Rykiel Woman Sonia Rykiel for women

Ok so I'm retesting Rykiel Woman because I badly want to love it based on the note pyramid.
This time around I do smell the oud. I'm used to oud attars so I find it to be quite subtle. After that, violets, roses and sticky dates. The leather is quite soft to my nose, almost powdery like suede and the frankincense creeps in as it dries down.
It's very long lasting and has prominent sillage.
Still a bit on the fence about buying a full bottle of this. I like it, but I think I had very high expectations. It hasn't wowed me yet, but maybe it will by the time I get through these samples.

Sadly, not my cup of cough syrup :( . Shame, cos the notes sound spectacular.

i also had a strong negative phisical response to this fume. its harsh and i find it hard to digest. nevertheless, i tried it several times and somehow got used to it and in the right mood i even can find it agreeable. but since there are so many perfumes that i like and enjoy without a struggle, i pass this one.

I am not sure if it is the violet or the date note, but this actually makes my stomache turn. After ten minutes of wearing it (and I tried it for about a week straight) I feel as though I need to vomit. Just nauseating!

Apparently this scent was launched as a tie-in for a lingerie and sex toy sideline Rykiel's daughter once started. The bottle's confused BDSM leanings decoded. But no furs here; just same old Venus.

I expected to like this, as Rykiel Woman is often compared favorably with Barbara Bui. Honestly I like Bui about 4x better. Still Bui is only a slightly above average fragrance in my book, sort of one I might wear during nose fatigue to stay inoffensively scented but still close to classic-perfumey.

Similarly to the wannabe-vintage Love, Chloe, this scent also is hyper-feminine, just loud enough to be unsubtle and just quiet enough to be tame and dull, but while Love, Chloe at least has a novel rice note to save its femmebot face powder nostalgia, Rykiel Woman doesn't deliver on any of its promised idiosyncrasies, at least not on my skin. No leather emerges. A sour and musky lotion scent cradles a slightly-sugared banal violet that hasn't even the decency to shrink in the drydown. The real ruiner here is that overused and hardly ever well-executed pink pepper note, made worse by including the other dumb-trend ingredient oud. Sunflower and dates are also not great perfume ingredients as they both smack of health food stores. A more imaginative usage might make them work, but here they're kind of chapsticky or medicinal.

Plenty of perfumistas with taste I respect say they like this one or that it grew on them as a quieter-occasion fragrance, but they also report more leather and incense. I got not a trace of either, which was a total disappointment as those are two of my favorite notes. Stick with the Bui! It's not a super exciting fragrance, but it smells more expensive and relevant than this one and avoids the excessive trend notes.


Overall rating: so bland and wrong on me than I can barely say: 1/10 on my skin but 4/10 on the sprayer and on paper. It could work on you, so who knows!?
Longevity: fair. a half-the-day skin scent.
Sillage: close-to-skin
Gender: It is stereotypically feminine, but despite that and the "not for men" tagline, I'd say this is also not for women only--fairly gender neutral because of its quietude, though the pink pepper makes it a little tawdry and teenish.
Occasion: that whole trend of wearing a floral maxi with a fitted biker jacket that was so huge six years ago and still won't go away (hey, some look great in it still). Precious leather moments??? Little altars everywhere on the prairie.

Hint: If you can find the body lotion, a little goes a long way as a fragrance, and it's slightly softer. Give it a try!

Simply great and beautiful perfume! On my skin it´s a sweet scent but in a soft, sophisticated way. Love it and have purchased my second bottle right now.

My HG perfume, i get so many compliments -even from strangers- when i wear this one , like no other perfume i own ( and i have plenty).
please note that the EDP ( brown liquid) is different from the EDT (pink liquid), i love the EDP.

The leather in this one is violet suede, with dates atop and the olibanum ties it all together. Love at second try.

Was at winners today.. smelling this.. at first i wasn't too sure.. almost reminded me of that "sauna" smell... but I couldn't stop smelling myself... reminds me very much of kate moss vintage.. its the peppery note i think.. so similar but this one has more depth. Debating on adding this one to the collection.. since I know its discontinued!

EDIT: Okay, so went back and bought this. I cant stop spraying myself! im loving it more and more with every sniff... it is so different.. even my hubby likes it after the drydown!!

i bought this perfume on the internet,whithout having smelled id.that was a big mistake!i've smelled it i was sick.a sweet cheap leathery odor with tobacco note.really repulsive!i had never before in a perfume.i gave to a friend,she was pleased.

