Now Women vs Au Soleil: Best Rave Fruity Perfumes for Beginners in Sarawak

So you're new to perfume and you want something easy to wear around Sarawak — to the office, to the mamak, wherever the day takes you. Good news: Rave has two fruity Eau de Parfums that fit daily wear really well, and they're quite different from each other. One is sweet and floral, the other is bright and clean. Both come in 100ml bottles of EDP. Let's break them down.

Now Women by Rave

Now Women is made for women, and its fragrance family is Fruity, White Floral and Gourmand. If you're wondering what that means in real life: it's a sweet scent with a soft, elegant floral side. Not a heavy, serious perfume — more playful than that.

The top notes are red fruits and orange, so the opening is juicy and slightly tangy. After that, the heart brings in marshmallow, jasmine and lily-of-the-valley. The marshmallow gives it a cosy, comforting sweetness, while the jasmine and lily-of-the-valley keep things light and feminine. The base is where it settles: vanilla, moss and musk for a warm, soft finish.

As for when to wear it, the occasions listed are casual, formal, everyday and special occasions. That's a wide range. You could wear Now Women on a normal Tuesday and still pull it out for a dinner or event. If sweet-smelling body sprays are what you've always gone for, this is a natural next step — it's sweet, but it's put together.

Au Soleil by Rave

Au Soleil is a unisex Eau de Parfum, also 100ml, in the Floral Fruity family. This one is the brighter of the two. The name means "the sun", and the scent matches: it was made with warm, sunny days in mind, which honestly suits Malaysia's climate just fine.

It opens with citrus, fresh herbs and fruity notes, so the first impression is sparkling and clean. The heart blends soft florals with smooth woods, which gives it an uplifting, modern feel without being loud. The base settles into musk, warm woods and a touch of soft sweetness, so it doesn't end sharp.

The occasions listed for Au Soleil are daily, office, casual and gym. That tells you a lot — this is a scent you can spray before work, before the gym, or just for a casual day out. And because it's unisex, you can share the bottle with your partner or sibling without it smelling off on either of you.

So, which one should you get?

• Pick Now Women if you lean towards sweet perfumes. Red fruits, marshmallow and vanilla make it a gourmand-leaning scent, and it covers daily wear as well as special occasions.
• Pick Au Soleil if you want something fresher and more flexible. Citrus and herbs up top, and an occasions list that includes office and gym — great for daily wear in hot, humid weather.

A small tip from one beginner to another: don't judge either one on the first five seconds alone. Give it a spray, let it settle for a bit, and see which dry direction you like more — sweet and cosy (Now Women) or fresh and woody (Au Soleil). If you're still stuck, think about where you'll wear it most. Mostly office and daytime? Au Soleil. More dinners and casual evenings? Now Women. Either way, both are 100ml EDPs from the same brand, so it's really just about matching the mood to your day.