Perfume

Feb 08

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide: For Her

Posted on: February 08, 2010 @ 9:00 am 2 Comments »

Guerlain Engraved Rouge G de Guerlain Jewel Lipstick Compact Grenade 65 – “Kiss Me”

Demeter Fragrance Library Hershey’s Special Dark 1 oz Cologne Spray

NARS Temptation Gift Set

Hanky Panky Low Rise Signature Lace Thongs in a Heart Box

Jezebel Low Rise Thongs with Scented Satin Sachet

14k White Gold Earrings, Ruby (1-1/10 ct. t.w.) and Diamond Accent Heart – on sale for $699

14k White Gold Diamond Accent Flower Stud Earrings – on sale for $84.15

Demeter Fragrance: Necco Sweethearts Collection

Posted on: February 05, 2010 @ 12:00 pm 1 Comment »

“NECCO Sweethearts Conversation Hearts remain today’s best-selling Valentine’s Day candy. The sweet and expressive pastel sugar hearts with the quirky sayings are as much a part of childhood today as they were 50 years ago.

NECCO manufactures over 8 billion hearts each year to keep up with the demand for this American icon.

While Necco sweethearts Conversation Hearts are synonymous with Valentine’s Day, it took Demeter Fragrance Library to make those Valentine’s Day sentiments all year long, with this collection of modern romantic floral bouquets.”

Demeter Fragrance Library Be My Valentine 1 oz Cologne Spray

“A unique, sparkling scent with peach skin, strawberry leaf, caramelized sugar and ylang ylang that captures the magic of Valentine’s Day itself in a bottle, all year around.”

Demeter Fragrance Library Love Me 1 oz Cologne Spray

“The most delicate of the Necco Sweethearts, this is a transparent and light fruity floral containing orange, lemon, bergamot, peach, white rose, ylang, subtle skin musk and soft vanilla, to be shared, but only up close and personal.”

Demeter Fragrance Library Call Me 1 oz Cologne Spray

“An unusual combination of lemon zest, jasmine, honeysuckle, water lotus and white rose, this scent is simply irresistible to anyone who comes in contact with it.”

Bare Skin from Leslie Blodgett Fragrance Diaries | Sephora Exclusive!

Posted on: November 29, 2009 @ 6:00 am No Comments »

per

“Inspired by entrepreneurial powerhouse Leslie Blodgett’s dynamic life, Leslie Blodgett Perfume Diaries is a limited edition fragrance collection, created exclusively for Sephora, that revisits and evokes pivotal moments in Leslie’s life. Having kept journals since she was a young girl, Leslie has captured the essence of every trip she has taken through the pages of her journals. With the release of its first fragrance Bare Skin on 10/08, these pages have been brought to life through scent, enabling Leslie’s ardent fans to walk a fragrant mile in her shoes.”

I received a sample for review, but it was too small to get a very distinct impression of the fragrance. I can say that it’s a strong, spicy smell – but in an alluring manner. Here’s a breakdown of the ingredients:

Top Notes – Black Pepper, Freesia, Anise

Middle Notes – Iris, Vanilla Orchid, Plumeria, Patchouli

Bottom Notes – Sandalwood, Labdanum, Musk

“When I have an experience, I like to have a scent behind it. Bare Skin, which is what Mexico reminds me of, is the way you feel when the sun is beating down on you during the day, but then you go out at night and you’re still sizzling from the warmth of the day which mingles with the night air and the music.”

-Leslie Blodgett

Bare Skin is available only from Sephora, and comes in three forms that are perfect for gift giving, or spoiling yourself.

Bare Skin Eau de Parfum Spray 1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray

Bare Skin Perfumed Body Cream 4.2 oz Perfumed Body Cream

Bare Skin Solid Perfume 0.07 oz Solid Perfume

Harajuku Girls Launch Snow Bunnies!

Posted on: November 21, 2009 @ 4:56 pm No Comments »

As the seasons change, it’s time for a wardrobe update. But we’re not the only ones getting a seasonal makeover. The fashion-forward Harajuku Girls are back with the same fab fragrances, but this time they’re bundled up for a cold winter as Snow Bunnies!

