Fragrances -Malin & Goetz - Synthesized Lotus Root Eau de Toilette
chrystelica 11/10/2012 12:22:00 PM
Although there is nothing spectacular or striking about this scent, it is a very nice rendition of Egyptian musk, which I usually dislike. The lingering after-scent of most Egyptian musks is oily and more hippie than fresh. This is like a breath of cool fresh air mixed with the egyptian musk scent, which is here more floral, as if you are smelling a lotus or some other pond flower. It has the mucky earthiness in the base paired with its ethereal blossom quality, which can be fully appreciated by applying just a small amount. I like this scent more for what it does not have than for what it has. As far as smelling like laundry or detergent, this certainly isn't it, unless you've used a lot of floral scented products in your wash or dryer. It doesn't have the heaviness of most musks, but just enough grounding in earthiness with a slight hint of woods to make the overall impression unisex and balanced.
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Fragrances -Ava Luxe - Pearl Musk
chrystelica 3/31/2012 5:57:00 PM
This is a really pretty musk, one I was searching for that is a "my skin but better" scent. It is interesting just how much like my skin it smells once it is dried down. For the first 15 minutes it was nauseating, as musk can be when it smells very animalic but once it settled down, it does strangely give the slippery, fleshy impression of the skin inside an oyster, just the slightest bit of salt, warmth and a cuddly, soft animal feel. It is pretty and one I see myself wearing A LOT. It would be something to reach for whenever I don't want to be noticeably wearing a perfume, to smell nice. I forget I'm actually wearing perfume with this, but then if I smell it closely it is really wonderful. It smells like the sexy female equivalent of what Kiehl's musk smelled like on my bf. However, it isn't the kind of scent that will EVER get you noticed or turn heads, because most people will be only subliminally aware that you even have a scent, or would assume it could be some type of laundry detergent or dryer fabric softener after-scent that most US citizens trail around with them everywhere, yet this is NICE. Something that makes you want to lean in closer and get a deeper whiff.. =p
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Hilde Soliani Untitled no. 7
chrystelica 3/4/2012 11:35:00 AM
This is a very natural, high-quality, all out gorgeous fragrance. HOWEVER, it is not intended for me at all. It is so cheery, happy, light, bright and pretty it becomes insubstantial, like a breeze over a typical female's skin. I guess I need more of a 'bite' or a slap or a deep fruitiness or --something-- than this because it's just not doing it for me. It starts off a very fresh, cheery, all in your face happy cloud of lemon that surrounds you, and wears silkily like an oil, but not as close to the skin as most oils. The sillage is moderate, another point in favor for this oil for those who like sillage (which I actually don't, a lot of times). The middle notes open up to a very nice vanilla, the sweet kind, like ice cream dotted with pieces of vanilla bean, underscored with a golden, ambery vanilla extract-type oil/resin. I will report back later upon the sandalwood dry down, which is really the only reason I even tried this, as I'm not too keen on lemon to be quite honest. And just given how absolutely blissfully cheerful the opening was, and how that is so not me, EVER, I probably won't touch this one to my skin again. For me, this one is too round, milky and perfect. Sort of reminds me of the lactones found in breast milk. Too gourmand for me. Notes: citrus accord, Madagascar vanilla, Mysore sandalwood
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Fragrances -Hermes - 24 Faubourg
chrystelica 2/27/2012 9:24:00 PM
For as expensive as this smells, I don't think the price is outrageous at all. However, the associations of memories with this scent is ruining it for me. A very close friend of my mother's used to wear this exclusively; it is so common in the circles of wives of doctors in Florida, I can't begin to tell you how many times growing up I've smelled this on various middle aged women. At least now it has a name. The beginning is a loud, rich, full-throated white floral, the kind of woman wearing it (in my mind) has a tan, multiple cosmetic surgeries, large breast implants, and a perfectly tailored white dress who looks perfect if not real. She's wearing light pink lipstick, with big