If I were to select the best fruity floral perfume, it would be Cacharel Amor Amor. Of course, the best may be debatable, as is the true fruity-floral character–Amor Amor veers into the oriental family with its notes of vanilla, sandalwood and amber, but it’s such a good example of fun and bubbly that I find it hard to avoid overstatement. Amor Amor is both lighthearted and sophisticated, a simple shift dress made out of shocking pink fabric.
As a fashion brand, Cacharel is often described as French Girl chic–quirky prints and designs, minus the studied elegance of the more venerable couture houses. The perfume collection was designed to match the same spirit, but Amor Amor released in 2003 is its most successful embodiment.
The best part of Amor Amor is its juicy orange top. At first glance, it seems like a typical sweet fruity introduction to the rest of the fragrance, a trope used by many contemporary perfumes, but when you revisit Amor Amor, you notice that the orange not only lasts, it has many nuances. A flash of pepper keeps things sizzling, a candied orange blossom adds sweetness. The cocktail of different citrus notes gives the fruity accord an interesting complexity, and the whole thing glows. Perfumers Dominique Ropion and Laurent Bruyère who created Amor Amor certainly knew what they were doing.
Underneath the orange, Amor Amor is all about sheer jasmine and watery white flowers. The crystalline freshness of a floral heart is unexpected after the zingy opening, and it’s another element that makes Amor Amor interesting. Now imagine the juicy orange and the crisp white petals wrapped in sheer, not overly sweet vanilla. It’s like a blanket thrown over a lamp–the sharpness is muted, and only the soft radiance remains.
If you’re used to niche perfumery with its single ingredient focus, Amor Amor will seem blurry and indistinct. There is also nary a dirty note in sight. Up close, it’s so polished that it’s hard to take apart. Instead, it’s a perfume enjoyed at a distance. Spray it on your scarf and notice how throughout the day, the scent wafts around you. Or leave the scented handkerchief in your purse to get a delicious burst of fragrance as a treat.
Although it’s a good perfume for anyone who likes the combination of fruit, flowers and a dash of vanilla, Amor Amor would also make a terrific introduction for a teen. On par with See by Chloé, it’s elegant but not fussy (and reasonably priced). If you want something in the same style but with more gravitas, then consider Guerlain L’Instant and Chanel Allure.
There are now all sorts of variations on Amor Amor: Forbidden Kiss, Absolu, Tentation, and Amor Amor in a Flash. My favorite is the perfume in a ruby red bottle, which Cacharel calls Classic. You might reasonably wonder how something under 10 years can be a classic, but things move fast in the perfume world.
Cacharel Amor Amor Eau de Toilette includes notes of pink grapefruit, mandarin, blood orange, jasmine sambac, lily-of-the-valley, white musk, sandalwood, vanilla and ambergris. Available in 30ml, 50ml and 100ml bottles.
83 Comments
Anne of Green Gables: Welcome back, Victoria! Your article reminds me of a girl in my university who used to douse herself in this perfume. She smelled very nice (only) from a distance. I think this can be a nice, fun and exuberant perfume when applied in moderation.
Other than the fact the Cacharel is one the few brands that can be found even in my small local drugstore, I love how their perfumes (Anais Anais, Noa, Loulou, Eden) are so distinctive regardless of whether I like them or not. They are very affordable but don’t smell cheap. Another advantage is that they offer 30 ml bottles! I can get a 30 ml bottle for around 20 euros here. February 10, 2014 at 8:01am
Victoria: Thank you! You know, I also smelled Amor Amor on a friend and immediately went out to buy a small bottle. On a blotter, it was pretty, but on skin, it glowed. And you’re right, how can you beat the price and 1oz sizes! 🙂 February 10, 2014 at 11:15am
Anne of Green Gables: Hi V, I have a question. It’s not related to this post but I wasn’t sure where to put my comment. I bought some daffodils last weekend and I noticed that when I come back from work in the evening, my room is filled with pee-like smell. When I smell the flowers directly, I detect green, earthy and raw smell but there seems to be something that causes rather unpleasant, pee-like smell. I wasn’t sure if I’m the only one who gets this smell so I googled and found that some people think paperwhites (not what I bought but still a narcissus) smell like cat urine. Do you happen to know which molecule is responsible for that? February 11, 2014 at 9:13am
Victoria: Paperwhites smell very indolic to me, but indole doesn’t seem to be the note you’re picking out. On the other hand, I did a quick search and discovered that cat urine contains 3-mercapto-3-methyl butan-1-ol, which is also present in some flowers and white wines. February 11, 2014 at 3:35pm
Cornelia Blimber: Fresh basil smells like tomcats urine to me. February 11, 2014 at 4:42pm
Anne of Green Gables: Thanks, Victoria. That pee-like smell definitely had a sulphuric tinge so maybe, it could be that molecule. Through your informative post on indole note, I learnt that I was wrong all this time about what it actually smells like. All along, I thought that dirty (fecal), animallic facet in Jasmine was due to indoles but how wrong was I! It was really interesting to read how you described the effect of indoles as “raw silk grating sensation” and Elisa as “the pins & needles sensation”.
