SsOTD: Colognes in lieu of summer

Sample of the day June 4, 2010 Leave a comment

Yes, I know, summer officially starts on the 21, but here it sort of sneaks in before that date. Not this year though. It came for a few days preview and now we’re back to early spring rains (but that is supposed to end tomorrow).

So today, instead of enjoying summer warmth, I enjoyed some colognes. One of them brought summer to my room instantly, the other was a feminine cologne (if that is possible?).

Notes for Penhaligon’s Eau de cologne: orange, lemon, bergamot, rosemary, neroli

Since colognes are not the type of scents that are famous for their longevity, I don’t expect them to last long and don’t take it against them.

Unfortunately, I think this is one of those scents that works much better when sprayed. It was very light on me, smelling like a cologne with rose wafting through. Lovely actually, and that’s why I thought feminine. It was elusive and stayed close to the skin so that’s why I think I should spray it on before seeing if it’s really that soft and elusive.

Notes for Heeley’s Oranges and Lemons Say the Bells of St. Clement’s: oranges, lemons, bergamot, mandarine, neroli, petitgrain, earl gray tea, ylang-ylang, vetiver.

While I was copying the notes, I started wondering if I perhaps mistakes the scents on my arms, but I know I didn’t. It’s just that I was expecting to see here a note pointing toward some evergreen tree.

This is the one that transported me straight to a beach in Croatia, lying in the shade of firs, the smell of sunnscreen wafting on a breeze.

Yes, there was that typical citrusy opening (which was much more stronger in this one) with something peppery in it (I like that very much) and then my beach fantasy started. I don’t want to think about which note in combination with some other brought me my beach fantasy, I just enjoyed the fact that on this dreary, rainy day I got to experience it. 🙂

P.S. I just read the Luckyscent desription of Penhaligon’s Eau de Cologne and now I’m wondering againg if I mistaked this two. I just re-applied and no, I wasn’t mistaken, although both open with lemon peel astringency.

Notes and pic by: http://www.luckyscent.com

SOTD: B Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful – Breathe of God

Sample of the day, Short perfume review June 3, 2010 Comments: 8

It seems I’m late to the party and I only realized it when trying to find notes for this – they are out of business. Their site says some of their products might appear in Lush stores but that’s it.

Notes: vetiver, sandalwood, Virginia cedar, amber, musk, neroli, Amalfi lemon, jasmine, rose, melon.

This is going to sound awful – but if the rest of their products were like this, it’s really not a surprise they are closed. It really does sound awful. But I had to say it.

It’s not that the Breathe of God is bad – it’s just not really good.

I don’t have much to say about it. It started smoky for me (although I read that it’s supposed to be leathery), sweet and I thought slightly almond-tinged. But what felt wrong with it, is that it floated on nothing. It lead me to expect some kind of base behind it, not feeling like the notes were nowhere. Then it smelled like some kind of a soda (Fanta, Schweppes, sth of that sort) mixed with that leather and I couldn’t figure out what it was in there that was disturbing my stomach but now I see the notes, I realize it’s melon. I just don’t like it – in real life nor in perfume.

My thanks to Rita from the Left Coast Nose who sent this with some other surprises some time ago but I only got around to talking about it now.
Rita I hope you get the urge to talk about perfumes again soon – we miss you! 🙂

Pic by: http://www.fragrantica.com

SOTD: Penhaligon’s Orange Blossom

Sample of the day, World of Perfume June 2, 2010 Comments: 2

I think someone broke my sample. Or more clearly the juice inside. This was made by Mr. Duchafour and as I said the other day, there is almost nothing of his I don’t like – and I was already starting to worry I put my foot in my mouth. Luckily for me, that wasn’t true but it was a bumpy ride for a while (almost an hour!).

Notes: neroli, violet leaves, bergamot, cedrat, cardamom, pink pepper, orange, jasmine, tuberose, rose peach blossoms, orchid, sandalwood, cedar, white musk, vanilla.

It seems there is never a shortage of notes in Mr. Duchafour’s creation. 🙂

It started great, like a bitter jasmine (or possibly some other white flower, orange blossom included) and then, not 5 minutes into it, it morphed into a powdery violet. And remained like that. What?! I’m not a violet fan (especially in this talc manner) and this is the part where it got scary for me. I mean, everyone was singing praises for this and I’m getting a violet thingy?! A nice violet thingy (actually made me wonder if I might find this violet wearable) but still – a violet?!
That’s why I thought someone broke my sample juice.

It helps though when you know that really good perfumes are going to change, so I waited. For almost an hour but was it worth it!

After the passing of violet, things started happening and I was beginning to enjoy the ride for real. None of the notes seemed especially prominent but they all seemed to be there at some point in time. I was waiting for an orange blossom tropical seductiveness and I got it. Not the orange blossom or tropical but seductiveness made by rose, jasmine, juicy orange, probably orchid as well but I cannot say for sure since I’m not positive yet on the orchid smell.

