Fragrances -Ralph Lauren - Pure Turquoise
lashby78 5/21/2008 6:14:00 PM
Pure Turquoise is interesting at first, a bouquet of white flowers next to the exfoliation table at the spa. Then about three minutes later, its dark side comes out. The name is fitting because it smells cheap, like the turquoise necklace you found at the bottom of the bargain bin and bought because you just couldn't go without it. But now you never wear it because it's really just hideous and screams Walmart.
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Fragrances -Keiko Mecheri - Loukhoum
lashby78 2/18/2007 5:30:00 PM
The first time I tried this, I thought it had way too much powder and was thoroughly offensive. I resisted washing it off and was glad I did. In about 10 minutes, the powerful powder note had dissipated quite a bit, revealing a sweet and sensual vanilla. The drydown is absolutely beautiful and this is easily one of my top 5 fragrances. I've been wearing it almost daily for the last couple of weeks, a rarity for me. Try a sample first - I can see how this can be a love or hate fragrance for some people.
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Fragrances -Thierry Mugler - Le Parfum - Perfume the movie Coffret
lashby78 1/13/2007 4:10:00 PM
I went into a local store today to pick up some essential oils and lo and behold, behind the counter was Thierry Mugler's Le Parfum coffret. Since the price is steep ($700) and it's a limited edition, I was sure I would never get my hands on any of these, much less have the opportunity to sniff them. I asked the lady behind the counter if I could sample them - she turned out to be the owner of the store and the coffret (Christmas present to herself), a perfumer/perfume fanatic and was more than happy to share the bottles with me.
I first experienced Paris 1738, the one I was most intrigued by. You have to understand, Paris in 1738 is something I can only read about in books and I must develop a sense of what the streets must have smelled like according to how it is described to me. One sniff from the bottle and I am instantly transported to a time I will never experience firsthand and I am so close to this period in my head that when I open my eyes, it's hard to believe I'm in a small shop in 2007.
Next up was Human Existence. This one is hard to describe other than it made me a bit sad - the troubles and suffering from long ago mixed with blood, sweat and tears combined with the existence each one of us live each day. It was just raw human - good, bad and ugly.
Next in line was Nobelesse, a captivating, almost wearable scent. It was the beauty of nobility bottled with the decay of life, a sweet interpretation of a woman with rich blood and the hatred or jealousy of others.
The last bottle I sniffed was Orgie. I was relieved my fellow perfumaphile offered it up to me as I never would have asked to sniff it myself but the name and premise had all my curiosity. She mentioned that most people blushed when they sample it - I was one of them. It is truly the scent of raw, anonymous, animalistic sex. When I closed my eyes, the scent conjured up scenes almost embarrassing and fantasies never acted on.
After 4 bottles, I could sample no more. They were an overwhelming experience, a journey to faraway places I could have never taken otherwise. Some were a dream come true (I've always wondered what Paris smelled like long ago), some were intriguing, some wearable - they all took me out of myself and transferred me to another place and time or another person altogether.
It should be noted that I have not read the book or seen the movie. I could not match the scents up scene for scene. I can only expand on what I know and experienced them to be. Basenotes has a wonderful full review at http://www.basenotes.net/articles/muglercoffret.html and goes into more detail than I ever could.
The price is $700 and as a limited edition, I would certainly pay for at least two boxes, one to wear and one to save untouched. If only I had the extra $1400 to spend. :-) If you can afford it, $700 is worth the scentual journey. The only negative I had was the box - it looked like a cheaply made box in cheap red velvet. For $700, I'd expect a better presentation. But overall, a small hiccup in a genius work of art.
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Fragrances -Kai - Kai
lashby78 1/6/2007 7:58:00 PM
I received this as an extra in a swap and was pleasantly surprised. I'm not a huge floral fan - there's only a handful I like - but this is beautifully done in a simple yet modern way. It's floral but crisp and clean and evokes memories of a quiet spring morning. I've worn this for 3 days in a row (anyone that knows me knows this is RARE) and have received two compliments on it. When I wear it, I feel feminine and confident - this could become a signature scent. Already clearly in my top 20.
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Fragrances -Christian Dior - Dune EDT
lashby78 12/28/2006 8:09:00 PM
Dune is one of those fragrances that sits on my vanity for a while until I pick it up and realize how much I love it and wonder why I don't wear it everyday. It is certainly strong and the first spray can seem overpowering, so apply lightly. In just a few minutes, it morphs into a sensual amber on my skin - warm and cuddly but still sexy enough to turn heads. It doesn't remind me of dunes or the beach outright, but I can see the connection - imagine a deep red, orange and purple sunset over the crystal blue water, snuggled up in a light blanket with the one you love on a chilly end-of-summer evening. Capture it in a bottle and you've got Dune.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Flowerbelle in Lielac
lashby78 6/3/2006 12:40:00 PM
I guess I'm the only one so far not thrilled with this perfume. I sprayed it on and it smelled like Rave hairspray for about an hour. When it started to drydown, it did have a nice garden shop/fresh cut flowers smell, but not one I'm totally impressed with. Then, about 3 hours later, the scent is gone. I gave it 2 lippies because it's a floral that actually smells like real flowers, not a synthetic or hybrid blend, and I do like that in a perfume. If it weren't for that, this one would get 1 sorry little lippie.
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Fragrances -Dawn Spencer Hurwitz - Piment et Chocolat
lashby78 5/13/2006 5:00:00 PM
From the DSH website: (Les Rouges No. 1) (hot chili red) A spicy-chypre-gourmand perfume of undeniable voluptuousness and sexiness.
