Perfumes on my Radar for Future Purchase!

Lately I have come to the conclusion that sadly, my Perfume Collection is quite sufficient without any new purchases for a least 6 months.  So in deciding what to do about that situation I have instead been acquiring decants of newer scents as a cheaper (soooo much cheaper) way of testing new scents.

In the last few months I have amassed a few perfumes that are on my must have or future purchase list.

They are in no particular order being that if they are even on this list, then I have savored every last drop of the decants and sadly all I can do is frown over the lost scent until I go through my lesser loved scents on my table so I can quickly replace it with my new found lovelies!!!

First one is Eros Por Femme by Versace: A citrus white floral, woody and musky accord.  Omg this is good stuff.  The only other Versace I even like is the Versace’s Dreamer which is a mens scent.  This particular offering for women is right up my alley.  Divine, strong and heady and I love the citrus explosion on first spray.  The sillage is good to moderate and the lasting power is really strong on me.  The bottle is absolutely a thing of beauty.  I love Gold and it’s a heavy bottle and will look prominent on my perfume table.  Cant wait to own a bottle.

The second one is My Burberry by Burberry: This is a sweet and spicy rose floral.  Funny as I can’t really get the rose in it but the sweet pea and the freesia are prominent.  I simply love this scent.  As an added bonus I was wearing it out during the day and an elderly lady walked by me and whispered to her husband that my perfume was “potent”.  I was immensely pleased….lol.  It’s rare that a perfume that I am in love with has any type of bold sillage.  I’m paying good money for something that others can smell on me.  So with just two light spritzes on my wrist I got a comment from a passerby.  Some would be horrified but I was quite happy.  When I finally do purchase this it will last a while as a light spritz is all I  will need.  The longevity is excellent and the bottle and the story behind the fragrance is my kind of thing.  I love England and London is somewhere I want to visit soon.  A lush, cool garden and the uber classic trench.  This perfume exudes a distinct variation on the British esthetic.  I love!

The next one is an old favorite that I believe is discontinued but I will find a bottle I hope soon. 

 It’s Georgio Armani’s Acqua di Gio for Women.  I wore this when it first came out and it was one of the most lovely expressions of a clean and sweet water scent.  I loved it then and love it still.  Being a fan of acquatics anyway this is a must buy whenever I can find it.  Though there are many fruity accords in this such as watermelon, citrus, pineapple etc, it is the floral notes that remain in my mind during the drydown phase.  It has three of my favorite floral notes which are freesia, hyacinth and ylang-ylang.  Though its initially quite sweet the drydown is warm florals on a cool evening breeze.  Omg…..Love!

Chanel’s Coromandel.   Personally I love most Chanel scent offerings.  I have never taken the plunge to purchase the Exclusif line as its so pricy-yikes!  However I love smoldering orientals and I also like Patchouli and have yet to have found one that I like terribly much.  By all accocunts and countless reviews I have read this is one that I would purchase unsniffed.   I love warm ambery balsamic scents.  They simply make my little heart squeak with joy!

Tom Ford’s Signature Collection Jasmin Rouge   I have wanted this scent from his Signature Collection for a very long time.  Walking by the counter and discreetly sniffing the bottle and a quick unseen spritz.  I’m sure I’ve made an interesting sight to see scooting away from the counter before the associate gives me a disapproving glare….lol.  However I have wanted this perfume forever.  To me this is a SPICY super white/yellow floral fragrance.  Fragantica describes it as being an “erotic and hedonistic blend”, and I agree.  Very warm and with a sexy earthiness to the ambrosia like quality of the Sambac jasmine, amber and clary sage.  Those notes in particular seep into my pores and set fire to my nerves in my brain.  I just don’t think straight when I smell this.  I might have to descent into madness to enjoy this lovely and sexy scent!

 

Well that’s it boys and girls and if you can relate to my ever growing collection let me know what’s on your must have in your future purchases! 

