Fragrances -Guerlain - Idylle
drvogue 10/25/2010 8:57:00 PM
I understand and concur with all the criticism that Idylle is drawing: it's generic, it's department store-ish, it's not outstanding enough for the French powerhouse of creativity. Okay. But what happened to enjoying perfumes just because they're easy to wear and "pretty"? Idylle certainly falls into this category for me. There is a bit of SJP's Lovely and there is a bit of Narciso Rodriguez but there is also something else to make it unique enough from the other two. I would say it's more fresh than Lovely and more floral than NR. For those of us who enjoy this sweetish woody floral musk category, it's a winner. I don't know, maybe I lowered my expectations by reading about all the negative reviews on here. It took a while to try it out but when I did, I was pleasantly surprised. It's a bonus that you can already find it online at deeply discounted prices.
7 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Chanel - Rouge Allure Insolente 65
drvogue 9/11/2010 1:38:00 AM
I walked into Saks wanting Rouge Allure Confidentielle and walked out with Insolente instead. Insolente is a Fall 2010 Rouge Allure and it's absolutely gorgeous. It's a bright pink for those who think they cannot do bright pink. For reference, I am around an NC20. I don't think I can compare it to anything else but it satisfied that "I need to get something different than my usual nude or peachy pink" urge in me. It wears like a dream and stays on for quite a bit too. It's slightly drying on the lips but I will forgive that. The packaging is beautiful, as usual.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Guerlain - L'Instant Magic
drvogue 6/18/2010 3:32:00 PM
This is not a very original fragrance but I still love it. You must like bergamot, powder, almonds, and musk (in that order) to enjoy this simple beauty. The opening is a sweet citrus, kind of like bergamot jam, if you've ever had it. Then the powder and the almond kicks in. It has a very faint similarity to L'Instant in the sense that it's musky and sweet.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -L'Oreal - Colour Riche in Fairest Nude
drvogue 6/18/2010 1:45:00 AM
I understand how this may not qualify as a nude for everyone. It has a strong mauve undertone. However, if your lips are naturally pigmented (darker pink, for example), this works well and looks natural. I like the formula but the staying power is only average. I haven't noticed the creasing that others have commented on. The scent is strong and kind of old fashioned (in a "that aunt who wore too much lipstick" way).
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Hanae Mori - No.1
drvogue 6/15/2010 12:41:00 PM
This is a fancier version of Jessica Simpson's Fancy (pun intended). It's got that same fruity opening which quickly turns into delicious caramelized sugar. It borders on cloying but it's delicate enough to narrowly avoid it. I didn't find anything special about the packaging compared to other Hanae Mori fragrances. Overall, very nicely done. I chose "repurchase" because it's a nice addition to anyone's gourmand collection. I doubt I ever will (repurchase) though: a little goes a long way.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - ColorBurst in 070 Soft Nude [DISCONTINUED]
drvogue 6/12/2010 7:04:00 PM
It's a gorgeous color so I will give it 3 lippies. However, it doesn't work for me. I am about an NC20 (fair skin) but I have pigmented lips (darker pink). When I apply this straight from the tube, it looks like I am wearing peach colored concealer on my lips. Also, like most other nude lipsticks, it shows all imperfections like dry patches etc so you need to make sure you've exfoliated and moisturized before applying. The formula is not drying but the downside is that the staying power is weak. Still, this is a good product for the price. Finally, for D/S nude, I prefer L'Oreal's Fairest Nude over this.
