Gucci, Badgley Mischkha & Angel New Perfumes

Okay, you have to go here.  That’s my mom on the far right, then me (going to the left), then my sister, Shirley, and then my niece Samatha.  And then you have to watch this one, which is me, my husband and my two sons. If you Elf yourself, make sure to drop the link in comments!

I’ve had a lot of things sitting on my desk forever that I can never seem to get to.  Gucci EDP is one of my all-time favorite scents. It was the one scent that got spritzed on me by a department store perfume commando that I never regretted.  It has notes of heliotrope, orange blossom, orris, vanilla, citrus, cumin, and thyme.  It is just completely different from anything else I’ve ever smelled, and while it goes on sharpish and odd, the drydown is just spectacular. It, along with Fendi Theorema, will always be in my cupboard of classic department store/designer scents that I adore.

When Gucci came out with their new Gucci by Gucci, which seemed to be sorta the same name as My Beloved and too easily confused for the unsuspecting perfumista — notes of guava, raspberry, pear, Tahitian Tiare flower, orange blossom, spider lily, patchouli, honey and musk — I was horrified.  Was this to be Gucci EDP’s replacement?  Well, my feathers were smoothed a little by that bottle, which I think is just cute as a bug’s ear, no? So I dutifully ordered my bottle, fearing the worst, but knowing I’d get a darling bottle out of the thing, and I spritzed it on, turned purple in rage with all that fruit, scrubbed it off and quit thinking about it, determined to stock up on My Beloved because I know it’s got to be on the chopping block when they throw out a fruity floral with close to the same name.

I’ve calmed myself since then (yeah, it’s been a month or so!) and decided to try it again. Yes, it goes on with a fripperific fruity froth that about makes me gag, but luckily for all of us, that really does dry off fairly quickly and pretty completely.  Had I just given it time before, I wouldn’t have been so darn mad.  While it will never be the quirky masterpiece that is Gucci EDP, it is a very nice, completely lovely and wearable scent, balanced beautifully between the floral notes and the musk in the base, making it richer than most designer florals normally are.  Far into the drydown, it is just smooth and elegant and completely beautiful.  I don’t think it has that odd factor that will make it a classic, but I can see it becoming a big favorite for the average person who wants a good perfume that’s not the run-of-the mill fruity floral that’s in wide circulation these days.

The original Badgley Mischka I thougt was well done in the same way, so I had high expectations for the Badgley Mischka Fleurs de Nuit. It has notes of White Florals, Green Notes, Night Blooming Jasmine, Lily, White Peach, Silky Woods, Glowing Amber — what in the world is glowing amber?  oh, whatever — and they sound pretty good, but let’s see how they did.  It actually matches up as a slightly darker version of the original, it seems more sensuous, less innocent, but not skanky, which I presume was the intent, but it doesn’t go as dark as I would have liked it to. There’s a note in there, maybe one of the green notes, that isn’t a favorite of mine and was absent in Badgley Mischka. So I’ll stick with the original for my own personal wear, but I do like the new one and think fans of the first B-M should find much to recommend Fleurs de Nuit. If you didn’t like the first one, you will likely not change your mind on this one.

Out of the raft of designer scents this fall, those are the two that I think came off the best.  Which ones did you think made the cut, and which should we Auf?  Yes, yes, it’s Project Runway time again!

Can we talk about Angel briefly? I despise Angel. Always have, always will. I dropped a bottle of it in my room one time, and I seriouesly considered selling the house.  But… but… but that Le Part Des Anges extrait they did is a little, um, naughty?  Maybe I’m the only one that’s getting that deep B.O./skank note in there, but it has me almost hynotized. Part repulsed and part in love, I feel like I’m having a mad affair with that guy that was always on the dirty side that nice girls didn’t date, but you wanted to sneak out with him when your friends didn’t know.   I just put a little drop on me and sniff it off and on during the day.  Lord.

  • Chris says:

    I bought a bottle of the Gucci EDT for my wife recently and she absolutely loves it.

  • Lee says:

    Happy Birthday gorgeous. i’m putting you in my calendar so I remember in future…:”>

  • Tigs / Erin says:

    Well, I’m pathetically late here, Patty, but Happy Birthday (belated.) Were you one of those poor December babies that always got hosed on the combo birthday/Christmas presents? I hope you got something wonderful in the scented department this year!

  • Rita says:

    Oh, my stomach hurts I’ve laughed so hard! I’m gonna have to elf my family! Your family is even beautful dressed like elves and hip-hop dancing, and your mom is cracking me up with that pelvic- thrust-jumping-forward thing.

    Happy birthday, hope you are having a great day!

  • Lavanya says:

    Happy Birthday Patty!!

  • Kyra says:

    Not related to the above, but isn’t it your birthday?

  • March says:

    Dang ElfYourself won’t open in Firefox! I have to go back and look at everyone.

    I thought that Gucci bottle was gorgeous, but I got a big old wallop of patch at the opening, then the fruits. I do think it’s a nice fragrance, for sure.

    Man, I wish I got from that Angel what you all got!:)>-

  • Annette says:

    http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1227443569
    My son and I.
    What fun.

    I Love Gucci too, my friends think I’m crazy but I don’t care! Went on a cruise a few years ago bought Gucci Rush 2 met a man…….lets just say fond memories! For me it is one of those scents that stick in the back of my mind.

