White Gardenia Petals Illuminum for women and men

By now, every "perfumista" (and everyone who isn't one) knows why this scent has garnered so much special attention. So despite it being a very interesting and lovely scent, it could never match the ideal built-up in some people's minds. We all have our own ideas of what scent we would wear to our own "Royal Wedding" if we were given, relatively speaking, "carte blanche" to find one, make one or track down something discontinued. True story or not, all the publicity surrounding "White Gardenia Petals" has exposed noses to a very unusual and unexpected take on tropical, white florals.

That said, the impression I got upon first sniff, is that "White Gardenia Petals" is lovely but it's the scent for someone who really knows her own taste and has a very specific one; someone who loves lusty, island florals and wants to find a way to bring them into even the most formal of occasions. "White Gardenia Petals" is, basically, "churchified" polynesian tiare oil. That sounds like an impossible feat, but Boadi was obviously up to the challenge because what he's produced is a scent that is, at both times, heady and balmy; soapy and powdery. It is a sheer take on gardenia oil -- like a scrub-down in a shower after laying on a tropical beach, for hours, covered in gardenia oil. It has a narcotic, indole quality that almost reminds me of full-bloom paperwhites or fresh tuberose -- that slightly pinchy headiness -- but the sheer soapiness keeps the whole blend fresh and airy.

This contrast between freshness and ripe, layered white flowers, brings to mind two fragrances: "Wisteria" by Crabtree & Evelyn and "Fleurissimo" by Creed. "White Gardenia Petals" has that same dichotomy of styles; rainy, airy freshness against powdery, "high-test", lusty florals. And it conjures-up the image of a woman who has travelled to tropical places and beaches very often, but must eventually return to her buttoned-up life back home.

Verdict: For true, white floral lovers only. Boadi's interpretation of gardenia is not as sweet and balsamic as many others I've tested and the coconut base adds a dry-oil quality to the freshness of the white florals that's very interesting. I think it's a lovely blend, though not enough of my style to buy a full bottle of it. It is tenacious in its freshness and stays that way through dry-down.

I like the scent but it gave me a terrible headache. I prefer Gardénia Pétale by Van Cleef & Arpels or even the gorgeous Gardenia by Isabey.

Further to the off topic, she is also a princess, but not titled Princess Katherine. She is Princess William. You are correct, given that she is not born a Royal, then she indeed is not Princess Katherine (unlike Beatrice & Eugenie)

She is entitled to use "Princess William" (same way as Sophie is Princess Edward) they simply aren't titles, however, that they choose to use.

No, I don't have the fragrance, but I am curious to smell it! :)

OFF TOPIC: people PLEASE STOP calling Kate Middleton 'princess Kate' - she has NEVER BEEN princess Kate and NEVER WILL BE !!!! She may be Queen Katharine at some stage!

To have the title 'Princess Katharine' she would have to have been born a princess! Very much the same as Lady Diana Spencer 'The Princess of Wales' - she was never Princess Diana only Lady Diana ..... if you are confused over the English royalty system just google for clarity!

This perfume is just Lovely... This opens with a beautiful gardenia note & then settles with a nice white linen smell mixed with Sandalwood. For me Sandalwood note is very noticeable after 15 ,20 min..perfect for a special occasion. But need to make sure to wear the right amount since too much of this may give you a headache.

I bought this as I love Gardenia perfumes,but right from the first spray I was very disappointed.There is an ingredient in the perfume that just sets my teeth on edge.Years ago Blue Grass had the same effect on me when my mother wore it.
I have only sprayed it once,but will be putting it for sale on Ebay very soon.

This is the most beautiful fragrance I have ever encountered. Gardenias are my favorite flowers and this perfume smells exactly like a gardenia on a warm sultry southern summer night. It is not the least bit synthetic to me. It is just intoxicating. When I first put it on I kept smelling my wrist. I could not get enough of that gardenia. I was in heaven.

About 20 to 30 minutes later it had the most beautiful floral scent. Like a bouquet of white flowers. The gardenia was gone but it was still wonderful.

An hour later it smelled like Snuggle fabric softener. What a disappointment. At last I thought I had found the perfect gardenia scent but instead I ended up smelling like clean clothes. There are worse things to smell like but I won't be buying this fragrance.

