Fragrances -Hermes - Un Jardin en Méditerranée
Dive14 6/16/2010 10:42:00 AM
My first memories of this perfume is my mum spraying it liberally all over my sister and I in an Hermes boutique in Rodeo Drive. I can remember my first thoughts, that it smelt totally different to anything I usually go for, and yet I loved it. The notes are listed as Fig Woods and Leaves, Orange Blossom, Bergamot and White Oleander. It smells very natural, 'green', fresh and warm - like the essence of a holiday captured in a bottle or like walking through an aromatic herbal garden. It's definitely more suited for one of those balmy, hot summer evenings for it to reach it's full potential. In my opinion I prefer it as a unisex scent; I can imagine this smelling absolutely delicious on a man... a handsome, well-educated, sharply dressed man. For me, however, it's too leafy and green - basically just not sweet or obviously feminine enough for me to commit to it. My issue is that if I happen to pick up on a particular note (whether it's my imagination or not) then that starts to become all I notice and look out for - and in this case it's dill/coriander. My sister has a bottle of it and when she wears it I can sometimes notice it quite prominently in the dry down, and to me it smells vaguely musty. I prefer the initial juicy, almost mouth-watering first blast. I would rate this higher for a male, however for myself it's just not "me" (read: foody, vanilla-based, sweet) enough.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Hermes - 24 Faubourg
Dive14 6/15/2010 11:10:00 AM
This is the perfume that I wear for myself. When I just want to smell refined, "high class" and elegant, this is my scent. I absolutely love the smell of it wafting through the breeze on a warm summer's day in London. It is distinctive and recognisable, I recently thought that I smelt it on a girl when I hugged her and couldn't stop thinking about it ever since - that's what made me repurchase it recently. This is admittedly a bit more 'perfumey' than I usually go for - most of my perfumes can all be described as foody. This is still soft, feminine and sweet though, and the drydown is rich and warm and I love it. I can even detect vanilla. Some might call it slightly old-fashioned, and a bit of a 'status' scent, even "old money". It certainly is of the highest quality, from the bottle to the liquid inside. It somehow manages to smell very expensive to me and I think it represents Hermes as a brand so well - understated, classic, expensive but not flashy. It has an ability to drape the wearer with an air of sophistication and wealth as only Hermes can. I feel so chic and feminine when I wear it. I read that Princess Diana used to wear this - need I say more? It is actually quite a comforting scent too and reminds me of my mother because this used to be her signature scent for a while. I just love it.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Christian Dior - Hypnotic Poison
Dive14 6/14/2010 6:29:00 PM
I actually feel that the brief that the creators of this perfume were given was make something that just smells sexy.. The notes I get are vanilla, almond and like some kind of darker, alcohol-like note. To me, it's not the kind of scent you'd expect to be described as girly, innocent or flirty, it's more 'knowing' than that, I guess it is very obvious in the way that it's sexy.. The one thing that bothers me is that it can smell a bit like alcohol at times but I am just in love with the vanilla and almond and the dry down which in my opinion is beyondd gorgeous. It is a strong scent but a quiet scent, not loud in the way that those bright and juicy scents are but in the way that the sensual aroma manages to quietly pervade your senses. If I had to describe what it smelled like I would say dark, warm, inviting, arousing, sweet, sexy and sultry. It is a serene, sensual scent that makes me think of a still, dark, black lake under a heavy night sky.. The dark red bottle is gorgeous and definitely suits the scent, I also love the cute "hypnotic poison" labelled on the bottle - it really is hypnotic poison. It is more suited for evening wear in my opinion, mainly because of the mysterious darker element it has which stops it from basically being Pink Sugar or some other vanilla concoction. Wearing it just makes me feel soo sexy & good and I enjoy smelling it on myself and having others smell it on me. It is the perfect kind of scent that I would wear on a date or to seduce a guy. It reminds me of Dior Addict but not as complex. This is like someone just used alll the sexy notes and that's it...!! Sometimes I prefer lighter type fragrances but if you are looking for a definite obvious sexy fragrance, like I usually am ;) then I would go for this for suree
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Chanel - Coco Mademoiselle
Dive14 6/14/2010 5:28:00 PM