I’m still not sure if I grasped what indole smells like or what kind of effect it has. I get strange vibes when I smell perfumes rich in white flowers (especially orange blossom and jasmin). They seem to evoke that narcotic, almost hypnotising feeling. The smell somehow doesn’t feel real or solid (unlike rose, for example) but it seems to have that weird “there but not there,” opaque kind of quality, like an aura of some sort. Am I going in the right direction? I’ve been wearing Fragonard Fleur d’oranger for the last two days to see how I perceive the effect of indole but I’ve been distracted by the medicinal smell which I’ve always associated with orange blossom (I’m not even sure why I make that association). February 13, 2014 at 8:12am
Victoria: Indole smells like moth balls! It really does. If you don’t have any around, I recommend getting some just to see what I mean. It might be easier than tracking down pure indole. Jasmine also contains a bunch of animalic elements, like leathery ones that smell like horse sweat. Orange blossom is easier for reading indole, perhaps. February 13, 2014 at 10:30am
Michaela: 🙂 orange blossom is, I think, my absolute nightmare. I can’t tell how many times great perfumes have been ruined by this terrible orange flower. It literaly makes/me feel I cannot breath anymore, like something heavy and slightly acudc is blocking my throat and lungs….
About the cat-pee smell, I get that a lot in Aqua Allegoria, the one with grapefruit. The middle and drydown smell a lot like cat pee and I have owned at least 6 or 7 very competent and not-nutered Tom Cats so I know business! 😀 February 13, 2014 at 1:15pm
Victoria: Yes, I also get the same thing from Pamplelune, but it must be either the skin reaction, because I have a friend who wears it, and it smells amazing on her. February 13, 2014 at 3:03pm
Michaela: 🙂 but I swear I smell it on the blotter too….. February 14, 2014 at 3:20pm
Victoria: Yes, it’s there for sure, which is what makes the fragrance distinctive, but on some people this note is less obvious. February 15, 2014 at 8:57am
Anne of Green Gables: OK, then indole must smell like naphthalene with that strange, sweet, intoxicating and somewhat sickly smell. I used to secretly enjoy the mothball smell as a child. 🙂 It’s pungent and repulsive up close but I found it strangely pleasant (but still weird) when smelled from a distance. Now with that naphthalene smell in mind, I’ll try to smell perfumes which are known to be rich in indoles and see if I can pick out similarities – Diptyque Olene, SL A La Nuit (this one’s really beautiful) and Jo Malone Orange Blossom. Do you have more suggestions for indolic perfumes? I’m sorry to harp on this but it’s totally fascinating! And thank you as always for your help. February 14, 2014 at 4:54am
Victoria: Do you have a bottle of orange blossom water on hand? If so, that’s your best bet to explore indole in their natural setting. 🙂 Just dab some on paper, allow to dry, take a deep inhale, and you’ll be in indole heaven. 🙂
I agree about moth balls smelling pleasant at distance. In India, they’re commonly used to disinfect the rooms, and in my hotel in Mumbai the first thing I’ve done was to locate all moth balls and toss them out. The smell in a hot, closed space was unbearable. But after the room aired out, left behind was an aroma very similar to jasmine. February 14, 2014 at 5:02am
Anne of Green Gables: I finally got it! Your advice to smell orange blossom water was really helpful. What I thought was ‘medicinal’ was in fact due to indoles – I think I just couldn’t find the right words to describe that weird smell and labelled it medicinal. Then I spent the whole of Saturday smelling the aforementioned perfumes as well as Carthusia Fiori di Capri. I think I need a break from indoles now! 🙂 February 17, 2014 at 4:55am
Victoria: Yay! Now yes, you can take a little break. After all, one can take only some much of that ink and moth ball odor. 🙂 February 17, 2014 at 6:00am
Nati: In Brazil theyre uber expensive! Eden or Loulou is about 350 reais per 30mL, which is like 135 us dollars! November 14, 2014 at 12:39pm
Austenfan: I will take note, and I will sniff.
