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I have it: 366 I had it: 48 I want it: 194 My signature: 12
Designers » M » Madonna Oriental Floral « Groups
I have it: 366 I had it: 48 I want it: 194 My signature: 12
The long-awaited perfume which will bear the signature of Madonna, perhaps the greatest pop star ever, launches in 2012. The company Coty has signed an agreement with MG Icon to launch this fragrance named Truth or Dare. The fragrance is for women from 25 to 45, with the group of 35-45 as the primary aim.
"I have always been obsessed by fragrance and for years wanted to create something personal that was an expression of me, but that other people could relate to as well. Something classical and timeless and yet modern. My oldest memory of my mother is her perfume. I carry it with me everywhere. She always smelled like gardenias and tuberose, an intoxicating mixture [that was] feminine and mysterious. I wanted to re-create this scent, but with something fresh and new about it as well. Something honest and yet daring — hence the name Truth or Dare", said Madonna to wwd.
Madonna was reportedly deeply involved in the process of making her perfume. She has worked with Stephen Nilsen, Givaudan perfumer, to create the composition of white flowers on an intensive gourmand background. The scent is both a light and dark, opening with notes of gardenia, creamy tuberose and neroli. The heart consists of jasmine, benzoin and white lily, based on vanilla absolute, caramelized amber and sensual musk.
The fragrance comes in two formats - as 50 and 75 ml Eau de Parfum, along with body lotion and shower gel.
Top Notes
Middle Notes
Base Notes
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poor | 11 | |
weak | 6 | |
moderate | 23 | |
long lasting | 59 | |
very long lasting | 67 |
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Usually I get a lot of my perfumes at discount stores like TJMaxx, and I always see this perfume, but because I always tend to shy away from celebrity fragrances, I never give it a chance.
So time passed by and one day I heard my mother talking to a friend about fracas. My mother loves gardenia, jasmine and tuberose. So one thing led to another and I have no idea why I started reading the reviews about Truth or Dare and...voila! I was shocked to read so many reviews about the similarity with Fracas.
I run to the store and I got one bottle ($15!!!), I give it to my mother with the whole explanation and I even showed the Fragrantica page. And she loved it, I only smelled the top notes and they are just a beautiful, clear, light gardenia/jasmine combination. I was so worried that it may be too sweet or heavy, but on the contrary, it smells amazing. It's a real shame that thgis perfume is so underrated, because it deserves more attention.
I like this perfume!
I'm not interested about celebrity frags, but since I love Madonna and White flowers, I wanted to try "Truth or dare".
It's so particular. It seems two different fragrance. At first spray, you can smell powerful Gardenia and Tuberosa but after about 30/50 minutes it turns into a sweet (not sugary), creamy, sensual and soft scent.
I've been wearing it everyday and got so many compliments.
I suggest you to test it before you buy.
Thank you!
I hope my english is quite good!(I live in Sardinia, Italy!)
I had Fracas and i had to swap it because does not work for me, gives me a little headache, but still there was something about it i liked and didn't know what. So when i saw this at Marshals for 10$ i had to go on my phone an check what fragranticans say about it, and after the good reviews i had to give it a try.This is good stuff, a lot more wearable then Fracas ,softer and with drying down it gets even better. I don't know why is at the discount stores, because this is very good quality, and it is very long lasting without overpowering you.
This smells exactly like Fracas on my skin, and I'm crazy about it...To me it's a cross between Michael Kors "Michael" and Fracas..I love this from beginning to end! I found my bottle at discount, and I plan on stocking up~
This fragrance is the only one I know that changes this much the more I get to know it. I got it late last year yet I still get surprised by it. First it was an adorable,cuddly, fluffy smell with a sweet undertone(this was only in the times I tested it in the store, and I started noticing changes from tthe first day I bought it (I described it in my previous reviews, don't wanna bore anyone with my repititions) and recently it changed yet again. I agree it has a matellic vibe, in fact I think "rubbery" describes it better. Like burnt tires, but the banana milkshake drydown always stayed the same to me. Sillage was very fickle, it was always hard to find the right balance because it would either be non existant or too strong up to the point of nausea, and thats where yesterday's experience comes in. I was at home so I wanted to use some just for a mood lifter and used two spritz on each wrist, small half spritz because I felt like keeping my smell to myself as I wasn't going out anymore. About half an hour passed and my brothers girlfriend kept speaking about how lovely I smell and asked me a lot of questions about the fragrance, even the price. 3 hours later, my friend came to my house and before she even got close to me, she said I smell...take a guess? Yet again, lovely! I was very confused at this point because even when I sniffed my wrist up close I only got a faint powdery trace and just then my maid told me she could smell me from the washing line :O never underestimate this fragrance, it's powerful, gorgeous, and knows how to make a statement and it truly is daring. People just can't give this credit for anything because they're too much of a wuss to wear this if you ask me. Amazing fragrance and it actually does have good quality. 10/10 :)
I'm a fan of white flower frags, so I had to try this one when I came across it in a discount bin at Marshall's. It delivered white flowers alright, and tried hard to make them presentable with touches of sweet amber, but there was a screechy, metallic vibe to the drydown that made it just...ok.
Then I tried layering it with Yves Roche Monoi Tiare body oil and WOW! The garden of white flowers is singing in harmony, their voices softened with benzoin and amber, the whole ensemble is softened with vanilla and leaves a trail of warm, soft musk. If you like gardenia, give this combo a try.
I have to admit that I changed my mind about this fragrance.
At first spry, a few months ago, I thought "What the hell". Initially it seemed to strong and all those white flowers were reminding me of cemetery.
Now that I've ordered a sample, I tested it and I have to admit that I really do like it. Sure it is a mature woman fragrance but the smell is so rich and luxury that I enjoy and appreciate it.
Opening notes are really sweet white florals. Then this sweetness turns more into a a huge white flower bouquet that will remain strong until the dry down.
Base notes are barely recognizable as the white flowers are so powerful that will stand during the whole journey.
Unlike other celebrity fragrances, Vanilla comes really shy, and only in the end.
Bottle is beautiful and the price is super CHEAP!
I'm still waiting for her hydrangea scent, oh wait Madonna loathes hydrangeas.
I've never been one to write an offensive review on a fragrance because of my dislike for the creator. I am not a fan of Madonna, but that does not influence my opinion on the scent. Tuberose, at times jasmine, and most of all Gardenia are signature "Old Lady" smells, and with Gardenia being the heaviest note, It even brings urine to mind. Grandma Pee, and I know the scent, I live with my Grandmother. Whether it be the Benzoin or the Amber, it is a warm fragrance, but that doesn't help preventing the nausea I receive because not only is this scent extremely... mature, but it's so very strong. To those of you who like the 3 floral notes listed above you'll love it. Not me. But hey, this is my honest review on the smell. I'm not attacking it because of the person who made it, and I'm certainly not going to call it cheap or trashy like others have done in some fan war rage.
This is my fourth, and only successful, wearing of Truth or Dare. Aptly named in my case, as each time it seemed more like a game of chicken. The first time I over-applied, with four spritzes. I am surprised and happy to be alive today, but I got a horrendous migraine almost immediately. However, I had a number of other triggers brewing that day, so I considered this to be an unfair trial, even though I kept hearing of others on Fragrantica that became sick.
The second try was a day when I had an exercise class, where no fragrances were allowed, so I used TOD gel in my bath instead of perfume. When I got into class and started working, this huge cloud of gardenia came wafting up to surround me. Now, this is a completely fragrance-free space, they don't use any scented products to clean the space either, so any scent is exaggerated. But I was astounded. I had never known any gel to have anything close to that kind of longevity or projection.
For the third trial, I made sure I felt well, had a good night's sleep, ate some breakfast, was hydrated. I applied very lightly on my trunk and back, nothing on my arms, neck or nape. This was a day when I had a series of meetings, culminating in a meeting where I was the only woman among a bunch of silver back union reps. Seriously. I had applied two spritzes at 8 am, and late in the afternoon I am closed up in this tiny space with all these wizened old guys, and once again, the gardenia bomb goes off. Uncanny. I literally could see the moment when the TOD hit them by their facial expressions, which ranged from shock to awe.
Today's trial was just the lotion, ma'am. A little dab will do you, plus one spritz on my trunk. This seems to be the magic combination for me, with no ill effects, and a less volatile fragrance experience.
This is all about the gardenia, with the understanding that there is no natural gardenia note, all are either synthetic, or a white floral accord created using tuberose and jasmine. Or both, and that is what TOD is, a synthetic gardenia created using a synthetic jasmine and tuberose accord. The LOTV gives it a soapiness that seems a little too clean, and at odds with the intent, which I assume is to create a sensual musky floral
This is a ripe gardenia, not a green gardenia, or an overripe gardenia. It is creamier, whiter, and more potent than ET Gardenia. It does not remind me of Versace Blonde, but it does remind me of Fracas, although TOD and Fracas differ much more than they are similar. They are both very potent, heady, and flagrant, but Blonde is more tuberose, while TOD is more gardenia.
Having survived a wearing, I am unsure when I will have the prep time or guts to try this again. I have been wearing it today for seven hours, and I am struck by how consistent the lotion seems compared to the perfume.
Haha @PerfumeWhore sorry going to go a little off topic but just need to say what a hilarious review was laughing my a** off because your review reminded me of a terrible movie, terrible as in what happened in the movie is just so bad, the movie Flowers in the Attic, yes your spot on the review for this perfume sounds like the review for that movie hehe.
not bad white flower scent after dry down - never would buy at full price, however to add to my collection will buy at clearance at marshalls or tjs @ $15-20.
Rarely do I give bad reviews, but I think this scent is awful. It has waaaay too much gardenia with a bit of a sour smell. I will give it this much, it will last all day. If a person really loves gardenia...you have hit the jackpot with this fragrance.
Yes, Truth Or Dare reminds of Fracas! As Fracas is the lovely mother who had a baby at an advanced age and that baby is Truth Or Dare.
Fracas: dusty
Truth Or Dare: alive
Fracas: guilty
Truth Or Dare: innocent
Fracas: she slaps you harder and harder in the face and you resent her for
acting that way! She makes you want to break up with her.
Truth Or Dare: she slaps you hard once and then slowly wraps you with a clean hug and you forgive her...she's just a child...and she makes you care for her and you come back for more hugs to comfort her and to teach her how to not become like her Mom. Her Mom resents her, that's why she's being mean like that.
Of course it isn't other scents quality, very synthetic ingredients indeed , but for 9e the 50ml bottle I find it quite acceptable for daily wear as long you love white flowers, of which this one has a lot.
It definitely searches for a vintage first effect though the sweet middle stage and musky vanilla amber caramel drydown gives itself away as a nowadays baby.
By the way, I couldn't care less about it being by Madonna. I came to this scent by chance when reading reviews on tuberose scents and by chance again I found it at a bargain price. Im happy to own it to give turns to my various tuberose scents but I wouldn't buy it again unless I find it for a similar bargain price.
A very delicious fragrance....one of the most explosives and candy-cotton scents that i most love...
The Gardenia note in this - hits with a high note similar to striking a crystal glass with a fork. Ding!
Upper Register High Chord... the first blast of this is extremely BRIGHT!!! An hour or so into it, this fragrance has a very warm and inviting, almost alluring quality to it. It draws you in, but still remains very bright, sweet, and clear. On me, this is wearing much less intrusive than the fragrance that it has been most compared to-- Petit Fracas by Robert Piguet.
This is wearing so light at about three hours, that I feel it would be a good spring/summer fragrance. The first hour is VERY SHARP... so I would definitely spray this an hour before leaving for an event. It needs some dry-down time, just to soften.
A fragrantica friend recommended this for an upcoming event that I have- because she said that it struck a good note between business and pleasure, and that it wore very light... similar to Eau du Ciel (which if one of my all time FAVORITE fragrances, but it only lasts about 2 hours on my skin).
I'm just now trying this for the first time and luckily, was able to find a sample of this on the internet after some intensive googling.
The first 10 minutes of this is very intense and is EXTREMELY SWEET! The notes in this are clean, clear, bright, uplifting, and remind me a little bit of Calvin Klein's Eternity (the original).
I will have to see how this wears over time. So far, it is VERY GARDENIA!!! Not a bad smell, but one that I would probably only wear for certain occasions.
This is hitting a register that reminds me a bit of Spellbound by Estee Lauder or Blonde by Versace. I think that this could be a niche' fragrance, but would probably not be my go-to fragrance for a number of activities.
So far, I'm missing depth in this chord. This is only coming in as HIGH Register... Soprano!!!
Personally, I prefer a fragrance with a blended chord that at least dips into the alto range to ground the notes.
No... if I were to smell this fragrance and then try to envision Madonna, in any way-- it really isn't a fit for me. Madonna's voice is much more alto and she is much more substantial than this fragrance would suggest. I would expect a fragrance that was more like a new variation of the original Coco by Channel, Fendi, Knowing... for Madonna's image.
"Truth or Dare"-- This fragrance reminds me more of Olivia Newton John's high whisky type notes. Very clean, bright, and high!!!
Based on a number of people's reviews, they said that Fracas was very similar to this... so I got a sample of both Truth or Dare - and Fracas to compare the two. Truth or Dare is more high and sweet than Fracas. There is a depth to Fracas that is not found in the notes of Truth or Dare. Both are HIGH Register, Soprano scents. Madonna's is wearing much lighter and a bit less intrusive - within the first 15 minutes of spraying. I will have to wear them longer to really see how they unfold, then report back.
The first hour of wear, I'm liking the Fracas better due to depth and dimension that it has, which I'm not finding in the Truth or Dare scent. I think that both have their place in your wardrobe, particularly if you like fragrances that are higher octave, bright, clear, and clean. Madonna's wears a bit less intrusive than Fracas and would probably be a better fit if you worked in a tight space with others or were attending a social event where you were having to sit really close with other people... like a movie theater, theater performance, airplane, or may be in an elevator with a lot of people. Fracas has much more silage on my skin.
Truth or Dare wins the Endurance Race... at 8 hours, Madonna's fragrance is still riding the skin with the punch that you normally find in fragrances - about 4-5 hours into the game. This is TRUE TO FORM! Madonna has definitely been riding the music business with a longevity that proves that she has great endurance. This fragrance passes that test, very clearly!
Ok, I just now read the blurb on this (above)... and this was originally designed for a younger audience who would tend to like Fracas, but Fracas may be too strong on them. Now I "get it"! Yes, this definitely fills that gap in the market and Madonna is probably brilliant for capitalizing on this young market! However, I feel that this should not stop more mature women from buying and wearing this fragrance. If you like clean, crisp, high note-type fragrances... then try this... you may really like it! You may even fall in love with it!
Jasmine flirts here, but gardenia, vanilla and musk lingers on my body. I love its daringness. Not a common everywhr scent. I love that. Not a bad celebrity scent. Don't you just love the bottle? Sumthing different.
The beginning is lots of Gardenia with Tuberose & Jasmine not anything unique but nice,
then the Benzoin came in and totally ruined it for me , all the pretty florals disappeared :(.
EDT- Longevity 10/10 -still lingered fainty after my bath !
had a wee spritz the other day wow what a fresh sweet but not sickly fragrance,rather shocked and impressed xx
The opening of this is horrendous. It smells like a hair salon after a hairspray blitz. Actually, if you know what Sebastian's Molding Mud smells like- that's it! For the rest of us, it is pure synthetic gardenia, which at first is very cloying. After a while, it settles a touch still prominently gardenia, but a slightly creamier version reminiscent of Elizabeth Taylor's Gardenia without the sharp punch in the face.
It also has undertones of beach and suntan lotion. The sillage is good and the staying power- well let's just say I am smelling my sleeve from yesterday to get my impressions. I would recommend purchasing Bobbi Brown Beach instead of this because of the dry down. That's the part you want to get to and Beach hits it right off the bat without wafting through the hot mess of a beginning.
So I had to try this, the reviews are all over the place, love it or hate it. Found a decent price online and received it today. I was so looking forward to this monster of a fragrance! People said it was very potent and almost suffocating so imagine my surprise when after a spritz I am left with nothing but a gentle gardenia. Wah Wah. If you live in the states you are probably familiar with Sarah Michael's body and bath products. They are sold at drugstores and there are a variety of scents, rose,peach, and of course the one I wore in high school Gardenia. That's what this is my good old drugstore gardenia in a fancy bottle. I was hoping for a little of the tuberose to come through or the vanilla people had mentioned but nothing came through on me. Good thing I know someone who will love this. If you want a simple gardenia scent head to Walgreens or hit up Amazon for Sarah Michaels Gardenia dry oil spray or pay much more for this one.
I succumbed when it hit the $10 mark at TJ Maxx. I sort of regret it, but I'm going to hang onto it for a while to decide what I truly think about it.
Was a bit dubious about this one but glad I took a chance and bought it. It might not be everyone's cup of tea as it has a strong floral scent at the start but when it settles down wow and it lasts on the skin. Love it.
This is dynamite - in a good way. At first I thougt this is way too heavy, but now I like it. It´s fascinating! You have to be patient and let it develop at least half an hour or so.After 2 hours it rewards you (or at least me!!) - soft oriental nights, gentle wind whispers...aahh!What a soft and powdery complexion. I was totally amazed.
This reminds me very much of Lancome's Poeme, but this is deeper. Poeme never worked on my skin but this does. Men like this very much, always get compliments from them no matter what age they are!
You have to put this only one light spritz and that´s enough.Use very light hand.
And remember: Every fragrance can be a masterpiece on a right skin!
I tried this on my skin the first time today and the result... Yuck. I'm getting a headache. There is something familiar in this, but it's not good. It's stingy and invades my nose rudely. Definitely not buying, even for a discount.
It was a good decision to resist the urge to buy it blind from TKMaxx the other day (they were selling it for really cheap) based only on the reviews that Truth or Dare smells like Fracas and Blonde. I own both of them, and I thought maybe this could be a cheaper alternative for all those occasions I do not want to waste the real thing. Well it does not smell like either. At all. This is all gardenia (with maybe a hint of tuberose in the top notes),whereas the other two are pure animalic, creamy, sexy tuberose. Truth or Dare falls in the Pure Poison category: a sterile white floral, not a warm and intoxicating one. Unfortunately it was not my taste at all:( It seems I will have to keep spending the real thing after all...
Love it. Smell so pure and last long.
I have to say I'm kind of surprised by all the negative reviews for this fragrance. Truth or Dare by Madonna to me is a beautiful creamy white floral. Maybe its because I'm a fan of gardenia, but the scent of this perfume is heavenly. At times I see this as a more adult version of Jessica Simpson's Fancy Love, perfect for day time wear. The fragrance has an incredible lasting power (which for celebrity brand fragrances is rare these days) and the scent is very rich and distinct. One or two sprays go a long way. Don't be alarmed by the silage either, it sprays heavy initially but dries down to a beautiful, light floral that isn't overwhelming or offensive. I also have to say I'm very impressed by how hands on Madonna was in creating this fragrance, from the scent she wanted to capture down to the bottle (which looks beautiful on my dresser) Lastly,I think this scent translates better in colder weather so I try to wear it during the fall and winter seasons.
Am I the only person who reads Madonna's perfume TRUTH OR DARE as a cross between the Juicy Couture caramel perfumes and FRACAS (in a 3:1 ratio)? The sweet stickiness is all Juicy Couture. The extra dose of tuberose is all FRACAS. But the quality is definitely closer to Juicy Couture, in my opinion. To be honest, I am a bit disappointed after some of the raving I've seen about this--even among some of my best perfume pals!
Perhaps I need to put this into perspective and recompute. This is a celebrity fragrance, after all. It is put out by Coty Prestige, after all. BHT numbers among its ingredients (as is true of every Coty Prestige perfume I've seen). So what was I thinking? I picked up a 2.5 ounce bottle at TJMaxx for $25. Hello? How could this be a great perfume?
The bottle is really unattractive to me. This is a case where the image on screen is much more appealing than the physical reality. The paint job looks cheap. The bottle looks cheap. And the cap? I do believe that this one usurps the crown from the original LA PERLA for worst cap of all time! Cheap! Cheap! Cheap! Why????? Oh, right, I almost forgot. This was a Coty Prestige celebrity launch.
Wow, this is a smack in the nose! Powerful and heady! The tuberose and gardenia are loud and scary at first! Apply with a very light hand and you wont be sorry! There is something very sexy and alluring after the dry down, the fragrance becomes quite animal and musky and it lasted for hours and hours on me. You have to wait for the vanilla and amber but its worth it, this fragrance smells very expensive. Reminds me a bit of Tom Ford Black Orchid without the truffle!
and some good longevity.
starts a bit strong but the dry down is fresh and flowery. really nice.
The first minutes of Truth or Dare remind me of Fracas nontheless, however, Truth or Dare is not as loud as Fracas. Both starts out as a big floral, but while Fracas stays big and floral, Truth or Dare seems to go for a safer direction. The tuberose gets lost more and more, while gardenia takes the lead, and later it is a white flowers (more prominent gardenia, jasmine and even lilly than tuberose)&vanilla-scent. Maybe that's what they ment of Truth or Dare being "modern", but to me it seems they could not decide how to really do it, and the result became really nice, but nothing outstanding.