The drydown on this smells like an opening on something, it’s that good and strong. Reminded me a bit of Ninfeo Mio due to sweetness and floral juiciness. And each time I smell my arm, I’m seduced more and more.

Turns out, I can live with violets on me. 🙂

2010. Summer Romance Challenge

Uncategorized June 2, 2010 Comments: 2

Oh, this one is right up my alley. If you haven’t figured it out, I’m a sucker for romance so it’s really no problem participating in this.

So, if anyone else wants to join, head on over to Book Chick City to gather the supplies (button)
and you can read the details down here:

1. Anyone can join. You don’t need a blog to participate.

2. 4 months, 8 books. Or you can go to advanced level and make it 16 books (I’m taking that one).

3. Any book format counts.

4. The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

5. If you decide to join, use the link and the button from Book Chick City who is hosting this and post the button on the sidebar so other people can find it and come and join.

6 You can link your reviews here to be entered for a prize at the end of the challenge.

My books:

1. Stephanie Laurens: The Elusive Bride

2. Julia Quinn: Everything and the Moon

3. Amanda Quick: The Perfect posion

4. Danielle Steel: Matters of the Heart

SOTD: Palais Jamais by Etro

Sample of the day, World of Perfume June 1, 2010 Comments: 10

Sometimes a day goes by and I wonder how come I couldn’t find a little time to post a short review of a perfume, book or a sample. Today it’s the sample day and I finally have a little time to post my thoughts.

I love this. 🙂 I could end here with – it’s a mimosa-vetiver cologne for me and I love it.

I thought of it as a cologne but it’s actually an EDT which is basically the same.

Notes: tuberose, jasmine, ylang-ylang, mimosa, violet, tangerine, sandalwood, vetiver, musk, leather, tobacco, oakmoss, civet (there are some variants on the notes but not much).

As I already said, it starts as a green cologne to me (cologne meaning it’s citrusy for me) with something familiar that I just couldn’t figure out until I read the notes. It’s mimosa! This is the best mimosa for me so far. Ok, so I didn’t try that many but this one is still the clear winner.

And for an edt, it has some serious lasting power (more than the last 2 samples I tried).

I read somewhere it has some spiciness, and I agree. At some point, you feel that tingling in your nose that tells you there are spices in it but out of the notes, I cannot figure out what can it be. Besides, it doesn’t last long. It goes on to some white flowers peeking through but I can’t say I actually smell one of those listed. What surprises me is that for an edt, it goes through a lot of phases. At some point it gets really flowery until settling down into a vetiverish mimosa (I can still feel it a little in the drydown) with a salty sandalwood drydown (I have no idea what it this with me and salty drydowns, I promise I don’t sweat much).

I find this a wonderful summer fragrance and quite long-lasting. It’s really good I tried this before summer so I can get some before it starts (it’s raining and quite cold these days so there’s no hurry yet).
P.S. It reminds me of Guerlain Vetiver with some mimosa on the side that turns it into summer freshness personified (not that the Guerlain Vetiver is not like that, I love that one as well).

Lynda Hilburn: The Vampire Shrink

World of Books June 1, 2010 Leave a comment

What fun this book was! I enjoyed it tremendously. Kismet Knight Ph.D. is a delight to read.

The thing is, what happens in this book is exactly what any of us would think if someone was trying to convince you vampires existed. Especially when you are a psychiatrist and you have all the knowledge of conditions that might be causing these types of self-illusions. Because that is what she is, a psychiatrist. And I have to tell you, it’s hilarious reading her inner thoughts which are interspersed throughout the novel.

What I’m wondering now is how come I haven’t heard about this before? The first book came out in 2007. I already have the second book in the series (Dark Harvest) and I plan on reading it as soon as I can (in the next couple of days).

Anyway, Kismet has to deal with a lot in this book (including her budding sex life after a 2-year pause) and is falling in love with two men. What I loved especially is that her thought process is well explained through those comments we follow and completely understandable (except the part where she is totally in love, I’m not sure I can identify with such love in such short span of time but it’s fiction after all).

I though the end was a bit so-so and a lot of underlying history is missing but hopefully that will get better explained in the second book (not the first author whose first book left something to be desired regarding the background, but that is easily fixed in the following books).

Soon, I’ll let you know if the second book is as much fun as the first. 🙂

P.S. Ooops, I was wrong, Kismet is a psychologist.

Pic by: http://www.lyndahilburnauthor.com/

SOTD: Eau d’Italie, Paestum Rose

Sample of the day, World of Perfume May 31, 2010 Comments: 6

OK, I realized today I will have to give Havana Vanille another go. Because it’s obvious to me that whatever Mr. Duchafour creates, I’m going to love it. 🙂 There must have been a mistake in my nose when smelling HV because it just can’t be. 🙂

As you probably know by now, I’m not a huge florals fan, rose especially, but there are always exceptions, and this is one of them. Oh, I really like this one (I think that the boozy opening helps). 🙂

Notes: davana, cinammon,, black pepper, pink pepper, black pepper, coriander, black currant buds, Turkish rose, peony, incense, osmanthus, elemi, tea, papyrus, benzoin, myrhh, opopponax, vetiver, patchouli, cedar, wenge wood, amber, white musk.

