Finding a perfume that can balance sensual and feminine can sometimes be tricky. One would have to consider the fragrance itself and whether or not it is appropriate to wear for either a night on the town or a day at the office.
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Versatility is crucial when looking for a fragrance that can handle more than one occasion for the day or night.
Whether you plan on using it for personal or work-related plans, Jimmy Choo’s Illicit perfume balances your fun and professional sides all in one.
Jimmy Choo’s primary goal is to enhance that balance of bold and sexy with soft and feminine, taking the day or night by storm.
This modern perfume is a bang for your buck as the price is fairly decent and will make an exquisite addition to your collection.
In this Jimmy Choo’s Illicit perfume review, we’ll cover its scent notes, when and where the best times to use it are, and our personal impressions of the product.
Who Makes It?
Jimmy Choo is a Malaysian fashion designer who mainly specializes in creating designer shoes. The brand was established in 1996 together with the editor of accessories in British Vogue, Tamara Mellon.
They wouldn’t start creating fragrances until 2011, the first one being Jimmy Choo Original EDP with its chypre, fruity scent, creating a sensually glamorous undertone.
Since then, they have created over 37 fragrances, the top five being Jimmy Choo Eau de Parfum, Fever, Blossom, and I Want Choo.
The Jimmy Choo Illicit perfume was released in August 2015 and developed by perfumer Anne Flipo.
Anne is considered one of the master perfumers honing her knowledge of the perfume industry and her skills in creating the perfect perfume to create this specific fragrance. With this in mind, they go all out with this particular fragrance.
Scent Notes
Jimmy Choo Illicit perfume notes open with sweet, feminine notes of honey and citrus. The fragrance is followed by a flowery yet spicy, woodsy, amber scent. After the main accords fade, the scent slowly transitions into the heart notes.
The heart notes would entail an array of a flowery, rose, and Jasmine sambac approach, followed by a citrus, and orange blossom finish. Finally, the aroma settles on a base of sandalwood, a slight honey-amber fragrance, with hints of vanilla.
Generally, the sandalwood, amber, and honey overpower the base notes, so it’s somewhat harder to detect the vanilla part of the fragrance.
Who Would Like It?
Jimmy Choo’s Illicit perfume, a floral yet bold woodsy fragrance works well with young or older women.
When to Wear It?
Fortunately, Jimmy Choo’s Illicit perfume is a perfect all-occasion perfume, though it is preferred to wear during spring or summer. Illicit can also be worn either during the day or at night.
It gives a professional, serious approach perfect for any business setting. It also gives off a fun, outgoing impression, ideal for going out for yourself, whether for a date or a hangout with friends!
Where to Wear It?
Since this perfume is a perfect balance of professional yet casual, we recommend wearing it for either nightlife, a date, or a business environment.
Packaging and Presentation
The bottle, designed by French perfumer Olivier Polge, exhibits work done by a perfumer professional. The Jimmy Choo Illicit perfume set takes after the message of the word illicit, something that entices but is forbidden.
This perfume is for women who are more on the wild yet professional side, advertising specifically to those who are “tempting, seductive, risk-taking, and totally in control.”
The bottle has a beautifully elegant and urban design. It is a wonderfully intricate glass cylinder with vertical ridging that resembles an Art Deco design.
The cap is a sleek, silver shape, adding to its fancy, sophisticated look. The perfume is enclosed in a rose pink and gold printed box. The finishing touch is the light yet bold signature brand in the center.
Personal Impressions
Jimmy Choo Illicit perfume is sweet, feminine yet bold, and spontaneous.
The brand combines three of its main fragrances, amber, rose, and vanilla, while also incorporating different aromas, such as sandalwood, honey, and other flowery scents, into this perfume. Its flowery, honey vanilla and woodsy aromas are the main highlights of this mix.
We found that the perfume is powerful but not overwhelmingly potent, giving a sweet, floral scent to it.
When smelled directly from the bottle, you are hit with the strong notes of ginger and citrus blossom, but once you apply it to your skin, you can smell the other fragrances, too.
When the perfume dries off, it gives a sweet, pleasant aroma, but there are also notes of the other scents.
Performance
Although the Jimmy Choo Illicit perfume has a strong fragrance, the aroma falls short in terms of sillage. It fades away a few minutes after it is sprayed, so you might need to do a couple of spritzes to have a semblance of potency for the fragrance itself.
Even though it is fairly strong, Jimmy Choo Illicit perfume 40ml has an equal balance of light, the flowery smell from the Jimmy Choo Illicit collection.
In terms of longevity, it varies depending on how much is used. It ranges between 6.5 to 7, which is pretty decent. It can last up to five to six hours on your skin. So, even if the majority fades away, the fragrance will still linger.
Pros & Cons
There are several favoring factors which include:
- All-Occasion, versatile fragrance
- Non-overpowering aroma
- Rich base and heart undertones
- An Elegant and chic bottle design
- Comes in various sizes (40, 60, 100 ml)
However, it does have some drawbacks, which are:
- Minimal to no sillage
- Longevity is variable
Is Jimmy Choo Illicit Perfume Discontinued?
Fortunately, it is not! Jimmy Choo’s Illicit perfume is still available to purchase on their website.
Selena Marc is a fragrance enthusiast, freelance writer, and dog mom living in Houston, Texas. When she's not writing about her favorite new perfumes, you can find her enjoying yoga or a morning hike.