January 31, 2012

Kate Walsh Billionaire Boyfriend Eau de Parfum Review

Kate Walsh created an absolute masterpiece with her Boyfriend fragrance but I think some elements were against her when she created the fragrance though.

1. She’s a celebrity.

Let’s face we all have those moments where we groan and think, “Oh not another celebrity fragrance!” I have them and I’m pretty sure you’ve had them too!

2. It was her very first fragrance launch.

Not only was she a celeb but this was a brand new venture for her. She didn’t have a mini Paris perfume empire to build on and she was just starting out so it made me as a buyer even more skeptical.

But she made some super smart choices with not only the marketing (Awesome was cast as boyfriend I mean seriously talk about WINNING!) but also the overall unique idea of the fragrance.

Needless to say, I tried it and fell head over heals in love.

Flash forward to Spring 2012 and Kate has a brand new fragrance on the run, Billionaire Boyfriend. Let’s face it, who doesn’t want to have a billionaire boyfriend?

Jump!

He’s a billionaire and doesn’t come cheap ladies. 0.5oz of the scent is $45 and 1.7 oz is $75 so you are spending a little penny to get your hands on this one (I popped a lipstick next to the 05 oz I purchased so you can get an idea for the size). I don’t mind the splurge as the scent has an excellent throw at a single spritz and an all day linger, a little goes a very, very long way. Obviously it contains a good deal of perfume oil to give it such an superb strength so paying a little extra isn’t a chore here in my opinion when you have such a lasting scent on your hands.

Truth? I hated it first spritz. But…I also hated Boyfriend originally so this didn’t surprise me in the least. The thing about Billionaire is it’s a good deal stronger than Boyfriend and a hell of alot more masculine. This isn’t soft, cute, rainbows and puppies…this is a hardcore evening fragrance that’s uber glamorous, very sexy, and has plenty of mysterious but it is essentially a very manly scent but hey, that’s the idea of the scent, to wrap you in the warm hug of the man you love.

The bottle has an antique-like silver overlay. It’s almost a lame if you will and a surrounding faux diamond collar around the bottle’s neck. I like the bottle alot but it seems to get sticky somehow if I handle it too much.

As I mentioned above I disliked this on first spritz. It’s very strong, has a finely tuned oriental base that makes my nose curl up, and isn’t really my cuppa tea. This, of course, was my initial reaction. I was actually, literally scared to spray it on myself this morning as I was wearing a brand new coat and didn’t want the scent to linger on the material. But the scent has a comforting warm dry down that can’t be beat.

Notes include Bergamot, Tangerine, Green Lush Leaf, Black Jasmine, Black Velvet Orchid, Gardenia, Patchouli Flower, Amber, Cistus, Vetiver, Sandalwood. Don’t be alarmed, Patchouli plays very nicely here, no stinkie hippie vibe with this fragrance. My nose fails at picking the exact notes apart but for the most part I feel like the scent heads in the direction of a unisex fragrance. I think a man can use this just as easily as a woman can. It’s rich and deep and super sexy. The bergamot plays an essential role here by warming the fragrance up and making it feel like a hard hug from your boyfriend or husband while floral notes of black jasmine, orchid, and gardenia play naughty with patchouli and amber notes.

The scent dries down to an intoxicating, decadent blend that’s has the knack for swirling around you as you move. The best part about the fragrance? It isn’t a rehash. This is a brand new scent that doesn’t share the notes that the original did. I dislike purchasing a newly released fragrance from a brand and finding out its far to similar to the original, what’s the point? Billionaire does not fall into this trap.

Billionaire Boyfriend didn’t recapture the magic of Boyfriend for me and mind you it still remains my favorite of the two fragrances. But it is something to celebrate particularly if you love fragrances with masculine edges that make you feel sexy, empowered, and beautiful.

Yay Kate, just yay. Girl, you know how to do these things right.

Do take a sniff your next stop at Sephora. This one is interesting but don’t write it off, allow it to dry down and mellow out on your skin, it just might surprise and capture your heart.

