the time. But I was glad to have the scent because I knew it would be hard to find, and it is a lovely scent. Now, after having it for several years and having worn it a number of times, I can say more about the scent. First, there is the leather. The leather note is basically identical to Hermes' Cuir d'Ange. I got a sample from Hermes and was so excited to smell it for the first time. Sprayed it and said, "this reminds me of something . . ." continued to sniff through the rather disappointing development, and finally realized. CdA is a lighter, less complex version of this scent. They aren't dupes, but the leather is basically identical. I tried them each on a different wrist and CdA is like the kid-sister who hasn't developed yet. Beautiful, but it doesn't last, unlike Rykiel Woman. In this scent, the leather carries the fragrance, just as I like it. But it's not JUST a leather scent. The note pyramid is spot on with the violet and dates being the top two notes. This is a touch fruity, but the date note keeps it from being sharp, juicy, or sugary at all. It's a dry, pulpy, mild sweetness, and it's absolutely stunning. The violet lends a gorgeous powdery sweetness that really stays through the entire development. And those top three notes are really the extent of this scent. You certainly can pull out hints of the other listed notes if you huff a bit, particularly the woody and spicy notes. But it's really such a beautifully blended fragrance that nothing really is dominant. It just works. I feel so incredibly fortunate to have this in my wardrobe!

today got my mini finally, oh i had no idea how nice dates can smell in a perfume! this opens slightly peppery and so sweet, even a little gourmand-spicy to my nose, maybe it's cinnamon, but this is not listed. the deep violet is creamy and beautiful, i m a big violet lover anyway. the heart evokes soft and powdery with this typical smell when you stand near a fully bloomed bush of sweet heady jasmin in mediterran summernights. the velvety rose gives it that luxury touch, i can t stop sniffing my wrists - sooo nice and unuasual! i can not say that the pepper is prominent, maybe it's this gentle spiciness all trought the scent notes? very well blendet so. in the background floats a trail of those hints of expensive buttersoft suede leather, very luxury, exclusive, elegant and feminine. the bottom with warming amber and musk make this scent a perfect smooth composition. i m really very impressed, this can easely become my new signature scent, it's soooo me, guess a new love is born!!! great sillage, very powdery and warm, delicious and rich, but not at all heavy or overbearing, it sits near the skin, the staying power is amazing. this is a perfume, you can feel whifting around you the whole day long by every movement, without having to overspray it and without being offending. it drives mutch compliements but i don t tell who's my secret love to anybody. :O) bottle simply stunning. love love love ps. this has become indeed my signature and when i weat it i've always that feeling when you know you've found the one and only right one to spend the whole life with it - it's just me! :)))))) thank you Sonia Rykiel !

There are fragrances that instantly repel - the ones that our nose says "Whoa! No way! Beautiful on others maybe, but NOT for me." - and then there are those that defy the definition of their listed notes, ones that grab you by the nose, throat and lungs and shout "I'M THE ONE YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!". What are we to do except inhale, smile, sigh and admit that one bottle will surely not be enough. Such, for me, is Sonia Rykiel Woman Not for Men. I don't fancy pepper but here it gives the violet a certain kick. And no other fragrance in my stupid-large collection features the sticky-sweet tang of ripe dates, so I was totally unprepared for this Rykiel creation to be so marvelous, so sublime... I almost can't even... Surely all of us frag heads recognize the usual ordinary "nice" fragrances. Nothing wrong with them; they're pretty, they're nice. But on very rare occasions something we sniff hits that certain spot on the olfactory soul and we can't help but shut our eyes, smile as we sniff and say "Ahhh, this is... this is... OMG, this is simply marvelous!" I rest my case. If you don't already own a bottle of Sonia Rykiel Woman Not For Men and you love violets, the nostalgic scent of a powder compact carried in a much beloved suede handbag and scents considered polarizing by many, you do indeed need to acquire a bottle. I own an idiotic 700+ bottles and I consider this fragrance to be a star amongst my top 10.

This EDP Perfume stretches imagination like an arrow, and transmits it to the destination of the desert where you are a merchant in the Berber camel caravan that moves to a distant market. And so you are riding high on your camel, following her rhythm and stroking her neck to make it easier for her to endure a long travel, and every movement of your hand down her neck comes with a gust of dust-musky scent of her fur, and on the harsh desert sun, every uncovered piece of your skin evaporates precious liquid that has an intense smell of human skin. Your nose is tickeled by smells that come from your cargo for sale on the market: whole saddlebags filled with floury smelling dried flowers, different kinds of pepper, somewhat oily sunflower seeds and the sweet smell of dates. Camel stops to grab a bit of desert vegetation and loses her order in the caravan, but you spur her in the stomach and direct her into the next mirage ...

I purchased this fragrance as a blind buy, based on the reviews here. ( For $15 at Winners!) I am not disappointed in the least! I had been looking for a violet based fragrance to add to my collection but without much success. Most seemed to sweet or rather dusty, some too loud. (Yep, Insolence, I'm talking about you.) This fragrance is violet with a bit of attitude, the floral and leather combo is just what I was hoping for, with just enough spice to warm it up. It's sexy and a bit sweet, very original. You won't notice it on 5 other women at the next social event you go to! I can tell that this fragrance will be one that I will use frequently, especially in the cooler weather. Thanks for steering me towards another wonderful fragrance!!