MAC Velvet Teddy Shadescents Perfume Review

MAC Velvet Teddy Shadescents Perfume ($57) is one of six new fragrances that MAC introduced earlier this season which are inspired by cult-favorite lipstick shades in the MAC permanent collection. I was going to pick all six MAC Shadescents up on a blind buy when they launched but sometime told me to wait and smell them in store.

MAC Velvet Teddy Shadescent will come as absolutely no surprise to Tom Ford lovers.

I’m actually glad I waited because the only scent that really stood out and grabbed me was MAC Velvet Teddy. I’m still debating on a few of the others but compared to Velvet Teddy none were as eventful.

I asked MAC and according to them Velvet Teddy will be a permanent fragrance. I hope this is correct as I didn’t pick up a backup of this scent and I really, really will need one if it is limited edition. This comes housed in 1.7 oz frosted glass square bottle with a cap that matches the Velvet Teddy Lipstick that inspired the fragrance. I actually thought MAC was selling both the lipstick and the fragrances as a set but that’s not the case at all. These are sold separately which means if you hate the Velvet Teddy Lipstick shade but love the fragrance you won’t have to have the lipstick shade forced on you and vice versa for the fragrance. It also means you can mix and match any of the shades you want in any combination you want or not buy any of the lipsticks at all and just indulge in the fragrances. Or just buy the fragrance and not a lipstick.

I think I was somehow expecting these to actually smell like lipstick! Maybe a Replica Lipstick On or Frederic Malle Lipstick Rose experience! But none of them do! They are actually compiled of some very interesting notes and Velvet Teddy might just be the most unique of all however, you probably smelled it somewhere before.

MAC calls Velvet Teddy an oriental fragrance with wild honey and creamy musk notes. Earlier last year Tom Ford was acquired by Estee Lauder and we all already know that MAC is also owned by the Estee Lauder family. What does this have to do with Velvet Teddy? Well, much to my shock not a single fragrance forum or reviews has mentioned that Velvet Teddy smells just like Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille. I feel like I’m the only person alive that noticed this…!? Mind you I’m a newbie to Tobacco Vanille myself…It’s a fragrance that gives me a headache at first mist but sets to a gorgeous sweet smoky vanilla with sexy, spicy notes. I don’t get the same headache from Velvet Teddy in all honesty but it’s just as sexy, just as warm, and just as sultry.

There’s no mention of tobacco in the notes but for me they are there. This is pretty much a fragrance that doesn’t dry nor morph when applied. What you smell is what you get initially and well after the dry down. There’s most definitely a warm honey note here that’s rolled in a smokier, sweeter vanilla. It has a hint of spiciness and just the right play of smokiness. If I close my eyes I picture a refined bar where they sell aged whiskey and bourbon and men are sipping from their heavy crystal cut glasses and either smoking a cigar or pipe that’s perfuming the air with a sweet incense.

The scent is easily perfect for both men and woman and has a beautiful throw and linger with three mists. I didn’t feel pressed to reapply this through the day as the linger was beautifully evident well after several hours of wear.

MAC Velvet Teddy Shadescents Perfume gains my Muse Approval. If you like slightly masculine fragrances with warm, sexy notes or you simply adore Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanille, you’re going to adore Velvet Teddy.

MAC Velvet Teddy Shadescents Perfume is available now on counters or get it at maccosmetics.com and at macys.com.