Fragrances -L'Aromarine - Rose
PrincessKim 4/8/2013 7:18:00 PM
Disappointing. I had tried the L'Aromarine/Outremer Vanille and loved it, so I ordered the Rose Eau de Toilette from Smallflower.com. Medium strength and sillage, decent lasting power. So why am I disappointed? Because I get nothing but a weird, grocery store tomato or tomato soup scent from this. I guess I'll be sticking to Jo Malone Red Roses and donating my once-used bottle of Outremer Rose Eau de Toilette in my weekly bag for my local women's shelter. I obviously would not repurchase.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Lubin- Black Jade
PrincessKim 7/30/2011 2:20:00 PM
I'll be honest: I bought this because I'm a Francophile, love opulence, and I was especially intrigued by the idea of wearing Marie Antoinette's perfume. Purchased a sample from Luckyscent.com, and they say Black Jade was inspired by Marie Antoinette's rose garden at Petit Trianon. Hmm. Did she have a spice garden, too? Because this was WAY spicier than anything I've worn. It was very full of cinnamon and incense right from the opening. I like the fragrance, but it's not as floral as I had hoped it would be, and it gave me that "about to sneeze" feeling intermittently throughout the day. There is something VERY familiar and almost common about Black Jade throughout its top and middle notes. It's reminiscent of something I know I've smelled in a department store. The middle notes were all jasmine, incense, and cinnamon on me. I'd say it was almost like what I WANT carnations to smell like, instead of being bitter-spicy. That fleeting stage where the fragrance transitions from its middle to base notes is LOVELY. The word that repeatedly came to mind when I sniffed my arm was "pretty." It's not sexy; it's not cute. It's just pretty. The base was a very green mix of amber and flowers on me, like an amber bouquet. I would repurchase this again (as in, buying a full bottle) to change it up from my normal perfumes every now and then, and partially for bragging/uniqueness points, but it's not something I would wear more than maybe once a month.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Chanel - No.5
PrincessKim 7/20/2011 10:48:00 PM
Wow! I first bought Chanel No. 5 several years ago. I sprayed it on, and it seemed very strong and a little bit too mature and serious for regular wear, so it sat in a drawer for a few years. Fast forward to yesterday. After watching Coco Before Chanel (which happens to star Audrey Tautou, Chanel No. 5's current spokesmodel), I thought it might be fun just to try the fragrance again. I spritzed a bit on the sides of my neck, under my hair, and waited. The good old aldehydes came trumpeting out, just like last time. I'm still not fond of those, but I can appreciate them, the way someone who doesn't drink often might not like champagne, but can appreciate the artistry in a well-made bottle. The aldehyde opening cleared out within about a half hour. The florals were next. As Mademoiselle Chanel intended, I didn't detect any recognizable flowers. Also, gone was the thick powderiness of my previous experience. In its place were rich, creamy flowers and a gentle sweetness that would later give way to the lovely drydown. Fast forward a few hours, and the base of the fragrance came out. Mmm, my favorite. It's warm, comforting, and very amber-vanilla on me. Just perfect. Not as sweet as my pure vanillas, and not as harsh as some of the ambers I've tried. I can see why this fragrance is still so popular after 90 years! I gave the packaging a 5 rating for the iconic bottle, but it would be nice if the liquid (I have the Eau de Parfum, by the way) was better protected from light. I just keep mine in a special perfume drawer, though. Chanel No. 5 has made a convert of me. I will definitely be repurchasing!
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Eau d'Italie- Jardin du Poete Eau de Parfum
PrincessKim 7/18/2011 11:03:00 PM
What an interesting fragrance! When I first applied this, I was immediately hit by a sharp, green smell. It was almost like biting into bitter lettuce or a leaf from an orange tree. If I had to pin down the opening, I'd say that the bitter notes like bitter orange, green orange, and petitgrain are all right there. The bitterness gave it a slightly dirty feel, like actual dirt in a garden. Whew! I read another review of this scent where someone said it had a "cat urine" note. I sort of agree, but only in that it burns the nose a bit upon initial application in the way a cat's spray would; however, it does not actually SMELL like cat pee. The middle notes were very clean and floral, almost oceanic on me. I didn't get any distinguishable flowers, though, just "floral." The drydown is the most unusual and academic part, like a niche fragrance. When I smell it, the only thing that pops into my head is pencil shavings or a freshly sharpened pencil. Truth be told, it's actually quite pleasant, like a childhood memory. It's a very white, woody smell when you reach the base of the fragrance. While I enjoyed the experience of trying such a different fragrance, it's not one that I'd repurchase.
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Fragrances -Keiko Mecheri - Datura Blanche
PrincessKim 7/18/2011 1:20:00 AM
This is essentially Hanae Mori Butterfly with a different name. Lot of sweetness. I don't get any florals at all. Not bad for people who like sweet scents, but not what I was intending to wear.
