Fabulosity is the latest fragrance from Kimora Lee Simmons’ Baby Phat line. A representative from Coty described her first scent, Goddess, as “kitschy and over the top”; perhaps they were referring to the packaging and advertising, as I found it pretty standard fare: a fresh, clean-ish floral, fairly sheer yet still too sweet for my taste, and not particularly memorable (in fact, I believe I commented here recently that I had never tried it on skin, but I was wrong — there is a whole paragraph on it in my testing notes). Apparently, it “succeeded beyond anyone’s expectations”*, so there you are.
Fabulosity is the one I’d tag as over the top. Canada’s National Post recently described it as “…an out-of-control Mr. Soft Cone truck…crashing into a Kool-Aid stand”, and that’s pretty accurate for the top notes, which are mostly sweet, syrup-y fruit over a megadose of vanilla (the notes: plum, orange blossom, tiger lily, “mysterious forbidden fruit”, damask plum skin, Chinese osmanthus, coconut milk, purple violet, Tasmanian honey, vanilla absolute, patchouli and amber). Regular readers know that my tolerance for sweet fruit is minimal, so let’s just say that I did not enjoy Fabulosity’s opening.
Most of the drama is in the top notes, though. Fabulosity settles quickly, and then it’s a relatively quiet blend of unrecognizable floral notes, vanilla and warm woody musk. The coconut is subtle at most, but it does lend a creamy finish. Some of the fruit remains (and while it is plummy, I’m guessing the “mysterious forbidden fruit” is in fact a patented Grape Kool-Aid accord), but it isn’t overdone, in fact, my main complaint about Fabulosity’s dry down is that while it’s pleasant enough, it starts to verge on bland after 90 minutes or so.
Still, it’s a wearable enough fragrance. I wore it next to a random sample of new-ish celebrity fragrances, including Britney Spears Midnight Fantasy, Sean John Unforgivable Woman, Jennifer Lopez Deseo and Mariah Carey M, and Fabulosity more than held its own. The dry down is easily as sophisticated as any of those, perhaps even marginally more so. It goes without saying, I’d guess, that if you’re looking for elegance and sophistication, you can probably do better — and at the same price — by eschewing the celebrity name and looking elsewhere, but if you must have a celebrity name on your perfume, you’ll do as well with Kimora Lee Simmons as you will with anybody else.
Baby Phat Fabulosity is available in 50 and 100 ml Eau de Parfum and in matching body products. I haven’t seen it at any of the online discounters yet, but I’m sure it will get there eventually.
*Both quotes in the first paragraph are from Women’s Wear Daily, 2/1/2008.
29 Comments
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When I was a kid, I would go to Dairy Queen and order what basically amounts to a cherry slushee with a scoop of vanilla ice cream in the middle. This review made me want one of these in the worst way!
Make that slushee grape, and it is probably pretty close to the top notes of Fabulosity.
Luckily, she's unknown in the UK, and I've never seen her scents anywhere. Saved from at least one celebrity frag!
Not fair, since we have to have the Beckhams.
i can't be mad at the beckhams…david is a lot of fun to look at, lol. i'm so tired of celebrity perfumes smelling of candy and fruity syrup-where's the originality?? speaking of celebrity perfumes, i'm anxious to hear your review of unforgivable woman black. i smelled it today and was surprised that i didn't loathe it.
im wondering, is it really considered a celebrity scent if the celebrity in question has a lucrative fashion line that came before the frag? eg: sean john, gwen stefani (lamb), kimora lee simmons (baby phat)?
I'm with you on that, Vanillagirl – what kind of a word is “Phat” anyway?
Are you lucky enough to be based in London, by the way?
When reading your mild description Robin, I still feel both a toothache and stomach problems coming up..;)
That's a sharp description by Canada Post. This kind of scent brings out the snooty European in me (though we're responsible for the Beckhams, so I hardly have a leg to stand on).
I think it's a form of infantilism – all of this sugar and syrup stuff. The infantilisation of women. Plus, I have no desire to contribute to the coffers of Kimora whatever her name is or any of the other filthy rich celebs who are jumping on the scent bandwagon. Puh-leese!!!!
There is a discussion of the term “phat” in the comments to the announcement of this scent:
http://tinyurl.com/6gn34s
I didn't get a sample so no review coming soon…perhaps on my next mall trip if it isn't gone by them.
Silversheep — you will catch me out in my ignorance…she wasn't famous before her clothing line? I really have no idea. If she was, I'd certainly consider this a celeb scent, as I would Sean John or Gwen Stefani — I mean, those are “celeb” clothing lines, aren't they, e.g. that's why they have the clothing lines — not because they were brilliant clothing designers.
No, really, the toothache is all in the top notes. After that, it's drier than many other celeb scents.
Yes, it is a sharp description! But not off base. I know what you mean about the infantalisation of women, but this one, as I said in a comment above, is way less sweet after the top notes than most. That is a charge I might reserve for more candied things like Mariah Carey M with its marshmallow.
I'm just letting my inner snob run wild! I guess it's the notion of celebrity scents that irks me, as much as the (probably) harmless juice
I do see it as a cynical trend, but I'm as much of a consumerist sucker in my way, as anyone.
That is what I mean Robin, you are really mild on this one.
I don't think that I will have the occasion to try B.Ph.Fab.
Drier than many other celeb scents might be something good then.
As am I, certainly!
I sniffed this on a blotter card. I'm not really one that should comment on this fragrance because I know that it isn't marketed to me. I think the clothes are tacky, I think she is really rude, etc. I knew that it wouldn't be a disappointment because I knew that I wouldn't like it. I really disliked the other Baby Phat fragrances. But, I really dislike this one. I hate all things “grape”, I wouldn't even touch it as a child. The vanilla is overpowering and the dry down is boring. I felt like the Kool-Aid accord lasted for hours. It was an all around loser but what could I expect when a brand lists “mysterious forbidden fruit” as an accord?
Luckily the Kool Aid did not last hours on me, but can't argue w/ your conclusions!
Wow I'm getting tooth rot just by reading those notes.
I'm just trying to figure out when exactly the women of the world decided they wanted to smell like a dessert?
Its not sexy. Who ever fantasises about making love to a dessert?
I'm suprised that they haven't begun making fragrances that capture other foods besides sickly sweet desserts. But i'm sure it's only a matter of time before some weirdo launches “essence of hotdog”.
Personally, and in a weird way i've always wonderd what reaction i'd get if I wore a scent reminiscent of Taco Seasoning mix! Deliciously Hot and Spicy!
I do realise what I just wrote sounds very odd…
Essence of hotdog, LOL! Never say never…
Oh my freakin goodness! I went to Macy's to go get this yesterday, and my friend told me they had to RTV (Return to Vender) them! Nooooo! So freakin soon? This came out in April! No wonder its been gone from Macys' website! Maybe there was something wrong with them??? My friend said she was surprised because they were selling. What gives, Robin?
No idea, except that Macy's doesn't seem to be expanding the amount of space they devote to fragrance, and when you look at the pace of new releases, something's gotta give — they simply can't stock them all. So guess Fabulosity wasn't selling *enough*.
Ok, I figured out the mystery with this fragrance! Macy's pulled them so JC Penny's could sell them! Since JCPenny holds Kimmora Lee's “Fabulosity” clothing line, I guess they wanted the Fabulosity fragrance near. Don't see why both couldn't sell them…..
Aha, thanks!
YES! I got a brand new in box 3.4 oz Fabulosity for 20.50 on Ebay! I got the Body Cream last december so I'm very excited about this! I hope it get's here by saturday!
Congrats, that's a great deal!