If I would like to have a gardenia-oriented scent, there are plenty others which do it better. If I want a big and loud, almost voluptuous tuberose, I'd go for Fracas, if I want a youthfull or modern tuberose, I'd choose Nuit de Tubereuse or Do Son (my second fav tuberose), or even Petit Fracas; and since I do have Fracas, I don't see why I would go for Truth or Dare.
Wow this one packs a punch! It is very gardenia and tuberose for about the first three hours. It is like the energizer bunny and goes on and on and on.....it is much headier than Fracas and the tuberose packs a wallop. After about three or four hours it dries down to a LITTLE softer white floral but gardenia still leads the way. Not like a Juicy C gardenia or even a Fracas softer gardenia or even the Elizabeth Taylor Gardenia fragrance. Much much stronger and sharper with the benzoin. Later it settles down to a mature daring floral and I kind of like it! Never get the amber or carmel, only the musk. It is not the typical watery aqua fearful "stay in the celebrity zone" type of fragrance that you sniff everywhere else. A little raw and daring but still a floral. Interesting and thank goodness it is not another candy, lollipop, bubblegum, marshmallow replica. Aren't we tired of those by now?
A lovely gardenia fragrance ~ it was my pleasure to sample this one today!
I've not sampled Fracas as yet, so I can make no comparison to Truth or Dare.
What this is NOT ~ Kim Kardashian! They are both gardenia - centric scents; that is the sole similarity for me.
What it IS ( at least on my skin ) ~ a low cost alternative to Goutal's Gardenia Passion! Here the vanilla adds additonal sweetness, slightly modernizing a rather ladylike fragrance.
Truth or Dare is a sumptuous, heady floral. Like another reviewer, I find myself wishing for less vanilla and some leather or animalics to balance the cloying aspect. Very nice, though perhaps no modern classic!
Jovan's Island Gardenia is still the best budget Gardenia I have ever experienced, and my personal favorite at any price. There's a reason it's been a best seller at Walmart.com for years. Layered with Yves Rocher Gardenia Monoi oil, you enter Gardenia Lover's Heaven!!
A friend had a sample, a sprayed a tiny bit (was warned that this is powerfull stuff) on my wrists, and even after having washed my hands my head is about to explode. somebody mentioned a three hour headache earlier, I hope I am not in for two more hours of agony!
Th or dare by Madonna is a very mature scent but in a good way of course I am 18 years old and I truly enjoy more mature scents this scent to me is a white floral explosion just white floral after white floral but I love it 9/10
By now I own this scent. I'm really sorry but have to say that I find it nauseating. I like white florals and I think the scent is nice too. It's strong and powerful. It's a statement. But everytime I wear it I really get sick. It's strange. I haven't really experienced such a reaction with perfume and me often.
I purchased the large 2.5 oz edp at TJMaxx yesterday for only $15. At that price, I was willing to take the risk despite the mixed reviews that tend toward the negative. So I got home, sprayed some on my wrist, and waited to be impressed. Why I had high hopes, I don't know. Indeed, it is a clone of Fracas, but somehow flatter. Not horrible, but not great artistry either. I kept my thoughts to myself and held it out for my son to judge. At the tender age of 7 he already has an amazing sense of beauty. Really, he has an artistic streak that is just innate, I cannot claim credit for it. So his verdict?
"It's so so."
"That's it? That is all you have to say?"
"You wasted your money."
"It was only $15!"
"Then you wasted $15 of your money."
Ok, so the $15 bought me a mediocre bottle of perfume but also sparked a conversation that proved my son's paternity and proved that counting all those paper nickels and dimes for homework has been a worthwhile exercise after all. Not bad at all for $15.
This is an amazing perfume which smells unlike any other perfume I have ever tried!
On my skin this scent is a buttery smooth blend of rich amber and sweet vanilla sugar, with a touch of exotic benzoin, mingling with the most aromatic bouquet of white flowers, with the emphasis on fragrant gardenia blossoms. This one is quite different, and I will always want to keep a bottle of this on hand.
It is both rich, and light, and has great longevity while never becoming overpowering or cloying!
Give this one a chance, and you will see the delightful difference.
popcorn & flowers
White florals of the Alien variety. Heady, animalic and sexy. It does remind me of Madonna's SEX coffee table book or when she was in Body of Evidence with Willem Dafoe.
If Truth or Dare had less vanilla and some leather or tobacco it would be perfect. Unfortunately it's all sex and no edge. Still, I love that it makes me think of not only Madonna but other 90's actresses beloved for playing skanks. Think Sherilyn Fenn in Boxing Helena.
Skanky gardenia and a boatload of benzoin.
Let me tell you how strong this stuff is. Two showers later and I can still detect it on my wrist.
In fact - this is a very nice scent, if you use it carefully. 1 small spray lasts for many, many hours and make you smell wonderful, if you sprey 3-4 times this one will be thick and overwhelming in a awful way. This is not a modern sugarsweet parfum - maybe thats why many don't like it - I can smell lots of white deep flowernotes just halfwaysweet as I love. The Benzoin, Amber and Musk makes a great base with Gardenia, Lily, Vanilla and Jasmin. Very longlasting on my skin!
Faktiskt - en riktigt fin doft, om du bara använder lite. 1 sprejning gör att du doftar underbar för många, många timmar men om du tar på 3-4 sprejningar, så kommer den att bli en mardröm. Den är inte modernt sockersöt, kanske därför många inte gillar den. Jag känner djupa vita blomnoter som är halvsöta, prexis som jag gillar dem. Benzoin, Amber, Musk skapar en härlig bas tillsammans med Gardenia, Lilja, Vanilj och Jasmin. Otroligt hållbar på min hud.
by far this is one of my Favorite smells!
Not sure it compares to Versace Blonde. Blonde is a very smooth creation, Truth or Dare is more screechy and definitely louder.
Wow, what a delight,all the flowers I like , gardenia, tuberose and jasmine command the fragrance, I'm done! Intoxicating, better to use at night! I understand the disappointment of many fans, I think they expected something trendy, fruity, gourmand, but when it comes to Madonna, it's always a surprise, love or hate, truth or dare ... The vanilla adds a special touch ... I love it ...
♪♫♪ Like a Version ♪♫♪
...of Fracas.
Only white strong flowers all the time, headache and nausea, no thank you, off you go.
Dear TOD, now you have my attention... I've never been a big fan of Madonna & I wasn't interested in her fragrances, but this one opened with such a bang it could not be overlooked...
It opens with a strong blast of gardenia and tuberose. It is sweet like hard-candy and loud at the beginning. On my skin TOD gets better and better with time: it gets creamier and softer and it becomes more sothing and powdery.
It is very strong, so I have to be careful when I apply it; 1 or 2 sprays are usually enough for me; but it lasts and lasts and lasts...
I think it's a nice daily fragrance for a great price. A sassy-classy lady in a bottle.
I must share an experience I had today with everyone interested in buying this. I've been wearing TOD for about 5 months, and today I was in the mood for something a bit dark smelling(it is a bit dark in my opinion) and went for this. So we had our physical activities at school, which we often get overworked for and I'm left feeling a tad bit nauseas after some sessions. None however, while I was wearing this. Today I was nauseas again, and I suddenly got enveloped by wave after wave of this and then-Well, I'm sure you can guess what happened next! Thankfully no one saw besides my best friend, but I was very disturbed. It was still in the morning, about 2 hours after a very light breakfast and TOD had enough power to aggravate it to that extent. I promised myself I would never wear TOD again, but now that I'm feeling stable and over it I'll just go ahead and use it again in the heart of winter like the stubborn donkey I am XD. PS: I was only wearing 3 sprays of TOD when it did this, so be careful how you use this.
LOVE it!!! First of all I have to tell, that I'm not a fan of Madonna. It was a blindbuy, but I really happy that I bought this one. Fortunately it was really cheap, so I could get the 75ml edition. It is sweet, white-floral, lasts really long time and has a really good sillage, all in all: PERFECT, everything I wanted in a fragrance. I really love the bottle, it is not tacky at all. Can't wait to get the Naked version too.
UPDATE: I have this for about 1.5 months now, and I use it nearly everday. I still really love it. Yesterday when I wore it, I smelt something milky-coconuty along with the dewy gardenia and the honeyish tuberose plus the caramelised amber, and OMFG what a mesmerizing perfume!!!! I love this one even more.
I like it, but not in love with it. It is definitely gardenia in a pure form with the benzoin and vanilla encircling it. For some reason, it reminds me of coconut too. The issue with this isn't that it smells bad, but rather its lack of balance. The sweet begs for a counterweight: something spicy or tart or green. From the reviews below, people complain about its strength. It is powerful, but use it like you would a parfum and go lightly. Spray it on the other pulse points such as behind the knees and its very pleasant.
Well well well... I knew there was a reason I had yet to make up my mind on this perfume. First of all, I, like most here, LOVE perfume. Seldom do I encounter a perfume that I totally dislike and when I do, I arrive at this conclusion only after at least a few 'fittings', always keeping an open mind that many factors can affect my decision. My mood definitely is a crucial contributor, but the time of year and the temperature outside seem to play a more important role as I my collection grows and my nose evolves.
TRUTH or DARE: you definitely dared me to show dislike for you every time we met. You tried to be the rebel, but I finally saw the truth. You just needed to put me through the paces so that no matter what decision I made, it would be an honest one. I am absolutely smitten! You've won me over! Another example of "A First Impression NOT ALWAYS Being The Best Impression." Well done.
I was curious about this one, you know, Madonna!! not some newcomer singer..etc. I had a sample of Fracas last year, which Madonna exclusively worn (I think), and this is along the lines of Fracas. Vintagey, Fracasy, and definitely tuberosey. And it becomes a musky tuberose after an hour or so. Not everyone's cup of tea. For now, I am liking it. I got it from TJMaxx today. ($24.99)
Extremely sweet candied vanilla all the way through, with a tuberose explosion. Intoxicating, in the worst of ways. Projection is huge, it lasts forever, and I hate it. I'll always love "Like a Prayer" though! This however, never again.
I had a month of liking it but in the end i find it a bit heavy and a little bit annoying to my nose although i got some good compliments...it's milky somehow...
Tested it today and wanted to like it because of the top notes...most scents I own are tuberose, gardenia, jasmine. But this one was way too sweet and strong. Perhaps its the vanilla that doesn't work on my skin. I had to roll down the window on the drive home to air out the car!
WHHHAAAAAATTTTT?????? This is supposed to be a "sexy" fragrance? Ok,i love unique packaging major points for aesthetics... it reminds me of a holy water flask by way of a fetish prop. I purchased this fragrance blind (34$ after-holiday giftset clearance) out of curiosity and for the bottle. This juice is the most typical white floral gardenia/jasmine overload i have ever sniffed. Its certainly heady which i like..i enjoy heavier scents, but it isnt at ALL as sultry and sensual as i assumed it would be. Its friggin' Madonna...why is this so boring? Its a nice white floral, but aside from the bottle,very pedestrian. The only aspect of this fragrance that i enjoy is the creamy sweet floral warmth which comes across soon after the headrush of florals dissolves.
Madonna, points for a sophisticated scent...its certainly nice for what it is, but "nice" isnt interesting.
Sorry Madonna I love you and all you stand for but unfortunately I do not like this perfume. I was given a sample and tried it out today. I love vanilla and sweet oriental fragrances but not this one. It reminds me of a fragrance by Yardley years ago called Fresia I dont get any musk at all. Maybe its my PH but it doesnt suit me.
J'adore ce parfum qui est très solaire. C'est une vraie réussite. J'apprécie beaucoup le mélange tubéreuse et jasmin.
On se sent très femme avec ce parfum, il plait beaucoup d'ailleurs et il est peu porté en France, donc on se sent unique.
Par contre Naked est sucré, écoeurant, il m'a beaucoup déçu. Madonna s'est pas trop foulé pour cette version
This one, wow! It is just wayyyy to strong. The bottle is gorgeous but I get an instant headache the minute it comes through my nasal passage. This would be good for a lady over 40, it`s one of those fragrances you get a whiff of when you're eating in a nice restaurant and all of a sudden you feel nauseated and are unable to eat your meal. Yeah pretty strong.
My first ever "celebrity" fragance, and I have to say I love it, I am a big fan of Tuberose but sometimes it doesn't work on my skin, like Michael Kors. Truth or Dare is a creamy tuberose and sweetie gardenia and I want it to wrapped and confort me.
I recieved a sample of this in a giveaway by Po. I was not quite sure what to expect as a lot of people on here seem to dislike it. But I thought I would try it out and wear it to work. To test how long it lasts, and how it smells with my body chemistry.
First spray VERY STRONG maybe too strong. Sweet flowers, candy and an explosion of tuberrose. A couple of minutes later after all these explosions of things you wouldn't normally wear in a scent it all begins to settle in and blend nicely together.
This is not your typical Chanel, Dior, Britney Spears perfume this is a unique and old fashioned classy yet modern perfume. I can see why people dislike it, but after the candy and flower mixtures, it began to smell really nice.
A real different Celebrity scent, I now want a full sized bottle.
I wrote a review on this while back but didn't buy this scent until this weekend. Just wanted to add that lasting power is fantastic with this-it lasts and lasts and you can smell it on your clothes for a long time. I only sprayed twice and was walking around in a cloud of tuberose and caramel for hours.
I also saw that apperently some people are comparing it to KK scent. No way. This smells NOTHING like KK which is rather linear fresh gardenia/tuberose, its very greenish floral. Truth or Dare is rich heavy all inveloping tuberose that is almost overwelmingly sweet because of added caramel and vanilla note.
I couldn't wait to try T or D...unfortunately, It smelled like how Greek parsley tastes but burnt. I actually love her updated milk bottle design! Bummed I moved on to Kim Kardashians signature bottle and I couldn't believe that it smelled just like Madonnas piece... Wha? Still excited to find my new scent, I moved to Lovely by Sarah Jessica and it was a lighter version of the first two at first spray but dries down cleaner. Lovely is just ok.
I will stick with Miss Dior, Coco Madamoiselle and Shalimar Initial... I know half the women in the country wear them but that's because they smell beautiful like perfume is supposed to be!
The chemistry of this perfume was optimal in my skin! The setting is great! It's inevitable that the memory of Fracas come to the fore ... I prefer Fracas, but Truth or Dare suited me a lot ... ;)
Tried this on in Boots over Christmas. First smell - a beautiful surprise. A gorgeous tuberose smell. I'm not a madly 'floral' parfumista but this makes me want to get to know tuberose better (tried the Kim Kardashian one, found it a bit blah). Unfortunately the tuberose soon gives way to a horrible and jarring synthethic chemical smell of .. burning rubber tyres?? ..one of those really toxic marker pens?? Something like that anyway. This second smell emerges and totally takes over the perfume, it's overpowering. For something 'burnt' it's got a cold, hard edge to it too. ('edgy'?)
If Madonna was paying tribute to Fracas (which I've never smelled) but her frag has a 'modern twist' or something (with the burning rubber), I'm off running towards Fracas!
The bottle looks like it should have holy water in it, not really what I want my perfume bottles to look like..
I guess Madonna wanted to copy Fracas - classic worn by Marilyn Monroe. I don't understand why any celebrity, when having a fragrance created and signed by their name would repeat something already existing. They could just stick to scents they've been wearing.
Smelled this today and got a three hour headache. It's kind of like a very weak and chemical smelling Blonde wannabe. No offense if anyone else likes this or smells good on you. Just not for me, oh well. Aside from the perfume, Madonna is still a queen and sooo amazing even today!
I don't like Madonna, so I have to put this thought aside :-) Apart from that I find it a nice white flower scent with intensity. Just my surrounding thinks that the scent is unbearable. And for me it's the Madonna-connection that puts it a bit off. So I guess I will be buying other white flower scents.
This is so good, and my first celebrity fragrance purchase. This fragrance is not doing well , a lot of people don't like it, I love tuberose ! Just bought the 50 ml with lotion and body wash! Amazing, very happy to wear this fragrance!
I originally gave this fragrance a bad review, I tried it in the summer I guess and it seemed very strong to me, or something. Now I am very surprised at the quality of this scent and its lasting power. I should have never doubted madonna ,she is a perfectionist and a perfume lover so she would never make just another celebrity fragrance. If you are a lover of Tuberose and gardenia than this is a great everyday scent. The body products left my skin feeling soft and are true to the scent itself. I have ran away from celebrity fragrances and never thought I would ever buy one but there is a first for everything. Give a try. It's worth it.
I tested ToD again today. Now I see why I love it. Despite the very floral opening, the heart of it is a bit floral-gourmand like. I got a fluffy nutty earthy sweetness, which I think is the benzoin, as I found the same in Prada Candy. Big bonus for me!
TRUTH? It takes a DARE to wear it
Shame there isn't a button on here that says "urgh I HATE it" and "I dont want it"
In the beginning I was introduced to Madonna scent world via Madonna Lady Mypa, which I love! So when this launched I nearly blind bought it - glad I didn't! I had seen it more recently in TJMAxx, at a reduced price, then it was reduced more, then reduced some more.. then reduced AGAIN! Next reduction they would have to give ME money - so I bought it. Why didn't I take the reduction as a hint to its popularity?? :/
I am a huge fan of tuberose, the best being Michael Kors, Michael. WOW.. But this? WTF IS IT? I tubersose shmultz. Its a mixed salad. Its doesn't know wtf it is! Tubey is there, but with so many other sickly notes, its the equivalent of a gale force 9 atlantic crossing hanging over the deck. Pluurrghhhh. Goodbye lunch. Sorry
******April 2013 update**********
THIS has changed into one of my favourites. I use it every day (the body lotion) It grabbed me and said "you better get to like me, you b*tch" so I did! Disregard the above... no longer hated, we are mated
ooooh what to say about this fragrance. The bottle is really nice and stands out on the shelves, its a shame that the fragrance stands out for all the wrong reasons.Its a long lasting smell, which would be good if it was a nice smell. I'm not sure what this fragrance is apart from a big mess, all the big florals combine together to create this foul smelling almost cat urine smell. I expected better from this bottle. I'm sure someone could pull it off but no one i saw smell it seemed enthused, i didn't dare spray it on myself so i took the tester strip with me and smelled it occationally to see if it developed into a nicer smell but it only took a slightly sweeter version of the cat urine smell :( definately not one to add to my collection. Bold white floral unusual fragrance. I'd advise smelling it before buying otherwise you could be in for a shock.
Big Tuberuse and Gardinia opening (I mean big) I was worried a headache was impending, but wait a few moments and...ahhh lovely. The dry down keeps surprising me, a beautiful sweet mellow floral. Really like this one.
Hahaha sorry but it's just too funny. Truth or Dare is really a touchstone for perfume snobs! I tested it earlier with someone who only collects niche frags e.g Serge Lutens, Tauer, Kilian, Amouage etc. She turned her nose on ToD while I admitted I actually LOVE it. I'm not particularly a Madonna fan but I respect her as an icon of style and class. Today I sprayed it and let her sniff my wrist telling her it's a niche. She almost ate my wrist and went nuts about it.
Now let's move on to the perfume itself. I don't understand why people would expect something extraordinary enough to blow their head off from Madonna. She is one of a kind but this is her perfume. You'd probably relate something from Madonna with words such as power, mystery, lust...but ToD is actually...quite adorable. I can't stand Fracas but this one is purely pleasant to my nose. It's by no means a complex frag or a flower bomb and thank god its not fruity at all. To me it's just about tuberose, gardenia, vanilla and amber, linear but very long lasting. Tuberose is not over-the-top creamy and gardenia not sharp so you have my proof coz I'm white flower vulnerable. It's like Fracas out of bath, undressed and makeup removed, simply alluring and elegant like a woman should be with that soft powdery sweet mist lingering around her body. Absolutely gorgeous.
I'm getting a big bottle when I finish the sample. After all the name is the only thing I don't like about it (anyone prefer Memoir instead?). Don't take this as some usual celeb frags. It's seriously good.
I retried this one and its actually quite nice , I love tuberose , it's strong at first but softens and becomes sweeter . I wouldn't mind wearing this. I got lots of compliments!
One of the best fragrances I've ever smelled. It smells like a regal rich classy sexy clean woman.
This smells a lot better than I expected.
I tried this one some time during summer break and it instantly gave me headache. Terrible thing was that I couldn't get rid of this scent off my wrist. But it was almost 40 Celzius degree that day.
Yesterday, during Christmas shopping i stopped at Armani counter and attracted to the beautiful bottle of Code luna i sprayed it to my wrist. The beautiful, sexy and sweet scent was with me the whole day, but it was sooo familiar to something i tried already...after some time thinkig i finnally rememberd - it reminded me of Madonna truth or dare!
I went to my local drugstore today and sprayed some truth or dare on my wrist - and bump! This is it - the beautiful, sexy and sweet scent, pretty rare on the market. I think I'm going to buy a full size bottle, because this is exactly the perfume type that is missing in my collection!
Eurgh. Expected something much more edgy and sexual from Madonna. How disappointed I was. Very sweet, very sickly and overwhelmingly floral. And its strong gardenia presence implies its for the more mature age group too, which is also something I wasn't expecting. Definitely not a fan.
