Charlie Red

I wore this a lot in my early teens, as did every other girl at my school. The changing rooms after PE smelled of this and this alone 😂 I remember the projection and longevity being great but us teenage girls were all chronic oversprayers back in the early 2000s 🤣 I can’t really remember what it smells like to be honest but it does have four of my favourite perfume notes in it (Peach, Honey, Tuberose and Orange Blossom) so maybe I should buy a bottle and try it, even if it’s just for the nostalgia.

Strong and synthetic in a good way. This is has a long reach and lasting power. It's very Perfume with a capital P, with hefty floral notes befitting a dame. It reminds of Knowing because of its Wall-O-Scent production value. Talk about bang for your buck!

Maybe one of my most affordable and old bottles I have. This one was gifted to me and I grew to love and respect it. I think i tried others of the Charlie range but I only liked this one. It is very potent and if you like something different and interesting. Less sweet, more dept. And you don't like the typical drugstore perfume smell you might want to try this. This is not a "pick me, typical girly, sweet" scent. Although we didn't have the word "unisex" in perfumes back in the day. (And I think you can wear whatever you want) This scent definitely has some attitude. I think in my collection it is in a categorie with nuxe prodigieux. But I like it more. This scent by designer Corinne Cachen.

Opens Animalic In Every Sense Of That Word,Abit Synthetic Opening, And Then Drys Down To A Sweet Flowery Phase, Minimally Complex, Abit Dated.This On A Lady Would Reveal To Me, Shyness,Warmth, Sophisticated And Willing To Explore A Cozy Night Out..Abit Tad Unisex Though Leaning More Feminine..

Extraordinary perfume !!! It’s like a warmer gentler Giorgio beverley hills -fantastic value Lasts a long time ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This one reminds me of my mother and my childhood. It's floral, no doubt about that. The gardenia is stronger than anything else. I find that most of the Charlie fragrances don't have a lot of staying power- I remember them being stronger, but maybe that's because I wasn't as interested in perfume as I am now

This has not impressed me at all. it comes across as cheap and crude. There's some musk, some aldehydes, white florals, vanilla, and a general sense of average everyday low cost synthetic. There's little elegance or sophistication here. And I think that is possibly part of the selling point - this is possibly just intended for casual everyday use where the user doesn't want to draw attention, but doesn't want to smell bad. There is a general sense of clean floral soap. It feels like a perfume for shy young women to wear to church on Sunday. But there are much better delicate florals they could wear rather than this cheap smelling and somewhat cloying spray.

Charlie Red, ...the liquid is less reddish than original Charlie, ...and to my nose, the opening leads heavily with violet. So what is red about this? ...even if only metaphorically. Hmm? even more odd. Why are white florals, especially gardenia?!, leading with the most votes on the note pyramid? I should add I am sampling from a vintage spray bottle from the 1990s. Has this been reformulated since then? What I detect is mostly is a watery violet (not powdery), and a honey-musk base, ...also hints of notes like a mild greenness from black currant (or muguet), and other florality (orchid??) but nothing prominent ...later, with time, a candy-sweetness akin to tuberose does become rather apparent, ...but the gardenia that others detect seems fully missing in my bottle. ...Strange. Charlie Red is basically nice enough, especially that peak violet moment at the beginning. ... but overall, this isn't likely to ever ascend very high on my admittedly subjective and changeable ranking of amazingly wonderful floral fragrances. ...Part of the problem is the vagueness and uncertainty of its notes, ...and the other part is its overt sweetness, which has now become cloyingly commonplace.

I can see how some can compare with Giorgio (one of my all time favourites) as both are bright and sparkling florals on first spray. But where Giorgio is warm and yellow this is cool, green and white florals. Its very strong on first spray but mellows into a very clean fabric softener, soapy, fluffy towels and powder scent. Even though it's 'Red' I feel this is closer to a 'Green'. Transports you to a light spring day, or a cool summer evening after spending the day at the beach. Melon fruit and fizzy white florals. Fresh out of the shower, still with damp hair stepping out into a bright summer day with the breeze flowing through your clean hair. Love it!

Omg, why do they associate this to cheap and sleazy in the pros and cons? 🤣 I have used this since the late 90s and it cost quite a lot back then. Then throughout the 2000's it was considered a "chav" scent 🤣 But ive always had a bottle because ive always liked it. I remember a friend of mine once said "ugh charlie red. So cheap smelling!" I wasn't wearing it, we were just talking about perfume, and then i said to her i LIKED charlie red so then she stopped being offensive and dismissive about it and bought one 😅. Charlie perfumes are reliable for their longevity, one of the main reasons I purchase them. Charlie blue is one of my faves out of the Charlie's. Also, they are so purse friendly, so you cant go wrong.

I found this drug store cheapie very impressive! I can definitely see its similarities to the newer EDT of Red Door and Diamonds and Rubies; it’s got a cozy, floral powdery vibe that I wasn’t expecting from such an inexpensive scent. The creamy tuberose really stands out, even in cooler weather. A few sprays last well over 12 hours on skin and a few days on your clothes. So far, this is my favorite scent out of all the Charlies.