I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Cacharel because of Anais Anais. I used to like Eden as well. A terrifically odd scent.
And I agree with the poster above me, they have put out good, distinctive and affordable perfumes. No mean feat these overpriced days. February 10, 2014 at 8:09am
Victoria: Eden is strange, isn’t it? And yet, it’s so compelling. I don’t have a bottle, but I keep trying it on every time I pass by a local perfume store carrying Cacharel. February 10, 2014 at 11:16am
Michaela: I love Loulou from Cacharel and I admire Eden, but not on me, I’m not that brave. Amor Amor is a perfume for people who love fruity florals, which is not my case. After sampling AA a few times I decided it is definitely not talking to me. Too much fruit, I guess. Deep in my heart I will always be a Nina Ricci girl, with a soft spot for Nina and especially Nina L’Eau. As for fruity flowers, the one I love the most is Ferragmo Signorina in eau de toilette. It’s not a genre I favour, but within the range, these 3 are the ones I like best. February 13, 2014 at 1:23pm
Victoria: I don’t think that Amor Amor is only for those who like fruity florals, because it’s not really a true fruity floral. The fruit part here is mostly orange and other sweet citrus.
Signorina and Nina Ricci are very well-crafted perfumes, too. February 13, 2014 at 3:05pm
Debbie: You’ve made me curious about Eden. It seems very green based on the notes or is it floral? February 10, 2014 at 11:44am
Austenfan: I have to go on memory here, as it has been a while. I don’t have a bottle but occasionally spritz some if I happen upon a tester.
It’s green, and probably rather abstract. Worth a sniff, and my bet is that it isn’t a crowd pleaser. February 10, 2014 at 12:05pm
Cornelia Blimber: I have Eden and use it on regular basis. It is green, but not sharp, rather dense, strong, with a lot of patchouli. Applied with a light hand, it is suave and pleasant. If you spray too much, you will get a headache. February 10, 2014 at 1:14pm
Austenfan: Which is probably why I never got a bottle myself. It is one of those scents that I love on others but on myself not so much. February 10, 2014 at 1:30pm
Victoria: I discovered it the hard way when I oversprayed by accident. It’s a sillage monster, despite the fact that initially it seems so well-behaved. February 10, 2014 at 1:30pm
maja: I had a student who would overspray Eden and then attend a class in our, back then, tiny classroom. 🙂 February 10, 2014 at 5:33pm
Victoria: That’s just criminal! 🙂 February 11, 2014 at 4:50am
Victoria: This is how I see it too. It’s floral, but also green and a little earthy, mossy, as if the flowers were pulled out of the wet soil with their roots. February 10, 2014 at 1:25pm
Anne of Green Gables: It’s a very weird perfume. Green, aquatic, floral and also fruity. It’s quite sweet too but it’s very strange kind of sweetness – not sure how to describe it. Maybe it’s partly because of the green packaging but when I smelled it for the first time, it smelled so strange that I thought the perfume could be called ‘Alien’. It can lead to polarising reactions but it’s definitely worth testing because it’s one of a kind. Personally, I find it an intriguing composition but I would never wear it myself. February 10, 2014 at 3:08pm
Karina: I vaguely recall a sales assistant spraying this on a blotter for me years ago and my surprise at its effervescent fruitiness and distinct character. I think I decided it wasn’t quite for me and probably still isn’t, however, as always, your reviews always spark interest in new and old perfumes for me Victoria so I’m sure I will give this one a try again sometime soon! Welcome back too 🙂 February 10, 2014 at 9:18am