The Gardenia & Tuberous literally knock me out, love it, if you want to be smelled before you enter the room, go for it :D
I got this for a great price off Fragrance direct and a free tote bag, the bag is naff :P
Now I have got home a sample of madonna secnt.The first idea came when I got the smell of the perfume was very floral and Oldfashioned, but the longer I went with it and smelled the richer I think actually i like it.After a while it becomes a more warmer scent that leans perhaps the rose and vanilla.The secnt lasts very long.
so when my 2 samples is over, I know one who will buy a big bottle!
But I think I recognize the scent in any way, just do not know what, any old rose scent perhaps???!
Nice tuberose
Yes, even Madonna has her own scent now. And yes it seems that is has been a long time for her to make this decision, but no, I don't think this had anything to do with finding the right scent or whatever. Madonna just waited for the perfect deal. I admit I seriously had my doubts as most celebrity scents from Coty don't really appeal to me, but I can say Madonna's "Truth Or Dare" is one of those few scents that are likable to me. It's because her first fragrance is a nice and not overpowering tuberose scent that gladly ommits Ylang-Ylang which I hate. And this note is very often mixed with tuberose, but not this time.
The tuberose stands alone and I'm glad it does since the scent of this wonderful flower is really good. I like it very much. Gardenias are totally abscent here for me, otherwise Truth Or Dare would have been quite similar to the wonderful Gardenia by Elizabeth Taylor which is one of my faves, but it's not. It's more similar to Jardin de Bali without Ylang-Ylang and licorice. A traditional, well done white floral. The scent has also a heavy amber and musk note and a bit of benzoin which makes it balmy, musky and slightly resinous. Madonna said she wanted a classic that reminded her of her mother and yes one can say that Stephen Nilsen made something out of this idea. The scent is topped off with a hint of Neroli and Jasmine in the background. Vanilla is also something I am deeply missing here, so I definetely wouldn't call this a sweet perfume. The tuberose has its sweet moments for sure, but its scent is typical white floral. It's made for the elegant, riper women out there and in fact someone stood by the goal of the advertising campaign that this is for women between 35 and 45. It's for all of you who don't like overly sweet and fruity perfumes and got prejudices on celebrity scents ("sugarwater"). People who like to generalize things might miss out some nice and good scents from the celebrity sector. Madonna's scent is on the side of the better perfumes in the celebrity category and worth a test. Nonetheless I still find negative points when it comes to sillage and bottle. For me personally it's too close to the skin and the bottle is really hideous, I don't like it at all. I just would have expected it to project its scent more to the outside with big sillage. Vanilla and Gardenia as detectable notes would have been perfect for me and might have lifted the scent on my personal scale. Nevertheless the lasting power turned out pretty good which is rare for Coty's celebrity scents.
Curious, tuberous really Madonna. reflect the personality of our age.
shut.. aline
I had tried this when it first came out and thought - hey, not as bad as it might have been but a little to much of a Fracas-lite for me. Time passes - tested again today and suddenly I am smitten. It developed very well and the amber really got very warm and seductive. A slight medicinal edge emerged that was actually interesting and the longevity was frankly amazing. Am going to head back to the store and buy some this week. Sometimes it is worth having another sniff.....
I reviewed this one rather negatively when it first came out. Anyway, today I decided to use the rest of my sample spray.
I have already received 3 compliments and it's only 1.00pm. Collectivley, that's more than any other fragrance I have worn in the last 15 years!
My first application of this frag. brought me somewhat around of 38 years back to my before prim.school time and the feeling of current me but in that time was as fairy-tale like one.. Serenity, security, calming cosiness with something mesmerising and promisingly calling to .. I wasn't prepared for such a journey then but so much grateful to Madonna for giving me that unique chance of that miracle like sense. I am still in an observation phase of collaboration of this perfume with my chemistry but I have to say it feels like being wrapped with an exceptionally fine angora-cashmere shawl which makes me feel calm, safe, cosy and very womanly.. A bit too strong at the beginning this one quickly settles down to
a smooth velvety aroma and the longevity of it on my skin goes up to 12-14 hours/a lot longer on a clothes/. Love it!
I had it and found it hard to wear, probably because it is a tuberose bomb, and because the scent has a classic edge.It is well done dont get me wrong , but it seems to be such a personal interpretation of perfume by Madonna , based on her love for Fracas, that it is based on Fracas, without the harshness and the masculine side.
I will try Naked as I think it will be more wearable for those who aren't tuberose lovers . Had the base been stronger with sweet notes I think the scent would have been more balanced also.
As for me I never felt comfortable wearing it.
I first got the chance to smell Truth or Dare back when it was initially released and Macy's at my mall still carried it. I didn't really know what to expect since it is Madonna, but when I first smelled the fragrance from the bottle I thought it was awful. I reminded me of Sweet Tarts gone wrong. However, once I sprayed it I discovered that it was indeed better than Sweet Tarts and was extremely floral. After that, I turned my head and had no intention of smelling it again.
Recently I discovered that Madonna was releasing her second perfume, Truth or Dare Naked, and was intrigued much more by the notes in that one compared to Truth or Dare. But, I figured I better test out the original before buying Naked. I purchased the 1.7oz. from a site that had the perfume discounted since Macy's no longer carries it on their main site, and just received it today.
I was a bit hesitant to spray it on my skin, let alone in the air, since many had said that it is extremely heavy and lasts for hours on end. But, after a few minutes, I decided to test it on my wrists. The bottle is very neat in that the shape and design of it are very generic yet original at the same time. I especially like the ridged edges in contrast to the smooth white surface that composes the bottle.
On the initial first spray, the tuberose and gardenia combination is very evident. It seemed as if you're standing in a room surrounded by the two plants, and the scent goes right to my temples when sniffed. It's a strong, strong, strong first impression, and I can definitely understand why Truth or Dare is dubbed a "white floral."
After about 4-5 hours the jasmine started to take over, and I still have yet to get a chance to smell the base. The fragrance is long-lasting I will say, and the main opening notes really power through for hours on end. I went to practice for two hours and I could still smell the tuberose and gardenia notes easily in the air around me.
I do believe that this fragrance is marketed more towards people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, but it is a timeless scent that every generation can relate to. Overall, Truth or Dare is a well-executed and extremely successful perfume in it's longevity and strong base notes. I enjoy it, but wish the tuberose and gardenia were toned down just a tiny bit.
ohhhh...this is not an easy to like/love fragrance at all !
White and strong flowers, sour and sweet.
Test before u buy.
A plus for the lasting power.
Very, very tuberose, so if you like that, you'll love this. Surprisingly soft and feminine, I was expecting something edgier from Madonna, but she has gone down a vintage/classic route with this, and it's no bad thing.
I feel the plastic bottle does not do this justice and it would have been better with a glass bottle.
Beautiful and, yes (some will say it's blasphemy :)), pretty similar to Fracas. So, if you're looking for a more affordable version, Truth or Dare is a good option.
Staying power is decent - 5 hours on my skin.
Lush, spicy magnolia. Classic, pretty and a bit edgy like our girl.
Smells very much like original Prell products. YUM!!!
Is this similar to D&G's La Roue de la Fortune (Anthology 10)?
This perfume is NOT like Fracas! It was my blind buy according to your reviews. It is incomparable with Fracas. Yet, this doesn't mean Truth or Dare isn't good. It is completely different. Sweet, not bitter. Good for every day use. Better than most celebrity's perfume.
I guess this perfume is made for mothers. Whenever I smell it, I just think of my mother and my childhood. This smell just makes me homesick. And I bought this perfume for my mother. It's just so mommy-ish and emotional.
I picked up a 75 ml bottle of this for £4.99 at TK Maxx I can only assume they thought the box contained the body moisturiser because the RRP of 75ml eau de parfum is certainly not £15!! AmAzing bargain! I love the scent, it is a very bold and creamy floral with noticable Tuberose, gardenia and ambery vanilla and the drydown smells like a flowery banana milkshake does anyone else find this? :p It lasts and lasts, I sprayed it 12 hours ago and can still detect the sweet drydown on my wrist. It is an immense and well blended fragrance!
I tested tuberose scents extensively the past month or two, and Truth or Dare has emerged as one of my favorites. It has an underlying warmth and accessibility that's addictive.
I was ambivalent when I smelt the tester botte (sickeningly sweet on the nozzle) and was afraid the complexity of the flower would be drowned out by the sweet gourmand accord. On the skin however, I was glad to find that the creamy, spiky-tart freshness of the florals are still definitely the star of the show. (My husband, who hates sweet scents, picked this out of the lot as the most beautiful after blind-smelling Fracas, Carnal Flower, and Blonde on my skin.)
Personal chemistry aside, I do wish it was a bit cheaper, but that's just my biased expectation that celeb scents should be very affordable. I'm not complaining.
Fantastic in colder weather and lasts for more than 14 hours!
Edit: wore it twice but I knew in my heart that I would never wear it again. Gave it to a more loving home ;)
Purchased this and just thought I'd add a few details. When I first smelt it, I had no idea why everyone was so afraid of it in summer/spring, it smelt very airy to me and could pass as a fragrance for all seasons. I wore this today, and then I realized why. Before all I got was gardenia with a touch of tuberose, and today was the same at first spritz, but then it actually changed, quite a lot, into what made me realise its better for colder weather. The caramelized amber and benzoin came out A LOT on me, it reminded me of a man's perfume dipped in caramel. I really liked the smell, even though it was a surprise. It smelt like this for most of the day, and personally its my least favourite part. I don't hate it, I like it a lot but it was 30 degrees celcius and I was in a class filled with barbaric boys so it was a bit cloying. My favourite is either the top notes or the vanilla that appears before the fragrance dissappears. Now onto sillage and longevity, this is a killer! Really good quality! I knew I was going to be out for the whole day so I used one spritz on each wrist and one on my neck, and when I came out of my room my mother could smell me down the passage! I thought to myself that it must be this strong because I just put it on. About 1 and a half hours later, I walked in and my friend who hates this fragrance said he could smell it from far, and it actually smells nice for once. A few hours later(by the caramelized amber part) I opened the window and in came a breeze carrying truth or dare to home and he said "ew! Close your window! Your akarbati shit is coming here!" LOL (akarbati is a type of insence, I think). I put it on at about 7 in the morning, and it wore off at about 6 PM, and even now at 7 I'm still getting slight whiffs of vanilla and gardenia. The "grape hard candy" smell that everyone is talking about is the tuberose, but if you looking for something grape-ish then this is not for you, as the "grape" smelling part does not last long at all, and I now understand why its primary target is 35-45 year olds. Its not just for them though, I'm a 16 year old and I like it too, it starts off smelling really fluffy, cute and huggable, then it smells like provocative yet mature and classy when the amber and benzoin joins the party, and it stays strong thoughout the day. Not for the shy girly girls, but for more mature and grown up women who knows what they want and goes for it, and is really an impressive start to Madonna's fragrances.
i actually got a bottle given to me by my co-worker and it is a full new bottle....and i actually turned away from this scent at first....and now its winter...i tried this on my skin and its wonderful on me....this is not too much but just right amber...and it smells very floral coconutty beachy on my skin...love!
I really wanted to like this.
I don't usually say this about perfumes, but this one was horrible. Too floral, absolutely. It gave me a headache because it was too heavy. Too many white flowers. It was so sharp scent that it reminded me of a cockroach poison, or a strong deodorant. It was not my style, but I wouldn't buy this to my grandma either. This made me think of Chanel, I thought it was a bit copied.
I sprayed it to my jacket, and then I had to wash my jacket because the smell was horrible. I think it would kill rats.
I'm sure this perfume didn't success, so she/they decided to make a new fragrance. I REALLY hope I like it.
خوب این مدل از طراحان شهوت افسونگری را در استشمام یک رایحه متداول ولی در اوج کلاس دار بودن همانگونه که خود مدونادر حرکت موزون همچون وزش باد در نسیم یک دشت فرواوان از یاس ودر انتها شوعی دوباره از وانیل وکهربا رقصان ودلفریب.
I had a sample vial of this, and at the first spray, I loathed this perfume. There was something sharply pungent in the top notes that I just do not like. Perhaps it is the intense floral gardenia that dominates the scent that I reacted to so strongly, but it is not a pleasant odor at all. It is sharp and unique in a very unpleasant way, dominated entirely by florals. I cannot smell anything but manufactured flowers in this perfume.
It's also very one-note, and the scent does not change over time, much. Just lots and lots of florals.
Perhaps my strong reaction is because I tend to dislike heavily floral perfumes and prefer more androgynous woods, citrus, spice/musk, and leather, but this is by far, the worst perfume I've tried yet.
I also would have expected more of an edgy, sexy, romantic smell from Madonna, rather than floral overload. Strange!
All i have to say is "Thank you Madonna"!! This is a wonderful fragrance, completely different from everything else in my fragrance collection. I bought this bottle of truth or dare the week it came out and after using it for a few weeks i got distracted by all the fruity gourmands in my collection. I just rediscovered this Madonna frag and fell in love again with the gorgeous heavy creamy floral vanilla beauty in the white hot bottle. And the stsying power is e treme to say the least. I smelled it all night, and my skin typicallt loses fragrances in a couple of hours. I just can't get enough of tod right now. Its just what i needed to tske a break from the usual.
This came as a gift to me, and it very positively surprised me. I'm a little prejudiced against celeb scents, so I was expecting to smell something fruity/citrusy, typical generic stuff. But Madonna's Truth or Dare is certainly not generic! It has a character and it's very wearable.
At first spritz, its similarity to Versace's Blonde and Jeans Couture Woman (particularly the later) stroke me!
What a beautiful tuberose fragrance I thought. Indeed that could be just what I'm looking for, something similar to my lovely Blonde. Later the other notes started to show. Amber, Benzoin, Vanilla, Gardenia, I'm able to smell them all, in a blanced composition.
This fragrance is very feminine, and I understand why it's targeted for 25-45 year olds.
The bottle is simply stunning. I feel like carrying it in my bag, something I usually don't do!
I'm not a celeb perfume person, mostly because I don't like fruity scents. Most celeb scents are fruity. Rumours about a perfume with heady white flowers and vanilla, a Fracas wannabe, started spreading and I was STOKED. Finally! So I tried it and though "hell yeah bang boom let's go for it" and bougt a bottle.
A week later, "Why the heck did I buy that bottle? Goddammit". I didn't really understand it and it was just greasy-sweet without an actual midpoint or gut feeling. I let it stand around for a few months and tried it over and over again hoping to like it one beautiful day when hell freezes over.
One day hell really did freeze, I smelled it and thought "damn, this smells like jawbreaker candy." and then the beef was settled! I don't know what happened but that whole heady mess wrapped up into a giant piece of hard candy and stopped confusing me.
So at last, now I enjoy my Fracas wannabe (opening = pure Fracas on me, drydown = vanilla cupcakes and jasmine bubblegum) and I love it more and more each time. YAY!
@Muskymale: Do you have anything to say about the FRAGRANCE or are we going to witness an over-the-top psycho fan (you) bash anyone who doesn't LOVE Madonna and/or her perfume?
If the 2nd option is the case, you might wanna read reviews below mine as mine was not close to the most offensive anti-Madonna comments here.
Stick with the topic at hand, Madonna and her fragrance.
Good grief, people aren't the brightest......
Cat litter deodorant spray.
Just the same.
A cheap house deodorant of the 70s, in alternative.
Let's hope in the new version.. if they decides to change all the ingredients in a few months and launch a totally new fragrance: there must be a reason... here up a lot of DISLIKE!
to me it's very 80's scent, very classic still elegant & floral
Madonna Truth or Dare Naked is coming in December! I think! Haha!
"The eau de parfum opens on head notes of honeysuckle, peach blossom and neroli. The heart contains sensual vanilla orchid, cocoa flower, lily of the valley. The base features Texas cedarwood, an oud wood accord and Australian sandalwood."
To me, this fragrance is like a more mature, full version of Paris Hilton's Fairy Dust. I think this perfume has a gorgeous, rich, full-bodied smell that is heavy with gardenia and tuberose. But once it settles down to the warm vanilla and amber, you can full appreciate the developed smell of this fragrance.
It's classy, mature, daring, and simply exquisite. Well done, Madonna!
I try it in my local perfume in Vietnam. I think it better than all sweet scent of Paris Hilton, Britney Spears or Jessica Simpson. It's long-lastin' is about 12 hour. I can believe it!!! But it so amazing in all my fragrances I have. But it's so expensive in Vietnam it about 60 USD. So I wish I could buy it in the future. LOL
Just thought I'll add, this is actually NOT a fragrance for older people! I've been trying for ages to get my mother to like this, but every time I bring the strip closer to her she says: "No! Go away! It smells like a rat!" LOL. Not only her, but a few of the people working at the store, I've only met one woman who was a bit old who likes this, but I doubt she really counts since she looks like she's in her early 40s.
I have to edit this but I'm doing it early for this reason, if you love Fracas but don't feel you can wear it, buy Truth or Dare. End of story. I am one of those and I am now in love.
Ok so Here we go...Tuberose, check, Gardenia, more then check, vanilla, benzoin and caramelized amber sweeten up the drydown but in the background. I agree it could be in the realm of Fracas or Mesmerize. I think it rides the middle ground making it more wearable. I love Fracas but it takes a certain woman to really pull it off, Mesmerize not as powerful but a bit mature in style for me. Truth or dare? Right in the middle. I can wear this.
Very gardenia, hit of tuberose, hint of vanilla, benzoin and amber in the drydown. Definitely wait for the drydown before deciding. Good sillage and lasting power. Very floral, must be a fan of at least some things floral. Nice. Not what I think of when I think Madonna, but it makes perfect sense when you read the description. It took a couple of tries but I've come to really enjoy it.
I love this scent!
Openly inspired by fracas but very original in the celeb frag world!
The white flowers remind me of childhood, the notes r well blended and the staying power good.
Jasmine stands out for me and smells very authentic, good quality ingredients have clearly been used!
The base is sweet, a mixture of caramel, vanilla and amber.
This is a intoxicating white floral with somewhat of a gourmand base. I think it is fantastic and may very well become my new signature scent!
Strangely, I've got a feeling of someone's unfresh breath. Quite horrible and as the comment below, hard-to-forget horrible .
I´ve been contemplating all afternoon words to best describe how I felt when I sprayed this. I cant so Im just gonna be blunt. Hell to the No!!! My stomach turned. How incredible revolting can a fragrance get? I thought I had the answer in Womanity TM but this reaches new heights. Normally when I pick up a perfume and dont like it I just move on and forget about it. But this, I feel an overwhelming urge to warn people! I had to use some of the shop assistants soap but the stink still lingers! So hey, good news for you who likes it, it lasts=)!
Truth or Dare is an exceptional effort in the celebrity fragrances industry. This one smells expensive, like a typical niche perfume. It is a white floral scent, with gardenia dominates surrounded by tuberose. A touch of vanilla makes the composition milky and cosy enough to be modern and powerful simultaneously. It is sad that some untrained noses of Madonna's fans and antifans didn't understand the fragrance, being excepted something in a Britney Spears of J.Lo style. Truth or Dare is noteworthy for the whole designer perfumery, not only celebrity group.
got this perfume as a gift. i like the bottle, but not the perfume. i m not a fan of jasmine. and this perfume, to me, smell as if i have jasmine flowers planted on me! and the smell lingers, which is bad if u hate it, and good if u love it. i have only sprayed it once, and even after 1-2 hours, my room still smells like this perfume, and i'm leaving trails of it all over my house wherever i go.
come to think of it, after the 1 hour or so, when the perfume settles, it doesn't smell that bad actually. but still, i dun think i like this perfume, at all.
smells in the openings similar to fracas, but gets too sweet in the drydown. Bought this blind, so it was a huge mistake.
Not my cup of tea.
If you want to swap, please contact me :)
It'll have to be a dislike for me I'm afraid, sorry!
I don't mind white florals, but I find this one very in-your-face and its sweetness kinda makes it smell candyish. To my nose anyway.
There are a few of my co-workers who wear this fragrance and, call me weird if you will, but before I knew this was "Truth or Dare", I always thought this smelled of grape flavored candies. You know, these purple little sweets? Not a bad scent, but certainly a noticeable one. Everytime I came near one of my Truth Or Dare wearer colleagues, I couldn't help but a catch an intense whiff. And this, even after many hours. It seems to have great lasting power! :)
I wouldn't buy this for myself. I really don't think it'd suit me well. The "grape flavored candy" note (or the one I seem to detect, anyway! :P) would end up annoying me. On others, not so bad, but still not a fan.
Does anyone else think it smells like Lush's shampoo bar Godiva? I do. I like it. I might buy this one.
اجاني هدية من والدي وريحته روعة من اروع العطور الي استخدمتها بحياتي وكأني اشم وردة كاردينيا بالفعل
Finally go to test this today! And I must say, it exceeded my expectations. If this smells like an old lady, she must be quite a woman! I expected more tuberose though, this is gardenia with a touch of tuberose. It also has something very warm smelling underneath, but I can't make it out and I know for sure its not the vanilla. It lasts very long, and has very good sillage. I expected it to be a sillage terrorist because of some reviews but its not, it has good sillage but not enough to drive people away from you. I picture this fragrance to typically be used by 27-35 year olds. I asked my mother about her opinion on it and she said something about it is too strong and she'll rather wait for it to die down a bit before giving her verdict. This would be second on my list after Reb'l Fleur, and I don't find it old lady-ish at all, and its made quite cleverly. Its classy and exquisite, but at the same time its kinky and provocative! 10/10 for me!
