Velvet Shadow (Into The Gourmand)

I like this! Like most other reviews mention - this is similar to Oriana and LDBS, but not the same IMO. Whereas LDBS is more syrupy and rich, the similarities to me between these two perfumes is more so in their dry downs. LDBS dries into a beautiful orange, vanilla marshmallow and this dries into a similar albeit more faint scent. Oriana is a very airy, creamy perfume with a more rounded profile. While these two are almost spot on upon first spray, Velvet Shadow has a good amount of jasmine in the middle note. I’m not sure if its because I use LDBS and Oriana very regularly and love them, or if it’s because I truly don’t like it, but this jasmine feels very misplaced to me and makes the perfume almost across as screechy to me...it’s just a lot. I’ve found that I really enjoy layering with Coco de Lait by Le Monde Gourmand and that it helps round out the profile and make it more creamy and wearable for me. Overall, this is one of my Zara fragrances where I do feel the scent projects fairly well and lasts ~4 hours on my skin. I think this is a good blind buy for jasmine and/or marshmallow lovers. If you’re buying because you love Oriana or LDBS just know this is not the same.

My skin has a tendency to devour perfumes and I find it strange that people seem to find this weak. I tried this at Zara for about two hours ago - only two spritz. It has a huge scent bubble and very much projects. In my opinion it smells very much like PDM Oriana and even though I love PDM Delina for its silage and longevity, Oriana literally only lasted two hours on me. Had a very shy silage which lasted barely an hour. I was extremely disappointed, to say the least. Therefore I must say, this Zara dupe is outstanding considering the price. It has already lasted longer than Oriana and doesn’t seem to weaken. Not yet at least. Very impressed and regret I didn’t buy a bottle. Will go back tomorrow and stack up, because this is good. Really good. Edit: Bought it. As far as longevity, this is a winner. Projects for at least 4 hours and still smell it on my skin after 8 hours - and that’s without putting on lotion beforehand. Got three compliments from strangers yesterday. Only other perfume that has done that for me, is Amouage Guidance. Well done Zara.

I liked it at first sniff. Familiar type of scent but it didn't remind me of anything immediately. Then I checked Fragrantica's comparisons to Love, Don't Be Shy and I could not unsee the similarity. I own LDBS and they're almost the same. If you don't know LDBS, and you like fluffy, sweet, cozy, enveloping, and a bit powdery, dense scents, you could blind-buy it. I like the bottle design. It's my favorite scent from this line. Overall, many scents from this line are quite good, modern and interesting. Zara did a good job again.

I don't own any of the "dupes" but I went ahead and bought the smaller bottle. I am in love. Been spraying it non stop for a day. It's a lovely experience of a fragrance and I find it sits really close to the skin. It's something for you to enjoy for yourself and less about projecting your personality onto the world. It is very powdery and girly. At times, it could almost veer into the grandma powdery scent and sometimes it gives me slight Chanel No. 5 vibes. It's a little treat that is worth the price.

I came back to say although fragrance is a bit relative anyone saying this doesn’t smell like Kilians Love Don’t Be Shy is literally just lying atp 🤣. I smelled them side by side there is literally no significant difference in these fragrance profiles. Like none. I wore each on my my skin at the same time and smelled them throughout the day. It’s the same with such subtle differences between them that no regular perfume wearer would know the difference. Stop the cap! 🤣🤣🤣🤣