About
Hi, I'm Melanie
lovely to meet you
Fragrance collector, note nerd and firm believer that perfume is a form of self-respect.
Why this blog exists
I started buying fragrance the expensive way — blind buys, hype cycles, bottles that smelled incredible in the store and disappeared by lunchtime. Notes by Melanie is the resource I wish I'd had: honest wear-testing, real longevity numbers and language that explains what a note actually smells like instead of hiding behind marketing copy.
Everything here is worn on skin, for a full day, more than once. If a scent doesn't earn its price, I'll say so — and if a $38 bottle outperforms a $380 one, I'll say that too.
♡ Mel
How the Melanie Score works
Every review is scored across ten categories out of ten. The overall score is the average — no rounding up because a brand sent a bottle.
Presentation
The bottle, the ritual, the unboxing.
Opening
The first fifteen minutes on skin.
Dry Down
Where it lands after two hours.
Longevity
Measured in real hours, on my skin.
Projection
How far it travels off the body.
Sillage
The trail it leaves in a room.
Versatility
Seasons, occasions, dress codes.
Uniqueness
Does it smell like everything else?
Value
Performance against price per ml.
Compliment Factor
What strangers actually say.
Work with me
I accept samples, but never paid positive reviews. Every collaboration is disclosed at the top of the post, and my score is my own.
