Ciara
Ciara by Revlon remains a legendary 1973 classic defined by its resinous balsamic and leather notes. This budget-friendly powerhouse offers remarkable longevity and a unique, warm scent profile. It is best suited for cold weather when the combination of opoponax, vanilla, and incense can fully unfold on the skin without becoming too overwhelming.
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Performance Metrics
5,439 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
Longevity is excellent, frequently lasting over 10 hours on skin and days on clothing. Projection is strong to enormous, making it a very loud fragrance that fills a room easily. Best applied in cold climates as high heat can make the dense resins feel cloying.
Notes Pyramid
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Ciara offers a dense, warm, and resinous snapshot of 1970s perfumery. The scent is dominated by powdery orris, creamy vanilla, and smoky incense, resulting in a texture that feels syrupy yet dry on the skin. You will also notice a distinct, slightly tart raspberry note in the opening that persists throughout the wear.
Main Accords
10 MAPPEDThe amber and balsamic accords define the entire experience, behaving as a thick, resinous blanket that clings to the skin. The leather and incense provide a dark, slightly smoky undercurrent, while the powdery florals prevent the vanilla from becoming a simple, sugary food scent. It evolves from a sharp fruit opening into a stable, warm, and balsamic heart.
Community Data
2,370 TOTAL VOTESCOMMUNITY SENTIMENT
OWNERSHIP STATS
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REVIEW SENTIMENT
When to Wear
TAP TO VOTETIME OF DAY · TAP TO VOTE
OCCASIONS · TAP TO VOTE
It looks easiest to wear in winter and spring.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Remarkable long-lasting performance
Excellent value for the price
Deeply warm and resinous character
Strong projection and room-filling sillage
Distinctive and memorable vintage scent
Great for cold autumn and winter days
Complex incense and leather notes
Cozy and comforting aroma on clothing
Unapologetic and bold performance
Classic 1970s perfumery style
Works well for unisex layering
Easy to find and inexpensive
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Potentially harsh or plastic opening
Can become cloying if over-sprayed
Polarizing scent that some find old-fashioned
Too loud for professional environments
Not suited for warm or humid weather
Requires skin testing for compatibility
Can feel heavy or suffocating
Lacks modern, airy refinement
Some find it too powdery
Can be perceived as dated
Not a safe blind buy for beginners
Can smell medicinal to some
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“Ciara by Revlon: A Potent Vintage Amber Essential”
Ciara opens with a sharp, spirited burst of raspberry and bergamot. It feels bright and slightly artificial, almost like old-fashioned cosmetics, but this quickly gives way to a much deeper character. The initial brightness is fleeting, lasting only a few minutes before the true personality of the fragrance arrives.
The heart is defined by a dense, powdery blend of orris and ylang-ylang that feels heavy and classic. As it dries down, the true power of the scent takes over: a resinous, balsamic combination of opoponax and frankincense. This is backed by a sturdy, earthy leather that provides a dark, grounding element to the sweetness. It is not subtle, and it makes no apologies for its presence.
On the skin, the accords move from fruity-citrus to a resinous-powdery finish. The incense notes feel like a lingering trail of Nag Champa, while the leather adds a slight roughness that prevents the vanilla from becoming too cloying. It is a linear journey, but one that is consistently rewarding for those who enjoy heavy, warm, and comforting aromas.
Performance is the primary reason this remains a cult favorite. It is long-lasting, easily reaching ten hours, and the projection is enormous. A little goes a long way. This is a scent for cold, crisp weather, where the low temperature cuts through the intensity and makes it feel cozy rather than suffocating. It is arguably a better fit for winter walks than a crowded office.
The audience for Ciara is clear: lovers of vintage, resinous, and incense-heavy perfumes who want high impact for a low price. It is not for someone who prefers clean, light, or modern airy scents. If you dislike heavy powder or balsamic notes, this will likely be a scrubber.
Ultimately, Ciara is a classic for a reason. It defies the trends of the last few decades and remains unapologetically loud. Sample it first to ensure you can handle the intensity, but if you love bold amber scents, it is a necessary addition to your collection.
FAQs
What is the dominant smell of Ciara?+
Ciara is primarily an amber and balsamic fragrance. On the skin, it opens with a tangy raspberry and citrus note before settling into a deep, resinous heart of opoponax, leather, and frankincense. It is heavy, warm, and distinctly 1970s in its composition.
How does Ciara change from opening to dry-down?+
The opening is a burst of raspberry, lemon, and neroli that feels bright and slightly medicinal. As it dries down over thirty minutes, it transitions into a dense, powdery incense and leather accord. The base is where this perfume lives for hours, becoming smoother and more vanillic.
Is Ciara a long-lasting fragrance?+
Yes, Ciara is known for exceptional longevity. Many users report it lasting eight to twelve hours or more on skin and clothing. Because it is highly concentrated, a single spray on a cold morning often remains noticeable when you unzip your coat later in the day.
How strong is the projection or sillage?+
Ciara has strong to enormous sillage, especially in the first few hours. It easily fills a room or creates a large scent bubble around the wearer. Due to this power, it is best applied lightly if you are working in close quarters or small offices.
When should I wear Ciara?+
Ciara is a powerhouse best reserved for cooler weather. The balsamic and leather accords feel stifling in high heat but truly comforting during winter months or cold, rainy autumn days. It works best for evening wear or casual outdoor activities where its warmth can project freely.
Is Ciara better suited for women or men?+
While originally marketed as a women's fragrance, Ciara is often considered unisex due to its heavy incense and leather profile. If you enjoy spicy, resinous perfumes, gender labels matter less than your comfort with bold, powerful scents that do not lean into modern fruity-floral trends.
Is this a good signature scent?+
Ciara makes a bold signature scent for someone who loves vintage-style resins and incense. However, because it is so loud and polarizing, it is not a safe choice for every setting. Wear it only if you want to be noticed and enjoy assertive, powdery, woody aromas.
How does it compare to Tabu or other vintage scents?+
Ciara is often compared to Tabu for its spicy, resinous character, but many find Ciara smoother and less overtly medicinal. It shares some DNA with the grand vintage style of Bal à Versailles, offering that same dense, complex, incense-forward development that modern niche scents sometimes mimic.
Is Ciara a safe blind buy?+
No, Ciara is not a safe blind buy. It is a love-it-or-hate-it fragrance with a potentially harsh opening and a very heavy, old-fashioned profile that can smell like plastic or flea powder to some noses. Sampling is essential to see how the opoponax and leather interact with your skin chemistry.
Does Ciara smell dated?+
It depends on your perspective. Many users love the 1970s nostalgia and find it timeless, while others perceive the heavy powder and incense as distinctly dated or associated with mature wardrobes. If you dislike powdery, resinous scents, you will likely find this fragrance old-fashioned.
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Dupes & Alternatives
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Consider Dana Tabu for a similar spicy-resinous feel, Jean Desprez Bal à Versailles for a more complex and animalic vintage experience, or Guerlain Shalimar if you prefer your orientals with a bit more refined citrus and vanilla.
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