Fragrances -Tocca - Love Yourself Fragrance Collection
thefairestlady1012 6/2/2012 10:48:00 AM
For a little project for myself, I bought this fragrance collection and decided I would try a new scent from it once each day and write reviews on it and post them here on Makeupalley. I have just today completed this self-imposed assignment. I won't go through all my thoughts again on each individual fragrance, as I fear if I did, I would run out of characters for this review, but if anyone is interested in reading another fragrance lover's thoughts on these beautiful scents, all my reviews are posted under each scent. As the last reviewer of this stated, this set includes Cleopatra, Stella, Florence, Brigitte, Giulietta, and Colette. All are wonderful fragrances but each has its own quality so this collection offers a unique opportunity to get (several, samples are of a good size, enough for multiple wears) tries at wearing each of the fragrance before deciding which is worth it the most. I enjoyed them all but my favorites were/are Colette, Giulietta, Bianca, and Brigitte. Not sure which of these if any I will end up getting a real bottle in, but this is just my first impression. Hope you enjoy this collection, I do recommend it as a way to sample thoroughly before you buy. Give it a try! You're bound to find at least one you life if not, hopefully, love. :)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Tocca - Colette
thefairestlady1012 6/2/2012 10:33:00 AM
I have now officially tried out all the fragrances in the Tocca "Love Yourself: Fragrance Vial Collection" and I must say, as I've gone through the box. I've liked the scents progressively more and more the further to the end I've gotten, meaning that Colette, being the last of the bunch, is yes, my favorite in the collection. Even before I received the collection in the mail, upon doing research of all the fragrances' various notes, I predicted that Colette would at least be A if not THE favorite for me from the collection. The reason is because of the base notes that combine Vanilla, Incense, Musks, Sandalwood, Cedarwood, and Amber. All of these notes are such that make me happy in a fragrance no matter what the fragrance may be, and I always gravitate towards scents that have these notes in them, especially as part of the base. But what is unique about this scent is that it combines all these otherwise very warm and even (in other perfumes) potentially heavy notes that one might think that when combined together as in this configuration may make for an overpowering scent, in a very light sophisticated way. I think the juniper note on the top really helps to "crisp up" and clean up the heavy bottom really making the fragrance more versatile in terms of season and occasion that it would be suited for. But then again, I am the type who wears what she wants when she wants to. But overall this is a great scent. Snuggly, cozy, sweet without being sickly, warm without being heavy, romantic, decidedly feminine without being the least girly and just wonderful. And, for the final verdict. My take on the "Love Yourself" fragrance collection favorites, going from most favorite to least. 1. Colette 2. Bianca 3. Giulietta 4. Brigitte 5. Cleopatra 6. Florence 7. Stella Note: Bianca and Giulletta are about a tie. Really liked both of them about equally.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Tocca - Bianca
thefairestlady1012 6/1/2012 11:22:00 AM
This is one of the best Tocca fragrances I've tried so far. I have the "Love Yourself" fragrance collection, and this is the second to last one in the box. The only one that remains is "Colette" . Bianca is a fragrance of pure joy, combining a soft feminine rose note that resounds throughout the whole scent along a backdrop of sparkling lemon notes and tea. This fragrance is modeled after tea time in Europe during sumjmer and this is exactly what it accomplishes. Even though this fragrance is designed after Spring and summer concepts, it could serve as a wonderful pick-me-up any time of year. Day or evening, it is fun fresh, flirty, and naturally crisp and sexy. Favorites of Tocca so far 1. Bianca 2: Giulietta 3: Brigitte. Now, we must see how Colette falls into the mix. :). There is also Graciella and Violette, but those are not included in the collection.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Tocca - Giulietta
thefairestlady1012 5/31/2012 11:58:00 AM
