Colette

This is my signature right now. The sillage? Nothing even after just a few minutes. Longevity?? Forget it. It lasts a few hours on clothes but barely an hour or two on skin. It's the best smell I've ever smelled though which is why I always reach for it. It has such a soft, unique, cozy, delicious and well-blended mix of florals, citrus and woods. I get the bergamot upon first sniff and for some reason the woods and pine come in at the top for me along with the juniper. After a minute or so the florals and vanilla take over. Out of the florals, I don't get the cyclamen. I also don't get any incense at all. Finally the dry-down is mostly musk and amber for me, with a bit of sandalwood peeking through. Despite the terrible performance, I bought the largest bottle and reapply every few hours throughout the day. It's just the most sublime indescribable scent. It smells like a fresh cashmere sweater but it doesn't smell powdery like laundry, just cozy and sweet and slightly animalic (like wool or fur). The citrus notes remind me of barbershop-type scents but the vanilla and woods keep it from veering masculine. It smells youthful and dreamy, but can be worn wherever, whenever (barring the fact that its projection is 0, longevity is 0) based on scent alone. I might just have to layer with the oil and cream but I doubt it'll improve the projection or longevity. I have two other full bottles of Simone and Stella from this house which perform much better (Stella especially lasts all day on skin for me) and so I know it's probably the nature of the notes in Colette that cause it to vanish. If anyone has any recommendations that smell like this (not GW by Byredo, which sadly suffers the same longevity issue) and last long, please pass it along!

such a lovely cozy scent. of all the tocca range, i find colette to be the least conventional and quietly independent, not unlike her author namesake (even if she *does* indeed echo gypsy water, which she does; i prefer colette). for me, it's all about the sharp lemon and juniper softened substantially by the creamy vanilla and sandalwood; i imagine the wearer sitting at a window looking onto a cold grey day, contemplating their next endeavor. the lemon and juniper were, in fact, both revelatory for me; i started wearing colette right as i discovered lady grey tea (which uses lemon rather than bergamot), both of which contributed toward a very different experience of lemon ever since (it's not sour in either of these, gimme more!). as for the juniper, i realized it was the common thread through many of my then favorites-of-the-moment: in addition to colette there was odin 01, histories de parfums 1899 hemingway, byredo 1996. juniper is an amazing note--it can take the most overtly feminine fragrance (even 1996, i'd say) and give it an herbaceous edge that turns it into something decidedly unisex. i used to bring my bottle into work where my coworker would spray it on himself, it was delightful on him, too. i do not get anything overtly floral, though it's often described as such. i have a difficult relationship to violet but get along with it very well as it appears in colette. she's gentle but all knowing.

I am obsessed with this. I DON'T agree that it disappears instantly. It stays the same for at least an hour (it has as I'm writing this). Spray it on your clothes and it'll last longer. It truly is signature scent-worthy. I wish it lasted longer but if you're sensitive to heavy perfumes, that's a plus. Intimate sillage. But I sprayed 3 sprays to the heart and I keep smelling it and it's wonderful! However, it doesn't last as long as some other perfumes. I will say that I do think its the kind of perfume your nose gets desensitized to pretty fast as well, though. Since my boyfriend claims he could still smell it after a few hours (on my clothes, 3 hours after the sprays), after I'd stopped being able to distinguish it as much. I'm so sad Tocca doesn't ship their fragrances internationally. I'm always on the lookout for another bottle... Edit: VanessaD19, unfortunately I live in a country where it's pretty much impossible to get Tocca products shipped to without using a parcel forwarding service. Thank you though! And I actually just found and bought a full 20 ml one second hand from a neighboring country. :)

This fragrance has been a bit of a journey for me. I blind-bought it a few years ago when I first fell in love with Tocca and their gorgeous bottles and (mostly) likeable scents. When this came, it felt a bit "meh". Tocca Brigitte was my absolute favourite, and everything else was just a bit disappointing. Collette caught my eye again last year when I was searching for perfumes that contain both pine and vanilla, as I imagined that combination would be a winning autumn/winter daytime fragrance. I realised I had this stowed away in my cupboard and pulled it out again to give it another whiff; not bad. My tastes have matured over the years, and I'm a bit more daring with my perfumes, yet still like to keep things simple for day time/ office wear. This one is perfect. It's delicious, soft, and intriguing. It doesn't punch you in the face, but it isn't bland or boring, either. A really lovely, cold weather perfume that's work-friendly and adds femininity to a (very) slightly outdoorsy mix. It's moved from my "like" list to "love".

