Fragrances -Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab - Jack
snarkyharper 10/3/2008 9:51:00 PM
Two notes: butter and peach. I'd read elsewhere that the pumpkin note used by the lab turns into butter for some of us, so that clears that up. But...why add peach to what is apparently meant to be a pumpkin/autumn/reminiscent of jack 'o lanterns type scent? This is definitely foodie, but not very autumnal, to my nose. More like a peach baked in a buttery sauce. I wish there was a true pumpkin scent in the catalogue.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab - Perversion
snarkyharper 10/3/2008 9:28:00 PM
Perversion starts off with the sweet fruity chardonnay right on top, sweetened up by tonka and deepened by rum. There is also a slight coconut undertone coming from somewhere. As it dries down, the chardonnay retreats, and the rich moist tobacco blends with the tonka and rum for a warm, sexy and comforting scent. It is very subtle after drydown in my opinion, even when applied liberally (which could be a plus for some). Usually that is a deal breaker for me, but I enjoy the fragrance so much that I just slather and refresh often. I also find that rubbing a drop into the ends of my hair helps keep it going. I've bought numerous bottles of this.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Ralph Lauren - Romance
snarkyharper 4/27/2008 3:03:00 PM
Romance opens on a lovely fresh floral accord, drying down into a gentle floral woody musk base. Maybe a hint of patchouli at the very bottom. I don't detect any vanilla here. I seem to catch slight, occasional wafts of gentle spice and possibly even tea among the flowers, though I don't think anyone else has mentioned getting that. This has good sillage and is unexpectedly long lasting for a fresh floral. I think it could be a good choice as an everyday/work fragrance for those reasons. I do not think it is a generic perfume as a couple of reviewers mentioned, in fact I find the floral accord used here to be unique and interesting. It just needs a chance to unfold and settle. Don't hold the fact that it is easygoing and pretty, against it! Overall this is very appealing and wearable, and I can imagine it being worn well by a wide age range of women. Despite the name, I don't consider Romance to be really appropriate for romantic wear. It is pretty, rather than sexy, to me. I received a bottle as a gift from my husband, who chose it himself, and I use it sometimes as a day scent, any time of year.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Elizabeth Arden - Curious by Britney Spears
snarkyharper 4/27/2008 1:45:00 AM
Curious starts out with clean and light fresh floral notes (which I am unable to identify - but very nice), and dries down into a vanilla musk with the floral still lingering. Fresh, light, pretty and very feminine are the adjectives that come to mind. I'm fairly certain you could wear this almost anywhere, it seems unlikely to offend, and an easy scent to carry off. You would wear it, it would not wear you. I bet most people would find it pleasant. It is a lighter, more innocent fragrance than one I would choose for myself, but I do like it, and think it is a nice choice for the younger ladies - or more mature ladies who are young at heart.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Chanel - Allure for women
snarkyharper 4/27/2008 12:16:00 AM
HOLY GRAIL. Hypnotic Poison what? Dior Addict who? They have fallen by the wayside to make room for the juggernaut that is Allure. Allure opens on a burst of slightly tart, bright fruity florals, then quickly develops a more traditional, rich floral heart, and finally sweetens up to a really great, almost eternally lasting vanilla-dominated drydown. I continue to catch occasional wafts of the first phases, right up to the very end...oh, 12 or so hours later. It seems possible that this floral vanilla has bonded with my skin on the molecular level and is now permanent. Allure = feminine, gorgeous, excellent quality fragrance. I just swapped for a partial bottle and I am so happy with it. It smells wonderful. It lasts and lasts, and you and others can actually smell it without pressing nose to skin. This fragrance is a rarity for me: I'd gladly pay retail for it, and feel like I actually got my money's worth. Allure is "sunnier" than her sister Allure Sensuelle, whom I also love; AS strikes me as a darker, sexier fragrance, more suited to very late nights and all that they entail. I think Allure would be perfect for any occasion, work, daily wear, or even dates, especially for the ladies who work/commute and need something that is going to stay with them day into evening. You might want to be judicious with your application if you utilize public transport or work in cramped quarters, though. Lovely as it is, I think it would be easy to overdo it.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Clinique - Happy