I think the reviewer below missed the design reference of the gold studded cap which is more 80's new wave/pseduo bondage/punk than bedrock... Think, the Cars, Blondie, The Ramones :)

Perhaps it is partly due to the Bedrock-inspired packaging, but RYKIEL WOMAN strikes me as eccentric enough to have been a bespoke perfume commissioned by either Wilma Flintstone or Betty Rubble. It really is both odd and rough-hewn. One thing is clear: it smells like no other perfume familiar to me.

The combination of dates—which smell more like burnt sugar here—and leather, produces a serious source of discord in this composition. It may be an acquired taste, so I'll have to wear this perfume some more in order to decide whether it is ingenious or just a mistake, better suited to the wife of a troglodyte than to someone like me.

Anne Flipo created RYKIEL WOMAN, which provides me with some motivation not to simply give up, and I'm certainly not going to be parting with this wild box and bottle anytime soon. I especially like the pseudo-gold-pebble-encrusted cap, the pattern of which is reproduced on the front and the back of the box as well. Pebbles, lest we forget, was the daughter of Barney and Betty Rubble! Moreover, a version of this very landscape-inspired pebbled pattern may well have used by some of Bedrock's haute couture dressmakers, who, as we know, were frequented by both Betty and Wilma.

Other reviewers, now apparently devoted to RYKIEL WOMAN (one reports having bought out the 13 bottles of remaining stock at a store where it was being discontinued!), have expressed confusion with their early experiences of this perfume as well. Perhaps, then, there really is some method to the neanderthalic madness—the apparent cacophony of what seems to me even after a few wearings to be a fairly random assortment of heavy-handed notes.

I purchased this fragrance as a blind buy, based on the reviews here. ( For $15 at Winners!) I am not disappointed in the least! I had been looking for a violet based fragrance to add to my collection but without much success. Most seemed to sweet or rather dusty, some too loud. (Yep, Insolence, I'm talking about you.) This fragrance is violet with a bit of attitude, the floral and leather combo is just what I was hoping for, with just enough spice to warm it up. It's sexy and a bit sweet, very original. You won't notice it on 5 other women at the next social event you go to! I can tell that this fragrance will be one that I will use frequently, especially in the cooler weather. Thanks for steering me towards another wonderful fragrance!!

My bad...she created Rykiel Woman first! So the tweaking was done the other way. Go figure.

I had to come back for the A-HA moment. So interestingly enough I went to look at what else Anne Filpo designed imagine to my surprise that she created Barbara Bui. In my prior review without knowing she did this I stated it felt like it was a more complete version of BB. It was like she like she took a second shot at the formula and tweaked it so it was legitmately different, and better.

I am enjoying this a lot, does remind me of Barbara Bui and also Histoire de Eau. The dry down has a lovely classic, lipstick-powder scent that has that warm comfortable perfect smell. It is more rich and feels more complete than Barbara Bui does and not as masculine as Histoire. I would wear this as an everyday scent but it feels more for the colder months but I could also see getting glammed up on a hot evening and getting a different effect from it with the warm air and Dewey temperatures. Really nice, thumbs up!

The best fragance ever !
discontinued !
help , do you know similar perfums ( really similar ) not only 20% similar :-)
thank you in advance!

I think this is a really classy perfume, but it stays too close to the skin....really, really unique, though. A dirty violet, if you will.

I love it. Violet, pepper, leather. It is very subtle, strong and calm at the same time. Awesome scent for a very good price. It is sad that longevity is not as excellent as a smell itself.

Just got this and wish I hadn't. It first smells like powdery violet- like a baby powder, but not the J&J one, instead like one from lesser known brand, soft old fashioned violet powder. Seemed uninteresting but benign enough. I though - how boring, but oh well- maybe can use as a blender. A large supply and unusual bottle, not that costly, I'll be "OK" with it. Then I realized I stared to steadily grow nauseous, not that I was thinking about the scent at all. I was paying attention to the material I was reading. I did not immediately associate the queasy feeling with the scent but oh my gosh- it IS from breathing it. I took closer sniffs and felt like I'd be ill- not a gross smell, just at a GUT level it was unbearable. My stomach actually clenched and lurched. I couldn't leave it alone though- just had to figure it out, too curious for my own good. Waited a minute, sniffed again and again. and again. In no more that 30 to 40 minutes, although the violet powder remained, a tangy suede/leather thing came out- kind of sour the way grapefruit is (not the way lemon is). I've smelled this sour "leather" accord in cheap leather fragrances. Oh well, I so wanted to smell dates-maybe even oud and some spice, but did not detect any of these appealing notes in the scent. That's ok because then I'd be sad and conflicted -unable to bear wearing it but longing to smell it for the delicious parts-well no delicious parts to be found, so no conflict- just simply don't like it.

