Fragrances -Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab - Queen Mab
rnornan 9/18/2012 10:52:00 PM
Powdery vanilla. How do those things even go together, but they do! Your go-to sleepy time fave, your pillow mate, your stuffed animal, your snuggley fabric softener scent. It could work in all cases. Lies low, just for you to enjoy.
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Fragrances -Etat Libre D'Orange - Rossy de Palma
rnornan 8/28/2012 2:10:00 PM
This falls into the category of "velvety rose". The rose is tempered with some spice--but I don't get the reference to Voleur Des Roses because that hits you over the head with its patchouli. I do not get much patch in this concoction more musky undertones (a la Bond West Side). I agree with the synthetic comments on first spray thankfully it disappears. What floods my mind right now are the different rose versions we have available to us--candied, musky, spicy, clean and yes, my new invention, velvety. Every lady needs one from each category in her perfume wardrobe in my opinion. This wins the category for velvety rose! Smooth silky with gentle sillage. It leans clean which is great and means it's more work appropriate than others. For reference some of my favorite roses are Cabaret, Lipstick Rose, Rossy, and Cleopatra (to me I get more rose in this than tuberose).
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Fragrances -Nicole Miller Cosmetics - Nicole Miller
rnornan 8/31/2011 1:29:00 AM
This smells reminiscent of Chloe Narcisse in depth. It's tuberose with vanilla essentially and yes it's strong and yes it's 80s but there is nothing like it. I really hate how it looks, and I keep imagining giving it away but I can't. It's unique and boozy woozy and it envelopes you like a tropical velvet cloak. So sexy and perfect--whether you just want to curl up in your home on a cool evening, or you want to take it out salsa dancing. I think it's a quite a find--bought mine cheap at Marshall's and it's one of the scents I can recall just by conjuring it up in my mind. Strong olfactory memory with this one. If you love tuberose, or vanillic scents in general, and don't mind a heavier vibe give it a try.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Bebe Fragrance
rnornan 1/25/2011 11:23:00 PM
Sprayed this at my local TJ Maxx. It immediately reminded me of the Yosh Pirate scent called Buxom which I wrote a review on YEARS ago. It brought back memories of that scent and now I wish I had it back. The Bebe version is spicy, a bit vanillic and there is a sensual rose somewhere in there. I liked it, but didn't purchase til I saw how it wore on my skin. Did not last very long and lost it's buxomness upon drydown. Too bad. I wrote I'd buy it only because of that long lost scent memory.
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Eyeliner -Revlon - Colorstay Liquid Liner - Bronze Shimmer
rnornan 10/22/2009 12:30:00 AM
Boy what a color for green eyes! A gorgeous plummy red brown with sparkles. More like copper in some ways than bronze but who cares. I even like the applicator which is rather easy to control though pretty standard. I got mine for 1.99 at Grocery Outlet on west coast so I can't complain. I recently reviewed Eclipse eyeliner by Prestige and this one has surpassed that by far. It's not as neutral but it is way better for my enhancing my eyes than Eclipse. Can't comment on the wear and tear on it, but I will say that I could care less, I am that pleased with the unique color. Gorgeous! The color could be in the NARS line, really...
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Fragrances -Carolina Herrera - Carolina
rnornan 10/22/2009 12:24:00 AM
To me this smells just like Coco Mademoiselle without the patchouli note. I suspect that patch note makes CM stay on longer because Carolina edt doens't last for long on me but boy is it nice. I have been really wanting Coco Mademoiselle so maybe that's why it's on the brain but this is just about the same thing. I received it as a gift (THANKS Margaret if you're out there reading--she's not an MUA member), and I appreciate it greatly. There is fruit and flowers and overall just a super fun scent. Why wear this only in the spring? Wear it all the time!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Escentric Molecules Escentric 02
rnornan 8/2/2009 1:33:00 AM
Sorry y'all, but this smells like a man's vetiver based scent to me. I am not that into it....I recall the CDG Vetiveru as something I really did like but swapped away because it was too masculine and this is similar in feel to that minus the saltiness of the former. Of all the Escentric scents, the only one I want to own is Escentric 01.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Prestige - Liquid Eyeliner in Eclipse
rnornan 4/21/2009 2:17:00 AM
Gorgeous color which twinkles in the light. I have green hazelish eyes that are easily overpowered by black and brown, but I tend to use gray, charcoal, and purples, navy too. This I can see wearing yearround all the time, dress up, dress down and it adds just the perfect amount of something to my eyes to set them apart--it's the metallic finish. Awesome. A new fave and worth every penny, and way better than any eyeliner I've paid 5x more for. HG status.
