Tainted Love

The name drew me right in immediately because I grew up during the 80's. Moreover, there was no way I could resist being intrigued by the distinctive bottle design. Given my past as someone who frequented clubs and mingled with punk and goth individuals, this fragrance felt like it would definitely resonate with me. It belongs to one of my select favorites within the Dark collection. How I experience the vanilla is quite unique – it seems enveloped in sandalwood and musk (even though musk isn't listed as a component for this scent), which fits perfectly with who I am. Unlike most vanilla notes, this particular one doesn't remind me of baked goods flavors. For that reason, it's not something I reach for daily. This Tainted Love fragrance comes into play during moments when I'm feeling more introspective or when my spirit leans toward being a bit edgy and resistant to the mainstream. Alternatively, it might be chosen by me as an olfactory trip back to a phase in life where I was embracing darker themes and rebellion within myself.

At first it was mediocre, fine enough. But I find myself using it often now. My skin really enjoys this fragrance! My advice is not to ignore bad reviews, try wearing it briefly instead. On my skin it begins with some citrus notes then settles into a smoky woody vanilla base. I take along a little rollerball each time because the longevity isn't great unfortunately, but I don't hesitate to reapply since I'm out wearing this regularly. These small roll-ons are quite inexpensive and frequently come together in a collection with travel-sized hand cream samples which I like very much indeed.

Just a vanilla fragrance - agreed. Like bottled sensuous velvet - agreed. Nothing "dark" or "tainted" about it. Vanilla blended with green tea and sandalwood, longevity was good. I felt like waiting for something more to happen but nothing did. There's no passion in this fragrance. And "Love" doesn't come right away to mind. Still though, I truly liked it and thought it very suitable for winter use.

Tainted Love (Dark) by Tokyomilk opens with a strong green impression, likely from green tea, but this initial note fades quickly. Vanilla then becomes very prominent after just a minute or two. With additional time, Tainted Love (Dark) develops into an attractive combination that isn't too sweet and isn't overly floral. It transforms into something creamy using vanilla, sandalwood, and orchid, giving off both comfortable and sensually appealing qualities. There's also a faint spicy element present; possibly tonka bean although this wasn't officially listed. This fragrance appears very adaptable and attractive in general use. It feels appropriate for many different circumstances or seasons, suggesting it could be an everyday choice. Despite not lasting particularly long, its reasonable cost means you can apply more if desired. Overall, Tainted Love (Dark) is something I would find appealing enough to wear regularly, especially around the time autumn arrives with falling leaves.

This was a blind buy. Tainted Love is good so far, though on skin it becomes something akin to a cabbage patch doll fragrance – I appreciate that but would prefer if it were more pronounced initially. Still pleased overall, yet I don't think I'll be buying it again.