Victoria's Secret · 2004
Basic Instinct EDP
Longevity
Very long8-12 hours
Projection
ModerateFills your personal space
Polarising
Mixed
gourmand
powdery
intimate
Snapshot
The full profile.
About This Perfume
Victoria's Secret Basic Instinct comes across as sweet apricot, rose petals, creamy powder. Key notes are plum, patchouli and gardenia. It leans feminine, though anyone can wear it.
This eau de parfum is best in spring, fall and winter and is an evening scent. A good pick for date nights and nights out. Released in 2004.
Wearers report that it lasts through a full day, and projects to about arm's length.
Is it right for you?
- Best for: anyone after something gourmand and powdery for date nights.
- Sample first if: sweet is new territory for you.
- Skip if: you dislike fruity fragrances.
Around $48.
Explore more: More from Victoria's Secret · Gourmand perfumes · Plum perfumes · Patchouli perfumes
Concentration
EDP
Occasion
Date · night out
Projection
Moderate
Gender lean
Leans feminine
The verdict
Best for
Best for
- Date
- Night out
The Brand
Victoria's Secret
Scendira carries 420+ perfumes from Victoria's Secret, ranging from about $13 to $560.
Most-Discussed Victoria's Secret Perfumes
Community chatter about Victoria's Secret centres on Bare Vanilla, Bombshell and Bare Sueded Vanilla.
Scent profiles of the picks
Bare Vanilla (2018) reads as sweet, creamy vanilla powder on warm skin. Bombshell (2010) reads as sparkling tropical fruit with soft peony musk, opening on passion fruit and minneola tangelo and drying down to musk, blond woods and oakmoss. Bare Sueded Vanilla (Eau de Parfum, 2025) is described as powder-soft vanilla milk brushed with suede; the opening brings saffron, and the base settles on vanilla milk, suede and musk.
The brands page lists every house; gourmand perfumes and floral perfumes cover the scent families these picks lean toward.
More from Victoria's Secret
Vendor: Victoria's Secret
Bombshell Paris
clean fresh jasmine beside a cool cypress breeze
$73.99
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Vendor: Victoria's Secret
Bombshell Intense
Cherry candy, floral petals, sweet vanilla
$79.95
View →
Vendor: Victoria's Secret
Bare Vanilla Starlit
soft vanilla perfume powder with sweet florals
$29.28
View →
FAQ
Common questions.
It smells like sweet apricot, rose petals, creamy powder. Key notes are plum, patchouli and gardenia.
Wearers report that it lasts through a full day, and projects to about arm's length.
It is best in spring, fall and winter. It is an evening scent. It suits date nights and nights out.
It leans feminine, though anyone can wear it.
Dira — Your Scent Guide
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