MOR Marshmallow Eau De Parfum: Heavenly, divine, scrumptuous

I have been on a bit of a perfume journey lately, haven't I. I can't help myself. I just love perfume so much! Today's review is of MOR Marshmallow Eau De Parfum. This perfume astounded me. It really did. I tested it on a whim, not expecting to like it. I don't like sweet, foody fragrances but wanted to know what this pink boxed fragrance smelt like. Would it really smell like marshmallows?

The answer? Yes, but in the most sophisticated way. It is not a young girls perfume but a sensuous women's fragrance. I read somewhere it be described as rose petals dipped in sugar and think that this is such a fitting description. There are definite floral notes, as well as clear sweet notes but there is not a hint of sickly sweetness.

On me, the top notes are the sweeter notes, kind of like a musk stick lolly, but not quite so sugary. These fade in about 30 minutes and what remains is a very sensual musky floral. It is warm and comforting and quite sexy. The perfume is not super long lasting - about 3 hours on me, so I always take the roll on oil with me when I am wearing this to do quick top ups.

This is definitely a daytime fragrance. It's fun rather than classy. It has good silage - you will leave a delicious fragrance trail behind you when wearing this one.

I also have the Marshmallow bath Elixir (don't you just love the word 'Elixir'!). This smells exactly like the perfume and fills the bath with gentle bubbles and a subtle fragrance. I kind of wish that the fragrance was more intense, though it does linger on your skin for ages so it would be perfect to layer with the perfume.


Does this sound like a perfume you would wear? It really does smell very much like musk lollies...but they smell so damn good, so that's a good thing!


All opinions are my own and I received no remuneration for this post. The perfume and bath Elixir were purchased for me by Crazy and Kiki for Mothers Day (though they used my money to do so!).

Flora by Gucci Glorious Mandarin: the perfume that will convert any citrus or fruity haters

I have never been a fan of fruity perfumes. They have always seemed a bit young to me. I have especially never been a fan of citrus notes in perfumes. They seem to have a strange reaction with my skin chemistry and end up smelling quite harsh on me. So, it was probably a strange choice to review Flora by Gucci Glorious Mandarin, as it was clearly going to be both a fruity and citrus based perfume, but I had recently reviewed Glamorous Magnolia from the same collection and was keen to try another one. I am glad I did as I genuinely love this fragrance. I was not expecting that at all, but it is such a happy, joyous fragrance and is perfect for wearing in this glorious spring weather we have been getting.

Flora by Gucci Glorious Mandarin is one of five spin off fragrances of the original Flora by Gucci that make up the Gucci Flora Garden collection. According to Fragrantica, the Gucci Flora Garden collection includes five most important blossoms outlined on the legendary Gucci scarf designed by Vittorio Accornero for Princess Grace of Monaco (a picture of this scarf can be seen in my Glamorous Magnolia post).

Flora by Gucci Glorious Mandarin and Generous Violet were originally only released for purchase from Gucci boutiques but have since been released for sale along side the other three, Glorious Mandarin, Glamorous Magnolia and Gracious Tuberose.

What they say: With Mandarin and Violet completing the collection of five beautiful perfumes, the Gucci woman has an opportunity to explore and enhance her many facets – hidden and revealed – her gorgeousness, grace, glamour and now also her generosity and glory. In plucking a flower from this secret, scented garden, she reveals her soul. A gloriously juicy fruit: Gucci captures the exhilaration of mandarin.

• Top notes: mandarin, peony
• Middle notes: jasmine, pina colada accord
• Heart notes: ambergris, white musk, creamy wood

This magnificent scent blends joyful mandarin with the tropical rum and pineapple of the pina colada. In place of the traditional coconut, the cocktail is completed with creamy wood notes that are at once contemporary and sumptuously feminine. Glorious Mandarin is an exuberant expression of the fruit’s effusive energy. The euphoria it imparts is glorious. The Glorious Mandarin woman is inspiring and intoxicating. Time in her company is enlivening. Her spirited approach to life is utterly thrilling.

What I say: Though mandarins are a winter fruit, this is the ideal spring/summer fragrance. It is such a fresh and deliciously fruity fragrance. It is happy, full of joy - really fitting for the party season.

I definitely can detect the mandarin top notes although they are not purely fruity. The peony adds a floral element which I think is what makes me love this fragrance. The mandarin note really makes the fragrance sparkle. The mandarin lasts a long time throughout the fragrance. As the top notes mellow into the middle notes the mandarin can still be detected and is complimented by the pineapple. It is the pineapple that keeps the fruitiness going. After about an hour of wear, the fragrance starts to loose its fresh fruitiness and it is replaced by a warm creamy fruitiness, thanks to the white musk.

I found this fragrance to be very unique. I have never smelt anything like it. It does not have any of the sharp, harsh notes that I usually associate with a citrus fragrance. It is genuinely one of those mood altering fragrances that you just can't help smiling after you sniff it. This is a wonderful daytime fragrance that would work equally well as an evening fragrance for all the wonderful summer parties we have coming up.

It has average lasting power on me. I would get about 3-4 hours before all I could detect was the musk heart notes. The silage is initially ok - medium strength; however, after an hour or so when it mellows from the fresh fruity to the creamy fruity it then wears much closer to the skin.

If you, like me, have always avoided fruity or citrus fragrances I highly recommend you give this one a sniff. I honestly think that it will be the one to convert you! And, if you are in the market for a new scent to add to your fragrance wardrobe this summer, this one epitomises the happy mood of the party season.