curly blonde hair (this is very 80s) is a bit too happy, and one can see why. She's not so concerned about anyone else, but her friends all admire her because they want to be like her, and she makes each one personally feel as if they can. It smells of pool parties and drunk rich women laughing and gossiping about one another... like sexy women in their early 40s who haven't gotten over sleeping around with other married men. Somehow this doesn't scream "old money" to me at all. I've smelled it worn by way too many "new money" women. More specifically, this is the quintessential "stay at home mom with nannies married to a lawyer/doctor living in a sunny locale with lots of girlfriends" type smell. All in all, I wouldn't wear this because of those associations I have that are so strong, and because this perfume is so "perfumey," ie. nothing in nature would remind me of this except a glossy magazine ad, it's very synthetic-smelling, and even though the ingredients are high quality and blended to perfection, I disagree that this is an especially classy lady, though she may be wealthy. I can totally see the random sex on an animal rug thing though. That part, I can smell in this. The satin undergarments soaked in voluptuous perfume, waiting-for-the-right-man to take them off kind of thing, champagne and bubble bath. Definitely not austere, this one is full of big blonde hair and buxom hugs. PS- Two kids and a divorce. Sorry I had to go there. I'm going to scrub her off of me now before the throbbing in my sinuses turns to a more immanent pain.
10 out of 19 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Diptyque - Emulsion Velours- Velvet Hand Lotion
chrystelica 2/3/2012 9:35:00 PM
First of all, the scent is way too strong, sickeningly so. It is almond OD, with no added depth, not so different from Jergens minus the fake cherry scent, which actually makes the super artificial almond semi-palatable, in retrospect. This artificial almond is overloaded with angelica, which just takes it to a whole new level of sweet-fake-artificial in your face "ALMOND HAND CREAM" scent that just screams... any perfume I was wearing at the time turns to nothing, forget the blending or subtlety. If you want TONS of almond, and I mean sillage as if you're wearing a lot of sprayed perfume, here it is. It gives you that fancy hand cream, very high society kind of smell, without any depth. Also, the pump broke off after a few months, so I have to just sort of squeeze it out, that is, when I can stand to smell it. Can't use it too often though, or it actually dries out my hands and gives them allergic dermatitis. Awesome, glad I paid nearly 50 bucks for this review.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -LUSH - Vanilla Dee-lite
chrystelica 2/3/2012 9:26:00 PM
This is a very pretty jasmine-vanilla combo, a scent I love so much, I love it more than most of my perfumes. Although it is a bit sweet, it isn't too foody, the jasmine keeps it heady and delightful. As far as the quality of the lotion, it isn't the best in the world, but it feels natural and smells so good, I don't really care....
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Neela Vermiere Creations- Trayee
chrystelica 2/1/2012 4:45:00 PM
On me, this is a true unisex, mysterious, yet light and not too heavy, dark mysterious fragrance with a wonderful lift. It does smell somewhat "medicinal" in the sense that it is almost aromatherapeutic, like really good, high-quality japanese incense. Now I say Japanese because it is refined, essential oil-like, and very natural smelling. This doesn't project in your face, but has a quiet, cool, subdued atmosphere. I don't find it in the least to be offensive to others, unlike a lot of "incense" fragrances that can smell artificial and cheap. Also, the 'smokiness' here doesn't exactly smell burnt, like some of the cheaper, bamboo-based Indian incenses can be (Gonesh, for example). This is the kind of quality they only pull out for the special occasion puja each member might have to shell out $500 for.... but, sometimes, as they say, you get what you pay for, yes? I find it sexy, woody, natural, like only freshly obtained, well-preserved biological specimens will smell, and sweet in the sense of the smell you'd get wafting off of a pine tree from a distance, when squirrels jump from one conifer to another. This drew me in immediately and completely, from the very first moment of the first application. It lasts all day on me with very low to moderate sillage; it is a scent for an individual person, if you want to share it you'll have to get close, which is how I like all my perfumes to be. Instead of having the desire to seduce with sweetness or trying to kiss someone's butt, this isn't it, this one calmly states: First, you're going to have to impress me. My cat who is injured and normally hates EVERY scented product or object I've ever had or worn on my person, looked to my wrist today to lean in and smell it. Wow. To call this a masterpiece would be objectification. Notes: blue ginger, elemi, cinnamon, ganja effects, blackcurrant, basil, jasmine, cardamom, clove, saffron, sandalwood, vetiver, incense, patchouli, myrrh, vanilla, cedar, amber, oud and oak moss