A very light and musky floral that can only be described in one word for me. Pretty. There's nothing at all fussy or all that complicated with this scent. Just feminine and gorgeous without being sharp at all, especially considering one of the first notes of this happens to be a rose. Just a lovely scent, though. I have the "Love Yourself" fragrance collection that I am currently working my way through with a new scent each day to pick my favorite. And, while all of them have their unique qualities and good points, I have to say that so far this and Brigette (see my review on that and all the others as well if you are interested :)) are my two favorites. I still have yet to try both "Bianca" and "Colette", the last two in the collection but I will tomorrow and the next day respectively and will post reviews on each. Those last two are actually the ones I've been looking forward to trying the most, as they sound very much up my alley in many ways. However, they've all been nice and Giulietta is especially wonderful in its own right. Just simple and lovely and pretty...yep. That's the best word for it. Also, for those of you who liked PureDKNY (the original, not the verbena one) but found it had limited staying power, try this. This is a very similar type of scent and has similar concentration (low alcohol( and reads similar on me, though some of the notes are different but it is already seeming to last a bit better (staying without being too heavy /strong) than Pure tends to do. Worth a shot.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Tocca - Brigitte EDP
thefairestlady1012 5/31/2012 11:51:00 AM
What a fun scent! Brigitte is one of those rare scents that is a perfect floriental (equal parts floral and spice) with a touch of fruit. This is a very effervescent yet sexy scent. Think a good glass of champagne on a summer night. But this scent I could see working for a variety of occasions, ages, and tastes because it is such a varied blend of scent. Happy and sophisticated. On me the dominate notes are the ginger and papaya, especially papaya with a hint of the Moroccan rose, which is a totally mellow, pretty take on a rose scent that is more like the real flower and less sharp as some other rose fragrances can be. So if you're usually turned off by most other rose scents but still like them in theory, give this one a shot, not only for the sake of the mellower rose note but also for the way the other scents surround and compliment it. This is a happy and elegant scent.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Tocca - Florence Perfume
thefairestlady1012 5/31/2012 11:45:00 AM
To me both the jasmine notes, the bergamot, and the gardenia predominate in this. Overall, though, this is a very light floral scent but with a distinctive character. This is one of my favorites from the Tocca line thus far. I have the "Love Yourself" fragrance collection and only have two more I haven't tried yet to try and then review. This one was third in the order they go in the box. So I can't pick an absolute favorite just yet. The one problem I had with this, though is that the bergamot and gardenia really sharpen the longer I wore the scent. That might be a reaction specifically to my body chemistry as most things are with how scents wear for everyone individually. So other people may not have this problem. May get my sister to try this one as she is a big fan of jasmine and bergamot alike. But I don't think this will be my absolute favorite but it is a good contender.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Tocca - Stella EDP
thefairestlady1012 5/31/2012 11:38:00 AM
One must truly adore citrus scents, most notably orange, to enjoy this perfume. And, Stella definitely imparts a pleasant orange scent that is graced with a backdrop of spicier notes and blossoms (mainly, you guessed it, orange blossoms) to round it out and make it more sophisticated, To me, this reminds me of a more elegant version of the now discontinued Orange Sapphire scent from Bath and Body Works, so if you liked, loved, or were curious to try this scent but never got around to it, I'd say this may definitely be a good substitute. While I liked both Orange Sapphire and this scent alike and was pleased to find that they really did take after one another in a lot of ways, I must confess, on me personally, citrus scents, especially orange do not smell as good on me as they do in the air or on someone else, so this fragrance was not the most ideal fit for me to purchase in full (have a sample size in a collection of all the Tocca fragrances), though it would be nice to have in a rotation of scents for a pleasant change-up every once in awhile. And, if you love orange scents or even a good spicy one this may be a good one to try especially in summer and early fall, I think, but for me, I would not repurchase. but I do recommend.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Tocca - Cleopatra EDP
thefairestlady1012 5/31/2012 11:31:00 AM
I received this as in a sample vial size along with those of all of the other Tocca fragrances in the "Love Yourself" fragrance collection. I have been wearing one scent per day trying to determine, which one(s) I like the best and will post reviews on each scent. Cleopatra is a scent that combines mainly grassy notes with certain dried spices and subtle florals. Mainly the grassy, herby notes show up on me. Out of all the ones I've tried so far in the set that I have, this one reads the strongest on me. I liked the sent, it having in its blend a favorite note of mine being patchouli, but there were many other notes that just didn't suit me, but I don't typically do too well with "grassy" scents anyways. Though the may smell good and even in some cases, as this one did, smell good on ME, it's just not my personal taste. But I think it's still a scent worth trying and is definitely worthy of love from someone who might gravitate more heavily to these "earthy" grass scents.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Donna Karan - Pure DKNY
