Woman in Gold By Kilian for women

i like this fragrance but it doesn’t have enough silliage for me. the first smell of this fragrance was magical it smelt elegant sophisticated and clean almost perfect if it had silliage. the more i started using the fragrance the more i got headaches from it. Ive gotten compliments saying it smells elegant and magical but ive also gotten people tell me it smells like wet wipes

this is such a beautiful elegant luxurious vanilla scent. It literally smells like the name. A woman in gold. People say it smells like grandma but I disagree. Just because a fragrance has powdery notes doesn't necessarily mean it smells like old granny. This is one of my favorite Kilian scents right up there with love don't be shy.

If you wanna smell like a hot rich classy elegant women, this fragrance is for you.

Yeah I like it. The blend is very nice with the aldehydes lifting it without dominating it, or making it feel too vintage. There is a touch of electricity through the vanilla, but it remains chic, meaning it’s a very versatile fragrance.

Feel like it’s not just a collection of accords, but a single personality that has been aromatised.

Confident, well considered, stylish, (in the quiet money way), and wealthy enough to order entrée’s without thinking twice, or checking the price.

Revisited my sample, and boy this perfume is a powerhouse. My children could smell it the second they walked in the room. I do feel like you get the sillage and projection with this one that some of my more recent Killians are lacking. More mature fragrance that would be best in cooler months, but it is on my fall list.

This is a rose and vanilla perfume. It doesn't have the same style of rose as in Roses Vanille or Intense Cafe, it's a different rose used here. It's the rose similar to Loubidoo and Sweet Diamond Pink Pepper. Similar to both, just a tad different. No pepperiness in WIG. The rose does have a more real to life smell to them, they almost have a tartness like they do in Loubidoo but thankfully the vanilla was added to cut through some of that and bring some sweetness and harmony to the scent. It's not overly complex and it genuinely smells like straight roses, vanilla, tonka, and possibly a hint of something almondy. The longevity is not great and I get a few hours of wear before it's a skin scent. Projection is subtle and over spraying is required for any real scent payoff. Overall, I give it a 6.5/10. It's a nice scent, but for this price category I'd like for it to wear longer. Pink Diamond has excellent longevity and is half the price. I'll probably top this off with Pink Pepper for some added scent payoff tbh. I'm discovering that with several of the Kilian's the longevity and projection is subtler.

I really really really don’t know if I like this or not. It’s nice but there’s something a bit screechy and off tune in the middle notes phase not sure what it is!

I really wanted to love this one, but eventhough tonka is a note that I love, in this one, it makes me sick to my stomach.

An airy and elegant marshmallow floral, hovering almost weightlessly on a plush, woody base like golden-blonde crushed velvet. The rose and aldehydes give it a breezy elegance, but there's an intriguing plasticy undertone—synthetic and playful, like a girl's vanilla-orange-cupcake scented Barbie. Meanwhile the akigalawood is powdery but extremely gentle, with none of the nose-drying shrillness I get from a lot of other powdery, wood-forward fragrances.

Woman In Gold is whispery, softly-luminous, and feminine. It's generous and playful, but with a calm, slightly withdrawn aspect to it as well.

classic bougie girl scent.. a bit generic but best out of the kilian perfumes for me

Outstanding.
..Oh so beautiful!
This is a modern classic for everyone who enjoys vanilla /in its most sophisticated form/.
It has it all. Complexity, lightness, character.
Unique, luxurious, captivating.
If a scent is capable of adding your persona some JE NE SAIS QUOI, this one will.
A work of art.

It is DIVINE!

I’ve had a sample that I forgot about and tried it - Purchased 3.4 oz. refill bottle immediately, for a great price too.

Because of our different chemistry it might be disliked by some. It is sophisticatedly blended, there is nothing mainstream in it, this is probably why the opinions are polarizing.

On me is warm, strong, deep, intoxicating, feminine sweetness. I’ve passed the phase of the girly, citrusy perfumes, now I want a bomb! Something that will walk a few feet before and after me, lol
WIG is quite different than anything I’ve tried before, it has class and character and it a IS Woman In Gold! The staying power is impressive.

Killian Black Phantom Memento Mori, Dark Lord and Woman In Gold are my favorite of Kilian’ creations.

Reminds me of baby wipes

Someone said to me this smells like ”a rich girl out shopping” and yes, Woman in Gold is exactly that. The greatness in this perfume lies in the fact that it is executed so perfectly in order to evoke that sense. I see many here talk down on this scent for being ”generic and uninteresting” but not all perfumes need to be edgy or groundbreaking. It’s a classic blend elevated to new heights, incredibly luxurious and beautiful!

This is amazing! The aldehydes gives it an effervescence that is so pleasing to my nose. It also has a vintage vibe, circa 1987, while having a modern twist. Longevity and sillage are great. Somehow it captured gold in a scent. Elegant and opulent!

Smells fancy but generic. On my skin it's very rose heavy vanilla with some faint smoky freshness on the background. If I had a rich almond mom then this is probably something she would be wearing.

My least favorite Kilian fragrance so far just because how generic and people pleasing it smells like. It's not necessarily bad and I think a lot of people would love this. Very non offensive for sure.

smells like the bread beauty supply hair mask. like you just got out of the shower + fruit loops

Contrary to the below reviews this scent is unique on my skin.
It is not powdery on me, I do not get soap or baby wipes vibe on my skin.
Few years ago I would say "try it before you buy it" but unfortunally it was REFORMULATED!!!

Black bottle vs white bottle - a test side by side:
The opening is different, I loved the opening in the black bottle from the start.
With the white bottle I had to check the name if I got the right one.
The opening in white bottle is ... nothing special for my nose.
If you wish to know how the old version smelled like please wait for the drydown.
The drydown in both versions is very similar at the begining but .... the similarity fades with time.
When it comes to longevity and projection on my skin the old version also wins.
For my nose it is no longer the same scent.
I wonder if it was Estee Lauder (new owner) forcing the changes or using less quality ingredients.
The scent from black bottle is longlasting, strong, sophisticated, rich, a real complement getter.
The juice in the white bottle is merely a decent dupe for me.
Don't get me wrong, the drydown is similar, especially at the beginning but I will not repurchase it.
I can not forget the scent from the black bottle.
In my very unprofessional opinion a masterpiece has been distroyed.

Unique powdery sweet scent, strong on first application but has a fuzzy texture that makes you crave it more. Feels like it’s from another era, a great gatsby type of scent.

I think this is the only time I’ve liked aldehydes. It’s a sweet and soft scent, laundry and roses. Nothing harsh or screechy here, it’s clean but not soapy, and the vanilla is soft. I can see how it’s not to everyone’s taste, and I wasn’t sure I liked it to begin with. It has a fizzy quality to it (which I think is the aldehydes) which is unusual but actually I enjoy that aspect.

Woman in Gold is unmistakably the scent of Dove bar soap. I knew I probably wouldn’t like it based on the notes (it was a random complimentary sample in a purchase), but it’s nice for what it is.

This smells like perfume. Old lady perfume. It's super floral and super powdery. I'm not getting the vanilla or tonka bean at all. For the first 2 hours or so it's SO obnoxiously loud and cloying I was sick to my stomach. After it settled it just sort of turned into an inoffensive powdery scent... but like... I can't get past the opening and I'm not dropping $290 on something that smells fairly generic.

I'll say this - I have found that I really don't like Kilian's Narcotics, Fresh, or Cellars. (Except for Black Phantom and LDBS... loooove those, which is weird because I really should hate LDBS given my other preferences.) If you generally like the Narcotics line, this is very in that ballpark.

This is the kind of fragrance that gives aldehydes a bad press. I didn’t get any flowers nor any of the base notes. Only this cheap soapy/powdery scent.
To me, it smells like baby wipes and it reminds me a lot of Le Labo Musc 25. The only difference is the latter smells like baby wipes after being used. No thank you

This has a note that throws me off. It is a note i get a lot in Arab perfumes. I guess it is akigalawood. Because of that note i could never wear this.

I have the older version of this (in the black bottle) and it is rich, deep, and beautiful. I don't know if this has been reformulated (i.e., ruined...based on people's descriptions below it looks like it might have been) like a lot of other Kilian fragrances, but this has a lot of vanilla with rose and a very clean oud. Lasts forever and smells like what you would wear if you were attending a coronation. I find this quite unisex.

Another beautiful work by Calice Becker and typically Kilian, along the lines of the Love scents. Tender and feminine.

