Madness (for women)

Moyra

Madness was another "gamble" perfume for me, I bought it unsniffed based on the reviews, the notes and the other Chopard Perfumes I own and enjoy (Wish, Casmir).
The first time I wore it I stepped out of the shower after a day of wearing something sweet, fruity and oriental-ish (L by Lolita Lempicka), and I absolutely hated it. It seemed harsh and sour after the soft orange coziness my nose had become used to.
Stubborn as I am, I decided to try again after a day of not wearing perfume, and yes, I finally "get" the magic. Although its not one the fruit salady concoctions that have become the standard of today, it is truly a classic composition.
It does start a little stridently, screeching through the pepper notes, but quickly softens through the slightly leathery nubuk (I suppose, although I thought "nubuk" was another name for "fake leather" used to cover couches). Its a strange leather/plasticky note, which trails the woods behind it wrapped in flowers and fruits.
I would not describe this scent as sweet or cotton candy like in any way, but then my skin has the tendency to obviate the sweet notes and race for the resins and woods.
This is not a simple, modern day "what you smell in the bottle is what you get" type of fragrance. Its very much a scent that needs to develop and meld with your skin's chemistry. When the drydown comes around, everything sings in harmony and it smells extremely elegant, very "wealthy lady femme fatale", and very classic.
Its probably reasonably well suited to office wear if you spray it on discreetly, although I see it more as an evening or special occasion scent. The sillage is good, although not vast, the lasting power on me is about 6 hours, which is decent.

essija

Wow what a Powerhouse Scent! The name Madness says it all. I Love the depth of this, Pepper is subtle and the Cotton Candy is simply delicous. This is sweetness like I have never smelled before. Very Loud and Feminine. I'm crazy about this Madness.

tommy_girl

Don't look at the notes and the shape of bottle.it's a very classic perfume in a modern package.
but who can deny that it's really provocative and appealing?it really is.it smells perfect for boudoir and the sales man told me that it has some provocative notes for the opposite sex too.
the perfume...hmm,I don't get any of the top notes listed here.I can smell about nothing related to litchi,but I smell so many rose.some kind of sweet and very provocative rose that reminds me a bit midnight poison.I should say that it's very sweet at the same time.there isn't any thing fruity over there.it's a warm sweet rose for a classic female.whether you're young or middle aged,you'll like it if you like classics,but if you're not into classic perfumes,it won't do anything to you.
by the way,it's REALLY long lasting.I have it on my wrist for 3 hours now and still it's strong just like the moment I wore it.
please don't wear it for office nor for casual.it's sexy and it can't hide it.

om

I bouhgt it withought testing.. In perfume shope, where young perfume sales man, who knows me wery well, said that is not for me. And I asked him: "Why?" -You are too young for it (kind of him:). I took a risk and now I am very happy about that. I understood, that salesman judged perfume only from its top notes, which really a bit remindes me of smell of wardrobe in old houses, but only some half of an hour.. After that it is nothing old, but warm and nice, not too sweet, not agressive.. I feel it like nice aura around my skin.. Staying pover also very good - few sprays survived from morning till dust..
Packing and botle are quite tricky. You can open box from several diferent sides and it makes your life more complicated if wont't find right one -it took me few times to discover, that:)) And bottle itself has sprayer which you have to turn befor you spray - so I managed first spray to do into my eyes:) I saw in the shop sprayer broken at all, that only proves - I am not alone to have problems with it;)

All I could think after all this experience is, that this stuf is not for a madd:)

allexa27

Madness reminds me very very very much of Nu edt YSL and Agent provocateur ,mixed together

triplex

Oh my word the stayingpower of this perfume!! Usually they don´t last for very long on my skin but this one.. I sprayed it around 18.00. Did a lot of stuff like sauna, shower, sleeping, swimming, shower again and I still smelled it at 13.00 the day after. Thats incredible. Now to the scent itself:
Exotic fruity, sweet and peppery at the same time. The beggining is almost too strong but the first harshness fades away pretty quickly. I know there is no raspberry in it but I still think it smells a bit of it anyway. The drydown is warm, woody and almost incensy with a whiff of burnt sugar. Lovely, sweet and sexy at the same time.

