Dolce & Gabbana L'Imperatrice Eau de Toilette

RRP: £39/100ml

--What does the promo say?--

"L''Impératrice opens with top notes of rhubarb, red currant and juicy kiwi accord. Fresh watermelon accord in the heart of the fragrance creates a mouth-watering concoction that is then offset by the drama of pink cyclamen for an exhilarating fragrance sensation. The musky notes, sandalwood and grapefruit wood in the base notes are boisterous, brilliant and incredibly addictive."

--Packaging--

I just had a small vial sample of this, so can't comment on the real deal, but the pale pink seems quite ordinary and the outside of the spray bottle almost too minimalistic. However, as a collection the pastel colours harmonise beautifully, with each scent in the Anthology series (which comprises four fragrances for men and four for women) having a different colour, ranging from slate to green, passing through pinks, corals and yellows on the way. In a way, you arguably expect more for the money, but in another sense, if it means the company has spent money on the product rather than on its packaging, then so much the better.

--Application--
Spritz on pressure points and perhaps through hair for all-over impact.

--Appearance--

A clear liquid with no glitter or colourants; no visible residue is therefore left on skin.

--Texture and consistency--

No irritation was experienced while using this product.

--Scent--

The first thing to hit you is the fruit, but it's not overly sugary and definitely not cheap (as some reviewers have derided it for being); it's completely authentic and nothing about it makes you feel like it's been synthetically put together, which means that someone somewhere has done an excellent job. However, I'd say that all of the fruits mentioned fuse together in such a way that you can only tells that each of them is there if you really think about it; none of them stand out individually over the other, making for a truly harmonious creation. If I were to think really hard and had to choose one, I'd say that the redcurrant notes were the most obvious. The muskier and woodier notes mentioned in the promotional material are barely evident. It's therefore more on the fruity and enthusiastic side rather than being yielding, without (at the same time) being overbearing or lacking in subtlety.

--Longevity--

Definitely not an all-day fragrance; by 4pm it had worn off, so expect to have to reapply at least once or twice during the day.

--Value for money--

I reckon that Dolce and Gabbana have pitched this at a good price point, with brands such as Kenzo, Givenchy, Guerlain and Hermes also selling their 100ml eaux de toilette for this amount of money. It's a small price to pay to buy into a real designer brand and for a high-quality, delightful fragrance that's suitable for all ages of women. It's just a shame there are no companion products (such as shower foam or body lotion) to go with this - but perhaps they're working on that. Either way, I would splash out on the whole bottle in future.

Yves Rocher Pivoine

RRP: £11.50/€17 for 60ml eau de toilette; also available in 30ml (£8.60)

--What does the promo say?--
"Envelop yourself in tenderness! Surrender to the voluptuous allure of peony; a large, yet delicate flower that fascinates us with its fragile, romantic blossoms. Its fresh, delicate scent envelops you in soft, floral notes."

--Packaging--
Surprisingly reminiscent of Givenchy's Irresistible, in a sculpted, angular, tall pink bottle. It is the opposite of what one might expect on first smelling the fragrance - more of which shortly.

--Application--
Spray appropriately into hair, onto sternum, onto wrists, and behind ears. Layer with other products if desired.

--Scent--
On first application it smells 'deep' and 'old' - not as fresh and modern as the packaging leads you to expect. In all honesty, it doesn't seem to be a fragrance aimed at young people and is completely at odds with the marketing concept. It develops into something slightly fresher and more subtle, but the change is not great and I still wouldn't describe it as a young, innovative fragrance. It's not unpleasant to smell, however, and the peony comes over very well, as per the description given by Yves Rocher.

--Longevity--
Not bad: it does fade, but very slowly, and this fading is in fact becoming to the fragrance, rather than proving a negative aspect, as this allows it to become 'younger' and more girly.

--Value for money--
The larger 60ml bottle is clearly better value than its half-size opponent, and it's very affordable no matter how you look at it; however, for your money you're getting an inferior fragrance that doesn't suit the young audience at which it's aimed. I'd advise upping your budget and going for something with more wow factor, such as Cacharel's Anais Anais.

perfect partners
Pivoine Shower Gel, £3.90
Pivoine Handwash, £3.20
Pivoine Body Lotion, £6.50

Diesel Fuel for Life

RRP: from £22. Available in 30ml, 50ml and 75ml

--What does the promo say?--
"Diesel Fuel For Life Women is sexy, precious and intensely attractive, with the bold passion of blackcurrant and jasmine, colourful irreverence of mandarin and mysterious waves of patchouli."

--Packaging--
The brand and the fragrance has an excellent image, which Diesel has relied on heavily this Christmas. This, in conjunction with vintage trends, means that the future of this scent is promising, as the elasticky lace around the bottle lends the fragrance's image a simultaneously girly, punky and timeless appeal.

--Application--
As usual: spritz on acupuncture points to be encircled by the scent.