It's all about rose/patchouli combo with a little hint of oud and with more and more of vanilla..
It's good fragrance, loud, luxurious one but the only issue with me It's little bit harsh to my nose, I think it's the patchouli , I don't like patchouli 🤕
Scent 7/10
Performance 8/10
Originality 6/10
Versatility 7.5 / 10

Overall 7/10

I've been working my way through several Kilian fragrances of late and had high hopes for this one. It starts off with a very sweet, fruity note, like a less bubble-gummy version of 'Love don't be shy', but on me the akigalawood really takes over around the 2-hr mark. At that point it becomes a prominent and vaguely masculine/peppery note, with most of the sweetness gone, and it's only a skin scent after about 3hrs. I like sweet and long-lasting fragrances, so this one isn't for me.

Smells luxurious and exactly like what I would imagine a very rich woman draped in gold to smell like. Very feminine and exquisite blend of notes. Unfortunately, I only smelled this as a tester in the store and I’m not willing to spend the big bucks that Kilian requires right now but I can see this being my signature scent if I ever do buy!

A bit like if you took the bubblegum sweetness out of LDBS and added more powdery vanilla.
Very pretty and feminine

I never really got the appeal of aldehydes before this and always associated them with “old lady” scents. Something about the way they’re used in this fragrance is very, very appealing. It feels bright, effervescent, but sophisticated. The dry down still keeps the effervescent citrus elements, but with more vanilla; think lemon pound cake with a glass of champagne. Love.

Woman in gold is the perfect name for this fragrance. She’s mysterious, tender and elegant. She has a vulnerability to her but also this confidence that contradicts it. She holds her self in a regal like way. Not many people know much about her. She sits in the bar with her margarita as people gaze as they are captured by her beauty and mysterious aura. Think Marilyn Monroe type of person.

I’m very confused by reviews on this one. Some people say that it’s not unique at all, maybe we smelled different batches or I’m getting something different then other people.
I love this scent. It is VERY unique to my nose, much more niche then most of other feminine offerings from Kilian like Love or Princess, or Good girl gone bad. Those 3 and some others share similar DNA and are very designer style.
On the other hand Woman in gold gives me a smell of a gorgeous feminine old school vibe fragrance mixed in with freshly painted room. It is not vintage by any means. Imagine a very wealthy neighborhood. And an avant-guard artist is making a fresco mural for Charlize Theron. And she is standing there in the same room having this soapy floral scent trail.
I know she is J’adore ambassador, but it’s pretty hard to imagine her wearing it all the time.
And the drydown of Woman in Gold is luxurious too, warm vanilla…

Nice, for a cotton scented candle. Maybe I have a dud sample. I smelled no vanilla or fruit Straight up strong dryer sheet. Initial spray I thought it would be a nice, clean scent but the dry down leaves me with a sickening bug spray quality I can’t wash off. I guess that gives it points for longevity.

Initially I thought this was a pleasant fragrance- light, clean, slightly powdery but not overbearing. But the entire time I was testing it out, I kept thinking of what it smelled like, it smelled very familiar to something. And then when it hit me I no longer cared for it. It smells like BABY WIPES. Some people described it as smelling "soapy" so maybe that's the same note I am picking up. But no, for $300+ to smell like baby wipes, it's a pass for me.

Fun fact as someone who works with her. This is what Rihanna’s new fragrance is based on. She never wore the Love Don’t Be Shy. This one was her go to and also Good girl gone bad was made for her. You can smell the similarities if you spray the 2 side by side. You’re welcome 😉

Wow this is gorgeous. I haven’t heard much talk about women in gold but it’s easily my favorite I’ve tested by Killian and beating LDBS. It has all the elements that make a perfume feminine and inoffensive. Citrus, floral, a little powdery and a sugary deep vanilla bass. It’s nothing unique but the quality is there and blended so smoothly. A perfect signature scent, all year round! It has a smooth kick of spice that reminds me of 90s perfume but it’s not mature smelling! Stunning!!!

So beautiful, probably my favourite women’s Kilian. Sugary, brûlée-like vanilla tinged with rose. Smells like a mix of Stairway to Heaven by Jul et Mad ( the clean and cold vibe) and the beautiful rich vanilla found in M. Micallef’s Note Vanillee! I’d love a full bottle of this one day.

I tried all of the Killian perfumes that I was interested in and this was hands down my favorite. To me it smells like sophisticated Earl grey tea and citrus. I immediately bought a bottle and wear it all the time.

Nothing special very orange powdery on my skin lasts a long time maybe good on summer days or nights not worth the price tag I was expecting something sophisticated and classy for a woman it’s good enough for a child or teenager

This smells so similar to Ylang in Gold. Last forever on my skin

I just love this! Reminds me of a citrussy buttery vanilla cake or a just burned tasty crème brûlée with citrusses. Perfect for a signature scent, i am in love! If someone sells a full bottle for a good price, please let me know! I am from europe. I want to use it as my signature scent, thats how much i like it. It is so feminine and for some it may be simple but it is a sophisticated and intoxicating vanilla/citrus/rose scent. For all year round, i think it will project better in warmer weather (spring-summer).

A bit like Delina Exclusif. Powdery but sophisticated, more like a middle aged woman. Feminine and soft. We caught grapefruit and vanilla but it also smells like marshmallow and cotton candy to me. I’d choose whispers of truth over this since it’s the same general scent profile. That, or Delina.

Vanilla scent but make it a HOT businesswoman in a white suit and gold jewelry that you don't even have the balls to talk to! This smells fancy and luxurious! It is sweet but not juvenile.

Opening notes are how gold should smell…warm, dense, luxurious. The vanilla absolute is luscious, full, round, intoxicating. I can’t stop inhaling it…so delicious. Rose enters the evolution & melds beautifully, almost seductively, w/ vanilla. I’m loving this olfactory journey…

This unfortunately falls victim to an overwhelming amount of aldehydes, I detect Iris and powder notes in here as well. These are my least favourite notes which renders this scent unwearable to me. I smell no vanilla, citrus, rose, or woody notes. Just pure powder honestly… unfortunate. Definitely not a safe blind buy. Has strong projection and longevity however (much to my demise). I agree with others that it has a soapy, baby-wipe quality to it.

I really like this. It’s expensive but I really do like it a lot. To me it smells like ice cream with a bit of citrus. I find it intoxicating and classy, and makes a good signature scent. A lot of the reviews say this is an old lady scent but I disagree. Whilst I don’t think it’s a teenage scent (but each to their own) I feel it’s a nice classy scent for most ages. For reference I’m a 29 year old woman. I have a few Kilian scents now, another 2 of my favourites are Rolling in Love and Good Girl Gone Bad Extreme.

I paid for a discovery set of the most popular Killian scents to try before I possibly purchase a full bottle…glad I did because I don’t really get the hype with this perfume house. For this one in particular, i smell bug spray to start. Not pleasant. Dry down is a little better but has a weird spice to it that I can’t figure out. Definitely not worth spending £200 on 50ml - it’s a no from me.

I usually go for heavy, dark, deep scents, but this is an absolute exception and I am head over heels for it.

This perfume is light yet welcoming, sweet yet refreshing. It opens with a lemon-sugar & vanilla sweetness and dries down to a warm vanilla/tonka scent. It's very feminine, very classy, clean and feels high-end. The name and the smell of this fragrance makes me picture a well-put-together woman in a white suit paired with gold jewellery, she's confident, she's inviting, she's sophisticated. This is the vibe I get from this and I can't get enough of it. It will simply elevate just about any look.

Projection 7.5/10 - Moderate projection, making it very suitable for office wear, or an easy go-to when looking for something inoffensive

Longevity 10/10 - Lasts about all day and even more on clothes. After spraying this on my jacket, the next 1-2 days, whenever I would open my closet this is all I could smell as the scent still lingers around.

Sillage 8/10 - This will leave a soft scent trail behind and people will be picking on it, however is not as strong as, for example, Hypnotic Poision.

Scent 12/10 - Pure heaven, I would bathe in it if I could.

The opening of WIG to my nose is real lemonade- lemons with sugar and aldehydes adding a cooling and fizzy effect that remains throughout the life of the fragrance on my skin. The tang of citrus and geranium (I get ALOT of geranium from this) keeps the sweetness balanced. The freesia adds an exotic soapiness that rounds out WIG, and keeps it on the floral side along the edge of teetering into gourmand territory. I was looking for a vanillic geranium fragrance, and I've found it! This fragrance performs well on my skin- still going strong at the 8 hour mark.