Alecto

I tried "Madness" today,and I'm sure I will never wear it. It smells like my Grandmother's old perfume.She has a few of them,and they all have the same scent,probably because they are too old.There is nothing sweet about this perfume and it smells like pepper and vodka.

mellybee

I always have to have it in my collection. Chopard Madness cheers me up. To be honest I didn't like it at the very first time. I bought it unsniffed and I found it quite violent, but a few days later I smelt a very lovely soft powdery scent on my clothes and I realized that it was the Madness. I enjoy the red berries with pepper in the start-up and the cotton candy-ish drydown, where the fruits are still vivid.

snobuni77

I am still trying to get use to this perfume.The reviews below are pretty correct as this is a very sweet perfume(cotton candy"ish")mixed with pepper.
It is very different than anything I have or have tested before.The first time I put this on the pepper was really overwhelming "but" today it is more sweet & I have to "try" to smell the pepper (or put my nose directly on my skin).
It is a strong perfume so I anticipate having my 2.5 oz bottle for a very long time.I only need to apply a little bit of this to get noticed.
It will be the best in cold weather as it can be overwhelming & even a bit stuffy(its thick) if used at the wrong time.
This perfume is still great in my book & I am glad to have it in my collection

ktv0926

I love the name, i love the bottle, especially the color and i was really hoping to love the fragrance. Well, i like it:) But i didn't have this anxious feeling - i want it - after i tried it. I think it's too spicy for my taste.
It doesn't last long by the way - it's been only 1 hour since i've sprayed it on my hand and i can hardly smell it already.

Update: i'm taking my words back that it doesn't last - it does! it's been all day and i just smelled my hand - it's still there, still spicy:)

nutty_kitten

I was given this at Christmas in a miniature gift set with various other perfumes. I really like it's spicy aroma and it seems to suit me but I don't like the name. Especially when friends ask what perfume you are wearing.

kay_li13

mmmm.... spicy pepper is right, i was afraid that i wouldn't like this because it has fickle reviews, but it was way better than what i originally could have imagined. i'm not saying i would spend the cash for a full sized bottle, but i'm happy with the mini that i have. it should last me a long time :). madness is a scent that is unique and memorable and not something that you can pick off of any shelf. :)try it if you're bold because this fragrances is NOT for the faint of heart!

sjanira

At first it's really strong almost masculine in a way. Then it softens up a bit to a warm sweet cotton candy but still maintaining that strong masculine note. Really different and unique fragrance that lasts a long time. I tried it a couple of times but I couldn't quite get used to it.

Helene

Very hot! Pepper and sweet cotton candy -really a combination of extreme differences. Like it, but it is a little bit strong, suits for cold winter evenings

annehke

The duality of this fragrance is amazing-sweet and hot-aggressive and sublime- this creation produces pleasureable condradictions and harmonious discords. The stinging, and at the same time, bright pepper- ignites the scent, and cotinues- the initial zing doesn't fade-it stays- and toys with the stable velvety middle notes and base for hours. The middle notes and base are a delicious and smooth combination, incessantly accentuated by the constant dance of the fruits and pepper. The middle notes and base can be appreciated separately, too, even with all the commotion. The Brazillian Rose Wood (Pao Rosa Wood as listed above) and nubuck are almost undecteble individually, and the cotton candy is strong, however not an isolated single scent-it is constantly mingling with the other personalities. This is an intense, untraditional, incongruent, and yet homogeneous scent!

Mitsouko

Madness is hot, with big temperament. In first phase smells roses and seasonings, first of all - pepper. Then, adjoins sweet, tender note of vanilla. For me Madness is oriental smell. Remember me a bit Rouge of Hermes, but Madness is more youthful and modern. Strong, original and very femine smell in the color red. Madness has very good energy for me. I like it.

Sherihan

It remindes me of SILENCE by Jacomo, it is strong, and tender in one.

dizzi

It's a sweet n' spicy perfume.I love it from from sharp beginning to the cotton candy end.

F_A

For my nose this fragrance smells like raspberry jam with black and chilli peppers:)Sweet and piquant,incomparable to anything. Love it!

Halvah

Very exciting perfume, I really agree that one must be brave to spray it on. Way too sour, way too much cinnamon in it, but my opinion is that the dry-dowm worths to wait for it.

guest_amanda

its the strongest and one of the worst perfumes ive ever smelled. there are only a few i claim this of but its definitely one of them. it makes me feel sick

Aiona

I wish I had been brave enough to spray this on my skin. However, one whiff of the spray nozzle, and I was off-put. It's unlike anything I've ever smelled! Perhaps the dry-down is different, but. . . perhaps I'll be brave enough to try it some other day.

Aeternitas

I just received this in the mail today and have never smelled it before. I scored it for $6 on ebay, so I figured I didn't have much to lose if I didn't like it. It's lovely. However, WAY too powdery for my tastes. The powderiness is too much for me, but I adore the spiciness in the top notes and the dry down is fairly elegant. The bottle looks like it's for teens or younger women, but this is for a classy, sophisticated mature woman (I was totally surprised by this). It's dazzling and luxurious. For winter wear on special occasions. I like it, but not for me. I have never been able to get a headache from a perfume before, but this one did.