Showing posts with label perfume. Show all posts
Showing posts with label perfume. 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?




Monday

Last Minute Christmas Gift Idea #6 - Versace Woman EDP


Angel introduced me to this perfume many years ago - it was one of those that made me ask 'what are you wearing?!' every time she had it on as it smelt slightly different but beautiful every time.  It's not one of those scents that is instantly recognisable, but I find really blends with your own chemistry to become a unique and understated scent. 

The bottle is a beautiful addition to any dressing table and quite understated by normal Versace standards.  The best bit about it is that the 50ml bottle is on offer at Boots now for £15! The 100ml is shown in these photographs as I repurchased it a couple of months ago.  It's rare for me to repurchase perfume as I have so many, so it really is something special.

The scent is described as a modern floral and the top notes include jasmine, wild rose, frangipani and bergamot, middle notes of lotus, plum and raspberry and base notes of musk, grey amber and Inoki wood.  There isn't another perfume out there I can compare it to, it's just a lovely light but sophisticated daytime scent - I now prefer it to D&G Light Blue and Marc Jacobs Daisy which are just too overdone. 

You can find it at Boots on offer now for £15 in store or online here.


           

Sunday

Last Minute Christmas Gift Idea #4 - Viktor + Rolf Flowerbomb Giftset


A few months ago my cousin gave me this gorgeous Viktor + Rolf gift set and it's easily the prettiest perfume set I've ever received, so I thought it would be ideal to feature in my Last Minute Christmas Gift Guide.  

I normally chuck away all packaging to save space but the box is actually a sturdy plastic rather than cardboard and I have it sitting on top of my bookcase as it's just too pretty to part with.

It opens out into a beautiful set with a 50ml perfume and mini shower gel and body lotion.  Flowerbomb itself is a beautiful scent.  I can't believe it's actually been around since 2004 as I still think of it as a modern perfume.  There have been a few imitations (Jimmy Choo, anyone?) but it remains the ultimate feminine power perfume.

It's a sweet, spicy, musky oriental scent - definitely a night time aroma, but I wear it whenever.  It's the ultimate transition perfume of that difficult late 20s to mid 30s age where you don't want to smell like a sugary teenager, but you're still to young to be reaching for the Chanel No. 5.

The top notes are Bergamot and tea, middle notes are Jasmine, Freesia, Orchid and the base notes are Centriflora Rose and Patchouli.

You can find this set or ones similar here, here and here from about £50 - £75. 

Thursday

Event + Perfume Review | GHOST Moonlight

GHOST Moonlight EDT* 30ml £25.00, 50ml £34.00, 75ml £46.50
Launching in January 2013

In the past few weeks I've started heading out to blogger events again, and the launch for the new GHOST Moonlight eau de toilette at 24London club was definitely a highlight.  I'm new to the GHOST brand but have always admired their pale floaty dresses, promising myself that when I finally kick the baby fat I will wear one! Pipe dreams eh?

More than anything I'm a fragrance junkie (35 bottles and counting) so I was really excited to get my nostrils around GHOST Moonlight described as a flirtatious, elegant and ethereal new fragrance.  While most perfumes can be easily characterised into spring/summer or winter, day or night, girly or sexy, GHOST Moonlight is pretty enigmatic at once being fresh, spicy and complex.

The gourmand base of white chocolate builds into a floral oriental with notes including ginger, Bergamot, Cantaloupe, orange blossom, pink Peony, Lily of the Valley, Amber and Sandalwood.

The elegant bottle design and colour graduation from light to dark reflects how it could easily transition from day to night.  To give you a scent reference, it reminds me of Armani Code for women.

Angel (www.youtube.com/AngelArmogida) came to the event with me - photos below!

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! 

Wednesday

Review: Liz Earle Botanical Essence No15 EDP

Liz Earle's second fragrance, Botanical Essence No15*, launched in John Lewis stores and online (link) on 1st October, just in time for those of you looking to pick up a comforting but fresh and spicy Oriental scent for Autumn.  

The name signifies the 15 botanicals which combine into creating the perfect 'unisex' fragrance:
Bergamot, Cedarwood, Patchouli, Guiacwood, Sandalwood, Tonka Bean, Cypriol, Siam Benzoin, Damask Rose, Elemi, Cinnamon Leaf, Clove Bud, Pink Pepper, Bourbon Vanilla and Vetiver

Although I love sweet gourmand perfumes like Dior Hypnotic Poison, I'm also a fan of slightly more masculine scents for work, usually a Chypre which contains Vetiver and Sandalwood, as No15 does  - to smell like you mean business! Despite containing a lot of what you would typically think of as sweet, feminine notes, the overall combination is pleasingly androgynous - sometimes a difficult feat to achieve.  You can detect the Bourbon Vanilla, Patchouli and Damask Rose after the 'dry down', but they are not overpowering or girly.  While I think this fragrance is obviously aimed at women, it wouldn't be a complete disaster if your other half spritzed it on by mistake.  Great for saving packing space if you're going away together, too!

The understated and stylish packaging is typical of what we've come to know and love of Liz Earle.  The wrap around box gives it that something extra and the quaint illustrations of the botanicals which contribute to the fragrance bring back fond memories of A Level Biology.  Ok, maybe that's just me then.  