Pretty and feminine. The top is really lovely and I wish it stayed that way. It reminds me of a softer Virgile - Sylvaine Delacourte. They share a few notes, but Virgile, though lovely, is a lot stronger and more challenging to wear as its super sweet. The sweetness of WIG is dialed down making it easier to wear. It gets woodier as it dries and leaves a beautiful scent bubble around you. Nothing challenging or groundbreaking. It's inoffensive and pretty. A nice daytime wear that is sig worthy. But it only lasts about 4 hours. And for the price point that's a bit crap!

i don't get people saying that this scent is soapy, even on the paper it's very warm and welcoming. On my skin it turned into such a warm vanilla and freesia even 5+ hours later it's a barely there warm tonka scent this is such a must want in my list of frangrances

First sniff I liked it, it reminded me of a cheap but still cute & very sweet scent from certain toys or makeup for kids in the 90's

Then after a minute I kept getting whiffs of weird, almost chemical/plastic mixed with sweat, surprised that it could change so much and that it kept blowing up in my face, almost wanted to wash it off it was so pungent.

Two hours in or so it smells like some sort of scented overpriced cotton candle, it's cozy in a way, a toned down, dark smell. Still get a little bit of that initial "sweat" and chemical scent.

I wouldn't want to smell like this in public

I really want this one. I have only sampled it a couple times but each time the drydown just impels my nose to my arm and the whiffs catch me by surprise if I have actually forgotten about it for a bit.. I love the sweetness that lingers and perhaps it is that cheap trick sugar that makes this perfume so alluring to me but let me just go on a bit more- what I love are the citrus peels in here and a bitterness that makes this smell classy. I suppose I can sense the aldehydes but they just give this fragrance a lightness.. It's very feminine and I think I would wear this a lot. There are certain fragrances that get a lot of hype- like Love Don't Be Shy, Oriana, For Your Love and many more; and while those are all very beautiful, this one has my name on it and feels like me already.

I really wanted to love this perfume, but it ended with just liking it. When you first spray it on, the vanilla, citrus, and rose are all there, and it smells great - but, that scent does not stay for the entirety. After about an hour, it turns into a scent of a "soapy-ness" and baby wipes...with a hint of vanilla and rose. Being a mom, the scent of hospital soaps and baby wipes are veeery familiar...and I get hints with this perfume. Again, it's wearable, but it's not my favorite.

If you want to try out other Kilian scents (which I would recommend), I find that my top 3 are Rolling in Love, Good Girl Gone Bad, and this one; I was not a fan of Intoxicated.

I sprayed it on a whim. It pleasantly surprised me. Lemony, soft, fuzzy/marshmallow, cirtusy vanilla. Slowly it grows more clean, soapy and rose like. No oud or patchouli found here for me. Unpopular opinion but I like this. It's easy to wear, delicate and slightly powdery. A perfect classy scent.

It’s like a fancy southern woman who’s slipping sparking lemonade on a summer day. The gardens are blooming and it’s just classy.

I have a full bottle and it was a blind buy. Based on listed notes I thought I would have liked it but a big NO. On me, this smells like a baby wipe which has been dried by sun for a long time, it is no longer wet and it has a “rotten” smell which I hate.

Onaona’s review: NAILED IT! I think I already left a review, but if not, Onaona’s review is perfection.

Let me add: if it helps anyone:::
Akigala wood is not a wood. It’s patchouli, molecularly altered to present as wood. You’d never know it unless you read about it and tried really hard to detect it. BUT, it can be super clunky and unsophisticated like in Angel Nova, which I don’t mind.)

Don’t get me wrong—- WiG is the polar opposite of AN!!! I’m Only mentioning it as an Akigala reference. I just wanted to share what I learned, because when I saw that note, I was worried that WiG would have that facet. IT DOES NOT!

Don’t let the Akigala wood note deter you from WiG!
THIS is what the Akigala wood inventors envisioned. This is Akigala done right, and it’s a small player in the composition (but still present) in WiG. It does smell like real wood here.

Hope this helps!!

This perfume is so unique! I saw all the components of it and thought " Wow this could easily be my signature scent!"; went ahead and got a sample and had to scrub it off, I was so sad. Went ahead and tried again, and again, and again to no luck. This one, on me, smells so very metallic; I guess the smell of gold? I don't know but even at the 10 hour mark, the smell was still the same, 100% pure metallic. I have several fragrances from Kilian and I love them all, but this one is a hard pass for me.

This perfume is my number one among over 70 collections I have. Soft+Fluffy+Vanila
Sweet+Clean+Citrus+Soap
= Heaven !!!!!

A beautiful, elegant, sophisticated feminine scent. The blend is so good I can't even pinpoint which notes come up the most. To me it falls on a slightly more mature side, but I wouldn't be afraid to wear this on myself at all. What a beautiful fragrance. If I walked past a woman wearing this I would be blown away. I rarely say this, but it's worth the price point!

One of the best perfumes ever I regret buying love instead of that one
I travel size and some samples
Sexy vanilla I love my self when I wear it and a bit gourmand
Yes it’s similar to honre delights I have full bottle
Full bottle worthy for sure

Reading the reviews, I should've prepared myself. I get a big blast of powdery detergent and "sunnyness," and ever since my daughter said it smells like baby wipes I can't get that out of my head. It smells clean and classic like your rich aunt. It's very strong and I'm not into it.

Soapy

Last year, for my birthday, I went to Saks Fifth Ave to find the perfect fragrance for me. As someone who owns 50+ perfumes, it is quite difficult to find something that truly WOWs me.

After trying dozens of perfumes from multiple brands including MFK, Bond No 9, and Tom Ford, I came across this gem. It was an immediate love.

This scent is the epitome of sophistication, luxury, and class. It is fluffy, smooth, and feminine. I receive tons of compliments when I wear this. My father and uncle commented that it smells angelic and heavenly. It gives me similar vibes to Mont Blanc Signature so if you love that scent, this will definitely be up your alley.

I would describe it as a citric vanilla that is sweet and powdery. I personally don’t get any oud or woody notes in this. It is a timeless perfume, that I see myself wearing for decades to come.

Overall: 10/10

It's a beautiful classy scent. But I must say after trying it multiple times it just doesn't last at all. Maybe it is because I live in a warm climate. I really wanted it to be my signature scent - modern day Chanel 5. But no! Gone after 1 hour.

Oh my first love, my first bottle of niche perfume that got me started on this exciting journey of olfactory experiences. My first bottle was black one and recently I bought new one and it’s white.
This is quintessence in a bottle for what I love in a perfume. Perfect balance of citrus and flowers, not crazy sweet, and has this smokiness that I love. There is definitely depth and smoothness to this perfume.
I associate it with elegant, sophisticated, successful woman who walks down the hall in a building of her multimillion corporation. She is strong, smart and highly attractive in her suite. This scent is signature scent worthy. It works well under different temperatures and suitable for many occasions despite not being typical “clean/day” perfume.
BTW it has some similarity with Dior The Addict. But I would say this is way more refined version.

I adore this perfume one of the best in my buy list in the top for sure I have travel size I treat it like piece of gold

Review based on sample received in Discovery Set.

TL/DR: smells like Fabulosa Fairy Dust cleaning wipes on my skin.

The longer review: smells quite powdery and soapy. I do see why people recommend this for mature women. It’s a very clean scent and while I haven’t worn it for a long period, I do think it will settle into a sweet and powdery skin scent. Unfortunately, I don’t think it stands out enough to warrant the price but if you’re looking for something inoffensive and clean.

It's pretty smooth which I appreciate. The patchouli is unpleasant in the beginning but settles to be less intrusive. The dry down becomes uncomfortably sweet on my skin. Nice to test, but definitely don't need it in my collection.

Review of 7.5mL travel spray that came in The Floral Narcotics Discovery Set.

A fantastic perfume. My mother's choice. I bought it today for my mother. I hope she will be happy. She sniffed it today at Douglas, and she said she just loves it. Let's wait until night. She will receive it as my sister receives her Kilian for graduation. I love my women! The scent itself is powdery and sweet. There's a lot of depth which is Kilian's signature element. The scent evolves and is pretty good in terms of performance, and pretty versataille. I really enjoy this scent. This is art.

