Jimmy Choo makes shoes, handbags, and apparently — fragrances that smell like they cost way more than they do. I Want Choo EDP landed in 2020 and quickly became one of those sleeper hits that the fragrance community doesn't talk about enough. Is it actually good or just overhyped by budget fragrance fans? Let's dig in.
What Does I Want Choo Smell Like?
Right out of the bottle, you get this intoxicating blend of red spider lily and peach. It's sweet, slightly floral, and immediately seductive. There's a richness to the opening that grabs attention — it's the kind of scent that makes people lean in closer to smell you.
The heart is where things get really interesting. Jasmine sambac and benzoin create this warm, creamy, almost caramel-like sweetness. It's gourmand without smelling like dessert. There's a sophistication here that elevates it beyond your typical "sweet perfume" territory.
The drydown settles into vanilla, musk, and a subtle woody note. It's cozy, warm, and deeply feminine. Think velvet dress and high heels at a cocktail bar — that's the energy this fragrance gives off.
Performance — How Long Does It Last?
Surprisingly solid. You're getting 6-8 hours with good projection for the first 3-4 hours. For a mid-range designer fragrance, this overperforms expectations. The sweetness and warmth help it linger on skin and clothes without needing constant reapplication.
Two to three sprays on pulse points is ideal. The projection is strong enough that you don't need to go heavy. Let it breathe and develop — the magic is in the drydown.
When Should You Wear I Want Choo?
Evenings. Full stop. This is a night-out, date-night, cocktail-party fragrance. It's too sweet and heavy for a Tuesday morning at the office, but it's absolutely magnetic when the sun goes down.
Fall and winter are the best seasons for it. The warmth and sweetness pair perfectly with cold weather. Spring evenings work too, but skip summer — this will be cloying in heat.
Special occasions, parties, romantic dinners — I Want Choo was made for moments when you want to make an impression. It's a confidence booster in a bottle.
The Real Downsides
- It's very sweet. If you're not a sweet fragrance person, run. This is unabashedly gourmand-sweet and makes no apologies for it. People who prefer fresh or green scents will hate this.
- Limited versatility. This is an evening/cold weather fragrance only. That limits how often you can actually wear it. If you need something that works 365 days a year, this isn't it.
- The name is a bit much. "I Want Choo" — we get it. The pun was cute in the ad campaign but slightly cringe on a vanity shelf.
- It can get cloying if over-applied. The sweetness can tip into "too much" territory fast. Restraint is key.
Buy or Skip?
Buy it if you love sweet, warm, seductive fragrances for evenings out. At its price point, I Want Choo offers incredible value — it smells more expensive than it is, performs well, and absolutely gets compliments. It fills the "going out" slot in a collection beautifully.
Skip if you already own Black Opium, La Nuit Trésor, or similar sweet evening scents. They occupy the same space, and you probably don't need another one.
Rating: 7.5/10
I Want Choo is a legitimately impressive evening fragrance that punches above its weight class. The scent is seductive and well-composed, the performance is solid, and the price is right. It loses points for being one-dimensional in its use case (evenings only) and for being almost too sweet for some noses. But in its lane? It absolutely kills it.