My mum bought this for herself a few months ago and I convinced her to use it as bathroom spray because I couldn't imagine anyone actually wearing it. It had such a sharply unpleasant "cleaning product" scent in the top notes. But I decided to test it on myself today for an experiment and it's actually pretty inoffensive. Maybe it's because it's a million degrees today and it evaporated quickly, but after only a few minutes, all I smell is a faint, lightly floral, powdery scent. I could see myself wearing a little bit of this on summer days when I want to smell "nice" without wearing anything too powerful.

This is such a strong lily of the valley scent. I sprayed myself with two spritz and my mum could smell me from the other room. I think it would be loved by someone who likes florals, which is not me. But, I'll probably keep it to layer it.

If you love the 80's style Tuberose overdose of Amarige and Red Door but find them overwhelming, I'd strongly recommend Charlie Red. She's the more mild-mannered sister, the one who doesn't as easily offend but still has a remarkable personality! I had a love-hate relationship with ALL of these tuberose heavy-hitters at first. Finally, after over a decade of perfume love, the aroma chemical in them is not as overwhelming to me... And now, for whatever reason, I've begun to not merely respect, but also Crave the DNA. It calls for a certain mood, of course, and will not suit everyone. But I find that one solitary spray of Charlie Red (on the right chemistry, mind you) is pleasant, feminine, sweet, floral, and utterly charming. Get out the pinky red lipstick, the pearls, the rosy prints! Recommended as one of the best vintage finds in my entire wardrobe. LOVE!!!!

nasty. literally one of the worst things i’ve ever smelt. its like if you ate a bunch of daisies, and you burp it up

There’s a famous work of art painted in 1892 that’s housed in National Gallery of Oslo Museum by Edvard Munsch titled “The Scream” that masterpiece pretty much sums up the new bottle of Charlie Red that I have in my possession. It screeches from start to finish, you know the one… nails on a chalkboard, strong, sticky heavy hairspray smell, sharp, abrasive… lasts too long? To be honest , the notes list sounded nice, middle aged women on YouTube fragrance channels have been re-living their memories by wearing the “Charlie’s” again and there’s been a surge in sales or so I’ve been told. Although I never wore any version of Charlie in the past, I did remember the original fragrance and the women that I knew who wore them. Usually heavy smoking, 1973 versions of the Stepford sorority of moms trying to cover up the cigarette smoke after their work day. Ewe. Soooo, being a team player with my YouTube fragrance friends, and in an effort to try something I never experienced personally, I slowly & carefully assessed which fragrances in the Charlie series I thought safe and interesting enough to add to my personal fragrance collection, (hidden from view of course!) I’ve found the original Charlie (typical amber, floral aldehyde bomb), Charlie Blue (heavy oak moss) and Charlie Gold (fruity, ambery sweetness) decent enough fragrances even palatable and do rotate these onto my fragrance tray occasionally. But Charlie Red? She gets no love from me. I’ll let her hang around for a while and see what happens with her. But for now, “It’s back in the box for you “Red” until you stop screaming!”

My uncle's wife, whom I dislike, over-sprays this. I may dislike her but that is nothing compared to the hatred I feel for this perfume. The worst part of it all being the monster sillage. The cloud of revolting fragrance open its merciless maw to swallow you whole and leaves you waiting for your demise by suffocation in its stomach. Powder, aldehyde, white flowers enmeshed together and the rotten. Rotten for aeons. The only person I can imagine wearing this is a racist grandma. That'd fit. This is PROBABLY what people feel when they smell (beautiful) floraldehydes like White Diamonds or Number 5. It's a shame because those are masterpieces.

It doesn't feel luxurious but pleasant none the less. if you want to try something luxe then Red Door or Musc Noir or Tresor. If you are considering to go further super luxe at insane prices would include Dior la colle noire , belle de jour or Chanel paris paris or 1932 or Guerlain la petite robe noir. All have that fruity floral musky vibe with woody touches. The concept of Charlie Red is solid. If she were to contain more quality ingredients it could be astonishing as it does feel very rank and file in that respect. However, this is a great offering at the given price and over all I am impressed because I can after 15 mins still smell the florals musk and sandalwood with just one spritz.

Omg this is lovely!! For the price its a no brainer🥰 Reminds me of Georgio Beverly Hills but softer.

Snagged a 2/3 full bottle of this at a thrift store. I love it! It feels sophisticated. I agree with another reviewer who said it's similar to Red Door but lighter--I think it's more floral, less intense. I also have Red Door and all you can do is 1-2 sprays with RD before it's overwhelming. This one you can do about 4 sprays and that's the right amount. It just smells floral and cute, I can't stop smelling my wrist because it's just so pleasant to me

I can’t decide how I feel about this one. I kind of like it and I kind of don’t. I find something about it reminiscent of 90’s fragrances (which is my favorite fragrance era) and it has a certain level of sophistication. It feels like a complex blend of beautiful notes that dance around one another creating a unique fragrance. It does have a bit of a red door vibe but much lighter. Personally, I think this would wear best in the cooler weather. The dry down is beautiful. It is pretty I’m just not sure this is my current style. That said, I have to say I am surprised by the three Charlie fragrances I have tried so far. They are all solid fragrances and don’t smell inexpensive considering they’re available for such an inexpensive price!