Harajuku Lovers Snow Bunnies Gift Set

Snuggle up and channel your own Snow Bunny. G, Music, Angel, Baby or Love are each layered up with the season’s most fashionable items – Love’s boots are exact replicas of a pair of Vivienne Westwood’s! Whether you prefer strolling the streets, hitting the slopes, or staying warm by the roaring fire, there’s a Harajuku Girl Snow Bunny to fit any of your wintertime moods. But the chilly days of winter won’t last forever and neither do these dolls – they’re around for a limited time only!

The new Harajuku Lovers Snow Bunnies are $30 each and available at Sephora.com and Nordstrom.

They make a great gift idea for ladies on your list. And if you’re a huge fan of the Harajuku Girls, you might even consider the adorable Harajuku Lovers Snow Bunnies Bag Collection that includes a brush case, travel bag, organizer and clutch, with prices starting around $20.

Philosophy for Fall: All Treats, No Tricks!

Posted on: October 24, 2009 @ 10:00 am No Comments »

On days where it’s windy and gray outside, there’s often nothing better than a hot shower… Unless, of course, your shower smells like delicious seasonal treats!

haunted

Philosophy’s Haunted House Trio ($30) is one of my favorite way to relax away the stress of a long, cold day. It contains 3 six-ounce bottles of Pumpkin Spice Muffin, Black Licorice, and Caramel Apple. I reviewed the Black Licorice last year and still have my beloved bottle; it’s perfect for when I need a sugary pick me up without the calories. Pumpkin Spice Muffin is my favorite of the three, and one of my all-time favorite Philosophy scents; it’s like an amazing fresh from the oven Autumn cake. Love it! Caramel Apple is my least favorite, only because I don’t find the smell particularly strong. If you prefer more delicate scents, or need a body wash that will make your shower fun but won’t interfere with your perfume later, Caramel Apple is a great pick. You can also purchase *just* the Pumpkin & Apple Scents in the Trick or Treat Duo ($20). One helpful customer review on the site suggests mixing both together for an amazing fall scent! Caramel Apple is also available by itself, as a body wash or lip gloss!

candy As much as I love the Haunted House scents, “I Love Candy Corn” was the seasonal scent I most craved this season. When Philosophy agreed to send me a bottle for review, I could not WAIT for my mail to arrive! I could have kissed the mailman when he finally dropped off the package!

“Calling all candy corn lovers! this oh-so-sweet candy corn scented shampoo, shower gel & bubble bath is sure to be a fall favorite for the whole family. The high-foaming formula provides an ultra-rich, moisturizing lather from head to toe to gently cleanse and condition skin and hair.”

I’ve eaten bags buckets barrels … well, let’s just say far too much candy corn in my lifetime. Therefore, as delicious as I find the scent, the thought of actually eating any makes me a little queasy. This body wash is the perfect fix! It’s much more practical than buying a bag of candy corn just to smell (don’t judge me!) as it makes showering feel like I’m inside the plastic pumpkin of a very enthusiastic trick-or-treater. Mmm…

Special Spotlight Antica Farmacista

Posted on: October 22, 2009 @ 6:00 am No Comments »

antica

“Antica Farmacista has captured old-world European charm and mystery with its collection of unique signature scents for the home and body that draw inspiration from the mystery of the Mediterranean Sea and the serenity of the gardens of Tuscany. Each fragrance is formulated with only the world’s finest essential oils and natural ingredients, and every product is meticulously produced and presented in an antique inspired apothecary bottle.”

