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Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb Eau de Toilette
by elysia2003
*** PLEASE NOTE I AM REVIEWING THE EAU DE PERFUME VERSION AND NOT THE EDT AS MENTIONED IN THE LISTING ***
~~~Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum ~~~
Flowerbomb is from the perfume house of the couture fashion brand Viktor and Rolf and is described by them as being 'Full-bodied and opulent, the Eau de Parfum ... explodes in a bouquet of sensations which leave their trail, like a whirlwind that is distinctly couture'. The floral explosion I agree with, the couture I don't quite get, being an ordinary Mum and housewife who buys her clothes from Next. :) This review discusses my opinions and thoughts about this intensely floral fragrance.
I have a vast collection of perfumes, but after seeing the price of this in store it never even entered my head that I would ever be as lucky as to actually own it myself. I'm always searching for new fragrances and after I was offered a sample spray of this in House of Fraser; I knew this would be that elusive fragrance that I could only dream about. My family often buy me expensive perfumes for Christmas' and birthdays, but I think of the £30-£40 mark as expensive, yet this perfume is priced upwards of £55 for the smallest version available - the 50ml Eau de Toilette, and escalates with a larger size, and better quality. I am so lucky to be reviewing the 100 ml Eau de Parfum (wowzers), which retails at the absolutely shocking price of £90 per bottle. It's worth every penny though.
This perfume comes in a very heavy glass bottle that has the familiar shape of a hand grenade - that'll be where they got the bomb bit from then! The bit where the fuse would be (sorry I'm not into hand grenades and things) is fashioned from black plastic and features their tell-tale logo which is the melted wax splodge and V&R in the centre. A metal plate to the fore of the bottle states the perfume name and brand. The metal is rose gold coloured and this detail is followed through on the metal lid and spray nozzle. Being rose gold, it adds a touch of femininity and sophistication as yellow gold can look rather brash and tacky.
This fragrance comes in a whole range of sizes in both eau de toilette and eau de parfum formats, with gift sets containing a range of products thrown into the mix. For layering purposes a body lotion and foam bath is also available, which rather confusingly goes under the name of 'Bombilicious'. I always recommend layering if you can, as this makes the whole fragrance not only last longer, but it gives it more depth all round.
I am always aware that other people are interested in the actual scents that make up the whole fragrance, though this is of no consequence to me, if I like it, I like it. After some quick research I can confirm the following:
Top notes: orange, tangerine, and pink pepper.
Middle notes: osmanthus, jasmine, freesia and rose
Base notes: amber, cashmere wood and patchouli
As you can see this is a very citrusy floral, with warming undertones. The Versace Versus perfume I reviewed yesterday followed in the same vein, but with that, the floral was a mild hue almost, where this the florals are intense and vivid, and absolutely eager to burst into bloom.
The initial scent although quite strong, and is mouth-watering in its sweet and fruitiness. The citrusy notes stay with me for a good few minutes. It's sweet and orangey, and feels fresh and girly, but not in the way that cheap celebrity scents do; for instance Britney Spears ones are all sugary sweet. This is more refined, a grown up fragrance even from the start.
After this the fragrance evolves as it begins to settle and the more complex middle notes begin to develop. I usually find Jasmine too heady and intense, but here it's subtle and sophisticated. Although there is no mention of Violets, I think I can detect them in here. As the citrus dies down, the whole floralness comes through literally as if a floral explosion has happened. It's a beautiful scent, you can't easily define the rose or the freesia predominately but rather it's a combination of the flowers swirling and dancing a ballet with the green aspect of the osmanthus.
Finally, the scent transforms into a soft smooth scent, still with the flowers, but the warmth of the amber comes through. This adds an oriental touch. The green notes of the patchouli rounds the whole thing off nicely. Although similar, the Versace Versus perfume I reviewed earlier I would class as a simple perfume, but Flowerbomb is complex, there is a lot going on, and for me, it's a pleasure and a delight to the senses.
I love this scent and wear it often. As usual though, I tend to find I wear this on specific occasions. It would suit a special evening out or a daytime wedding, this perfume is far too special and dynamic to be wearing down Tesco's or the school run, and as such I still have half of my treasured bottle remaining, despite a years' worth of use. I do feel that this is a rather heavy floral for summer use being EDP. You might prefer to wear something a little lighter and fresher, or even the EDT version during the height of summer.
The silage from this scent is outstanding. If you weren't aware, the silage is the effect of the perfume as it wafts around the room, as opposed to the scent actually on your skin. I always get comments from other people when I wear this, both men and women, and I'm often asked what I am wearing. This effect lasts all day, and I never find I need to re-apply, in fact it smells just as delicious when I take my clothes off, as it did when I put them on. It always surprises me when I get a powdery floral waft at the end of the evening, especially as I have obviously gotten used to the scent having worn it all day. There's something really special about that. It's almost like being a kid in a sweet shop and not knowing what to choose - there is excitement and anticipation, and then finally ahhh, the bliss of getting what you want.
Would I buy this again? Most definitely. I probably would never be able to afford (or want) to spend almost £100 on a perfume again. Thank goodness I got this on promotion; I seriously doubt I'd be able to find it for £37 that I paid, again though sadly. I felt like I won the lottery that day, I can tell you. When this runs out, I'll have to look into getting the Eau de Toilette versions or a purse sized spray. Due to the longevity it does last a very long time; that's the best bit about not having to re-apply, your bottle stays fuller longer. I wholeheartedly recommend this scent to you if you are a fan of flowery, heavy, blousy perfumes, but even if you are not, I expect you will love the oriental tones that remain when the explosion has ended and the calmness returns.
A citrusy, heavily floral scent with a warming oriental after tone - An extremely long lasting scent that will remain with you all day.
Recommended? ABSOLUTELY!!! 10 stars from me, and I can only give five. :)
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