DKNY Be Delicious Eau So Intense

One of my favorite fragrances in college was DKNY's original Be Delicious fragrance, the one that is contained in the green apple bottle and has been one of their best selling fragrances for years.  I used to use this fragrance almost every single day during the early spring and then into the summer and I quickly burned through a good sized bottle of it and then I never repurchased it since I was beginning to get sick of it.  Over the past few years, all kinds of new versions of this fragrance have been released and my favorite still remains the original version and the floral version.  None of the other versions have really attracted me as much as the original has and I never bought a bottle of any of the others and I have recently been thinking about picking up another bottle of the original for the warm weather months. 

Before I made my decision, I saw that a sample of a new version was available as a sample on one of the many Sephora orders that I have made over the past two months and I jumped at the chance to really try another version out and see if this might be a version that I would actually purchase and wear.  The new version is a stronger and more intense apple version of the original and is fittingly named "Be Delicious Eau So Intense".  One of my favorite aspects of the original version is the balance between the tart apple and the lighter floral notes and I am thinking that this version will not have that balance and has the potential to be too heavy on the apple.  We shall see...

"All the things you love about Be Delicious is now intensified—decadent and refreshing. A delectable fragrance that is the pick of the crop, Be Delicious Eau So Intense is all of the things you love about Be Delicious, but even more ardent. A higher concentration of our classic Be Delicious fragrance accentuates the key apple note, resulting in a more intoxicating scent that resembles the first bite of a freshly picked apple."

The Sephora website does not list the notes for this fragrance so I will list the ones that were provided for the original version instead.  The notes are: American Apple, Cucumber, Grapefruit, Candid Magnolia, Tuberose, White Muguet, Rose, Violet, Sandalwood, Tender Skin Accord, Blonde Woods, White Amber.

The original fragrance started off apple and then the apple faded away slightly and the mix of florals becomes more evident.  After about two to three hours, the fragrance gradually fades into the wood and sandalwood notes.  The original fragrance never lasted long enough on my skin so I was originally quite excited when I saw a more intense version of this fragrance.  My first hope with the version was that it would smell very similar but last longer on my skin and that this would become a fragrance that would last all day long on me instead of one that I must carry a small version of the bottle in my bag for frequent touch ups.  Well this new version is not quite what I was hoping for...

The new version is a very intense green apple scent and that note never softens.  The first hit of the fragrance is very green apple (similar to the original) and then I was waiting for the apple to soften a bit and then the floral notes to emerge.  I was even open to the possibility for a mix of floral and apple with a stronger emphasis on the apple.  This fragrance is very heavy on the apple, it made more sense once I read the fragrance description from Sephora and I saw that only the green apple note was intensified and none of the others.  They are completely correct when they talk about the intense green apple notes, this is all that the fragrance smells like and it never fades down into a mixture of notes.  This is the closest to a singular green apple fragrance that I have ever smelled and this was not what I was hoping for when I tried this fragrance.

This might be one of the worst versions of the original, it is such a singular note fragrance that I find it boring and rather flat.  The original was sparkling and fun, this one is just much too strong on the apple and reminds me of the old Victoria's Secret Apple-tini scent (fun at first but got boring very fast) and this is not what I was expecting from a fragrance from DKNY.  Someone who loves very crisp and simple scents might find this fragrance appealing but I am no closer to finding a new fragrance for spring after using this sample for two days...

photo courtesy of Sephora

DKNY Be Delicious Heart London

DKNY's best selling fragrance is the crisp scented Be Delicious, I wore this fragrance back in college and is one of the few that I still wear throughout the spring and summer months.  This is one of the few fragrances that I have bought several bottles of and have purchased many variations of it.  DKNY has released many variations of this scent, starting with Red Delicious very soon after the actual release and then all the way to Golden Delicious early last fall, with many in between.  Some of the scents were limited edition, while some of them still remain the DKNY fragrance line-up.  Somehow I missed out on Golden Delicious last fall and have never smelled it, I remember reading that it was a deeper version of the original, designed for the fall and winter months.  To add to the fragrance list, this company has released four new versions of this fragrance for the end of the summer and fall months.  Be Delicious Heart London caught my eye instantly and was the first tester that I reached for the last time that I went to Sephora.  I was unable to try every single version the last time that I was there (there are four and I would have smelled awful had I tried them all!) so I will write about each one as a I try it out.