Smelled it?

Do share!

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  • jody

    I was kind of nervous to read your thoughts on this. I ordered the larger bottle this morning from hsn using that $20 coupon again. rationalization of purchase with coupons.. ahhhh.

    So now I have more original Boyfriend and this on my way.

    Feb 3 she is going to be on several different times according to the hsn program guide.

    • the Muse

      jody hsn has a great return policy chica even if you hate it you can ship it back. I love BF ;-D that’s def my fav but Billionaire is growing on me, it’s just as unique and special. I do recommend for evening wear through, little strong for day wear possibly ;D

      keep me posted?

      I wanna know what you think when it arrives!

    • Angel

      Ooohhhh, what is this coupon? I need me some Billionaire Boyfriend. Really like the original and just smelled a sample in a magazine. I like it a lot!

      • jody

        Angel, it was from retailmenot website. It expired midnight last night. I’m sorry! I just looked to see if another was posted but I don’t see another like that. There are free shipping coupons for new customers and some others at retailmenot. Just type in “hsn”. (Muse, if this is not ok to post that here, I understand if you don’t publish this comment)

        • Angel

          Thank you Jody! No problem, I’ll keep looking 🙂 Hope you like your new boyfriend 😉

  • Tammie

    Thanks for the review, I’m going to stick with the original I think :). This one sounds great too, but since it’s more expensive and smells stronger I’m definitely sticking with the original, at least until Billionaire comes to Sephora and I sniff it.

  • winni

    I Recently got a sample of Boyfriend. I was wary of a celebrity fragrance, but I tried it and I liked it! It reminded me of Womanity, are you familiar with that fragrance? Awesomeness. Can’t wait to try Billionaire! Thx for the review.

    • the Muse

      Mugler winni? A bit yes but not quite…! womanity has more of a citrus note or maybe that’s my nose?

  • Joanna

    I have the original and I love it….I may give billionaire a go. Thanks for the review

  • Tammie

    BTW Sephora has Billionaire Boyfriend now, I sniffed it last night…it’s definitely not my style…it’s missing the mellowness of the original that made it so great to me. BUT I did walk out of Sephora with a small bottle of the original :). It’s pretty much my first fragrance purchase.

    • the Muse

      tammie let it dry down. I wrote it off as too much but it dries down really nicely ;D!

      • Tammie

        The problem is that it has that “sharp” smell that makes me sneeze, not that it’s stinky though. Anyway I’ll spray it on my body next time I go to Sephora, last time I just put it on one of those strips they have there.

        • the Muse

          aw! hehe I always sneeze first spritz, no matter what the fragrance ;-D! try it on your arm and let it mellow out, you might be surprised, I hated it on first spritz but loved the dry down!

  • kiwikiwidragon

    I am going to get the roller ball first and see how that suites me, if I like it but its too masculine, maybe DH will like it, I so want him to have a great cologne and most men’s fragrances aren’t what I want him to smell like.

    • jody

      good idea. My husband won’t wear cologne because he’s too sensitive to it. It is hard to find one that doesn’t make his head hurt.

      It could be because I gave him too much Stetson in high school(rofl. Can’t believe it now, shudder). Or too much Obsession in college. Now he won’t wear anything I give him. 😮

    • the Muse

      LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEE! I wanna see the James Bond like video/commercial she was discussing in her interview!

  • jody

    Of course. Today on HSN is a really good price on the Billionaire Today’s Special. I HAVE to get away from HSN! I ordered Benefits new foundation and the Boyfriend dry oil! Calgon, take me away!

    • Angel

      NO DOUBT! I haven’t ordered from them in over 2 years, and in the past week I’ve ordered the Benefit foundation, the Boyfriend TS and a freakin ring. I’m outta control!!! LOL!

  • Becky

    LOVE THIS!! Closest scent I can find to the discontinued Dolce and Gabanna “BY”

    this is a keeper!