Sonia Rykiel perfumes were my biggest impulsive blind purchase ever. I never smelled any of her scents and never intended to because her bottle designs really turned me off...too trashy and with lack of refinement.
But one night i really got into reading the reviews and before I knew it I odered 5 large bottles of perfumes right away.
To my huge surprise, not onlywas i not disappointed with any of them,but every single one exceeded my expectations.

Woman is a gorgeous, gorgeous scent: spicey and sultry. There is so much class about it that the bottle looks even more ridiculous after you actually smell the contents. Sillage and longevity are excellent, way above the average. Easily can be suitable a special occasion.

I adore the pepper in this! It is by turns: rosy, leathery, powdery, violet-y, incensey, and with little wafts of pepper lifting off the base every now and then for an added kick. A flower with thorns. Its like all your favorite female rock singers in a bottle. Unique, unexpected, modern but with a touch of vintage. I love it!

i have the pink one, eau de toilette. it's two different ones - edt and edp, because edt has differant notes:
top note
Pink Pepper, Yuzu, Absinthe, Champagne Bubble
middle note
Bulgarian Rose, Broom Plant, Syringa, Yohimbe
base note
Heliotrope, Benzoin Absolute, Tonka Bean, Musks
it's simple, not unique but i like the scent very much - it's light but sensous. Anyway longevity is not very good - lasts only few hours on me.

Love this - soft, clean, like a powder puff . . .

discontinued ??? grab it if you can, it's awesome... i didn t knew it was discontinued ?? oh noooo :( i just can t understand why they do so :(

I hope to have one someday too my angel, I sooo love Sonia Rykiel!!

today i became a very proud owner of this discontinued gem.
i get heady sueded warm leather, resinous incense and rum raisin.....
why do i feel like this could be shalimar's daughter?
oh happy day i am in love, thank you lovely perfume sisters for all the reviews on here, that led me straight to this bedroom eyed beauty...im in loooove

This EDP Perfume stretches imagination like an arrow, and transmits it to the destination of the desert where you are a merchant in the Berber camel caravan that moves to a distant market. And so you are riding high on your camel, following her rhythm and stroking her neck to make it easier for her to endure a long travel, and every movement of your hand down her neck comes with a gust of dust-musky scent of her fur, and on the harsh desert sun, every uncovered piece of your skin evaporates precious liquid that has an intense smell of human skin. Your nose is tickeled by smells that come from your cargo for sale on the market: whole saddlebags filled with floury smelling dried flowers, different kinds of pepper, somewhat oily sunflower seeds and the sweet smell of dates. Camel stops to grab a bit of desert vegetation and loses her order in the caravan, but you spur her in the stomach and direct her into the next mirage ...

today got my mini finally, oh i had no idea how nice dates can smell in a perfume! this opens slightly peppery and so sweet, even a little gourmand-spicy to my nose, maybe it's cinnamon, but this is not listed. the deep violet is creamy and beautiful, i m a big violet lover anyway.
the heart evokes soft and powdery with this typical smell when you stand near a fully bloomed bush of sweet heady jasmin in mediterran summernights. the velvety rose gives it that luxury touch, i can t stop sniffing my wrists - sooo nice and unuasual!
i can not say that the pepper is prominent, maybe it's this gentle spiciness all trought the scent notes? very well blendet so.
in the background floats a trail of those hints of expensive buttersoft suede leather, very luxury, exclusive, elegant and feminine.
the bottom with warming amber and musk make this scent a perfect smooth composition.

i m really very impressed, this can easely become my new signature scent, it's soooo me, guess a new love is born!!!
great sillage, very powdery and warm, delicious and rich, but not at all heavy or overbearing, it sits near the skin, the staying power is amazing.
this is a perfume, you can feel whifting around you the whole day long by every movement, without having to overspray it and without being offending.
it drives mutch compliements but i don t tell who's my secret love to anybody. :O)

bottle simply stunning. love love love

ps. this has become indeed my signature and when i weat it i've always that feeling when you know you've found the one and only right one to spend the whole life with it - it's just me! :))))))

thank you Sonia Rykiel !