With all the Olympic coverage, Be Delicious Heart London was in the front of the display and I bet will sell out faster than the others.  We will start by reviewing the description and notes of the original fragrance and then looking how the Heart London version is different from the original.  I haven't pulled my bottle of the original out for a few months so I did go back and smell the original before I even tried to compare the two. 

The new versions seem to only be available at Sephora for the moment so all information and notes will come from this company's website.  The description of the original fragrance is right here, "A modern feast for the senses.  Served in a sleek metal and glass apple bottle, this juicy fragrance combines the scent of apple with a sophisticated blend of exotic flowers and sensual woods.  Like the city that inspired it, Be Delicious celebrates individuality with refreshing spirit."  This fragrance is a combination of crisp apples, light florals, and a light wood base. 

The notes of the original version are: American Apple, Cucumber, Grapefruit, Candid Magnolia, Tuberose, White Muguet, Rose, Violet, Sandalwood, Tender Skin Accord, Blonde Woods, White Amber.  As I stated earlier, this fragrance is mostly apple on my skin, then the florals come out and it settles down into the wood notes.  This fragrance is the perfect crisp scent for the summer or for a professional environment.  Normally, I don't equate best selling scents with having the best fragrance note mixture, but this one is an exception.  This fragrance is a best seller because it smells great and is very versatile.

The Be Delicious Heart London is a floral version of the fragrance, English roses are among the best in world and one of the flowers that the country is known for.  Roses are my favorite flower and everyone knows that I collect and covet every rose fragrance on the market today.  "Get ready to take off on a scent-sational journey.  DKNY's Be Delicious Heart London promises to transport you to the chicest city one spritz at a time.  This ultra-mod fragrance features a delicious apple essence complimented with a blend of sweet rose and delicate white woods - surrounding everything that makes the country-meets-city scene of London unique.  DKNY loves London, rich in history, the most visited city of any in the world."

The notes of the Be Delicious Heart London are: Blackcurrant Buds, Spring Hyacinth, Neroli, Apple, Rose Essence, Honeysuckle, Orange Flower, White Woods, Amber, Vetiver. 

The Heart London version of the fragrance is very similar to the Fresh Blossom version of the fragrance, I would prefer to buy the London version but if I don't get a bottle of it before the limited edition sells out then I would be fine owning the traditional floral version of the fragrance.  The Heart London version of the fragrance is still strong on the apple but the rose and other white florals come out and remain on the skin for about two to three hours.  The wood notes come out the same as in the original and Fresh Blossom version.

I believe that the Heart London will be my favorite version of the new Be Delicious variations, I love the rose notes and the design of the London skyline on the bottle.  I plan to buy a bottle of this to put away for next spring however if I can't get my hands on it in time, then I will use the Fresh Blossom version instead.  Come to think of it...I will soon need a new bottle of the original too!

photo courtesy of Sephora

DKNY Be Delicious Juiced

Be Delicious Juiced is the newest version of the traditional Be Delicious fragrance that has debuted this pring. Last year, three new candy-based versions were introduced and none of them struck my fancy. Maybe this year will be better and this fragrance will be one that I will buy this season. Every version of this fragrance so far has been classified in the fruit family and alwasy contains an apple note. My personal favorites of the collection are the original fragrance, the Red version, and the Blossom version. This year's version is considered by Sephora to be a floral fragrance so already this is looking more promising for me.

Sephora states the following concerning this new fragrance, "Be Delicious Juiced is even juicer than one could imagine. It bursts with ripe, unforgettable apples and succulent, watery fruits - from start to finish. Juicy New York apples take center stage, opening the fragrance with a medly of colorful, fresh fruits and a flirty dose of pear blossom. Bold and bright, its vivid floral heart includes notes of muguet flowers and white peony while crushed violet petals add a touch of vibrancy to the mix. At its heart, a sheer wave of cedar and creamy woods is followed by white amber, imparting a lasting, memorable wave of cool refreshment".

