Star rating: 5 stars–outstanding/potential classic, 4 stars–very good, 3 stars–adequate, 2 stars–disappointing, 1 star–poor.
Jennifer Aniston, an American actress and the star of the popular “Friends” sitcom, is the latest celebrity to jump into the scented waters. While I give Jennifer Aniston Eau de Parfum 3 stars, when compared to other celebrity fragrances it probably should get all five. Instead of the expected candy bar and bubble gum compote, we instead get a silky white floral bouquet over a delicious sandalwood and musk base. The result is polished and comfortable, the fragrance equivalent of nicely fitting jeans. Given that a perfect pair of jeans is an important piece in anyone’s wardrobe, having a perfume to convey the same impression is not such a bad thing at all. Not every single perfume needs to be the equivalent of an haute couture gown.
The initial impression of Jennifer Aniston is that of a milky white floral, touched with a fresh green note. The floral accord suggests both the warmth of jasmine and the crisp richness of gardenia, while the citrusy notes give the white floral bouquet a sparkling quality. As the composition dries down, the base of sandalwood and white musk foils the flowers in a hazy veil. Wearing Jennifer Aniston, I am reminded of Indian sandalwood soap with its sweet woody, creamy perfume.
Clean, musky white florals are, of course, a well-known and popular genre, and they fit the girl-next-door allure that made Aniston famous. Jennifer Aniston perfume has the clean, innocent aura of Cacharel Anaïs Anaïs and Sung by Alfred Sung. The sensation suggested by the musky floral composition would be perfect for those who love a just-out-of-the-shower sensation in fragrance.
My main qualm with Jennifer Aniston and the reason why I gave it only three stars has to be the longevity of the fragrance. While my other favorite musky floral Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely wears like a silk slip—light, yet with a rich sillage, Jennifer Aniston feels a bit thin. Also, as it dries down, the sharp note of sandalwood begins to dominate on my skin, conveying a rough impression of raw silk. Overall, however, it is a nicely done white floral, and for those who enjoy clean, musky florals like Cartier de Lune, Parfums de Nicolaï Odalisque and Vera Wang Sheer Veil, it might be just right.
Jennifer Aniston Eau de Parfum includes notes of citrus, rose water, jasmine, lily, violet, sandalwood, golden amber, musk. It is currently available from Sephora. (1oz/30ml–$39; 1.7oz/50ml–$55, 2.9oz/87ml–$70.)
Sample: my own acquisition
29 Comments
key change: I sniffed this at sephora the other day, and was vaguely reminded of the scent of religious people–either a church, a mosk, or some other quiet place of worship. It smelled nice, but evoked something that I don’t think is my sort of “thing” to convey. Still though, a welcome departure from typical celebrety scents for sure! April 6, 2011 at 11:00am
dleep: I tried this last night and while I quite like it, it reminds me very much of Child. I wonder if anybody gets this similarity. As for the staying power I could smell it on myself all night. April 6, 2011 at 11:51am
mals86: I’ve been annoyed about this thing ever since JA went on record saying most perfumes are too perfumey and inappropriate for modern times (or something like that, I’m paraphrasing). I mean, I don’t mind a nice soap&flowers kind of scent – that’s very much what my mother likes, and like you, I’ve smelled a Lot Worse, particularly in the celebuscent genre. But why bother, when the market is full of quiet woody white florals? As a matter of fact, I rather like Marc Jacobs Daisy, frequently used as an example of What’s Wrong with Modern Mainstream Perfumery. But really, hasn’t this angle been done to death?
This makes me unreasonably cranky. And knowing that I’m being unreasonable doesn’t really help.
(S by Shakira was not all that bad, by the way: it smells very cheap, like your average drugstore thing, or Avon, but it’s a pleasant, quiet jasmine scent with synthetic sandalwood, nowhere near the gooey confection that is the current version of Samsara.)
I think I will just go on haunting the independent perfumers’ websites, and leave poor Ms Aniston alone. Sonoma Scent Studio just released a new floral… and DSH has a new floral chypre out, too… April 6, 2011 at 9:18am
minette: you totally nailed it with the indian soap reference (the brown-wrapped soaps at whole foods) – i kept trying to place what felt familiar about this one, and i think you may have found it!
i also find this to be a very casual scent – very easy-going – like a cotton shift over a swimsuit casual. i only wish the jasmine lasted longer – it goes to the egyptian musk oil theme almost too readily. April 6, 2011 at 1:37pm
Carla: I wore Odalisque the other day. I love it for spring. April 6, 2011 at 1:40pm
Victoria: Marc Jacobs Daisy is much better than Jennifer Aniston, IMO. It has a stronger character and more signature. This is just a nice musky floral. For a celebrity scent, it is a nice one though. Perhaps, this, more than anything, reveals my disillusionment about the celebuscents. April 6, 2011 at 12:39pm
Victoria: Perhaps, that is the woody musky notes, but I can see what you mean. The moment I smelled it, I thought about Indian Mysore brand sandalwood soap. My friend, who is originally from India, thought the same thing, when I gave some perfume to her to try. April 6, 2011 at 12:40pm
Victoria: I have not smelled Child in some time, but I recall it being much more tropical-fruity. Still, you are right, that tuberose-gardenia accord conveys a similar impression. Plus, the warm amber-sandalwood backdrop.