thefairestlady1012 4/6/2012 10:10:00 PM
This smells soft, cozy, and Heavenly. Warm without being too heavy for the warmer months we are currently heading into. Fresh without being too prickly for your nose, making you feel like you might sneeze your head of within 20 seconds of sniffing it. Floral without being too insubstantial. Vanilla and sweet while still being light but not overly girly. Overall a very, clean and very well-balanced scent that is seasonless. I personally like this for casual, everyday use, but I think it also could suit a nighttime occasion in the warmer months when most night perfumes could be a bit too much for a sticky night. A favorite for sure. And, I love the various "good" components of these fragrance. The recycled glass bottle. The ingredients sourced from various developing nations. Overall a win. My only small gripe as while the lightness and airiness of this fragrance is part of its charm, I wish it lasted a bit longer, but since for me this is mostly a "day" scent, I really can't say too much about that, especially when buying another bottle will just benefit the causes this perfume helps to support even more. I will definitely buy again. Have also tried the Verbena version and liked it and would recommend trying it as well, but to me, that scent really seems only workable for Spring and Summer, not all year-round like this one. But I may end up getting that one too. Just decided to start with this one first!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Wen by Chaz Dean - Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner
thefairestlady1012 2/17/2012 10:36:00 PM
I'm officially a Wen girl now and have been for about four months, but already I am hooked. Such a great product-these cleansing conditioners. I have a hair type that is extremely unusual in the sense that it is of fine coverage with strands that are actually quite thick. Because of this, I find it beneficial to use two different formulas of the cleansing conditioner one for my scalp and one for the midshaft and ends. This formula is my mid-shaft to ends one and it is perfect. I'm still curious as to which one will be the best for my crown/scalp area, as I have been using the Cucumber Aloe for that area but wonder if the Tea Tree formula would work better considering I have a very dry scalp and the Cucumber can actually be rather astringent at times. But anyway, I still consider the Sweet Almond Mint to be my favorite of the ones of the cleansing conditioners I've tried, the others being of course the Cucumber Aloe and the Lavender, the lavender I did not like at all. The sweet almond mint fragrance is amazing for one and for another, the formula is a perfect consistency for my hair type and density, neither being creamy without being heavy. One thing everyone should know with this product, as with all cleansing conditioners, is that the formulas NEVER lather, which makes it better for your hair, as there is no stripping involved in the washing process, which is good for everyone but especially for those with color-treated or chemically processed tresses. Awesome product. Can't put into words how much I love this and this brand in general. Reviews will come for the styling creme, replenishing mist (fave Wen product) and the Remoist deep conditioner!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Bath and Body Works - Secret Wonderland
thefairestlady1012 7/25/2011 4:36:00 PM
Even though I technically said I would buy this scent again, the truth is, I probably won't. But this has nothing to do with the scent not being good or noteworthy (because it is). It's just that I have other Bath and Body Works scents that I like better for me. But I don't regret trying this scent, as I really enjoyed it. Also, I recommend you trying it too, hence why I said I'd buy it again, even though it's not a signature for me. Secret Wonderland, to me, is a blend of berries mixed with a tiny bit of amber softened and sweetened pleasantly by a hint of vanilla. Because of the way the berries and vanilla and spices play with each other: this scent bridges the gap between fresh and playful and feminine and slightly sensual. This scent to be could work for summer or fall/winter because of the different types of notes within. Lovely and unusual combination. Like I said, I liked this a lot, but there are others I simply like better. For me, this is how Bath and Body Works Scents rank: 1. Twilight Woods 2. Japanese Cherry Blossom 3. Country Chic 4. White Citrus 5. (Honorable mention): Winter Candy Apple- available at Christmastime only. There you have it, though, honestly, Secret Wonderland would be next on the list. So, I really do recommend giving this a try or at least a sniff as you walk around the store! :). I have tried two products in the scent: the triple moisture shower cream and the travel-sized fragrance mist...those mists are fabulous for sampling new fragrances because they are small and you can use the product any time of day, not just in the bath or shower and such. And, you can get three for 10 dollars (USD) usually. So, give this a try and see if you like it. It's very nice!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Hue
