Cacharel is a fashion and beauty brand which was established in the 1960s by Jean Cacharel. The fragrance side of the business includes scents such as Lou Lou and Amor Amor.

~Noa~

Noa is one of the fragrances available in the Cacharel range. There is the original Noa (which I will be reviewing) and also a few other Noa variations. The original Noa is available in an Eau de toilette. Matching products are available but a bit harder to find such as a shower gel, body lotion, deodorant and bath petals.

The EDT is described as being "modern yet timeless" and also "clean, classic and utterly romantic".

~Design~

Noa is presented in a small, rounded bottle. The bottom of the bottle is clear glass with a pearlescent, plastic neck guard sitting on top. A small, clear push down button is located on the top and acts as a spray. Inside the bottle, the clear liquid is joined by a pearl like thing which shrinks through usage.

~Scent~

Noa EDT has been created using 3 sets of fragrance notes which develop in stages.

*Top notes offer the initial burst of scent and mainly short lived. We are offered a blend of peony, freesia, peach and plum.

*Heart notes combine together to create the main body of the scent often lasting a few hours. Noa comprises of lily, green grass, ylang ylang and jasmine.

*Base notes round off the scent. The final trace of Noa on the skin should offer tonka bean, vanilla, sandalwood and corriander.

~Price~

Noa is a widely available fragrance in 30ml, 50ml and 100ml sized bottles. Stockists are as follows :

*www.amazon.co.uk - £18.59 - £24.95
*www.escentual.com - £13.23 - £49.95
*Boots - £13.80 - £31.33

~My Thoughts~

I love perfumes and own many which have either been bought for me, purchased by myself or off loaded to me from family and friends. I like the Cacharel perfumes so was pleased when my wee granny offered me a barely used bottle of Noa a few months ago. This is one of my Mums favourite perfumes and she purchased my Gran a bottle at the duty free last year. My Gran doesn't go out much so has little time or inclination to wear perfume and decided she would rather one of us grandkids had the bottle and she would use up other perfumes she had.

I do like the bottle. It is simple yet strikingly feminine. My bottle is a 30ml size so easy to cart about in my hand bag if needed. I don't use this fragrance regularly to be honest as I am a fan of vibrant fragrances but when I wish to wear a more classy, understated fragrance, this one is considered above many. The push down dispenser is easy to use and releases a quick burst of liquid onto my neck and
wrist. It dries quickly and I can begin to appreciate the Noa scent.

~Sophisticated Yet Subtle~

If you want a stand out fragrance Noa EDT is not for you. The initial spray produces quite a confusing, heady scent and at first I was unsure if it was me as it came across a little too mature for my 23yrs. Thankfully it settles quickly allowing the top notes to appear in a different light. Pleasantly light, the top notes offer a natural, fresh scent. I would say the freesia and peony are the most prominent giving off a floral burst of scent which is just right. The peach and plum mingle gently in the background, seeping through and offering a faint sweet aroma which is tinged the sourness from the plum. It is an interesting combination but it comes together well and is noticeable for a good 45mins or so.

There is something about the heart of Noa that keeps the scent classic yet with a modern twist. The blend of ylang ylang and jasmine offer a sensual floral kick to the heart and come through strongest to my nose. They could have easily taken over but I feel the modern twist is offered by the lily and the green grass notes. They lift up the scent and infuse it with an airy, fresh feel and to me, avoid it being too heavy or cloying. Being an EDT, I would expect the heart to last a few hours but I would say Noa surged through for 4-5hours gradually growing subtler as time wears on.

The base combination in Noa isn't the strongest and lets it down in my opinion. It has the potential to be an interesting scent thanks to corriander being added but it is lacking in strength. It starts off noticeable but gradually reduces until I can only detect it if I sniff my skin really closely. What I can detect though is appealing. The usual suspects of sandalwood and vanilla mix together to create a warm, comforting sweetness which is very natural. The corriander doesn't shine through much but there is a tinge of earth spiciness present which could have been more apparent. The base doesn't last long bringing the scent to a close 6hours after initial application.

~Suitability~

Noa EDT wore fine on me but isn't my favourite due to its subtle nature. It is light enough for day time, meetings or work but for eveningwear it is a no no. I would say this would suit any age though perhaps ladies 40+ would appreciate its sophisticated aroma a bit more. It smells gorgeous on my Mum who is nearly 60 and Granny wears it well in her 90s so it really is versatile.

~Final Thoughts~

Noa EDT is a very affordable, available and pleasant fragrance. It lasts fairly well though doesn't deliver anything outstanding for me personally. I will use this bottle up I have and whilst I can recommend it you, I won't be purchasing a new bottle for my own use. It would make a lovely gift though.

Thanks for reading :)