Understanding Fragrance Reviews

[YoungerThanMyRazor]

I've started to become more interested in fragrances and have spent a great deal of time recently watching reviews on youtube and reading reviews on basenotes. One thing I've found is that many reviewers like to describe scents as "creamy." I have absolutely no idea what this means. Any help?

 

[erickson]

Smell a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice and a bowl orange sherbet then see if you can notice any difference between them.

 

[Niles]

Once you smell enough fragrances you will notice that some fragrances smell thicker and heavier than others. That is the quality often described as creamy.

 

[maxman]

Tough question. I would say creamy is something that is normally hard smelling (like lemon or orange) but instead it is softer and thus "creamy"

But that's just what I think. It's all very subjective.

 

[Renato1]

I'd have thought the creamy ones more often than not are heavy orientals with lots of vanilla or something similar thrown in, often reminding me of something like the smell of ice cream.
Regards,
Renato

 

[erickson]

Yeah, vanilla will do it. I have found certain floral notes to add creaminess also.

Here's an article about what makes a fragrance "creamy"
http://perfumeshrine.blogspot.com/2011/10/definition-creamy-milky-lactonic.html

 

[Cheeva]

I'd have thought the creamy ones more often than not are heavy orientals with lots of vanilla or something similar thrown in, often reminding me of something like the smell of ice cream.
Regards,
Renato

+1 with this statement all the way., for example: creamy notes, to my nose, would be something like Chanel Pour Monsieur, CREEAMMY !

 

[Timmy Dee]

Yup, I'm along Renato1's line of thinking here.
Benzoin, tonka, vanilla and even amber will usually give fragrance a creamy accord to my nose. Pretty much anything that gives a fragrance a bit of a rich sweetness (without becoming definitively sweet).
(Sorry if all these notes are mentioned in the link - I can't open it from the computer I'm currently using.)

 

[the_edski]

I agree, when i hear "creamy", I think rich sweetness without being overbearing,cloying or sugary.

 

[Matt555]

Yup, I'm along Renato1's line of thinking here.
Benzoin, tonka, vanilla and even amber will usually give fragrance a creamy accord to my nose. Pretty much anything that gives a fragrance a bit of a rich sweetness (without becoming definitively sweet).
(Sorry if all these notes are mentioned in the link - I can't open it from the computer I'm currently using.)

Good ones. I don't think I have smelled a creamy amber however. What fragrances are you thinking of where the amber might be causing such?

 

[YoungerThanMyRazor]

Thanks for all the great replies gentlemen!