Mainstream Monday: Sniffing a Popular Perfume
Last year Taylor Swift Wonderstruck made the list of one of the top selling feminine perfumes in the U.S. I didn’t realize that she had that many fans but I’m a little disconnected from her demographic. Upon further research for the Top 20 Sellers of 2011 Perfume Project, I found so many on-line reviews, posts and girls on YouTube declaring that Wonderstruck is the best perfume on the planet and the best thing that they have ever smelled in their life (all of their 13 years of living). Of course with claims like that, I had to try it because I take all of my advice from 13 year old girls on YouTube…
Wonderstruck opens as a raspberry cotton candy with some juicy, fruity dewiness that keep it from being cloying. Now under all of that is the corpse of Cacharel Amor Amor. It’s red berries, musk, woods, and vanilla amber. Oh, and a hint of peach. The first few wears of Wonderstruck, I was struck with wonder how similar this is to Britney Spears Fantasy and then I was struck with Britney Spears Fantasy is very much like Cacharel Amor Amor. Now back to Wonderstruck. It’s syrupy fruits with mainstream florals and a nice addition of green tea. Wonderstruck is a boring concept that has been done over and over again but it does come across as more “mature” than the others in the genre. Taylor Swift with her fashion and makeup choices has always hit me as someone trying to come across as more mature than her age so the perfume is fitting. But, if you want to be taken seriously drop the cluster of charms on the bottle…this “charm choker” will always make this perfume seem “young” to me.
Wonderstruck isn’t a new concept but it’s balanced. For what it is, it works. But, it is not the best perfume that I have ever smelled in my life. Perhaps I shouldn’t take advice from YouTube 😉

Notes listed include freesia, green tea, apple blossom, raspberry and dewberry. PERFUMER – Olivier Gillotin
Try it if you like sweet fruity-florals. Or if you like perfumes like Cacharel Amor Amor, Britney Spears Fantasy, A is for Aldo Red for Her, and/or Justin Bieber Someday. Wonderstruck is feminine. And it does smell “young” to me, not juvenile, but young and youthful.
Projection and longevity is below average. It doesn’t last long on my skin at all. Maybe this is how they sell so much? People are reapplying more.
Wonderstruck comes in a few sizes with prices $18-$60 at Sephora and Ulta. I wonder if it will make the list as a top selling perfume in 2012? Or will Enchanted Wonderstruck?
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Red berry fruity-floral. Boring and an old concept, but well done. And it only seems to “work” because of the green tea. Not for me, but that doesn’t stop it from being a top selling perfume.
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An Obsession with the Fabulous
Hi Victoria, I enjoyed your intro 🙂 I’ve been curious about Wonderstruck for the reasons you mentioned. I’m not inclined to spritz it on myself, but I have been curious to due to its success. It’s nice to see that it coordinates well with Taylor’s persona— plus there’s nothing wrong with a teen-geared scent, as long as that’s the expectation. I do wish, however that they’d cut back on the embellishments as well— I think the overspray gets to me, especially when combined with those charms…
Teens are obviously buying perfumes in the U.S. when you look at the top-sellers list. And really with all of the stuff on the market geared towards teens, they are making some OK choices – Chance, Prada Candy and this one. They are at least choosing well designed perfumes. Like I said, this one isn’t for me but it wasn’t meant for me.
The bottle makes the perfume seem “cheaper” than what it is IMO. It looks like it’s destined for the bargain bin. The finish of the bottle is really pretty, it’s the embellishments. They’re hokey.
Hey Victoria, funny that it doesn’t last on your skin at all. I sprayed some on and couldn’t get it off or maybe it just seemed to last forever cause I hated it so much!
My 14 year old daughter didn’t like the fragrance but loves the bottle, ESPECIALLY the charms, so they certainly know their target demographic. I’m sure there are kids out there buying it just for that bottle.
Oh, no! Have you noticed that all scrubbers are the longest wearing? 😉
That’s interesting. You know there are kids out there only buying it for the bottle. It’s something cute they can have out on their dresser. So, yeah, obviously I’m not the target demographic and those product developers know exactly what they are doing.
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