The easy choice – Labdanum 18 by Le Labo

World of Perfume October 29, 2011 Comments: 20

I’m calling this an easy choice because each time I have to go someplace and don’t know what to wear, I reach for this. 🙂
My relatively large decant came through a split and the speed I’m going through it, makes me think I will have to start looking for another one soon.

Notes: Labdanum, tonka beans, vanilla, castoreum, patchouli.

If I were to describe this perfume in one word, I’d say it smells ambery. 🙂

Lately, I realized I write down my notes on a perfume, then I go see what are the notes listed and then I go investigate which parts combined to get me the smells I was getting.

One of the good things about Labdanum 18 is that I believe I know what castoreum smells like. The process of elimination brought me there. 🙂
So, the vanilla, labdanum and tonka beans are responsible for the ambery feel but all very nicely tempered so no note overpowers the other. I also detect light whiffs of some herbal sharpness and I thought that came from patchouli but cannot really say for sure.

The problem with this perfume is that it is better smelled around you than on you. I mean, for reviewing purposes, I get less when I smell it on my wrist than when I smell it around me when I wear it. Then it sort of jumps out at me at all times. Not that this perfume jumps, it’s more like it suddenly stealthily overpowers you and you are left wondering how you didn’t know it was there a second ago.
It’s an aural perfume to me (you know, it has the amount of sillage like an aura – just right).

Which brings me to the last note and castoreum. I have a problem detecting that particular tinge to this perfume on my writs, but when I catch a whiff of my “aura” there is a light sexy, possibly dirty or animalic to some, tinge to this perfume. But when you want to take a better look, it’s gone. And then when you’re not watching, it hovers around the edge of your vision, only to disappear when you take a better look.

There doesn’t seem to be much development to this perfume (at least not to me) but I don’t mind that because I really love the way it starts and those “sleight of hand” changes it does so it remains smelling the same with some minor changes for the  duration.

P.S. I just checked the Le Labo site and they list more notes than Luckyscent.
The ones missing up there are: cista, civet, musk aubepine, birch tar, cinnamon, gurjaum balsam.
Can’t say I got any cinnamon but the first 3 could be all responsible for what I thought was solely castoreum’s part. Oh well, I guess I still need to learn how it smells then. 🙂

Late to the party – L’Air de Rien by Miller Harris

World of Perfume October 26, 2011 Comments: 14

It seems everyone knows how this smells and it has quite a lot of fans out there as far as I could tell.

I only tried it today. So, yes, quite late to the party. 🙂

Notes: French oak moss, Tunisian neroli, sweet musk, amber and vanilla

I’ve been thinking of how to describe this all day.

On me it doesn’t really display many changes, and I don’t want it to.
(I also tried Lorenzo Villoresi’s Dilmun today and wished it wouldn’t change from the opening, but unfortunately it did, once again confirming LV perfumes and I don’t go together)

Basically, L’Air de Rien smells like a cool, dry cover over a warm ambery base. The cover wouldn’t let me get to the warmth hiding inside even though I could almost touch it.
Honetsly, I can’t tell what notes the cover is made of, but as I see the list, the oakmoss must have done its thing with keeping the warmth and sweetness inside and neroli and musk as far as I can tell kept everything smooth and cool.

I really need some of this.

Melissa Darnell: Crave

World of Books October 24, 2011 Comments: 2

If you asked me why I love YA so much, I couldn’t give you an answer.
I’m not sure myself.

Is it because teenagers are full of emotions and anxiety and want to be adults but still retain the childlike in them?

Because I can no longer imagine my inner life going through so many emotional turmoils – I really don’t have the energy left for it. 🙂

But, I enjoy reading about young people having adventures in the style of Romeo and Julia. Because this story reminds one of those lovers.
Tristan and Savannah were forbidenn in fourth grade to ever have any contact with each other. And until then, they were best friends.
Nobody though bothered to explain the reason to them.