This was my mainstay scent all through college to early adulthood. I still have bottles of it. It's not in my rotation as much, as I've moved on to other things, but I still love it. I used to buy the perfume oil rather than the EDP. It has a very cozy dry down for me that its rather intoxicating. It's definitely a skin scent. It's hard to really make out what it is, but my friends and family when they smell a sweater of mine or get close to me always would say "hmmm you smell really good" when I would wear this. I like how it changes. At first it's rather cologne-y to me with the citrus and spice, but the dry down is soft, warm powdery while still being fresh? I've smelled Gypsy Water and almost prefer Collette to it. It has zero sillage, but I like scents like this that linger closer to me and stay permeated on clothing. It's like a warm cashmere sweater was bottled up. Compared to other Tocca scents, this is by far my favorite. People have described it as basic (maybe it is), but I don't mind that.

Another scent from Tocca that I adore, but that fades super quickly! A totally feminine woody-pine perfume. And it’s NOT giving Pine-Sol or camping in the woods, it’s sophisticated and musky. Upon initial spray you get a sharp strong citrus, but that fades within ten minutes to a slightly spicy woodsy scent. I see why others peg this as “vintage.” But it’s also quite timeless and gorgeous, I don’t think it is dated whatsoever! Everything listed as a “base” here really shines, but I don’t get much of the florals honestly. I wish this was stronger. Lasts long enough (4-6 hours) on skin and (~8 hours) on clothes but as a close/intimate scent. Probably only noticeable if someone hugs you. I had the same sort of experience with Tocca Cleopatra... are all of the Tocca fragrances just super light? I don’t need a sillage monster, but it would be awesome if such lovely smells could be sensed without having to actually touch me in the COVID-19 era 😭

This was my signature scent from age 16 through college. Not sure why the longevity and strength are rated the way they are. Perhaps I have a sensitive nose, but this is one of my stronger perfumes and I can smell it on myself all day (it also wears eternally on clothing). This scent wears SO differently on people. For me it’s a complex and sultry scent. I love vanilla but it can be cloying, and the lemon and bergamot in this cut right through it. Citrusy and musky, a puff of sweet, and forever sultry. When I was on birth control it smelled less musky and more citrus-forward which I find really interesting! I like this day or night in the heat, and prefer it for a sexy nightly scent in autumn and winter. For me this scent gives: drinking red wine and leaning in to hear a joke in a candlelit bar or thighs sticking to the leather seats in an old caddy on a hot august night having your first kiss with a girl

The most enchanting perfume, and the first one I ever claimed as my signature. It smells like you're baking lemon bars in a little fairytale cottage in the woods (picture Snow White's cottage, or Miss Honey's), birdsong and sunlight filtering through the open windows. As other reviewers have said, this is a "long linen dress and bare feet" kind of scent. The citrus and vanilla are grounded by the woods and incense in a really magical way. It definitely gives off a bohemian/cottagecore feel. It doesn't have super powerful sillage/longevity, but I find I can notice it on myself for about 4-5 hours. Plus, this becomes absolutely DIVINE on clothing and lasts much longer that way. I've often worn this on pajamas, and the whiffs I get through the night are among the best things I've ever smelled. This fragrance is highly underrated, IMO. If any of the above appeals to you, give this one a shot!

