Aura by Loewe

Beautiful women’s fragrance. If you’re tired of sweet, citrusy, or unisex scents, this is a classy aroma for women, in the style of the entire Loewe collection I know.

Floral notes softened by a warm, subtle musk. It adds beauty and coquettish charm. The original was more intense and marked; this one is lighter but retains the same touch of elegance. It’s gift-worthy because most people tend to like it. The red bottle is welcoming, and the blend of flowers and musk is balanced to be ‘a little bit of everything’ without being risky. If Armani, Narciso Poudre, and Aura speak the same language (even though they’re different).

I finally understood it and wanted it. They gave it to me for Christmas, and since I know how to distinguish fragrances by season, I saved it for when the cold starts. I adored it. Fruity, refined, and delicious. It lasts forever. Excellent Loewe house.

I first met the floral version and thought this would be just as sweet, but I was wrong. On my skin, it smells great, nothing invasive like the floral. It gives me the sensation of a doll’s wrist scent; the violets are what remind me of that.

I don’t like it at all. A disappointment. It smells murky, sometimes sweet, sometimes spicy. I don’t detect leather. To me, it’s like a synthetic red berry yogurt.

How can such a beautiful perfume be so poorly made? The 2014 Aura EDP (not the red bottle one) smells like caramel stuck to the nose, a great fragrance ruined by the terrible pepper, which anesthetizes you and covers everything. It’s a disaster. It’s fine that it’s bad, but for an artwork with leather, sandalwood, and rose to end up as nothing is a shame. It’s murky, waxy, and opaque, but not dirty; it’s creamy and woody, almost sweet. If it were texture, it would be matte, without light leaks. It’s not unpleasant; it smells like familiar, comforting things. It opens with a mash of sandalwood, rose, and soft, plush leather, a divine androgynous paste with memories of a used bag and cereals. I’m not crying because I’ve already spent my tears, but because I’m flying. All this beauty goes to waste when the pepper enters: it’s not that there’s too much, it’s that there’s nothing else and it leaves your nose asleep, smelling only of alcohol. It’s the “soft” phase, but it’s anesthesia. As it dries, it regains nuances: relaxed, spicy masculine water, like a Millennium change, with a pleasant floral touch. Twin of Cartier’s Declaration of an Intense Soir and Alaia. Good longevity, poor sillage.

Strange, very strange. At first, it seems horrible but at a very high level. It’s like they’re pouring boiling water or cognac mixed with that peculiar smell our beloved grandparents emit. After enduring it for an hour, you start to feel something pleasant, but that requires waiting a long time… I probably wouldn’t buy it. My boyfriend hated it, yet he fell in love with the Aura Magnétique version… that one I definitely want to buy.

Strange, very strange. At first, it seems horrible, but at a very high level! It’s like burnt water or cognac mixed with the peculiar smell of the elderly. After an hour of enduring that smell, you start to notice something pleasant, but you have to wait a long time. I wouldn’t buy it. My boyfriend hated it, but he fell in love with the Magnetic Aura. That’s the one I want.

I expected much more from Aura Loewe; in fact, it’s the perfume I like least from the brand. Aura is a bit harsh, rough, and strong—not very feminine to me, but very distinctive with a lot of presence. Within its quirks, there’s something captivating, of course, but this scent leaves no one indifferent: you either love it or hate it. I still don’t know where I stand. Aura opens with very spicy pink pepper, red berries, and green notes; flowers appear immediately, though honestly, I only sense the rose, with narcissus overwhelming every note. Finally, leather and woods come in strong, becoming the queens. In Aura, leather, woods, spices, and flowers stand out, very in the background. The trail and longevity are weak. I think the problem is the imbalance: the intense leather, woods, and spices give it that roughness. I insist, it has a masculine side. I don’t know what will happen between Aura and me; I’ll give it another chance to see if we make a good couple.

I tried it months ago in the dead of winter and found it long-lasting, deep, and woody, with the leather highlighting the florals. I bought it blind yesterday and have worn it for two days: on my skin, it lasts only 2-3 hours. I can’t believe it. I don’t know if this edition is more diluted or if the shift to spring is affecting it. I quite like it, but it doesn’t surpass Burberry London or Dior Pure Poison. I’ll review it again to see if my impression improves.

No one knows what Aura Loewe is: a glance, a gesture, pure magnetism. I listened to the ad and felt myself going crazy; now that I have the sample, it didn’t convince me. I was left with the image from the commercial. I detect leather, sandalwood, blackcurrant, raspberry, and a touch of bergamot. It’s dry but sweet, without being cloying. I find it pleasant, but it lacks something that would make me want to wear it again, and there’s nothing I despise about it either. It doesn’t evoke emotions, good or bad. It’s not bad, just not for us. Maybe I’ll give it another chance later. Moderate trail and 6-8 hours longevity.

At first, it captivated me; its 12-hour evolution was amazing, and I thought I’d found my fragrance. Then, when I bought it in the morning and tried it again, doubts arose: I barely noticed the leather or bergamot, sandalwood took over with an oriental air, and then I smelled the jasmine, which I don’t like. I gave up and took Eclat d’Arpège by Lanvin instead. It’s rich, pleasant, and wavy, but it still doesn’t fully convince me, though I’d still like to own it because of that first impression. Maybe it’s for night and winter, ideal for women who love gold and shine. Longevity and trail: very long-lasting.

Buff, too much leather. I can’t stand that note in perfumery, not even with tobacco or incense. It seems murky and heavy, and on top of that, it has that damn pepper. Thank God I didn’t try it on my skin; I’d get dizzy.