This fragrance is nothing short of a masterpiece.. not to say that I don't prefer other scents more though, I do, my favourite is TM Angel, followed by JPG Classique and Pink Sugar, but at one point I did think I had found and wanted this to be my signature scent. While I don't have the perfume any more I have the body spray and body oil. The reason I am writing this review is that I recently smelled this on a girl I work with and it smelt soo good on her. I absolutely love Chanel and as with all of their products find this perfume absolutely timeless and the quality is outstanding. I also find coco mademoiselle to have excellent silage and staying power. It is sexy but ladylike at the same time, sophisticated but also still a youthful scent and flirtatious yet suitable for work etc. It's very feminine too. I recognize this when I smell it on someone yet I have to admit that it smells different on everybody too. The only thing that made me go off of this fragrance years back was that I felt I could smell oranges, and once you pick up on something you sometimes can't help but notice it constantly from then on. But there is a really nice "warm" quality about this scent which is so comforting and smelling this for the first time in years on another girl makes me so want another bottle of this again, but I know that I have way too many perfumes to warrant this :(. It makes me feel very 'safe' and expensive, whereas when I wear something like BS Fantasy I just feel a bit tacky. I am seriously going to try and use up some perfumes so I can warrant buying this again, in my opinion everyone should own at least one perfume by Chanel in their lifetime.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Hanae Mori - Butterfly EDT
Dive14 6/14/2010 9:26:00 AM
This is another product that I would never have bought if not for Makeupalley...!! I heard about it from this website and as it is not easy to get hold of here in the UK, I made sure I smelled it the next time I was in America. I put off buying it as I have so many perfumes but then I saw the 100ml EDT on a website for about £30 and I finally caved in. My first impression was "mmm...", and that it smells to me like honey and baby powder, cupcakes and marshmallows! The overall impression is quite "vanilla" but from the reviews I understand that there is actually no vanilla ingredient. I would describe this as a warm, cozy, dreamy, powdery, edible smelling gourmand, that I would personally catergorise for 'romantic' use (like a date or a romantic evening in). However it is also subtle and inoffensive enough to wear to the office. It's just a very "pretty" scent overall, and manages to somehow be sexy and flirty but also sophisticated, which I love. It blends well with my body chemistry, too. I personally love the bottle also, it's so understated and classic. It has good lasting power too and the drydown to me smells like yummy chocolate chip cookies - I like the drydown most of all. It smells GORGEOUS the next morning! Can't wait to see if my boyfriend comments, will update.. ***UPDATE 15/06/10*** It has passed the boyfriend test, so I guess the sexy, seducing qualities of this perfume are true ;)
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Thierry Mugler - Angel Celestial Hair Mist
Dive14 6/11/2010 6:24:00 AM
love this.. it is more powdery than Angel edp, and seems feather-light in the way the scent seems to float around you. Soo nice, like something an angel would smell like so the name is very fitting. Angel is my absolute HG and will be forever so I had to have this, as well as the shower gel, exfoliation, deodorant, body cream and obviously the perfume itself ;) I just love it and scenting my hair with it. I have long, blonde hair extensions so it's really noticeable when my hair smells good. It still smells 'foody' like the original, the notes chocolate, vanilla, caramel, berries, honey, patchouli, and bergamot seem to still be there. You will get so many comments with this scent
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Fragrances -Cacharel - Amor Amor
Dive14 6/9/2010 9:05:00 AM
The first time I smelt this I really liked it straight away. It doesn't take itself too seriously, it's just a young, playful and flirtatious fragrance. It's funny because one thing I did think to myself was that it was that it was a sexy scent, but also quite fresh and clean, usually sexy fragrances smell 'dirty'.. Amor Amor is actually described on the internet as a delicious "sparkling fruity floral" that's "both fresh and sexy", so I guess they achieved this. It's very sweet, and like all the perfumes that seem to appeal to me contains vanilla, which definitely comes through. On first impression it seems like an innocent scent but it is actually quite seductive which becomes more apparent in the dry down. Other people like it too which is very important to me & have commented on it. It's not my favourite but I find it very wearable and it seems to uplift my mood whenever I spritz some on. I prefer warmer, gourmand scents in general though..
