By

The Verdict

Dolce&Gabbana By, launched in 1999 in its iconic leopard-print bottle, is a fragrance that embodies the bold confidence of late-nineties Italian glamour. This Floral Woody Musk composition has earned a devoted following who describe it as one of the most brilliant perfumes Dolce & Gabbana ever created, a reputation that has only grown since its discontinuation.

The community remembers By with a fondness that borders on reverence. Reviewers describe it as velvet in a bottle, a fragrance that is simultaneously fresh and dirty, sweet and bold. It is the kind of scent that does not merely complement an outfit but becomes the centerpiece of whatever impression you wish to make.

What It Smells Like

The opening is assertive and immediately memorable. Lavender and bergamot create a fresh, aromatic brightness while tangerine adds a citrus sparkle. Lily-of-the-valley and cyclamen introduce a dewy, green floral quality that softens the initial punch. The overall first impression is quite intense, arriving as a powerful cloud before revealing its true beauty.

The heart unfolds into a baroque arrangement of violet, orchid, and lily, supported by the dry elegance of cedar. This is where the fragrance becomes truly distinctive, as the sweetness and warmth begin to interweave with the florals in a way that feels simultaneously clean and carnal. The musky brightness set against swirls of coffee-tinged lavender and creamy sandalwood has been described as brilliant and sexy.

The base brings the composition to its most memorable territory. Coffee adds a roasted, slightly bitter warmth while sandalwood provides a creamy foundation. Musk delivers the powdery, skin-like trail that lingers on clothes and in memory, and ginger adds a subtle spicy kick. The overall effect is warm, bold, and unmistakably feminine.

When to Wear It

By is an evening fragrance at heart, built for occasions where confidence and sensuality are assets. Date nights, dinner parties, and nights out are its natural habitat. The warmth and depth of the coffee-sandalwood base make it especially suited to cooler months when its powdery trail feels most luxurious.

Daytime wear is possible in moderate weather, but the assertive character of the opening may be too much for conservative settings. This is a fragrance that makes a statement, and it is best worn when you want to be noticed.

Longevity & Projection

Vintage bottles of By are reported to have strong longevity, with the powdery musky drydown clinging to clothes and skin for many hours. The projection is bold in the first hour, arriving as an intense cloud before settling into a closer, more intimate warmth that continues to develop over time. Later bottles from the end of production may show some variation in performance, as is common with discontinued fragrances.

The Community Says

The fragrance community remembers By as one of the best scents of its era, a fragrance that was both of its time and ahead of it. The combination of lavender and coffee in a feminine composition was unusual in 1999 and remains distinctive today. Some reviewers note it as one of the most underrated Dolce & Gabbana creations, overshadowed by the house's more commercially successful offerings. The leopard-print bottle is frequently mentioned as perfectly capturing the fragrance's bold, glamorous personality. Finding bottles now requires patience and secondary market searching.

Who Should Buy This

By is for the woman who values individuality and is not afraid of making an impression. If you love warm, powdery fragrances with unexpected twists like coffee and lavender, and you have the persistence to track down a discontinued gem, By rewards the effort. It also appeals to vintage fragrance collectors who appreciate late-nineties Italian perfumery at its most creative.

The Bottom Line

Dolce&Gabbana By is a discontinued treasure that deserved better than the obscurity it received. Its daring combination of lavender, coffee, and warm powdery musk created something genuinely distinctive, a fragrance that felt like velvet and smelled like confidence. For those who can find it, it remains one of the most characterful feminine fragrances of the late twentieth century.