The name of this perfume may be Girlie ($98), but it's a womanly scent all the way, from its accord to its reason for existing. Girlie's creator, Debra Rodman, designed the perfume to mimic her experiences of time in various parts of Africa. Half of the scent's sales go to supporting a children's primary school in the town of Lamu, Kenya.
The juice is pretty powerful stuff — one spritz is all you need. If you like plenty of sillage and warmth, Girlie won't disappoint. The smell is dominated by ritzy note-of-the-moment oud, a resinous, slightly smoky wood that's unique but roughly akin to incense with a hint of metallic licorice. I found the drydown lovely even though I wasn't a big fan of the out-of-the-bottle smell (a perfume-y floral for the first couple of minutes). Since it's the oud, not the top notes, that you'll be wearing all day, I would say that's the part of the scent best to focus on. This is not a light scent by any stretch of the imagination; it's something for women who enjoy heavier fragrances from the Oriental genre. So if you're big into fruity florals, maybe take a pass. But if you like sexy, big fragrances with a lot of depth and staying power, this one is a good pick.