First i smelled this from the cap, which i usually do before spray it on my hand and i have to wash it if it's stinky, i claim that 'umph, i don't like it' but after a while i decided to try this blind purchase and i kinda like it a bit. I can detect a burst of pepper and leather from the very first sprayed and it lingers on my skin, feel warm and ..dates? hmm..not much fume using this as their composition, quite unique.

Absolutely seductive vamp in neglige with glass of shampagne in hand... Time lazy flies, she's waiting...
I'm totally crazy about violets and Woman has one of the best violets i've ever smelled - yet entouraged with touch of sparkling powder, mmmm. Delicious marriage with romantic/seductive nature. It brings french charm, parisian chique.
I can smell aussi touch of velvet leather in the background what adds to frag laziness sensuality.

The best of Rykiel range.

I find myself almost bizarrely drawn to this scent. When a fragrance traffics in the ubiquitous "pink pepper" I tend to scoff and look the other way, but I tried this one anyway and I am pleased...once I get past that "pink" pepper jazz, anyway.

What is it that makes SR for women so lovely for me just may be that unusual date note in the opening and the musky leather/amber base. But as those notes in a base are hardly unusual, I suspect there are unmentioned notes, woods perhaps, that draw me in. The scent is not overtly floral on me and the base notes last for many hours.

Two other things: The bottle's shape and cap give it an androgenous feel despite the incongruent pink lettering. A weird bottle, but it grows on you. And come on, Rykiel and company the "not for men" written on the box must be designed to say "guys, give this one a whirl" because this scent could easily work in a man's fragrance rotation due to the drydown and spice!

Me thinks they're hinting at unisex!

RWoman is a somewhat disjointed & almost clumsy fragrance at first before she blooms, but suprisingly I like her all the more for her raw honesty & polite fiestyness.

It starts out with a fleeting resemblence to Jaipur Saphir before making a sharp U-turn to delve deep into peppery spices & leather.

If you don't like the pungent, aromatic white-heat of pepper or the warm, dry animal aspects of leather, then steer well clear.....RWoman is all about these two beauties which gives this fragrance its devil-may-care attitude & slight harshness.

I couldn't clearly distinguish many of the other notes, but I sensed the warmth of the dates & the gentle floral aspects of the jasmine & rose who act as flankers to the true stars: the peppers & leather. The peppery edge wears off after about 1/2 hour to leave a softer, warmer dry & smokey leathery base. The last gasps are a delicate leathery amber.

The main substance of this perfume lingers admirably for many hours with a polite sillage (from a distance its appearance is far softer than when you meet this woman up close & personal). It is a medium-weight arrid fragrance, not overly sweet or heavy. Spicy & original yet always feminine.

It's like Marilyn Monroe dressed up in biker gear! On my wanted list.

Its very pepery. All I can sense is peper, especially the white one, mixed with floral notes of jasmin and violet.

There is also a loud striking note that i think maybe leather, off tune with the rest of the melody.

I find it original and one of a kind. I haven't made my mind about it yet. Good for a night out on the town I think. Has good syllage and staying power one me.

Powdery sweet suprise, Perfect for everyday scent. Love that it has dates and sunflowers in the mix. Very Unique.

My recent new love! At the beginning it seems a bit harsh, but just in seconds it starts to melt in my skin and the result is awesome - maybe it depends on skin chemistry, but I feel this scent has Personality, besides it is very relaxing, pleasant, suitable for office but at the same time undeniably sexy.

P.S. I'm reviewing edp!!!

Edt(in a rosy box) and edp (in a black one) differ much. Edp is more powdery and floral, edt is fruity-floral and can hardly be called powdery. Pepper exists in both concentrations.

I like this one, but not love. I can really notice the pepper which mixed very well with the other components, what makes the whole scent to be very soft but at the same time very edgy. the satying power is about 6-7 houres (on me) but as Marra said, it stays close to the body. The dry down is very pleasent.

I dont think I would buy this perfume for the second time because its not really dominant scent. This one is good for women who are looking for a "shy" perfume.

It's already 'Rykiel Woman' but it says again on the box 'Not for men'...lol. As much as I know, if u warn people too much about something they'll probably try it

Bought it in the internet, on sale, have never smelt before, but wasn't afraid of getting dissapoited because of the low price and previous good experience with a Rykiel perfume. The perfume doesn't stay long, but is a quite nice round perfume with some light spicies. my husband says it's subtle and mild. It stays close to the body, no specially noticable "tail"