Happy scent journeys from your fellow Perfumista!

Guerlain Insolence Eau de Parfum

Imagine walking by an old fashioned candy store stocked to the brim with all sorts of candied and sugared confections to delight your eyes and nose.  I dont mean Hershey's kisses but the real candy.  Turkish sweets and marzipan and candied gloriousness and the sweetest of them all would be the sweet smell of candied violets as the C. Howard Violet Candies and gum sweets of old.  

Some are not fans of those violet candies and find them too sweet and overpowering.  Reasons as to why I love them so much!  I have memories of always digging through my Father's jean jacket with the shearling lining for his hidden violet candies.  To this day that smell reminds me of my Father.  This is why nothing is so thought provoking as this sweet smell.  It literally takes me back to being a young girl excited to see her Father come home from a long journey away. 

www.acakebakesinbrooklyn.com

Guerlain's Insolence Eau de Parfum is the sweetest powdery violet I think you can find anywhere.  It's such a beautiful warm and comforting perfume.  Its a swirling air of feminity wrapped around me like a cashmere shawl.  Soft and sweet as it envelopes you in its Victorianesque aura.  Purple is the perfect shade for this juice.  The color and the sweet liquid inside fits to perfection.  If you are a girly girl inside and out then give this flower bomb a try.  This truly is a flower bomb.  I've yet to smell anything remotely like this is power, beauty and projection.  This literally lasts all day on me.  Hours later I can still catch faint wafts of violet candies when the wind blows by me. 

 Insolence Eau de Parfum was launched in 2008 and was created as a more intoxicating version of the Eau de Toilette.  It indeed succeeds in being the stronger and more exhuberant sister to the Edt version.  According to the notes listed its main accords of stimulating iris and seductive violets abound in this perfume.  Though I haven't smelled the Edt as I have the Edp, I can only imagine it being a less intense version of this one.  A good two sprays if that will last all day long.  Be aware that this is not one I would rush to spray and then leave to go out.  It's very potent and its sillage and lasting power pack a powerful punch!  So sprayer and wearer beware.  Frangantica lists this perfume as being created for an eccentric and chic woman.  I suppose I can see that, but from my point of view there's not much sexy about this perfume.  Perhaps because of my memory associated with violets this makes me feel very young and innocent when I wear this.  It seems to me to be youthful and like the name attests....insolent.  I adore this!

I  doubt that there is any better play on violets than Guerlain's Insolence in Edp.  I'd be interested in what violet scents you've tried and liked.  Although I think I am forever smitten with my pretty little purple bottle of violet ambrosia that is Insolence.

Monday Madness Thrift Haul :-) Watch to the end and post your answer in...

My Fragrance review of Malachite by Banana Republic

Greetings my Lovelies!  I am creating a new feature to my fragrance reviews.  At the bottom of my reviews will be a linked YouTube video with a shorter description of this review.  If your not inclined to read to the end you may enjoy watching my video review instead.  

 I'm reviewing this sweet little green gem today for you.  Although this was released in 2007 by Banana Republic, which has released several other scents, this is the first I've had the chance to try out.  As luck would have it I was sniffing around my local shop for something unusual that I have never tried and came across this svelte and modern looking box containing a 20 ml of this juice.  The kicker was that it only cost me 5 dollars!  Can you believe it?  I couldn't at first, thought it was a joke or at the very least it was such a poorly made scent that the entire supply was being dumped at local retailers.  I was very glad to actually have bought it.

This notes listed for this scent are peony, water hyacinth, sandalwood, musk, black pepper, vanilla and green mango.  It states that this is an oriental fragrance for women.  However I do believe this can easily be unisex depending on the man. 