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Parfumerie Generale - Tonkamande
chrystelica 1/28/2012 5:40:00 PM
The opening of this said "aldehydic tonka baby cereal." Like a baby was creatively playing with his mom's vanilla cream soda, or maybe even the bitter ones with a raw egg mixed in some Perrier, and he dumped it all into the Earth's Best organics whole grain rice cereal. It's fizzy, tonka, and baby cereal. *cries* Nope, wouldn't try this again, let alone buy it! I didn't have to scrub it off, I waited it out... the woods got a little woodier after awhile, like some cedar chips were laying nearby. It just really didn't work on my skin at all. Then again, Wheat as a note really doesn't do good things on me, nor does the aldehyde and tonka combination. It all just didn't mix well.... and wasn't pretty or sexy. I kept wondering, when is this nice almond milk going to come out and play, but it never did.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Profumum - Vanitas
chrystelica 1/20/2012 12:37:00 PM
This is a high-end version of a very familiar scent, a more full-bodied version of Victoria's Secret Vanilla Lace. It's slightly less sweet than the aforementioned, and the myrrh adds a truly delectable facet of saltiness to what does feel very much like sun-warmed, semi-sweaty voluptuous female skin after some mild exertion. It is a bit naughty, but mostly nice, and if it smelled like this on everyone, it would probably be something nearly anyone would find pleasant or inoffensive. It is not overwhelming, overdone, nor especially attention getting or impressive, but it is smoldering, comforting and warm. No, it doesn't tread new territory but for its class, but this does vanilla really, really well, and I'm not normally a fan of vanilla AT ALL. This is one that certainly makes me want to be. Just for the record, I HATE Flowerbomb and Pink Sugar makes me want to choke. This is so nice that I'm seriously contemplating a FB, even though I never reach for a vanilla fragrance, ever. Vanitas is just the right amount of suggestively seductive while playing at wholesomeness, and manages to come off natural and casual instead of too put together, something that can wear you down in very "perfumey" perfumes.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - SoOud- Burqa Eau Fine
chrystelica 1/8/2012 11:25:00 AM
This is dark and brooding. I suppose they were going for 'mysterious,' and maybe I'm generally unimpressed by oud in general (so it seems) as darker notes tend to just go all muddled on my skin. The scent of this is black ink, the darkest night when no moon is out and the stars look distant and far away; if their shine is even visible it is dim, buried underneath thick grey clouds. I definitely smell oud and ink. The pen ink that you put into fountain pens. Suddenly, after maybe half an hour, the rose and then the leather, then the violet comes out. It has an interesting morphing aspect where one individual note seems to emerge from the darkness and then return for another note to take the stage for a moment. Still not sure if I love it. Probably not, though I'm easily pleased, it is nearly impossible to get me to actually want to own a perfume, even if I give it a 4 or 5 star rating. My overall stance is that while this is OK it will definitely not be joining my collection. Somehow this also reminds me of a museum's ancient artifacts or National Geographic. Beautiful items left behind, their purpose may be known but the culture surrounding them can only be imagined. Maybe there are a few details observed or written down, but the vast overall effect is that these are relics of a lost civilization, with only a trail of scent left behind, self-referent, but its true meaning unknown.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Profumum- Dolce Acqua
chrystelica 1/7/2012 10:23:00 PM