The things I really loved about this book were:

– the fact the story is told both from Tristan’s and Savannah’s point of view (I always miss the male perspective, because honestly, I can’t begin to imagine what might be going through their heads)

– the witch is the guy and the vampire is the girl (usually it’s always the opposite)

– absolutely loved the part where Savannah’s mother is explaining magic to her and saying that only in post Harry Potter world is magic cool and fun 🙂

– even though Savannah struck me at first as blinded and unrational, she did come to the conclusions I wanted her to understand eventually, so I guess, I can’t take fault with that ( she is 16 after all and finding her place in a completely new world)

It’s been a while since a YA love story gripped me so much.
And the star-crossed lovers of modern America are to appear in books 2 and 3.

The problem though is – it won’t be soon enough. 🙂

Tom Ford: Black Violet (and I’m upset)

World of Perfume October 22, 2011 Comments: 14

Seriously upset! I mean, for the love of god, Mr. Ford, 200$ for 50 ml?!

And that was the cheapest one I could find.

I don’t know how private these blends are, but unless Mr. Ford made them himself, there is no way I want to give that much money for 50 ml.
No matter how much I love this perfume.

I can’t even convince myself Profumum’s Ambre Aurea would be a justifiable purchase even though I go weak at the knees thinking of it (240$ for 100ml but the blend is 40% perfume).
Btw, is that normal? Going weak at the knees at the smell of particular perfume? Because Ambre Aurea isn’t the only one – but luckily there isn’t many of those around.

On to Black Violet.

It smells perfect to me.

It starts lightly citrusy-piney to me, the masculine accord but soon after that I get the sweet “pulpy” fruitiness, and the woods and I believe some resins too but the notes themselves are very misleading. There’s got to be more in there than what is enumerated (I guess everyone who smelled this came to the same conclusion) but I can’t figure out what.
I just love the way it smells. A lot.

I’ve been testing it for a whole week and I still have problems writing this review. Each time I try it, something new comes out. And it’s not the violet. 🙂
There are some florals in there, beside violet that is. And I hope it’s not my wishful thinking conjuring the violet feelings of this perfume (I hate being influenced but sometimes I can’t tell if it’s happening or not). Still, can’t say I smell anything violety, I just have the color in my head.

That middle stage, after the masculine accord of the beginning and before the one in the end, lasts quite a long time. And I lack words to describe it – a woody, lightly salty moss lightened by fruity sweetness.
And the woody masculine drydown is still discernible after 8 hours of wear.

But still, 200$?!

No matter how much I love it, I won’t be buying a bottle at that price (but if anyone can point me to a cheaper one, please do). 🙂

Notes: citrus, pulpy fruit, black violet, woods, oakmoss

Am I being too harsh?

I've been thinking October 19, 2011 Comments: 8

I don’t know how many of my readers are aware that I am a total cosmetics freak. It was my first love, I adore testing stuff and I’m always on the lookout to try something new.

But it hit me today when I was applying my perfectly ok face cream.
There aren’t that many cosmetic products that wow me.

Those that actually deliver what they promised, or work in a way that would make you notice.
And that is why I don’t talk much about them. Although I wish I would because that would mean there are some truly spectacular products out there available to everyone.
Because I don’t really like to pay a huge amount for a body cream. Or any kind of cosmetic product. Ok, so what I am willing to pay is huge to my mother, but when compared to other cosmetic prices out there, I consider myself rather conservative. 🙂

The last two things that worked really well for me were:

Afrodita Cinnamon AHA Forte Anti-cellulite cream – I don’t use it enough for an anti-cellulite effect to be noticeable but the AHA part works great.

And, a sample of Guerlain’s serum and cream that the most generous Birgit sent, but being me, I managed to forget the name, I only remember it was anti-age (and blue).
But worked wonders to make my inner radiance come out. 😉

So, what do you think about most cosmetic products you use? What really stood out lately?

