Showing posts with label dolce and gabanna. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dolce and gabanna. Show all posts

Sunday

Beauty Empties | January 2013: Special Perfume Edition


Something a little different for my Empties Review Series this month - a special on a few perfumes I've finished up recently.  I'll still be doing a normal finished products review at some point over the next few days, so keep a look out for that coming up.



Britney Spears Fantasy (Original) - maybe repurchase 

This was my second bottle and I have a third waiting to be cracked open.
Personally I'm not too keen on the scent, but the fellas sure are! It's like catnip for boys.  Nice boys. Not like the weirdos attracted by Jean Paul Gaultier's Classique, but more on that later.
It's unbearable sweet and candyflossy, with a hint of something darker and spicier.  What more could a fella want? For me it's just too synthetic and unsophisticated.  But it'll do wonders for your pulling ability if you're under 30.  Over that milestone and I'd give it a miss unless you're just after 'a bit of fun'.
Boots often have it on amazing offers.  This 30ml bottle was nabbed for around £13, so don't pay over the odds for it if you're tempted.

Chloe Eau de Parfum - definite repurchase (already have!) 

What can I say about this perfume other than I think I've found my signature scent.  It's like fresh, floral, sweet and just reminds me of clean linen.
I loved it from first sniff and have received so many compliments on it.  The only downside is that it's a bit TOO popular, saying that I haven't smelled it off that may other gals.    For some reason the name 'Chloe' just won't stick in my head so I keep telling people it's 'Clinique'.  I think it must stem from a subconscious urge to keep this scent all to myself.
When I first got it and asked my ex what he thought of it, proferring up my neck for sniffing he said 'it just smells like you'.
I took it as a compliment.
Some of you 80s lot might remember the discontinued Givenchy L'Interdit, if so, it smells a lot like that.  I had a sample vial of it when I was about 10 and made it last for years, with stolen sniffs here and there.  I never did get a full bottle but that's okay, 'cos I've got Chloe now.

Katie Price Stunning - no repurchase; I'm done

This is an interesting one because while I'm done with the sickly sweetness, I would recommend it to you!
It's a TOTAL DUPE for Dior Miss Cherie and I've gone into it's cheeky sameness here (link)
Dear old Katie Price, you can just imagine her saying 'Stunnin'! Emphasis on the 'nin'.  She did good though, and having owned both scents and confirmed there is no discernible difference, Stunning actually lasts longer on the skin, even my ginger 'Teflon' skin.
It's a much cheaper alternative to Dior Miss Cherie, just never take it out in public and never admit that it's not The Real Thing.


Dolce & Gabbana The One - maybe repurchase

I adore this perfume, but again, so do so many others! I would consider repurchasing but would most likely go for the 'Rose' version as it's just that bit more feminine and less synthetic.
Gorgeous sophisticated scent and pretty bottle, but unless you have a Travalo it's not a good option to carry around in your bag or on holiday as it's super heavy.
The only drawback with this perfume is it just doesn't linger, I feel like by the time I get to work, the scent has evaporated.

Marc Jacobs Daisy - no repurchase; I'm over it

This was a present from an ex, and although I did indicate it was what I wanted, I was bored of it by the fourth spritz.  It's just a bit bland (good option for an office scent though as it's unobtrusive) and a few years ago everyone seemed to be wearing it.
It was a slog to get the bottle finished, I actually can't believe I'm done with it!
In four years of exposure to light it didn't oxidise or discolour and the scent remained true, so that's one thing it's got going for it.



Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue - maybe repurchase; not anytime soon

Love love love this perfume, on the dry down it smells mouth watering.  This is about my sixth bottle of it so although I will repurchase at some stage, I feel we need a bit of distance right now.
It's another one of those perfume like Daisy that EVERYONE was wearing a few years ago, but I feel like it's gone off the radar so it would be a good option to revive if you're looking for a all-round perfume that is perfect for the office but also sexy enough for a night out.

