Always Red by Elizabeth Arden

Giorgio Armani’s ‘Si’ was my signature for years, and nowadays I wear it from time to time. I read that this ‘Always Red’ was a clone of Si, so I bought it blindly; if it was true, I’d definitely like it, haha. Indeed, it is a clone; the longevity isn’t the same as Armani’s, but it ‘sorts you out’ if you like that scent. Excellent value for money.

I was keen to try something from Elizabeth Arden, an old house, but couldn’t find anything that caught my eye until I found this and liked the notes. I bought it blindly. The opening is very strong, a bomb of grapefruit and passion fruit. It makes me feel unwell, which is rare for me. But after 5 to 10 minutes, those strong notes disappear to give way to more pleasant floral notes, and finally a dry down where praline and amber predominate, though in the background I still feel that sting I don’t like. I think it’s not for me. It has excellent longevity for an Eau de Toilette; the initial trail is brutal and afterwards it’s moderate. I don’t know Armani’s Si, so I can’t compare it.

I love this perfume; it surprised me greatly. It has a good trail and longevity, and it reminds me a lot of Armani’s Si and Miss Dior Absolutely Blooming. For its price, it’s a gem 😍

It’s a perfume I recently acquired and it has surprised me. Excellent longevity and good trail. The notes of plum, rose, and praline are quite noticeable. I find it elegant and subtle. It seems more suitable for evening and autumn-winter, but I wear it during the day too.

What an exquisiiiite perfume! A blend of cedarwood and passion fruit is what I feel, like a subtle incense. I put it on at 7:00 in the morning and it’s 6:00 in the evening and I can still smell it. Elizabeth Arden perfumes surprise me more and more every day. I haven’t tried Si; if it’s better, it should be! Wow! I fall over backwards! But for the price, it’s worth it; the trail and longevity are very good. Happy I bought it blindly!!!!!!

Brutal longevity, easily lasting over 12 hours, and it’s an exquisite toilet water. I recommend it 100%.

Very similar to Si, but at a ridiculous price point with top-tier quality. On my skin, the rose and amber come through strongly. The notes are well-balanced; while most wear it in cooler weather, it suits me perfectly in spring or summer evenings in Chile. I wear it day and night, for chill outings or more serious occasions. A blind buy that turned out wonderful: the price-to-quality ratio is a win-win.

Deep and cosy, like a warm embrace on a freezing day. I detect praline, plum, and a very similar opening to Armani Si. It’s not the same, but it follows the same line. Elegant, sophisticated, and priced insanely well. Beautiful bottle, what more could you ask for? Simply superb!

A sharp opening that dries down in half an hour to a rich, sweet scent with passion fruit and plum. Lasts for hours on skin and days on clothes. The price-to-quality ratio is good, but I wouldn’t repurchase due to that strong opening. I liked it, but I didn’t fall in love. Suitable only for very cold days. A good Elizabeth Arden perfume.

The moment you try it, it smells exactly the same (just stronger) as Armani Si.

Only the dry-down smells similar to Giorgio Armani Si. The Always Red isn’t as liqueur-like (fortunately), has less patchouli, is sweeter, with the same sillage and longevity.

It’s a more affordable alternative to Armani Si. Being budget-friendly doesn’t mean it’s poor quality; what truly surprises me is how similar it turns out to be.

I’ve always walked past Elizabeth Arden perfumes, but this one has won me over. I rarely write reviews as I’m not good at describing fragrances, but I can say this eau de toilette is utterly intoxicating. Seeing praliné in the notes initially made me recoil; I hate the gourmand trend as it repels some people. However, the praliné adds a deep touch that ensures longevity. The lasting power and projection are astonishing. I wear it in the morning before work and it’s still noticeable by evening. It reminds me slightly of Armani Si, though this is less sweet. I think it’s better suited for colder seasons; it’s quite intense and I can’t imagine wearing it on a 40-degree summer day. In short, I’ve loved it, bought the 30ml bottle, and I plan to repurchase.