Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Eclix La Perla
Fyankevich 4/20/2012 6:48:00 PM
I bought into the hype on the fragrance board when this was up for sale at a discounted rate at a popular internet perfume store. The rarity of this item, the fact that it's difficult to find and has bizarre eyeball packaging was just too intriguing for someone with absolutely no restraint when it comes to blind-buying perfumes. When this arrived, the weather was very cold, and I felt a bit meh about it. The citrus seemed tart and a bit synthetic to me. Yes, it has a sweet lemon vanilla aroma, but it just didn't seem to live up to my high exceptions at the time. Fast forward to now, it's 76 degrees outside and the sun is happily beaming down to create a gorgeous spring day. Eclix really works or me in the heat. I'm an enormous fan of vanilla, but it tends to be too rich and overwhelming in warmer weather. If you're a vanilla fan who is looking or a spring and summer vanilla, this is perfect. Eclix has a vanilla sweetness to it that's freshened up with a squeeze of cheerful lemon. Like others have mentioned, in this heat it really does smell like a delicious lemon meringue pie. Plus, even though everyone thinks the bottle is absolutely hideous, I think it's weird—and I love weird! It has sort of a quirky extraterrestrial quality, very kitschy, and worth owning just for its originality.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Infusion Organique - Indochine
Fyankevich 4/20/2012 6:35:00 PM
I purchased Indochine unsniffed, and I imagined a sweet, musky smell with the orange and vanilla popping through. I didn't pick up on anything particularly sweet about this fragrance. This is certainly a unisex, the smell actually reminds me of a freshly shaved man. It has a fresh aftershave sort of smell to it. If I didn't read any of the notes, I'd describe it simply as a clean, lemon musk. It's a very casual scent, and the sillage sticks close to the body. It's good for situations where you want your fragrance to whisper instead of scream (i.e. work, school, in a hospital setting...etc.)I don't smell a cloud of scent around me, but as I sniff at my wrists the scent is still there after at least eight hours. I find the company name to be misleading. These products aren't really "organic", but a mix of synthetic and organic. If you're looking for a scent that is completely natural, I'd suggest looking elsewhere. Overall, this scent is nice, but it's definitely not extraordinary. If you're looking for a simple, non-offensive skin scent, Indochine is right up your alley.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - J. Del Pozo Halloween EDT
Fyankevich 4/20/2012 6:34:00 PM
I'm surprised that there aren't any aquatic notes listed in this perfume because all my nose can pick up on is a salty oceanic smell. It's a bizarre mishmash of tart saltiness and odd buttery tuberose. I tried this on a day where there are a flurry of snowflakes outside my window, and it feels very out of place. I'd say this is most definitely a Spring or Summer fragrance. Like the reviewer below, I agree that this is NOT mysterious or dark, I think that the name Halloween evokes this supernatural image in people's minds. The dry down is certainly better than the initial whiff of strong saltwater. I'm going to have to give this scent another go when the weather warms up a bit before I decide if I actually like it or not.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - J Del Pozo-In Black
Fyankevich 12/8/2011 5:14:00 PM
I ordered this one blindly, and I don't regret it one bit. To my nose, this is very similar to Tom Ford's Black Orchid. Like Black Orchid, In Black has a fermented fruit note lurking in the background behind the liquorice and wood, but it's a bit cleaner, lighter, and saltier—not quite as complex or creamy. I don't pick up on anything gourmand or ultra girly here—there's no cherry vanilla cake!—and I don't find it to be particularly sweet; It's very woody and unisex. When it dries down it becomes a clean (detergent), dark floral, powdery smell. Obviously, this one is difficult for me to describe, but I will say it's definitely not for everyone; it's strange, but I like that. The scent doesn't seem to project much, so this could be a daytime option for those that love Black Orchid.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Annick Goutal - Encens Flamboyant
Fyankevich 12/7/2011 6:12:00 PM