Finally got around to crossing this one of my "test" list. I was hoping i would like this as i find the Gothic bottle quite appealing , plus i do like Madonna.
Ive come to realize i dont like gardenia , unless its blended well in a small dose. The Gardenia is HUGE. I could like this perfume it that particular note wasnt so overwhelming.
The sales assistant was very rude about this perfume , and explained that the tester was hidden away under the counter as "most people dont like it". I wanted to prove her wrong but i couldnt hide my dislike of the initial spray. I gave it a chance to dry down , which i really liked , but the top/middle phase is so not my thing. Lasted a good length of time on my skin too. 6/7hr.
I think its a well made perfume and a great buy if you happen to love Gardenia . Very "Classic" and ageless ( the SA called it OLd Lady and said it "stinks like unfashionable Anias Anais " - lol , I told her i like Anais Anais n classics , which bamboozold her a bit !! ( v rude n clueless SA to be frank) . I dont think its "Old Lady" at all.
Kudos to Madonna for doing something different in the celeb market ,as this perfume is certainly different to the other celeb offerings. I think most lovers of classic scents who usually dismiss "Celeb-U-Scents" may be surprised by this one!
8/10 - as long as you dont dislike gardenia!
As I smell this (I have a small sample) I can't quite put my finger on what it reminds me of....
At first I thought it smelled a little bit "old lady-ish", but after a while I could smell this scent on a very elegant woman that just wants to wear something that smells good.
The scents I pick up the most is the gardenia and vanilla--its warm and comforting--though it can come off a bit strong. I don't believe its anything to rave about. Not something I'd personally wear, but nice.
Went to Madonna concert in London and they gave me a small phial tester. Though I do like Madonna but I'm always very skeptical about celeb fragrances.
So I tried it without any expectation. And it's interesting, because in my opinion TOD does smell like something Madonna would present.
Very loud and in your face: the floral is nearly choking; while the sweetness borders on 'bitterness' but it is just too damn strong.
I find this quite fun, garish, maybe? But at the same time elegant and classy.
Very 80s. TOD personality kinda reminds me of LouLou by Cacharel. Maybe LouLou's mother?
I am not a fan of gardenia at all. It repels me. But am curious to try this, just to see if I mighth like this one. I do remember reading Madonna's favorite signature scent is Fracas. Just an interesting little side note given alot of you are making comparisons.
I fell in love with this perfume at first spray. I went in to purchase one specific perfume, and ended up purchasing this one, along with the lotion.
I am not a fan of Madonna, and for her to come out with any perfume of any kind is not tops of my list to even consider getting one, even admitting to wearing her perfume is not tops with me. With that being said, this perfume is delightful,
I would venture to say sat that it is a very close imitation of Fracas. I have both, and they do behave the same. I'd say, Fracas is a bit more potent, and Truth or Dare is a bit softer and sweeter. Fracas is a bit longer lasting, while T or D disappears after 3 or four hours. You can smell the Tuberose and Gardenia dancing together. The scent to me is sweet addictive. It is one of my favorites and I wear it quite often. I layer the lotion and perfume for a lasting effect. If you love gardenias, you will adore this one.
Baby Fracas? No way. Not on my skin.
Truth or Dare presents as a desiccated vanilla dessert. Crumbly meringue filled with fluffy marshmallow. It is deliciously sweet and comforting. An arid tuberose flavours the whole affair, a decoration sitting on the top of this magnificently created white floral Pavlova.
Madonna's tuberose is not the dewy wet tuberose I smell in Fracas, drenched in melancholy. I am grateful for that.
I am rather fond of Truth or Dare. There is something truly elegant and graceful about it. Polished. That's it: it is cleverly polished.
I have to agree with some reviewers: this is certainly not a floral scent. Candy floral perhaps, but incredibly, tooth-achingly sweet. Not the kind of heavy, burnt sugar sweet like Pink Sugar - I'm thinking cotton candy. Girly and massively fluffy.
However, the florals make this perfume very interesting, bringing a lighter edge to the cotton candy and altogether preventing it from becoming too heavy all around.
I personally LOVE this scent, it's unique enough to stand out, but not unique enough to be artsy.
The one I got was a blind buy,
and after the first spray of Truth and Dare,
it reminds me of Scentsy Home Fragrance bar - "Lush Gardenia"!!!
And then I found it's a little odd to put it on as I know the scent from a Scentsy bar... eventhough I like that scent quite much... Grrrr...... >
Here is my sincerest opinion on Truth and Dare. I really don't care for Madonna, as a person or as a performer so this review is entirely about the scent.
When I read the notes I was very excited. I love all of those notes individually. Especially tuberose. I am obsessed about it. I really thought I would love this.
Truth or Dare does open with tuberose. Strong, sweet, sensual... BUT it lasts only for a few minutes. Next thing I know, the scent turns into some sort of floral candy BAM! In your face! I can't even perceive the vanilla itself, just very strong and overwhelming FLOWER CANDY. I was expecting a bold white floral, yes. A touch of vanilla and benzoin to make it oriental, alright. But unfortunately this is nothing like I imagined.
I did not like it AT ALL but I am not saying it is a bad scent. It is in fact quite unique and modern. Just a warning, don't be fooled: this is NOT a true tuberose scent (or white floral for that matter, trust me, I grow the real stuff in my garden). Truth or Dare is a loud "floral" candy.
Very good sillage and excellent longevity though.
This is absolutely nothing like Fracas in my opinion.
And I would like to add, that I agree with fellow reviewer EmyPlante. I also smell some sort of "purple candy" (if that makes sense) in this fragrance. Not exactly grape, but it definitely does not smell like flowers, but like these purple candy I ate at some point during my childhood.
I really wanted to like this fragrance sooo much, however it really was just too heady and overpowering for me, just too in my face, sorry !!
Ok i got my Truth or Dare bottle for 2 weeks now & MEN this is becoming an OBSESSION ATTRACTION, I'M IN LOVE ! I'M SOOOOO IN LOVE !
This is a truly magical , modern and so unique scent.
it's femine, sensual and super well done! i mean only 2 sprays of this lovely liquid & it last!.. and last.. and last...
I smell myself right now & i'm like oOOOhh! I'm almost rethinkink of maybe changing my signature scent with Truth or Dare.
It is so unique & individual that i can't even describe to is JUSTICE!!
You either hate or love this one , that's it .
i agree this is now everyone scent it'S pretty loud!! but i like it allllooooot!i mean really alot!
I will always keep a bottle of "Truth or Dare" when finishing this one.. it's a true keeper for me!
Madonna you got me on this one , you got me reeeaaaal bad .
super well done !! GONGRADULATION Madge (Madonna) xoxo
Honestly guys , I'M IN LOVE ! I'M SOOOOO IN LOVE !
Im NOT a "Madonna-fan-who-bought-this-scent-just-because-i-wanted-to-support-her" .. HELL NO !
I bought this perfume because it's one of the most beautiful scents I ever ever ever ever tried/"sniffed on" in my whole life , and belive me i tried a lot of scents !
It's magical , it's modern but still classic . It's so unique . Trust me , this perfume will become a so called "classic/iconic-must-have-scent" .
You either hate or love this one , that's it .
The bottle is fierce and the price is right .
Oh did I forgot to tell you that's it's AMAZINGLY long-lasting as well !?
I will always have a bottle of "Truth or Dare" at home .
Madonna you got me on this one , you got me reaaaal bad . BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO !
Heavy on the gardenia,similar to Mary J. Blige. Very strong, could not detect the individual notes developing. Sort of a flat floral. Not a lot of diversity (suprised about that!)You can buy other fragrances out on the market that are similar. But the bottle is pretty.
Unbelievable how many negative votes for this one!
I'm not a fan of celebrity perfumes myself, I actually tend to avoid them and have none in my collection so far. But Truth or Dare is really well done. It does not smell cheap at all. In fact, I honestly believe that if packaged and sold as a new release in some niche line, many tuberose lovers would spend serious money on it.
Leaving this value judgement aside, the scent is a lush, smooth tuberose and gardenia duet. Quite natural smelling too and it mixes nicely with my skin. I enjoy the fact that it's creamy, silky and somewhat mentholated, it feels rather cold and perfect for warmer weather.
In the late drydown ToD gets sweeter and cozier as the sweet vanilla and caramel-like benzoin become more aparent and start peeking through the fading floral notes.
If Fracas had a daughter with a trendy youth-marketed perfume, this would be it. And it resembles its mother more :)
The lasting power and sillage are both excellent.
The only minus - I, too, hate the bottle. *cringes*
Honestamente e independientemente de quien sea este perfume, es el peor que he olido
This is one of the most beautiful scents I've ever come across. Starting with a burst of white flowers like a gorgeous bouquet, developping into a creamy combination of florals and vanilla with amber and musk in the background. A very bold and loud frag, but in the most beautiful way. Stays on the skin forever (almost all day I'd say, and it stays strong!) and relatively not expensive. I couldn't stop sniffing myself. Way to go Madonna, great job.
Her Madgesty's first fragrance was somewhat a surprise for me because of its nostalgic, almost old-fashioned nature. I could imagine that the ladies back in the 40s and 50s would've worn this kind of classy and feminine concoction of white flowers. And obviously they have, given the impetus and context for the frag according to Madonna herself.
Truth or Dare combines "the good old days" with modern boldness and creates a veil of scent so thick one could cut through it with a knife...! No surprise that many find it way too loud and single-layered to be pleasant. The staying power is rather amazing, if you spritz it on your clothes the smell still lingers on for ages.
A good choice for anyone who does not want to follow suit with fruity-floral trends or sweet gourmands, but opt for something distinctive and different. I would've named it Blonde Ambition instead of ToD because that's what the fragrance is all about: being self-confident and keeping your eyes on the price... Just like the queen of pop has, is and will be doing.
can men wear this perfume??
I like the very beginning a lot - creamy white flowers with juicy, almost fruity nectar. It smells pretty much the same from the beginning till the end (which I like), it just gets more creamy and honey-like sweet, especially on skin. On cloths those white flowers are prominent the whole time.
It smells similar to Jasmin Noir, Gardenia by Elizabeth Taylor and also Amarige by Givenchy, only without the overly sweet fruit. It is round, elegant, cuddly and sooo pleasantly intoxicating.
Lasting power and sillage are very good, about 8 hours on skin, days on clothes. Flacon looks nice too. All in all, it is a very nice fragrance. I don`t care about Madonna`s music or anything, but I thank her (and her mom:) for this pleasant frag!
Edit: just watched the commercial the first time. The music is horrible and totally doesn`t match the fragrance.
Beautiful fragrance. At first I thought it was rather flat, but after a while it reveals more depth and more layers. I get white flowers, a bit powdery. I also get some sort of fruityness. Call me crazy, but I think it smells a bit banana-like in the drydown.
It is not for the young bubblegum/strawberry-ish teenage girls, which is the normal target group for celebrity fragrances. It is mature, but can easily be worn be women in the 20's and up. My mom is in her 50's, and she is also in love with it.
I am not too crazy about the bottle, though. But I think it is very Madonna, and overall I think she has done an excellent job with this one.
One spray will do! Really, it's enough when you spray once. Freshly sprayed it is a bit too much (very sweet, very floral), but after 5-10 minutes it gets softer, creamier. You really have to like sweet though to pull this one off.
Normally I don't like florals: headaches + it's just not me. Mostly they are too present. This one, sprayed once on my neck, smells like I'm sitting next to an open window with a bouquet of lovely blooming flower, where I perceive tiny wafts of scent from because of the wind blowing thrpigh the open window and bouquet, while I am eating a delicious vanilla ice cream. Not much for a perception maybe, but who cares? Not everyday has to be a blast when it comes to fragrances.
I don't care about Madonna, I don't care about the image. I care about how the perfume makes me feel, and it makes me feel careless and happy.
Fracas is much, much better. But I have to admit the sillage of this one is really great: more than 8 hours. I wouldn't buy it, I would save the money to buy the real thing.
Smells like a cheaper version of Fracas. Thats all.
To me, Truth or Dare plays with three sides: on is sour and green, one is creamy, and one with white florals.
The creamy side in particular, is the prelude to gardenia, which comes out more clearly in the middle stage, together with sweet notes, which announce the vanilla and musk of the dry down.
Many think of this as the best celebrity perfume around, but I'd say it's one of the best.
The cool thing about it, is the clear intention of taking an old-fashioned floral style and make it more modern and accessible.
Geez, the list of reviews is a mile long :).
If you are just a regular next-door type with a secret fantasy of turning into an Old Hollywood glam goddess in the comfort and safety of your own home, Truth or Dare could be your best bet.
Spray sparingly (very potent stuff, indeed)on your clean, warm skin and enjoy your transformation into a gorgeous bomb-shell type you've never had guts/potential/energy to be in your real life.
And when you get tired of the role, it takes only a shower to return to your old self (or some other olfactory character of your choice).
I actually like Madonna and I think that she is extremely inspiring, bold and has a very strong character. It was a surprise when I heard that she will also launch her perfume as I thought that she will not be another celebrity with her own fragrance.
I went to the store and smelled it- since the picture on the ad is really pretty, I love the good old blonde Monroe-like Madonna, so I had high expectations.
First impression, the bottle..god, I was so dissapointed. It looks like a coffin, it looks and feels really cheap and I really dislike the cap. What were they thinking??
So, the perfume itself-it is not a teen-scent as many celebrity fragrances tend to be. But I smelled only jasmine and tuberose and this mix didn't really smell that good. It did get better after 15 minutes or so, but I would not buy this perfume. It is a shame, but I hope that when Madonna decides to come out with a second perfume, it will be better.
Since Madonna released Truth or Dare, reviews have been mixed. Some say it's the best celebrity fragrance yet, while others call it cheap and uninspiring. Honestly, I'm on either side of the fence. I neither love it nor dislike it.
It is fairly evident that Fracas has been the inspiration behind this fragrance. If you love Fracas, you'll most likely enjoy this cheaper alternative. I, for one, find Truth or Dare less thick and lacking in quality when compared to the 'Queen of Tuberose'.
While I appreciate white florals of this nature, I find them incredibly difficult to wear. I always feel like a walking vase of wilted flowers, and that's not something that I personally aspire to smelling like. Truth or Dare is too dry and buttery for my personal tastes.
Madonna is not very popular among the young ones these days, so this fragrance is more than likely aiming to please the older market. Going for an unsweetened and heavy white floral, has probably been the best choice. Many have remarked that it stands out amongst the sweet and fruity concoctions that celebrities usually come up with.
Unfortunately Truth or Dare is a little linear in terms of composition. It's a buttery, musky and slightly green blend of tuberose, gardenia and lily from beginning to end. While it's no innocent fragrance, I don't find it particularly sexy either. Madonna has always been a controversial figure, so I was kind of hoping that her first fragrance would reflect that.
According to certain blogs, Madonna has a rather large collection of perfumes, so I don't doubt that she'd actually wear what she has created. Truth or Dare is pleasant and in some ways, very classy. My negativity stems from the fact that in 'truth', it's a copy of Fracas, and it seems to be seriously lacking in that 'dare' concept.
I sprayed it all over myself this morning, and was ready for a major clusterfudge - after all, it hasn`t been raining here for weeks, and the temperatures were brutal, and some reviewers condemned it as a stinker. So, I thought that if I will live I`ll tell the story.
I did not find it smelling cheap and the base is actually pretty good (though I think it is pretty hard to screw it with the ingredients of the base).Longevity is okay.
At first, it is just a pretty,if a little malnourished, gardenia. Tuberose adds a little oomph and neroli don`t let it become a syrupy mess. Then, something interesting happens - the Lily, that smells animalistic and almost edible. It fades quickly, though, and feels like the fragrance just mooned you!
In the end gardenia almost disappears (it lasts longer on clothes, though) and all you can smell is a transparent tuberose with mild oriental ambery base.If Madonna wanted to pay a homage to her Mama, it worked: a nice housewife who just wants to smell good for her husband.
Not bad! The downfalls are the price - it is not worth it - and the bottle, which is hideous.
This perfume went on thick, cloying, it smelled extremely sweet of gardenia and tuberose but without an modern "edge". The name also: Why call this "Truth or Dare"? What is truthful or daring about a perfume as boringly predictable and unpleasant as this one? In the 80's "Poison" came out which was a perfume way ahead of its time, and which also could have been named "Truth or Dare". Bearing in mind that Madonna was in her heyday in the 80's, I would have expected a far more innovative perfume than this one. A more appropriate name IMO would have been "Gardenia Garden"! This surprised and disappointed me a lot as Madonna is so innovative and creative and so I did not expect she would have created a perfume so unoriginal, as dated, and as overpoweringly old-fashioned and sweet as this one. If Dior could do it back in the 80's with "Poison" why couldn't Madonna create a perfume that really made you sit up and take notice? Sorry, Madonna, you can do better than this! I'm sure "Truth or Dare" may have smelt great on your grandmother but in my opinion there are too many sweet and predictable notes in here, which stops it becoming modern. The perfume has been caught in a time warp and the gardenia notes need revving up with a few more zestful notes to make it more up-to-date..
I must edit my review of this perfume.
Yes, I was giddy with something at the time - probably the artificiality so bright.
I woke up the next morning - it was in my hair and clothes.Then it hit me - chemicals.I immediately had to wash my hair and clothes. Relief, mais oui!
No fragrance can last that long without change. It is the perfume you'd wear when meeting an old flame who is married, so his wife would know his habits when he came home and she did the laundry. Then you would laugh.
If it suits you, then I am glad. Meantime, one must figure out how vanilla got into Fracas. Next time, Tabu, Emeraude, or Shalimar.
Truth Or Dare belongs with mild and gentle tuberose perfumes such as Kim Kardashian/Michael Kors, NOT with the sumptuous lavish animalic classics (Fracas/Carnal Flower). Anyone who thinks it's got grandma strength knows s*** all about the heavy stuff. Truth or Dare has one big note only and that's ----Dreft fabric softener for babies!! There's a wee note of ambery musk. And that's it. Nice but no way is it a return to the Eighties.
It's thoroughly mumsy, like Boss Femme, a great choice for a new mother, ironically a true madonna perfume but nothing like the Madonna the raunchy celebrity.
Soooo gorgeous, soooo sexy and soooooo feminine!!! That's one of the best hot summer evening (or day - if you dare to wear it!) perfumes. A real must have.
Today it was hot (about 34) with a lot of of humidity (75%) in the air when I tested this beauty . About two months ago I tried it the first time at the airport, I haven't been impressed - it was spring with about 20 degrees. But today!!!!!!! wooooouuu, fantastic. It's hard to find proper words to describe what a power this perfume gets in hot weather. In general I came to the conclusion, that perfumes that contain concrete dose of jasmin, gardenia, neroli or tuberose smell fantastic when it is hot and a lot of humiditiy in the air. In the nature jasmine and other heavy smelling white flowers bloom at such a weather conditions, ...et voila... that's the reason why Truth or dare was so nice today. I had to buy it! And believe me, it's really fantastic fragrance, so seductive, appealing and bold sexy .... sweet and soft, radiating femininity all around.
I fell in love with this perfume as soon as I smelt it and had to have it! I agree it is both a light and dark fragrance - the dark being mysterious, tropical tuberose and gardenia and the light being lily, jasmine, neroli and vanilla. I'm a bit obsessed with white florals with a vanilla base at the moment so this compliments my collection perfectly, but I would say this has a much sweeter caramelly vanilla note than fragrances such as Hypnose and The One where the vanilla is earthier and more powdery. The tuberose and exotic gardenia notes are probably the most dominant so you really have to love those as well as vanilla to love Truth Or Dare.
Not an easy perfume to wear, especially for younger women/teenagers, and definitely not a generic white floral. However, it is absolutely gorgeous if these are your kind of perfume notes. Very sexy, perfect for nighttime and hopefully it will go well with my black dress tonight!
This is the only perfume where I can say I desire to become one with it. It is so rich and creamy and just the right amount of sweetness. This is truly narcotic and I can't stop inhaling my wrists and palms. I wear it everywhere and I will wear it when I see her in concert. This fragrance is a true blessing. I never ever have to get a compliment wearing this scent (although I have).
I really love Fracas so I really think I'm going to love this too. Every floral thats in Truth or Dare I love! I can't wait to finally buy it:D
I feel so bad for not liking this because I was hoping I would...I like Madonna's old music from the 80s to the late 90s,..and reading the notes here made me look forward to this. I ordered a small sample to give it a try and after spraying this, this was the worst perfume I have ever smelt, I simply hate this scent...sorry Madonna :( I really wanted to like this but this perfume didn't do it for me
A medley of tuberose and gardenia, with a bit of sweet depth. I think its lighter than Fracas, and sweeter than White Shoulders. On me, the gardenia is the most prevalent, tuberose next, and I even detect the jasmine. This is not bad at all. I am not the biggest gardenia or tuberose lover, so this would not be my first choice for a fragrance, but I simply had to test this, and surprisingly, I find this pleasant. I even had an unbiased stranger say "you smell beautiful". If you are a white flower fan, please put your personal opinions of Madonna aside, and try this.
