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Jessica McClintock Inc. is a well-known American brand. It was founded by Jessica McClintock herself in California and is especially known for its beautiful bridal and formal wear gowns.
The debut fragrance of this line, launched in 1988, also named Jessica McClintock, became an instant bestseller from the moment of its release and has had its name down in the perfumes’ hall of fame ever since, as a forever classic.
Today, we have come up with this Jessica McClintock perfume review to give you an idea of whether it is worth all the hype. We also recommend some alternatives to help you make an informed decision before your earnings take the hit.
Surround yourself with intoxicating floral essences when you wear this classic women's fragrance from Jessica McClintock. First introduced in 1988, this eau de parfum spray blends cassia and basil notes with an exotic touch of ylang-ylang for a sweetly compelling, feminine scent. 
The Scent
Jessica McClintock is a beautiful floral scent that gives off a predominantly white floral accord vibe. It is hard to find someone who doesn’t love this scent – though, as with everything else in this world, I’m sure you will! The fragrance opens with a sharp citrusy note that mellows down and settles to become an intoxicating green scent.
The aroma is singularly youthful yet somehow manages to suit women of all ages and sense of style. The scent of Jessica McClintock is reminiscent of its formal and bridal wear line, which makes it an excellent option for a wedding or special occasion.
However, this scent has to be one of the most versatile scents out there as it is also magically suitable for everyday use as well. Though when it comes to seasons, this is a scent for the hot summer days, it can be dragged into spring, but that’s it; it’s not suitable for wear in the autumn or winter. The longevity and sillage of this perfume are moderate.
Initially only available exclusively at official Jessica McClintock stores, this perfume can now easily be found online and in general stores like Kmart and Target.
The Packaging and Price of the Perfume
The perfume comes in a beautiful vintage, all-white glass bottle with a delicately carved white rectangular cap. This perfume‘s 1.7 Fl Oz bottle can be bought online for as little as $19.32.
The Notes of the Perfume
- Top notes: Basil, Lemon, Ylang-Ylang, Bergamot, Cassia, and Black Currant.
- Middle notes: Lily-of-the-Valley, Jasmine, and Rose.
- Base notes: Musk and Woody Notes.
The Pros of the Perfume
- Crowd-pleasing scent.
- It offers excellent value for money.
- A very versatile scent.
- Suitable for all ages.
The Cons of the Perfume
- Not a very distinctive scent.
- The opening is a little too sharp.
- The scent may be too floral for some peoples’ liking.
- The scent may come off as cheap.
How do You Know if This Perfume is For You?
Which perfume resonates with you personally depends on a range of various factors, including your personality, the season, your age, gender, the occasion, and of course, your personal preference.
Jessica McClintock has been around for a long time, but surprisingly the scent cannot be considered old school. This inherently feminine scent is for the girly girls – or womanly women – out there. It is a perfect gift for your mom or your partner as it isn’t restricted to a specific age group.
That being said, it’s always good to try out a tester first when buying a perfume to get a feel of all three notes before making your purchase.
However, you might be safe with a blind buy in this particular case as this once unique scent was copied so much because of its fame. It’s now a generic, pleasant scent that isn’t that expensive, to begin with, so there is no need to worry about throwing a bunch of your money down the drain.
Recommended Alternatives to the Jessica McClintock Perfume
Diorissimo by Dior
Diorissimo can be described as an old-school romantic scent. This extremely floral scent may be a little too much for some, but hey, that is what makes a scent distinctive! Overall, this is an excellent alternative with moderate longevity if you’re really into Lily of the Valley; otherwise, it may be too expensive to provide value for money.
- Top notes: Green Leaves and Bergamot.
- Middle notes: Lily-of-the-Valley, Lilac, Jasmine, Lily, Ylang-Ylang, Amaryllis, Rosemary, and Boronia.
- Base notes: Civet and Sandalwood.
Launched by the design house of Christian Dior in 1956, Diorissimo is classified as a refreshing, flowery fragrance. This feminine scent possesses a blend of jasmine, lily of the valley, and ylang-ylang.
Muguet des Bois by Coty
Muguet des Bois is the scent for you if you like floral aromas, particularly Lily of the Valley. This perfume takes the cake for being the best perfume in this genre. This is also one of the most natural-smelling fragrances. However, it doesn’t fare that well – or at all – very poor performance in terms of longevity.