Flora by Gucci Glorious Mandarin Eau de Toilette is available in100ml for $AU161.00 and can be purchased from MYER, David Jones and Gucci Boutiques as of 9th September 2012 for a limited time (so you might want to try it ASAP!).  I have previously written about the risks of buying grey market cosmetics - if you want to know whether your local stockist is an authorised reseller you can ring (02) 9695 5678 to confirm.

What are your thoughts on fruity perfumes? Like or loathe?


All opinions are my own and I received no remuneration for this post. This perfume was provided to me for consideration.

The latest perfume offering from Issey Miyake: Pleats Please

 

The majority of perfumes released by Issey Miyake are flankers of the original L’eau D’Issey. A perfume flanker is like a sequel to an original perfume - it might be that they share a similar name as the original, same bottle or, in the case of Issey Miyake perfumes, a flanker might share notes of the original with a new twist. An example of this is Issey Miyake L’Eau d’Issey Florale which I have reviewed previously. L’Eau d’Issey Florale has the unmistakable white floral, oceanic notes of L’eau D’Issey with the new twist of budding rose. The latest perfume release from Issey Miyake, Pleats Please, is not a flanker but a brand new offering.

In the fashion world, Issey Miyake is known globally for his signature pleats. The 'Pleats' range was introduced into ISSEY MIYAKE in 1989, and has since been developed every season thereafter.  PLEATS PLEASE ISSEY MIYAKE became a stand-alone brand in 1993. As you can see in the images below, fashion from the Pleats Please range is vibrant and energetic and so the Pleats Please fragrance has been created to be equally vibrant and energetic and to compliment the fashion line.

Photo credit: I'm the it girl

Photo credit: Issey Miyake

 

Photo credit: I'm the it girl

What they say: To capture the joyous, light-hearted character of Pleats Please, Aurélien Guichard has composed a bright and cheerful bouquet. A nectar of bliss, an incitation to savour the pleasures of life. The sparkling top note opens with the intriguing aroma of nashi, a hybrid fruit that oscillates between pear and apple, with the pear note predominating. For this new fragrance, the exuberance and heartiness of a floral bouquet was a must — flowers to define the femininity of a subtle delicate composition. The joyous, upbeat middle note suggests a graceful sensuality, blossoming forth with fresh peony and sweet pea. Indole adds a fleshly, voluptuous touch and “gives substance to the note”, the perfumer explains. The accord is warm and vibrant, like “an invitation to fluidity”. The base note prolongs the sensation of mildness, settling into the rich woody notes of cedar while patchouli, taking on a vertical character, permeates the composition. Sweet, sensuous vanilla infuses the trail with radiant warmth. An absolute of creamy “white vanilla” blends with cosy white musks for a mellow finish.

What I Say: This is a classic fruity floral. After spraying this I am instantly hit with mouth watering juicy fruitiness. The perfume really sparkles at first. I can't say that I can detect nashi pear as a note, nor pear or apple but it is undeniably fruity. This fruitiness lasts about five minutes before the floral bouquet starts to emerge. It is at this point that the fragrances moves from being purely fruity to fruity floral. I can detect these fruity floral notes on my skin for around two hours before the dry down takes over. The vanilla base notes are very evident and this gives the fragrance a real creamy warmth. It is definitely more vanilla than musk, and with the fruity notes still lingering this produces a delicious combination. The dry down is actually my favourite part of the perfume, which is a good thing as this lasts another two to three hours on me.

The top and middle fruity-floral notes weren't particularly unique - you won't initially be thinking 'wow, I have never smelt anything like that before'. However, I did find the dry down to be more unique. The delicious creamy vanilla mixed with the lingering fruity floral-ness really is gorgeous.

The top and middle notes have strong sillage, they leave a definite scent trail; however, the dry down stays much closer to the skin.

This is an incredibly vibrant and joyous fragrance and a perfect one to wear in the spring and summer months and especially during the party season. It doesn't last incredibly long on the skin - although the dry down can still be detected after about 5 hours, it remains close to the skin so you would probably want to refresh after three hours or so.

I can see me getting a lot of wear out of this fragrance during the warmer months. I find it to be more of a fun daytime/party type fragrance rather than a classy evening fragrance. This fragrance is completely different to L’eau D’Issey. Where L’eau D’Issey is cool and watery Pleats Please is sparkly and vibrant. I have to say that I think I prefer Pleats Please to L’eau D’Issey though perhaps that is just because I have been smelling and wearing L’eau D’Issey for years whilst Pleats Please is all new and shiny!

In addition to creating the new fragrance, a lot of thought and design has gone into creating the bottle to represent the pleats made famous by the fashion line. Issey Miyake was once quoted as saying:

“Pleats never cease to fascinate me, conjuring up a multitude of images.” “Pleats move and change form with the wearer’s every movement. As the pleats move they change colours, creating an optical illusion like a kaleidoscope.”

The bottle has been designed to capture this optical illusion. I have included photos of the bottle from every angle for you to see just how beautiful it is. This would have to be one of my favourite bottles in my collection - it's just a shame that I store my perfume in their box in the cupboard, to protect them from light, and that it is not out on display.

Front view showing off pink tinged liquid

Front again

Back view

Side view

The lid

Issey Miyake Pleats Please is available in the following sizes: 30ml - $65, 50ml - $105 and 100ml - $155 at MYER, David Jones and selected independent stockists from 2^nd September 2012.  I have previously written about the risks of buying grey market cosmetics - if you want to know whether your local stockist is an authorised reseller you can ring (02) 9695 5678 to confirm.