I LOVE me some Truth or Dare! White flowers, more white flowers, and vanilla oh my! I know it just came out but I cannot wait for something new from MDNA! The white on my bottle has chipped off a bit where the dots are at. SO sad! I'm CRAZY about my bottles so I'm most likely going to have to get a brand new 1.0 oz if I ever find it so that it's perfect and untouched. Haha : )
"We can be tricked by what we see and hear, but not by what we smell." — Madonna
When i first sprayed Truth or Dare it exploded with tuberose and gardenia. In the beginning its a very strong white floral fragrance and you would think its a grandma scent . But after like 20 min comes the vanilla , and it becomes a sensual , daring , sexy but in a sophisticated mature way , not like the typical celebrity vanilla scents . This perfume stands out from all the candy sweet celebrity ones . Some might like some might hate it but nobody cant deny that Truth or Dare is a unique scent .
Lasting power 10 h. age: 35+
This is not THAT bad.
Very strong and sweet tuberose at the first 30 minutes and then smooths down into soft white floral/tuberose mixture.
I tested it on my wrist at the perfume-store (where they keep bottles under heating lights?!).
It didn't last very long but i was able to smell it clearly, but unfortunately, it stood out only by a close sniff.
All in all, i do want to buy it, BECAUSE!: it is just like my favorite Fracas but discreeter and softer. Truth or dare is not that suffocating and breathtaking as Fracas, so ToD can be worn by daytime very easily but it shines in the evening!
This is not for teenagers or for twenty-something-ladies. You really have to understand and love tuberose.
Ps. The bottle is intriguing.
I was wrong. This IS long lasting stuff.
I bought a bottle and sprayed last night and it was still on me when i woke up. And continues on my clothes non-stop.
Even better!!!
Pps. ok, i can't wear it. It doesn't come of and it's getting annoying. I need a change.
I know, my seriously ill aunt would like its energy, she needs a boost to cheer her up.
Got to say I was very suprised tonight going out for a night on the town with my better half, she was smelling soo sexy and it was obviously a new fragrance and I had never smelled it before on her. Was suprised to hear it was the new Madonna perfume, it is just georgeous. I cannot stop sniffing her it is lovely.
I was excited to try this because I love tuberose. Alas after the strong initial hit of tuberose, this frag just softens to....nothing. At least on my skin. I expect perfumes to last longer than just an hour or two! I also agree with others who say it's too one dimensional.
I am sure there are better tuberose frag's out there.
Not for me! : ((
White flowers and blond woods.Fracas-like, but not as good or complex as Fracas. Very sweet Tuberose and Gardenia. Too sweet for me. An average perfume.
I agree with a lot of the reviews saying that Truth or Dare is really reminiscent of the 80's, which makes sense because hey- we're talking about Madonna here and she was the queen of the 80's! It's a fairly standard white floral that's very heavy on the tuberose and gardenia. I agree, it's not very original, but it sounds like she was trying to re-create a memory of her mother's perfume.
It was definitely not for me, but the sales lady (in her mid- 40's, I think) LOVED it! I had barely glanced at the bottle and she started going on about what a wonderful, soft scent it was and how she doesn't normally like celebrity perfumes but Truth or Dare was gorgeous, so I'm guessing it will appeal mostly to women of Madonna's generation. And there's nothing wrong with that.
OMG this crap is replusive! I smelled this at macy's when it first came out and wow this stuff is horrid! I couldn't get away from the tester fast enough! Thankfully I didn't spray this on myself because I would have seriously regretted it.
I like it on paper: it is white flowers mainly, a big bouquet of lush white flowers with a hint of amber. "Truth or Dare" is cheaper, less complex version of Fracas and I was thinking about purchasing it, because I like Fracas, but somehow cannot wear it. Sadly on my skin "Truth or Dare" turns into something rather unpleasant: the smell of old powder kicks out and dominates whole composition. Silage and longevity are great, especially considering the price.
terrible, expected something daring, new, avant garde and she came with something like my grandmother wear 50 years ago...
Sorry Madonna but this is ANNOYING to nose, skin and anyone around you! I just opened the bottle as a fouly overwhelming flower attack came at me! It stuck to my fingers all day, even after srubbing several times, and would def have given me headaches if closer to my nose.
TRUTH OR DARE is a rather one dimensional white floral blend of gardenia and tuberose. These two scent notes are so strong that, apart from a whisper of neroli, nothing else is distinguishable from the jumble the perfume quickly becomes.
White florals aren't my thing, but at first I did appreciate the blend... until the jumble of scent notes develops fully on my skin - then TRUTH OR DARE becomes a real no-no. There is something in the jumble that smells overly synthetic and sickly - the vanilla and musk combining with everything maybe? I can't describe this synthetic note in any detail, but it's horribly heavy on me.
I retested TRUTH OR DARE again today when I saw a tester in a store, and my Mum took one sniff of my wrist and she honestly backed away from me, saying the fragrance was too heavy and would give her a migraine if she came too close to me.
I wouldn't recommend TRUTH OR DARE and wouldn't know when to wear it; it is too strong for casual or work wear and it smells like many, many other white floral blends, so I don't think that it is unique enough for evening wear or or any other special occasions.
The fragrance does not suit it's edgy name and bottle design, as it is so generic. TRUTH OR DARE does NOT remind me of Fracas [the only white floral that I like], but instead Kim Kardashian's debut fragrance.
Truth or Dare is a thick and heavy smell. I would wear it lightly, after a shower, with clean white (as in the bottle) cotton clothes, to avoid an overall impression of something unwashed, powdery and "old as in the 80's"
Though the combination of orange blossom and tuberose is one of my least favourite accords in the whole perfumery, I found it nice enough in Truth or Dare for me to buy the rich and luxurious shower gel. The gel alone is strong enough to scent your skin for hours. This scent fulfills an occasional need for something completely different than my usual chypres, citrusy colognes or light aldehydes.
(Truth or Dare reminds me of the wet wipes Cathay Pacific airline provides for customers. A nice and exotic orange blossom smell.)
(What? Doesn't anybody smell orange blossoms...?)
I did smell rose and gentle tuberose with the gentle jasmin but the rest was
Just awful. Perhaps the rest of the notes just did not agree or the shipment got spoiled.
Very disappointed, that's the Truth
wow! lots of reviews unsurprisingly for a fragrance by the force of nature that is Madonna. I like the idea which is mature, classy and well thought out. Unfortunately it's execution by Coty smells cheap and changes what could be a decent modern tuberose into an air freshener version of itself, harsh and cloying. I will stick to my old faves like 'JPG Fragile' and 'Carolina Herrera' for a tuberose hit when I want it. Decidedly underwhelmed, I'm afraid. Don't like the bottle either, it's too thin and I would knock it over frequently if I owned it, also the cap is too small.
As to "Dark and light" comment, I dont agree, it's just sweet white flowers, it's a plain perfume, no evolution on skin.
As to the flacon, well, the white material and shape is ok, but the cap, round like a sort of Globe is golden plastic, looks tacky, cheap, the opposite of the sales message I guess.
I want to say only that I LIKE IT. i have not love to Madonna, but with years I appreciate she as unique personality.
Fragrance is lively and sexy.
We have this perfume in our department stores and I tested it...
Oh, it´s awful - too ´pushy´ for my taste and you could really suffocate someone with it :(
I actually like this very much. It's a creamy/ dewey, tropical gardenia.. sweetened by tuberose with a touch of jasmine. Creamy yet still green. Rich in a buttery gardenia, and intoxicating amber. Vanilla and benzoin make this even more addictive and delicious. Also I like the addition of Lilly - The Easter lily, nice and dirty flower :) Excellent sillage and lasts 6-8 hours on my skin. I'm very happy with my new tropical gardenia perfume :)
True there are other tropical gardenias. But in comparison, for the price, I think this is an exceptional value and have made it my official ''go to'' tropical gardenia scent.
Just wanted to add, I don't know why .. whenever a perfume has tuberose in it. Everyone says it smells like 'Fracas', lol... it's only ONE of the notes in this perfume. Really this perfume is nothing like Fracas. (of which I have and love both)
Kim Kardashians perfume lasts 2 hours on my skin, I'll pass on that one. I agree it's somewhat similar.. but I feel really no comparison
Just realised that this reminds me of Tom Ford's Black ORchid Viole de Fleur edt, only where as Tom's is for night, Madonna's is for day, it's softer, more lilly of the valley, more powdery and sweeter... not highest quality like tom ford, but still very nice and minus that gorgeous honey note that in Tom Ford
Sorry Madonna, this is more Dare than Truth, way to strong on the tuberose for my taste... I agreed all the way, for you to be groundbreaking concerning, music style, behavior ,sex. But to sell a perfume, you need to flrt with someones sense of smell ! I wish you would have pleased your fans when creating your first perfume rather than going your own way like always. ...
From MY point of view, it didn't work this time
I would like to have liked it.
tooo strong for my teast its a strong strong tuberose!!!BUt its very long lasting super good silage
Disappointing.... There are so many perfumes that smell like this one.
The first time I disliked it. Then I tried it again, then I wanted to smell it more often and wear it as well. Now I have a bottle and sometimes I just spray it in the air, because this smell is able to make me calmer and it brings my mood up. I am happy I have it.
I am no Madonna fan!! My mom and gay uncle loves her :)
I have to say this Fragrance is stunning and exotic!!
What I do notice alot of men stop me on the street to ask me what I'm wearing! Men seem to like this on me from all ages.Women in the other hand really want to puke when they smell it on me :/ They say I smell like an old lady.The Gardenia is strong!! Is kinda smell like a cross between Liz taylor Gardenia and kim k first fragrance.My boyfriend loves it and he always want to cuddle with me when this is on :) He says it smells very Erotica and puts him in the mood for making love .Fyi he didn't know it was a Madonna Fragrance.When I need him to Justify my love this fragrance does the trick! My verdic is sexy and makes you feel sexy and men love it!! Women hate it very mush.If you like men get it if you like women don't!!
I just... wandered into store to explore Esteban range. I just set my foot in when mum called, and I had to rush to nearest bus stop immediately. I didn't want to leave empty-wristed and so I noticed this. I read that it has to be white floral and I like white floral.
At start it was intense vintage soap smell. It was really big mean soap. Thankfully it broke down to more pleasant floral with pretty big sillage. On me it was tuberose with creamy undertone of gardenia. Very nice and reminds me of Prada Infusion de Tubereuse. Truth or Dare is more intensive I think. And pretty great value too. Nothing too original as white florals are pretty in lately with celebrities and socialites too.
When I first sprayed it in store, I hated the scent sooooo much! But when I finally got my sample of it, and starts to wearing it, I actually started to like the musky smell of the perfume. It reminds me a lot of Kim Kardashian's debut scent, but again, I like Kim's better. BTW, the bottle is amazing!!!
Normally I like to apply perfume generously, but with this one, I never exceed one single spray! This stuff is extremely thick and syrupy. A booming, potentially obnoxious white floral! Call me what you want but in very small doses, I enjoy this. It smells exactly how the notes read, exactly how you'd expect it to smell. Nowhere near original and maybe a bit sweet but I commend it for not smelling like a punchy, sugar-laden Bath & Body Works frag.
I do like the bottle. Looks like it belongs on an altar. Lasting power has been great each time I've worn it.
Just for the record - I like Madonna.
As I suspected, I get tuberose only in slight traces. On the other hand, there's plenty of peary gardenia-jasmine combo on a sweetish, almost gourmand ambery base. Animalic? No, I don't feel anything alive and breathing here - not flowers, nor animals and that is my only one, but big complaint here; if they are here, they are surely dead - killed by a ton of refined sugar.
Top notes are actually quite nice - floral, fresh, playful - and these are some serious compliments coming from someone who actually doesn't like gardenia. I was ready to like it without any prejudice, but then the jasmine disappeared and the sweetness kept on growing and growing until it became saccharine-like, unpleasantly artificial and stuffy.. ruined it for me altogether.
Not disappointed because I wasn't expecting modern or more improved version of Fracas. As far as I see and can smell, this is a casual, mass marketed, likable gardenia interpretation that is more comparable to Rochas Poup'ee or (if I must choose within Piguet family), Douglas Hannant. Fracas is The Untouchable Queen on the Tuberose Throne.
I see that the bottle didn't get much approval - I like it. Its' opaque white plastic-gold combo design is campy and minimalist at the same time. Modern, edgy, very Madonna.
It's the name that I don't like - ok I know, it's a Madonna thing, but also sounds kind of juvenile.
I like Madonna. Not her biggest fan but I`m going to her concert later this summer. So I was excited to try this, but at the same time I was thinking this is not for me.
And I was right.
Don`t get me wrong, this is not a bad smelling scent. It`s just very loud on my skin and super flowery. One word: overwhelming. It`s because I like my scents rather light and soft. And needles to say that is not something you`d expect from a legend like Madonna. Truth or Dare is like her, loud and daring, but still beautiful. I think I have had it on 7 hours (and I`ve tried to wash it off) and I can still smell it.
If you like bold and creamy florals, definately try this!
Being the Tuberose slut I am, I've been dying to try this fragrance since it's launch (which I complained bitterly about further down the page) and as I was in England last week the chance to try and buy presented itself! Love at first sniff for me I'm happy to report. Truth or Dare has rocketed to the top of my 'all time favorite tuberose' list, nudged into second place only by Carnal Flower. Yes, it does remind of Fracas but only for the briefest of moments before it goes on to become a fragrance all of it's own. The tuberose here is lush and creamy ... the white musk providing more of a civet-like feel to the long lasting drydown. My skin gobbles up fragrance like crazy ... Truth or Dare lasts a good 8 hours on me! That alone makes it fabulous in my book! I was complimented on it repeatedly on the plane yesterday. All in all a winner!! Whether you like Madonna or not it has to be about the fragrance ... it's simply wonderful :).
I would like to start off by saying I was expecting something totally different and unique from her. I was hoping for an earthy,church-like incense frag with some Easter lily thrown in that was as innovative as she was. I didn't expect a tuberose and gardenia dominated scent with a white musky drydown and a slight vanilla bend to it. This is what I got when I tried it out at Macy's last night.
Why did I try this when I cannot stand the smell of gardenias? Curiosity like most perfumistas. Satisfied: Not really.Not awful,but just more slightly nauseating confirmation that gardenias,tuberose and vanilla and I do not mix.
on my skin it was quite awful. plasticy and synthetic. my 16 years old daughter did not like it either.
I actually like this perfume. But I don't know if I'm going to end up loving it, or hating it! It will divide people, and is an unusual, in your face perfume. I suppose a bit like Madonna herself. I feel Madonna has gone with her heart with this perfume. It contains parts of what her mother wore. It is not sweet and young,like many celeb perfumes, but she would have been ripped to pieces if she had gone that way. Madonna could have brought out a perfume a hundred times over, yet she waited until now, unlike other 'celebs' who have been famous for 5 minutes, and are now on their 100th scent.
It's computer love, Madonna.
Tuberose/gardenia creamy white floral, with prominent jasmine and amber notes as well. Similar to fracas.
okay nothing special or new. There are better tuberose/ gardenia scents out there.
moderate silage with 3-4 hours of longevity.
Very linear scent. For the first half hour it smells like gardenia,then tranforms into a cherry blossom floral, with no depth. It's funny, because cherry blossom isn't mentioned in the description, but that's all I get on me. Looks like Madonna is nostalgic for her (younger) Shanghai Surprise days.
smells like 80's spirit :) dusty tuberose and soft gardenias.if you like floral fumes for spring it is just for you.reminds me michael kors and caroline herrera style,a bit sharp but classy.after hours i can smell tuberose and amber.unlike the other celebrity perfumes,not vanillic or sticky.
very longlasting.
I was really interested when I saw this on the shelf in Debenhams the other week.
I don't think the bottle is very attractive, and it's very narrow, so would be easily knocked over if it was on a dresser. BUT what's important is the juice inside!
I wish I could recall the actual scent better, but I can't for now. First sniff...ooohh very nice indeed, thought I was really going to like it, but after 5 minutes it changed and became rather unpleasant on me. Shame. I really wanted to like this.
When I sprayed Truth or Dare on my arm, at first I thought I fell in love. It was sexy and enigmatic. After a few minutes the jasmine, gardenia and tuberose started to "decay" into ugly vanilla mixed with mothballs from your grandmothers old closet. Oh I wished this perfume wasn't so long lasting as it was. On me it smells like a bad, BAD, naughty Angel by Mugler. This perfume is definitely not a typical celebrity crowd pleaser. I give Madonna credit for that.
Unfortunately the market impose, since the synthetics fragrances have replaced the expensive ones, that personal products or the ones for the house, are perfumed with soliflower or even complex formulas of perfume, that usually imitate old perfumes or the ones in fashion. All that to say that Truth or dare smell like Friskies Deodorant for cats litter, the first natural spray version. It was a Drama also for Bleu de Chine de Marc de La Morandiere, in fact this perfume remind me Madonna's one.
This fragrance is beautiful! I don't even like Tuberose but this perfume is mixed so nicely with other notes that it actually smells wonderful. I don't know why people would think it smells cheap, not cheap smelling at all! I think it is really lovely that she created this in memory of the smell of her late mother. That really touched me.
I remember having read somewhere that one of Madonna's favourite fragrances was Piguet's Fracas (the mother-tuberose).
I don't know whether the creators of Truth or Dare aimed to emulate Fracas in any way, and even though it certainly has got the tuberose, TorD is not like Fracas (as Fracas has got some trick up its sleeve that TorD seems ot be missing).
In the opening of TorD, the tuberose practically jumps at you, and it is very sweet and intense-smelling. It seems like they've tried to throw in every other "white floral" note they could find, to highlight that effect. But in the end it's just candied and sweet, and other that that, nothing else interesting is going on.
If you want just the candied white floral without any surprises - it's for you.
I was really looking forward to the release of this fragrance but was ultimately disappointed with the finished product. Sadly, it smells really cheap to me...like a poor quality Fracas wannabe.
First of all I'm a huge fan of Madge, and have everything of her, so also her frag! (i have no choise hahaha) But i'm sorry Madge, it is not a nice scent at all, it smell's like used flower-water.
Yesterday I smelled Truth or Dare for the first time. This is a scent of candied plasticized Tuberose and candied plasticized Gardenia. The sweetness reminds me of Pink Sugar but without smelling like Pink Sugar. (Truth or Dare does not have licorice or burnt sugar notes.) In addition to the sweetness, it is the texture and silage of Truth or Dare that remind me of Pink Sugar. As if the air containing the scent were somehow heavier than the atmosphere surrounding it.
I did not think Truth or Dare was something I would ever be interested in buying. I did not think Truth or Dare was something I would ever be interest in wearing. I cannot imagine where I would wear it.
Now a day later, I realize I "miss" this scent. I still don't really want to wear Truth or Dare but I do want to smell Truth or Dare. But more importantly and more interestingly I realize now that this is a scent that after one wearing … one testing… is memorized and burned into my olfactory memory. I smelled maybe 10 scents that day. But if I had smelled 100 I would still remember Truth or Dare. This scent is unique and memorable. We look back at the 80's and 90's as years of the "big fragrance". In 20 years we will look back at this era of scent as the age of the very sweet fragrances. And Truth or Dare will be mentioned.
Hopefully Madonna fans won't come attack me or anything because of what I'm about to say.
So I tried it; I actually got a decent sized sample of this and tried it over the course of 2 days.
The first smell that came to mind was a chemical laden banana laffy taffy. I'm old enough to remember liking those things, so I enjoyed the memory but well....I can't say I want to smell like one.
Eventually I did get tuberose which I absolutely loved, though I found the tuberose to be thin in nature. This wasn't a lush full and in your face tuberose. And its distantly like Fracas. Very.
As a tuberose lover, and I really do love it from green tuberose to lush and buttery, this would not be a scent I would reach for too often.
Head to head comparisons with Bath and Body Works Velvet Tuberose, which is another sweetish scent that contains vanilla in the base, Truth or Dare falls quite flat. There's no roundness to the scent IMO.
For me, its TOO sweet, the vanilla that is used is too foody, for my tastes, contains too little tuberose, and of course, has that odd banana laffy taffy opening.
If my nose were less experienced and I enjoyed super sweet fragrances, I would likely enjoy it more, because in its favour, it has serious lasting power. Sprays from the samples I procured from Macy's left oily perfume spots on my skin. I could smell this stuff 8 hours later. And FWIW, its not super in your face and loud, so could even be worn to work within reason.
But its not me at all. Its not the worst I've smelled but admittedly, I own better. So for me, its really not full bottle worthy.
Well....I do really love the smell! It's a loud tuberose affair which drys down to a sweet 'burned sugar' type of smell. Lovely! I caught a whiff of it the other day on another girl and thought it smelled wonderful, however when I wear it myself I have noticed the last few times I have gotten a headache and i'm starting to wonder if it is in fact the perfume :( oh no, I have a full bottle. It is VERY strong! and I would suggest if you are prone to headaches from floral perfumes not to go near it.
I wore it again and no headache this time!! This for me is perhaps more of an evening perfume, when it's cooler. I wore it last in the humidity and that combined is probably what gave me a headache. I also avoided spraying it on the chest area and stuck to hair, back of the neck and wrists! Absolutely beautiful, smells expensive and i'm so happy I can wear it now:) xx
It is just like Madonna! Very strong and loud but also feminine...