On first spray and I tested it out doing 3 spritzes on my chest and both wrists.  As I posted a YouTube video on my Channel regarding my initial feelings on this scent.  I will go into a little bit more detail here.  The perfume strongly reminds me of spelunking the Ape Caves in Mt. St. Helens Park in Oregon.  The caves there were pitch black without headlamps or lanterns and very wet, cold, and slightly menacing.  This perfume initially is that cold entrance into the beginning of that journey.  At first it doesn't feel like anything other than cold darkness is awaiting you from first spray.  The sandalwood, musk, green mango and water hyacinth are what stick to my nose intially at this point it all smells very linear and clean in a wet musty way.  Then after a few minutes the coldness begins to give way faint spicy ray of warmth.  As if through traversing this journey you suddenly stumble into a beam of sunlight oh so fleeting into this cold trail and throughout this scents dry down phase like this dark experience what's left is a very quiet and vague memory of a floral note which must be the peony at this point. 

On me personally this scent really emotes the sharp qualities of the green mango and the pepper and musk.  All of which I greatly like, so its a win for me.  But for someone that tends to like warmer or more "friendly" scents as it were you may not like this for its slightly aquatic feel despite it being listed as an Oriental.  I would describe it as a "cold" oriental.  She is like a woman but rather than flesh and blood and bone, more like a picture of beautiful woman  in an opulent  frame. 

At such a fantastic price and the bottle in such a charming and modern design I think it was a wonderful little treasure find.  Not really what one would consider a signature scent by any stretch of the imagination but it certainly has a notable quality for someone with a clear mind, goals, and a modern esthetic.  Much like the fashion house that designed it.

Till next post my Lovelies,

Sam

What are your favorite flowers?

It occured to me after a trip to the Skagit Valley in Northern Washington state that I had not been to a flower farm or beautiful garden in quite some time.  Even though I was going through some very painful personal life changes I realized that being surrounded by such beauty and color on a clear and beautiful spring day had the power to overcome a bit of sadness cast over my heart that day.

How wonderful are flowers?  Not only do they grace us with their external beauty but they can be distilled, crushed, pressed and turned into such beautiful essential oils for perfumistas such as myself to enjoy!  I love flowers of all sorts.  I've never really written down what are my most desirable and coveted blooms are however.  So here they are!













Forget Me Nots are unforgettable both in color and scent! 

 Lilacs are irresisteble aren't they?


Freesias are my comfort flower and calm my spirit.


My childhood memories abound with this flower.  The tropical Plumeria or Frangipani.


Roses of course
 



These are in no particular order but are some of my top 5 constant favorite flowers, both for their beauty and their inherent scent.

I'd love to know what your favorite flowers are!

Samantha

My History with Obsessive Olfaction

As an ardent devotee of scent and olfaction I have always been fond of gardens, flowers, weddings....etc.
Growing up in such a verdant place such as Hawaii where sweet scents can be found right from your porch.  The morning mists early in the morning trailing down the valley.  The salt and sun in the air mixing in with delicious food smells along with spicy and floral trails from the forests.  Ahhhh.....Closing my eyes listening to the waves methodically dance their gentle beat into my heart and mind forever.  It's no wonder why I have grown so keen on triggering memories through my sense of smell.  I love to tell stories through my scents.

I have been a collector of perfumes for many years now.  When I was younger, I didn't quite know the value of my collection and in error I tossed out some very rare pieces that I could kick myself for doing so later.  However young and inexperienced as I was, I am grateful that I held onto my collection even as some of them I eventually outgrew with age, experience and chemistry that alters ones taste.  Every now and again I will peruse my collection and sniff a scent I had long forgetten and it takes me to a place I'd forgetten. That is the pure pleasure of collecting scents for me.  Each bottle I hold, has memories attached to it.  It's my life in pretty little glass decants.

