Red Temptation Elixir Parfum by Zara

First things first, I bought the regular Red Temptation. I’m not anti-Zara or a snob, but this is something else. If you dress in Zara, no matter how well you pull it off, anyone with an eye for fashion knows it’s not designer clothing. The same goes for this Elixir: it tries to mimic that ‘high-end’ sophistication level, but it still costs €25.95. What’s the takeaway? It tries to smell expensive, but it smells synthetic and artificial in a way that turns people off. The difference from the original is that this version tries to amplify everything with components that give off a cheap vibe. If you wear it in a sophisticated way, for dinner or out at those ‘posh’ spots, you’ll smell like a ‘chonaca’ (a stereotypical flashy girl) or a 15-year-old rich kid. It’s obvious from a mile away that this is a super cheap fragrance (SHEIN vibes), and someone with class won’t wear this for the night. In short, if you like it, buy it; it smells good within the Zara universe, but it’s not elegant as others claim. It’s for grabbing a drink with friends in the afternoon, not for dinner with your partner.

I don’t get the hype that the Zara Red Temptations are amazing dupes of my beloved Baccarat Rouge 540. My desire to get Baccarat at a bargain price made me believe everything said on social media, and the truth is, it was a disappointment. With this Elixir version, it’s worse than with the rest of the range, even though I’ve bought all of them and this is the one that reminds me the most, but it doesn’t resemble it. It has a super alcoholic opening, takes time to settle, and after a while, I find out why they say it resembles BC540: they are just a few chords. As I said, it might remind you of it, but don’t buy this if you expect it to smell like the wonder that is Baccarat. Forget about it entirely.

The Elixir is rounder, very well blended, and it doesn’t give me the headache the original did. I love it, I can’t wait for the cold weather to wear it on a special night. It smells incredibly elegant and lasts on the skin forever. It’s warm, mysterious, and attractive. It has more praline sweetness than the original, but it’s not a perfume you’d call ‘sweet’ or cloying; on the contrary, it’s woody. It’s one of those perfumes that leaves a mark, with a lot of personality, for a confident woman, a boss. It’s a beast of a perfume.

I tried to buy the BR540, but it didn’t last, which is why I decided not to spend that much. That said, I’ve had the original Red Temptation for a long time, and miraculously, it lasts forever and I love it. I bought this version blind, thinking it would last longer, and although it’s barely different and resembles the BR extract more, it lasts less than the EDP version. Still, I think it’s a very good and affordable perfume. I’m going against the grain, I know, but on my skin, it works this way.

Excellent quality-to-price ratio. It easily lasts more than 12 hours, and two sprays are enough. It’s a darker and more mysterious scent than the Baccarat Rouge 540, and certainly much more potent. I’ve been wearing it for a month, and there’s polarization in the opinions. Some love it, others hate it. I personally believe it has a lot of class, although it’s not a standard perfume. I recommend trying it before buying.

Just to get it out of the way, I like Zara perfumes, but this one smells weird to me. It’s like a mix of a rich village church sacristy, something that’s been burnt but isn’t wood, and some kind of hydrogen peroxide… It lasts forever. I see it lists cilantro and wonder if that has anything to do with the reaction it causes in some people.

Amazing perfume!!! You can clearly tell it’s the Elixir version due to its concentration and longevity, and yes, it’s practically identical to the traditional Red Temptation, but with that wonderful praline. If you like the Red Temptation, it’s a safe buy.

Stronger and longer-lasting than the first Red Temptation. It resembles the BR540 extrait and Mancera’s Instant Crush. It lasts all day, ideal for cold weather. It shines the most in winter.

Definitely worth it, it far surpasses the original Red Temptation.