It for special women, who likes to be in the centre..
Its too much for me. Gives me headache. :(
OMG! i mean OH! MY! GOD! i've come by this beautiful bottle of Madonna first fragrance & THE ONLY THING I HAVE TO SAY IS... WHO EVER WANT TO SWAP THIS WITH ME... pleeeeeease? do me a Pleasure & contact me .... IWANT THIS ONE!! I have plenty of choice to swap with you check my collection!
i know it's NOT everyone scent but ... FOR SURE IT'S FOR ME :D
This is about the fragrance not the woman.(Which is what your fragrance reviews, on a fragrance website should be about)
Taking Madonna out of the picture, Truth or Dare is a floral,tuberose and amber blended masterpiece. The silage and lasting power is impressive. It's definitely for a grown woman and not a little girl. It has an 80's flair to it yet it's blatantly modern. It's pronounced and a hardcore headturner; much like the fragrances that warmed hearts in the 80's. Seductive and lady like. A very well formulated compostion. I'm impressed.
To me it starts off with a very granny flowery BANG, soon turns into a sweet, cinnamon/minty insence humm (flowers are still there!) and turns into a buddhist temple smell that lasts for absolutely AGES! I love it, I think it's very oriental. <3
OMG I wasn't expecting that! I tested this today and it actually made my nose hurt.
Its very very strong and in the style of one the big hitters from the 80s, powerful and, I suspect, headache inducing if worn for long.
I do like and admire Madonna but I hoped for something nicer than this from Her Madgesty.
Sorry, but no thank you.
And the bottle is horrible too, the plastic lid is so cheap and nasty looking. It feels like it would break very easily.
I remember Madonna when she first arrived on the scene in a mass of hair, lace and bangles. I was so curious to smell her fragrance that I actually paid $10 for a tester vial on eBay because it hasn't been released in Australia yet. I know, I'm insane, but I just HAD to try it.
A lot of comments on here have remarked that this smells very similiar to Kim Kardashians's namesake perfume, and they are right. It does, but with a slightly more musk/amber base. It lasts forever, which is remarkable in itself as we are seeing more and more fragrances with less lasting power than room sprays. I do get a slight Fracas vibe, but only because I was looking for it.
Overall I am disappointed. It's already been done before. This fragrance could almost be a Kim flanker. I actually think Madonna could have bucked the trend a bit and started her line with a male floral perfume. Now that would have been something different.
Even though lately she's been a bit of a ridicule, with no reason whatsoever, let's face it mates, she's Madonna. And Truth or Dare is very good. I do admire the bold and a tad dirty top, the heart which cannot decide "to stay dirty or not?" and finally the base going safely gourmand for the current trend because she's after the bling. It's rather expensive to be a Queen.. In music terms, top is Erotica, the heart is Bedtime stories and the base is MDNA..
Well, can't really blame her, can we? When she's been asked while presenting her film WE if she would give up her throne for a man, she replied: " I think I could have both.."
Self consciousness.
just like fracas
I have nothing against Madonna. I do like her music, although I think she should definitely stick to it. I can honestly say this is one of the worst fragrances I've smelled in my life. It smells like a heap of tuberose and gardenia drenched in old margarine. It gave me an instant headache; it was so foul, I had to immediately wash it off. If you must purchase, absolutely try (on your skin) before you buy.
Overly intensive tuberose; I find it overpowers the other florals. Although quite linear, the odd waxy synthetic accord that appears midway is nauseating, and creates a sombre rather than sexy impression IMO-
not what I had expected from the ad campaign.
There was some effort made here, that's evident and commendable, however the result is mediocre. I wonder how well this will do actually...
Wearing this right now. Tried it this 7 hours ago. Its softened but still very strong. Strongly reminiscent of Girand's Lysval or Versace's Blonde... definitely a grown up scent.
I dont like the bottle, its awkward and I thoroughly object to religious symbols on cosmetic products. From a distance it looks like a cheap plastic bottle of handcream.
I was very intrigued by this fragrance, not for it's celebrity, but for the tuberose. Its loud, white floral, and buttery, with the accent on butter. Its almost as though you litterally took tuberose, added a synthetic element, and slapped on some salty popcorn butter. After five minutes of smelling this I developed a sharp headache. Not for me at all.
I've only recently started to seek out fragrances & am learning to distinguish ingredients and notes/scents. With the recent purchase of ToD - I do like the bottle - I find that it gives me a headache. I believe it is the neroli, a scent I do not care for on its own, but would expect to be divine when reading a description of it. Not "heady" in a good way.
Usually, tuberose and neroli are two of the worst notes on my skin, so I tried this perfume expecting to hate it.
On my skin I get tuberose which is sweetened up by the amber and musk. This is a scent which has to be on the skin for awhile before all the base notes really mix well with the potent tuberose.
The sillage of this perfume is high and lingering. So, put this on with a light hand. The lasting power of this EDP is amazing. It lasts all day long with only one spray.
This EDP reminds me very much of Versace's Blonde and Guerlain's Mahora, yet it's just a bit different than both of them with the more creamy, ambery base. I can definitely see Madonna's Italian roots when I smell this perfume. I can just picture Venice and Tuscany when I smell this. I think Madonna did a good job on this one. This won't be come my favorite scent but, I can see myself growing very fond of it.
it is a lovely perfume,with heady white flowers throughout,tuberose,gardenia,jasmine,and i never understand why people are so contrary to synthetically smelling components. if you want natural,go to the groceries. this is perfume as it should be,present,lasting,in a beautiful unusual bottle,and we never had expected something different from madonna. i love your scent madonna and i always loved and love you. this is definitely a "dare", a kind of giorgio for the 21th century.
aad aka "madonnatella"
Truth or Dare is mediocre at best. It has a plasticky tuberose leading this white floral pack with somewhat watery benzoin/amber combo. It doesn't smell all that natural to me, especially the vanilla. I wish she would create something more unisex because her fans are male too, but I understand her concept for this creation. It's a wise choice, and I love the bottle (looks very sacred and English like Clive Christain or Creed) I can't imagine something "floral fruity" or "pinky princess floral" from her. It's not a bad scent. It's just not as luscious as a white floral frag should be. Hopefully, if there were another Madonna's perfume, it'd be darker and more daring.
i smelled this fragrance at macy's. I like it! It smells very floral mixed with sweet vanilla.
Uninteresting. I forgot I was wearing it. Not a good sign.
Truth or Dare trends more toward "Truth" instead of "Dare." There's nothing daring in the mix, but this is a sincerely-composed, well conceived perfume, something perfect for women of all ages. It opens with a beautiful bouquet of tuberose, gardenia (which isn't overbearing), and heady jasmine. There's a synthetic sweetness highlighting the indolic aspects of the flowers, which wouldn't work if these petals weren't so gorgeously stinky! Sugar gives it balance, but it isn't heavy-handed, and the natural richness of the floral notes are allowed to shine and dominate. Gradually on my male, somewhat oily skin, a pretty benzoin and vanilla accord appears, evolving from the nondescript sweetness in the opening. The benzoin smells very "true" and creates a warm nuttiness in the base. Strong, but playful stuff, very mature, very French in feel. Interesting bottle, too. Good job, Madge.
Oh no. As I approached the perfume display for this fragrance, my heart made a little leap as the gardenia and tuberose smell gave the area a classy, classic smell with a sexy little twist of Jasmin. Optimism! Unfortunately, the moment I squirted it on my skin ALL I smelt was Jasmin, and a very sweet, synthetic Jasmin, which made me think maybe there was something like ylang ylang in there sweetening it up. The overall sweetness became stronger as the Jasmin became calmer, resulting in a smell similar to bubble gum and faint white flowers in the background on my skin. Not a good look. I felt like a streetwalker wearing what she thought was good perfume. (PS, I'm sure sex workers have *great* taste in fragrance in reality. This was just a mental image that came to mind to describe the smell.)
Tuberosetastic! So ok if you like tuberose but way too heavy and headachey for me.
Oh dear, "Truth" is this is nasty "Dare" to wear it if you can......not good, made me feel ill. Sorry Madge, love your music and your amazing body but this "fragrance" stinks!!
A lot has been said about it before it hit the shelves. I was very interested by the concept.
First of all, I find the bottle design tacky and in real life it looks even cheaper than in photos.
Then the scent... Reminds me a lot of Histoires de Parfums Tubereuse Virginale, which is a good start, but not all that wearable. What I got first was a blast of tuberose, neroli and jasmine with some fruity undertones (melon? pineapple? a bit of strawberry). There is gardenia, there is musk, there is vanilla, and it is all awfully and unpleasantly sweet. This is not a controversial fragrance, it is just not mixed very well. I appreciate the effort and I still find her a smart businesswoman and a creative performer, but I find the scent disappointing.
For those who enjoy it, there is a bonus, it lasts and lasts and lasts.
I used to love Madonna. "Confessions" was her last decent album I think.
Big entertainment stars need to sell merchandise it seems to make a few more bucks. I very much dislike this phenomenon for it is so unnecessary and seems desperate.
The only nice thing about this scent is the bottle: simple, old-skool, nostalgic, ecclesial, gothic, stylish and coveted like an old bone china porcellain collector's doll.
The scent is very artificial for it is mainly tuberose and gardenia (the latter has to be artificially compsed for it cannot be naturally harvested).
I can see the concept of this and the original idea. It is just not a nice scent. Cloying and sickly sweet.
Mariah did a far better job with her debut fragrance launch.
Sorry Madonna, but stick to pop songs please.
I tried this one today at Sears, and it is one of those fracas wannabes: too sweet, too flat and cloying, everything fracas does not stoop down to. If you love white florals done with taste, get fracas or carnal flower. Those two are the real diamonds, this one is however a shiny tawdry vulgar big cubic zirconia, kind of like the woman behind the fragrance.
Oh my goodness, I am so glad I did not 'blind buy' this one as it would have been heading straight in the pile of bad buys. I normally love tuberose/gardenia/jasmine scents and white flower scents, in fact they are my favourite...but this one....well when I sprayed it on the paper in the shop and also on my wrist, the gardenia smacked me in the face big time, it was very potent after one squirt and I found the scents of tuberose, jasmine and lilly were all screaming at me and fighting for attention. I couldn't scrub it off fast enough as my head was spinning after 5 minutes of being in it's vicinity.
I really thought I would have loved it but it's a big no no for me.
Now this fragrance has arrived in the Northern corner of Europe. I had a chance to test it today togeher with my 14 year old daughter.
First the positive things: the bottle design is great. It is unique and has the symbolism Madonna seems to like.
The other nice thing is that she was inspired by her late mother's scent.
It was clear for me that this is not my scent, because of the main accords. The same thing with Paris Hilton's Tease, but still I thought it is a great scent, just not for me.
I cannot say the same about Truth or Dare. I dare to tell the truth: this is the worst perfume I've tested in the last years.
"This smells very old-fashioned," said my daughter. I agree but it is not the only thing. Something doesn't match here. The drydown is simply awful.
We had to rinse our wrists fast, also my husband and son complained about the scent.
I like the smell of gardenia but cannot really find it in this. Are there too many components, which do not match?
I must say, I really liked this fragrance when I tried it on today. It has lasted all day and is a beautiful floral. I usually can't stand Tuberose in perfumes, but in this one, it was a light enough that it didn't bother me. I am not crazy about a lot of celebrity perfumes, but this perfume will indeed be my next for summer. Kudos to you Madonna.
I smelled it and it was just what I thought it would be. It is a heavy mature scent. The sweetness wasn't something I'd expect!
This scent is not the one I'd wear.
Having tested Fracas, OK, I can see the resemblance. This one is however, an empty ghost of Fracas, diluted down, and 10 notes taken out of the mix. Madonna known for her music and business savvi, surely can see the appeal of this one. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate it, it just feels like an imposter.
The tuberose is mid-range, leaning heavily to the watery, but rather flat and uninspiring. This is an unobtrusive wallflower good girl, towing the line. Dissapointingly, there's not much of the Madonna rebel or twists in this one.
A bit dull, linear for an hour, then the mix turns plasticky and waxy, and creates the feeling that my arm has transformed into a disassociated doll's arm, not part of me anymore.
Not bad for the money, with steady longevity about 6 hours and medium projection, that's dissolves steadily. But can't stop focussing on the plastic note, reinforced by the milky bottle, and it's pearly jointed edges, reminiscent of moulded lines on cheap doll's plastic joints. The bottle's religious references are the only homage to Madonna's heritage. The bottle feels horrible in the hand, like cold marble, perhaps that's supposed to be part of the sensory experience. Sorry, Madge, this water is not holy. Will it sell...of course...Affordable-ish Fracas wannabee, with a cult bottle design.
When I first sprayed I thought..YESS!! Another Tuberose perfume. Being that tuberose is my favourite note in a perfume I had high hopes. It smelled similar to my beloved Michael Kors "Michael". Neroli is another favourite note of mine so all was going well..
This did not last long.
When the drydown started, a strange sweet almost plasticy note started developing which was the benzoin..the notes started to clash and made me slightly giddy. Something in here isn't meshing with the rest of what would have been a winner! I'm always looking to add to my Tuberose collection.
I give Madonna kudos for actually having a hand in what went into her perfume which is more that alot of celebrities do but for me..it started well and ended badly. This is the first tuberose/white floral perfume I have disliked....EVER!
TRUTH is I also find the bottle hideous! Would I DARE to wear it? NO!
Sorry Madge...maybe I'll like the next one!
Truth or Dare: Fragrance Review
Throughout Madonna's 30+ year career, much has been accomplished. It is very likely that no other female artist will ever reach her level of success. With the undisputed title of being the 'Queen of Pop', she has often faced a lot of criticism, hatred, and immeasurable expectations from the masses. With each project she takes on, she aims to exceed all expectations. Granted, she is not perfect (no one is), but she is one of the hardest working women I've ever known to exist. She goes out and gets whatever she wants, and that I admire. In 1984 (while I was on Earth for only a year) when Dick Clark of American Bandstand asked her about her hopes and dreams for her career she said she wanted to rule the world, which she has done more than once.
Despite all of her achievements and ventures, there is one thing that has eluded her, and that is the world of fragrance. This arena is near and dear to her heart because this is one of the few memories she has of her mother as she passed when Madonna was very young. She has often stated that she remembers how her mother wore a scent that consisted of tuberose and gardenia, two white floral notes that leave a lasting impression on the senses.
Throughout her life she has reportedly worn various perfumes to remind her of her mother, have a piece of her with her always. Fragrances like Robert Piguet's Fracas, Tubereuse of L'Artisan Parfumeur or even Tubereuse Indiana by Creed have all been a part of her adult life. Though they may remind her of what her mother once wore, they are not personal as the fragrance is not her own and certainly not her mother's scent. Fragrance is special in that it can be a lot of different things, with memories being one in particular.
Madonna could have made a fragrance a long time ago. During the Blonde Ambition era or fast forward to the Ray of Light era, Madonna had the world in the palm of her hand. These (and many other times) were great periods for her to release a perfume. A lot of celebrities release fragrances that are devoid of substance. Rather than following the common path of many, Madonna chose to be patient and wait for the perfect time to create a fragrance of her own. As with anything she does, she had a hand in everything involving the creation of Truth or Dare, which was released in April 2012.
Being that I am the epitome of a Cancer, I am obsessed with fragrance, so I have a substantial collection. Once I discovered that Madonna's fragrance was out, I began to read an assortment of reviews. As expected, a lot of reviews were about one's personal feelings about Madonna the celebrity and not the fragrance; fascinating isn't it? Though I am one of Madonna's biggest fans, I wanted to be completely unbiased. I did not let my love and adoration for her influence my opinion. So now, on to my first experience with Truth or Dare, a perfume for women or men not bound by societal norms.
I decided to pick up a sample because I never buy a fragrance blindly. I feel that fragrance must be worn on your skin and settle for some time before you can truly invest in it as you may not like and thus have buyer's remorse. Initially I sprayed my left wrist, requested a sample and headed home. While in my car, the fragrance enveloped me; it was as if I had sprayed much more than one part of my body. The fragrance comes off as being very feminine, intoxicating and smart.
It was immediately evident to me that the top notes had to be white flowers: you can pick up tuberose, a hint of neroli and gardenia. I personally love gardenia (Chantecaille's Pétales is a personal favorite of mine), so this was a pleasure to pick up in this scent. At the same time I felt a blast of jasmine hit me in the proboscis. This is said to be a middle note, but it is very intense at the beginning. Though it is rather bold upon your first whiff, the other white flowers blend well to make it enjoyable. I have never been a huge fan of jasmine (which is why I cannot wear Tom Ford's Jasmine Rouge), so this was very important to me. With the combination of these particular notes, I was immediately reminded of Thierry Mugler's masterpiece Alien; you can think of Truth or Dare as similar but much more soft when it comes to the jasmine. They are still very different fragrances so you can rest any possible worries you may have.
As a few hours went by, the jasmine was still with me, feeling almost as if someone was spritzing it in the air amongst the other notes; it was so beautiful. You can also pick up benzoin and I wasn't able to pick up the lily that is reported to be a part of the heart notes. What I found very interesting was as the jasmine started to get more intense on my skin, I smelled leather. I kept putting my wrist to my nose because I love the smell of leather (so naturally I like John Varvatos or even Dzing! By L'Artisan Parfumeur). A group of white flowers and benzoin lead me to smell leather; brilliant. Once I hit the five hour mark, the fragrance took me for another ride.
At this point, the volume was turned up; all the way up. Truth or Dare was leaning more towards dare; it was so sexy I would have done anything at that moment. With the smell of leather on me, I began to pick up an animalic hint of musk. I also picked up vanilla and caramel, two gorgeous gourmands. I discovered the amber is caramelized amber, which made it even better. I cannot truly put into words how hot it smelled so deep into having it on me. The caramelized amber made me want to take a bite out of my wrist and deal with the consequences later. No dare was required for it was my truth.
After approximately eight or nine hours, the jasmine calms, the other white flowers disappear, a smidge of benzoin is there and we are left with the base notes that linger; they come in waves of sorts. I continued to smell vanilla, amber and musk well into 14 hours of wearing this fragrance. It was like dessert; saving the best for last. I should also note that I actually took a shower and still could smell it on my wrist afterwards; I was very impressed.
Overall, I am very pleased with this fragrance
and do plan to buy it in the largest size offered. I am not one to purchase ancillaries so the fragrance itself will suffice. This fragrance has depth and dimension. It is very clear that Madonna put a lot into forming this fragrance. It is not a cliché celebrity fragrance that reeks of sugary sweet notes or poorly blended florals. I would also like to add that I did not smell Fracas in this fragrance; some notes perhaps but no, this is not Fracas; they are very different. This fragrance is more of a fall/winter scent in my mind, but due to its sex appeal, it could be worn any time you want to be romantic or simply have someone devour you. Kudos Madge. I highly recommend you give this one a try.
First impression: Jasmine, vanilla, tuberose, gardenia. The gardenia is simply huge. Benzoin is definitely lurking beyond with musc.
Sweet and distinct. Although this fragrance isn't for me, I'm not surprised if it will sell well!
I love this fragrance, it smells and floral but not overwhelming. Can definitely be worn during the day or at night time.Ever since going to Hawaii, I have been obsessed with the scent of tuberoses that they use in their leis for fragrance between the orchids. Well, one sniff of this and it took me right back! I was hooked! I will also have to try Kim Kardasian as so many here have mentioned it smells similar. Thanks!
As a huge Madonna fan I remember the days of 'Holy Water', the fragrance she was allegedly working on in 1993. So I've been looking forward to her first foray into the world of perfume for nearly 20 years. In fact, Truth or Dare has the kind of bottle I'd imagined Holy Water would appear in - it looks like a Holy Water flacon. (And just for the record the bottle is not plastic but milk-glass.). As a male perfume connoisseur (I wear both female and male scents) I was obviously excited to get my bottle which I bought blind. Truth or Dare is not a youth perfume. It has no sugary, cloying, cotton-candy notes which drag down most celebrity perfumes but is instead a straightforward floral with an amber and musk base. And it's lovely. It goes on strong. I was worried that a spritz to each side of the neck and another on the wrist would be far too much for daytime but shouldn't have worried. Whilst it remains potent, it settles down with lily and musk coming forefront to give you a lovely, creamy sillage. And, yes, men can get away with it. I've had two men ask me what I'm wearing and where they can get some. And almost every woman I know who has smelt it has expressed enthusiasm. Truth or Dare has also, so far, gone down very well on a night-out where I obviously applied a bit more. As I warmed up so did the fragrance, those gorgeous tuberose and gardenia notes rising from under my shirt until the wee hours of the morning. For a mid-range scent, it doesn't smell cheap and as Madonna would never put anything out there she isn't prepared to wear herself, this shouldn't come as a huge surprise. Truth - nothing earth-shattering; a simple, straightforward scent that smells good and lasts. Dare - Whilst simple and straightforward, it doesn't smell quite like anything else out there. I feel very comfortable wearing Truth or Dare and that's when you know a fragrance is working. When you catch it throughout the day and think, 'mmmmm.' Highly recommended. But don't overdo it during the day.