Antica Farmacista provides a decadent selection of luxury products for the home and body. They’re a brand to keep in mind for special events, social gatherings, day-to-day indulgences, and definitely for holiday shopping. One of my favorite items is the Champagne Candle. I haven’t actually had the chance to experience, but, well- I love all things Champagne!

shower

Their line of body products includes perfume, moisturizer, hand wash, and body wash. Rich scents include: Grapefruit, Green Fig, Orange Blossom, Santorini. As much as I normally lean towards body wash when I’m buying high end body products (it’s my favorite pick me up), hand wash is a great gift during this high-risk flu & illness season. Buying from a company like Antica Farmacista makes the gift a pampering surprise, rather than a disappointing bottle of drugstore soap. Since the beautiful scent blends are available in each product category, pairing a hand wash with a perfume, body wash, or moisturizer (or several!) will not only be a thoughtful way to show you’re thinking of a friend’s well being, but also help refresh the scent of their other body products throughout the day.

pink In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness, Antica Farmacista has a special “pink” Home Ambiance Fragrance. The blend (Peonia, Gardenia & Rosa) is a great way to keep your dorm room smelling fresh, as regular spray deodorizers often smell more like chemicals than perfume, and candles generally aren’t allowed.

“Antica Farmacista Home Ambiance Fragrance, the signature product in the collection, is a unique and beautiful way to fragrance and decorate the home. The Home Ambiance Fragrances utilize antique inspired apothecary bottles, filled with fragrance, to permeate the air through the bottles’ open neck and white birch reeds that are inserted to further diffuse the scent. Simply position the fragrance bottle in the room of your choice and uncork. Place the reed bundle into the neck and reverse the reeds every few days or as desired to enhance the scent. The Antica Farmacista fragrance will infuse the air and provide a lasting, constant and beautiful scent.”

A 250 ml is $62, and part of the proceeds from each “pink” version will be donated towards Breast Cancer Research. Antica Farmacista also very generously donated a bottle of this blend to Fashionable Gals for a Cure! Look for Prize #8, where the the Home Ambiance Fragrance is paired with a beautiful Pink Hope bouquet from Teleflora, a Beautyfix Kit, and a Dial White Tea Body Wash! The prize pack is worth $166.43, but it only costs you $1 (donated towards BC research!) to gain an entry!

Ormond Jane: Luxury Perfume

Posted on: September 24, 2009 @ 6:00 am 1 Comment »

ojbodyproducts

Oh, how I love perfume. It’s such an easy, quick way to change your mood. Glamorous, innocent, flirty, sensual… Whatever you crave, there’s a scent that you can spritz on and feel like it was made just for you. I wholeheartedly believe that every woman should have a “fragrance wardrobe;” a selection of scents that make you feel wonderful. I have a tray in my bedroom stocked with a beautiful selection of glass bottles and vials- one for everything I want to emulate.

Of course, the best fragrances are often the most expensive, which means it can be hard to build up that collection without breaking the bank. Since a little goes a long way with rich perfumes, it’s hard to spend a chunk of cash on a bottle of perfume that could last a lifetime… but might not be a favorite for that long.

sampler

Ormonde Jayne is Perfumery founded by Linda Pilkington, based on the philosophy of quality, luxury, beauty, and elegance. Each fragrance is a wonderful blend of exotic and unexpected ingredients that indulge the senses. Twelve scents, men’s and women’s, are currently available: Osmanthus, Frangipani, Sampaquita, Champaca, Tiare, Ta’if, Tolu, Orris Noir, Ormonde Woman, Ormonde Man, Isfarkand, and Zizan. Indian Jasmine, Osmanthus Absolute, Lychee, Freesia, and violet are some of the wonderful notes in the collection. Zizan is my personal favorite, although it’s a men’s scent- it’s rich, smooth, and incredibly decadent.

Each fragrance is available in various sized (gorgeous) glass bottles; however, the real star product is the Ormonde Jayne Sample Programme. It includes a 2 ml spray bottle of each scent, packaged in a fancy box that slides out on both sides (pictured above) and contains a brochure on all the details of each blend. The Sample Programme retails for about $56 (35 GBP), which is about the price of one bottle of mid-quality perfume.

Ormonde Jayne luxury purse spray

While the Sample Programme is a wonderful indulgence for yourself, it would also make a fantastic gift for a loved one. Christmas is only a few months away, so if this seems like something that special someone would enjoy, you might want to start saving up.

Oh, and don’t think Ormonde Jayne only makes beautiful perfumes- their fragrances are also available in bath and body products, as well as beautiful candles.