Jean Paul Gaultier Classique - no repurchase; I like not being approached by weirdos too much

My second bottle of this was a mistake, but I'd bought a mini of it first time round and felt we weren't 'done' yet, so of course I had to go and ask for the Christmas giftbox-set.
I think this perfume smells different on everyone, and although it's very popular, I never notice it on anyone when I'm out and about, I think it does a really good job of blending with your own skin's chemistry to create something unique.
Unique is one word for how it must have smelled off my skin because it simply attracted all the weirdos of the day.  This one shady Russian dude proposed to me on the street - twice - when I was wearing this.  I 'm pretty sure he didn't even realise I was the same person on both disturbing occasions.
I'd heard about the male attention Classique can inspire, and in all honesty, it's what prompted me to buy it all those years ago out of curiosity because at the time the scent was definitely far too 'mature' for my liking.  But don't be tempted, it only inspires the kind of attention you don't want from the kind of blokes you definitely don't want!


Have you tried any of these perfumes? What would you repurchase/definitely not repurchase?




Friday

Perfume Review | D&G 3 L'Impératrice Eau de Toilette - A Holy Grail Scent


D&G 3 L'Impératrice Eau de Toilette 100ml - £39.00
Where to buy? I recommend Boots because then you'll get lots of Advantage Card Points on it!

When D&G launched their 'fragrance anthology' a couple of years ago, L'Impératrice jumped out as the star of the show - for us gals anyhow.  The four other scents in the collection just aren't as original and some of them are of course aimed at men.  

L'Impératrice is just the most delicious fruity, juicy sweet fragrance and is instantly recognisable, however I thankfully haven't detected it on too many people on the tube so it hasn't gone the way of the equally gorgeous but too ubiquitous Light Blue.  A dear friend of mine was once told she smelled better than rotisserie chicken while wearing it.  It was a great compliment.  Some people just love their chicken! I'm going to leave my description of the scent there as I'm not a fragrance connoisseur but check out the descriptions on Make Up Alley where it scores 4.3/5.  

I picked it up in duty free for around £32 which was great value for 100mls.  Check it out next time you're near a perfume counter - it's one of my Holy Grails (a second this week!) which will be consistently repurchased from here on in! 

Thursday

My Favourite Autumn/Winter Perfumes

My perfume obsession always goes into overdrive in the colder weather as I love to wear musky, oriental, sweet, heavy scents which seem out of place during the summer.   I'm not much good at describing fragrance notes, so I've included their 'official' descriptions from their websites.  Most of these scents are vaguely similar and definitely from the same family of notes.  If a perfume doesn't feature Vanilla I ain't interested!

Dior Hypnotic Poison EDT


If I could only wear one perfume for the rest of my life, this would be it.  I loved it for ten years now when I'm normally very fickle and get fed up with perfumes before I'm even 15mls into a bottle.  However I will always have a bottle of HP on the go.  It's very strong, heavy and sweet and to me smells like wearable Amaretto! It wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, but for me it's sex and femininity in a bottle and there's nothing else like it!


Here's what Dior says:

The mystery of Dior’s legendary forbidden fruit lives on in a magical, modern philter that blends femininity with boldness. Four contrasting facets – intoxicating bitter almond and carvi, opulent Sambac jasmine, mysterious Jacarandra and sensuous vanilla and musk– make for a compelling, bewitching fragrance fusion. Intoxicating and extravagant.

Click HERE for more.  For a great review on it, and a host of other fabulous perfume descriptions check out Katie Puckrick on YouTube.




Dior Addict EDP


I started wearing this Dior Addict about five years ago before I discovered Hypnotic Poison and they are from the same family of scents.  It's very strong and actually gives me a stomach ache if I spritz it on first thing in the morning on an empty tum.  I don't like any of the children that it's spawned as they're just pale imitations.  I have 'teflon' skin to which scent slips off within an hour, but Dior Addict does cling for a good few hours, and if sprayed on clothing lasts for days.  When I've used up a lot of the perfumes I have sitting around I'll be repurchasing Dior Addict.