Outofocus, I believe the reason why so many of us feel compelled to give a thorough description of a celebrity scent is because those of us who are very interested in the world of perfume - in everything from the perfumers involved, to the inspiration behind the scent, to the quality of the ingredients used, to the finished product itself - are intrigued by the entire process by which a fragrance comes into production. Celebrity scents are often simply endorsed by the celebrity - who may or may not have had anything to do with the production process - so it's interesting when one does play an active role in designing the juice, as Madonna reportedly has. It's similar to when an actor releases an album or a musician attempts to act, the world watches in anticipation to see if the celebrity is talented in more than one field. In the world of luxury fragrance, celebrity scents are not highly regarded, so when one is released that is of notable quality, the fragrance community is often surprised.
I don't think any of us here, unless we are actual perfumers, claim to be experts giving expert opinions, as most of us here have a healthy respect for the talented perfumers who feed our fragrance habits and wouldn't dream of calling ourselves experts by comparison. I, for one, come to Fragrantica to get the opinions of fellow fragrance lovers who may or may not have a lot of experience with fragrance, but who love to experiment and educate themselves about the art. Sometimes even the simplest two-line review from one who knows very little about scent can offer valuable insight into a juice I may be contemplating spending money on.
I do agree with what you said: "it's just another fragrance...if you like it, just enjoy it." I think that's the case with all perfumes - one should wear them because one simply enjoys them without pretense. The analyzation process is just part of the fun for many of us here in the community. We value each others' opinions, associations and interpretations of fragrance - even when we disagree with them. We offer our opinions because they may be helpful to others and because we simply enjoy talking about scent.
I wonder why all these long and complicated comments on this frag!
Why so many people have to give an expert's opinion on this celebrity endorsed perfume??
It's the miracle of mass media, a huge pop star, an icon of its generation lauches a fragance to increase even more her fat bank account and bloggers react with a sense of: well I have to give a rational expert opinion on why I am drawn to buy it!
Don't worry too much, don't try to analyse it, it's just another fragance... if you like it, just enjoy it.
Now, when I first had the bottle in my hand I couldn't help noticing that it looks a lot like a holy-water flacon, the kind you can take with you. The gold crucifix logo entwined with the "M" strengthens that impression even more. Given that it's Madonna who (no doubt!) had her hands in every pie whilst this perfume was made. I can appreciate this 'clue' to her name and her signature rosary beats worn as necklaces in the early 80s. Very clever marketing. So far, so Madonna.
When I sprayed this on I was in a perfumery shop and they had so many scents floating around that your nose becomes desensitized from just being in there. But...this scent won't be ignored! I smelled it over everything, and how!! If there ever was an 'ode' to gardenia, jasmine and tuberose, this must be right up there with the best! It's an amazing scent and a hate or love perfume. I had to let it sink in and unfold. But I can already tell that these notes take turns and sometimes even seem to "fight" for center stage. Definitely an evening or special occasion scent.
It's been now about 4+ hours that I first sprayed this on and I must say. I think I have to add this one to my collection.
Here is why: I don't have anything quite like this in my collection. I find that this cauldron of white florals is seductive and very VERY recognizable without that it smothers you (if sprayed with caution!) And its scent evolvement makes for a very unusual harmony of notes on my skin. Compared to what a lot of other celebrities are charging for their so-so scents, Truth or Dare is not that expensive, yet smells expensive. But most importantly, I like it! And, no I am not a 'fan'...does that even matter? A perfume is a perfume and should be judged with your nose and skin.
A definite must sample before purchase. And if you're a floral fan this must be on your 'must sniff' list. Even if you don't care for Madonna.
Before acknowledging the celebrity endorsement of the juice, I'll give an uninfluenced impression of the scent itself, which is, I have to admit, daring.
Upon first sniff, I was surprised by a sweet, powdery and simultaneously syrupy bubblegum impression, which kept the shock of a very bold jasmine from overwhelming my nose. Here is a white floral in all its glory, unabashed and untamed - not a warm, abstract white floral like the tuberose in Michael Kors; and despite the comparisons, not an overwhelming, in-your-face concoction comparable to Fracas. Okay, yes, there are some similarities, but can we agree that Fracas is only so great because it wonderfully recreates the actual smell of a real tuberose? I don't get as much tuberose from Truth or Dare as I do jasmine, but the note is nonetheless detectable, and I think, comparable to Fracas because it is well-composed and smells genuine. For someone who appreciates Fracas and admires it on others, but finds it too overwhelming and dated on herself, I can say that Truth or Dare is a slightly sweeter take on a white floral that I'd not be ashamed to choose over Fracas, as I find it more easily wearable.
As the scent wears, it retains the light, powdery sweetness, though the candy-bubblegum aspect gives way to more of the white flowers, which project very well. It lasted a good six hours on my skin before fading to a musky skinscent, which was as much soapy as it was sweet. It's almost as though the perfumer layered a very rich, clean, white floral over a base of powdered vanilla and lily, but found the perfect mixture of each note so that the whole thing comes together quite nicely and isn't easily dissected for the sum of its parts.
A white floral that is poorly put-together can easily take on a "hairspray" persona, and Truth or Dare straddles the line of excess and class, just as the endorser herself, without ever really crossing the line into either. Truth or Dare is pretty, fun, and, as I mentioned daring. It's not every day that one picks up a new brew at the perfume counter in Macy's to discover a loud white floral that is saved from being flippant by the coy and innocent sweetness that makes the juice unique. If I had to choose a celebrity scent (and I've only owned one - SJP Lovely), one could certainly do worse than Madonna. Love her or hate her - she's made a household name for herself and she's one of those celebrities who has, despite provocative pornographic displays, managed to maintain an air of mystery about herself and her life. Admire her courage or hate her for her incessant determination, but who among us has not sung along to at least one of her multiple hits throughout the decades?
If any of you have tried Lust by Lush, you may find yourself comparing the two scents, as I did. Overall, an unbiased sniff is recommended. A lot of work reportedly went into this fragrance (around 200 rejected compositions until Madonna was satisfied). I prefer my white florals in the form of tiare with coconut, but if I were seeking something less tropical, I'd consider a full bottle of this.
Normally, I make an effort to ignore when a celebrity is endorsing a scent and I feel I'm doing their brand a favor by being impartial about it. But can I just say, now that Madonna has a fragrance, the World feels a little more whole? She's a polarizing figure but a constant one and the woman really understands glamour; the fine line between refined, establishment elegance and trashy, garish kitsch. That's what fuels the dream spinning industries -- an underlying conflict between pure, salt-of-the-earth beauty and fun sex.
The scent: That raspy, tuberose oil, "Blu" by Bruno Acampora, with it's astringent, jammy undertones, contrasted by a creamy-sweet gardenia mixed with lactic jasmine (similar to the jasmine found in Yves Roche's "Tendre Jasmine"). The indoles are actually pretty low-key, but floral in a distinct, retro way that says: I am not a vague, polite wash that could be mistaken for tea water, I'm a Perfume On Purpose, hear me roar. A very subtle, ambery church-pew-wood-with-incense scent and a hint of rosiness in the drydown and I'm reminded of the subtle, plastic-rose undertones of "Exclamation", another Coty scent I recently reviewed.
There's nothing I can say about the Madonna factor, that "Fruit Diet" didn't already say so well, but it's interesting how pre-cognescent Madonna is about coming trends; she sees that rave style and early 90's trends are making a comeback and that consumers are apt to be moving back to loud fragrances, with character and "Truth or Dare" arrives just in time to satisfy demand.
I've only tested this, but don't be surprised to see it floating next to my avatar within the next, couple of weeks. Personally, I'm sick of inoffensive, crisp beauty. Even if I'll wear this lightly in buttoned-up places, I want to rustle-up the glum status-quo. I want drama. I want to offend and bother people, have them notice my fragrance. I want to walk by and have people think "what the f&*% was that?" or "fun sex". This blend will do it.
I was very tempted to buy this fragrance yesterday while browsing at Macys. I tested it on paper and also on my skin. Woke up this morning, and smelled my wrist. This fragrance lasted a long time. Not to mention, it still lingers on the paper I sprayed a week ago. Love the dry down. Most definitely will add this to my perfume collection.
I DARE to have bought it blind. So now the TRUTH. Its lovely soft gardenia [not loud but soft] with amber [the 2 prominent notes], its sweet but not gourmand sweet. In small amount comes the jasmine shining trough. I like it. Its not bad at all. It reminds me of Roberto Cavalli for her but much softer and better. In 2 hours it becomes more skinscent. My husband asked how he was but he didnt notice that i was wearing it. Give it a chance.
I wanted to like it but it is not for me. Gardenia too much I had to wash it off.
Madonna Truth or Dare
This fragrance makes me feel beautiful, feminine, sophisticated, so much so, that out of the hundred something fragrances in my collection, this is the only one I have ever carried in my handbag. I personally do not like white flower perfume, but this is different it is completely and precisely done right and due to the quality of the product, it is obvious no detail was spared. So to the Material Girl I'd like to say; Thank you for bringing this masterpiece to the masses, It is exquisite quality that wont break the bank and the consideration to the consumer is appreciated.
In truth I am fed up with designers and celebrities who have no shame in putting their names in a bottle of rubbish and selling it at outrageous prices... it truly is deceptive and questions their artistic talent and credibility. All mighty dollar I guess.
In my opinion this is the one celebrity fragrance that does not laugh in the face of the consumer, not a mass market cookie cuter vanilla junk, that fades before you get to the front door; and unfortunately so many have falling victims to, including myself at a younger age.
Like I said in my previous post, don't care for celebrities; but everything this woman touches truly turns to gold... and without question there is more Truth here than Dare..
Hooray..Well Done.. Brilliant
Would not recommend to anybody looking for a classy fragrance. The cocktail of sweet-fruity top notes is neither subtle nor elegant. It is one of those scents that can turn badly with the wrong chemistry. Tacky, cheap concoction. Wear at your own risk. ;-)
I tested this one without having read anything about it. Sprayed on a card it gave me an immediate pleasant sensation of being familiar, which I'm sure is the Fracas reference. As it warmed up on my skin I got the most wonderful surprise - with my chemistry it becomes simply a very sweet, sunny-yet-indolic jasmine over dusty, mellow benzoin and vanilla. The sweetness is pronounced and radiant, yet it doesn't shriek. The total effect is very soft and without the tart/sharp notes that have kept me away from literally every modern floral/floriental (why must they all have such prominent sour fruit notes?) Smelling the card I sprayed a couple of days ago, I get gardenia and maybe pear, so I can see where the Elizabeth Taylor Gardenia and Amarige comparisons are coming from, yet as worn, it didn't resemble either of those on me. I suspect there must be a lot of action going on in the basenotes for it to have developed as well as it did on my skin - most of my regular scents are very base-heavy with predominantly amber/resinous and gourmand notes, and anything without enough of that weight falls apart within minutes on me. Truth or Dare hangs in there and develops beautifully into a calm, warm, and quiet drydown that hints at gourmand yet isn't thick/sticky. I found it relatively easy to wear, and this is not something I ever say about big white florals of any era, so I DO think there's something special and new/old about its construction. For the record, I am 47, so of about the same "perfume generation" as Madonna herself. Age probably does matter some when it comes to what we think smells right, scent being about memory and all.
OK...this one was on promo on the mall. I wanted to smell it since I read about it here. The marketing is superb..all the music videos from the early days to the last ones. Got my sample and yikes...it's all about gardenias on my skin; such a simple frag for $56 (1.7oz)? I love Madonna but this one smells like Gardenias by Elizabeth Arden. Although this one has been discontinued, I can still get it for $17-$20(the big bottle). And the smell and bottle is way better.
I just tested this and it is a strong tuberose and gardenia scent. It dries down to a bit of a sweeter floral, I have to say there is skank affect to this fragrance but skank can sometimes be a good thing! I find it is a little like fracas but fracas is more elegant and fruity, while truth or dare is more modern and a tad chemical smelling. It is well done and to be honest its not my style of a fragrance but it is well done for the price! I personally wouldn't wear it though. If I have to choose a tuberose fragrance I prefer Michael kors or Fracas. Thats just me. As for the bottle , it is a weird octagon shape and its kinda strange looking. I think this fragrance has good lasting power , I have to admit I am a madonna fan, but I prefer her music over her fragrance.
I was in Selfridges yesterday to smell this perfume, and my first impression was: floral tuberose, gardenia and jasmine all the way. Oh yes ladies... It reminded me a lot of Amariage by Givenchy, but luckily not as fruity or cold as Amarige. Truth or dare is a much warmer scent than Amariage in my opinion. I would desrcibe this perfume as Oriental Floral and Musky!
I found it quite warm and wearable on my skin thanks to the caramelised amber, vanilla absolute and musk undertone, but I do understand why some people might be put off by the intense smell of the floral top notes! It is intense indeed, and for the long haul! I, however, love the vanilla in the middle notes! It blends very well as the scent goes to the even warmer base notes. What I like most of all is that I don't find the smell to be synthetic at all unlike most other celeb fragrances out there (without mentioning names!)
Well, Truth or Dare...?
Truth: I like it enough from its very first impression on me, but I can't say I love it YET. It is definitely for a more mature and classy audience who love their Fracas and Shalimar etc. However, I do love the bottle! It's very Catholic chic! Fabian Baron did a fantastic job once again!
Dare: Today is my second day of wearing it in a wet damp English weather and I must say I felt embraced and warmed by the smell at the same time. No bad for a celebrity fragrance, and this is my first ever celeb scent I have ever owned. I bought the 30ml for £25 in here.
Thanks, Madonna!!! Not a bad effort for your debut perfume!
Ps. This scent was made by the same company who made Tom Ford's Black Orchid!
Update: I absolutely adore this perfume now. I've been wearing it almost everyday and for the price this is excellent! Thanks Madonna!
I have always liked Madonna for her attitude and style, and her music isn't bad either. I think I just really don't like gardenias anymore.. or tuberose, whatever that is. I think all my gardenia scented perfumes are going in a box, in my closet. At first whiff, I was SO going to buy a full bottle. Ten minutes later, I got a very faint bitter undertone. I don't know if it's my chemistry or the gardenias. If you're even a little bit curious about this, stop being cheap and get on Ebay and buy yourself a sample. It's pretty good, for what it's trying to be. I think it's just not my thing.
Truth or Dare pays homage to Madonna's mother, and is an obvious reference to the heavy hitting tuberose-laden Fracas by Robert Piguet, the fragrance her mother wore. It incorporates another favourite scent- gardenia. Madonna wanted to recreate the memory of how her mother smelled to her, and with the help of perfumer Stephen Nilsen, she's done a good job of translating this olfactive memory into a modern day fragrance. It plays up the religious influence of her name and Catholic upbringing, with a bottle designed to resemble a flacon of Holy Water and the resinous aspects of church incense.
Like an opening night performance, she starts off with a blast- in this case tuberose and white florals that are bold and emblazoned, but not suffocating. The tuberose misses the mark to create the well rounded buttery quality that replicates Fracas, feeling somewhat thin and engineered. While 'thin' usually signals 'cheap', like almost anything Madonna touches, it has managed to translate into shiny and new. Much like taking scraps of raggy lace and rubber typewriter bands and turning them into fashion statements and tools of empowerment. You don't feel cheated, but you're aware that we are indeed living in a material world and money inevitably has the last say when it comes to accessibility. Madonna even admitted this is what kept her from arriving earlier in the fragrance realm, emphasizing that there were issues around creating something that was quality enough to bear her name, yet affordable in the mass market that she could stand behind.
The gardenia appears green and waxy, spread a bit too thin to be lush- but there's so much going on, that you're still entertained. Like the entertainer, she may be a bit thin on vocal ability, but she sure knows how to put on a hell of a show and make it work. Orange Blossom lends its fullness, and spicy lily nips at your nose unexpectedly, imparting a kick of peppery heat to keep the florals from becoming too heady. It reins in the tuberose and tries to tame the indolic jasmine that seems to take center stage- much like the 10yr old Madonna wearing a swimsuit and neon paint, go-go dancing at a school recital under a black light. Parents were horrified, and anyone who doesn't know what real jasmine is will be too. Indolic jasmine can smell like mothballs and in this fragrance, it acts as a conductor, sending vapours out in exhausted, forceful pants like the last vocals of Love Don't Live Here Anymore. This is where the fragrance seems to linger most, in a stage of suspended animation while the crowd screams for more, then hushes in anticipation of the spoken message.
Without darkness there can be no light, and Truth or Dare creates a tangible example.
Resinous amber and benzoin lurk beneath the florals, giving it a dusty, (easily interpreted as powdery) vintage and austere feel to it. If you let your imagination go, you can almost feel the heavy, hard uncomfortable pews in church, designed to keep you upright and reminded that Christ endured and so must you. Yet, like a well-delivered sermon, its heavy and weightless all at once, sunken and concealed beneath the florals giving a dimension of depth, yet buoyant to keep them uplifted towards the light. The two opposites of light and dark, fluid and unmoving, create an intriguing duality that validates the seemingly corny name, rendering it wholly apt.
Synthetic skin musks and vanilla absolute buffer the zone between the two, never becoming individually obvious, instead interacting as necessary shepherds throughout the transitioning of the two extremes.
As the fragrance dries down, the benzoin and amber become more prominent and linger like the last wisps of smoke from a censer, somewhat textured and scratchy.
Sillage and longevity are reasonable. Despite being loud at first unleashing, it smooths out within minutes and unless you douse yourself in it, it should be easy enough to wear without offending.
Truth or Dare is a well crafted fragrance that isn't dumbed down for the masses. In fact, many of the masses can be heard with their protests of "old lady smell" which translates into "mature". It has the facets of a classic with a fresh and modern interpretation that should enjoy a long shelf life, providing an alternative to the sugar laden nose candy offered up by other celebs. Madonna can take a bow for a job well done, she has managed to convey the sentiment for which she strove and balanced it perfectly with her strong, persuasive, brashy-to-classy style.
Okay, I went to buy and did not. I was being super opened despite the very mixed views. Well, the initial first hour was hard. Tuberose to the max. I could not escape it. There was a heavy, heavy, sweet, gummy, plastic, shot of it. After one hour on me it did not diminish or develop. I was waiting for some jasmine or gardenia or lilly to come to my rescue, but assertive tuberose would not permit them through. 2 hours later it mellowed but tuberose remained the lead actor in a one man show rather than a theater group it should have been. The critics have said both good and bad on this one. It was unfortunate that, on me, it remained utterly linear and without depth. I was actually sad about it because I thought it would at least be added to my collection. No chance of that now.
I Agree Completely on some of the other reviews below. This "new fragrance" is a real Stinker!
The Truth: It's White Shoulders doppelgänger. The Dare is to wear it! Did NOT like it at all! If you are wanting this fragrance to add to your collection because of the Name on the bottle, take my advice and wait till it goes to TJ Maxx or Marshalls and buy it for $10-$15 or if you are for the challenge...just buy a great big bottle of White Shoulders at CVS.
I've never been a big fan of celebu-scents. I don't keep up with their lives, careers, or dramas and I certainly don't salivate or run screaming to the perfume counter at opening on the day a new fragrance is released. As for Madonna, I purchased 3 of her CD's back in high school and always thought of her as a savvy business woman who knew how to market herself well. When it comes to the crazy world of celebrity scents, I was somewhat surprised that she HADN'T released one. The first I heard of it about a year ago that she was working on one, I was intrigued. Always a free spirit and a woman who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go after it, I was expecting something in the same vein as "Lovely" or "Queen," something that would be unique and didn't follow the same tired, exhausted notes of, "berries, more berries, 2 fruits, 1 flower, vanilla, musk, rinse and repeat." I believe Madge has delivered that. It's certainly not like any other celebu-scent out there and it is one-of-a-kind in the celebrity category.
Please note: I have not said that it is something I ENJOY.
Believe, me, I wanted to like this, in fact, I wanted to love it, but I would have settled for like.
It is indeed an unusual white floral when first sprayed and the amber is there as well. On first spray it began medium bodied and within 5 minutes of the alcohol drying it exploded into a big sweet, just-next-door-to-CLOYING, wad of Gardenia and Tuberose being crammed up my nostrils with a chimney brush: I was in giant white floral heaven! Then, within 20 minutes the explosion settled down into a dry, dusty, scent that reminded me of powdery amber. Admittedly, amber is not my favorite of notes but I can deal with it when well composed but somehow the "powdery" edge that it had turned the whole thing into a scrubber for me.
Several have described it as "old lady" another (brilliantly I believe) described it as a "busted White Shoulders," which is sadly accurate to my nose. The best thing I can think of to describe it would be the scent of the lingering sillage in a small room that had just been vacated by two septuagenarians, one doused heavily in Elizabeth Taylor's "Gardenia," and the other in 10 hour old Clinique "Aromatics Elixir." I have always been a fan of big, gaudy, slap-you-across-the-face white florals and it absolutely KILLS me to have to state that if I had to choose between this and another well known big white floral, Kim Kardashian, I would have to *gag* choose the K.K.
As I stated previously, it is certainly one of a kind, and I do applaud Madge for an honest endeavor to make what she wanted and envisioned as her own "perfect scent." I am also pleased that she wanted something that was specifically targeted at the 35-45 age range, a demographic that is practically ignored in mass market fragrance, I just wish that the marketing team had put together more than one or two focus groups of women in that age range before putting it into full production.