Victoria: You’ve described it so well. I also find it fruity and effervescent but not dull or overly sweet like many other fruity florals. There is something quirky about it, and that’s the part I really enjoy. February 10, 2014 at 11:18am
Natalia: It sounds lovely. Since I’m on a limited budget, I appreciate reviews of affordable and good perfumes. February 10, 2014 at 9:35am
Victoria: I’m also looking for good cheap thrill, so I hope to add more reviews as I discover them. February 10, 2014 at 11:19am
Adriana Galani: Felt always I had been too old for this one. And somehow the vanila is too loud on me, but love it on my younger collegs and funny thing, particularly on one of my friends who is a smoker! February 10, 2014 at 9:35am
Victoria: It’s not a mild, low-key perfume for sure, so yes, that’s something to keep in mind. It has a great tenacity and diffusion. If it works for you, it can be such a fun scent. February 10, 2014 at 11:21am
Roberta: Wonderful review, Victoria! I recently went to Paris and saw Amor Amor for sale at local Sephoras and other shops for about 50 Euros. I didn’t think of trying it but when I came back home (Vancouver) I found the same bottle for sale along with the body lotion for $20 CAD at a department store. I bought it unsniffed and I LOVED it! I can’t get enough of it. You described it perfectly. It is a comfortable scent with a twist. I brought the little set with me to Rio de Janeiro (my home town) and I can wear it even at 35 degrees Celsius (its summer here). It doesn’t feel cloying or suffocating. Many friends ask me what I’m wearing and I just found out that the same small bottle here is being sold for roughly $90 dollars. Its all about supply and demand. February 10, 2014 at 9:43am
Victoria: I also receive a fair number of comments on Amor Amor, and my husband always notices it (that’s saying something, since he’s immune to many other perfumes I wear). There is something so nice about its easy-going character. On a cold grey day, it feels like a ray of sunshine. February 10, 2014 at 11:22am
Jillie: In the words of the song – “So nice to have you back where you belong”!
I have never smelt this, but now I really want to! I have fond memories of Anais Anais, and don’t know why I failed to sniff later Cacharel creations apart from Cacharel Pour Homme, which is delicious on my husband and decidely better than its price would have you believe. February 10, 2014 at 10:44am
Victoria: Jillie, thank you! 🙂 Some of the latest Cacharel launches are hit or miss for me, especially Promesse. On the other hand, Cacharel Pour Homme is excellent, and I like it too. Anais Anais is a major classic, of course, and if one enjoys creamy white florals that won’t knock anyone out, it’s a great option. February 10, 2014 at 11:24am
Sandra: I absolutely love Amor Amor. I find it to be my “pick me up” perfume, because of its zingy opening as you described. I have the Forbidden one, but I like both the classic and that one. Though sometimes I can’t smell the difference. Amor Amor and other cacheral fragrances are more popular in Europe then here in the US. You have to seek them out.
Glad you are back Victoria. Since you have been gone I have watched my first bollywood films. Ever.
Umrao Jaan & Jodhaa Akbar
Its hard to find any to watch online with english subtitles. I like Jodhaa Akbar a lot! February 10, 2014 at 11:06am
Victoria: I’m so happy that you watched those two! If you have Netflix, you can stream some films directly, and they have English subtitles. Online, yes, it can be tricky. I’m going to watch Jodhaa Akbar again soon, because it’s such a beautiful film. Now, if you can, please watch Mughal-e-Azam, which tells the story of Jodhaa and Akbar’s son Prince Salim.
