Sous le sign... Dragone

Hello dear ones, I have only been able to test VIW in-store so far and was immediately smitten... Problem: I like to use 8-10 sprays, and the price is really too steep for that. So, a dear perfume friend, because I was looking for a cheaper alternative, sent me a decant from a brand that only makes dupes of well-known fragrances. Once again, I was head over heels. The problem with the whole thing: the sprays are said to be a complete disaster and the biggest drawback: after 3 hours, it can barely be detected on my skin :( So I asked here in the forum what alternatives there are and decided on Gorse for the low price of 100 ml and ordered it blindly. About the scent: the opening is definitely a bit different from VIW, as I get lemon along with the lime here... after 5 minutes, the coconut comes in, which apparently isn't coconut at all, but I can clearly and strongly smell it. I don't perceive any spiciness, like cardamom. Now we come to the drydown: here I recognize 95% no difference to VIW, except that in Gorse the coconut note is a bit more present, or it comes across as a bit creamier, while the citrus notes are definitely still noticeable. Regarding longevity: I get a good 6-7 hours, which is completely sufficient and even good for this type of fragrance. The sillage is also good in the first 2-3 hours :-) I absolutely do not regret the purchase and am waiting for the sun to finally come out again so I can enjoy it to the fullest, because this scent screams sunshine for me. I feel directly transported to spring/summer, and for me, it is an absolute "feel-good" fragrance. It will definitely be my summer scent for 2021 :-) Updated on 04/11/2021

It seems a proper review of Gorse can't proceed without an inevitable comparison with the well-known perfume that alot of others compare it to. I hope you enjoy my thoughts and thank you for watching.

Very similar to Virgin Island Water without the toilet water vibe that one gives me. This is also very similar to Cedro di Diamante but I get a harshness in the dry down with that one that Gorse doesn’t have. I’d say this is better quality than both of those scents. It’s a beautiful, clean, refined, refreshing, lemon/lime with a hint of coconut. The only problem with this one is I find it’s a skin scent. Perfect for summer and a really excellent buy for such a cheap price! I’ll be taking my sample on holiday with me to see how it performs in high heat, but this will likely be replacing my bottle of Cedro di Diamante

After so much time looking for something similar to VIW, I finally found it. Gorse is incredibly similar in my opinion. It makes me feel happy when I wear it, giving me that sensation of smiling and joy when you achieve something you've wanted for a long time! At first, it’s a bit more citrusy, but you can still perceive the similarity. However, in the dry down, OH MY GOD! It is wonderfully good. I can't stop smelling my hand where I tested it! I’ve compared it to VIW and honestly, I can't tell the difference in the dry down. I’m not saying: go buy it now! I just wanted to share my happiness with everyone since I've also read about many people looking for VIW alternatives, and maybe this will help. Of course, not everyone perceives scents the same way, so try it first before buying!

I am fairly neutral to this but the weird thing is I get an inordinate amount of desiccated coconut; and I don't like desiccated coconut it reminds me of horrible baked goods and nasty cheap biscuits you'd get from a corner shop. The coconut note is a massive turn off... ...to begin with, then, then it calms down and it is quite pleasant. But, that is fleeting as it settles to a fairly standard citrus scent, with this slightly sweaty cardamom. I feel like this has to be hot weather fragrance, and specifically over 24.C nothing under. I need to wear this during a really nice hot day, one of those rarefied perfectly hot days, where there's not a wisp of a cloud , in the sky and the breeze that is whistling through is both appealing and soothing. On one of those days I would love to wear this scent, preferably near a body of water and with some adult fruity drinks. I don't think I could wear this on a day where the sun is shy, or its the right season, and that's disappointing as I don't like to reserve fragrances for occasions or seasons. I feel like its a waste of a fragrance, and this is why I wouldn't want to spend money on buying this just for those rare days when its perfectly 'summer'. If I lived in a tropical or hot Mediterranean climate, I would spring for a bottle.