The only drawback to this scent I would warn you about is if you have a particularly sensitive nose it may be a little irritating - I do and it made me sneeze a couple of times.  If so, best to check it out in the flesh at your nearest John Lewis. 

It's £45 for 50mls, and a little goes a very long way.  

Check out Liz Earle's first fragrance, Botanical Essence No1 here.

What type of perfumes do you prefer for the work environment?

 

Tuesday

Giveaway Time! So…? Eternal Perfume - 3 Sets to be Won!


Hi lovelies!

Can you believe it's May already?! Summer cannot come soon enough for me! I really enjoyed hosting the Pixi Palette Giveaway and hello and welcome to those of you who've discovered my blog through Angel's YouTube channel!  Without further ado I'm delighted to announce the winner of the Pixi Palette giveaway is:

YouTube username: pinklady123456

Angel has also announced this on her channel and will be contacting you for your postal info.

I'm sorry if you missed out on the Pixi giveaway, so I have another great giveaway for you launching today - Angel and I are hosting a giveaway of So...? Eternal Perfume and Body Fragrance and have three sets to give away to our subscribers.

HOW TO ENTER
1. Make sure you are following this blog using your Google account: CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW or hit the blue 'Join This Site' in the right sidebar.
2. Go to Angel's YouTube Channel and click 'subscribe' (you can use the same account you use to follow this blog and it's free!).  Giveaway video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCCi6pMHY-M&feature=g-u-u
3. Leave a comment on this post with your YouTube username.

**The giveaway is open internationally and closes on 15th May.  The winner will be chosen at random and will be announced here and on Angel's channel after 15th May**

On Facebook? You can Like So..?'s page here: https://www.facebook.com/So.FragranceUK


Good luck!

So...? Eternal has really sentimental memories for me and reminds me of someone really special so I absolutely adore it, and a few weeks after receiving the set I realised that it smells almost exactly like one of my favourite, and now sadly discontinued, Victoria's Secret scents - Sexy Little Things Ooh La La.  This is a really sweet, girly scent and lasts for a pretty long time, definitely a winner for Spring and Summer.




OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT:  Follow This Blog| Bloglovin' | Twitter Facebook HelloCotton YouTube Lifestyle Blog

Thursday

Insolence


This scent ain't for the faint hearted, so all you gals who love your Marc Jacobs Daisy-clean fumes might struggle with this one, but I adore it.  There's something about ginger skin which gives it a Teflon quality when it comes to perfume lasting power but this little Guerlain sucker hangs around me in a heady mist until home time.

I'm pretty rubbish at describing scents and the Guerlain website if far too Flash-happy for me to direct you there (you might not come back here!), so I'll reproduce their description here for you:


Friday

New 'fumes


At this very moment there are at least 10 perfumes oxidising on my dressing table, so what do I do? Consume more of course!

Saturday

The time has come...

...for me to make Stella McCartney's signature scent finally mine! I can't tell you how many years I've wanted this fragrance - amber and rose are a beautiful combo - but I always held back and picked up something else mainly because every second girl on the tube smelled of it!  It looks like I've been holding off for a good reason, because it's been released in these gorgeous limited edition bottles...

This is where you lovely people come in! I really can't decide which design to go for.  I like the purple one with the little bee, but the one with the red flowers is gorgeous too.  I looked all over Westfield today for them - House of Fraser, Beauty Base, Debenhams, thinking they were more likely to be stocked there, but turns out they're in good old Boots!  I'm heading down there tomorrow where they are going for £35 for 30mls.  Think I might also pick up another few back up cans of Batiste XXL.  I have a problem people, I know.

So let me know in the comments which one you think is prettiest!

Oh, and there's only a few more hours until my Sigma Kabuki brush giveaway ends, so why not throw your hat into the ring?! Check it out HERE.

In other news, I've just been to see The Inbetweeners movie - it's ridiculously funny and cringey! Go see it!

Sunday

Ooh La La! What a Sexy Little Thing!

I've never failed to pass by the Victoria's Secret concession at Gatwick airport without picking up a little something....


I was on my way to the South of France, so I of course had to pick a name-appropriate perfume!  I'm already a huge fan of Victoria's Secret Sexy Little Things Noir but I'd resisted the original concoction for years as it smells, in the words of Mean Girls, a bit 'baby prostitute'!  It's incredibly sweet and girly and is definitely more suited to someone in their teens, but I couldn't resist.

 I adore the pretty packaging and I love the old-fashioned atomiser bottle.  Notes include mandarin orange, cherry blossom and vanilla. I spritz it on when I'm just knocking about the house and it makes me happy :)



My other favourite VS scent is Pink Wish which I'll review soon. 

Ooh La La is £26 for 50mls.  It doesn't feature on the Victoria's Secret website anymore which leads me to believe they may have discontinued it and just be using up the left over stock over here.  If you're keen on sickly sweet scents give it a sniff next time you're going through an airport (VS is at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted as far as I know).


Enter my Kiss Nails and Nail Art Kit giveaway HERE.

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