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Christian Dior - Dior Addict EDP
Dive14 6/9/2010 5:46:00 AM
I've always felt a bit unsure about this perfume. Sometimes my friend wears it and I absolutely love it, but then when I smell it in a store it doesn’t seem quite right on me. I would describe it as gourmand, but a “dark gourmand” if that makes sense at all… “yummy” - but not in a marshmallows & vanilla Pink Sugar kind of way, more like dark chocolate fondant. If Pink Sugar was baby pink chiffon, this would be rich heavy velvet; it has a way of draping itself around you. It has excellent silage by the way, literally leaves a trail behind you, which some may or may not like (I love this as I’m not a fan of scents that stay close to the skin). It is definitely a strong and noticeable scent. The lasting power is also very good and I’m glad it’s only available as an edp. What I’m unsure about is this 'nutty' note I always feel like I get, it’s like the hazelnuts in nutella or a Ferrero Rocher chocolate or something. That note also makes the perfume quite distinctive too, which I don't like, because then I feel like the perfume is wearing me rather than the other way. Addict never really melds with my own body chemistry like I get with Angel, Pink Sugar and Flowerbomb. Although all of these scents have a prominent vanilla note, in all but Addict it tends to be more generic vanilla ice-cream than the bourbon vanilla absolute I get with the latter. Personally I would take the Pink Sugar kind of yummy over this, maybe because while it’s still sexy it’s also appropriate for casual wear. I couldn’t really see this as a jeans & t-shirt kinda fragrance. It makes me think of lingerie; black silk stockings, suspenders and stilettos, that sort of thing.. I remember window-shopping at night time in Paris peering into the windows of a high end lingerie shop and this scent conjures up that moment for me. Addict seems to ooze sexuality and feel quite raunchy. I could really imagine this working better on an exotic, sultry brunette than me. I feel like due to its overtly sexy nature the only time I could see myself wearing this would be in a club. It’s definitely not one for the teen sort of generation, unless you are a pretty sultry, mature sort of teen, mainly because it's quite "loud" and even when applied with a light hand can be smelt by most people within a 5 metre radius. It is just one of those scents that shout rather than whisper. I think I just find it quite a confusing scent as whilst I can definitely pick up on the classically feminine notes of vanilla and white flowers there is something about this perfume that is also kind of masculine. There is an almost dirty animalic base note that comes through and that is perpetually evident. That’s why for me, it’s a scent best reserved for an evening of seduction.. that’s when I love the dry, powdery aspect and it’s dirty in a good way.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Oribe - Gold Pomade
Dive14 5/26/2010 12:02:00 PM
Love this, it was about £50 so it is quite expensive, however I have hair that is all-over highlighted blonde with long golden blonde hair extensions and this really enhances my colour and adds lustour. It also seems to make my hair catch the light more which I really like. I also think it enhances the golden highlights in my hair but be warned though, that because it is more of a golden blonde parts of my hair that are more white do become slightly more golden-looking. I like that fact that it is a also a conditioning styler that apparently strengthens hair with keravis and provitamin B5 and contains crushed gold minerals to "deliver an actual 24-karat-rich sheen". I love that I can add a glint of gold to my hair, especially as my favourite thing about blonde hair is the way it reflects the light and imparts a sort of "halo" effect around your face. Lovely 'bling' gold packaging too. It is hard to get off your fingers sometimes but I usually rub them on my decollete and shoulders etc. afterwards for sparkle. Would buy again if I run out.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Jean Paul Gaultier - Classique EDT
Dive14 4/28/2010 5:06:00 AM