There’s something sad and lonely about this flower bouquet, and I like that

Simply adorable. I'll be floating in a cloud of white flowers. Just delightful.

This is INCREDIBLY dated. It’s the only Charlie I’ve tried - figured it was worth a try since I love perfume and the notes seemed right up my alley. I love tuberose and white flowers and can manage to enjoy Amarige and Giorgio on the right day in the right context. And it is so inexpensive. But I am labeling it a moderate value because I don’t understand why anyone would want to own or wear this for any reason other than nostalgia. It is abstractly floral and very green, with that “old flowers” scent indicative of some more natural fragrances like ones from the ‘80s and also, funny enough, Amuage fragrances which I really do not enjoy. On paper it is very harsh. I thought it might be better on skin but nope. I feel green and honestly, stinky and a bit dirty. Quite animalic. Don’t detect a trace of indol, which I enjoy in fragrances like Fracas. Even as a walk-through, I can’t imagine enjoying traces of this. The only things this has going for it are that it does smell natural, and isn’t particularly strong. I’d pass on anything Charlie regardless of what any perfume influencer says unless you LOVE the slightly stinky decaying-garden aspect of Amouage perfumes or have a nostalgia for 1980s drug store perfume.

Charlie Red is a toned-down Red Door. It’s still a powdery white floral but It’s less about the screechy tuberose and more about a mineral type of white musky powder that’s almost like ambergris. I don’t get the honey unfortunately. Charlie Red is just more minimalist and dare I say basic compared to Red Door, Amariage, Georgio BH and the others in this category, which makes it slightly more wearable I guess. The dry-down leaves a powdery but salty metallic type of note, like your skin after you’ve been swimming in the sea. Longevity is very good for such a cheapie.

Historically, I’d always stered clear of the Charlie series, associating them with Avon and the cheap scent counters at Boots and Superdrug (when you’re gifted Chanel 5 as your first proper foray into the world of perfume, it’s hard to go back). But I’m happy to announce how wrong I was with that attitude and never more so than with Charlie Red. My first spray of it was one of pleasant surprise. “Bubblegum” was the first word that entered my head. The next few were “Mmmm, sweet, fruity bubblegum”. It was juicy but not cloyingly sugary. This I attribute to the plum and blackcurrant notes. Gardenia is also a very strong presence at this point. But those wonderful base notes of jasmine, lily and rose, a classic trio in perfume making, fading to a powdery smelling veil on my skin. I find Charlie Red both new and fresh, but also vintage classic at the same time. Unlike any other oriental floral I have ever owned, I can definitely see myself wearing this to work every day for a long period in spring.

thank u, u tuberose-y beauty

Charlie Red is not a scent I reach for very often. I think in part because the black currant and plum come off synthetic and suffocating. I can see the air freshener comparisons. When I do wear it, I think it’s more for nostalgia. I had Georgio when I was a teen, I believe my grandma’s best friend gave it to me. I had an elderly client who wore Georgio and my mom wore Amariage. Charlie Red is a warm hug and the comfort of the past. Maybe some day I will purchase Red Door or Amariage, but for now this serves its purpose.

I still maintain this is one of the best drugstore fragrances! I smelled this before I tried a recent iteration of Red Door, and Red Door was all wrong on me -- so chemically soapy with accents of stale closet sachet and mothball white florals. Charlie Red, on the other hand, smells like real beeswax candles and creamed honey!

Very classy and affordable vintage scent ! It is a seductive, elegant and dainty perfume, creamy yet powdery in an effortless yet distinguished way. The association of Honey, Ylang-Ylang and the white florals (Gardenia, Tuberose, Jasmine, Lily-of-the-Valley, Orange Blossom), creates a really well blended creamy aspect to the scent. It gives Charlie Red this really seductive and confident side Then the powdery facet, dominated by the Sandalwood and Musk, then followed by the other florals (Carnation, Rose, Violet and Orchid) makes it more dainty and elegant. To make this hole blend the perfect vintage fantasy, you have the fruity notes (Peach, Black Currant, Plum) making the blend sweeter and even creamier, another woody note with the Cedar, and Amber to create more depth. The sillage is quite impressive for such an inexpensive scent (bought it for less than 6 euros), since it does lasts on the skin and clothes, maybe around 6 hours I would say, and the sillage isn't beast mode but it is strong. The only bad things are led by the price being really low, the things I consider bad being the fragrance's cap, the tag that is slapped on the bottle so vulgarly. But for the price can we complain ? It's in similar fields than some other vintage perfumes such as Cléa by Yves Rocher, or Red Door by Elizabeth Arden. I used to hate these scent profiles but now I am truly obsessed ! It reminds me of a kind grandma who smiles at everyone and who's heart is warmer than a fire, she's casual but makes it so elegant. Classy but will never brag about it, and she's always willing to help people out. This perfume really embodies this elegance and this class, but ever so modestly. I will be this grandma in the future haha. 9/10, I'm glad I gave it a second chance because I fell in love !