Woman Gold

Bottom Line

Wearing Woman Gold versus Y is like choosing a mass-produced print over an original painting. You get the basic idea, but the depth and artistry are missing. You might save some wear on your expensive bottle of Y by using this for quick errands, but the experience isn't comparable. You sacrifice complexity and longevity. It's a placeholder, not a replacement.

Olfactory Experience

Woman Gold hits with an initial burst of candied apple. There's a slight resemblance to Y, but the apple leans heavily synthetic, almost bordering on apple-scented cleaning product. The ginger is more of a suggestion than a clear note, blending quickly into a slightly soapy sage heart. The juniper is almost undetectable. As it dries, the amberwood takes over, giving it a scratchy, woody feel that overpowers the tonka. It has a synthetic edge that reminds me of plasticky vanilla. It’s a far cry from the smoother, more nuanced drydown of Y. It's like a simplified, younger sister – the resemblance is there, but the character is significantly different.

The Performance Stats

This is an intimate scent. Projection is maybe an arm's length for the first hour, then quickly settles into a skin scent. I get about 4 hours of noticeable wear before it completely fades. I wore it to the office on a fairly mild day. It didn't offend anyone, but it also didn't garner any compliments. It's strictly a close encounter fragrance.