snarkyharper 4/26/2008 5:59:00 PM
Happy begins with bright sweet citrus notes, maybe orange and bergamot, and then develops some white florals. The florals seem to me to be jasmine, possibly lily as well. It is linear - once it develops, it remains the same on my skin until it wears off, drydown doesn't bring any surprises. Decent sillage and longevity. I find Happy to be a nice fragrance; pleasant and non-offensive, though it certainly wouldn't work for someone who hates fruity florals. The citrus makes it feel 'clean' to me. I'm surprised to see that so many reviewers mentioned headaches - maybe one of the florals found here causes problems for some people. I had a bottle in 2000. I used it up, but moved on and didn't replace it. I do enjoy it very much on others.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -J. Lo - Glow
snarkyharper 4/26/2008 5:11:00 PM
When first applied, Glow smells of florals with fresh, almost aquatic notes, a bit like jasmine and China Rain. There is some sweetness in the drydown. Overall pleasant and wearable - especially for the price, as you can now get it at the discount stores. It's a nice enough fragrance, I'm surprised by a lot of the reviews here. Even Luca Turin, whom I consider to be a very harsh critic, gave Glow three stars. I can certainly understand not appreciating a particular scent, but I wonder if people are letting their feelings about the actress/singer taint their perception of the fragrance. I don't wear Glow, but I respect the women who do. I don't think Glow deserves the offensive and unfortunate label of "old lady", being bandied about.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Dawn Spencer Hurwitz - Gingembre
snarkyharper 4/25/2008 5:05:00 PM
This is absolutely addictive. The ginger is tamed by the delicious spice notes and the creamy drydown. I found this to have better than average sillage, average staying power. Another gorgeous oriental from DSH, who in my opinion has a real gift with spicy fragrances. This is one that will get you noticed; it is unusual without being weird, and is a beautiful and wearable perfume.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Bond No.9 - Fire Island
snarkyharper 4/25/2008 7:26:00 AM
I'll give Fire Island two lippies, because it definitely delivers the suntan oil on the beach that it promises, and is presented in a gorgeous bottle. It is just not something I can wear or really even appreciate as perfume. The marine note here is very unpleasant to my nose. I found that I do not enjoy, nor want to replicate, the smell of suntan oil accord on my skin as perfume.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Bond No.9 - So New York
snarkyharper 4/25/2008 7:20:00 AM
I liked the wonderfully sweet drydown of So New York, but there was a briefly bitter top note upon application that that did me in. I rarely get headaches from fragrance, but for some reason this brought one on. I tried again the next morning, same result. The drydown was a sweet, mildly fruity patchouli, with a hint of chocolate. Sad to have to pass on this one for now, I might revisit in the future.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Dawn Spencer Hurwitz - Halloween
snarkyharper 4/25/2008 3:28:00 AM
Another hit for me! I find I have excellent luck with the gourmands and orientals offered by this house. They are always fully developed womens fragrances, pleasant and wearable; never gimmicky concept scents, 'headshoppy' or outright weird as you sometimes find other places. This is a simpler blend, but adding up to more than the sum of its' parts. Creamy anise with a touch of warm orange to start, then developing slightly spiced pumpkin and carnation notes, followed by a drydown that incorporates gentle moss. The moss is not dirty or unpleasantly overwhelming, as has happened to me with other moss-based fragrances. Here it adds a reminder of the cool season, and helps fix the fragrance. I prefer this one in the oil concentration, it seems richer when it is clinging a little closer. A great autumn fragrance, and it would be perfect to wear on Halloween itself. I bet your daughters will beg for a spritz, too!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Dawn Spencer Hurwitz - Au Lait
snarkyharper 4/25/2008 3:01:00 AM