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Fragrances -Creative Scentualization - Light Comes From Within
PrincessKim 7/15/2011 3:47:00 PM
YES! I was looking for something floral and fresh, and this is perfect. The opening is very "sparkly" and bright, I'm guessing from the bergamot. The florals are GORGEOUS on me and are the type I love smelling on the breeze, rather than the heavy, Chanel No. 5-type florals that choke people in close quarters. I smell lots of freesia and jasmine, but the honeysuckle gives it a sweet touch. The oceanic musk in the base is very fresh and pretty. It reminds me of The Body Shop's beloved (and now discontinued) Oceanus eau de toilette. Light Comes From Within is just a gorgeous fragrance. I read a review saying that it smells like the air during sunset in La Jolla, CA. Well, I live there, and yes, this is everything that smells wonderful near the ocean. I just wish this would last for more than a few hours on me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - HEELEY Ophélia Eau de Parfum
PrincessKim 7/15/2011 3:36:00 PM
So, apparently, this has several notes in it, but on me, it's tuberose all the way. Occasionally (like once or twice in the entire time I was wearing it), I smelled some whispers of unidentified flowers (think a mild garden scent wafting on the breeze), but then it's back to tuberose. The tuberose started out strong and then got softer and more creamy. I tried a sample, but I would not repurchase this. While it's one of the few scents with tuberose that doesn't make me gag, this is way too overpriced for something that turns out to be a soliflore.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -By Kilian - Back to Black
PrincessKim 7/13/2011 5:02:00 PM
Tried a sample of this from Luckyscent. The opening was very honeyed and slightly fruity on me. Overall, the scent is heavy, too, but not in a bad way. I do get very nice tobacco notes, and although this fragrance is sweeter than I expected, it's still pleasant. There is just one sweet note (and I like sweet) that would keep me from wearing this more frequently...it's sort of pruney, and it makes me think of baklava (which I can't stomach). I think this would be wearable in anything except extreme heat. Nice, and I'd buy another sample when I felt like wearing this, but I'd never use it enough to buy a full bottle.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Marc Jacobs - Daisy
PrincessKim 7/13/2011 4:57:00 PM
Mmm, I love Daisy. It's my "everyday" scent, when I want to smell nice but don't want to take the time hemming and hawing over what scent matches my mood that day. The first time I smelled this, I thought it was awful. A lady next to me in Sephora doused herself in it (they were featuring this fragrance when it first came out), and all I could smell was daisy and lots of dirt. On me, this fragrance is great! I get lots of clean, but not tart, apple, incredibly light florals (I don't distinguish any separate floral notes; it's more like when you're standing outside and some light flower scents catch your attention on the breeze), and possibly some rose and strawberry in there. Very inoffensive and happy scent. I've gotten lots of compliments on Marc Jacobs Daisy, some with really blissed out facial expressions from men, so I'd say it's a definite winner. Halfway through my bottle, and I will definitely repurchase.
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Fragrances -Etat Libre D'Orange - Jasmin et Cigarette
PrincessKim 7/13/2011 4:47:00 PM
Blah. The tobacco notes came out right away on me, even though they're supposed to be the base and in the drydown. Very medicinal; my nose felt slightly burnt. The jasmine was all kinds of wrong. It was dirty, not at all floral. Mostly, it was covered up by the tobacco, but every once in a while, I'd get a whiff, and it had the choking sadness of a funeral home, but again, not really floral, just heavy and dirty. I rarely wanted to sniff my wrist while wearing this. I was patient and waited for the drydown, which was a sweeter tobacco with some woody notes. The drydown was pleasant and was the only good thing about this fragrance on me. Although I ordered a sample from Luckyscent, I would not try this one again.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Pacifica - Hawaiian Ruby Guava Spray Perfume
PrincessKim 5/30/2011 8:14:00 PM
Wow! This is a great fragrance! Hawaiian Ruby Guava smells just like walking into a tourist shop in Hawaii filled with bath products, minus all of the headache-inducing interpretations of pikake and gardenia. Just beautiful guava nestled in a hint of coconut. Mmm. I bought the spray perfume at Sephora for $22.00. This is a very nice price, considering some of the price of some of the other perfumes that they stock. I find Hawaiian Ruby Guava to be a very "happy" scent. Wearing it made me feel very free and summery, and well, happy! The sillage is lovely, not too light or too strong. A spritz of this in the baby hairs on the sides of my neck (like where doctors check for swollen glands) lasted me a whole day. I'll definitely repurchase this when I use up my first bottle. I can see wearing this as a casual fragrance for at least the warmer half of the year, though I wouldn't discount it in the winter, either. This is especially recommended for you lovely West Coast girls!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -The Body Shop - Neroli Jasmine EdT
PrincessKim 5/30/2011 8:01:00 PM