Not sure why some Cacharel perfumes are so hard to find in the US. You’re right, in Europe it’s one of the most ubiquitous brands at the perfumeries. February 10, 2014 at 11:37am
Anne of Green Gables: I also watched Jodhaa Akbar thanks to the Bollywood post. I found the couple really adorable and the chemistry between the two was very good. I liked it much better than Devdas. I especially loved the song that was sung during their wedding (Khwaja Mere Khwaja). It was very moving and almost spiritual. I must say, I enjoyed the scene where Hrithik Roshan practices sword half-naked (blushing). February 10, 2014 at 3:31pm
Sandra: Ditto on the sword scene! February 10, 2014 at 4:17pm
Siya: It is actually a spiritual song. Its in the praise of Khwaza, the sufi saint of ajmer city. March 13, 2014 at 6:10am
Debbie: So glad you’ve reviewed Amor Amor. It’s been on my to-buy list but I couldn’t decide if I should buy it now or wait till it’s warmer. It seems like a summery perfume, no? February 10, 2014 at 11:42am
Victoria: To me it’s beyond seasons, and it works well in all weather. But it depends on your tastes, of course. Since there is no danger of Amor Amor being discontinued, you should certainly take your time to decide. February 10, 2014 at 1:24pm
Marc: Can you or Jillie please describe Cacharel Pour Homme? February 10, 2014 at 12:02pm
Jillie: Hi Marc! Victoria will describe it better than I can …. to me it smells most unlike other male fragrances as it has a soft carnation/nutmeg vibe. It’s almost soapy and finally mellows into a soft wood, with the spicy note still lingering. It’s the sort of scent that makes me want to kiss the wearer! February 10, 2014 at 1:22pm
Victoria: I love your description, Jillie! 🙂 February 10, 2014 at 1:27pm
Victoria: Jillie described it so well already. It’s a classical 1980s men’s cologne, but it’s really well done. February 10, 2014 at 1:29pm
koray: thank you for your good review. I don’t like fruty perfumes and ı can’t wear but it’s really succesfull. I remember lat of memorise when i try amor amor. By the way, could you reviw about maison francis kurkdjian house? I love the oud and acqua universalis forte. February 10, 2014 at 12:16pm
Victoria: I’ll gladly add MFK to the list. I very much like Amyris, which is such a charming and elegant perfume. February 10, 2014 at 1:26pm
Undina: In my pre-perfumista days I went through a couple of bottles of this perfume but I haven’t tried it in the last 4 years, I think. I wonder how much it has changed since its release. February 10, 2014 at 1:52pm
Victoria: Not dramatically! It still smells the same to me. February 10, 2014 at 2:51pm
behemot: Victoria, welcome back and thank you for your “Amor Amor” review.
I received this fragrance as a Valentine’s Day gift from my husband long time ago (in my pre-perfume crazy days) and instantly liked it.
When I started reading perfume blogs, I looked for Amor Amor review – and did not find any. I assumed it must have been terrible, since no one mentions it, and, after all, it is a fruity floral, the genre despised by most perfumista…
I smelled it a few months ago and decided it is not bad. I actually liked it.
Now, I am thinking about getting a small bottle 🙂 February 10, 2014 at 2:09pm
Victoria: It sounds like you never fell out of love with it. 🙂 The fruity florals are everywhere, but still, it is such a fun genre and there are many interesting variations. Plus, to make a truly interesting fruity floral takes more effort and thought than putting together yet another triple incense-amber extravaganza that the niche lines love so much. February 10, 2014 at 3:53pm
behemot: So true! February 10, 2014 at 11:32pm
Courant: Victoria, wasn’t it Amor Amor that Christopher Sheldrake commented favourably on in an interview with Grant Osborne from Basenotes? I enjoyed that interview. My husband has been through at least two bottles of Amor Amor Homme and likes Tentation also. I don’t remember if he got more kisses but I certainly liked it on him. February 10, 2014 at 2:10pm
Victoria: Oh, yes, thank you for mentioning that. Yes, Sheldrake mentioned Amor Amor in that interview as one of the perfumes he admired. Grant did a great job with the interview, and it was obvious that Sheldrake was interested in sharing.
I like the sandalwood-vanilla drydown of Amor Amor Homme, and I need to revisit it again. February 10, 2014 at 3:55pm
Merlin: I must try this again – though I remember having a rather averse reaction to it the first time! I was wondering though, is this your favorite fruity-floral frag overall? Do you generally prefer its light-heartedness to the gravitas (as you call it) of L’Instant and Allure? And would you rank it higher than say Badgley Mishka (not a favorite of mine) or Kiki (I have a small sample I like). Or, is this your favorite fruity floral in this price-range?
On another note: I liked Juicy Coutre’s Viva for a while, but luckily I tired with it before I actually bought a bottle – and I know their original, even among perfumistas is a popular fruity floral but I don’t like this kind of tuberose at all… February 10, 2014 at 5:22pm
Victoria: Yes, it’s at the top of my list, price notwithstanding. I can’t wear L’Instant (too dense), Allure (too heavy) or Kiki (it just turns my stomach), so it’s easy for me to pick Amor Amor out of that group. I do like Badgley Mishka, but I still prefer Amor Amor.