Such a gorgeous scent, and my favorite of the line along with Florence. Reading the notes makes this perfume seem very sharp, when in fact it’s very soft and comforting. I don’t get a gin-and-tonic vibe that most Juniper based fragrances have, and the citrus doesn’t really stick around. It’s not an energetic fragrance. It’s powdery and calm, a lot like the shade under a pine tree, but without photorealistic woods. It’s also a bit... dusty but in a nostalgic way? Definitely in a good way. Longevity is not great, though much better in spray form vs dabber. This is one that should be expected as a skin scent, and probably reapplied a couple times throughout the day. In my opinion it’s unique enough that the longevity is not a dealbreaker, though if it performed for longer it would be perfect. Edit: I recently tried gypsy water and I definitely agree they’re very much alike.

I had a sample of Byredo Gypsy Water and fell in love with it but didn't want to pay the price. I saw many comments that said to try Collette which I do find similar, but a bit lacking of something that I love in Gypsy Water. I have a rollerball of Lavanila's Vanilla Grapefruit cologne. I find that if I spray Collette and follow it with a dab of the Vanilla Grapefruit, it seems almost identical to Gypsy Water, enough to satisfy me. So while I like Collette on its own, with the dab of Vanilla Grapefruit, it's smells just divine to me. A soft, comforting bedtime scent. Also, I find the projection and staying power of this combo not fantastic, but better than Gypsy Water 1/19/18 been experimenting a bit more. Use Jo Malone body cream of Wild Bluebell as a base, spray on Tocca Collette then dab on Lavanila's Grapefruit Vanilla rollerball before bed. Pure heaven

This perfume breaks my heart a little. Its one of the best things I've ever smelled. Ever. But it hardly lasts half an hour on me. If I were incredibly rich I'd buy a million bottles so I could spray it all day without a worry in the world so it lasts. It's a lemon cake dream. If you're willing to try it and layer it and make it work, do it. I'm still heavily considering getting a full bottle because it's just that good that it's worth the heartbreak. This perfume makes me think of a joyful, cozy spring with a lovely cashmere sweater (that doesn't itch, because this is a perfect world). You're at a cafe with a latte (no coffee scent here, but just cause) and you've got a slice of perfectly baked lemon cake with buttercream icing. It's incredible. So, if you want to be both amazed and disappointed, this is it. But to smell it at all might be very worth it.

I started with a Gypsy Water sample which led me to this. I love Colette so much more! It is much fresher, but the Gypsy Water quickly turns cloyingly sweet (It's starts out more as pine sap rather than pine air) while Colette disappears which is so frustrating. I would definitely pay Byredo prices for a stronger Colette. Currently, trying every trick to get it to smell stronger. I have a rollerball on the way and ordered JHAG Not a Perfume to amp it up. This would be my signature easily. The fresh pine smell is one I could go for just about every day or at least most days spring-fall. It reminds me of the pine trees where I was born. I'm marking it as a love since I wake up looking forward to dousing myself in it. I wish they offered a 5 oz bottle! But if I can't figure out how to get it to last a few more minutes, then I may downgrade.

Colette is the prettiest princess! She's yummy, pretty, and sparkly, and definitely not overly sweet. Of all the perfumes in my collection, this is the one I think of immediately when I hear the word "pretty". She's bright and powdery, sweet but still fresh and clean. Citrus sits the backseat, laying low, while sweet powdery warmth is driving. You can smell a little spice and greenery drifting in through the window. Violet is in the passenger seat, and she just uncapped a tube of lipstick. Sandalwood might have been in the car yesterday, but you can hardly smell her. Hop on in! She's more gentle and subtle, but come a little closer and you won't want to stop sniffing. Scents with citrus never last very long, but I don't even care, I'd reapply her 100 times a day if I had to. That's just how good she is.

Colette is my absolute favorite fragrance right now. It opens with delicious lemon and vanilla, and dries down to a pleasant wood and musk accord. Colette is a cozy and comforting fragrance, sweet but not too sweet, and has an air of mystery about her. She can dress up when the occasion calls for it, but she’s more comfortable at home, curled up in a big armchair by the fireplace with a good book in her lap. I go through cycles with fragrance where sometimes I want to enjoy different fragrances for different seasons and occasions. Other times, I want to find that one signature fragrance to incorporate as a part of myself. This is one of those rare ones I’ve come across that I feel comfortable wearing in any season, in any environment, for any occasion. Absolutely love it.