Absolutely beautiful! Classy! Chanel should smell like this. Kilian killed it with this one. I can not stop smelling myself. I had to return to Sak's and buy this one. Top 10.

Originally I bought this for my mum based on Statements made on Fragrantica - like older woman smell, generic, outdated etc etc...I swear people on here are Lazy Parrots and just copy & Paste comments that don't bear a resemblance to their actual experience. Sure not everyone will love something and that's actually good (Variety is the spice of life) but that also means that not everyones negatives will be the same. I am actually no longer going to get my references from Fragrantica anymore as I am buying "Crap" that people Copy & Paste overhype and missing out on Gems like this. I tried it and even though I wouldn't normally even choose the notes for this one. OMG it is one of the most Beautiful, Classy, Elegant, Rich Sophisticated Fragrances I have experienced. The Silage & Longevity are Fantastic and it has become a regular scent that lifts me up and has me constantly having double takes when I think woooo what smells so good....I can't stop smelling myself in this,its so perfectly blended and smells so Clean and put together like a lady in a Chanel suit.....someone mentioned it had a resemblance to Delina Exclusif. Why waste your money on one of their overpriced, overhyped tacky products when this is Bottled Class.

To me it feels like a quality fragrance but… Perhaps it’s my warm skin chemistry or the warmer weather or both but on me the interesting and promising citrus-floral-aldehydic opening quickly turns into fruit/cotton candy scent. Sweet to the point it makes me cringe and my teeth ache. In about an hour the cloying candy starts turning soapy arriving at vanilla-floral washing detergent scent. Very sweet and potent too. And it lasts. Perhaps I’ll try it again during the colder weather but for now I wouldn’t want to be stuck with myself in the elevator when wearing this. )
PS I believe the name suits this perfume perfectly: gold shimmer may be nice when admiring in moderation from afar, but too much too close can make one blind. )

Pleasantly sweet, timeless scent.

At first whiff I wrote this off at very basic and just plain vanilla. As it sat on my skin I was enraptured with the complex dry down. I do love vanilla, but it can feel claustrophobic on me sometimes and I often reach for white florals these days just for the openness. But this is simply magnificent! The performance is excellent and it has the wonderful Killian sillage from days of yore. Here is a wonderful signature fragrance for anyone who wants a sophisticated vanilla. I think it may work better for me in the fall and winter, but it's a hot summer day and I can't stop sniffing the arm I sprayed it on. Sexy, addictive, delicious, thoughtful and 10/10 for me. Now I have to wait until I can afford a bottle or ask for it for a gift.

I smelt in on a girl walking in front of me on a spring evening in a center of Milan and I asked what it was. Loving its elegance, its female sophistication, I am usually not very big on vanilla yet the combination with lemon and rose make it super mine. It is bourgoise, rich, maybe a bit pretentious, but definitely a scent with character.

Selling my full bottle, dm me if you’re interested :)

Fluffy lemon cake with rose! I would love to wear this on humid summer days. If you are on a budget I would recommend considering Lolitaland by Lolita Lempicka and Francis Kurkdjian. That is a sweeter bolder version without the rose.

smells amazing... only when sprayed on paper; pleasantly sweet, a little bit fruity, warm, slight notes of honey and freesia. It is very well balanced and unique.
!!!BUT!!! on My skin... it smells nothing close to the original smell! it became overpoweringly sweet, yet very heavy on white florals (in a cheap way), and the vanilla note smells like it has expired decades ago. I would have loved it if the chemistry of my skin did not change it so much :(

Very aptly named; this is something a fashionable woman would wear to a formal event. The rose, patchouli, and vanilla dominate this fragrance, playing off each other beautifully and in equal measure. I typically hate patchouli but it's so smooth and well-blended in this fragrance that even I enjoy wearing it. This scent is timeless, but to some it may lean mature or old-fashioned.

Selling my almost full bottle. Sprayed only around 5 times. Im based in europe, text me if you are interested. :)

Oof. I get the rose and the aldehydes, and the patchouli. UnfortunAtely this comes off too powdery and old for my taste. It smells like something my realtor aunt in her sixties would wear and it’s easy to overspray. I feel un-sexy when I wear this, like I’ve emerged from taking a bath at my grandmothers house. Reminds me of Delina Exclusif.

This is so beautiful. I wasn't taken aback when I first smelled it but the more I wore it the more I liked it. It smells like a really fancy dryer sheet to me. It has that fabric softener dryer sheet vibe to it but in a good way for sure. It specifically reminds me of the time I made a valentines day mailbox in grade school out a cardboard detergent box. The way it smelled after it was full of candy is almost spot on to this for me.

I can only detect a little patchouli when I very first spray. After that it becomes pretty linear for the rest of its life.
It turns to a soft air-y powdery ever so slightly woodsy scent. You get those little hints of sweet vanilla and citrus.

I thought the performance on this would be less than impressive because it is such a soft scent but no. The projection is moderate-stong. I can smell it through my mask and it radiates around me while I move my arms. It last a very long time. It will last you all day. You won't fill up a room with it but anyone close to you will think you smell good. A kind of soft refined clean and comforting kind of good.

This works as an every day scent. Since it is kind of on the soft side I think you could get away with wearing it to school and/or work as long as you don't over spray.

an elegant soft understated scent

When I first sampled this on the back of my hand it was a very strong citrus-vanilla scent and I couldn’t detect much else. Now, sampling it on my forearm it’s a full blown jammy rose that smells so similar to Turkish delight - yum!

I was sampling this thinking ‘this smells familiar to something I have sampled before’, but I couldn’t pin point it until the jammy rose note came out in full force. It’s MFK Oud Satin Mood Extrait de Parfum, as all I could smell in that fragrance was that jammy rose as is in this one.

Lasting power is phenomenal on me and I get wafts of it too as I move. Happy with this blind purchase.

Powdery tonka bean. On dry down, very reminiscent of Jo Malone Myrrh and Tonka

Perfect! THIS is the one!

I have had such good luck this last year discovering new fragrances to love and revisiting fragrances sampled years ago to find my appreciation has grown. I've gone several years without finding a single full bottle worthy fragrance, no problem, I enjoy my wardrobe. Then Woman in Gold comes along and I'm absolutely stunned by how much I love it.

By Kilian's Woman in Gold is that shockingly perfect-for-me fragrance that catches you off guard. I kid you not, about five minutes into my first wearing, I knew this fragrance would be with me for a very long time and boy am I looking forward to our time together. I sampled it because I saw it listed as a Reminds Me Of suggestion for Tocade and it is (thankfully) Tocade-like with the beautiful vanilla rose combination, but it is SO MUCH BETTER and that's saying a lot.

The top immediately surrounds me with rose, vanilla and geranium. It's both graceful and persistent in presentation. The combination is unmatched. A couple of minutes in, the listed citrus top notes, not distinguishable specifically as bergamot or mandarin, are available to me if I just push my nose into my wrist, but they don't jump off my skin as I expected the citrus might. Second wearing the citrus top lifted a bit more, but not as with an accompanying aldehyde.

The heart remains vanilla, rose and geranium, but it really warms up. I know amber is not listed but I get an Amouage Ubar-like amber here. It's not a prominent accord, but my nose says I'm enjoying amber as well. The rose and vanilla are a little powdery, maybe even dusty (?) but smoooooth and welcoming. It's a bit nostalgic as a result and wonderfully affecting. No freesia was found.

The base remains vanilla and rose for me, but also a bit woody. I'm not overly familiar with akigalawood, but it's wood :) and maybe a little peppery. The smell of patchouli typically holds the base together in many fragrances for me, but that's not the case with this fragrance, unless it is hitchhiking on the akigalawood.

I don't have the words to describe how lovely I find Woman in Gold. Sensibly I know it's my reaction to something remembered in this By Kilian offering, not just the composition. That being said, it's just lovely. I'm convinced EVERYONE should love and wear it while simultaneously wanting to be the ONLY ONE who smells exactly like this *shakes head*

Noteworthy
rose, vanilla, geranium
nostalgic
perfect!
It feels more special occasion than every day, so every day will just have to be a special occasion :D

Powdery rose and boxed detergent. Sterile, stodgy. Any tonka bean sweetness or warmth is lost on me, overwhelmed by abrasive, citrusy soap notes. Excellent longevity and sillage however, a single spritz to the bend of my elbow lasted the full workday, waning around hour seven.

I really like it, my skin is acidic so it cuts down on the sweetness of it, as long as you don't over spray it will be great. I get vanilla/wood/spices in that order.