Do you like the sound of Pleats Please or do you think you will stay on team L’eau D’Issey and it's flankers?



All opinions are my own and I received no remuneration for this post. This perfume was provided to me for consideration.

Quest for the Best Rose Perfume: Joy by Jean Patou

I have only ever finished one bottle of perfume in my life and that was Joy by Jean Patou so I had to include it in my quest to find the best rose perfume!

I love it when perfumes have a story behind them and this one has quite an interesting story. Jean Patou was a clothing designer. Joy was created in 1929 during the Depression at a time when many of Jean Patou's clients could no longer afford his clothing. Although the perfume was very expensive, it was still more affordable than his clothing and thus was a piece of luxury that these clients could purchase. For this reason, it became an instant success and remains Jean Patou's most famous and successful perfume.  According to Fragrantica.com, Joy is considered to be one of the greatest fragrances created and is a landmark example of the floral genre in perfumery.

For many years this was the costliest perfume on earth due to the fact that 10,000 jasmine flowers and 28 dozen roses are required to create 30ml of the parfum.

What they say: Jean Patou Joy is a classic, fresh floral fragrance, which represents a tribute to the jasmine flower. The scent opens with notes of jasmine, may rose and Bulgarian rose oil, before revealing a rich bouquet of ylang ylang, tuberose, jasmine de may and musk. Joy’s opulent scent represents timeless and refined beauty.

What I say: I absolutely adore this perfume. It is honestly quite breath-taking. Of all the names that are out there, 'Joy' is the most perfect one for this fragrance. When I first inhale the aroma I am left feeling quite euphoric and each time I get a whiff of it throughout the day it leaves me feeling equally happy. It is such a joyous scent.

I find that this fragrance changes very little with time. If you like what you smell straight away then you will still like it in three hours. You are instantly hit with a heady aroma of jasmine and rose. These two notes are so complimentary of each other - they were born to go together. I am not able to detect the other notes in the perfume - just these two, right up until the end. But that doesn't bother me as I love them so much!

This is such a classy, elegant perfume and most definitely feminine. I don't particularly like the word 'sensual' but have to admit that it is a fitting description of how I feel when I wear it!

Joy has incredible lasting power - after 5 hours this can still easily be detected on my skin. It also has high silage so don't spray too much (I have overwhelmed one of my male friends by wearing too much of this perfume - though he does get hay fever from jasmine so would probably have complain even if I only had one spray of it on me!).

Modern or classical? This is definitely a classical fragrance, having been created in 1929. It is quite an interesting one in that women of just about any age could wear this. I bought my first bottle when I was 24 and it never felt too old for me, yet I could just as easily see my mother or grandmother wearing it as well. If you are a classy woman than you will be able to pull this fragrance off, no matter your age.

Day or night? I definitely think that this is a night fragrances - it is quite heavy - probably too heavy for daytime wear. It is also a very sophisticated fragrance, and the jasmine in it makes it quite sexy as well. For me it was a special occasion fragrance - one I bust out when we were going somewhere special for dinner.

Summer or winter? As I loved it so much I used to wear it year round, although the heaviness of it probably makes it more suited to being a winter fragrance.

How does this perfume rate as a rose perfume? Due to the strong jasmine notes this perfume doesn't smell exactly like you a walking through a rose garden; however, it is undeniably a rose perfume and I would have to say my favourite rose perfume that I have trialled so far.

Would I buy it again? Absolutely. I can imagine myself wearing this perfume forever. The only reason I haven't repurchased just yet is that there are so many fragrances I have yet to try on my wish list; however, doing this review and smelling the fragrance for the first time in a couple of years has reminded me just how much I love it. So, I suspect that I will purchase it (ok, ask for it for my birthday!) before years end. It seems that I am not the only person head over heals in love with this fragrance - it is the world's second best selling fragrance (behind Chanel no. 5)

Where to buy? Joy by Jean Patou is available from David Jones, $129 for 30ml or $172 for 50ml


Have you tried Joy by Jean Patou? Did you find it amazing or too old fashion?



All opinions are my own and I received no remuneration for this post. This perfume was purchased by myself with my own money.

Quest for the Best Rose Perfume: Rose The One by Dolce & Gabbana

Continuing with my quest to find the best rose perfume is my review of Rose The One by Dolce & Gabbana. I have to admit that this perfume was chosen for it's name - Rose The One sounded very rosey to me! I have not tried the original The One by Dolce & Gabbana so this review won't be comparing Rose The One to the original.

What they say: Rose The One is a breath-taking realisation of a contemporary feminine floral, and a deftly sensual paean to the eternal romance of the rose. The scent is exhilarating and bursting with joie de vivre without surrendering any of the one's famously seductive magnetism.

The top notes lure us with a flirtatious rush of succulent pink grapefruit, mandarin and cassis. At it's heart lies a gloriously feminine bouquet of peony, lily, lychee and, of course, the impeccably graceful Bulgarian rose. A subtle hint of vanilla carries us down into a tenderly sensual musk and amber base, promising an evocative and soul-stirring silage.

What I Say: Wow - OK, I am unable to describe the perfume quite as eloquently as the Dolce & Gabbana marketers have so you will just have to put up with my more factual review (hey, I'm a scientist - our language is facts!).