This is stunning! If I had to sum it up I would say sexy and chic. This is my second favourite perfume of all time after Angel by Thierry Mugler. I recognise this anywhere, even if I don't know it's JPG straight away I always notice the smell and wonder what it is, because it can smell slightly different on different people. I smelt this on someone in a club recently which is what made me fall in love with it all over again - I kept trying to find the smell and who it was coming from. On 2 other separate occasions I also asked 2 women what they were wearing and it was this. It smells like a sexy, gourmand scent. It's definitely well suited for a sexy date or an evening occasion. The lasting power is also very good, I've never had the EDP (the one with the pink tin) but I've tried it and prefer the EDT, which I've owned 3 times in total, and it really lasts a long time so I can't imagine wanting anything even longer-lasting! When I first spray it it's quite strong and I think it smells a bit sherbert-y, but then it settles into a lovely ambery, vanilla scent. The top notes are listed as anise, orange blossom and tangerine; middle notes are ginger, orchid and ylang-ylang and the base is vanilla, musk and amber. The vanilla and amber come through the most for me but the orange blossom and ginger are apparent on the first spray. Personally I think this is chicer than your typical 'sexy', evening scent. To me it smells very Parisian. There's just something about it that smells so gorgeous and unforgettable. It also smells extremely comforting to me, like being enveloped in a hug by someone you really love. I will buy this forever.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Bonne Bell - Lip Lites - Cream Pop
Dive14 4/26/2010 9:40:00 AM
I've bulk bought this as I think it's a lovely classic frosty pink shade. I know some people probably think this colour is quite tacky but I personally think it's a classic. The colour is shimmery-pink and the perfect girly shade imo. I have got a lot of compliments when wearing this too and it tastes and smells yummy (like oranges) which I absolutely love. The colour also lasts a long time on your lips. For such a cheapie lipgloss I am impressed. I can see why people say it's a "pornstar" shade but sometimes that look works?! Will buy again if I ever run out.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -BeneFit Cosmetics - Smokin' Eyes
Dive14 3/12/2010 5:40:00 AM
Everything inside this kit is very good quality which I think is true with all of Benefit's products. You get a good eyeshadow brush, tweezers, 3 shades of eyeshadow (1 for highlighting, 1 for all-over base and 1 darker shade for outer corners), tinted brow gel and the "eye bright" cream. This definitely gives you smoldering, smoky eyes which is my favourite look. I have so many MAC eyeshadow brushes and smoky eyeshadow and highlighting shades but if I'm in a hurry this does the job almost as well. The base colour shade reminds me of Knight Divine, for reference, and the shimmery colour is like a more lilac version of White Frost. I love this kit and would definitely think about repurchasing.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Escada - Ocean Lounge
Dive14 12/17/2009 11:58:00 AM
I like this a lot but I only really got it because I liked Rockin' Rio and you can't get that anymore :'(. I think this is very summery and happy and uplifting. Definitely a fruity and sweet smell and a very youthful scent too, it makes you feel young!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Hugo Boss - Boss Orange by Hugo Boss
Dive14 11/8/2009 12:48:00 PM
I was really surprised when I smelt this for the 1st time, I really liked it! I was expecting a very bland, commercial, celebrity-endorsed scent but I was very pleasantly surprised. It's very "scrumptious" and yummy! I can smell cinnamon and vanilla and it just smells lovely, delicious and edible. I think the best way I could described this would be to liken it to the smell of a cinnamon apple pie! Warm, comforting and sweet. I am a big fan of "foody" scents so I love this smell. Everytime I wear this my boyfriend asks what it is, so men must like it!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Cetaphil - Gentle Skin Cleanser
Dive14 10/6/2009 10:09:00 AM
This is great! It made my makeup just melt off which is what you want at the end of a long day. I got this from victoria health, an online shop for £7.99 online and free delivery! I use this with water but you can also use it without. It makes my skin feel soft and really clean and pampered. I have seen comments saying how this leaves "a film" on the skin - unlike many other harsh cleansers this is so gentle on the skin that it actually doesn't disrupt the acid mantle layer of the skin. The acid mantle is a very fine, slightly acidic film on the surface of the skin acting as a barrier to bacteria, viruses and other potential contaminants that might penetrate the skin. I hate that squeaky feeling that some cleansers create. Will definitely buy this again.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No