I sometimes wonder as I have yet to meet anyone else as obsessed with scents as I am, if there was something the matter with me.  Are you one of those like myself?  Borderline obsessive about scent and perfumery.  I adore my collection of scents and as I have a daughter, she has developed her own interest in scents.  I have slowly started a collection for her to enjoy as a little girl.  She has her very own perfume table.  Though not allowed to wear it to school or herself just very rarely, she is allowed to scent her teddies and dolls and she delights in the whole process.  It's a wonderful passion to share with her and I count myself fortunate to gift her with this memory which I hope she will treasure as I surely did with my beloved Mother did for me.  I will never forget the first perfume she let me wear.  It was the original Zen by Shiseido.  Still to this day brings back stark memories of her.

I continuously ad to my collection and am always very interested in others collections as well.  I'd delight in knowing or hearing about your collecting and how you go about it and any tips I could learn to enjoy this addiction to the full!

Enjoy your wonderful perfume treasures....


Samantha

Roberto Cavalli Acqua.....Enchanting Liquid Dreams

Today I will be reviewing for you a flanker from Roberto Cavalli based off of his original release by the same name in the Gold Bottle released in 2012.  This Acqua version was released in 2013.  I recently acquired this gorgeous blue bottle from a recent Marshall's shopping trip.

I owned the original RC and absolutely adored it as it was full of spicy amber notes and lasted an incredibly long time on me.  I gifted it to a friend who had enjoyed my bottle very much.   I wanted to pick up another bottle of that one when I came across this version.  I looked it up and besides being intrigued by the beautiful bottle and color I fancy acquatic scents the most but find ones that have good lasting power to be difficult to find.  The only other acquatic that lasts as long on me is Womanity by Thierry Mugler, (a much maligned bottle to be sure).

All of the flankers are shaped as the original in a sculped oval glass with his signature gold stopper.  A very simple but elegant design.  The bottle has heft and is sturdy and the color of the acqua glass is a showstopper on your vanity.  When bottle design blends well with the intended aroma and name such as this beauty then I believe I have found my Holy Grail of acquatic scents.

This perfume was created by Louise Turner and the inspiration as the flacon seems to imply is exciting Mediterranean nights.  When looking at the notes listed I was surprised at the simplicity as to me this perfume seems quite complex in how it wears through the course of the day.  The main notes are listed as: Jasmine, watery notes, lemon/citrus, lily of the valley, sensual musk.

On initial spray I get smacked in the face with lemony citrus, Neroli I believe?  At the same time I smell salt or salty air, perhaps the base of musk shows through highlighted by the citrus blast at first.  The more I smell my wrist I begin to pick up the faintest hint of jasmine flower.  I cant immediately detect the Lily of the Valley note as its described as a heart note.  It does start to take prominence about 20 minutes into the scent.  I detect spicy warmth on further testing.  I definately can feel the aura of being on a beach or patio at night in the Mediterranean under a starry and black sky.  This scent is pure heaven to my nose.  It is fresh, but clean without seeming pungent and sour as sometimes acquatic scents can be on me. 

On me aquatic scents really show up well with my chemistry especially when layered with a type of musk as a base note.  I am completely smitten with this turqoise jewelled perfume.  I love everything about it.  I am obsessed with the color and gold, the juice inside lasts several hours wear on me even in somewhat warm weather.  I sprayed it four separate times.  Each wrist and elbow.  I did get nice comments from others while wearing this which is an added plus.  I enjoy it when my perfumes sillage gets me noticed purely on basis on smelling good.

If you like acquatics or the color blue then give this lovely gem a try.  Under 20 dollars at my local discount store and it was a steal!  I've some very spendy quality scents at several times that price and this one has garnered a special place on my perfume rotation.  I am enjoying using it at night as it seems to give me pleasant dreams.  It seems like a dream inducing scent especially with that beautiful Vincent Van Gogh blue bottle sitting on my dresser.  I love everything about this perfume.  It gets a full 5 stars in my book!

Hope you enjoyed this post and dont forget to ask if there's a particular perfume or scent you'd like for me to review.

Happy scent adventures to all my fellow perfume bunnies this Spring season.

Samantha