A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the solid perfume I bought at a shop called Solid Cologne UK (SCUK) when Jeff and I visited Camden town market in October (here). As I mentioned, the salesman easily talked me into buying a purse size tin container of a women’s fragrance identified as Duaa Collection #6. It is described as having the scent characteristics: warm, rich, woody.
“Opening with luminous green top notes, the heart of rich and exotic tiger orchid. Sensual base notes of sweet toffee and patchouli.”
Because I hadn’t tried it before, I was hesitant to buy more than the one tin. Who knew that I would love Scent #6?!
When I got back to the U.S., I went to the SCUK website to check out the price of another tin of #6, and I was surprised to discover that it’s priced at $32 instead of the 18 pounds I paid in person in October. On top of that price, I would have to pay for international shipping. Not gonna happen.
What I also discovered on the SCUK website was that Scent #6 was inspired by Jimmy Choo’s first fragrance launched in 2011. I headed to Macy’s to smell Jimmy Choo and to see how close it was to #6. Unfortunately, the saleswoman wasn’t too helpful. I finally asked her if she would spray my wrist rather than a piece of paper, and she at least did that. I knew there was no way I would buy Jimmy Choo from her.
I went home and checked the prices for Jimmy Choo online, and with the 30+% off discount, Fragrance.net won. I bought the EDP spray in a heavy textured glass light purple bottle that was inspired by Murano glass but sort of reminds me of the Flowerbomb packaging. I paid about $40 for 3.3 fl. oz.
Jimmy Choo is described “feminine yet empowering, with a lot of sensuality to it”. It was developed in cooperation with Inter Parfums and the famous perfumer from IFF Olivier Polge. The composition is a modern chypre, fruity, with green top notes, tiger orchid, sweet toffee caramel, and Indonesian patchouli. On Fragrantica.com, the main accords are listed as:
- sweet
- patchouli
- fruity
- woody
- warm spicy
- caramel
- earthy
- green
- floral
- aquatic.
The description of Jimmy Choo is certainly close to the more limited description of #6. I sprayed the Jimmy Choo EDP, and indeed it does smell similar to #6. Because of the green, floral, and patchouli accords, it smells like spring to me. Right now, I am truly in the mood for spring-y fragrances.
Like #6, Jimmy Choo has briefer longevity and less sillage than I would like. I will try spraying it on clothing or a scarf to see if that might help the scent last longer. Plus, I apply the solid perfume and then layer Jimmy Choo over it. That helps somewhat.
Nevertheless, I don’t regret this purchase. Though I tend toward oriental fragrances most often, chypres often have appeal to me. Plus Jimmy Choo still has warm spicy, caramel, woody, and earthy notes as well. It will become one of my springtime everyday scents.
Which scents are you wearing lately?
It would be great if you knew someone going to the UK that could buy more of the tins for you.
Actually, there is a woman in my book group who is going to London fairly soon, but Camden Town isn’t near the center as you may remember, and she told us she and her husband are only going for a long weekend, so I don’t know her well enough to ask that kind of a favor
Have you heard of Who is Elijah? I’m kind of loving a couple of their fragrances right now: Haze and Morning After.
OMG, no, I haven’t heard of WIE but I will look it up immediately, Gabrielle!! Thanks for telling me. BTW, chag Pesach sameach xo
I’m a real fan. They do a lot of woody, spicy fragrances. Also, weirdly, I normally despise rose-centric perfumes, but I love their Rebel Rose!
Do they have a discovery set? Yes, I just saw that they do. The brand seems to be from Australia. Drat. Where did you buy it? I neeeeeeeed to smell these!
They also sell smaller sizes of each fragrance as well, which is a boon to those of us on a budget! I bought the Discovery Set online.
Hmmm, I see that Anthropologie sells it. I may try to find time to go to Anthro and try it. Someone on Poshmark is selling a discovery set for much less than Anthro where it’s priced at $125.
I would get the one on Poshmark, yes, since I think it’s exactly the same as the one I got.
Chag Pesach Sameach to you too!
<3
There’s a Discovery Vial set available for pre-order for $62: https://whoiselijah.us/products/discovery-set-11-vial But if you get the chance to test at Anthro, that’s a definitely the way to go!
Today I was in Boston, but Anthropologie closed their store, boo! So instead I went to Saks for another errand, and I couldn’t help but check out the fragrances. Creed has a new scent for women that’s being launched soon. I was given a spray on a piece of cardboard, and it was soooo elegant. Not sure it’s my kind of scent but it was amazing.
I just sent you an email. Check it before you order if you decide to order.
Got it! Thanks, as always xo I saw a discovery set with 10 vials on Postmark for $25 plus shipping and Posh’s cut. But she didn’t list what the scents are, I probably should ask.
The Discovery Set, at least the one I got which was 10 vials, included every scent except Ocean Eyes and Desert Nights.
Oh, then probably I should get the one on Poshmark?
I’d love to try that new Creed scent!
You should go to a store and smell it. I don’t think it would suit me, but it is luxurious and lovely!