Vénus de l'Amour
Vicky Tiel (1997)

Floral and herbal and a little spicy, Venus opens up quite sweet with a strong vanilla peeking through from the base. So sweet that the opening notes lack separation to the point where it's difficult to determine whether it's floral or floral /fruity. There certainly is citrus deep down in there somewhere, and some spices, too. There's a bubble gum feel to its sweetness that holds it own for an impressive length of time. Unfortunately there is a synthetic twinge to that accord that weakens what might have been a genuinely fun creation. The impact of Venus is one that might have been labeled ‘loud' and ‘fun,' but I'm afraid it really turns out to be ‘gaudy' and ‘farcical.' I do not really care the top and middle notes of Venus de L'Amour, and I think its name sounds like it belongs in a 40's Crosby – Hope road movie. The dry down, on the other hand, deserves positive comment. It's long lasting vanilla, wood, musk, amber, with traces of–could it be?–heliotrope.