This is just a vanilla candle on me, complete with wax burning. Nothing more, quite disappointing. Not a bad, slightly hot waxed vanilla candle burning smell, very slight spice, but only that... would be more apt in a craft store than on my skin. After around 2 hours I can smell a very faint coconut meat note begin to peek out. It is enhanced by a nutty aroma, but still comes off very much like vanilla candle wax on me. I'm imagining this could be different and better on someone else whose skin doesn't turn almost all vanillas into candle wax. Notes: vanilla, tonka bean, heliotrope, almond and coconut.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Bruno Acampora - Musc
chrystelica 1/5/2012 8:18:00 PM
On me this initially REEKED of patchouli, the dirty type, with wet soil, then morphed into the smell of cheap men's impostor cologne (over applied) mixed with industrial fabric softener. This lasted ALL day, of course, and then some through a shower and into the next morning. Given the many rave reviews on this one, it definitely seems as if it could smell completely different on someone else. This particular type of synthetic musk used may just be the type that goes horribly wrong on me with my skin chemistry, but it came off smelling like a tacky little boy's washed clothes.... Not good. It has no complexity, a very linear scent; I honestly had to wonder if this sample was the same thing other people are smelling. It is just that bad. In the bottle this smells very masculine, but on me it is just putrid.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Eclix La Perla
chrystelica 1/5/2012 5:21:00 PM
First of all, I like this bottle. An alien lady's parts add to its appeal. It smells lightly gourmand, almost like a fluffy lemon custard pastry with cocoa dusting. The first hour is all musky overtones with an odd cocoa-lemon tanginess, with the hint of a light floral toasted scent (lotus)? It smells like a gold-flecked tanning lotion I used to use at the tanning bed which contained lotus. It is a smell both familiar and comforting to me as it reminds me of the after-sun euphoria I used to feel emerging from tanning. Horses apparently love this, too. They all couldn't stop sniffing me today, they were so mesmerized by my neck. Awesome. Sure, I'd repurchase. Sign me up!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Kuumba Made - Amber and Myrrh
chrystelica 1/3/2012 7:21:00 PM
This is so pretty. The slight saltiness adds a depth to the amber and it all feels very grounded. It almost crackles with resin, and somehow reminds me of scented logs burning on a fire... This is exactly what I was seeking, something very simple and natural. It is extremely warming and balanced enough to be completely unisex. I wonder if I will actually find a synthetic conventional perfume that I like as much as this. So far, with amber, I haven't.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Parfums Delrae- Amoureuse
chrystelica 12/20/2011 10:45:00 AM
This is a very loud floral, but an expertly composed, brilliant one. It stands alone in the category of honeyed, spiced tuberose with a tangerine twist. I agree with the reviewer who called this a "red-carpet jasmine," although on me the cardamom and tangerine stand out equally, and the tuberose gives it an extra boost of sillage. I would caution and say this is for the white floral lover *only,* and you really must love strong florals, it does have a similar feel overall to Vivienne Westwood's Boudoir (minus the dizzying tobacco), and with jasmine and tuberose instead of rose as the main floral player/s. Truly a voluptuous classic, for a full-blown woman ready to slay 'em with her glory, it is a super confident fragrance, not for the faint of heart, or for close quarters around those with perfume allergies! Certainly NOT for the office. For a windy winter day at the park and a coffeeshop with a SO, nothing would beat it. Somehow this reminds me of the late August sunshine while laying in the grass, listening to peacocks at the San Francisco zoo. I've had a FB for about a year now; I don't reach for it often, but when I do, I LOVE it. It is certainly one that lingers in the mind, quite unforgettable. My 'largesse' female wild cat also loves it as well, it is the only perfume she tries to lick off my arm. It is a very womanly honeyed scent, with a late dry down of a faint simulacra of musk, (not a real musk) from the combination of honey and cedar. Perhaps it is for the bengal tiger women amongst us, who don't really give a damn what polite company thinks.
6 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No