I sprayed this fragrance the other day at the mall from a tester bottle...I have to say it smells alot like a busted White shoulders,old flower powder,bug spray with a strong musk...it had no flare... it just laid flat with no mystery...I didn't like the plain apperance of the bottle and it didn't inspire me.I don't recommend this to anyone who is looking for something fresh and new because this smell is dated and has been done.Save your money..YUCK!!!!!
This fragrance smells so old & dusty! It was like smelling a dried out bottle of white shoulders.It also gave me a headache!Lastly,the bottle looked cheap, boring & played out.
She came out with a great record that is MDNA but this fragrance is a vile copy of Fracas...loads and loads of gardenia and tuberose with hints of vanilla not bad but for an artist like her this so long awaited perfume is boring very boring.
Very pleasant from start to finish! It has a wonderful progression that lasts hours and hours! Classic floral in vibe, nouveau in overall character. Perfect. Well done!
This smells like a 1972 French socialite complete with her printed silk blouse, greasy wine-colored lips, pewter-shadowed lids and dark roots and u know wut!? I abdolutely love it lmbao!!! Powdery gardenia and creamy tuberose run this mutha giving off that old-world vibe while jasmin adds spice. Vanilla absolute and amber keep it from smelling identical to other white floral fragrances like Kim Kardashian, Creed Love in White, Tease, Michael Kors etc... While there r similarities I think Truth or Dare stands on its own because it is a white floral indeed but it also has gourmand as well as oriental properties as mentioned in a previous review... Also mentioned in a previous review it is easily unisex because it isnt overly sweet... Its long-lasting and has a beautiful ambery drydown tingled with tuberose...
Well then.
As a nineteen year-old, boyish-looking male with a passion for perfume, my sexuality gets asked about a lot. While I am straight, people are quick to assume "gay" because I like fragrances, and that I'm also a big fan of Madonna. Shallow assumptions aside, Madge and I go way back - some of my earliest childhood memories involve my mom playing the Bedtime Stories and Ray of Light albums for me. I think Madonna is one of the greatest musical artists ever, and I think I'll always love anything she puts out. That being said, I've always secretly wished for a fragrance from her, and knew it would come out someday. To think, when the two "effeminate" aspects of my personality - Madonna and perfume - reach a crossroads, God only knows what could be achieved. And, I was a little wary, considering how it's Coty, and I think something great could have been made if the right raw materials were utilized.
Well, it is something great. On my skin, Truth or Dare is primarily a jasmine fragrance, with tuberose and gardenia to support it. While the gardenia is unfortunately short-lived, as expected, the jasmine and tuberose combine to create so many different facets from just two flowers alone. The jasmine is slightly chalky and a little indolic, to show a hint of raunchiness. The tuberose is delectable and creamy, ala Fracas, and gives off this effect that's kind of like eating cornbread or something, just because of how rich and filling the tuberose feels - I get that same effect from vintage Poison. For the most part, that seems to be the fragrance. I get hints of styrax (benzoin) and amber in the drydown, but the stars here are a somewhat naughty jasmine vs. a creamy and lovable tuberose. I guess that's a lot like Madge herself, especially in the early days - classy and bleach blonde, yet risque and naughty. I guess you could say this is "Like a Virgin" on her wedding day; still pure and innocent, yet naughty in the sense that she'll be losing her virginity soon.
I get great sillage and longevity out of this one, as expected. If you're a fan of florals, or just wanna see how far they've come, you should definitely try Truth or Dare. It's an excellent fragrance that highlights both jasmine and tuberose in an accessible, yet well-handled way; as expected of Madge.
Great stuff. GONNA DRESS YOU UP IN MY LOOOOOOOVE!
When I told the sales associate at Macy's that I had come for the Madonna perfume, she didn't question for even a second the fact that I'm a man or inquire whether I was buying it for a female relative. She knew it was for me and was totally unfazed, an indication that a lot of gay men must be buying Truth or Dare regardless (or perhaps because of) its Jungle Gardenia aspirations. The placement of the fragrance in the store could not have been an accident: it was not obviously situated at the men's or women's counters, but in between. Truth or Dare's unisex intent is further established by its wonderful television ad that visually recalls Madonna's "Erotica" phase (reviled at the time but now the hottest and most imitated aesthetic reference around) and the noticeable absence of the usually front-and-center gendered marketing terminology: the female announcer merely says, "Truth or Dare, the new fragrance by Madonna." Not "perfume." Not "for her." Fragrance. Nor is it printed anywhere on the box that it is for women. Very clever.
To begin with, nothing you have heard about this fragrance is true, and the general puzzlement and overqualified, reluctant, tight-lipped simultaneous approval /condemnation of it in the perfume blogosphere reflects this. All the reviews thus far go something like this: the reviewer will begin with a disclaimer that she has "admittedly never been a huge fan of Madonna," a sentiment that I hear every day from every single person every single time Madonna is mentioned that mysteriously belies the fact that Madonna's tour dates sell out within seconds at astronomical prices and that she is still probably the most famous woman in the world. The reviewer will then marvel at how Madonna is so late to the celebrity fragrance game, insert an unfunny, irrelevant jab about her age, after which will be placed in block quotation the PR copy about the perfume. The reviewer will say that the fragrance smells surprisingly good, surprisingly "old lady" in that it has an extremely noticeable floral component, but will conclude that Truth or Dare is nothing to write home about because who has time for this when you can wear perennial snob favorite Carnal Flower or some other Edgy Cool Indie White Floral that's not EMBARRASSING like the Madonna perfume! One reviewer cynically and prematurely bashes anyone who might be tempted to "applaud it simply because it is not a predictable cotton candy ditz department store fragrance." All of this goes to show that Madonna is still a heated, relevant, and above all HIGHLY stigmatized cultural property, as much as she was in the 80's and 90's- everyone is fascinated with everything she does, and everyone is still too frightened to immediately embrace any of it until a few years have passed and a bolder critic has stated that it's okay to like it.
I digress. Wait, no I don't, because this is a celebrity perfume, and the public perception of the famous name affixed is as integral to the identity of the product as Bruce Weber's cold, explicit images of Kate Moss were to Calvin Klein's Obsession, or Victor Skrebneski's spacious WASP mansion panoramas were to Estee Lauder . Any discussion of Truth or Dare must by necessity include a discussion of Madonna and the fragrance's marketing. While Truth or Dare is stated to be retro tuberose gardenia floral—a tribute to Madonna's mother's unnamed signature scent assumed by everyone to be Fracas—it is in actuality an unexpected, complex, unusual, firmly unisex musk scent with floral, oriental, and gourmand elements in equal measure. It simply smells undeniably terrific: streamlined, sexy, sweet but not too sweet, floral but not too floral, rich but pleasantly cheap, but sniff closer and its shocking character is readily apparent: this is an indole, rubber, and musk fragrance! It is as if a creamy, proudly synthetic white floral accord that smells ambiguously of tuberose, gardenia, and jasmine is underlined by a fierce cocktail of every weird off note that goes along with those smells: big burnt rubber , big fecal indole (to rival Brent Leonesio's Untitled #8). How is no one noticing how dirty this fragrance is? I have NEVER smelled such proudly displayed skank notes in any mid-range department store celebrity scent! Perhaps it is because the off notes are married so perfectly to a hippie-ish androgynous salty ambery oriental musk base with a beautifully executed burnt sugar note. Truth or Dare's closest relatives are, I would say, Angel for its two-sided vulgar structure, Juicy Couture for its salty gourmand florals, and Jovan Musk for its loud, ungendered statement of cheap and fun sexuality.
Any complaints? It should probably be labeled an EDT rather than an EDP if only to encourage people to spray it on in great quantities. It is assertive but always pleasant and its ambery musk sticks around a shockingly long time. Depending on how much you wear, it can be a good-time clubbing scent or something more polite for the office. Totally versatile.
If it were approached without prior knowledge of the PR material or that it is endorsed by Madonna, Truth or Dare would undoubtedly be embraced for its originality, defiance of easy categorization, unisex potential, and unique, humorous bottle design that looks like nothing else currently in department stores except that wonderfully kitschy teal opaque Youth-Dew bottle. When was the last time I had this much FUN with a mainstream department store release? I love it to death.
Had high hopes for this one as a good tuberose/gardenia white floral IS my perfume holy grail. The gardenia top is nice, true to the flower, then it does veer toward sweet candy territory. A change in direction but it holds a sweet tuberose character, supported by a caramelized vanilla benzoin that is very much like the base of Guess Seductive, though for some reason this one felt more comfortable, and maybe not as sweet as the Guess. It's also unique that there is nothing fruity in Truth or Dare. If not a total white floral, it is a modern strong and sexy elixir.
I don't care about any celebrities but I was curious to see what this smelled like. I sampled it at Macy's yesterday. SA told me that it will launch in a few days but they had a tester and I was able to try it. I am not sure what I was expecting but I was pleasantly surprised.
First you get very lush gardenia and tuberose. Let me mention that I absolutely adore fresh gardenia and since I live in the tropics I smell it all the time. Truth or Dare definately recaptures the essence of the flower and then kicks it up a notch with some vanilla and amber. When I first smelled it, I immediately thought that this smelled like something local Polonesian women would wear and mentioned it to SA. She said"wait a while, it starts turning sweet like candy". She was right because after the scent mellowes out, it does smell more sweet and candy like. However, tuberose is still present in full force, and it totally dominates this scent.
I think the name is quite appropriate since this scent has an innocent side and more daring side, hence truth or dare. I can see some resemblance to Fracas but I would prefer Truth or Dare.
This is rather unusual and eclectic scent which fits Madonna's style perfectly. I don't think it will be loved by all since its definately not mainstream enough and not everyone would like a lush tuberose scent.
I see this is exotic, sexy and very lush and tropical-picture brozed women with flowers in their long black hair, wearing bright colored sarongs-this scent is what I would expect them to smell like
This is very nice jasmine but since I already own 3 other very nice jasmines, Fracas, Acqua Allegoria Jasminora and Songes, I dont need another, so while I like Truth or Dare, I wont be getting it.
This is my first celebrity fragrance I have sampled from anyone. Madonna enters the race a little late in the game. This should have came out 20 years ago with its namesake movie. Well, here it is, love it or hate it. My local Macys was giving out samples.
Looking at the ingredient list, I expected Fracas or Giorgio Beverly Hills. It is post 2000 tuberose. Every floral note is synthetic. They lack projection power. They are acceptable. The heart/base is where it becomes gourmand and yummy. This effect last about an hour, as the florals keep peeking through. Its soft, graceful and light. It acts like an EDC and requires frequent resprays.
The bottle looks like a holy water flask. Its somewhat absurd, really and totally Madonna. Coty must be using all synthetics today. For $68. a bottle, you are just paying for Madonna marketing. Flankers are inevitable. Soon the bottles will only contain water.
AAARGH ... this is a Coty fragrance!!! It should be available EVERYWHERE ... it should be crawling out of the walls in Malls all over the planet!!! Instead, Ebay profiteers like authentictopbrands11 are charging a whopping $130.20 incl. postage for something that can be bought for $69.99 at Macy's. Nearly double!!! It's revolting. Where are the days of huge fragrance launches when willing casuals walked around stores handing out samples and merrily spraying everyone within arm's reach from a never ending supply of tester bottles? These days one is forced to endure 'legal racketeering' on Ebay. Sorry Madge ... as much as I love you and want to buy your frag I won't be ripped off for it. C'est la vie.
I think Madonna wanted this perfume to be something of a homage to her mother with some of herself mixed it she didn't need to create a perfume to stay in the spotlight or make money this I think was just something she decided to do after years of saying no to the idea.
Having not smelt it yet I cant comment on the smell. The bottle to me like others have noted conjures up images of like a prayer not truth or dare though, but I understand the white is for the white florals, its a shame she didn't do two fragrances and have this as Like a prayer and then a more statuesque bottle in deep purples with leather for truth or dare as thats the image from her career those words symbolise for me with a darker scent. But then does the bottle matter.
One thing I am disappointed by is so far theres no male or unisex version come on madonna the boys love you give us a fragrance too please
If you love Fracas, you'll love this! I don't so I didn't. Could someone please tell me what is that note that is so prominent in both at the top/middle? Whatever that is I'd really like to know. There is an old men's fragrance Aramis (sp) that effects me the same way. : (
Oh wow, LOVE THIS. this is sultry with a bit of devilish skank, tuberose gardenia heaven! To like this fragrance you MUST be a fan of loud luscious heady tuberose and not afraid to smell a little "dirty"/naughty. It's intoxicating and narcotic. Def thick amber and sweet lily detected in background and musky throughout. I felt like a powerful seductive bad girl wearing this haha. This won't go unnoticed, I think it's a unique take on these type of florals, this tuberose is not for the tame, definite on the "dare" side of the spectrum and animalic babyyy
The dry down is beautifully unique vibrantly sensual carmalized amber and vanilla absolute. It's inky and kind of like vanilla extract, it's the perfect counterpart to the bright dark duality of the intoxicating white floral
Oh boy.... Where do I start with this one? Oh Madonna you have disappointed me so! There are so many perfumes out there that smell like and resemble this one. I first became familiar with the scent of gardenia, honeysuckle and tuberose when the Kate Spade fragrance first came out....ever since then it seems like mixologists have wanted to steal her notes.
Kate Spade, Kim Kardashian, Marc Jacobs, the original Coach fragrance... and *somewhat* a bit with the J'adore ...all have the same main flowery notes. At least J'adore dries into a creamy almost, jasmine like scent... Whereas the others leave with the sunny fragrances of the spring. I mainly smell honeysuckle, a touuuucchhh of jasmine, tuberose and the white gardenia.
This combo of flowers has become so familiar to me that it just isn't original anymore....I'm so disappointed MDNA. ....you at least coulda tried to make it a little bit sexier (maybe more appropriate for nighttime wear) like the "truth or dare" name it suggests. BOOOoOOoO!!!!!
Soooo.... I sorta kinda smell this "dry down" that the others are speaking of...however, for me it is not a vanilla-almond like lingering. It is more musky, dusty, and musty. That's the only way I can put it, Madge -- an old-lady name for an old-lady fragrance.
Doesn't stick well on my body and I suppose doesn't mesh with my chemistry in order to make this lovely, supposed sweet smell. .....on to the next one.....
I purchased this perfume and returned it right away. When I first sprayed it on, the first thing that came into my mind was my great grandmother and all my elderly neighbors i grew up with as a child. I would hate to wear this on a date and have a guy think of his elderly neighbors.. The perfume is horrible.
I really love this. I used to avoid tuberose and white florals like the plague because they seemed harsh and loud to me and didn't sit right with my nose. This is not one of those harsh in your face white florals that clean out your sinuses, it is a nice mellow white floral with a really nice gentle vanilla carmelized amber dry down. I really would love to get a bottle of this!!!
Non ho ancora avuto il piacere di sentire questo profumo. Ma ritengo che la motivazione che Madonna ha trovato per descriverne la composizione sia molto tenera e bella!..."Perchè assomiglia al profumo di mia madre, al ricordo che ho di lei"... Ha detto...
FINALLY! Haha. It's another white floral fragrance. But I've been loving me some white florals lately so it's perfection in my book. The dry down is DELICIOUS! The caramelized amber and vanilla make Truth or Dare a deliciously yummy comfort scent. It isn't as heavy as say, Kim Kardashian's. It stays close to the skin but it stays on forever! I love me a big white floral that isn't overpowering at all. Bravo MDNA! The blotters look like the bottle! I LOVE it! Haha. : )
4/11/12: Just got it! I finished my midterms and felt like treating myself. Haha. I LOVE it! I want the matching products SO bad! Starting w/ the shower gel. Yum! They have to make a cream, not just a lotion, for it. Here's hoping. : )
You're going to have to be a gardenia fan or a Fracas fan to really like this one. Just left Macy's and at first spritz it's a whole lot of Neroli and Gardenia but if you let it sit for a while it starts to dry down to a softer gardenia and Tuberose scent. This doesn't smell like anything I have since I Just got into Tuberose after an extreme hate of it so I purchased it. I hope the Caramelized Amber and Vanilla shine through after a bit because I can't smell it now but this is definitely a modern take on Fracas. At first sniff it IS fracas and Madonna seems to be in love with it. In one of her docus she's DOUSING herself in it. The bottle is nice in person. I'll test it for a few weeks to give the final verdict : )
::Update:: Ok, the drydown is so creamy and soft and sweet. Reminds me of a Jordan Almond! I hope the lotion skips the top notes and just goes straight for the DryDown!
::Body Lotion Update 3/27/12:: Ok, for those of you who do not like the top note Gardenia/Tuberose/Neroli/FRACAS smell than I would suggest the Body Lotion. While the body lotion is watery, it has more of the vanilla and caramelized amber scent to it that the fragrance has in the dry-down. I've been wearing this stuff since I got it and the lotion just came today! Bravo, Madonna, you old wench!
I got my Macy's order yesterday and couldn't wait to try it. First off, the opening composition is purely gardenia and tuberose and it's loud. So loud in fact, that I was thinking "Oh Lord, I might have to wash this off!" But I didn't, I stuck it out and the dry down is much more mellow. I smell mostly gardenia by that time with slight nuances of amber and tuberose with a little sweetness added in. I like it, but I don't know if it's for me. I love gardenia and tuberose, but I think this might have a little too much for me. However, I can't argue with the lasting power and it doesn't smell like anything else I own. I might give it another shot as it's probably one of those frags that has to "grow" on me; I have a few in my collection like that and they ended up being my favorites. Overall, it's a nice frag, but if gardenia and tuberose aren't your thing, you might want to steer clear. Hope this helps! :)
I tried this fragrance on my wrist today and then continued shopping. I couldn't stop smelling my wrist! I'm not crazy, crazy Madonna; although you can't deny that she's extreamly talented and appartently she is at creating fragrances also. Mind you I want it to be perfectly clear, I did NOT buy this because it's "Madonna" - I'm not a celebrity fragrance girl. But this perfume is enchanting, graceful, seductive, serene and sophisticated. I'm telling you; try it if you can, she doesn't "overdo" any of the notes; it lasts for hours in a more subdude state. I bet your going to like it, come on... truth or dare?
I like Madonna because she has really stood the test of time, and she is a brilliant artist. Like others, I have often wondered why she never created a perfume many years ago. I know people diss celebrities for coming out with frags, but really, if you had the money, wouldn't you do the same? I would love to create a fragrance! True, some celebrities do it to make more money, but some of them may actually be fragrance fans and they may want to put their imagination to work in other ways. I have no idea what this smells like, but I love tuberose and gardenia both because they are so feminine smelling. So, I did the unthinkable and pre-ordered this from Macy's. Impulsive, yes, but I don't care! If I don't end up liking it, then I'm sure my mom or sister would love it as a gift. :)
I smelled it today!!! I work in a fragrance department (for Coty) and had a training for new season fragrances. It is sheer gardenia and lily that you can smell. Very sweet and intoxicating. So not for me...and I love Madonna so much... the bottle is interesting...but it looks a bit monastic to me. Madonna should have been dressed as a nun in the commercial for it.
Well, this looks like it might be interesting!
I'm amazed Madonna didn't come out with a fragance (or two or 12 or 48 of them by now!) before this too. I love gardenia, hopefully it isn't overwhelmed by the tuberose or neroli! Will definitely be looking to sample this.
I really don't like the bottle -- I guess the aim was for a white bottle to symbolize the "white florals," with the studded cap and edges representing Madonna's naughty dominatrix side? With the Christian cross intersecting the initial M -- shouldn't this fragrance more precisely be called "Like a Prayer??" For a scent called "Truth or Dare" I think I'd have been pushing for a bottle in indigo or deep violet, something edgy and dramatic, with gold and ruby red highlights ... just my humble opinion!
So many people ticking "love " or "dislike" when nobody has tested it yet ! And couldn't agree more with Lil Mju 's comment " And how do you bring out the NOTES?! "....Exactly .... Silly people clicking on the NOTES they have NOT smelled yet !! Sigh .......
I will test this , the bottle is "Interesting" to say the least. I think it could actually look quite good on a Gothic backdrop. It reminds me of the "Repellant Water" from an Antique "Vampire Protection Kit"( that I once saw at an antiques market) . For me , that's a good thing. At least its not of the boring same old Pink bottles genre :)
The bottle now associates with "interesting /goth/quirky/holy water /vampire- kit " in my brain!!
14 people love it or hate it, and still have not been able to sniff it?? I dont get it.
I totally agree with Lil Mju . . . you can't judge something you have not had the liberty of testing. I can't wait to try this. I will be like Karlee79 I will own a bottle whether I like it or not.
Hi everyone.. I'm sure lots of people are asking this question - Why do you judge the scent before it is actually released?! If you want to guess what it will smell like, write a review like everyone below. And how do you bring out the NOTES?! I mean, to tell them apart don't you actually have to SMELL the fragrance?! Look guys we do this not only for urselves but for other people as well!
I honestly don't care if this review isn't gonna recieve any baloons or will be deleted 5 mins later after I wrote this.
Well that's just my personal opinion about people pre-judging perfumes (and not only).
@glitteralex: Madonna is a master of the masses, remember? ;) Why have people casted votes on the notes if the frag is not out yet? :)
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