In Control Curious by Britney Spears

Terrible longevity; it smells like licorice sweets soaked in liquor, too alcoholic… for those who think it resembles Bonbon by V&R, tell them to look elsewhere as they have nothing in common. It’s absolutely not worth it, not even for the low price it can be found at. If you want something similar to Bonbon, go for Bonbon and forget this fragrance as it can be quite disappointing.

I would like to know if it’s true that it resembles Bonbon.

But look who I have here: In Control from Curious. This is one of my perfumes that never runs out; well, there have been seasons when I did without it to acquire others and try other jewels, but no more than 2 years without using it. It came out as a limited edition that apparently became permanent, although its purchase in Spain has to be online; you won’t find it in perfumeries… it already cost a fortune in 2010, imagine 10 years later. The first time I was gifted this perfume was in 2010, on my 18th birthday; it was the old format and came with the atomiser shown on this page in pink, a treat but uncomfortable to the point of being unbearable as they broke easily and weren’t very useful, believe me, I ended up pouring the perfume directly from the bottle. This perfume, unlike other Britney Spears scents, has not been reformulated, or at least that’s how I perceive it. The top is citrus, red fruits, and a slight tropical touch, I would say, but it evaporates in 10 minutes to make way for tonka bean and vanilla. The trail isn’t very potent; only those very close to you will perceive it; longevity on skin is about 4-7 hours, depending on the season; I perceive it more in winter, as it lingers longer and intensifies more. A perfume for the day; to its nocturnal appearance, I wouldn’t wear it to a dinner, however, yes for a morning outing on a Sunday or a meal on a Saturday, but not for a night out, as its trail and longevity aren’t very potent. This perfume would be a marvel if they enhanced these flaws to my liking; the scent is truly a marvel if you like sweets; it’s not a glutton. Forget about trying to find an old bottle with the atomiser as they changed it a few months after release, a joy as it is much more comfortable. A jewel of our Brit, not very massified; I wear it for work in winter as it is subtle, vanilla-like, and talcum-powdery, which is a scent that makes you feel warm in cold seasons.

This fragrance has become one of my favourites; it is very rich. At first, the top is quite alcoholic, but only for a moment; afterwards, the sweet notes arrive and the dry down is what I like most, a subtle and warm vanilla. Although I would recommend it for night outings, it has worked quite well for the day; it’s not overwhelming, it is quite soft. Unlike the Fantasies, I feel this perfume is more mature, without losing the coquettishness that characterises Britney’s fragrances. On the other hand, if it is very similar to Bonbon by Viktor&Rolf, as some have already said; in fact, when I first smelled Bonbon, it was because a friend was wearing it and it immediately reminded me of some Britney fragrance; I asked and she said it was by V&R; afterwards I learned about In Control Curious and knew I wasn’t entirely lost; they resemble each other quite a bit, which seems quite good given the price of this one.

Curious In Control is a lovely, usable gourmand for women who aren’t teenagers. I’m new to the gourmand world and the truth is, this little bottle has me completely enchanted. In my perception, it’s extremely similar to Bon Bon by Viktor & Rolf, of course less intense, but the price compensates for it, as you need to reapply during the day. Of all Britney perfumes, this is the only one I’ve liked. I hope to try more soon.

I can’t decide whether to keep this perfume… I bought it blind without a tester and almost took the Rihanna Rebelle that I loved, but I followed my intuition. I adore vanilla, crème brûlée, and the notes, but it just doesn’t quite convince me. The opening is very alcoholic with fruity notes like mango or peach, then the vanilla and tonka bean kick in; it smells boozy, creamy, and subtle, like that boozy Argentine dessert. I like the dry-down and the final phase, but the opening is horrible. It’s sexy, warm, and charming, sweet but with that boozy touch that makes it distinct. It lasts a long time, with heavy projection for the first five hours and then skin scent for another five. I see it as versatile for autumn/winter, day or night, more elegant than Fantasy. In spring, only for night due to its warmth, and in summer I wouldn’t wear it as it’s too overpowering. The bottle is ugly in person, black with a pink cap and difficult to hold, but the box is beautiful and very feminine. I’m going to try it in different instances to find what everyone says. I give it a 7.5 or 8 out of 10 and might edit later.

I’m a fan of the Britney Spears line, but I must confess that this perfume doesn’t quite convince me. I love sweet scents for winter and this was a blind buy. Although it contains all the ingredients I love, it doesn’t smell good on my skin. I admit it has very good longevity; a few applications are enough to last a long time. I’ll give it a second chance this winter season.

Curious In Control is the only true flanker in the line; Curious Heart is just the same perfume in a Valentine’s Day bottle. Despite being a ‘limited edition’, it’s been on the market for 10 years and seems intact. According to Basenotes, it features kumquat, orchid, crème brûlée, vanilla, tonka, sandalwood and musk. It’s a daring and wild gourmand, like a plutonium candy, yet more homely and traditional than Fantasy, which is explosive and synthetic. In Control is a simple, relaxed homemade dessert. It begins with alcoholic kumquat giving way to creamy, crisp crème brûlée, then vanilla, sandalwood and a touch of sugary musk. After several applications, an elegant floral facet of orchid emerges, similar to Tom Ford Black Orchid, with a deep powdery finish. The black bottle with the rose evokes sensuality and childish coquetry, not carnal desire. The trail is moderate and the longevity extensive, surpassing the original. I recommend the bottle with the classic sprayer, as the Australian ones leaked easily.

A very sweet scent that smells delicious. Vanilla predominates and then a certain boozy note is noticeable. It’s great for night.

Well yes, you can buy blind, just like I did with Midnight Fantasy and I didn’t like it at all. I also want to buy the Hidden Fantasy; I already have the Fantasy the Nice Remix and I loved it very much, do you know if there’s anything similar? I love the JLO Live, does it resemble that one? My email is [email protected] so you can reply and tell me if it’s really better than all of them, as I’ve read.

My mum uses this perfume, I gave it to her for her birthday. Despite her age, it lasts her a very long time, I agree with verynices: it has no age limit. The scent opens with a burst of fruit that disappears quickly, in 30 seconds, and then the main notes appear for hours: vanilla, gummies, and orchid. At the end it closes with a touch of musk. The longevity is moderate to heavy if overapplied. Very good perfume, congratulations to Claude Dir.

This is my favourite Britney perfume, even though I’m not a fan of the brand. It’s a flanker of the original Curious, but they have nothing to do with each other. The original is fresh, floral and synthetic; this one is sweet, strong, creamy, balsamic and gourmand, like very ripe fruit with a hint of liquor and a crème brûlée accord. I love mixing it with Dalal by Al-Rehab or Amber Romance by VS; they blend perfectly. The only drawback is the atomiser: it doesn’t last long and the trail is weak, so I mix it.

Sweet, yet distinct from Fantasy. As a man, I find it addictive and can’t help but want to stay close to smell it. The vanilla is very noticeable and lingers until the end, alongside the tonka bean and the sweetness. Ideal for winter, though it can be worn in summer, projecting better at night.