thefairestlady1012 6/21/2011 1:36:00 PM
LOVE MAC lipsticks! I have seven, and there's not a one that I don't absolutely love! Hue is a sheer glossy light peachy pink (slightly more peach than pink, but still wearable for the fair and cool-toned such as myself) that still shows up and wears as great as any of the darker less glossy MAC lipstick shades for me. Good light lipcolor that goes well with more natural-looking makeup and more dramatic (smokey) looks alike! One of my favorites, especially this time of year. Will repurchase and recommend this shade and MAC lipsticks in general!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Bath and Body Works - Country Chic
thefairestlady1012 6/21/2011 1:23:00 PM
I'll admit it. I am slowly but surely becoming a Bath and Body Works addict. And, I know it seems like I come on here and rave about every scent I smell, but I must say I really, really like this scent. Much of it has the same appeal as (though the notes are completely different from) my favorite of all BBW scents: Twilight Woods. It has a same composition of woody notes throughout accented with mostly fruits and very soft floral elements in the background. With Country Chic, though, the fruits are a lot brighter and are more prominent throughout than the Twilight Woods in which the woods themselves clearly dominate, at least on me. For some people, I could see how this would make Country Chic a more of a spring/summer scent and Twilight Woods more of a fall/winter one. But I will where both at anytime because I choose my daily fragrance more according to my mood and time of day than anything else. At the moment, all I have in Country Chic is the travel sized body spray. But my Mom got the body lotion and shower gel in a gift bag and she really likes those, so I know the scent is good throughout a lot of the products! I will need to get more products in this i think. I'm really liking these travel sized body sprays, it's the easiest way for me to try out new scents or ones that are just new to me. I think I like this so much that an EDT MIGHT be in order in the far off future. The only other EDT from this company is Twilight Woods, and that is my favorite, and I'm asking for the Japanese Cherry Blossom one for a next occasion. Those are by far my favorites I've ever tried, so that should give an indication as to how much I'm liking this one too.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Donna Karan - Be Delicious
thefairestlady1012 2/19/2011 2:25:00 PM
With the exception of my beloved Rainkissed Leaves and White Citrus body splashes from Bath and Body Works, I really have no fresh, clean, and crisp fragrances that are perfect for the warmer months, especially in the way of actual perfumes. So, with a Christmas gift card to my local department store in tow, I strolled around the perfume counters in search of that perfume before the weather gets warm. And DKNY Be Delicious most certainly fits the bill. As the color of the liquid (and the shape of the very sleek and cute bottle) imply, the most obvious and prominent note in this scent is that of sour green apple. But don't think that this fragrance is by any means one dimensional. There is a definite woodsy, muskiness to the scent that gives it more depth and adds maturity to it. I think this fragrance would flatter women of many ages with a variety of tastes, as the scent does have notes of both fruit and woodsiness and even possibly a light floral. But this is not what I would consider to be a predominately floral scent. I love this and would recommend and repurchase as a fresh, clean, and modern scent that is well on its way, I truly believe to becoming timeless.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Bath and Body Works - Winter Candy Apple
thefairestlady1012 1/1/2011 12:10:00 AM
Lovely fragrance! Very light and fruity with just enough warmth and sweet spice to make it good for the fall and winter, especially during the Christmas season. According to the information printed on the BBW website and on the bottle the most prominent notes are candied orange and apple and cinnamon. It may have some light notes of cloves and other spices, but the aforementioned three are the most noticeable in this scent. I love this and will definitely repurchase as it comes again with every Holiday season, and I almost wish that it was not only available for limited amounts of time, but, then again, as much as I love this fragrance, I can'r really see myself using it at any other time other than Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the early parts of January, so it isn't such a bad thing. Besides its nice to keep certain things special and reserve them only for these festive times that are Christmas. Try this! This is my favorite out of all of the Holiday Traditions fragrances, a collection that also includes Twisted Peppermint, Vanilla Bean Noel (second favorite and is also always brought back each year), and Snowberry Vanilla (I think that's the name, but am not totally sure and I think that was a new one this year.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No