I love Neroli Jasmine! I initially tried it years ago when I worked at The Body Shop, mostly because neroli was named after the princess of Nerola, who used orange blossoms to scent her gloves and bath. Bring named "Princess" myself, I had to give it a try. So many people complimented me on it that I found myself wearing it during every shift. I recently came back to The Body Shop after many years and found that they still carry Neroli Jasmine, and it's just as good as I remember. I love the IDEA of florals, but they don't come out very well on me, and I feel like when I wear Oriental fragrances, they make me or the people around me choke, even though they might smell good. This fragrance is a perfect combination of both, not too heavy, and good for day or night. It's a spicy-sweet floral with a touch of vanilla (at least that's how it comes out on me). I love the sillage, which is great. I do wish it lasted just a bit longer, but since a bottle is so cheap, I just tuck it into a dark pocket of my purse and bring it with me for quick touch-up spritzes. Also, if you spray it where the baby hairs at the base of your neck are (think of the area where a doctor checks for swollen glands when you're sick), your hair soaks some of it in and also keeps it more protected than when you spray it on exposed skin. I will definitely be buying more of this. At $17.00 or so (US dollars), why not? Men love it, and I do, too!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Essie - Mademoiselle
PrincessKim 4/20/2010 3:35:00 PM
First and foremost: This color is meant to be SHEER! If you're looking for an opaque pink, look elsewhere! That said, this is a great color that makes for a classy, polished look. I especially like it because it's low-maintenance. Two coats of Mademoiselle, and you're good for about a week, give or take. I despise French manicures (I just think they have a bad/tacky sorority girl look to them sometimes), but I do love this color on its own. The staying power is amazing! I have been wearing Mademoiselle for six days. Yesterday, I scrubbed my bathroom until it sparkled, using cleaning products, scrubby sponges, and no gloves. I even got down on my hands and knees and cleaned the floors with cleaning spray and paper towels. My nail polish is STILL flawless. I've already bought several bottles of this from Essie's web site and had it shipped to some local women's shelters. If that's not a vote of confidence, I don't know what is. Mademoiselle is a beautiful, long-lasting color. I will definitely be buying this for a long time to come, and I highly recommend it.
9 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Wet 'n' Wild - Ice Blue Pearl
PrincessKim 3/18/2010 3:48:00 PM
YES! Years ago, my cousin, who died at a young age, gave me a box full of nail polishes. In the box was a color that was probably Ice Blue Pearl. Recently, I was reminiscing about her, and I remembered wearing this color and how pretty and subtle it looked. I figured it would be the perfect thing to help me break my cuticle-picking habit, or at least a similar shade, if I couldn't find this one. I bought Wet 'n' Wild's Ice Blue Pearl for 99 cents at my local Rite Aid. It's a GREAT product for a great price! I use two coats for a sheer, opalescent finish that makes my hands look lovely and presentable. It's a very old-money shade, none of that flashy, tawdry stuff that reality show contestants love. It's also much classier (and more hygienic, on short nails) than fake nails. The brush is very easy to use. Although the color is awesome and doesn't show application mistakes, I found that I didn't even make any mistakes with this brush. (Normally, my nails look like a 5-year-old kid did them if I don't have them done professionally.) The brush is just right; it's not too stiff or too soft. Everything about this nail polish is perfect! Ice Blue Pearl is a great color for making your nails look more professional, and the cost is awesome. I'll be stocking up on a few to donate to my local women's shelter!
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Masks -MyChelle - Incredible Pumpkin Peel
PrincessKim 11/28/2009 5:44:00 PM
Woo-hoo! I finally found a pumpkin mask that doesn't have a bunch of nasty chemicals in it. The scent of this is great! There's a touch of that baby food softness, if you know what I mean, almost like pumpkin baby food, but the clove and other spices balance out the scent. It's pretty much a pureed version of a pumpkin pie scent. My husband and I both used this. He didn't notice anything when I put the mask on him, but I noticed a slight tingle or burn when first applying it. However, I had no problems letting the mask sit on my skin for the 5 minutes. Both of our faces felt both tighter (in a good way) and smoother after using MyChelle Incredible Pumpkin Peel. The morning after using it, I felt like my skin was slightly less oily, too. Don't let the cost be prohibitive if you can afford this stuff! It's great! After all, La Mer and other high-end products are WAY more per ounce, and the slightly more than 1 ounce that you get with this will last, by my estimate, at least 7 uses. If you use it 7 times (and I only use mine once a week, so it will last longer; any more than that might be overkill on your skin, anyway), it's only 4 dollars per use! That's not bad for a home facial treatment where you actually see results. Some people complain about tub packaging, but I have never minded that. I just wash my hands before applying, as you should with all skin care products. I'm definitely going to repurchase and stay stocked up on this peel.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No