The scent is mainly suited for a spring day and gives an “old lady” vibe. If you’re feeling nostalgic or looking for a mother’s day present, then perhaps this can be a good option.
- Top notes: Green Leaves, Aldehydes, Bergamot, and Orange.
- Middle notes: Lily-of-the-Valley, Lilac, Cyclamen, Jasmine, and Rose.
- Base notes: Musk and Sandalwood.
This is classified as a refreshing, flowery fragrance. This feminine scent possesses a blend of fresh lily of the valley. It is recommended for office wear.
Éclat de Vert by Aerin Lauder
Éclat de Vert is a relatively new scent in the world of fragrances, and the scent reflects this! There is still a slight hint of the Lily of the Valley, but it’s not so dominant as to play any significant part in the composition. This is an excellent option for the women of today, with a bit of old-school touch.
What’s more, this perfume’s sillage and longevity are also remarkable. All in all, an excellent choice!
- Top note: Citruses.
- Middle notes: Magnolia and Jasmine.
- Base notes: Galbanum and Mastic or Lentisque.
Éclat de Vert is reminiscent of light streaming through lush, glossy leaves. Sparkling notes of citrus, magnolia and jasmine are crafted with an exclusive green dimension comprised of galbanum and lentisque absolute, precious ingredients that deliver an intriguing, woody depth.
Stars by Moschino
This is a perfect scent for places with very hot and humid weather but can be too sharp on a relatively cool day, and the fragrance can come off a little synthetic. However, it’s a very fresh scent and doesn’t overwhelm you no matter how much you spray on.
- Top notes: Citron, Peony, and Mary Rose.
- Middle notes: Lily-of-the-Valley, Jasmine, and Orange Blossom.
- Base notes: Driftwood, Vetiver, Ambroxan, and Amber.
The lively and fresh scent of Stars is a scintillating fragrance for women. Launched in 2014 by the design house of Moschino, this floral scent features notes of Peony, May Rose and Citron as its top notes.
Ralph Lauren Blue by Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren Blue is a beast in terms of longevity. It literally blasts you with a burst of a whole bouquet at the same time. The scent gives off a slightly seductive air without being too out there. Worth a buy!
- Top notes: Gardenia, Jasmine, Lotus, Lily-of-the-Valley, Pink Peony, Grapefruit, and Melon.
- Middle notes: Tuberose, Orange Blossom, Basil, Verbena, and Rose.
- Base notes: Musk, Vetiver, Suede, Sandalwood, Oakmoss, and Amber.
Curious by Britney Spears
This is a Fruity Floral scent that debuted the fragrance line of Britney Spears and was an instant hit, whether because of the name attached to the brand or for the scent itself, who knows? – It depends on the user.
However, I’d say this perfume is worth a try because of these same reasons and because it comes at a surprisingly low price. The sillage on this perfume, though, is very poor.
- Top notes: Magnolia, Pear, and Lotus.
- Middle notes: Jasmine, Tuberose, and Cyclamen.
- Base notes: Musk, Vanilla, White Woods, and Sandalwood.
Showcase your vibrant and outgoing side with the fruity and floral aroma of Curious by Britney Spears. Introduced in 2004, this bold women's fragrance delivers a sweet scent with notes of pear and lotus, while notes of jasmine, magnolia and tuberose deliver an enveloping floral freshness. 
Sheer by Calvin Klein
A jaw-dropper if there ever was one. This liquid elixir that comes in an exquisitely beautiful bottle is a definite winner! It is a floral scent but leans more towards being fruity – a perfect scent for the modern, confident woman. It is a subtle everyday fragrance.
- Top notes: Bellini, Bergamot, and Red Berries.
- Middle notes: Peony, Jasmine, and Lily.
- Base notes: Musk, Sandalwood, and Vanille.
Choose this Sheer Beauty eau de toilette spray for women when you want to feel your best. This Calvin Klein fragrance, released in 2010, celebrates femininity with a blend of notes that pull at your heart strings and leave others captive in your wake.
Luna Blossom by Nina Ricci
It’s worth it to get a bottle of Luna Blossom just for its unconventional packaging, all the more surprising because it contains such a conventional scent. Although a lovely floral scent, it is too generic and can be a little disappointing compared to the beautiful apple-shaped bottle.