The notes of the fragrance: Apple, Pear Blossom, Lily of the Valley, Muguet, White Peony, Violet Petals, Cedar Wood, Creamy Woods, White Amber.

This fragrance reminds me a cross between the original fragrance and the Blossom version that was released in the spring of 2009. The fragrance first opens very much like Be Delicious itself, the apple and the pear are the first notes that I smell. The heart of this fragrance goes more into the Be Delicious Blossom type of fragrance. The apple notes remains strong but now the florals begin to come out. I can smell the White Peony and the Violet the strongest, the fragrance is light overall but still wears about the same as the original. Of the base notes, the only one that I can really detect is the woods, however is it very light and not noticeable until about three or four hours into wearing the fragrance.

This is light fragrance that will work out really well this spring, I have only gotten to try a bit out and I want to get a full bottle of this. I think this fragrance makes up for the three disappointments of last year. This is much more true to the original fragrance than the raspberry and caramel versions that were brought out before. I don't totally object to the caramel version but maybe this one would be a better release for fall instead of spring. This type of fragrance makes me think of spring more than other versions that have been offered. This one is a hit for me!

photo courtesy of Sephora

DKNY Be Delicious Candy Apple Fragrance Collection

DKNY has released three new versions of their best-selling Be Delicious fragrance. So far, we have the original, the Red version, the Night version, and the Blossom version, all of which I love (except the Night version). My favorite is the Fresh Blossom version of last spring so I am not all that excited for these new versions since I think that DKNY has pretty much covered their all their perfume bases. For this season, three new versions of the fragrance have been released and are known as the "Candy Apple Collection". This collection promises to be sweet and fruity and will either be loved or hated by the user.

The first fragrance is called Juicy Berry Candy Apple and based the appearance of the purple bottle, will contain some types of berry notes. "Creating a candy apple is about pairing the sweetness of candy with a juicy, ripe apple to create a crisp, irresistible surprise. Vibrant candy coating with the freshest apple at the core creates an undeniably tempting aroma. Satisfy your sweet tooth with Juicy Berry Candy Apple, a combination of blackberry and fresh apple blossoms wrapped in rose petals and sandalwood to create a truly delicious indulgence." I smelled this one last time that I was at Sephora. The blackberry was too strong and the rest of the notes were simply sweet and indistinguishable. I couldn't detect any rose note in this fragrance and overall, this one is a large "No" for me.

The second fragrance is called Sweet Caramel Candy Apple and is housed in a bright green bottle. "Creating a candy apple is about pairing the sweetness of candy with a ripe, juicy apple to create a crisp, irresistible surprise. Vibrant candy coating with the freshest apple at the core creates an undeniably tempting aroma. DKNY has perfected this pairing using the very best ingredients and juiciest notes. Satisfy your sweet tooth with Sweet Caramel Apple, a perfect blend of apple and delicate flowers, topped with creamy caramel and delectable vanilla." I didn't get over to the tester of this one but this sounds as though it would be the fragrance that I would like the most from the collection. However, even this one doesn't have me all that excited.

The last fragrance is called Ripe Raspberry Candy Apple and is housed in a red bottle. "Creating a candy apple is about pairing the sweetness of candy with a ripe, juicy apple to create a crisp, irresistible surprise. Vibrant candy coating with the freshest apple at the core creates an undeniably tempting aroma. Satisfy your sweet tooth with Ripe Raspberry Candy Apple, a scrumptious blend of green apple and raspberry with floral touches. A finishing accent of Coca-Cola makes this scent the ultimate treat." I didn't get to the tester of this scent either but I don't like raspberry notes so I already can tell that I would pass on this one.

