Victoria's Secret perfumes - anybody wear them?

[mrs-b]

Good morning, all!

I bought a friend of mine some Victoria's Secret lingerie for Christmas and it came with a brochure for all their perfumes. Some of them smelt not too bad - but mostly they smelt like cardboard (given the form of delivery). So I was wondering if anyone here wears VS perfumes and which ones and what they think of them.

Anybody? I *think* I liked Very Sexy, Heavenly, Tease and Bombshell Magic - but I really can't tell from a brochure.

Thank you for your help!

 

[seaurchin]

I've probably tried all of the VS fragrances from the testers in their stores. Like a lot of the perfume lines I've tried in general, I recall them all being pretty much okay but none standing out to me enough to want to buy it.

Maybe it's just me since I only really, really seem to like about one in a hundred of the perfumes I try.

I could see the VS perfumes being nice gifts because the bottles are so pretty.

Also, if you don't already know about it, I like the Fragrantica.com site. Lots and lots of discussion about perfumes there.

 

[Bonfire]

Bit of a perfume snob these days.
Years ago I was in VS and purchased a box set of four fragrances: Angel, Bombshell, Fabulous and Tease.
I ended up throwing them out. They are not long lasting when worn and the fragrances (to me) were nauseating.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

Bombshell was my go-to in my college days, haha! I think it was super popular when I was younger, everyone wore it. I’ve outgrown it now but I used to love it back in the day.

 

[mom2dolls]

I LOVE Bare and Very Sexy. I wear Bare almost daily, very sexy occasionally.

 

[Arcadian]

These days they're made by the same company that makes all the Bath and Body Works stuff. so there's cross over sometimes. The only VS frag that I really liked was Teddy. They should have kept that one around!

 

[mrs-b]

@seaurchin, @Bonfire, @AllAboardTheBlingTrain, @mom2dolls and @Arcadian -

Thank you for the responses, ladies! This would be a gift for someone who admittedly says they like "everything". So not a lot of snobbery or picky-ness going on here. I did specifically wonder about Heavenly, as my friend likes Sandalwood, and VS markets that one as having quite a lot of Sandalwood.

My go-to for someone whose perfume tastes I don't know is to give Jo Malone body cream. Those smells are delicious and tend to be less sweet, richer and more generally felicitous than perfumes. They're also a little more androgynous, which is often nice post-bath/shower when one is looking for a clean, fresh smell, rather than a heavily perfumed effect.

I might stay with that - and throw in a candle as well.

 

[monarch64]

Years ago someone gave me a set of VS fragrance or maybe I bought it myself, I don’t remember. I do remember liking Very Sexy and Heavenly enough to wear them sometimes. I also remember getting compliments on Very Sexy from other women. I think they’re a pretty safe bet. Jo Malone fragrances are more sophisticated, in my opinion.

And just for fun, here’s an excellent song:

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

@seaurchin, @Bonfire, @AllAboardTheBlingTrain, @mom2dolls and @Arcadian -

Thank you for the responses, ladies! This would be a gift for someone who admittedly says they like "everything". So not a lot of snobbery or picky-ness going on here. I did specifically wonder about Heavenly, as my friend likes Sandalwood, and VS markets that one as having quite a lot of Sandalwood.

My go-to for someone whose perfume tastes I don't know is to give Jo Malone body cream. Those smells are delicious and tend to be less sweet, richer and more generally felicitous than perfumes. They're also a little more androgynous, which is often nice post-bath/shower when one is looking for a clean, fresh smell, rather than a heavily perfumed effect.

I might stay with that - and throw in a candle as well.

Personally, I’d prefer to receive a Jo Malone cream or perfume as compared to VS. I feel like Jo Malone comes across as more grown-up compared to VS, so unless you’re getting a gift for someone in their late teens or early 20s; I would stick to Jo Malone. I love their fragrances.

 

[mrs-b]

So as it turns out, I'd already ordered the Jo Malone things and they arrived yesterday. I've always been a fan of their products and I think their candles and skin cream are the best. Their perfumes I can find a little jarring, and I don't take risks with perfume gifting; if it goes wrong, it's a *major* gift fail.

I do still want to smell the VS Heavenly perfume from a bottle - as opposed to from a brochure. It seemed the most hopeful of the bunch and I have a lifelong interest in perfume. (@seaurchin, I've been a member of the Fragrantica site for years and years and visit it regularly.) The ones I wear are Chanel - 5, 19 and Coco, Ormonde Jayne Woman (which you can buy in the perfume form at both 40% and 50% - but it has to be mixed for you in London, specifically by special order - DH gets me the 50%), Bulgari Au The Vert Extreme, Dior J'adore, Houbigant Quelques Fleurs L'Original (I'm getting a bottle for Christmas - WOOOOOT!), Penhaligons Victorian Posy and Parfum de Nicolai Haute de Provence. I'll also sometimes spritz Lancome Tresor before bed. I continue to mourn the death of the original L'Air du Temps; so many perfumes these days are remakes of originals - even No 5 isn't what it used to be since the French government allowed a railway line to be built through Chanel's rose fields and they had to move their production. I love my perfume collection and doubt I'll ever deviate from it, but I also enjoy smelling everything, and I'm always looking for the unexpected stand-out or something that might suit somebody else. My perfume tastes are pretty rarified, but I always remember that Yardley's English Lavender is one of the best smells in the world at $25 a bottle, so there are surprises to be had everywhere and at every price point. Anyway, thank you for your comments from those of you who have worn them - it's a completely unknown range of smells for me.

