Fragrances -By Kilian - Flower of Immortality
masha814 4/9/2013 7:21:00 PM
I agree with the comment on the Japanese peach gummies, but that's a good thing! There's also the scent of real peach skin, rose, musk, and some cooler, greener notes. It's a sheer veil kind of scent, and extremely pretty. Reminds me of the very pale, fine porcelain teacups one sees in Japan or China. Doesn't last more than a few hours on me, but it's gorgeous.
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Fragrances -Serge Lutens - De Profundis
masha814 3/15/2013 9:07:00 AM
De Profundis is a very quiet, subtle chrysanthemum cologne. So it gets lippies for being unique and interesting. And of course, a lippie for being purple. But that's about it. It only lasted about 15 minutes on my skin, about 2 hours on a testing strip. It has a cool, reflective quality that I like, but not enough oomph. It seems more like a sketch than a painting.
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Fragrances -Amouage - Lyric Woman
masha814 1/5/2013 7:12:00 PM
The richest, most velvety rose perfume on the planet. This is an extraordinary feast of floral, spice, incense, and milky notes. It is a complex perfume, yet seamless. Elegant, but not at all cloying or overdone. Every element is in its place, and nothing extraneous appears. Simple perfection!
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Fragrances -LaLique - PERLES DE LALIQUE
masha814 1/5/2013 10:30:00 AM
This is a beautiful, peppery rose. It has excellent projection and superb longevity (around 24 hours). I smelled this everywhere in Germany, but it's uncommon in the States. Really sparkling in winter. A spicy, rosy treat!
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Cleansers -Alpha Hydrox - Foaming Facial Cleanser
masha814 1/5/2013 10:25:00 AM
The only thing I'll use to wash my face. It keeps my uber-sensitive skin happy and calm. Keeps away breakouts, and removes makeup better than anything else I've tried. It's a real bargain and I hope they keep making it forever!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Shiseido - Vocalise EDP
masha814 1/5/2013 10:18:00 AM
This is a lovely, cool floral. It is like a light, icy veil of orchid and white flowers with a soft, woody drydown. Just a little vanilla in the drydown adds a note of sweetness, but the overall effect is dry, elegant, and cool. And the bottle is exceptional! One lippie off for longevity, it only lasts about 2 hours on me.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Olympic Orchids Perfumes - Arizona
masha814 12/25/2012 6:52:00 PM
Evergreens, wood, and incense. This is a wonderful perfume to wear while cross-country running. It really does remind me of the Southwestern US. Beautiful work!
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Olympic Orchids Ballets Rouges
masha814 12/25/2012 6:49:00 PM
This is a beautiful classic rose chypre' with a modern twist. Real oak moss, and a beautiful, natural rose accord anchor this lovely perfume. It's rich and spicy, and very unusual. Plus, it costs much less than most "aspirationally priced" niche perfumes, a real bargain for such high quality materials. Sillage is moderate and longevity is exceptional, because it is an old fashioned chypre'.
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Fragrances -L'Artisan Fragrances - Coeur De Vetiver Sacre
masha814 11/18/2012 8:04:00 AM
This is one of my favorite vetivers. It's a subtle, spicy vetiver with lots of light and space. I like heavy vetivers also, but sometimes, particularly in summer, I prefer this one. There is a lovely tea note as well that weaves in and out, and some very gentle, far away smoke. It's unique among vetivers and a real standout.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Princesses Rule
masha814 11/9/2012 4:43:00 PM
Oh, sparkly pink love! But it's subtle enough that it looks lovely on women of all ages. It's a pale pink with very fine silver glitter. With one coat, it gives your nails a glow. With 2-3 coats, it's a subtle pink with a subtle glitter. Gorgeous.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Donna Karan - Gold Sparkling EDT
masha814 11/9/2012 4:41:00 PM
I love lilies and I love Gold EdP, and have quite a few backup bottles. I really enjoy the EdT, however. The EdP is a luxurious ambered lily, and the EdT is an office-friendly, all-business, light and airy lily. No sweetness at all, a little woody in the drydown, and little earthy. The top is sparkling and aldehydic. Much more pared-down, and businesslike than the EdP, but both are well worth trying.
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Fragrances -L'Artisan Fragrances - Batucada
masha814 10/27/2012 8:21:00 AM
This is one of the best "greens for the beach" type perfumes I have found. It reminds me a little of the original Calyx, but wears more lightly. What makes it original and truly fun is the little bit of naughtiness in the drydown- just a bit of sweat with the sweet green. Very refreshing and cheerful, it really makes me think of spending a day at the beach in the summertime. Perfumers Karine Vinchon-Spehner and Elisabeth Maier should collaborate again!
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Fragrances -L'Artisan Fragrances - Seville a l'Aube
masha814 10/21/2012 7:06:00 PM
The incredible amounts of writing in the perfume blogosphere about this perfume had me expecting something a little more...distinctive. But it's really just a nice orange blossom with touches of incense and a labdanum-type smelling lavender (L. luisieri). The opening is crisp and interesting, but lasts just a few minutes. The drydown lasts for several hours and is very reminiscent of L'Artisans Nuit de Tubereuse. In fact, it's a lighter version of that perfume during the drydown, with a dash of Fruity Pebbles. It's worth seeking out if you love orange blossom perfumes. I like orange blossom very much, but there are others out there that are much more interesting. Later addition: By the third wearing, I found I was getting a huge headache from the very strong drydown. Same thing happened with NdT, so it must be a particular aromachemical in common to both, ouch!
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -China Glaze - Swanky Silk
masha814 9/30/2012 11:01:00 AM
Swanky Silk is a fabulous pink-gold duochrome (with a tad of green) that is actually opaque, not transparent. It looks incredible on warm-toned skin, and lasts a lot longer than most duochromes or opals. Very chip-resistant. It's subtle, but a little strange, and gets a lot of compliments without being too blinged out. Good for people of all ages, and works with most outfits. A real keeper!
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Fragrances -Donna Karan - Gold
masha814 9/30/2012 10:58:00 AM
I love love love this rich, ambered lily. There's simply nothing else out there that's like it. It's strong, a little fetid around the edges, like real tropical jungles. It's slightly animalic and only a tiny bit sweet. My first go-round with Gold was not good. It was just too weird, too strong. But over time, I started craving it. When I heard it was discontinued, I bought a few bottles. I strongly prefer the EdP to the EdT, and the bottle is much more fun, too. Lilies and amber, who would have thought?? I think it's genius.
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