Oh, man, I really tried to like this one, but every time I put it on I end up quickly scrubbing it off again. The opening is just so terrible that I can't even bear to wait for the dry down. Annick Goutal does floral right—Le Chevrefeuille is heavenly—so I had high hopes for Encens Flamboyant. I must add that I love incense scents, and I'm on a quest to try anything and everything with incense notes. Unfortunately, as soon as I put this on I immediately envision myself dressed in sweatpants with a sloppy ponytail, scrubbing out the bathtub with comet cleanser. I've tried so many times to like this, but there's something sharp that gives my nose the impression of detergent. It makes me so sad that this doesn't work for me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Elizabeth Arden - 5th avenue nights
Fyankevich 12/7/2011 5:56:00 PM
I purchased this unsniffed and recently swapped it away. Hopefully, its new owner gets some enjoyment out of it. I was completely seduced by the idea of white chocolate and coconut—that sounds so delicious—but this reminded me of Versace Crystal Noir, which I really dislike. I tried this various times, but it didn't work for me. I didn't pick up on anything gourmand in this. It's too synthetic smelling to me and there's a sharp note in it that I found to be very off-putting.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Tom Ford - Black Orchid EDP
Fyankevich 12/4/2011 1:30:00 AM
Black Orchid is a scent that lives up to its namesake, it's dark, dark, dark. It definitely fits the idea of a little black dress scent. If you plan on wearing this to church, to school, or to work—you're out of your mind.This is sex in a bottle, and you can't wear sex just anywhere! There's something in Black Orchid that appeals to the animal part of my brain. I have a sample size bottle of this perfume—which is plenty enough for me—you don't need much. A few tiny dabs on each wrist and neck is enough. This is potent and sexy stuff, so take heed when applying. My first impression of Black Orchid is a rich, purple jam; dark, bitter chocolate; a true creamy coconut smell; orchids on a sweaty summer's night; and there's the deep,dark woods and a slightly salty musk underneath it all. I can't say that I've smelled anything else that's quite like Black Orchid; it's heady and intoxicating.
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Robert Piguet Fragrances - Fracas
Fyankevich 11/25/2011 10:51:00 PM
I'm a lurker on the fragrance board, and Fracas is a fragrance that comes up repeatedly as a legendary perfume. I thought I wasn't a fan of white floral, but I'm starting to think differently after testing Fracas. I sent an email to the customer service at Robert Piguet asking if they sold samples,they asked me for my address, and sent me a free sample vial of Fracas and Bandit eau de parfum! I received the samples only two days after my request. I'm incredibly impressed with their customer service. Most perfume companies are stingy nowadays, so I was pleasantly surprised at their generosity. Fracas is absolutely gorgeous. It reminds me of Spring when the trees start flowering. I was worried that this was going to be so powerful it would knock me out—since I've read so many reviews that place emphasis on its potency—but the sample that I received isn't overwhelming at all. I put a dab on each wrist, and I can't really smell any insane sillage. I asked my boyfriend if he could smell it, and he said he couldn't until I held my wrist under his nose. It's a very clean and realistic floral. I don't see this as being sexy or brash, but rather ladylike, classy, and soft. There's a creaminess to it, and it just melts into my skin. I'd wear this with a crisp, white blouse on a sunny spring day.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Body -Unlisted Brand - Mayumi Squalane Oil
Fyankevich 5/27/2011 10:44:00 AM
Now that I'm 30 years old I have to actually moisturize my face, can you believe it? In my twenties, I'd wash my face with bar soap and I never even thought about applying moisturizer unless my face was noticeably flaky. Yikes! The abuse I put my face through. My skin is starting to change, it's much drier now and I'm starting to notice fine laugh lines around my mouth. I don't think I can stop the aging process and I don't really care to, but I feel that keeping my skin properly moisturized is important. I've been exploring different treatment methods. I tried Oil of Olay for a while, but I found it to be too heavy and the scent was unpleasant to my nose. Squalane oil is perfection. It's completely odorless and light. It absorbs into the skin quickly, and I really notice a change in the dry patches around my nose and mouth.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Cerave - Hydrating Cleanser
Fyankevich 5/27/2011 10:22:00 AM