Top notes: Black Pepper, Paprika, Pimento Berry, Red Chili
Middle notes: Cinnamon Bark, Clove Bud, Nutmeg
Base notes: Cocoa Beans, Dark Chocolate
I'm not a big fan of chocolate fragrances. On me, they tend to be too sweet and artificial. This, however, is a godsend! My 6-year-old tried it and said, "Ohhhh, chocolate gingerbread!" It does go on a bit sweet, but it dries down to a rich dark chocolate mixed with a lovely blend of spices. On drydown, there's not one particular note that is stronger than another to me. It all blends nicely to form a rich decadent unique scent. It is unusual and definitely not for everyone, but if you can pull this one off, it is just gorgeous. It is the perfect mix of gourmand and spice... it's not too foody which I find in a lot of the gourmands. It's very sophisticated without being too old. I absolutely love it!
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Idole de Lubin
lashby78 3/12/2006 1:14:00 PM
Idole de Lubin gets two lippies for the wonderful fragrance. It's dark, woodsy and sweet, like a cozy autumn evening walk with someone you love dearly. To me, it doesn't lack originality at all. However, it lasts 1 hour before needing to be reapplied. For the price, it's just not worth it. Such a disappointment - this could be a HG for me.
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Fragrances -Child Perfume - Child
lashby78 2/4/2006 9:01:00 PM
I like this scent, but for the price, I'm not sure what the fuss is about. To me, it is a simple tropical fragrance with a stong pikake note. The drydown is nice, and it does smell like "skin", like how you would want to smell naturally if it wasn't for that body odor thing. It's beautiful enough to purchase off of ebay, but not at retail. There's just too many other more complex fragrances with a better pricetag available, so I can't justify this one.
EDIT 12/28/06: After all my "too expensive, blah blah blah" retoric, there really is something to be said about Child and I would even consider paying full price now. Everytime I wear it I get compliments and there is something in the drydown that makes it unique and addictive. It smells similar to so many perfumes but is so different at the same time. I have to change my review from 3 to 4 lippies. I'm addicted.
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Fragrances -Frederic Malle - Lipstick Rose
lashby78 2/3/2006 11:22:00 AM
Ugh. Imagine a vintage lipstick mixed in with some rose essential oil slathered on your skin. When applying, I get melted plastic and a hint of rose. On drydown, it just smells like crayon. I've tried it a few times, but I still really don't like this one at all. It's creative, but not for me.
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Fragrances -Sage Machado - Jade
lashby78 1/21/2006 5:21:00 PM
I really like this scent, but I gave it three stars because it smells similar to what you'd find in your local head shop with a bit more sophistication. I like wearing it and it smells lovely, but I wouldn't shell out $45 for it. I didn't pick up any of the florals in this, either.
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Fragrances -Serge Lutens - Chergui
lashby78 1/21/2006 4:42:00 PM
Chergui was recommended to me because I like complex orientals. When this goes on, I smell the initial smoke and woods, but it dries down nicely to a sweet vanilla. Unfortunately, it reminds me of POTL Luctor et Emergo which I'm not extremely fond of, so that kinda takes away some of its appeal for me. Still, a lovely scent. UPDATE: After trying this a few times, I'm just not particularly fond of this fragrance. It smells almost masculine on me. That said, I'm hesitant to swap the bottle because I wonder if I will grow into this fragrance. It's facinating each time I wear it, but still not quite what I'm looking for. It's a love/hate relationship for me right now. The best advice - if you haven't tried it yet, go for a sample.
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Fragrances -Dawn Spencer Hurwitz - Jitterbug
lashby78 12/18/2005 1:59:00 PM
I have never sniffed Youth Dew, so I can't compare this one to that, but I will say I LOVE this fragrance! My granny was a fiesty young woman in the late 40s/early 50s and this smells just like her. To me, it is sophistication, elegance and charm. A soft powdery amber is the best description I have for this one. It's just lovely.
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Fragrances -Dawn Spencer Hurwitz - Erotica
lashby78 12/17/2005 5:03:00 PM
I wanted very much to like this one. I really really did. I tried it once and immediately had the overwhelming urge to detail my car. This smelled just like Armor All. So, I thought, I'll let it dry down a bit and see if it develops into something a little more, well... erotic. On the dry down, it smelled more and more like Armor All. The leather was so overwhelming, you could barely sense the Opium, although it did seem to get a bit warmer with longer wear. I tried it again the next day with a light hand to see if the leather would disappear a bit and the Opium would come through more. Nope - just Armor All. I would have given this one lippie but thought that Miss DSH was pretty inventive on her interpretation of erotica itself, so added one lippie for that. Oddly enough, each time I applied it, my husband commented on how good I smelled. Lucky for me, if I want to smell erotic, I have a 8oz bottle of the clean stuff in my garage that only cost $3. Save your money on this one and hit up a WalMart.
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Liquid -L'Oreal - infallible never fail makeup
lashby78 11/30/2005 9:13:00 PM
I have very oily skin and live on the shores on the east coast where it's humid all the time. This stuff stands up to the moisture and really looks great on my skin. The lightest shade is a dead-on match for me. Without foundation, my face tends to be slightly blotchy and uneven. I also happen to be extremely acne-prone. But one of my clients said it best today - she said that my skin looked so beautiful and radiant, it was like porcelain. I'm sold! This definitely has the potential to become my HG foundation.
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