Kasey Michaels: A Midsummer Night’s Sin

World of Books October 18, 2011 Comments: 2

Being a romance novel lover, I’m always on the lookout for new authors to read. Unfortunately as my romance taste is rather specific, those writers tend to be few and in between.

But I found a new one! Kasey Michaels. And had so much fun reading. 🙂

The main male character is Puck (nickname). He is fun and games personified and also lovable and loving when he falls in love.
In this case, the woman he falls in love is intelligent and has a healthy sense of humour which is needed if you plan on spending time with Puck.

The problem they face is white slavery. That unfortunately is a problem we still face today so I was glas to see K. Michaels showing it in rather grim manner in this novel.
I love to read to get lost in imagined worlds but we shouldn’t forget that the world we live in, is generally not a  nice one.
And Regina’s world won’t be rocked just by that.

I loved the intelligent conversations and all the Shakespearian connotations.
And as this is the middle novel of the three Blackthorn brothers, I have something to go back to and something to look forward.
And Jack’s story is definitely something to look forward… 😉

Nalini Singh: Lord of the Abyss

World of Books October 14, 2011 Leave a comment

I’ve been hearing the name Nalini Singh for ages now, but I never seemed to get around to actually read one of her books.
Now I have Netgalley to thank for my first opportunity. 🙂 Loved it too.

By the end of the book, I realized it’s part of the series as it brings together brothers and a sister in order for them to save their land and the Lord of the Abyss is the youngest one so the others had to come before.
Now, I’ll have to go back and read from the beginning (what a terrible chore!). 😉

Anyway, I can’t help but put in some slight, possible spoilers.

Lord of the Abyss reads to me like a beauty and the beast story. Only in this case, the beauty is ugly, and the beast is beautiful and only gets beastly when the curse is upon him (which isn’t often).

In retrospect, for a book that is romantical fantasy, it actually got me feeling quite strongly (and by that I mean the actual feeling of my stomach clenching in certain situations).
N. Singh certainly painted the childhood of Liliana in such dark and gruesome details that I shivered and almost cried with incredulity that she would do something so awful to such a good character in her book. But unfortunately, it did fit with the father. 😦

Micah, or the Lord of the Abyss is an interesting character because he has many traits that I would detest if they weren’t combined in him with kingly ethic and goodwill toward all the people and the land. And his lover.  They seem to be, character-wise, made for each other.

I really enjoyed the destroyed world of Elden (they only got to fix it in the end, like I said, last book in the series) and I also think that because this was the last book, I lost some of the world building which probably happened in the beginning but I didn’t have a problem following the story (did wonder a bit about parts of the world they inhabit).

Basic line is, I am happy I got introduced to N. Singh’s novels and I want to read more – starting with Royal House of Shadows 1 (which btw I just realized wasn’t written by her but is a series written by some other authors I wanted to get to know). 🙂

Having fun at Flores yesterday

Uncategorized October 14, 2011 Comments: 10

You know, I really do believe I get drunk when I enter a niche perfumery and start smelling stuff and then times flies by when you’re drunk and having fun, and before you know it, it’s closing time and you’ve been there longer than you thought possible. 🙂

But it really isn’t my fault. 🙂
When I came, I was the only one, and then at one point, a guy walked in and we then proceeded through smelling his possible choices while I was debating with myself what do I want to walk out with.

He seemed very keen on By Kilians but couldn’t get the refill of his favourite White Cristal (which surprised me when I heard the name as I thought I knew all the By Kilians and it turned out to be the sub-title of Straight to Heaven). I have a hard time distinguishing them with all the love floating around, let alone with double names. Oh well…

Of all the perfumes he tried, in the end his two (and mine) favorites were Passion Boise by Frapin and Lumiere Noir by MFK.
Passion Boisée, which for some reason I read English Passion and French Boisée is a really good cold-weather choice for men, this one especially as his skin seems to eat all the sweetness out of every perfume.

Lumière Noire, fits the name (finally! a noir that works) as there is a dark rose in there.

