Love Don't Be Shy Extreme (Limited Edition) Eau de Parfum

Every once in awhile I am sharply reminded that not everyone around me loves fragrance, such as is the case today when I gushed to my sister-in-law about my new Kilian perfume. "Never heard of it," she said. "Never heard of what?" I asked, still not 'getting it' that she had never heard of the house of Kilian... and then I realized, and I laughed. I have become so immersed in this land of perfume that it seemed unfathomable for a moment that someone hadn't heard of Kilian. Hearing or reading the name mentioned nearly every single day in perfume chats, research, or online, the name has become a part of my everyday vocabulary (and with good reason). But I do realize I am floating around on a scent cloud these days. So, if you are one of those people who has not yet heard of Kilian, let me introduce you to one of the most elegant luxury perfume lines in the world: Kilian.

This is not my first purchase of Kilian, but it is tied in my top favored spot (with its OG counterpart: Love Don't be Shy) and I like them both so much I would never be able to pick a favorite between the two. Love Don't be Shy Extreme was only on the market for a limited time (though rumor has it that it may be returning at some point), so imagine my excitement when I came across it online at Sephora. It was in my cart faster than you can say, 'luxurious self-care' and on my doorstep a few days later. Today I saw it online at Saks Fifth Avenue, Nieman Marcus and Nordstrom too, so it's not off of the market, even though you can't find it at the moment on the Kilian website (being as it is a limited edition).

Similar to the original LDBS, LDBS Extreme Eau de Parfum settles in with a very sweet scent that envelopes you in a fragrant bubble of bliss. It is not as sweet as the original (but it is still very sweet), and the juice is a different color (yellow vs. pinky/salmon). Like I noted (no pun intended), I love them both though, and hope to always have each of them in my collection.  The key notes here are Neroli, Orange Blossom, Rose and Marshmallow. It is very well blended, as all Kilian's are, and it's the marshmallow that does it for me. I'm a sucker for a sweet, sugary marshmallow scent, but only if it's done right (and it rarely is). Kilian's got it though...this is the best marshmallow perfume I have ever had the privilege to wear, and I've tried quite a few of them from different perfume houses.

Presentation is everything with items from Kilian. The white and gold bottle is heavy. It looks and feels luxurious. The lacquered white sides have intricate engravings on them. It's the kind of bottle you want to keep, long after the fragrance is gone. When you open the book-style box, you'll find this beautiful bottle nestled very carefully into a molded opening where it stays safe during shipping or storing. This bottle is too pretty to keep tucked away though. I've got mine on a tray, on a dresser so I can see it every time I walk by. The room its in is dark and cool (which is how I've been told you're supposed to store your perfume). I put on just a couple of sprays and they last well throughout most of the work day, with a good projection the first couple of hours. A fainter scent trail is left behind later in the day. It's still delicious though, even when a few hours pass and it is left sitting very close to the skin.

Love Don't be Shy Extreme is a little pricey, but it is also worth every cent. Kilian is one of the perfume houses I have come to respect most. They have so many high quality, gorgeous scents. The Narcotics line seems to be my favorite, and that is where this one is categorized. Admittedly though, it's also the category from Kilian of which I am most familiar.

The five categories are The Cellars, The Fresh, The Liquors, The Narcotics, and The Smokes. I have tried scents from every category except The Fresh, though there is one from that section that is on my to-try-soon list.

I'm so very happy that this fragrance landed on my doorstep this weekend. What a great way it's given me, to start my work week tomorrow. If you haven't tried Kilian, I'm a fan of the old saying, 'there's no time like the present.' Get your nose on these fragrances sooner rather than later, and if you love a nice sweet scent, with just a touch of freshness to it, be sure to try the Love Don't be Shy Extreme. It is a gourmand lovers dream.