Initially I am hit with a floral fruity burst. I couldn't detect grapefruit or mandarin, per se, but the fruity notes were definitely evident. As the top notes faded and the floral middle notes became more evident; however, the perfume never loses its fruitiness. It is when the middle notes are developing that rose can be detected. Although it is not a strong, distinct rose note, it is definitely recognisable as rose. The middle notes last on my skin for about two hours before the warm base notes take over. The vanilla is very evident to me and this gives the perfume a warm finish. The dry down is very pleasant and this lasts about another two hours on my skin though can be very weakly detected for many hours after.

I would say that this perfume has medium lasting power - about 4 hours on my skin as well as medium silage - a definite detectable scent trail is left but not an overpowering one.

I found this perfume to be very classy, which surprised me as I haven't previously associated fruity fragrances with classiness. It is also intensely and undeniably feminine.

How does this perfume rate as a rose perfume? Rose notes are definitely evident; however, it is not a pure rose fragrance. I get a lot of fruity notes with a strong vanilla finish. I would not describe this as a strong rose perfume but rather a fruity floral with some rose notes. Whilst this is a very nice perfume, the rose notes are not strong enough for this perfume to be a contender in my quest to find the best rose perfume.

Modern or classical? I believe that this is quite a modern fragrance. It is not a single note floral - there are many interesting notes that give it a certain modernness.

Day or night? This could pass for either - it is classy enough for wearing at night yet is not too heavy for day. The lychee notes give it a fruity element which works well for day ware.

Summer or winter? Although the vanilla gives this fragrance a certain creaminess and warmth I still do not feel that it is heavy enough for winter. This is a fragrance that I would wear during spring and summer.

Would I buy it again? I have never been a big fan of fruity notes in perfumes. I am a die hard floral lover. For this reason I probably wouldn't buy it again. However, I do have to say that I usually see fruity perfumes as being too young for me but that wasn't the case at all for this one. This perfume still exudes classiness - if you are after a classy fruity floral then I think that this might be right up your alley.

Where to buy? Rose The One by Dolce & Gabbana is available from David Jones, $129 for 30ml or $172 for 50ml


Have you tried Rose The One by Dolce & Gabbana? Are you a fan of fruity notes in perfume?



All opinions are my own and I received no remuneration for this post. This perfume was provided for consideration.

Quest for the Best Rose Perfume: Issey Miyake L’Eau d’Issey Florale

The next rose perfume review in my quest to find the best rose perfume, L’Eau d’Issey Florale, is not your typical rose perfume. L’Eau d’Issey Florale was launched in 2011 and aims to capture the subtle freshness of a newly blooming rosebud.

What they say: The new fragrance, features a new kind of floral scent: that of a breaking rosebud in the course of flowering.
The pursuit of such delicate breath of rose resulted in the birth of a fragrance which unveils the real nature of this flower: the extremity of femininity, purity, and modernity which is typical of the rose petal.
Emphasized by yellow ginger lily, a fresh note with luminous orange blossom accents, and by the depth of white woods, the exquisite floral scent creates an unassuming but distinguished olfactory world.

• Top Notes: Firnat rose bud, Yellow ginger lily
• Middle Notes: Mandarin orange
• Base Notes: White woods

What I Say: My impression after the first sniff of this perfume was that it smelt very much like the original L’Eau d’Issey - a watery floral. I was surprised that this was considered a rose fragrance but then, after a couple of minutes or so, the rose came through. The description of the rose, that of a breaking rosebud in the course of flowering, is very apt. It is a very subtle, delicate rose scent without any of the heaviness that can be associated with rose.

I can definitely detect both the rosebud and the lily top notes. Lily is the very first thing I smell though this is quickly overtaken by the delicate rose. It is a very beautiful, cheerful combination. After about 30 minutes the rose has disappeared on my skin and I am left with the aquatic floral notes. Lily is detectable the entire time though the woody notes become more apparent with time. The perfume also never looses it's aquatic notes so it is always a very cool, refreshing fragrance. My nose cannot pick up any of the citrus (mandarin and orange) middle notes which suit me as I am not overly keen on citrus notes. Perhaps these notes give it a sweetness but other than that, to me, they are undetectable.

L’Eau d’Issey Florale has amazing staying power. Eight hours after spraying it I can still subtly detect it on my skin. It has medium sillage - that is the trail of scent left behind by the perfume. For the first couple of hours it is definitely detectable by others in close surrounds though after this time the sillage drops so it remains closer to the skin.

How does this perfume rate as a rose perfume? It does not scream rose to me, and that is what I am looking for in this quest. The first 30 minutes or so the rose is unmistakable, though much more subtle and delicate that your typical rose perfume. However, thereafter it is more an aquatic floral with woody notes rather than a rose perfume.

Modern or classical? Definitely modern. This is a light, airy, fresh floral and a very modern take on the typical rose perfume.

Day or night? The lightness and freshness of this fragrances makes it a gorgeous scent for daytime wear. It is most definitely cheerful - a very happy fragrance to wear throughout the day.

Summer or winter? This is a fragrance that I would wear in spring or summer. It doesn't have any warm or spicy notes that I tend to look for in fragrances I wear during the winter. Instead, it is fresh and cool.

Would I buy it again?  Yes - but not as a rose fragrance. Although I have always enjoyed wearing the original L’Eau d’Issey as an everyday perfume, I actually like this version even more. Its seems lighter and fresher than the original. The delicate rose is gorgeous; though, as it only lasts about 30 minutes on my skin before being replaced by the watery lily notes, I don't really see it as a rose perfume. However, this might just be the perfect rose perfume for someone wanting a more subtle rose as it is definitely not an in your face rose perfume.