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Fragrances -Calvin Klein - Secret Obsession
rnornan 1/31/2009 2:29:00 PM
Why the low ratings? This scent for me is one of the hits of 2008. It is a lovely non-cloing in your face tuberose scent with some subtle spices and woods. It is classy, all-ages scent which could have a bit more lasting power, but now that I found a bottle at TJMaxx I can spritz with abandon so I don't care as much. I suspect the ratings suffer because CK is a common manufacturer and its customers may have been hooked on them b/c of the very popular, yet overdone Euphoria. If you are a tuberose lover (or hater) try this, as there is none of the grapey, sweetness of Fracas,nor does it seem like an 'accurate' headspace rendition of tuberose, such as you might find in OJ frangiapani. It doesn't smell fresh off the bush in fact, but it has been warmed by tender spices. This is quite a success for me.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - safi
rnornan 1/3/2009 4:08:00 PM
Oh my what a sickening fragrance. It smells no better than a bath and body works scent--actually it reminds me of a cheap potpourri cloud outside of that very store, designed to entice you to come in. To be fair I don't typically care for fruity scents, but I have been known to like a few. I think the sticking point of this scent for me must be the currant. I have never liked that note in anything, even in lines like MPG. There is no gourmand notes in here, not a trace of vanilla or wood to my nose. I know folks have stated they like the woody drydown but I cannot detect it. I think the strength of the scent is a bit overwhelming. The pineapple is most prominent to me.
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Fragrances -Keiko Mecheri - Ume
rnornan 1/1/2009 5:38:00 PM
I don't hate this, but I can't see myself wearing this much. i have a sample, and when I first put it on I smelled a fruity rose with a bit of spice. It is reminiscent of Crabtree and Evelyn's Nantucket Briar but with more spice. I don't see it as extremely fruity, oddly enough, b/c that is what most other reviewers are reporting. More I get rose, and continue to get rose upon drydown. It is a smidge reminiscent of Lancome's Mille et Une Rose and Bond Westside.
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Fragrances -Jo Malone - Nectarine Blossom and Honey
rnornan 12/31/2008 12:07:00 AM
Wow. I have rarely been so disappointed. Usually when I like the topnotes, I generally can deal with drydown, but this is an exception. Not worth the price nor the drydown. Starts off promising, fresh and very very light on the honey which is good--sometimes honey scents can be sickly, but it quickly dries down to a scent which is half sour half sweet on my skin. It is a like a lighter not as interesting version of....dare I say it??? .....Hayman's Delicious Feelings with a smidge of insipid creaminess. GASP! Now, if you know me you'll realize I'm not a snob, but let's face it people, I got Delicious Feelings for 5 bucks at Marshalls....I don't want to think what this costs.
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Fragrances -Neil Morris - Rainflower
rnornan 12/8/2008 1:01:00 AM
Rather ho hum. I think it's a bit much as far as white florals go and I'm a huge fan, but there is nothing other than strong white floral in here, no musk, no civet, no nothing rank that lends something just wee bit interesting. I hate to say it but it reminds me of a body shop scent, or China Rain which I have seen sold as an uncut oil. If some of you were ever interested in Yosh's oils, there is a lingering resemblance to White Flowers minus the lily. I do like some of his others but I am not at the moment extremely impressed with this particular one.
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Fragrances -Penhaligon's - elixir
rnornan 12/6/2008 9:52:00 PM
You know what this reminds me of? It's gentle in feel like Secret Obsession but scented like a bit with nutmeg and spice like Nanadabery Pink. This does not smell like Penhaligon at all to me, in fact I'm quite surprised. Penhaligon never really smelled all that luxurious to me...this however has a very rich feel. It's not a scent to call attention to yourself,but it is one to comfort you. Personally I am not a fan of nutmeg, cinnamon in scents, but it not a hit you over the head spicy. I would not repurchase but that is purely based on personal preference. I can see this being a board favorite however.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Andy Tauer - Vetiver Dance
rnornan 12/6/2008 2:06:00 AM
I am only going on a sample here, so bear with me, as I have not lived with this day in and day out. I was very impressed with Vetiver Dance. In it, Andy Tauer thankfully leaves out the intense incense note that he usually adds to the scents. I have loved Le Maroc Pour Elle in the past and flirted with a FB, but b/c of that note, it's a dealbreaker. This scent is rich, and faceted, but linear I'd say. If you like it in the beginning you shall overcome with it at the end. It is a tad masculine, after all, it's mostly vetiver, but a lovely rendition. My next favorite is by Guerlain (that one, even though it's marketed purely as male, is a smidge powdery and quite lovely for women). Lasting power good, and thankfully the notes are not combined with citrus, which often ruins vetiver themed scents for me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No