I own 5 of the tocca perfumes, but I've recently been able to get my nose on 9 of them at a warehouse sale and this one is by far my favorite from the line. This is a gorgeous, feminine woody scent that makes me think of cozy nights out at a classy warm restaurant on a cold winter night. It smells sophisticated but not stuffy or old fashioned. The violet and pink pepper are pretty prominent in the begging and then the dry down showcases the amber and sandlewood, while still maintaining that powderyness from the violet. It's a beautiful scent and lasts quite a long time on my skin and in my hair; I was able to smell it in my hair the next morning. If the colour mauve had a scent, I think this would be it. Just classy and beautiful without being too complicated.

I just recently discovered Colette and it has quickly became a favorite. Sweet and innocent, it reminds me very much of the character Constance Bennett plays in one of my favorite oldies, Sin Takes A Holiday. She is a bit of a church mouse and sits at her vanity in her Parisian apartment dreaming of becoming the lady of Paris, every man's dream, the beautiful seductress. She is smart and shy, a dreamer, with the heart of Shalimar, sweet and powdery thanks to the nostalgic violets, with a fresh airy approach. I really love this and it really suits me well. I can imagine sitting wearing this watching my favorite black and whites this winter. It sits close to the skin and I adore the sweet little 20ml bottle in the fairytale book presentation I got...just lovely

The prettiest scent and so wearable. Violet and sandalwood seem to be a hit for me lately with it working on my body chemistry, powdery but creamy anchored by its citrusy, bergamot base. It's not an intense experience of citrus the way others have described in the opening, it's rather a pleasant introductory note that paves the way for the violet and sandalwood, and in any case if you don't like bergamot, it fades into the background rather quickly. Longevity is poor with only a few sprays, so be prepared to overspray to get it to last longer/project more. I have no idea what Byredo GW smells like, but if it's a cheaper alternative and the lasting power is the same (with a much more appropriate name too), then why not grab Colette?

This is a really lovely scent! I would say it's flirty and a bit romantic, definitely feminine, and the woody notes are wonderful. This one transported me back to a holiday in Paris I took with my family ages ago. It's classy, sophisticated, romantic, woody. This is extremely well balanced and well blended. It has become one of my all-time favorites. Don't let the main notes fool you - while this is a beautiful woody citrus, it's not acidic or bright at all. It's soft, well rounded, absolutely heavenly. This is a darker citrus/woody scent, but definitely still leans feminine- better for fall or winter rather than for winter or spring. I can't recommend it enough.

I knew from the description that I'd love this and am pleased to report that I absolutely did. It's a relatively photorealistic fragrance that smells like both pine trees and lemon. Very innocent. This is the perfect fragrance for a dryad. Unfortunately, however, it is not strong - the opening smells like rubbing alcohol, and the balsamic base caused my silicone watch band to smell slightly vinegar-y after a few hours. Update: I still find Colette to be a bit weak, yet the lemon & juniper combo is gorgeous & makes up for it. This layers beautifully over Cristalle Eau Vert or Lattafa Victoria. Happily, Tocca is a cruelty-free brand I'm thrilled to support. 🤍🐣

This my all-time, hands-down favorite perfume ever. I will never, ever, EVER stop wearing it. You can't go wrong with this. It smells like freshly baked lemon bars to me. Fresh, soft, and so comforting, like a big hug. I've never gotten more compliments in my life on a perfume than when I wear this one (which is almost every day). Strangers come up to me and ask what I'm wearing lol. You have to reapply it once or so, but that might just be me and wanting to make sure everyone smells me because I'm obnoxious. I worked with special needs preschoolers and it was inoffensive- never had any problems with it from students, coworkers, or parents. Give it a try.