Where to buy? Issey Miyake L’Eau d’Issey Florale is available from Myer or David Jones, $119 for 50ml or $170 for 90ml

Do you prefer rose notes in the perfume you wear to be more subtle or in your face?



All opinions are my own and I received no remuneration for this post. This perfume was provided to me for consideration.

Quest for the Best Rose Perfume: Fleur de Thé Rose Bulgare by Creed

I have decided to kick off my series of rose perfume reviews with Fleur de Thé Rose Bulgare by Creed as this is the perfume that re-ignited my quest to find the best rose perfume; in fact, it turned it from a simpe quest to an obsession! I had never heard of the perfume house Creed until I read the article Aromatic memoirs of a movie icon before Lauders and Ardens in the Sunday Telegraph's Sunday Magazine. As soon as I read the following statement, Fleur de Thé Rose Bulgare is part of Creed’s Private Collection. The crisp fragrance has none of the musky dustiness of most rose styles and is considered one of the best rose scents ever made, I became obsessed with Fleur de Thé Rose Bulgare. I was a women on a mission. My ambition in life became to smell this fragrance.

Creed was founded in 1760; however, it was only launched in Australia in October 2011. Creed is the world's only privately held luxury fragrance dynasty, passed from father to son since founding, and is one of the oldest family businesses in the world. Strangely, Fleur de Thé Rose Bulgare only comes in a 250ml bottle, which, at $452 you would want to make damn sure that you like it. I managed to find a seller who bought a 1000ml flask from the Creed store before deciding that it was too much juice for one person to get through so was selling smaller, more reasonable sized decants. I managed to pick up one such decant.

What they say (from the Creed website): Fleur de The' Rose Bulgare was made for the wife of an historic U.S. President. The distinguished lady from New York first encountered CREED on her extended honeymoon in Europe. When she returned to America, she wrote to CREED requesting a custom fragrance made with Bulgarian tea roses she had smelled during her sojourn abroad. For her, CREED created Fleur de The' Rose Bulgare, which evokes endless honeymoon romance. It also evokes the beauty and destiny of the gracious woman who became First Lady a few years later.

• Top Notes: Bergamot, citrus notes
• Middle Notes: Chinese green tea, Bulgarian rose
• Base Notes: Ambergris

What I Say: As my quest for the best rose perfume did not end upon smelling his one it obviously wasn't the perfection in a bottle that I was seaking. I had built this fragrance up so much in my head that realistically it was never going to quite live up to my expectations. I imagined that it would smell exactly like walking through a field of red roses in bloom - heady and euphoric. My very first impression was that it smelt like rose pot pouri. However, I was 7 months pregnant when I first smelt it and pregnancy makes my sense of smell become incredibly sensitive so I put the perfume away until after I had given birth. Interestingly, when I first sprayed it I was in a room with three other women and they all immediately said that it smelt exactly like fresh roses.

Second impression - it is definitely a very true rose scent, though, to my nose, seems to be missing the sweetness of a fresh red rose. Initially I can detect the citrus top notes though these have all but disappeared within 5 minutes leaving the Bulgarian rose middle note to dominate. The other middle note is green tea and I think that it is this note that takes away the sweetness of rose, making it a drier scent. I have read reviews that say they can smell the tannins in this and while I can't say that I know what tannins smell like, there is a slight sharpness to the fragrance that does remind me of the bitterness of tannins in tea. This dry rosiness then lasts for hours and hours so, if you like how the fragrance smells after 5 minutes you will also like how it smells after 5 hours as it doesn't change or evolve.

I was wearing this fragrance on the weekend, whilst I had Kiki in her carrier, and a friend came up to me to have a look at Kiki. She exlaimed 'oh wow, she smells just like roses' whereby I then took credit for the beautiful smell! So, it seems that when I am wearing it the scent others pick up is a very true rose scent and it is just when I sniff my wrists up close that the bitter dryness of the green tea is more noticeable.

I have seen some reviews that suggest this fragrance could be unisex which really surprised me as I don't see rose working on a male. The fragrance does lose some of its femininity by not having the sweet element to the rose but it is still a strong floral fragrance and not one I would associate with a man. To be sure, I used my husband as a guniea pig and sprayed it on his wrist. I could actually detect the citrus notes a lot more strongly on him than I did on myself. I was surprised that it wasn't too feminine on my husband, actually we were both quite surprised though he did say that it is not a fragrance that he would ever wear. I think the mear association with rose makes it too girly.

This is a very sophisticated, high quality fragrance and quite a poweful one. It is a serious one as opposed to a fun one - I would wear it in situations where I want to be respected. It does not smell cheap or tacky. The lasting power is quite incredible - I easily got 5+ hours out of it and that is strong scent - the perfume could still be weakly detected on my wrists the following morning. The sillage, that is the trail of scent left behind by a perfume, is high being evident by my friend thinking my baby smelt like roses.
How does this perfume rate as a rose perfume? Near perfect in my eyes - if it were only slightly sweeter then it would probably be perfect. I am going to experiment with layering with other fragrances to see if I can bring out the sweetness I am looking for.

Modern or classical? Definitely classical. It is a fragrance that you could imagine a mature women wearing. In saying that, it is not an old lady's fragrance - or at least I didn't think so but it doesn't have any notes in it that scream modern.

Day or night? Mostly night though it would also be appropriate in serious or formal day situations such as important meetings.