Again, I'll let Dior do the description honours:
A sophisticated oriental fragrance with a floral heart, for the passionate, intuitive woman who ignores dictates and follows her own rules. The Dior Addict attitude is best incarnated by its compelling heart note of the Jamaican " Queen of the Night " a rare and elusive flower that blooms only for a few hours and is considered the soul of enchantment. Intensely seductive.


Click HERE for more.


Gucci Rush



To me, Gucci Rush is very similar to Dior Addict and in the same family as Hypnotic Poison.  It brings me back to the A/W of 2002 when I started uni (for the first time) and it is Christmas in a bottle.  It is an spicy oriental vanilla and features top notes of bergamot, peony and freesia, middle notes of violet, jasmine and carnation and the base of the fragrance is orris, sandalwood and vetiver.

The only thing I don't like about it is the hideous, incongruous, un-sexy packaging.


Dolce & Gabanna The One EDP



The One is much lighter than the previous three fragrances and doesn't smell out of place in the summer months, but there is something comforting about it when worn on a cold morning.  It contains notes of mandarin, peach, jasmine and my old favourites make up the base of vanilla, amber and musk.

Ted Baker's Divine range at Boots is a pretty good dupe for the scent.  Click here for my comparison with The One.


Victoria's Secret Sexy Little Things Noir EDP



This has to be one of the best perfume bottle of all time, I'm a sucker for an atomiser.

Victoria's Secret describe it as:
At once elegant and playfully provocative, it's an enchanting blend of sparkling nectarine, sultry amber and exotic cattelaya orchid.

Top notes: nectarine, juicy apple, sparkling citrus, pineapple, guanabana, mouthwatering pear, red fruit, bergamot
Middle notes: cattelaya orchid, muget, cyclamen, jasmine petals, plum, vanilla, dewberry, cassis
Low notes: golden amber, velvet musk, sultry woods, tonka bean


They also describe it as a fruity floral but it's actually so much more than this, a really complex scent with a delicious vanilla, powdery dry down.

The only drawback is you can only pick it up in the UK at airports with a Victoria's Secret concession, and on me, the scent lasts literally minutes before disappearing into the ether :(



Hugo Deep Red EDP



I don't actually own Deep Red but it's been on my radar for years and I've been making do with a dupe of it from Next called Ruby, sadly discontinued now.  It's something along the lines of a calmer Gucci Rush and it always seems to be on offer in Boots so if you're looking for a strong, sexy winter fragrance definitely give this one a sniff.


Top notes: Clementine, Blood Orange, Blackcurrant
Middle notes: Freesia, Pittosporum, Ginger Flower
Base notes: Sandalwood, Cederwood, Vanilla


What's your favourite Autumn/Winter perfume?

Saturday

Kat Copies: Dolce & Gabanna's The One

Dolce & Gabanna The One is a beautiful perfume, but I've found a near-on bargain price dupe for it; Ted Baker's Divine range at Boots.  My workmate Hayley used to spray this before leaving the office everyday, and as I knew she had the D&G perfume, that's what I thought she was using.  I really couldn't tell the difference and only found out it was TB's body spray when I asked her why she was wasting her nice perfume!  The body spray is £4.95 for 150mls and the same for the 300ml body lotion. The One costs £34.00 for 30mls! Sometimes they even have a 1/3 off the price.  




I'm personally not a huge fan of body sprays as I do like the glamour of apply an expensive perfume from a nice bottle, but I keep this spray in my drawer at work and spritz to give myself a mood lift.  Anyone who forks out money on the D&G body lotion however should seriously think about switching to the Ted Baker one.


The scent is very sweet and more suited to night time, but I wear it during the day also.  It has top notes of mandarin and peach, jasmine at it's heart and supported by base notes of vanilla, amber and musk.  There's also a trace of bergamot, lychee and vetiver.


I've found a few other bargain copies of high end fragrances...remember to become a Google Follower to keep up to date with my latest posts!
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