BOSS INTENSE

My husband and I don't exactly go overboard with Christmas presents for each other; there are enough family members around at Christmas to ensure everyone has lots of presents to open. We usually wait until after Christmas and then buy each other something we want, or need, in the January sales or have a theatre trip or a meal out and justify the expense as our Christmas presents to each other. But this year I knew there was a shirt hubby liked in Debenhams and when I saw it was much reduced I thought I'd buy it for him for Christmas.
When we were shopping, just before the big day, I thought it only fair to causally let drop that I'd bought a small gift for him to open on Christmas morning. His response was, "Tut! What did you do that for?" Of course I knew the reason he was displeased was because, at this time, about a week before Christmas, he was fed up with Christmas shopping and didn't want to have to go out alone and choose a gift for me. I thought I'd make it easy for him by giving some hints.

FIRST SNIFF

I led the way into Boots and started to sample the fragrances. My husband knows I like Hugo Boss as a brand for both women's and men's fragrances; actually he isn't too bad at choosing fragrances although I have trouble getting him to understand that you have to wait a little to know if you like the aroma rather than spraying, sniffing, buying! He joined me in trying some fragrances and, after smelling two or three he waved the tester card, still wet with the spray of perfume, under my nose, saying, "What do you think of this?" I took the card, sniffed although I knew I needed to wait a while to truly know if I liked this fragrance. I said "Yes, it's nice but I'll wait..." as I raised my face from the card he was gone! I finished my sentence in my head "...until it settles!"

I pretended not to see him at the till purchasing this fragrance.

The fragrance chosen was Hugo Boss Woman 'Intense.'

PACKAGING

Boss Intense looks dark. It is packaged in a pinkish red and black shaded box. The bottle is also coloured the same and is long and slim and has a black lid. I believe this bottle 'says', " I'm sophisticated!" and probably achieves this intent.

I like the look of the bottle as it's different from my other fragrances and I like this aspect as, after all, variety is the spice of life!

NOTES

(Taken from www.boots.com)

"Boss Intense is a woody floral fragrance. It opens with fresh top notes including Oxygen accord, kumquat and spices. The unique Vanilla orchid heart note is intensified by the warmth and depth of amber and musk base notes. This rich mixture is balanced by the spicy and floral top notes."

I thought when first sprayed it seemed quite strong and was a lovely smell yet the top notes soon faded leaving a slightly lighter scent. After a while it settles and the base notes can be detected, leaving a pleasant and sophisticated aroma, yet I don't consider it very strong or, indeed too heady.

LONGEVITY

I felt the top notes faded fairly quickly and to be honest, I was surprised that this perfume seems to quieten down a lot and quickly. I thought, as the name suggests, it would be intense but, in my opinion, this isn't particularly so. The fragrance does last to a degree but I find it fairly subtle and can only smell it on skin; I don't think I would detect it on someone passing by.

I like this perfume because it isn't too cloying. I thought as it was a perfume and was meant to be a seductive and sophisticated scent then it might be headache inducing. For me, fortunately this isn't the case.

After wearing 'Intense' for more than two hours I would say that I can smell the musky perfume and perhaps the woody notes; I'm not sure exactly which ingredients I can smell but will say it remains pleasant and interesting without being overpowering.

I would say that it isn't, in my opinion, one of the longer lasting fragrances.

SUITABILITY

Although I don't think choice of fragrance matters too much, mostly, to which age group wears a certain type but I would say that in the case of some of the heavier aromas then they aren't suited 'generally' as much to teenagers. But I do think the occasion to which it will be worn is more important than the wearer's age. In my opinion Boss 'Intense' is probably aimed at mid-twenties through to the more mature woman. I would wear this for an evening out rather than for day time use.

MY THOUGHTS

I don't usually pay as much as this for a fragrance. I usually purchase Eau de Toilette rather than Eau de Parfum. It's also true to say that most of my fragrances are gifts from family and friends. But I thought, as this IS a PERFUME as opposed to Eau de Toilette, then it would perhaps smell stronger and last longer; I haven't really found this to be the case.

I am pleased with this gift and think it to be one of the better fragrances for evening wear for me personally. It smacks of special evening occasion wear without being over the top. Yet I feel I have to deduct one star as I do feel for the price paid and because it is a perfume rather than Eau de Toilette it really should last longer.

I would recommend it still as it is pleasant and worth having in my perfume collection. However, I don't think it is worth the price my husband paid and would definitely suggest shopping around.

PRICE/AVAILABILITY

My bottle (vaporiser spray) was purchased from Boots and cost £41 for the 50ml size. Of course, if you have Boots advantage card points then 4,100 points is enough for you to treat yourself to this fragrance.

http://www.cheapsmells.com £22.75

http://www.theperfumeshop.com £39.99