    Angel, not for me. A perfume commando got me with that one. Convinced me to layer it with the new lotion, Yuck, revolting.
    Maybe only an Angel can smell the goodness. /:)
    Annette

    • Patty says:

      Your son is so handsome! And you are just beautiful. I never get tired of watching that Elfing thing! 🙂

      Well, it’s not because I’m an angel, I know that. And I’m not even saying it’s good. Just revolting/fascinating. I don’t recommend it. 🙂

  • Judith says:

    Well, I haven’t tried Le Part des Anges (although from your description, I surely should),and I don’t have that much to say about the rest, so I got caught up in elfing. Yours and Kelley’s are adorable. I’m afraid my pictures and computer skills were not so great, but here I am with Mr. Lily:

    http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1222465823

  • Kelly says:

    Oh my gosh – this is SO fun! Here are (most of) my kids! LOL! http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1217409737 Now to go back and read what you said about perfume…

  • Malena says:

    patty,
    you love gucci EdP?! that´s not a favourite fo mine to put it nicely :-” i´ve a bunch of samples of gucci by gucci, but there´s something in almost every gucci scent that´s somehow to heavy for my liking. these frags rather wear me than i wear them…i love the bottles, but i…uhmm…don´t love the scents. i´m trying them from time to time, because i sometimes think one day *click* & i´ll like them, but up to now that hasn´t happened.
    i loathe angel, too, & i haven´t tried the extrait youw rote about, but i really, really like robert piguet visa (the new version) which reminds me of angel, but i love it, though. weird…but i think about ordering a bottle of the parfum. that is: i´d have ordered already but those people from le bon marché won´t answer…:-w

    • Patty says:

      Oh, yeah, I’ve heard on some people it’s a real stinker, so I think I’m soooooo lucky that it works perfectly on me. It’s been in my top 5 scents for years.

      I sniffed the new Visa briefly, and I agree, they did a nice job with it.

  • Kelley says:

    Patty you are hysterically funny (and the rest of your family as well). You all could teach dance lessons…impressive!

  • Lee says:

    You cute little elves…

    I love that first Gucci, and the latter doesn’t get anywhere near it in quality. and I didn’t spray it on my skin to experience the drydown…

    • Patty says:

      I think you’d quite like the drydown. BTW, got the goods already, did you have fun in London today?

      • Lee says:

        Didn’t go – Matt’s been poorly, so I stayed home in nurse-maid mode (that, and my suspension coils or somesuch snapped on my car so I couldn’t go anywhere other than by taxi anyway). And is 888 any good?

  • Elle says:

    Loved the elves!! 🙂 Great shots of all of you.
    You get skank from Le Part des Anges?!! What is *wrong* w/ my skin chemistry? Everyone seems to find it so interesting, but on my skin it was just a slightly – and only very slightly – more interesting version of Angel.
    I actually quite enjoy the new Gucci – pleasantly surprised. I did adore the original EDP and agree w/ you that it’s always rather scary when they put out something w/ an almost identical name to a previous release.

  • Maria says:

    What fun bunches of elves! I’d never heard of the phenomenon. I’m not exactly on the cutting edge.

    I agree with you about the beautiful Theorema. Have a great weekend!

  • rosarita says:

    Well, now I need to try Gucci edp! Haven’t ever smelled the original B-M but I love the bottle on the new one. Reading perfume blogs has made me notice perfume bottles in a whole new way, which is odd since most of my collection is decants. As for fall designer scents and cool bottles, Fendi Palazzo is a disappointment, nice but no big deal, but I could see buying a bottle in a year or two, once the online price drops. Great pics!

    • Patty says:

      yeah, Palazzo never did make the cut. I had hopes for it in the winter, but it’s got a note in there that is just awful on me, and it takes too long for it to go away. 🙂

  • Louise says:

    Patty-lovely elven family! The faculty elved our principal last year and broadcast him on district email…very cute, but the email disappeared rather quickly from all recipients’ inboxes.

    I initially adored and still like the Gucci EDP, appreciate the cumin and oddity of it. And the G by G also caught me by surprise-the drydown was just great on me, even a bit leathery. Wouldn’t buy it, though-can’t get through the first hour.

    Happy Weekend to all!

  • Joan says:

    Glowing Amber…get the geiger counter. What’s with the first listed note of My Givency Dream (being introduced in February) –CHINESE LANTERN. What exactly does Chinese Lantern smell like?? Anybody:-?

    • Patty says:

      Wow, that’s a mystery! I hereby decree that ALL goofy perfume notes must be ignored. 🙂

    • Erin / Tigs says:

      I think it might be the orange flower pod commonly referred to as “Chinese Latern” – I used to play with them as a kid, they’re the coolest flower/plant ever, but I don’t remember them being particularly smelly. They just smell sort of green.

  • perfumequeen says:

    What a co-in-ki-dink! I picked up a bottle of Gucci EDP 1 today as I was out and have been so very happy sniffing away. Sweet and skanky….love it! DO need to get around to trying Angel and the new extrait as well as the Bagdley.
    Loved the elves!

    • Patty says:

      Isn’t it an unusual beauty? I wonder why it doesn’t get more love. For a designer fragrance, it feels exactly like something very niche and obscure, just beautifully done… and cheap!!!! I think you can pick up 2.5 ounces for under $30 or maybe under $20!

  • tmp00 says:

    Good lord woman! Now you’re going to make me seek out an Angel flanker? For shame! :d