@monarch64 - I heard that song when it first came out and had it stuck in my head for a full MONTH. I don't even dare click on the link now!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

 

[seaurchin]

So as it turns out, I'd already ordered the Jo Malone things and they arrived yesterday. I've always been a fan of their products and I think their candles and skin cream are the best. Their perfumes I can find a little jarring, and I don't take risks with perfume gifting; if it goes wrong, it's a *major* gift fail.

I do still want to smell the VS Heavenly perfume from a bottle - as opposed to from a brochure. It seemed the most hopeful of the bunch and I have a lifelong interest in perfume. (@seaurchin, I've been a member of the Fragrantica site for years and years and visit it regularly.) The ones I wear are Chanel - 5, 19 and Coco, Ormonde Jayne Woman (which you can buy in the perfume form at both 40% and 50% - but it has to be mixed for you in London, specifically by special order - DH gets me the 50%), Bulgari Au The Vert Extreme, Dior J'adore, Houbigant Quelques Fleurs L'Original (I'm getting a bottle for Christmas - WOOOOOT!), Penhaligons Victorian Posy and Parfum de Nicolai Haute de Provence. I'll also sometimes spritz Lancome Tresor before bed. I continue to mourn the death of the original L'Air du Temps; so many perfumes these days are remakes of originals - even No 5 isn't what it used to be since the French government allowed a railway line to be built through Chanel's rose fields and they had to move their production. I love my perfume collection and doubt I'll ever deviate from it, but I also enjoy smelling everything, and I'm always looking for the unexpected stand-out or something that might suit somebody else. My perfume tastes are pretty rarified, but I always remember that Yardley's English Lavender is one of the best smells in the world at $25 a bottle, so there are surprises to be had everywhere and at every price point. Anyway, thank you for your comments from those of you who have worn them - it's a completely unknown range of smells for me.

@monarch64 - I heard that song when it first came out and had it stuck in my head for a full MONTH. I don't even dare click on the link now!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Well that makes me feel better about my choices because J'adore is one of my favorites and I have a Coco and a couple of Jo Malones too. I am no perfume connoisseur but just know what I like when I try it.

With fragrance gifts, if I don't know what someone likes, I look for the sampler packs. There's a better chance I'll at least get one of them right that way and they're so cute!

I know you already got something but I'd probably go for something like this:

ETA: Oh no. Now I want it lol.

Fragrance Discovery Set - Fine Fragrance - beauty

www.victoriassecret.com

 

[mrs-b]

Well that makes me feel better about my choices because J'adore is one of my favorites and I have a Coco and a couple of Jo Malones too. I am no perfume connoisseur but just know what I like when I try it.

With fragrance gifts, if I don't know what someone likes, I look for the sampler packs. There's a better chance I'll at least get one of them right that way and they're so cute!

I know you already got something but I'd probably go for something like this:

ETA: Oh no. Now I want it lol.

Fragrance Discovery Set - Fine Fragrance - beauty

www.victoriassecret.com

So pretty, @seaurchin! Thank you!

 

[Arcadian]

I think Jo Malone is a fine brand but they just don't last for me. Like literally gone within an hour. I know lots of people who love them though. My favorite slightly mainstream but quirky house is Diptyque.

 

[mrs-b]

I think Jo Malone is a fine brand but they just don't last for me. Like literally gone within an hour. I know lots of people who love them though. My favorite slightly mainstream but quirky house is Diptyque.

@Arcadian - have you tried to skin creams? They have real staying power.

 

[Arcadian]

@Arcadian - have you tried to skin creams? They have real staying power.

I have but its been a few years! I recall them being very nice but I don't think they're really made for the type of weather down here...lol We're going into winter (though you wouldn't know it as it was 86F yesterday ) so I will give them another go.

 

[mrs-b]

I have but its been a few years! I recall them being very nice but I don't think they're really made for the type of weather down here...lol We're going into winter (though you wouldn't know it as it was 86F yesterday ) so I will give them another go.

Oh lordy....

As for the skin creams - I put them on at night - mostly my arms and legs. Makes my bed smell lovely and they're very nice quality. Worth a try. English Pear and Freesia is my favorite, but my best girlfriend swears by Dark Amber and Ginger Lily.