Summer or winter? This is actually a year round fragrance. The greeness of it would make it appropriate for summer yet it is quite heavy so it does not seem out of place in winter,
Would I buy it again? Probably. The only real thing holding me back is the size of the flask it comes in and the price. If it were ever to be release in a smaller sized bottle then I would definitely buy it again.

Where to buy? In Australia you can get it from the Creed Boutique in Double Bay, Sydney, online at Libertine Parfumerie or at the Elizabeth St David Jones Store.

Does this fragrance sound like your cup of tea? Had you previously heard of Creed? Does it do anyone elses head in that the company Creed has been around longer than the country we live in (or at least it was around before white settlement occurred in Australia).


All opinions are my own and I received no remuneration for this post. This perfume was purchased by myself with my own money.

My quest to find the best rose perfume

Rose images used in this article are courtesy

of Best Top Desktop HD Wallpapers

When posed with the question 'If you had to give up one of your senses, which one would you choose?' my sense of smell is the first one I'd choose to keep. Where sight and hearing are necessity senses - ones that I take for granted, smell is the one that gives me the most pleasure. It can instantly lift my mood and bring with it a flood of memories - I don't know why but I just love the smell of tomato leaves; mangoes smell like Christmas to me because my Nanna used to buy us a box of mangoes each Christmas; the smell of salty sea air makes me happy as it means I am near the water; lemongrass sweeps me back to my honeymoon in Thailand; since becoming a mum I finally understand why people go on and on about the smell of newborns and often find myself snorting up my newborn's deliciousness; but my favourite scent of all would have to be that of the rose.

As long as I can remember I have always stopped to smell the roses. And when I do, it makes me feel intensely happy. I love the heady, intoxicating scent of a red rose or the surprisingly strong and fresh smell of a pink rose. Conversely, I hate the red roses you find in a florist that a bred for their beauty but have next to no fragrance. They are a tease for me as I feel the real beauty of the rose, it's amazing scent, has been removed.

Without realising it, I have been on a quest for most of my life to find the best rose perfume. When I was a kid, maybe 10 or 11, my neighbours grew stunningly fragrant red roses. I used to sneak over and pick all the petals off the roses, put them in a jar and cover them in water to try and capture the rose perfume. No surprises, I was unsuccessful with this experiment and my resulting concoction was nothing more than a jar full of pungent fermenting petals (though it did show that I was destined to be a scientist from a young age!).

When I was in my teens I would go to Paddy's Markets and buy rose 'essential oil'. In hindsight it was most definitely not genuine essential oil as I think I paid about $8 for 50ml. Back then I naively believed the seller when they told me it was genuine, and worse still I use to apply it to my face. I remember it stinging so I shudder to think what I was actually putting on my face.

For Christmas, when I was 17, Nonny (my grandmother) sent me a Jurlique Rose gift pack which contained a shower gel, hand cream and their best selling Rosewater Freshener. At this stage I had not heard of Jurlique but one spray of the Freshener literally changed my life. It was the most amazing thing that I had ever smelt. It smelt exactly like a bunch of fresh red roses and each time I sprayed it I was hit with a wave of euphoria as I inhaled the magical scent. I believe that it was probably that one gift that really ignited my obsession for beauty and also my quest for the best rose perfume. The scent of the Jurlique Rosewater Freshener is my ideal rose perfume but, alas, it lingers barely 2 minutes on the skin so my quest had to continue.

When I was about 20 my then boyfriend (and now husband) bought me 1ml of (this time) genuine absolute rose essential oil. It was the first time that I had smelt absolute rose essential oil and I remember being surprised that it didn't smell as 'rosey' as a fresh red rose. Beautiful, yes, just not as crisp and fresh as a rose in bloom. So the quest continued.

Over the years I have bought a bottle or perfume here or there in an attempt to find the perfect rose perfume. At times I have felt like I have come close, yet I have not quite found my perfection in a bottle. I recently read a review for Fleur de Thé Rose Bulgare by Creed which has been described as possibly the greatest rose perfume ever created. This one review completely ignited my desires to find my perfection in a bottle, in fact, it turned it into an obsession!

So, I have decided to take you along with me on my quest to find my perfection in a bottle - the best rose perfume - by reviewing a variety of rose perfumes as I trial them. So far, I have the following perfumes in my list:


Evelyn Rose Eau De Parfum - Crabtree & Evelyn
Fleur de Thé Rose Bulgare - Creed
Imogen Rose - Lush
Joy - Jean Patou
L’Eau d’Issey Florale - Issey Miyake
Rose Essentielle Eau de Parfum - Bulgari
Red Roses Cologne - Jo Malone
Rose The One - Dolce & Gabbana
Tea Rose - Perfumer's Workshop

This list is not final and I would love further suggestions of fragrances that I should try. Especially as perfumes differ so much from person to person.

So, please tell me - what is the best rose fragrance that you have ever smelt?

(Is it just me, or can you virtually smell the scent of fresh roses emitting from your computer screen, just by looking at these gorgeous images?)

All images used in this article are courtesy of Best Top Desktop HD Wallpapers

Fragrance Review: Flora by Gucci Glamorous Magnolia

My parents have recently returned from an epic 9 week trip overseas. Whenever anyone in my life goes overseas and leaves me behind, they are given a wish list of presents to bring me back. As my parents were going to Paris, naturally I asked for perfume. I was quite vague in my request - I just asked for a floral, preferably white flower and left it up to mum to choose. She came home with Flora by Gucci Glamorous Magnolia.