Passion Boisée is a warm, rumy-fruity wood concoction that will probably make your guy smell very appealing to a lot of women.
Hmm, I might still decide against buying this one for my boyfriend then…

Of those that I smelled

Dyptique 34 almost made the cut. I really like it. It’s more full than the rest of the Dyptique perfumes I tried so far and has some fig in there which makes it instantly likeable for me, but it’s not sweet, it actually seems fitting for the fall weather we are having at the moment.
In the end, I decided against it because it’s just so perfectly fine.

Ombre Rose L’Original smelled much better on the blotter than on my skin. All I seemed to be getting, progressively at that, was powdery violety-irisy-rose (with accent on powdery). Not for me.

Jovoy Chypre has potential. It is a serious chypre, one you don’t want to mess with. Easier to wear than Bandit but almost giving away the same aura.

Velvet Aoud by Montale also almost made the cut. It would fit nicely with the mood I’m in as it seems to have a light fruity feel tinged with metallic (with the oudy background) and I like it a lot.
I checked the notes now and the only thing with any fruit connotation would be orange blossom. 🙂 But it seems whoever wrote the Luckyscent description also gets some fruitiness. ðŸ™‚  I’ll be going for some more testing.

The last thing that sticks in my mind from yesterday is Safran Troublant which I finally tested. I knew there was a reason I didn’t try it before. I’m a spice addict and ST fits my addiction very nicely. 🙂

And if you’re wondering what I took home with me – well, finally, I have my own stash of Ambre Russe and Fougere Bengale by Parfum d’Empire. 🙂

Huge thank you to the nice blonde lady (whose name I don’t know) for her smiling, easy-going  company yesterday. 🙂

The Flores facebook site from which I took the photo.

The sweet smell of fall…

Perfume thoughts October 13, 2011 Comments: 10

This year, autumn has taken its sweet time in arriving. 🙂

Practically, until week ago, we’ve been having summer days – I think that was the longest I remember of having such sunny, warm days.
This September in Zagreb was the warmest since the start of measuring temperatures (some 150 years ago), so I guess that tells you a lot.

I’m not one to enjoy the summer heat, but the warm, balmy days we had, suited me fine. The only problem was that my fall/winter perfume collection kept beckoning, and I kept giving it a wide berth. The time to wear it just wasn’t right.

Well, now it is. 🙂

My collection got turned around so that the perfumes that warm me up are now close at hand, and those that cool me off, are having a vacation.

I also noticed that my mood for perfume these days leans toward the more masculine of the warm genre. Dry, herbal patchoulis, dry woods, sniping orientals.
I guess you might say I’m not in a mellow mood these days… 😉

(which is mainly caused by work and me finally starting to learn to stand up for myself – I hope…)

Pic is mine – the Versailles gardens. 🙂

M.J.Rose: In Session

World of Books October 12, 2011 Leave a comment

This is a short story collection I am very happy to have stumbled upon because it features several characters whohave series of their own but are brought together in these stories in order for the book to promote and support David Baldacci’s Wish You Well Foundation, which supports family literacy.

Of the characters, I’ve only read Jack Reacher novels. His story in the book is called Knowing You’re Alive where he helps Dr. Snow (whose series I now want to read very, very much) wait for the ambulance and police after a bombing by telling her a story.
Bear in mind that Dr. Snow is a sex therapist so all the stories concern the topic.

I’ve read Steve Berry’s The Romanov Prophecy, but Cotton Malone somehow escaped me, so now I got to know this bookstore owner (now, of course he wasn’t that before), I want to know more about his adventures.

There is one more character appearing in the stories that Dr. Snow talks to (not in the capacity as a sex therapist with any of them, it’s just her nature to look at people like that) is John Rain – a character by an author I’ve never had any contact with before – Barry Eisler.
John Rain is an assassin but I believe that is the most visible thing he is – it seems he is a  mystery waiting to be unraveled by an avid reader (like me). 🙂

I’m very much looking forward to getting to know all these characters better thanks to these stories.