Soapy clean smell. Vanilla with som flowers. Non offensiv and quite boring in my opinion.
It's kind of classy, but it feels like it's a very common type of scent profile.

Weird scent. Smells like brand new plastic Barbie Dolls. I know that's weird, but that's what it reminds me of.

What a dream of a scent. This is one of my favourites from the Kilian range. It is a fruity floral and cream with a splash of Aldehydes to tickle the senses. An easy wear but would make a stunning wedding scent imo as it gives off such a wonderful scent bubble. My other half always comments on the scented wafts he catches around me. A much longer lasting scent from the Kilian range and one I will always have in my collection, a perfect 10 !

This perfume is a drug.Cant get enough of it.Aldehydes and little sweet vibes,and something very special note what make this perfume smell like money!Very rich fragrance and absolutely amazing.10/10

No nonsense with a dash of pretty. Think Geri (60 year old lawyer) from Succession or Yara Greyjoy (fleet captain/queen) from Game of Thrones. Opens with a clean vanilla. Dries to a peppery soap with a dash of wood (it's the Akigalawood). Florals are faint. If they say it's rose then fine it's rose, but without the list I'd just call it floral.

I sprayed this on me in Saks yesterday. I thought it was just horrible. I am so surprised this has so many good reviews. It was so strong and just not a pretty scent.

Opens with sparkling citrus, and light vanilla. Slowly turns to soapy florals, with a very strong hit of sweet vanilla. Medium weight, although reminds me a bit of an older woman. This is not for the under-40 crowd, despite it's sweetness. Kind of bland and generic. Smells like something I've been assaulted with at Macy's, but can't remember what. 4/10

I love this one! Feminine, delicate and intriguing.
It could absolutely be a signature scent, not for the teens or 20’s though, more so for someone on their mid 30’s up.

I got it a few days ago, in the white bottle, boy it is a complex scent ! In some ways I like it, but not a love…it is feminine enough though that I find pleasure in wearing it, it has definitely a niche quality to it..I detect the mandarin orange , it is kind of sweet but the orange gets mixed in with the wood, gives me that impression of candied orange in a way…woodsy notes are always a problem for me, here they are subtle enough so not an issue..my husband likes it, he finds it quite powdery…this is a medley of notes, makes for a unique intriguing perfume..not sure I will get tons of compliments with it..it has kind of a mature vibe but yet soft enough that I like it..longevity is ok, but it becomes a skin scent fast…has something of Kilian love, a bit herbal or medicinal..glad I didn’t pay full price for it, I don’t think it is worth the high price tag..
This is one I am still getting used it, wondering about it…will see in the long run..

Smells quite posh, womanly and strong, also a bit dated, and reminiscent of many popular designer scents mixed together. Im getting Chanel vibes bc of the aldehydes, although this is not as aldehydic as chanel fragrances, and for that reason alone it is more bearable. It’s not bad, but not my taste. I don’t find it modern. A little outdated for me

This is not JUST a warm vanilla, It has something screechy and sour in it that remains throughout the whole fragrance .I dont know if it`s the aldehydes , but ti really bothers me, it`s not pleasant for me. Lasting power is pretty impressive .

Lush vanilla and rose. Kinda reminds a bit of the Tom Ford Orchid series...a bit one dimensional and it doesn't really move all that much, but it is a nice scent, and the right person could really REALLY pull this off. Not me, though...

Very simple and very luxurious vanilla.

Starts off with a blast of aldehydes which is not necessarily pleasant (I'm not a fan) but then quite quickly starts to develop into a smooth, velvety, warm vanilla. During the first hour it's just vanilla with citrusy sparkles that complement the composition very well. At this stage I just cannot stop sniffing myself.

During the next stage it's mostly vanilla and tonka beans, with light patchouli and wood in the base.
The base is exquisite, smooth and rich. Vanilla + tonka + woods + patchouli. Is Woman In Gold similar to Tocade, - yes, it's very similar and at first I thought it could be a hommage to Rochas' sweet powdery vanilla perfume. However, the base is what sets Woman In Gold apart.

You get an average to strong sillage with it (an arm length but it's persistent) and a good longevity. After 3-4 hours it's a skin scent but you really really feel it every second for the next 3-4 hours.

It gives me a comforting, nice, homely feeling, I don't picture any golden sparkly cocktail dresses here, it's very luxurious but not dressy or sexy in my opinion. I love the quality but I'm honestly not that sure it's worth the price tag. However, I will come back to it when I feel that I long for another great, rich vanilla perfume.

Ever met a fragrance that doesn’t change, alter, go away, stays true to you, smells unique but not in the weird way and worths-every-penny?
This is it for me. I followed someone’s trail, i just had to know, judging by the smell it looked like the kind that just vanishes in 1-2 hours. But then it didn’t. I’m amazed of the quality.
Perfect blended spices from Heaven. Perfect scent for late summer, warm autumn and just perfect anytime you want to feel you deserve all the best.

Smells like 24k gold! Very crisp and well put together. One of the best perfumes out there (imo). But the price is just insane lmao

Just received a travel size. While the initial is ‘pretty’, I do relate it to my vintage Tocade. Tocade’s opening is a bit crisper but 30 minutes in these are too similar for me to consider WiG full bottle worthy. I’ll stick with Tocade.

Woman in Gold is a vanilla focused perfume. It's creamy, almost milky, leans powdery in the drydown. It is indeed classy and - even though I don't like the term- it's 'mature', which for me means that I am reminded of fragrances released in the past.
It's not the kind of vanilla I enjoy, I like mine with a kick, or a kink.
The name fits perfectly. The scent paints the picture of a woman in a white dress with gold jewellery.
Disappointed with the lack of originality, though. Performance wise, it lasts and projects moderately.

This is elegance in a bottle! It has a very bright citrus opening with bergamotte and beautiful roses and than turns into a powdery and creamy vanilla fragrance. The patchouli in the base of this fragrance gives it the elegant and sophisticated kick. This is what I imagine an elegant, rich and beautiful woman to smell like. The name of this perfume fits so well. This can be worn all year around and to any occasion and will give you a very pretty, feminine and put together kind of feeling. I absolutely love this! Probably my favorite kilian fragrance!!!

I'm sooooooo in love with this one. Woman In Gold where have you been all my life??!!! I think I love it more than Baccarat 540 and Delina Exclusif...yea I said it lol. And I'll also pick it over LDBS and GGGB any day. This is definitely back up bottle worthy. It makes me want to start a fragrance review YouTube channel that talks about Woman In Gold in every episode! Started off as a strong like now it's a fatal attraction. It's just that good. Jesus I can't stop smelling myself ;)

Elegant, classy, mature, rich...
When I first tried it I didn't like it at all, but after maybe half an hour
..wow.. I can imagine a wealthy woman dressed in white having lunch on a fancy restaurant.

I would not recognize it from Tocade Rochas which I really like and own

This is what fancy smells like

To me this is Woman in Silver. There's something metallic and cold about it. Almost... industrial. I did not enjoy it at any stage of its development on my skin nor on paper. But hey, that's just me.

Ohh this is soo good! The vanilla here is powdery and satisfying, it reminds me of the Vanilla used in Eau Duelle and Vanille Insensee, combined with a very subtil rose. I can't really perceive the Oud or the patchouli here, which is great because this scent is like a powdery fluffy marshmallow that has been scented with roses and vanilla. The citrus notes are not prominent on my skin. Full bottle worthy with back ups. Just wonderful! I think this is what I wanted Delina Exclusif to be but the Oud in DE is very noticeable, and Oud is not something I really like, even though I have learned to tolerate it if the scent is good.

Scrapping my first review because initially this reminded me a lot of J'adore, and I hadn't seen the price of WiG justified when I can purchase something very similar at a substantially lower price. But now that I'm revisiting it, it still slightly resembles J'adore but less so than I first thought. WiG is beautiful in its own right, and I find it to be a smoother composition than J'adore. Upon spraying, I get a blast of bergamot, and later I pick up more on the rose, vanilla, and tonka. It's also on the spicy side, especially when it dries down. I decided to try layering it over Roses Vanille, which is rather potent. After an hour, all I could smell was WiG, which speaks to its performance. I sprayed one spritz of WiG over RV in my elbow, and I keep getting warm, spicy whiffs of it almost 2 hours later. I find it to be one of the better-performing Kilian fragrances besides LDBS and Black Phantom. Not sure yet if it's FBW for me since Kilian prices are pretty steep, but it definitely went from a Like to a Love.