My thoughts? These fragrances look (and the purple one) smell as though they were made for teenagers, I just feel that I would find these types of fragrances at Victoria's Secret in their Beauty Rush line or at Bath and Body Works. I think that DKNY has overreached themselves in how popular that they think their fragrances are. I think that these fragrances will appeal to a younger audience and I have no doubt that they will sell but I still prefer the floral and the original versions of the fragrance.

photo courtesy of Sephora

DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom

The entire spring of my junior year of college, I wore DKNY’s Be Delicious fragrance almost religiously. Out of my entire perfume collection at the time, I found myself reaching for it almost every single day, which is quite a feat in a collection the size of mine. Not surprisingly, I went through the bottle much quicker than I have any others in the past. Since then I have always intended to get myself another bottle and I discovered that I like the Red Delicious fragrance almost as much as the original (the Night version not so much), but somehow I have just never gotten around to it. Partly, this is due to the fact that I have so much perfume already and I have been trying in vain to use some of it down before I end up with a collection of alcohol in pretty jars instead of perfume.

The original Be Delicious is light and fresh and apple scented without being overwhelming. Here is the description of the fragrance from Sephora, “A modern feast for the senses. Served in a sleek metal and glass apple bottle, this juicy fragrance combines the scent of apple with a sophisticated blend of exotic flowers and sensual woods. Like the city that inspired it, Be Delicious celebrates individuality with refreshing spirit.” And here are the notes of the fragrance, “American Apple, Cucumber, Grapefruit, Candid Magnolia, Tuberose, White Muguet, Rose, Violet, Sandalwood, Tender Skin Accord, Blonde Woods, White Amber.” This scent is the perfect blend of fruits and light floral and the bottle is fantastic. The ironic part is that I never would have tried anything with this many fruit notes in it had I not been given a sample of this when buying some other fragrance. I learned then that sometimes it pays off to break of out of my comfort zone.

Red Delicious is slightly less on the fresh side and more on the heavier and full bodied side of this kind of fragrance. It has less of crispness and seems to be richer in tone. Here is the description of the scent from the Sephora site, “DKNY introduces a second bite of temptation with a new, limited-edition scent. Aptly named DKNY Red Delicious, this sexy fragrance is a bit more daring, a bit more tantalizing - completely irresistible. A glittering champagne accord shimmers with exotic lychee, while red raspberry flirtatiously mingles with crisp apple. The heart intensifies with rich, velvety rose combined with lush notes of drenched violet petals, evolving to a rich, sensual blend of vanilla bean crushed with warm patchouli and a luminous amber note. Capping off the sultry experience, a sensual skin accord mixes with raspberry for a soft kiss of sweetness.” And here are the notes, “Champagne Accord, Lychee, Red Raspberry, Apple, Rose, Vanilla Bean, Patchouli, Amber, Sensual Skin Accord, Raspberry.” This one is listed as a “floral oriental” instead of a citrus and that is evident with the vanilla bean, patchouli, and amber notes that make up the base of the fragrance.

But to my excitement, DKNY has introduced a new version of this fragrance this spring. It is called DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom and it falls more on the floral side of the fragrance spectrum without losing the crispness of the original. The bottle is the same shape but it is pale pink instead of bright green or red. I think that this was the most exciting fragrance launch for me so far this spring. Sephora has been sold out of this fragrance ever since I first saw it and I am really excited that the website has restocked. Hers is the description from the website, “DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom is a radiant new fragrance that marries freshness, vibrancy, and femininity. A blend of sparkling grapefruit, cassis, and sunkissed apricot meets a blooming floral heart of sheer muguet and petally rose wrapped in luminous jasmine. A base of juicy apple, mingled with lingering blond woods and smooth skin accord, completes the irresistibly sensual experience of the essence.” And the notes are right here, “Grapefruit, Cassis, Apricot, Muguet, Rose, Jasmine, Apple, Blond Woods, Smooth Skin Accord.” This version is the heaviest on the rose and that is what makes it my favorite of the three.

I really must go and get the new fragrance as soon as I can. But thinking it over, the new fragrance makes me want the original and the original makes me want the Red version. Dear DKNY…you have roped me in like you will never know with this fragrance line…Love, Erin.
photo courtesy of Sephora