Flora by Gucci Glamorous Magnolia is one of five spin off fragrances of the original Flora by Gucci that make up the Gucci Flora Garden collection. According to Fragrantica, the Gucci Flora Garden collection includes five most important blossoms outlined on the legendary Gucci scarf designed by Vittorio Accornero for Princess Grace of Monaco.

 Legendary Gucci scarf designed by Vittorio Accornero for
Princess Grace of Monaco that the Fora Garden range is
inspired by (image from Gucci Facebook)

The five new editions are: Glorious Mandarin, Gracious Tuberose, Gorgeous Gardenia, Glamorous Magnolia and Generous Violet, which were launched in May 2012.

L to R: Gorgeous Gardenia, Gracious Tuberose, Glorious Mandarin,
Generous Violet, Glamorous Magnolia

Gorgeous Gardenia	top notes of red berries and pear heart notes of gardenia and frangipani flower base notes of patchouli and brown sugar accord
Gracious Tuberose	top notes of violet leaves and peach heart notes of tuberose, orange flower and rose base notes of rock rose and white cedarwood
Glorious Mandarin	top notes of mandarin and peony middle notes of jasmine and pina colada accord heart notes of ambergris, white musk and creamy wood
Generous Violet	top note of violet leaves heart notes of orris and violet petals base note of suede accord
Glamorous Magnolia	top notes of freesia, green leaves and citrus zest heart notes of peony and magnolia base notes of musk, sandalwood and warm chocolate accord

Before I commence my review of Flora by Gucci Glamorous Magnolia I have two confessions. Firstly, I have no idea what a Magnolia flower smells like. When reading up on other reviews of this fragrance there are mixed opinions as to whether this smells like Magnolia. Some state that there is no hint of Magnolia whilst others are saying that it smells just like their Magnolia tree in full bloom. If you are specifically after a Magnolia fragrance, you will need to sniff this one yourself. My review will be based on my opinion of the fragrance rather than it's likeness to Magnolia.

My second confession is that I have never smelt the original Flora by Gucci so I have no idea how similar or different this fragrance is from the original. So, again my review will be on this as a stand alone fragrance.

Description: Fragrance contains Freesia, Magnolia, Sandalwood (Warm Chocolate) and symbolises feminine beauty. Inhale the aroma to give and receive love.   

top notes of freesia, green leaves and citrus zest

heart notes of peony and magnolia

base notes of musk, sandalwood and warm chocolate accord

The notes I first detect after spraying this perfume are an orange citrus plus a creaminess. the creaminess fades quickly allowing the orange citrus to take over. The orange citrus is not sharp, like citrus can be. I think the underlying floral cuts through the potential harshness of citrus leaving a sweet juiciness instead. I cannot specifically detect freesia or green leaves in the top notes although there are definitely floral notes. My initial impressions of this fragrance is that it is a sweet fruity floral.

As the top notes fade, on me after about 5-10 minutes, I am left with a generalised floral scent with a faint creaminess in the background. This is where the magnolia is meant to appear so perhaps that is the floral element I am smelling.

After about 3 hours the floral middle notes have all but disappeared leaving the creamy base notes. I can detect musk, and the creaminess I attribute to the warm chocolate. It is not a distinct chocolatiness ie you don't finish up smelling like a chocolate bar. It is more of a sweet, warm creaminess.

A few of the reviews I read of this fragrance described it as sugary sweet or sickly sweet. I don't know whether this was based on sniffing it off cardboard or from their wrists but I did not detect this at all. There was definitely some sweet fruity notes initially and the dry down had a creamy sweetness but on my skin it was not an overpowering or sickly sweetness.

I found this to be a very wearable daytime fragrance. It does not make enough of a statement, nor was sophisticated enough to be an evening fragrance. It is a beautiful fragrance but not a particularly striking one - you will smell lovely wearing it but I don't see someone stopping you in the street to ask what you are wearing. I found it to be a light hearted fragrance. Flirty and fun. It is definitely more of a spring and summer fragrance; hence, why it was released in May in Europe. With the cold weather we are experiencing now, I find myself craving a heavier fragrance - still a floral as that is my thing, but a warm spicy floral.

I have only been wearing this perfume on my wrists. With Kiki feeding so often I thought it would be cruel to spray perfume all over my chest, which doubles as her dinner plate! If I just put one spray on my wrist I find that it lasts a maximum of 3 hours on me. I can still faintly smell the dry down but others couldn't. Today I tried two sprays  and now, five hours on, the fragrance is still detectable though is fading. So, it has decent longevity when applied liberally - enough to just about get you through the work day.

 

 

I have to to say that this is one of the more beautiful bottles in my (extensive!) perfume collection. To me, the hexagonal bottle with a clear glass lid looks really classy. It's almost a shame that I store my perfume in their original boxes in the cupboard - but as beautiful as the bottle is, it's not the reason I buy a fragrance so I am not going to risk destroying it in sunlight.

The Gucci Flora Garden collection is available in 50 and 100ml EDT. Gardenia, Magnolia and Tuberose are available in Australia from David Jones - 50ml $109, 100ml - $161. I believe that Mandarin and Violet are only available from Gucci stores in 100ml bottles.

Have you tried the original Flora or any of the Flora Garden collection? Which one is your favourite or which do you most want to try? I am now on a mission to sniff Generous Violet!

What is your all time favourite floral perfume (I am always after a good recommendation) or if florals don't float your boat then what is your favourite fragrance?

 

 All opinions are my own and I received no remuneration for this post. This perfume was provided to me by lovely mother and possibly also my darling father, though perfume makes him sneeze so I am not sure how much imput he really had!

