Mainstream Monday 2: In Joy, a new J’Adore

In Joy
On the same Ulta visit that I mentioned last week, I also gave a little test drive to Christian Dior’s J’Adore In Joy. The original and its siblings are nice enough fragrances but have never captured my interest significantly. In Joy went up a notch in my esteem, but was not a must-buy, despite being a pleasure to wear that offered something a little different.

In Joy reminded me a wee bit of an older scent that I used to love: Reem Acra. That and this J’Adore shared a similar spirit: a kind of fruit cobbler-poached fruit accord, a little sweet, yes, but warmed with a hint of cinnamon, other spice and even something akin to suede. Although upon wrist-to-wrist comparison, the J’Adore was much softer, more powdery and peachier, whereas the Reem had more of a spicy punch right out of the gate.

Upon seeing the notes for In Joy, I realized it could be the fleur de sel paired with ylang ylang and jasmine working their magic, keeping it soft and dry and out of syrupy overload territory. Notes listed for it are: Top — fleur de sel; heart — ylang ylang, transformed in Grasse, jasmine sambac; base — juicy peach.

I think In Joy would work well in my life as a subtle scent for an occasion that calls for a faint fragrance aura, a gentle whisper of scent, in which a more potent blast of perfume might be inappropriate. And with its pretty bottle, it might make a nice gift for a young person’s birthday or graduation. Btw, please forgive me using the image of the original J’Adore; I was in a hurry and my computer was not cooperating with my efforts to get the new bottle up.

Some of the mainstream scents I’ve sniffed lately have given me hope, hope that perfume lovers can all find something, not the same-old,same-old, to enjoy at their local store without having to go to more exclusive doors and spend an arm and a leg.

What mainstream fragrances have you tried lately and liked? Or do you enjoy the flanker of an existing scent?

  • March says:

    I think I’ve mentioned this before, but J’Adore is the most common response I get when I ask women what lovely fragrance they’re wearing — okay, so in part that’s about the strength of J’Adore, but I love its sillage! It never smells as nice to me if I am wearing it. I will check this one out, thanks!

  • hczerwiec says:

    The only flanker I really love is Cristalle Eau Vert, though it’s not new — I’m pretty meh on the original, but the Vert is lovely. I love your description of In Joy and how it compares with Reem Acra — I haven’t sniffed either — would you say either of them smell like SL’s Bois et Fruits? I’m thinking of that stewed fruit accord.

  • Kathleen says:

    I have always loved the original J’Adore. It took awhile but I finished a large bottle, which is unusual for me as I have and love so many different perfumes. I was impressed with In Joy and will likely purchase a bottle soon. My favorite mainstream perfume recently is Dior Hypnotic Poison. I haven’t loved much new at Ulta/Sephora/department store recently though. Love to hear other’s suggestions.

  • DinaC says:

    The peach notes in J’Adore In Joy make it sound much more appealing to me. I would have assumed that it would be too big and overwhelming for me. I’ll have to make a point of sniffing it next visit to Ulta. I bought my mom a rollerball of RL Woman at the holidays. It’s a tuberose scent that’s not too heady or va-va-voom. Since she’s not much of a perfume wearer, I don’t know if it will ever get used, but it had a small-sized lotion with it, too.

  • Jennifer S says:

    Was given 2 samples of Mugler Aura today at Macy’s so that needs to be tested as well as the Reem Acra which I also blind bought a while ago and still need to open!

  • Kate E. says:

    This one didn’t really call to me until you compared it to Reem Acra which I love and blind bought based on Portia’s review. I’ll have to seek it out at Ulta or Sephora if I ever have free time again!