In the four years I've been blogging, I've written over 400 blog posts, filmed over 100 videos for YouTube, and shared 800 some odd pictures on Instagram. And in all that time, over all that content, I don't think I've ever been this compelled to write about a fragrance. Part of it is just the difficulty of trying to describe a product that's so highly personal and that can smell differently on different people, and part of it is that I just don't often find myself incredibly impressed by fragrances.
That being said, the fact that I needed to tell you guys about this perfume should tell you something. From my first whiff I knew that I had discovered a new favorite, and the countless compliments I receive every time I wear it solidifies the fact that it's just not my nose that understands. The Kenzo World Intense Eau de Parfum is like sprayable sexy magic in a bottle. It's an absolutely gorgeous, sophisticated yet flirtatious fragrance that I never knew I needed in my life.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I was gifted this fragrance in a somewhat epic goody bag that I received at a blogger networking event back in September. When I got home from NYC that evening I promptly spilled out the contents of said bag onto my couch, and spent the next hour (when I probably should have been sleeping) continually picking my jaw up off the floor and making frequent squeals of delight. At the time I had only a vague awareness of Kenzo as a brand, and while I was certainly humbled by the fact that I was now in possession of a new luxury fragrance, it was not the item that most piqued my curiosity.
Needless to say, in the coming days I was feeling inspired, and made it a point to try and start testing out and reviewing everything I was gifted. I'm not going to lie, I totally judged this perfume by its looks first, and promptly developed a healthy amount of skepticism. Given that my usual preferred aesthetic is pink and flowery, this bottle was a far cry from that. The box suggests that it's designed to look like an eye, sort of in the vein of an Egyptian Hieroglyphic but with a much more modern feel. But just like books and covers, you can't judge a perfume by its bottle alone.
And oh, I am SO glad that I decided to put appearances aside and give it a try, because this. perfume. smells. AMAZING.
Now, just as a little side note for clarification, the Kenzo World Eau de Parfum Intense is not just an amped up version of the original Kenzo World fragrance. It's actually an all together different scent. The original Kenzo World is a more straightforward floral, while the Intense version has a gourmand twist, including notes of black plum and vanilla. And THAT, my friends, is I think what makes this particular fragrance not only unique, but also completely intoxicating. A lot of gourmand fragrances are almost sickly sweet, or offset by heavier musky or powder notes. This, on the other hand, strikes a perfect balance between being sweet and fruity, dark and sexy, and bright and floral. Perhaps it will not be everyone's cup of tea, but for me its one of those rare fragrances that checks all of the boxes.
Perhaps the only downside to this perfume is its price tag. The 1.7 oz bottle retails for $91, while the 2.5 oz breaks into the triple digit range at $105. I know, the idea of spending over $100 on a single beauty product makes me a little queasy too. At the same time, I'm also a believer that sometimes a splurge purchase is entirely justified if a product is really, truly special and is something you can enjoy everyday. For me, that's exactly what this perfume is. Not only do I absolutely love the way it smells on me, but I also know that it lasts. I don't know about you, but I thoroughly enjoy those moments where you catch a whiff of your perfume 8 hours into the day and can delight in how amazing you smell.
Long story short, if you live in close proximity to a Bloomingdales and enjoy fragrances with fruity and floral notes, it might serve you well to go scout this little turquoise bottle out and give it a whiff. You may end up finding yourself equally addicted!
Have you ever tried a Kenzo fragrance?
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