I first tried Ralph Lauren Romance when I bought a fragrance sampler pack from Sephora which included 10 small bottles of perfume and a gift certificate I could redeem for one of the perfumes in full size. It was a tough decision to choose just one from those 10, but in the end Romance was the winner for me.

I often find myself going for softer, girly floral fragrances and I quite like a hint of musk. Ralph Lauren Romance comes in a pale pink box with silver edging and silver writing. When I saw the packaging and advert, I thought it would be something I would like. The glass bottle is very simple, a fairly chunky clear rectangle with a silver rectangular lid. I find the simplicity of the packaging attractive. You can easily see how much perfume has been used and the bottle looks classy and feminine. In my view the only minor thing which lets down the packaging is that the silver strip with the name of the perfume around the neck of the bottle is just a sticker. I think it would look much nicer if this were metal, but this is hardly a big issue.

Ralph Lauren says the scent is evocative of falling in love. I think this is quite a good description and the name Romance really suits the perfume. I would sum it up as a simple feminine floral with a hint of wood and musk when it starts to dry down.

According to Basenotes.com the notes are as follows:

Top Notes
Sungoddess Rose, Ginger, Camomile, Lychee, Marigold, Yellow Freesia

Middle Notes
Lotus Flower, Night Blooming Dailily, White Violet, Violet Absolute

Base Notes
Patchouli, Oakmoss, Exotic Wood, Skin Musk

I can't pick all of these out individually in the fragrance. Although it sounds like a lot of different flowers, the scent is not overwhelming or too complex and messy. The rose note is definitely the clearest when you first spray, and is present even as the scent develops.

It is a lovely, classic perfume and I think it would suit any age. I am 25 and love it. I could also easily imagine my mum, age 59, wearing this. It is a subtle and clean enough scent to make it appropriate for work and daytime use, but I think it would also be lovely on a summer night.

This fragrance was first brought out in 1998 and I can understand why it has remained popular since then and has become a modern classic.

Romance has good sillage and the staying power is also impressive. It lasts pretty much all day on my skin, being recognisable for a good 8 or 9 hours. I would give a quick top up just to freshen it up if I was going out for the evening.