In this video I’m testing a handful of 2025’s most anticipated releases on skin (because that’s the fairest way), and I’m giving you my honest, slightly chaotic first impressions—notes, vibes, and a quick rating out of 10. I grabbed these samples from Small Aromas (they also slipped in a sample I wouldn’t have chosen myself), and it ended up being one of the best surprises of the whole lineup. I start with Nishane Meant to be Seen, which completely redeemed Nishane for me after a recent 2025 disappointment. It’s a heavy iris moment—lipsticky, sweet, pencil-shavings sandalwood, and a soft bubblegummy musk that doesn’t go laundry-detergent on my skin (8–8.5/10). Then I try YSL Libre Vanille Couture: pretty, wearable, airy-citrus into a play-dohy vanilla, but the musk reads a bit synthetic if you overdo it (7/10). Valentino Donna Born in Roma Ivory was the shocker—in a bad way. On me it’s basically tangy lime plus laundry-detergent musk, and I’m left wondering if I’m going nose-blind (3/10). Miu Miu Mutiny is fun and girly with a juicy, non-synthetic iced strawberry up top, but the drydown is a bit basic (6.5/10). I finish with Guerlain Shalimar L’Essence for the 100th anniversary: toned-down Shalimar dirtiness with a gorgeous vanilla-iris warmth and a fizzy Coca-Cola resin vibe—collector-worthy for me (8–8.5/10).