Red Temptation Elixir Parfum by Zara

First things first, I bought the normal Red Temptation. I’m not anti-Zara or a snob, but this is another story. If you dress in Zara, no matter how well you pull it off, anyone with a fashion eye knows it’s not designer clothing. The same goes for this Elixir: it tries to mimic that ‘high-end’ level and sophistication, yet still costs just £25.95. The takeaway? It tries to smell expensive, but it smells synthetic and artificial in a way that puts people off. The difference with the original is that this version tries to amp everything up with components that give it a cheap feel. If you wear it in a sophisticated way, for dinner or out to those more ‘posh’ places, you’ll smell like a chav or a 15-year-old rich girl. It’s obvious at a glance that it’s a super cheap fragrance (SHEIN vibes), and someone with class won’t wear this for the night. In short, if you like it, buy it; it smells good within the Zara context, but it’s not elegant as others claim. It’s for a drink with friends in the afternoon, not dinner with your partner.

Just to put it out there, I like Zara perfumes, but this one smells weird to me. Like a mix of a rich village church, something that’s burnt but isn’t wood, and some kind of hydrogen peroxide… It lasts forever. I see it lists coriander and wonder if that has anything to do with the reaction it produces in some people.

The Elixir is rounder, very well blended, and doesn’t give me the headache the original did. I love it and can’t wait for the cold weather to wear it on a special night. It smells tremendously elegant and lasts on the skin for eternity. It’s warm, mysterious, and alluring. It has more praline sweetness than the original, but it isn’t a perfume you’d consider ‘sweet’ or cloying; on the contrary, it’s woody. It’s one of those perfumes that leaves a mark, with great personality, perfect for a confident woman or a boss. What a perfume.

I tried to buy the BR540 and it didn’t last, which is why I decided not to spend that much. That said, I’ve had the original Red Temptation for ages and miraculously it lasts forever and I love it. I bought this version blindly thinking it would last longer, and although it’s hardly different and resembles the BR extract more, it lasts less than the EDP version. Still, I think it’s a very good perfume and economical. I’m going against the grain, I know, but on my skin, it works like this.

Excellent value for money. It easily lasts over 12 hours, and two sprays are more than enough. It has a darker, more mysterious scent profile than Baccarat Rouge 540, and certainly much more potent. I’ve been wearing it for a month now and there is polarisation in the reviews; some adore it while others hate it. Personally, I believe it has great class, although it isn’t a conventional perfume. I recommend trying it before buying.

Stronger and longer-lasting than the first Red Temptation. It resembles the BR540 extrait and Mancera’s Instant Crush. It lasts all day, ideal for cold weather. It shines most in winter.

I don’t understand the fuss about Zara’s Red Temptations being excellent dupes of my beloved Baccarat Rouge 540. My desire to get Baccarat at a bargain price led me to believe everything read online, and the truth is, what a disappointment. And with this Elixir version, even more so than the rest of the range (though I’ve bought them all, and this is the one that recalls it most), it simply doesn’t resemble it! It has a super alcoholic opening, takes time to settle, and after a while I understand why people say it resembles BC540: they are just a few shared accords. As I said, it may recall it, but do not buy this if you expect it to smell like the wonderful wonder that is Baccarat. Forget about it entirely.

Perfume bomb!!! You can clearly tell it’s the Elixir version by its concentration and longevity, and yes, it’s practically identical to the traditional Red Temptation, but with that wonderful praline. If you like the Red Temptation, it’s a safe buy.

Absolutely worth every penny; it far surpasses the original Red Temptation.