I was surprised to not see tuberose in the pyramid. I get strong white florals opening and then sweet lemon curd that somehow transforms to this almost-white-chocolate cream, I suppose the sweet tonka bean kicks in at this point. Beautiful fragrance, I would.

Opens up with bright citrus + aldehydes, which somehow resembles soap. Then the woody notes kick in and the rose. This is, however, NOT a vanilla perfume. I don't get any sweet vanilla... just a boring rosy citrusy soap. Kilian has better ones... this is a pass for me.

This is really strong and long lasting . It is a statement making perfume ... but in a semi-safe way. It’s a pretty smell (nothing that makes it super unique and a little strange like some niche fragrances). I get the rose , the vanilla, the patchouli (which I usually hate). This smells like a rich women. Like cleopatra :D . It is very woody as well. A little powdery even . I think for cooler weather . It leans more “mature” smelling 7.5/10

Although I've been reading the commentaries on this site for a while now, this is my first review!

Quick note: My interest in fragrances renewed very recently during the pandemic with an intense desire to explore this world again. It could be that I needed a lift or something wonderful to look forward to in the mail. Or maybe I really am turning into my father who circled the perfume counter at our local department store each Saturday. I still remember his bottle of Grey Flannel nestled in with dozens of other bottle names I wish I could recall.

I want to start with Woman in Gold because it takes me on the same kind of journey that I remember going on as a kid when I opened that cabinet cluttered with my father's scents.

The opening of this fragrance is bright and citrusy. But already with the tart (lime?), there is something strong and rich but also bitter waiting on the other side. I am guessing it's the vanilla mixed with geranium that enters quickly in.

Together the scents are not harmonious at all. Yet they work to evoke something that feels like an acquired taste for a unique cocktail. It makes me think of what the name of this perfume implies: sophistication. The innocent sweetness is balanced by experience which then dries down and loses its edge. Over time the scent softens, turns more powdery as if it's giving itself permission to give in and be soft and sweet. But you have to wait. You have to like the wait--which I do.

I bought a small 7.5 ml bottle blind based on the reviews. I am utterly delighted!

HELLA VAINLLA!!!!
I feel like I have to lick syrup off my hands from the overspray.
It's okayyy, don't love it.
I thought I really liked sweet things. Like, to eat and to smell. And here are four words I never say: "This is too sweet!"
I like that orange rind and sharpness when the vanilla clashes with aldehydes and patchouli, but then they smother all that with sticky vanilla syrup, and it's like a Double Dare event.
You gotta be pretty charismatic and eccentric to pull this off.

Wow... just wow. Probably my favourite perfume of all time. I haven't smelled any other Kilian perfumes so after smelling this I decided to order a few samples. Anyway this scent is just so beautiful and feminine. I feel so comfortable wearing this. I must order a full bottle since I'm running out on my little sample haha

I agree with Pacifica that this scent is sultry, but not attention seeking. The woman is gold knows she's beautiful, and doesn't need to demand attention from others - but gets it anyway. The scent makes me feel quietly confident. I think this would be a perfect bridal scent, or for a date night; but could also be worn to the office for a big presentation.

Sadly this was pretty one note aroma chemical on me and I couldn't figure out what the problem was until I clicked on Akigalawood ehaehaeh in the notes...hadn't heard of that kind of wood before I thought to myself and therein lies the problem..here is the definition: synthetic molecule reminiscent of patchouli with a hint of pepper and fine agarwood. :(

A great big molecule that overrode the whole show. A bust for me but I still love you, Calice!

This perfume takes on so many personalities during wear, and I love every one of them. It goes on bold and powerful, but not overwhelming. I can't describe my first impression in scent notes, but I can describe it as "wow"! I couldn't stop sniffing my shirt and arm where the perfume hit. Once the initial spray settles, a sexy business woman shows up. This is the boss B in the office. About the 2nd hour, my granddaughter actually walked up to me and commented how she likes this perfume. After a more few hours (yes, it's that long lasting), another personality showed up; this one saying I'm confident, feel good and I know I'm "all that". This is where the perfume takes on a scent that reminds me of a softer version of OUD Satin Mood. That's a win-win situation for me, because that's one of my favorites as well.

Woman in Gold is one of my top 3 scents of all time. It’s very inoffensive, you could wear it to the office 100% (but it is also suitable for date night too. It’s a bit sultry but not attention seeking.) It has a lot of vanilla, bergamot and tonka especially on the dry down. The opening is a bit citrusy but that fades away after the dry down (about an hour-2 hours.) It has a great lasting power, about 8 hrs on me. Decent projection, about an arms length. Sillage is about 6 ft behind the wearer. I’m not crazy for perfumes that smell up a room so this is perfect. I just love this perfume. If you love vanilla and bergamot notes in conjunction, you will love this perfume, too.

UPDATE: I wore Woman in Gold today & am at 12 hours of wear - it’s still going strong. Normally I only use one spritz but today I used two & I see it has paid off!

Reminiscent of 1725 by Histoires de Parfums

I have about 6mls of a tester for this perfume, and I think I am going to sell it. I was intrigued by a woody oriental mixed with aldehydes & rose, but I'm slightly anosmic to it. From what I do smell, it is medicinal and sweet with a smoked wood background. I would characterize it as offputting and sickly sweet. The sweetness isn't balanced to my nose by the medicinal woody character. There is also this powdered paraffin rose character that ages it.

It is sophisticated. It does smell rich... but... I just can't see a situation where I would be wearing this much?

The longer it sits on me, the tonka is coming through and rounding out the sweetness, so it may be that the dry down is a nice gourmand sweet smell that will be attractive but living through the mixed feelings of the opening/mid... I'm not sure it is worth it!

Revision: I find myself craving this scent... it is all over my clothes and I want to wear it again.... 0_O I may be a convert!

Woman in Gold features a bright citrus opening followed by a floral oriental heart, what I really like is even though the vanilla is prominent in the heart, the floral notes give it an airy and fresh quality, there is rose freshened by the citrusy geranium and a freesia note which reminds me of some of Ormonde Jayne creations. The fragrance gets sweeter and woodier in the drydown.

A bit anosmic, lovely, elegant, sophisticated
a bit luxurious and rich but polite too. Not a
wow at all . Too elegant to be. Not attention
seeking . Smells almost identical to anosmic
Baccarat Rouge (Madison Francois Kurkdjan).
Doesn’t impress me at all but people like it, &
cant deny The appropriate sophistication wear
to family functions or occasions you want to be
able to both show respect as well as blend in. I
do akin this to a woman wearing non flashy gold.

This perfume is bold with vanilla, aldehyde, spice and wood. To my opinion, more for fall and cold and mature woman (but why not on a man!). More for night that day, not for the open space for sure. This complex scent is like an elegant painting with gold and black. Expensive feeling.
6/10 I will wear it but it is not 100% my style

I am in love with this citrus,vanilla woody perfume , such a classy yet modern ,sparkly ,warm masterpiece! In fact it reminds me of a modernized chanel# 5 , love the aldehydes ,vanilla rose and woods with the sweet tonka and hint of patchouli . I adore that soapy mature elegant yet sexy powdery feel . The hint of oud is perfect I believe it’s a molecule and not real oud which I am perfectly oaky with. This perfume is worth every penny , it reminds me of MFKs satin mood , like another reviewer already had mentioned. Also has reminiscence of Chanel #5 as mentioned earlier. It fills all my needs in a perfume , it’s warm, sexy, elegant , youthful and sweet aromatic and powdery fresh . My husband loves this one and I get many compliments.
Pls Kilian never discontinue this one.
I also find It to be tweaked when the new packaging came out. I love how it’s been changed ( if it has ) as I use to not like this perfume I now swoon over it. It could also be that my taste has matured or changed . Probably the later lol .This is perfection to me now , I own the white bottle .
Love the citrus – woody–,vanilla feel.

Such high hopes and no. I'm heartbroken. From the reviews, it seemed like a perfect fragrance for me but a note or two ruined it. Something metallic and harsh, something reminding me of Kenzo L'eau - aldehydes, ozone? I expected elegant warmth like Laura Biagiotti's Venezia, Dior Dune, Givenchy Organza. And it's all there, but aggressive aldehydes steal the show. I genuinely ENVY those who love it, I wanted to so badly!!

