(Review) Prada La Femme Intense Women Fragrance

In 1913, brothers Mario Prada and Martino Prada established the iconic Italian fashion house, Prada. They had started the business with their last name. It was a leather goods shop in Milan, Italy, which gradually became one of the most famed and powerhouse fashion houses globally.

About Prada

Over the years, the house of Prada has slowly diversified its range of products. Presently, the fashion house offers leather handbags, shoes, jewellery, ready-to-wear apparel, perfumes, and travel accessories. Undeniably a top contender to become the number one brand in the fashion industry, they still maintain their headquarters in Milan. They have a loyal customer base globally who would walk through hell with them.

I am one such ardent follower of the brand. I have been following Prada since my teenage years. They have never failed to surprise me with their ever-growing collection of iconic products. I have a plethora of products in my closet, thanks to the house of Prada. I am an impulsive buyer who is always out for more. I frequently attempt to change my signature perfume because I think it becomes dull after a year or two.

Thus, I go berserk if I cannot change my fragrance as per my need and taste.

I was perfume-hunting online when I saw the bottle that caught my eyes. The bottle to remarkably similar to one of the perfumes I had used.

The perfume packaging

But, the liquid inside the bottle seemed to be of a darker shade. So, I clicked on it to satisfy my curiosity. It seemed like the “Prada La Femme for Women” that was released by Prada in 2016. However, it was “Prada La Femme Intense for Women” released by Prada in 2017. How had I never heard of this perfume even though I follow them loyally? I figured I might have ignored it earlier since I do not like upgrades to the fragrances that I have already used. Yet, I was staring at the screen.

Oh, well! I decided I should give it a try since I cannot find anything else to my liking. So, I ordered the perfume through JohnLewis.com. There were three variants available through JohnLewis.com. A 100 ml (3.4 fl. oz.) variant costing around £119.50, a 50 ml (1.7 fl. oz.) variant priced at £83.50, and a 35 ml (1.2 fl. oz.) variant which costs around £59.00. I contemplated whether I should splurge money on this perfume at all. I looked up the price of the regular Prada La Femme Eau de Parfum and Prada La Femme Eau de Toilette. The Prada La Femme Intense was more expensive than both Eau de Parfum and Eau de Toilette that I had used earlier. Without fretting too much, I decided to purchase it anyway since I already like the brand and the older version of the perfume.

I was not sure what to expect when I received the product. I tore open the initial packaging to find the red and white box of the perfume. The box had a white-red-white stripe. On the front, the red stripe contained the words “LA FEMME PRADA” and “Milano” in golden letters, along with the logo. The “INTENSE” seemed engraved on a golden stripe in red colour. The lower white stripe contained “Eau de Parfum,” “Vaporisateur Spray,” and “35 ml 1.2 FL OZ” in golden letters. Yeah, I ordered the cheapest bottle since I was not too sure of my choice yet. I did not want to pay an outrageous price without trying it first. The red stripes of the other sides of the box had the perfume’s name and brand’s logo engraved in the same colour.

The semi-circular area of the cross-section of the bottled seemed uncannily similar to the older version of the bottle. Yes, the bottle looked dull.

There was no creativity in the bottle at all. It looked exactly like the older versions of the perfume. The front end of the bottle contained “Prada” and “Milano” in golden letters, along with the brand’s logo. It had nothing else. The curved back of the body was covered in a fabric-like its predecessors. The fabric contained the words on the front end, but it was engraved within the fabric and it had a similar colour. It has a regular golden cap on the bottle. So, the bottle was a massive disappointment.

The Scent

I could easily detect the ylang-ylang from the first couple of spritz from the bottle. But, I did not recognise the fruity and citrusy frangipani on the top note initially. The transition from the top note to the middle note, where there were tuberose, jasmine sambac, and orange blossom was certainly sweet. Soon, the base notes started to set in and the smoky, woody aroma was amusing. A mixture of patchouli, vetiver, vanilla, and the iris was not what I was expecting. The earthy cool smell seemed right. I loved the fragrance. It was an excellent upgrade. The genius German perfumer, Daniela (Roche) Andrier, surely outdid herself with this masterful creation.

I used it for a couple of days to judge the silage and longevity. Boy, I was pleasantly startled. The fragrance had insanely powerful longevity, which makes it suitable for all seasons. Plus, the stunning silage will make anyone realise that you were in the room even after you are gone.

It is very easy for me to recommend the fragrance to anyone I know. Where else would anyone find a floral perfume suitable for all seasons that last so long?

Conclusion

Here are my preferred ratings for this exceptional fragrance by Prada:

Fragrance       9/10
Bottle           6/10
Longevity       9/10
Silage           8/10
Overall       8/10

Here is a quick summary of my review of the Prada La Femme Intense for Women (2017) by Prada to cut a long story short.

The Pros are:

It is from a world-famous fashion house.
It has an attention-grabbing and enchanting scent.
It has remarkable longevity.
The smell is not overpowering or headache-inducing.
The silage is impressive.

The Cons are:

The bottle is a replica of the older version. So zero creativity.
It is overpriced.