I smell it on me too for most of the day, I just wish it were richer. April 6, 2011 at 12:54pm
Victoria: Me too, I was wearing it last night and enjoying it very much. Another one of my favorite “second skin” or “soft cotton” perfumes. April 6, 2011 at 1:41pm
Victoria: Yes, those soaps wrapped in brown paper! I am with you on the white floral bouquet. I also wish that it lasted longer, because it is quite pretty. April 6, 2011 at 1:42pm
Elisa: Interestingly, I get a banana note out of both Daisy and Jennifer Aniston. I don’t think it’s intentional, but for me, it’s just there, saying “BANANA” quite legibly. April 6, 2011 at 2:09pm
Victoria: You are right on the mark with that banana comment. That’s the synthetic jasmine note (benzyl acetate). It smells like banana and is present naturally in jasmine and many other flowers. I smell it too in JA (and even more in Daisy.) April 6, 2011 at 2:11pm
maggiecat: Celebrity scents aren’t my thing, but I do very much like this perfume. It doesn’t last long, at least the floral part doesn’t – but that’s my only complaint. I enjoy it and find myself reaching for it on a default basis, or when I need a scent that I love to wear to meetings, outings, etc. where I don’t want to hurt anyone. Sure, they could have spent more on the ingredients and gotten even better – but the scent’s affordable, and I like it and if it becomes popular, I’ll be happy (I work at a college and if one more person applies Flowerbomb in the ladies room, violence may ensue). April 6, 2011 at 7:16pm
Elisa: Oh, thanks! So good to be able to put a name to these smells. It’s in Michael Kors too. April 6, 2011 at 4:58pm
Victoria: It is one of the most common raw materials in perfumery, so it crops up in many floral bouquets and accords. One usually smells it the most in the top notes. April 6, 2011 at 6:17pm
Victoria: Flowerbomb has been my own nemesis lately. I have been suffocated by it on more than one occasion. Granted, I like the fragrance, but somehow I have been unlucky to find it in large quantities on others. 🙂
You are right about JA. For days, when you need something pleasant and unoffensive, it will do the trick. April 6, 2011 at 7:21pm
mals86: Interesting! I can smell it faintly but it doesn’t seem to intrude on my consciousness. April 7, 2011 at 9:51am
Katrina: I would love to try Jennifer Aniston’s fragrance but due to the limited availability outside US & UK I haven’t been able to. Will it eventually be released worldwide?
Now that I’ve read your reviews I’m dying to try it! April 9, 2011 at 7:54am
shapewear: Jennifer Aniston is my favorite! I really didn’t know she has a perfume like that. Maybe because its only limited edition. But I would love to try it! April 11, 2011 at 10:36am
Victoria: I think that it is exclusive to Sephora for the time being, but then it should be released wider (provided it does well!) April 11, 2011 at 8:11pm
Victoria: Sephora carries it, and there is even a program online on Sephora website through which you can get a free sample mailed to you. Do try it! April 11, 2011 at 8:11pm
Camille: I thought it was underwhelming and lasted for about 10mins. I swapped mine away with relief. May 10, 2012 at 2:47pm
Jennifer D: I thought the scent was absolutely gorgeous; but it only lasted about 10 minutes on me, too. I would immediately buy another bottle, if JA and her team fix the longevity problem. Most reviews I’ve read, on several different sites have this same complaint, while a scant few say it stays on the skin for them. I wonder if we are getting good batches vs. “bad” ones. September 4, 2014 at 9:24am
cindy redden: Iam a hugh jennifer fan. wanted her cologne so bad that i took a big swallow and paid the 69.00 price. love the smell but after 15 minutes it was gone! reapplied and again after 15 minutes…no smell. we live pay check to pay check so the purchased of that was hard. so disappointed! she has all the money she could ever need. why would you waste your hard earned money on something that knock off scents out last. sorry jennifer. fan of you but not a fan of your cologne. needs staying power!! save your money people. October 12, 2012 at 12:10pm
typeogirl: I so hate to say it. I despise this perfume. First, there is zero lasting power. None. 10 minutes MAX. Second, it smells soapy and clean, not in a good way. Like in you just went into the department store bathroom that was just cleaned and you smell that industrial soapy bleachy cleanser smell. Gross. April 24, 2013 at 10:48am
Domestic Goblin: Am trying to decide whether to try Jennifer Aniston or Beach by Bobbi Brown… October 9, 2013 at 4:31pm
Victoria: I like Beach more, but both are fun, easy to wear white florals. October 9, 2013 at 4:36pm
typeogirl: go for Beach. it’s really nice. it has that sort of beachy coppertone-y-ness to it. I think you will like it. October 9, 2013 at 5:35pm
Ann: I just saw this on sale for $15, so giving it a whirl, thanks for the review 🙏🏻 May 14, 2017 at 9:30pm