- Top notes: Pear and Bergamot.
- Middle notes: Peony, Magnolia, and Jasmine.
- Base notes: Cedar and Musk.
Luna is described as a bold, intense and mysterious woody-floral composition with sweet nuances.
Chance Eau Tendre by Chanel
This is a scent worthy of the brand! This is one of the best floral scents out there. It’s a perfect blend of fruity and floral notes, as well as an addition of musk – very well balanced not to make anyone’s note overwhelming. This is a perfect fit no matter which era you’re in!
Trust Chanel to take something old school and mundane and turn it into a timeless gem.
- Top notes: Quince and Grapefruit.
- Middle notes: Hyacinth and Jasmine.
- Base notes: Musk, Iris, Virginia Cedar, and Amber.
Indulge in the youthful and vibrant concoction that is Chance Eau Tendre, a charming women’s fragrance. This delectable perfume blends citrus, fruity and floral accords for a decadent pick-me-up of a scent that’s rejuvenating and boisterous.
Daisy by Marc Jacobs
This perfume with an award-winning bottle design is perhaps the closest contender to Jessica McClintock regarding its white floral scent. As with all scents, dominantly white floral; can be a little too overwhelming.
- Top notes: Violet Leaf, Blood Grapefruit, and Strawberry.
- Middle notes: Violet, Gardenia, and Jasmine.
- Base notes: Musk, White Woods, and Vanilla.
The Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau de Toilette is fresh and feminine with notes of wild strawberry, velvety violet petals and finishes with a luminous blend of gardenia and jasmine. The white accords of birch and cedar wood add intensity.
FAQs
Question: Is the Perfume Jessica McClintock Still Available?
Answer: Businesswoman Jessica McClintock, a household name for her collection of formal wear and bridal dresses and the person behind the Jessica McClintock perfume, died in the February of 2021.
But she retired from her CEO role and transferred over her business and perfume line rights to a designer well before her death. This means yes, Jessica McClintock is still being manufactured and is available at your local Wal-Mart or online, but the person behind the screens has changed.
Question: What Does Jessica McClintock Smell Like?
Answer: Jessica McClintock was an instant success and remained a popular name down history. The most dominant note in this perfume is a white floral that gives off such a vintage vibe that the perfume seems to belong to the 50s period rather than the late 80s it came out in.
As the saying goes, “All good things come to an end” I suppose that is appropriate here since it may be a gem back in the day, but it does not have a place in the world of today (at least for me).
Question: Is Jessica McClintock Worth Its Price?
Answer: This perfume comes at a very reasonably priced rate, to begin with, especially considering its famous background. I’d say it’s even worth a blind buy that is just for the sake of curiosity, regarding all the hype around it and to see for yourself if it’s worth it.
Everyone seems to be totally divided; either they love it or hate it or are totally indifferent. Overall, if you’re a floral scent person, especially if you’re into white florals, this perfume provides pretty good value for money.
Question: Does the Jessica McClintock Perfume Come in Any Other Form?
Answer: Yes! The Jessica McClintock scent also comes as a body lotion. In fact, you can find the Jessica McClintock perfume and lotion gift set online in a beautiful floral case. It can be a great Christmas or birthday gift.
Conclusion and Opinion
White florals are a definite pass for me since they smell too last century. Whenever I come across a scent like this, I’m tempted to buy a bottle because it reminds me of my grandmother. But that means I miss her, not that I want to smell like her! I suppose, like with any other perfume or anything else really, it depends on your personal preferences.
I’m definitely not a floral scent person, but for those out there who are, I’d say go with Éclat de Vert or else Sheer by Calvin Klein for a modern spin. Both of them are floral scents but are more predominantly fruity. Or if you want to up the game and go for an absolute gem, get prepared to lighten your wallets with a purchase of Chanel’s Chance Eau Tendre that is so totally worth it!
Perhaps it’s because of the age factor; as far as I’ve seen, older women tend to like florals more, with the newer generation being all about patchouli. But to each his own! If florals are your thing, buy your bottle of Jessica McClintock today!
Surround yourself with intoxicating floral essences when you wear this classic women's fragrance from Jessica McClintock. First introduced in 1988, this eau de parfum spray blends cassia and basil notes with an exotic touch of ylang-ylang for a sweetly compelling, feminine scent.