--Scent--
The clever marketing of the fragrance sets the wearer up for a positive experience. However, the reality falls flat on its face: the scent is not unpleasant, but it is forgettable, and it becomes clear quickly that style has prevailed over substance. There is a hint of sweetness and citrusy notes, but the scent is not especially individual and neither of these qualities really come through incredibly clearly. Perhaps crucially, there is little to distinguish the scent from its competitors once you get past the pretty packaging, which seems a shame.

--Longevity--
Not good: 'subtle' would be too generous.

--Value for money--
The price is certainly right: however, for it you are getting a poor-quality fragrance and will feel pretty stupid for being duped by the attractive packaging (as well as nursing the space in your wallet). Don't do it - there is plenty else out there for the discerning fragrance lover.

Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb

RRP: from £39.99
available in 30ml, 50ml and 100ml

--What does the promo say?--
"FLOWERBOMB is a floral explosion, a profusion of flowers that has the power to make everything seem more positive. Magically evocative notes will immediately awaken your deepest senses, giving you the impression of living life in your own secret garden away from reality. All our fragrances are 100% originals by their original designers. Satisfaction guranteed."

--Packaging--
A nice concept, which stands out easily in a market of generic square bottles. It's easily associated with both ideas that the title embodies, and it all makes for something very different, fresh and young, and the purple and black that are also used in the colour scheme mean that the copious amounts of pink don't have to put off less girly girls. The circular, and yet still angled and faceted, bottle, is tremendously aesthetically pleasing and wonderfully tactile in the hands.

--Application--
Using the oversized spritzer, spray onto neck, wrists, and chest area.

--Scent--
It is almost unbearably sweet when first sprayed on, with the overwhelming aroma of violets. It could easily be described as sickly or cloying (or indeed both), meaning its appeal is significantly reduced on initial inspection. However, things develop surprisingly positively: it fast becomes a unique fragrance, retaining the sweetness but acquiring extra depth. While not being very subtle, and the sweetness perhaps making the fragrance better suited for a younger audience, it is certainly among the more unique of the plethora of fragrances that I have tried this year. It is a scent that any young woman can make her own: it can be the epitome of girliness, or the elixir of seduction.

--Longevity--
Even on the wrists, this fares very positively: it is a long-lasting fragrance that you can easily expect to last over 8 hours.

--Value for money--
The other products in the range are rarer and so more eye-watering in price. However, the price of the fragrance itself is perfectly middle-of-the-road and not out of reach for any young fragrance lover who wants something a little bit different. Thumbs firmly up.

perfect partners
Flowerbomb Body Lotion, $59.14 from beautive.com
Flowerbomb Voluptuous Body Cream, $115.80 from beautive.com
Flowerbomb Sparkling Loose Body Powder, $111.25 from beautive.com
Flowerbomb Perfumed Shower Gel, $71 for 200ml

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle

RRP: from £51.99 for the eau de parfum (available in 50ml and 100ml)
Also available in eau de toilette - £25 for 100ml from www.tyrers.com

--What does the promo say?--
"A floral jasmine-rose accord, light as a petal. COCO MADEMOISELLE embodies all the modernity of the spirit of Mademoiselle CHANEL. Bold and resolute, she proved that elegance can be found in simplicity, and understated luxury. These values are shared by women in the twenty-first century, and restated by CHANEL in COCO MADEMOISELLE."

--Packaging--
Although I've only trialled this on a sample basis, I have confidence just from my sample that the real thing is nice: it just LOOKS sleek. The Chanel logo oozes elegance and frankly does all the work on its own.

--Application--
Spritz behind ears, onto wrists, and perhaps a little onto the breastbone for maximal yet subtle impact.

--Scent--
Deep and yet floral without being too 'old' or overpowering. It is charming, beguiling, romantic, and suitable for young women as well as those who are more mature. It is also a clearly high-quality scent - there are many inferior imitations on the market - and while it has been available for some time, it corresponds well to the image projected by the use of Keira Knightley in Coco Mademoiselle's latest advertising campaign (capturing the qualities of beauty, youth, timelessness, and something slightly showy and high-class).

--Longevity--
It's difficult for any scent to last well on the wrists, assuming that like any normal person you are washing your hands a few times a day. However, this lingers on other parts of the body (e.g. behind the ears) until night-time.

--Value for money--
There's no denying that the prices for this are slightly out of reach for many. However, the price of the eau de toilette and the bath soap are both encouraging and allow most people to buy into this delightful fragrance. It's also worth remembering that as well as buying into a highly luxurious and world-famous brand, you are also buying a high-quality fragrance that stays the distance (not just day to day, but also across the years). Definitely one for the Christmas list.

perfect partners
Body Cream, £64.50 from StrawberryNet
Hair Mist, £35 from StrawberryNet
Fresh Deodorant Spray, £22.50 from L'aura Perfumery
Fresh Body Satin Spray, £30 from L'aura Perfumery
Fresh Body Lotion, £41.63 from perfumechoice.com
Fresh Bath and Shower Gel, £25 from L'aura Perfumery
Bath Soap, £22 from StrawberryNet