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! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Love, love, love! Such a feminine scent. Doesn’t last on my skin but it stays on clothes for a long time. In my opinion it suits for both daytime and nighttime, it used to be my go to clubbing perfume since it always got many compliments. Someone said it’s been discontinued? Not sure if that’s true but Lattafa’s Ansaam Gold smells exactly like this(a bit stronger) and performs a bit better too. Love them both and I think they’re both blind buy safe for a floral lover.

This is a spot on dupe for Oriana. This is not a dupe for love don’t be shy. They are totally different. Velvet Shadow (and oriana) gives smarties candy vibes: a little powder with a fluffy, playful, candy scent. LDBS is much thicker, stickier, deeper, less powdery, more sexual, and animalic. If you’re looking for a LDBS dupe, this ain’t it. That said, for anyone who likes lighthearted candy-like powdery scents, you’ll probably like this!

I own Love Dont Be Shy and heard this was a dupe. I bought it hoping I could use it to top up my Kilian scent when out and about. It's not a 100% dupe by any means but I do notice subtle similarities. Imagine if Love Don't Be Shy mixed with febreeze and a "fresh laundry" bath and body works candle. It may not be the dupe I was after but I actually find myself really enjoying it and wear it day to day when I want to smell clean and fresh.

What a surprising love! I would never thought that I will enjoy wearing such a sweet, fluffy, floral-marshmallow scent, and yet I find it so pleasing, so cosy, especially for the cold days spent under a blanket with a tea and a book. I have a happy memory with this scent and with Love don't be shy - something joyous happened when I wore both - and this association makes me reach out for it more.

Well as someone who just own this and isn't comparing I can say that it smells good. My aunt gave it to me and it's perfect for fall. Sweet spicy and fresh but not too much and it lasts long. cute for everyday wear and even date nights. I think it's a really balanced fragrance perfect for libra season

Oriana is not like Killian’s love don’t be shy! Both beautiful in their own right.However Velvet Shadow is a great dupe for the very expensive Oriana the only real difference is Velvet Shadow is more synthetic but has better silage. Very happy with it soft creamy love it! Zara you nailed it again.

For me, this smells very similar to Narciso Rouge. Only, less sweet and without rose. 🌹 A welcome surprise. Definitely smells like it cost much more than it did. 🤐 Good projection, demure character, not too sweet. A touch of Habanita. 🕊️🕊️🕊️

Very similar to Oriana. It is beautiful and lasts a very long time on my skin and clothes. Didn't regret buying it, and only decluttered as I bought a full bottle of Oriana.

Fell in love with this perfume! the sillage and longevity is good for its price. Doesn’t smell cheap at all, very elegant and sophisticated

I didn’t have a chance to try Oriana, but I have LDBS and see a lot of similarities while VS is more work appropriate and less animalic.

So underrated! Velvet Shadow reminds me of Oriana with less sugar and a tad bit of citrus. Really good, especially for the price.

I tried it today and its Oriana but better...also is similar to the scent of Davines OI range

As much as I really wanted to love this scent as a cheaper alternative to Oriana, I have to agree with a lot of other reviewers here—Velvet Shadow just smells noticeably cheaper. It was hard to pick up in-store, but in a side-by-side comparison between the two scents, there is a certain synthetic almost-plasticky scent in Velvet Shadow which isn't present in Oriana. Obviously, the difference in price will get you better quality, but with so many other Oriana dupes on the market, it just isn't worth it to pick Velvet Shadow in 2024. While Oriana has a sweet, fluffy, marshmallowy base with bright citruses in the opening, Velvet Shadow loses its citruses within the first 5 minutes and dries down into a very sweet orange blossom perfume. While the quality and scent of Velvet Shadow isn't bad by any means, I'm having a hard time believing this is the best deal for the money with so many middle eastern brands putting out other dupes (Ansaam Gold, Destino, and Reyna being a few). The lack of complexity in Velvet Shadow unfortunately turns this candied floral scent into something bordering on cloying while the fresh citruses in the real Oriana help brighten up a very indolic and sweet base. In my opinion, just choose a better dupe from a middle eastern house. It might cost you a couple months of maceration, but it will be worth the wait and will give you better quality for your money. The linear scent profile and lack of complexity in Velvet Shadow unfortunately turns this fragrance from a "love" to a "like" at best.

A lovely spring perfume. I often find Zara fragrances smell great initially and then the lack of sophistication of the perfume comes through on the dry down, however with this one I enjoy the smell all the way through. While this is still a cheap perfume in the way they water down the fragrance with alcohol, I allow myself to have body mist expectations for this perfumes longevity. Initially the fragrance is fresh, light and sweet, I smell the bergamot at the start, its great to spray during the day and easy to throw on, I find I am reaching for this often this spring and I get the yummy sweet marshmallow in the dry down. I can’t pick out the mandarin orange and jasmine necessarily, but I like both of those notes so I think it enhances everything overall for me. Got a 30ml and have contemplated getting the 100ml, but based off reviews think I’ll get the real love don’t be shy next time.

This smells almost exactly like Love Dont Be Shy by Killian. I first bought this fragrance for my sister who loved it, and only just got the chance to try LDBS the other day. I am shocked by how similar it is throughout. I might actually prefer the Zara one. Longevity and sillage is great for a Zara perfume. Very sweet, very fluffy and vanillic while also somewhat dark. Balanced by orange blossom, which I dont really like to feature prominently in perfumes but I dont mind it here. My sister is 18 and loves this perfume, but I can see more grown up women wearing this scent as well. Works for a wide range of ages. I would avoid wearing this in hot weather. I find it as great for date night as for an office party or work event, but definitely somewhat of a 'dressier' fragrance. Makes me feel very attractive, rich, and put together.