OMG this recalls my childhood back in the 90’s ,, smells very familiar the flowey powdery cleanes .. not bad i will give it another try and see

Reading the very polarized opinions about WIG, I am totally astonished about how absolutely different our sense of smell behaves from a person to another. How different a scent is perceived is quite curious. So, i’ll start by saying, yeah this juice is very linear, so if you love it from the first puff, you’ ll enjoy it to the end. That is a good thing, as there are a lot of fragrances that promise a lot and then, in 1h or so they turn to good ol’ soap smell or cheapie toiletries. Then, this one is unique. I mean, you don’t smell it and instantly find similarities or get obsessed by hmm, where did I smell this before?! Although a lot if people associate it with rose, this is not a rosie, but it’s more into the aromatic vibe. I sense a nice cosy basil. Mom said i smelled like the church, there :)
It is such a vibrant, loyal and powerful perfume. Totally worths your money, it has incredible longevity. I put in on at 7 am - 2 puffs are enough - and mom sensed the church smell at 6 pm. I sensed myself too. Great for late summer, dunno how it develops in winter, but i bet it is still wonderful.

I am a fan of Kilian and wanted to love this one, but on me, the sillage and projection are practically non-existent, and it smells pretty generic - gourmand sweet, some soapiness, some florals, little citrus. I think you could get a similar vibe from Love or Princess, which on my skin are far more unique, powerful, and statement-making.

This is my first review here and my first scent from Kilian. I want to say that the perfume is beautiful and is miles away from Love and Good Girl having a more sophisticated performance, it definitely opens up with bergamot and other citrus fruits and settles with tonka and vanilla on my skin. I do taste something soapy midway, not sure what but I quite like it..

I've got a discovery set from Kilian with some healthy sized vials inside and it allowed me to discover that the whole house is criminaly overrated. The pricepoint would lead you to believe that the bottles are filled with something new, unik and gorgeous: 50 ml of Woman in Gold are 260 euro, that is 520 euro per 100ml. There is also an option to perchase 50ml refill for 150euro, that is 300 euro per 100ml. Such calculation indicates that we are offered to pay 110 euro just for the bottle! That is some pricey piece of glass.

Customers, that can easily afford the ovehyped bottles, have probably never ever had or smelled anything more affordable or even very affordable before and would never guess that there is absolutely nothing new in Kilian. Everything that I have tested so far is an absolute copy of some widely affordable predessesor.

Perfume lovers, that have been in the game for a while, have sampled both classics and "cheapies", would most certainly be amused by this cheecky attempt at high end perfumery and would never go for the full bottle ever, because they would know all the originals and simply perchase those.

In case of Woman in Gold, pleasant as it is,- it hit me right away that I had this exact scent in my childhood, so it could never have been expensive at all. I do not remember the name of the perfume now, something like Charlie Gold, by Revlon which retails for under 10 dollars now for a 100ml. I brought Charlie Gold home now and yes, that is the scent in the drydown, but better and rounded.

None of Kilian perfumes last more than a couple of hours on me and do not project, so the chances of a full bottle finding its way into my collection are slim.

Tested on cold/dry skin in cold and dry climate.

I ordered a number of samples from By Kilian and tried this one on for ~1 hour. Here is what I detected:

A little vanilla plus that wood note, and a mediocre floral (is that the geranium?/freesia?), no rose at all, a too-noticeable amount of aldehydes, tiny amount of citrus, and the tonka (which I usually love) didn't help this blend at all.

Overall quite synthetic smelling and boring/not much depth. Don't be fooled by the $4.80/mL retail price tag; this does not 'smell expensive'.

Scent: 4/10 (not offensive, but not entirely pleasant either)
Longevity: 9/10 (this stuff lasted sooo long on anything i touched. soap and alcohol had no effect. can only be removed with oil)
Sillage: 7.5/10 (moderate-high projection)

Reviewing from a sample.

This isn't my favourite, it's only ok to me, and definitely not worth the full bottle price tag to my mind.
I don't find this a winter scent at all, I find that citrus burst very fresh and it hangs on. The vanilla smooths it a bit but on me the whole thing reads more, sweetish, fresh spring citrus. Hubby is also not a fan.

I don't know why most people label this as winter/fall perfume, for me it is definitely summer/spring fragrance bacause it is refreshing and not "in your face" sharp. Also, not worth the price, but it it was like 10 times cheaper, we could say it is a nice scent. You can see where I'm going with this, I will try to get a hold of tocade rochas if everyone says it is similar or even better. I usually dislike citruses, but ih this vanilla combination, it is bearable and smooth.

Divinity in a bottle. As a confirmed sucker for anything vanilla-wood-rose this does in fact remind me of a more restrained Tocade.

I'm a male who bought this for a lady friend as a gift. Sorry to say she never received it lol. This smells so good I kept it for myself. Guys shouldn't be afraid to try this the name is just a name and has nothing to do with how this smells. This is a sleeper for men but smells absolutely amazing on a woman too. Performs very well too.

First time am writing a review here. I can't go into depth about notes, just my layman way of describing my experience.

So I got the intoxicated discovery set coz I really wanted to sniff the Love don't be shy and Good girl gone bad. It came with this and Moonlight in Heaven. Second day I couldn't help but notice amazing whiffs from my jacket. So reassuring, unique and beautiful. I had to find which among the four smelled so good. Ofcourse I assumed it must be Love, I meant almost everyone raves about this scent, if not then, its GGGB. Decided to taste each scent individually each day and voila, it was Woman in Gold!! I have some heady strong fragrances and this one balances my wardrobe so well. I couldn't care for Love don't be Shy or Good Girl after this. This is it. I need this!! The dry down is sweet but not cloying, subtle and creamy.

My full bottle of WiG arrived yesterdy and this scent is divine. Would recommend this to anyone, you will enjoy sniffing your wrists throughout.

Woman in Gold By Kilian is one of the most incredible fragrances I've ever smelled in my life. For those of us who adore oriental perfumes, this is definitely worth every penny. It is sensual, high on seduction, captivating, intoxicating, mysterious and very, very elegant above all. It is a strong perfume, so a little goes a long way and it is long lasting. It is sweet but not the kind of sweet that revolts the stomach, it is vanilla syrup but in the best, most elegant way. Maaan this is good. I had a flask sent to me from Europe and I almost cried because the flask leaked a little. This is that precious: a little bit lost from this incredible fragrance hurts. I recommend it 110% to all those ladies who want to seduce their man.

Fast forward two years later and I find myself wearing this on a regular night, just by myself enjoying this in the comforts of my pijamas at home. This is warm, enveloping and exquisite. Definitely one of my top favorite perfumes, if not my favorite of all. It's the winner among a compilation of about 500 fragrances. IT IS THAT GOOD.

Warm, spicy, vanilla floral with a touch of powder.
Sillage is medium, longevity is medium.
Best for cold weather.
I don't smell too much of a scent progression throughout the scent... definitely a more mature smell, not for teens.

The drydown!!! I'm obsessed with it! That dry citrus woodsy vanilla... that should make the fragrance quite weighted and dark, actually come together to create an aerated and sparkly feel, i'm assuming these are the aldehydes at play. Quite a long lasting fragrance, which makes me happy because I can't get enough. WIG seems like it will perform best in dry colder weather.
I'm quite sensitive to patchouli, but the perfect amount has been used in WIG, the geranium adds the perfect (slightly) peppery touch.
I love my vanillas, so i'm happy to welcome this new addition to my collection; I can't compare it to anything else I own atm :)

Just gave this to my girlfriend for her birthday. Her signature scent is another pick of mine and is my favorite ladies’ fragrance to date: Armani Privé Pivoine Suzhou, which could honestly be the perfect one-bottle collection. Anyhow, enough with the plug. I purchased the Woman in Gold refill and gave her an atomizer. The smell is very unique in that it’s fresh and clean without an in-your-face floral effect that’s typically apparent in mainstream ladies’ perfumes. There’s almost a rubbery, almost play-doh like quality to it that’s somehow very attractive to me. It pairs very well with Gold Knight, which I own, with Gold Knight being the more powdery of the two. However, I think my perfect fragrance pairing for it when she wears it will be Clive Christian No. 1 Masculine. Honestly, Woman in Gold could be unisex, although leaning very feminine. I’ve worn her samples a few times. I don’t know if it’s worth full price yet, but I got the refill over half off.