Juicy Couture’s bubblegum tuberose is fun, but it’s definitely on the sweet side. I have a bunch of samples, and they suffice for me. February 10, 2014 at 5:32pm
Merlin: Its a weird thing but I actually find Juicy Couture too dry (though its mainly complained that it is too sweet!) And, I think I might have found Amor Amor too sweet. I seem to have these contrary reactions:/
Would you class Evening Edged in Gold as a fruity floral. I’m not sure that it contains fruit, but the osmanthus makes it seem fruity?
(I can imagine Kiki turning ones tummy, lol. I only a have a small dab of the EDP and might not ever need more of it:) ) February 10, 2014 at 5:49pm
Victoria: I’m not that familiar with Evening Edged in Gold, but it should have more than just osmanthus to count as a fruity floral. On the other hand, these classifications are just guidelines, rather than rules set in stone.
We’re probably in minority when it comes to Kiki, because I read nothing but glowing reviews of it. But its Voile d’Extrait version is more wearable for me. February 11, 2014 at 4:53am
Michaela: I think the glowing reviews on kiki are the result of rubj and onda being tested first… I have to say, I was given a bunch of vero pofumo samples and when I finally got to kiki I felt like God was smilling upon me! The ordeal of surviving onda and rubj made kiki smell as sweet as fresh air! February 13, 2014 at 1:31pm
Victoria: I really love Rubj extrait (not the EDP, though), but Kiki in all versions is not for me. February 13, 2014 at 3:06pm
Andy: I’ve consistently seen Amor Amor in the discounters here in the U.S., but nowhere I could actually give it a try. It sounds like fun though! The Cacharel I really want to try though is Eden–it sounds fascinating! February 10, 2014 at 8:51pm
Victoria: Eden is fascinating, although it’s really challenging. I like smelling it time to time, but it’s not as easy perfume to wear. Something about the combination of green, earthy and musty patchouli gets to me. February 11, 2014 at 4:55am
annemariec: Amor Amor, it’s not for me. Can’t exactly say why except that I get a sour woody note in it that is disagreeable.
But Cacharel is a constant presence at discount pharmacies is Australia. Funny isn’t it, how patchy the distribution of this brand seems to be? Admittedly Eden is less common where I live, and Noa I see only occasionally. So I pounced on a bottle recently when I saw it going for $25. I don’t seem to get Noa’s quirky notes as much as other people, but I’m finding it very enjoyable all the same. Very relaxing.
Cacharel seems a funny brand all around really. Odd perfumes, and many, many flankers compared to pillar fragrances. I just counted 14 flankers and LEs for Amor Amor on Fragrantica, and that’s not counting the male version of AA and its flankers. And they don’t seem to have had a major new release for several years. February 11, 2014 at 4:32am
Victoria: I see what you mean. I also don’t get any coffee from Noa, and it just seems soft and cuddly to me, rather than outright quirky. And ugh, the number of flankers is insane. I stopped following them a couple of years ago. February 11, 2014 at 6:55am
Figuier: Thanks for reviewing this – you’ve mentioned it in passing a few times and I was getting quite curious 😉 It’s widely available here, but I’m always wary of spraying on skin, and my local chemists never has blotters – so I’ve only got the vaguest sense of what it smells like.
Now I really have to try it properly, although I can’t say classic fruity florals do much for me (Elie Saab being a case in – too persistently radiant & high-pitched). But J’Adore maybe counts as one? And Songes? It would be interesting to know how A.A. compares to them. February 11, 2014 at 5:20am
Victoria: Hope that you can give it a sniff and let me know what you think.
J’Adore and Songes are more in the floral oriental realm, as is Amor Amor for many perfumers. But because Amor Amor has such strong fruity notes, it’s hard to pin it down precisely. The orange part of this perfume is considered one of the best fruity accords, and it’s been copied endlessly since Amor Amor came out. February 11, 2014 at 6:58am
Gentiana: Welcome back, Victoria!
I first smelled Amor Amor in the first years of 2000 on a girl in some friendly gathering, and I was stunned – maybe some miracle happened with her body chemistry, because the smell was so good, so uplifting, witty, young and memorable. And a miracle sillage : the perfume smelled differently from different distances!