My search for the perfect gardenia scented perfume continues.

How anyone can dislike such a simple and natural perfume such as this enchanting masterpiece beggars belief. For this is the best Gardenia fragrance I have ever owned. Having just the right amount of sweetness, when first applied, the scent is wide awake and pretty sharp, however, if you allow it to sleep you are giving the fragrance the oppurtunity to find you as opposed to you sticking your nose in it.
Furthermore, the comment referring to the cheapness of the bottle beats me - perhaps they have not actually physically held the bottle, which is absolutely high quality and simplistic in design, thus equates perfectly to it's contents. Needless to mention, if Kate chose this perfume over many others pushed up to her royal (& loyal hopefully) nose no doubt - then I would say that the duchess is indeed a refined lady with exquisite taste!

at the beginning it is very sharp and strong, but after a couple of minutes it becomes very smooth and soft. i do not like the opening but i love the drydown. unfortunately the bottle looks a bit cheap.

My husband ordered this as a special birthday present - it arrived over a month late! When I put it on it immediately reminded me of Guerlain's jardins de bagatelle. It is really lovely but doesn't seem to last very long.

One of the worst perfumes I´ve ever had:( I bought it without trying, but it definitely doesn´t worth that money. I doubt Kate really worn White Gardenia on her wedding day (her style is too good for that). Wanted to love it, but I can´t! Btw they still have it in Paris in several stores with rare perfumes...

The first impression is of soapy skin and fresh air, next the delicate scent of white flowers wafts in and out, but the dry down is all coconut. Very simple and fresh, not migraine inducing and probably won't offend anyone. I love it for those no scent days, it's more like a fresh aura than perfume.

Not meaning to be crude or a simpleton about it, and perhaps it's just me, but this smells exactly like Pantene Pro-V shampoo (Smooth & Sleek in particular). I'd love to know if anyone else agrees with me. I bought it, desperately wanting to love it but I won't keep it because all I can think about is shampoo! There we go!

I ordered it as soon as I found out Princess Kate wore it on that beautiful wedding day, and because I loved the white floral notes in a simple yet refined composition, crafted by Boadi nonetheless. Feeling lucky to have received it since the waiting lists are growing! First wearing I'm enjoying very much, it is not a strong gardenia nor coconut scent as you might expect, but it seems it was perfect for the occasion. It's a light airy clean floral where nuances of lily and jasmine combine to form an abstract suggestion of the gardenia petal, and little hints of coconut appear here and there, but ever so gracefully, over a light linen and lace base. To me it is soft and delightful, like a fine fresh bouquet, yet without any sharp lily or rose, and stays lovely for some time. My fiance enjoyed it, and I can see how it's a perfume fit for a modern princess!

I can tell you where to sell the perfume White Gardenia Petals Illuminum mark in Italy. Thanks Regards Onofrio

Got this today. I don't get any coconut at all. It's a White flowery scent, a little sharp and screechy, mildly reminiscent of pure White linen. It does smell expensive but I was hoping for dazzling with fresh lily of the valley reminiscent of diorissimo but I just get random White flowers. My partner described it as 'sickly'. Try before you buy!

dying to know what it smells like :) so I can feel what Kate smelt like on her big day, give it up for the princess for choosing a not so popular brand !!

I agree with Udaria, there's nothing like a Royal endorsement! I will now be on the look out for this as I too wish to know what the Royal bride smelled like that day and even buy into that magic myself if I like it when I eventually find it!!!

dying to know what it smells like, because the princess kate middleton use it for her wedding to Prince William of England, selections, should be a well thought out, so insurance is very good, although the brand is not well known, but little by little will become super popular this perfume for what it represents to history

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Original Spanish:
muero por saber como huele, por que la princesa kate middleton lo uso para su boda con el principe william de inglaterra, debió ser una seleccón muy pensada, asi es que de seguro es muy bueno, aunque la marca no es muy conocida, pero poco a poco se volverá super famoso este perfume por lo que representa para la historia

Now that the royal bride Kate wore it on her wedding day, the interest for this scent is probably stronger than before. It intrigues me because of the mixture of white flowers and elements. Too bad that I cannot obtain a sample easily.