This is the best facial cleanser I've ever used. I tend to get dry patches around my mouth and nose, and I'm starting to notice dry laugh lines around my mouth. This is the only cleanser that truly made a difference in my skin. I like the fact that Cerave is odor free and really gentle. I paid about twelve dollars at the drug store for this, which is much more than I'd typically spend, but I truly feel that it's worth it. I've tried Cetaphil, which pales in comparison to Cerave. I highly recommend this cleanser for those with dry skin.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Molinard - Les Fleurs de Provence Mimosa
Fyankevich 5/21/2011 3:18:00 PM
This starts off with a very strong alcohol scent that actually makes me cough, but once the scent storm calms the scent left behind is very soothing. I've never actually had the chance to see or smell an actual mimosa flower, so I'm not familiar with the fragrance. Nonetheless, this perfume is really comforting. It reminds me of soft powdery bread dough, but most of all I think of the scent of a new born baby's head. It's soft and sweet, yet there's a distinctive note that makes me think of baking (almond, flour and vanilla), I can envision white flour floating through the air. I'd describe it as a skin scent because on me it doesn't have much sillage. Mimosa would be perfect to for day wear or even to bed since it's so cozy.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Tocca - Cleopatra EDP
Fyankevich 5/4/2011 4:51:00 PM
Cleopatra starts out with a fresh burst of grapefruit sprinkled with sugar. As it dries down on the skin the Egyptian Musk (a unique mix of floral and musk) comes through. I love any scent with Egyptian Musk notes (NR for her and SJP - Lovely) if you enjoy those scents you will fall for Cleopatra. It's fresh and clean, perfect for any time of year, but particularly nice in the spring and summer due to the sparkling grapefruit. Also, I think this would be appropriate for any occasion, day or night. I think this is going to be my go to scent for a while.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm - Gothic
Fyankevich 5/2/2011 8:49:00 PM
I really loved the color of this lip stain. I liked the fact that the pointed tip makes it easy to shape the lips. Unfortunately, I don't have a cupid's bow, (my lips are like two bottom lips!) but this lip stain allowed me to carefully fake a shapely upper lip. The color is very sexy, dramatic, and vibrant; however, I only used it twice before it ran out of color completely and dried up. Although I'm blown away by how gorgeous this color is, and I loved it when it actually worked, I will not buy this again since it's basically a waste of money.
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Fragrances -Guerlain - Insolence
Fyankevich 4/28/2011 12:15:00 AM
I stopped by the local Sephora today and immediately went to the tiny selection of Guerlain perfumes that they had. As soon as I smelled Insolence on the spray swatch, I let out a sigh of pleasure. The SA was nice enough to give me a sample, which I can't stop sniffing. This smells a great deal like Borsari's Violetta di Parma, but without the dustiness. I love them both, but I find that insolence is sweeter and fresher. In previous reviews, many people mentioned that they thought that this was a strong perfume, but it seems as though my skin sucked it right up or maybe I just became immune to the strength. Honestly, I'm drawn to stronger perfumes. I like 'em bold! At first I find this to be very sweet candied violets and a cloud of warm powder. As it dries down it turns into a lovely sweetness that I can only smell if I put my nose to my wrist. Insolence is a bit old fashioned and ultra feminine. I wouldn't call it sexy, but flirty maybe. It's a rainy day at the end of April, and Insolence seems to fit the mood of Spring perfectly. At Sephora it was somewhere around sixty dollars or so for a bottle, but I managed to get it off of ebay for thirty. I can't wait until it arrives so I can douse myself in it! I'd look around online for a deal before purchasing this beauty.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Coty - Harajuku Lovers by Gwen Stefani - G
Fyankevich 4/12/2011 11:44:00 PM
I received a sample vial of G as an extra in a swap and as soon as I put it on I regretted it, big time! I'm a big fan of creamy coconut, but to me this smells like a synthetic tropical cocktail of sickly sweet coconut and strong fruity shampoo. It turned my stomach and I had to scrub it off. I don't have a bottle, but I must admit that the packaging is incredibly cute and playful. Nonetheless, to me M is like a piña colada spiked with ipecac.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No