My Top 10 Favourite Products: The Top 10 Award

I have mixed feelings about blogging awards. I feel like a bit of a dork proclaiming that I have 'won' an award but then they are always a lot of fun to participate in. When Moxie from Moxie Reviews told me she had nominated me for the Top 10 award, at first I wasn't sure what to do. Do I just ignore it? Do I do it? The rules of the Top 10 award are that you link back to the person who nominated you, then you list your Top 10 favourite products and nominate 10 other bloggers who will then list their top 10 favourite products. As I love talking about products, and I also love sharing link love I decided that the Top 10 award would be fun...so here I go!

Firstly, thanks to Moxie from Moxie Reviews for nominating me. Moxie reviews organic and natural makeup, cosmetics and hair products from companies that do not test on animals. Her reviews are refreshingly honest and well worth checking out.

My Top 10 Favourite Products (at this point in time...ask me in a month and the list may be very different!). If I have previously reviewed these products then I have included the link to the article if you would like more details.


1. BIOeffect EGF Serum

I have read the about the science behind this serum and it really blows me away. On paper the serum should work. EGF is a growth factor that stimulates skin cells to divide and multiply, thereby filling out fine lines. Independent clinical trials have shown that it does in fact work - after 30 days there was a clear reduction in wrinkles. I have been trialling this myself for about 4 weeks and have definitely noticed a reduction in lines on my forehead. So far the lines around my eyes have not budged but they might actually be sleep deprivation lines (I have a toddler!). My skin is definitely looking more hydrated as well.

2. Jurlique Herbal Recovery Gel

I have been using this product on and off fr the last 10 years. I love it, although I might be hitting the age where I need to move on to the Purely Age Defying Serum. This is a really light gel serum that smells amazing - kind of herbal, kind of floral. I tend to use it of an evening and find that my skin looks so hydrated in the morning. It really seems to make my skin happy! 

 

3. Estee Lauder Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator

This creates magic for my complexion. It really gives the illusion that my complexion is flawless. It also works at reducing pigmentation - I have seen a slight reduction in my pigmented patches. There is no longer such a stark line between the pigmented and non pigmented skin. But for me, it is the evening effect the light diffusing particles have on my skin tone that I love the most.

4. MAC Paint Pot

Somehow, the MAC Paint Pot craze had completely passed me by. It wasn't until I was reading a forum and saw a makeup artist recommending that the MAC Bare Study Paint Pot be used as a primer, that the Paint Pots entered my radar. So, when I got the opportunity to go to the Estee Lauder staff store, this was on the top of my purchase list. I didn't manage to get Bare Study, instead I got Vintage Selection. This one looks a bit darker than Bare Study but is still quite light on the eye. It is very shimmery, which I LOVE. It goes on so creamy and soft then dries to become the perfect canvas to apply eyeshadow over.

5. Penhaligon's Ellenisia Perfume

I love florals and this is one of the most gorgeous perfumes I have ever smelt. It is rose with white flowers (gardenia and jasmine) and then a bit of a musky dry down. It makes me feel so feminine and happy when I wear it and I have never found another perfume that is even remotely similar - it is very unique.

6. Rodial Glamoxy Snake Mask

I used to think that peel off masks were kind of crap. This mask completely changed my opinion. It brightened my skin and left it glowing. It also yanked out the blackheads on my nose. This is now my go to mask to use before I go out.

7. Jurlique Rosewater Balancng Mist

I don't do toners - don't really see the point of them. I make the exception for this mist. It is heavenly. Smells exactly like a field of red roses. It is very calming and hydrating for my skin plus it is incredibly calming for my phsyche as well. As I inhale this mist I feel a sense of serenity descend over me. Amazing stuff!


8. Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Youth Creme

This is another product in which the science really blew me away. This creme contains the Youth Molecule which slows down cell turnover. The theory is if you can slow down cell divisions and turnover you can prolong how long your skin looks young for. The creme felt luxurious to use, it sunk straight into my skin and really left it looking amazing.

9. Nivea Light Feel Daily Face Veil

This is a cheapie (its only $10.99) but a beauty. It is a really light sunscreen. It absorbs straight in, is non greasy and is a real pleasure to wear. This makes wearing sunscreen easy. I keep a bottle in my handbag, one in the bathroom, I had one on my desk at work so I was always protected.


10. Estée Lauder DayWear Sheer Tint Moisturiser

I wear this moisturiser in combination with the Idealist Even Skintoneskintone so the effect is extremely complimentary. I don't really like to wear foundation and so have found that this is an excellent compomise. You really can't tell that I am wearing it - it just looks like I have perfect skin!

Bloggers The following bloggers are incredibly passionate about what they write about, whether that be skincare, makeup, haircare or eyeshadow. I have nominated them because I am busting to know what their top 10 favourite products are. If you haven't discovered these blogs yet, I really urge you to go and have a look! Bloggers, if you have already done one of these awards before, please post the link to your Top 10 post in the comments below.

1. Yeah, yeah, ragger, ragger...
2. Makeup and Macaroons
3. The Beauty of Red Roses
4. Keeping up with me
5. Ritualeyes
6. 1000fragrances
7. The Best Beauty Blog
8. Things I Love
9. Me, my best and I
10. All the pretty faces

If I haven't tagged you but you would love to participate, then please tag yourself and mention in the comments that you are doing the Top 10 award for the rest of us to come and check out!

Have you entered my latest BIOeffect giveaway? Here's the link if you haven't checked it out yet.