Simple, yet beautifully magnetic and comforting. Sweet, creamy tonka vanilla musk to absolutely wallow in. I prefer it to Lea St Barth, as Au Lait contains those beautiful cream and tonka notes in the place of almond. Au Lait blends right into my skin, giving the impression that I am not wearing scent at all, I just smell like a goddess naturally. This is so gentle and non-offensive, you could wear it while holding a newborn baby. This could actually be a great fragrance option for new mothers. Rather than give up scent altogether, you could wear just a dab of Au Lait, so delicate and soft that it would soothe you without disturbing baby.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Dawn Spencer Hurwitz - Cimabue
snarkyharper 4/25/2008 2:34:00 AM
Lovely! Cimabue begins on a complex citrus note, immediately warmed by spice. Rich florals emerge, blending with the citrus spice in a very complex symphony. The clove and carnation add so much here, and the jasmine and rose bring a classical french feel. Then the sandalwood, vanilla and benzoin come in, making the drydown very warm and sweet. The drydowns of DSH fragrances always agree with me; they are never harsh or distracting. I would swear I caught a waft of myrrh, one of my favorite perfumery notes. The spice remains in play until the far drydown, very satisfying as I love these spices. This makes me think of Coco by Chanel - not that it smells like Coco, it does not- it just has a similar way of being a unified entity unto itself, a very complex and beautiful oriental, yet warm and easy to wear. I can't pick out individual notes here once it dries, as they blend together into an entirely new and unique scent. I would wear this well, but my love affair with the pronounced spices and simpler drydown in Ceylon consumes the same part of my fragrance wardrobe Cimabue would fulfill. Note: I am grateful for the pronounciation tip on the DSH website; I had been pronouncing this as Sim-ah-boo! The correct pronounciation is Chim-ah-boo-way.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Dawn Spencer Hurwitz - ceylon
snarkyharper 4/24/2008 7:35:00 PM
This is gorgeous, one of my all time favorite autumn and winter fragrances. A warm, spicy ginger-cardamom-clove-cinnamon tea, thankfully without citrus. The drydown is an eternity of sweet honey-vanilla-musk heaven, with lingering spices. It is like an antidepressant, just smelling it makes me happy. A hidden gem for the gourmand/oriental lover. I have this in the oil, the edp with fixative, the shea lotion and now the new (and very very awesome) shea massage oil. Layering makes this gently permeate your personal space, and last until you wash it off. The oil is a concentrated scent, clinging closer and fixing the sweet notes in that heavenly drydown to my skin. The edp is more diffuse, and highlights the spice, which wafts around like my own little cloud of delicious. Both are long lasting. It is both showy and comfortable - Ceylon takes me anywhere, from out on the town to snuggling up reading a book by myself. Last September, I wore this to the wedding of my husband's niece. In the receiving line, the bride, matron of honor and every single bridesmaid made a huge fuss over my fragrance. One of the bridesmaids borrowed my oil roll-on at the reception. I was pleased. If this were ever discontinued, I would crawl out to Colorado over broken glass to beg DSH to reconsider.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Yves Saint Laurent - Paris
snarkyharper 4/24/2008 2:30:00 PM
I like Paris, and wear it occasionally in the autumn and winter when I need something floral, familiar, and comforting. I've been buying 10ml decants of the edp from a lady at another perfume forum every year or so. I like to have it around as a choice, but haven't bought a whole bottle since '95. It is a dark, sweet, winey-jammy-rose to me upon application, drying down to sweet, rosey-powdery-wood. The rose remains present, but becomes much gentler as time passes, just lending a whisper to the lingering drydown. My nose doesn't register the violet as a separate entity, it just adds its' own qualities to a larger whole. The sillage and lasting power are good, only a spray or two lasts me about 8 hours. I do get compliments, wearing this. To me, it is a comfort scent, a familiar fragrance I have worn on and off for 15 years. I wear it for myself, so I am always surprised and gratified when it is noticed. A warm, feminine floral in the chilly grey weather often seems to be welcome. This style of perfume is not being launched these days, but to me Paris does not seem old-fashioned; it just seems classic. There are now many other fragrances I reach for much more often, but there are times that only Paris will do.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No