This definitely isn’t a teenager’s perfume. It’s mature and very high-class. I had a couple coworkers think it smelled a little “old lady,” but I don’t really get that vibe. I see this working best for a confident woman, age 21+.

If you’re bored of “normal” scents and want to add some pizzazz to your collection, this is it. It’s a 9/10 scent (sometimes 8 and 10), 9/10 longevity, and 10/10 sillage.

This is my very first fragrance from By Kilian. I bought a sample from Lucky Scent. This scent is very warm and spicy with hints of vanilla and rose. This scent is better suited for autumn and winter. I can't imagine wearing this in the summer.I will save my sample for the fall and see how it goes. I would choose Burberry Britt over this one, though. For me it's an 8 out of 10.

Calice Becker was going for "texturized and brilliant, rich and voluptuous" like the namesake of this perfume. The Gustav Klimt painting of Adele Bloch-Bauer, the inspiration for this scent. She achieved her goal in this uber sybaritic elixir. Woman in Gold is thick, viscous vanilla interlaced with rose, exotic wood, and a scintilla of geranium. The vanilla is molten gold. A glittering presence saturated with passionate rose effusion. Has an upscale "cosmetic" aroma, that subliminally whispers wealth. This is the perfume of a doyenne who lives in the world of oligarchs and sovereigns. Both commanding and intimately sensuous. Imposing sillage and longevity. An impression of fine art through perfume!

I would happily drown in a vat of this wonderful fragrance. It's a perfect balance of woody and sweet, as many others have said here, the rose, wood and vanilla have been blended really well. I detect no citrus notes at all. The sweet is not sickly or gourmandy, the wood is not bitter, and the vanilla is very "round". Not sure how else to describe it. Something in this scent takes me back to childhood. The bad part is the price, completely unaffordable for me. I am stuck with samples at $5 a shot, which is probably just as well because otherwise I'd be covered in it from head to toe. This is my new number one. Putting the lovely White Aoud into second place (for now).

This is my holy grail of perfumes. I get soooo many compliments on it. Stays on for hours.

On me I really feel the rose. Its almost peppery and spicy and tickles my nose a little. This is the type of perfume that after a while, I don't smell on myself any longer, but people around me still smell it, so be careful with the amount you put on LOL

Lasts a good amount of time. If I use in the morning (which I try not to as I think it is better for evening) it will still project at around 4 pm. It smells quality. I think by Killian is actually justified in the price, as the packaging is exquisite and the scents are amazing.

I tried this today and I love it! It has aspects of both love and especially princess by kilian. But it also has its own uniqueness!

God, yet another obnoxious citrus sugar-bomb by Kilian [insert eyeroll]. It's not different enough from its fraternal twins Love and Moonlight in Heaven to warrant its existence. Come on Kilian, you can do a non-fruit gourmand... really, it's okay. This is yet another blast from 2011 and it's tacky.

Ugh, I’m so sick of smelling perfumes like this that are sickeningly sweet vanilla-loaded cotton candy with an obnoxious citrus or bergamot blast up front, rose in the middle, and overloaded with patchouli and musk at the base. Not very unique, and definitely not worth the price, nor worthy of the beautiful presentation.

This is a thin imitation of Tocade- like a Tocade spritzer. It's fine I guess but I was hoping for something really special. My $30 bottle of Tocade is actually richer and more rounded out.

Goes on smoothly sweet mandarain vanilla with complex layers of floral. Very feminine, but dries down to super sweet floral that really reminds me only of cotton candy. Seriously like cotton candy. I don't get much else.

Opens with a citric patchouli then vanilla woods with a bit of rose. A little nondescript for my taste as tocade did this idea better.. But its updated.. Thinner.. More synthetic.

OMG! Kilian has been bought by Estee Lauder??!!
That certainly is then end of a unique thing. Personally I think the price is very high. I always preferred their packaging more than the fragrances. There are much better perfumes with better ingredients that don't cost as much or at least are worth the price.

Pure perfection to my nose! I absolutely fell in love with it the very first time. It is long lasting, and the notes blend together so beautifully, nothing feels sharp or out of place.

This is very easy to wear!! I do believe this is now going to replace my (old) favorite Kilian~Love, Don't Be Shy. I have already bought three decants of this. It may be a little dressy for jeans and every day, but I do believe because it's gentle and not 'in your face' it is office safe too.

I have to give this one a 10 out of 10 for this work of art!

A more expensive version of Coty's Lady Stetson. I tried them side by side. Not much difference, except that Kilian's woman in Gold has a definite, but subtle, note of vanilla in the opening and that's it.

Not a full review, but this can be unisex for sure i was surprised. It is a lot better than it’s counter part (which btw is just honey waht a blow) this has character and charisma and i was very surprised that a male can wear this without any problems. It’s sexy for sure, i did bought a full bottle a no brainer for me.

This perfume is MAGICAL. While it does smell a little like Tocade, it does not have the same edge/bug spray smell that Tocade has. Tocade is in your face. Woman in Gold is a mystery. On me, it stays on forever. Even until the next day. When I got a sample a few days ago, I sprayed it on a card, and it STILL remains projecting a scent of beauty. I get mostly vanilla and bergamot, but not enough to say 'Oh, this is vanilla and bergamot.
Very, very little patchouli. Just enough to add mystery. What this perfume gives the image of to me is the Woman in Gold painting, but as it evolves, it is as though the woman in walking out of the painting. That she becomes alive. On me, this scent changes throughout the day. AND, even when I took a shower the next day, it is STILL there on my skin. The wood tone is very subtle. This is what reminds me of the mystery, I believe. Tocade it is NOt. Beautiful evolving mystery, it it. I just bought a full bottle. Spray sparingly, keep the mystery.

This is a powerhouse. I could smell my wife OVER the Gold Knight I was wearing and she was a good twenty feet away. I asked her how many sprays and she told me just one. It was so strong in the truck hours, yes hours, later that I had to crack the window. It smells good, but all I could really smell was a sweet, mildly spicy wood that became annoying after several hours.

I smelled this at Saks and fell in love with it. The vanilla, the patchouli and the rose played beautifully amongst each other BUT I also immediately knew that this reminded me of something. Luckily Saks had sold out and I didn't make an impulsive whopping $295 purchase. I was given a sample and for the next two days I sprayed this (ever so carefully because it is VERY strong) and my memory was still telling me "you've smelled this before" and today it clicked! This is so similar to Tocade by Rochas!!! I LOVE Tocade and have worn it for years. Woman In Gold wants to be its modern prettier younger sister. Tocade is slightly brash where Woman In Gold is perhaps more discreet but both dry down so very similarly. I personally think the Tocade dry down is more memorable. The packaging is absolutely gorgeous but I can't justify the price as the scent is nothing original or new to me.

love it

I love this stuff and don't care that this is intended for women. Reminds me of Silk Mood like fragrance.

I'm loving this fragrance and don't care that it's intended for a women.

This thing, delicious. But disappointingly not worthy of the price. My olfactive memory recalls scents that have tart fruit hearts and warm, golden vanilla bases. Escada Marine Groove, Hanae Mori play in the same realm. So do key lime and lemon meringue pies. This does have a delicately polished base of wood (smells like a drop of synthetic oud), amberish resin and berried rose, however there is not enough distinction in the fragrance for this to command its asking price.

I don't believe I want to drop $295 for the beautiful box (uninspected) with a $5 juice inside. Like Calvini, I wanted justification for buying the stunning limited edition coffret. I love Klimt and his infamous painting which inspired this perfume (which is in ownership of Ronald Lauder, heir to the Estee Lauder Companies which, as most of you frag heads know owns Kilian). Admittedly, the historical story behind the painting and not the notes are what originally led me to testing Woman in Gold. This scent is more fitting of a portrait of Hello Kitty than Adele Bloch-Bauer I. For avid limited edition packaging collectors and gourmies only.

Since By Kilian was bought by Estée Lauder, I'll not be purchasing any of their perfumes ever again. They started giving away free bottles to the bloggers, so these push/promote it. Once it was niche, now all the ingredients will be cheaper for the bigger audience but the prices will stay high. Bye bye Kilian...

It evokes a sparkly orange color as opposed to gold, like a fizzy orange soda (probably the citrus-rose-vanilla). The scent doesn't live up to the marvelous painting nor the magnificent case inspired by it, which turned out to be a halfway Puredistance Sheiduna.. I really REALLY wanted to love it so I can buy it not just for the case :/