DAZZLING DARLING is the fourth edition to the Coty/Kylie Minogue Darling range of fragrances [it follows Darling, Sweet Darling and Sexy Darling] and is her tenth fragrance overall.

I was never a huge fan of the Coty/Kylie Minogue fragrance range, but various reviewers referred to DAZZLING DARLING as being the female version of Kylie's Inverse cologne for men [which I really liked], so I was interested in trying it. Plus several of my favourite perfumes contain either acai berry or violet and I find the other listed notes enjoyable too, so I was confident enough to buy a bottle untested cheaply online [the four local branches of Boots to me don't stock it].


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Smells like...
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On first application the fragrance is all about the pepper, which lightly heats things up and gives the perfume a sharp, spicy bite [if this effect didn't die down almost immediately I'd be following the review opening with loads of gushing praise]. There's also a light, sweet jammy note that I'm guessing is the acai berry, but it doesn't smell like acai at all to me and it doesn't last long enough to place.

We quickly move on to the floral notes; they are at the usual Coty/Kylie Minogue standard of watery and undeveloped. I can pick up on a hint of rose, whilst everything else is lost in a undefinable mush. I like rose, but as that's the only note to stand out it falls on the dull side.

The base is the biggest letdown for me as it's once again just the standard Coty/Kylie Minogue sandalwood and a breeze of musk mix. They've flogged the whole musk/sandalwood base to death, reanimated it and then beat it down all over again. Surely it's tie to branch out a bit?


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It's in the details
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Red pepper, acai berry, violet, rose, passion flower, orris root, sandalwood, cashmere and musk.


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Presentation counts
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I like the old time glamour of the bottle (It's shaped according to Kylie's smile) that all of the Darling fragrances share and this edition has a silver lid rather then the black of the other releases, which is more pleasing to the eye. The lilac juice and pearlescent glass bottle reminds me of the Sweet Darling edition.


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When, where and for how long?
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We all know what's coming next; this is a Kylie/Coty collaboration, so it's no surprise that the staying power is poor - but this is the worst one yet by far and wears as through it were a body spray. Honestly, the fragrance burns down within an hour [and don't think that I'm exaggerating]. My bottle is only a few weeks old, but is over half empty as you have to more or less bathe in it to smell anything.

I think that this is best suited to use for day wear, as it's so mild. On paper it sounds like a evening fragrance, but I want something long lasting and a bit stronger then daytime perfumes for night wear and this doesn't come close to delivering.

As this isn't overly spicy or fruity and the floral notes are mild, there isn't anything in DAZZLING DARLING to point to any particular season to wear this - although the mildness suggests spring/summer, so I don't know why it was released just before autumn.


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Worth a spritz?
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It's only a short review as there's not much of use to say for DAZZLING DARLING - it's all over so quickly and I feel as though I'm just repeating myself when it comes to the Coty/Kylie Minogue range. Kylie's people say that this took over a year to develop, but I'm having trouble believing that, since all of her fragrance releases all seem to follow the same old blueprint: a mix of fruit, underdeveloped florals and a musk infused base and are designed to be generically pleasant, instead of anyone attempting to be different.

I think that it smells similar to Pop Pink Sparkle, but Pop Pink Sparkle is better overall - and I didn't love that release either.

I'll continue to use this bottle happily enough as it's only small and easy to cart around for touch ups, but DAZZLING DARLING is not something I'd recommend, as it is just like every other generic fragrance out there and has appalling staying power, so is not worth the RRP - I got my bottle for half price online and I still feel that I paid too much.


As DAZZLING DARLING is very mild, there isn't anything disagreeable about it and it is wearable for women of any age, it makes a safe gift choice. However the only way I'd recommend this as a gift is if you are able to find the gift set, so the perfume can be layered over the fragranced body lotion. Plus, the 30ml bottle is cheaper in the set.


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How much?
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30ml: £21
50ml: £28

Gift set [30ml bottle and 200ml tube of body lotion]: £19.95


As mentioned above, none of my local stores [including Boots, Superdrugs and Debenhams] sold it, but when I went to Manchester I did see it in the large Boots store.