After about one-two years, at my youngest cousin’s wedding this was the fragrance of the bride. I was again amazed by the wonderful uplifting smell, the awesome sillage – it made the air to vibrate around the person was wearing, giving swirls of different notes as going closer or far from her… It really made a dialogue, a play with the world …It filled somehow the space not being offensive at all. And that really is something in the very hot ( 38 Celsius) Bucharest summer…
I tried it on my own skin and it was wonderful, although slightly different, because of my own skin chemistry. It amazed me how much the smell can change on different skins, from different distances and on different stages, from start to drydown.
I felt totally in love and put Amor Amor on my buy list. And bought it in 2008 summer.
Surprise: the smell wasn’t any more the same. (And I swear it was the same perfume, I didn’t bother for flankers)
The smell was recognizable, but not the same sparkle, not the same vibration, no more magic. It felt somehow thinner, sharper, linear, and, well, sort of chemical.
After more tries – I somehow accepted the new facets of Amor Amor, and it really is a nice, wearable and uplifting fragrance, but the original magic is no more there, maybe gone forever with the original formula… Sigh. February 12, 2014 at 3:13am
Victoria: That’s really too bad, Gentiana. I haven’t compared the original launch and the current one side by side, but my bottle from a couple of years ago doesn’t smell too different from what’s sold today. I suppose that the changes are inevitable today, given all of the regulations. On the other hand, maybe we really should think of perfume like wine, which changes year to year, because otherwise there is nothing but disappointment. Sigh… February 12, 2014 at 7:14am
Gentiana: Yes, we need to think positive, the mourning for “The Good Old Days” brings nothing but sorrow.
Maybe not only the fragrance changed (more or less, who knows) but my own skin chemistry went through dramatic changes.
And my nose, the sensitivity to different substances, the taste… the mood…
Anyway, I was happy to go trough my bottle of Amor Amor and, as I got to run out of it I treasured it more and more 🙂
No discussion, it IS a very good and joyful scent. It seems to be very chemistry- and mood-sensitive. February 15, 2014 at 12:16pm
Victoria: So true, Gentiana! Most of the perfumes are tweaked in one way or another. Your attitude is very inspiring. February 17, 2014 at 5:48am
Merlin: Ok, I’m here to eat my words – yum yum! Tried this again today and loved it. Another 360 degree change! I like it so much I now NEED a bottle, lol:) February 12, 2014 at 10:57am
Victoria: I’m sorry for adding another must have to your list, but I’m happy you loved it. There aren’t too many affordable, high-quality and quirky perfumes out there. February 12, 2014 at 11:20am
Merlin: A must-have for that price is only a positive:) February 12, 2014 at 4:39pm
Olga Talyn: I just got a small bottle of Amor Amor and was surprised at how lovely it was! I always go to your blog to see what you say about a perfume to see if it matches my impressions. Loved your description. It reminds me of Creeds Spring Flowers which I adore. Am I right in this? August 22, 2014 at 9:26pm
Victoria: Yes, there is a bit of that, especially in the fruity part. Spring Flowers is less citrusy and is sharper and brighter, but some elements are similar. August 24, 2014 at 12:33pm
angeldiva: Hello and Amour!!!
I have purchased this EDT based on the interview of Christopher Sheldrake. He said that when he smelled it on someone -he wanted to take a bite out of them. Also, he wore it himself! Considering how important this man is to the world of perfume- I was very curious about what this would smell like.
I don’t like fruity florals at all… But, this was not an expensive experiment. Tomorrow is Valentines Day, and my ( hot in a mature way plumber will be working, here) so what the hell?
This reminds me of Fancy Nights- a scrubber on me. The opening was a bit like a mall scent for teens. But, it seems to be morphing into a nice bright experience. I’m going to the market, so maybe my butcher, Antonio will benefit.
I am very glad that I did not overspray- this could have an obnoxious opening if oversprayed. It’s not the ,”Me,” that I know. But, I could certainly evolve into an improved me! I can smell the sandalwood, now…
Peace February 13, 2015 at 9:12pm
Victoria: The opening may be familiar, since that juicy orange accord was copied a lot! February 16, 2015 at 7:13am
Jacqueline Mager: I adore Cacheral perfumes particularly Lou Lou and Eden and Amor Amor. The perfume lingers on all day. I can smell it on my clothes from days ago. But where can you find it. I cannot find it in Australia or here in Thailand. I have to buy it online. Why have they made it so diffulcult to find….. August 16, 2018 at 2:46pm