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Fragrances -Issey Miyake - a scent by issey miyake
drvogue 4/9/2010 1:14:00 AM
Nice cross between Diorissimo and Estee Lauder Private Collection Jasmine White Moss. In other words, fresh green floral. Not exactly Cristalle since this one has no bite (=bitterness) to speak of. I also smell a hint of anise, just enough to make it Mediterranean, kind of like summer evenings with raki (=ouzo for Greeks). The bottle is very attractive, even more so than the juice. Word of caution: detesters of ozone beware.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Lolita Lempicka - Forbidden Flower/Fleur Defendue
drvogue 12/16/2009 12:42:00 AM
Add me to the list of reviewers who don't understand the low ratings. The only explanation I have is the baby oil/powder edge, which some people detest. So if you're one of those, stay away. Otherwise, it is so inoffensive and shy, I cannot understand how some labeled it as cloying. To my nose, this is not similar to the original (which reeks of anise). This one is more like a soft floral with a lot of musk and maybe just a hint of anise to make it a flanker. Th whole composition has a creamy Cacharel vibe to it, if that makes sense. The bottle is a bit too cute.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Mark Buxton - Black Angel
drvogue 11/23/2009 4:05:00 PM
This is the only Mark Buxton creation I like out of his own collection. I smell the bergamot immediately and it draws me in. Then the woods and spices come out, especially the ginger. It is fairly sweet but not cloying. I suppose this is unisex (An Englishman in New York?) but I find it feminine enough for my taste. It bears a very distant resemblance to 5'o Clock au Gingembre but I am not sure whether it's just the ginger. The packaging is not my idea of perfection but it is tasteful and heavy.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Byredo BAL D'AFRIQUE
drvogue 11/20/2009 3:08:00 PM
What I like about Byredo is they make wearable every day fragrances that don't scream "Perfume". Although I wouldn't call any of them "interesting" or "unique", they are luxurious and elegant enough to stand apart from anything else out there. Bal D'Afrique represents my view of Byredo well. It's a sweet, woody and musky floral. I cannot discern any particular flower in the mix (but then, I don't really know what marigolds smell like). If Cacharel's Noa Fleur were a niche perfume, it would be Byredo's Bal D'Afrique. The presentation is minimalistically beautiful. Finally, I am now eager to smell Fresh's Mangosteen to see if it is similar to this one, as the reviewer below commented.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Le Labo - Gaiac 10
drvogue 11/11/2009 3:34:00 PM
I'm sure there are a lot of fragrances out there which smell fairly close to Gaiac. Unfortunately, I don't know what these would be. I guess what I'm trying to say is it doesn't smell unique or challenging. So one would think that the $400 price tag is unwarranted. And one would be mostly right. However, there is something so bewitching about this scent, as other reviewers below have commented on. It's woods (I smell mostly cedar since I don't know what gaiac actually smells like), balanced with some freshness (I have no clue what ingredient this would be as there is nothing in the official notes to suggest this but perhaps it's the "not as hard cedar" gaiac component) and skin. The sillage is weak but the staying power is high. If you don't normally go for woodsy scents, you may want to give this a try. Or maybe don't, if you don't want to get stuck paying obscene amounts for a perfume. Whoever is behind the marketing of this company must be commended.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Lolita Lempicka - Fleur De Corail
drvogue 11/5/2009 1:09:00 PM
This could *almost* pass for a niche scent, kind of like a less complex and more aquatic version of M. Micallef's Note Vanillee. It's salty, it's aquatic, and it's also gourmand. Now, when I say gourmand, I do not mean the original full blast L gourmand. This one is more polite, sort of like a cross between saltwater taffy and light caramel with a hint of fruit and flowers. Those who are die hard fans of the original may be disappointed with this one. On the other hand, those who find the original a bit too much may enjoy this version (that would be me). The bottle is cute (not beautiful but cute).
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Nanette Lepore Shanghai Butterfly EDP
drvogue 11/5/2009 1:02:00 PM
I definitely smell the similarity to Light Blue. I also agree that Shanghai Butterfly is a more complex version of the perennial best seller. It's a darkish and slightly spicy citrus. I thought I could smell a hint of incense but it's not in the official notes. Maybe I'm influenced by the eastern name. At any rate, I enjoyed this fragrance, this is not at all what I expected from the girly frilly designs of Nanette Lepore.
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Fragrances -Narciso Rodriguez - essence
drvogue 10/22/2009 9:01:00 PM
Bubbling soap + sweet rose = Essence. Based on reviews, I knew not to except too much. I got exactly what I expected. On the plus side, the bottle is simply gorgeous. The man knows how to impress with clean lines.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Oscar de la Renta - Volupte
drvogue 10/22/2009 8:16:00 PM
This is "Eternity Light", which is a good thing. In my book, it translates to a powdery and ambery floral. Not bad, especially for the rock bottom price.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No