As you can see, there is a wealth of notes which I do not plan on getting entangled in. I love the beginning and I didn’t miss the rose this time (probably because it’s there in the title). It smells boozy (having this rum, thick quality to it) and slightly sweet. Of the notes in the beginning, I can smell the particular juiciness of black currants and the pink pepper – which I believe I am smelling due to the process of elimination. I’ve been finding this around a lot and learned to recognize the particular scent it brings with itself so I think I know it now (it gives the rose in Very Irresistible the same type of freshness). Anyway, I get a healthy dose of tea (I tend to lean toward black but that may be caused by black currant buds).

It smells like an idea of a wet rose, not aquatic but more like a rose inundated in fresh water. Quite lovely really. And totally wearable for me (I’ll try and locate a decant on MUA).

I lose the black currant and most of the rose in the drydown but I’m left with a drydown that is quite nice but doesn’t come close to the opening. I mean, it’s easy on the nose and smells warm and dry (all that wood, incense and benzoin which I love) but is only a drydown.
Pic and notes by: www.luckyscent.com

SOTD: The Six Scents, series 2, No. 2 Ende/Anfang

Short perfume review May 29, 2010 Comments: 4

I’m not sure if it’s the strenth of this or something is wrong with my nose but after two hours on my arm, I can barely trace it. Maybe applying it a bit lavishly might help (although it seemed weak from the start, so I re-applied it after some 15 minutes).

Btw, the name means End/Beginning if you are not familiar with German (have no idea why they named in in German…).

Notes: purple ginger extract, vetiver oil, cedarwood, guaiacwood, cardamom, coriander seed, birch tar, sandalwood, beeswax absolute, patchouli, myrrh.

It started great, spicy and I thought incensey but that turned out wrong, as you can see by the notes, but myrrh could have turned me that way.

I smelled it first without reading the notes (as I always do) and since I doubt my nose all the time, I thought I was projecting sandalwood and cardamom under the influence of yesterday’s sample, so I wrote down only cedarwood. But still felt good after reading the notes. 🙂

What can I say, I enjoy the opening and I like the broody masculine dusty woods later but I wish they were stronger in sillage and longevity.
I will be hoisting this off to my boyfriend, I know I will enjoy smelling it on him.

Pic by: http://www.amazon.com/

Katie MacAlister: Playing with Fire

World of Books May 29, 2010 Leave a comment

I’ve read several reviews regarding Katie MacAlister’s books from the dragon series so I decided to give them a go myself. Unfortunately, I couldn’t start from the beginning because it’s currently unavailable at my bookshop, but they had the first in the Silver Dragons series, Playing with Fire.

I blame the fact that the description of the world this is set in (it’s our world) is not complete for me on not reading from the beginning of the dragon series because it feels much of this information is implied. But that didn’t stop from enjoying a completely new type of story. I did have some problems with getting completely into it, but I think it again goes with what I just said about the world and characters that appeared in previous books and are obviously familiar to the reader.

Anyway, you have wyverns, demons, naiads, doppelgangers and I probably skipped some. I like the bantering the characters engage in and the steamy sex (and no foreplay for our wyvern hero because he is still too hot for his mate) – and while on the subject, I’d be grateful if writers would refrain a bit from writing hot sex scenes that are not realizable in real life. I wouldn’t mind some but I don’t think it exists in such a way. 🙂

The bad part is that the book ended with a cliffhanger and I don’t have the second one (I do have the third, I bought it so as not to have to go looking for it after I get the second and finish it, only to realize the third was sold in the meantime).

It’s an easy read that I’m sure feels more complete if you started from the beginning. But that won’t stop me from finishing the Silver Dragons series before starting from the beginning – I just cannot stop now.

SOTD: Mark Buxton Nameless

Sample of the day, Short perfume review May 28, 2010 Comments: 6

Only now do I have time to write about my sample and there’s not going to be very much to say about it. It is a very nice masculine scent which I could steal if my boyfriend had a bottle but that doesn’t move me like Juste un Reve did yesterday.

Notes: orange blossom, lavender, mandarin orange, cardamom, cinammon, coffee, clove, jasmine, amber, labdanum, woodsy notes, guiac wood, patchouli, cedar, benzoin.

It starts lavendery fresh with spice notes coming at the heels. I really enjoyed the opening, it reads as masculine but is thoroughly enjoyable if you are into spices as I am. Or even less than I am.

I hate saying this again but it reminded me of something else I smelled and liked but can’t remember what (that seems to happen a lot to me).

It is a terribly nice scent, and I’m sure makes for a great present for a guy who is not very perfume savvy. It’s fresh and spicy and enjoyable. I think most guys would like it.
I might be reading this wrong, because I don’t smell that many masculines and can’t really say if one is good or not, only how much I like it or not.

And after a while, this one had me wondering if each time I get a salty note from a perfume it’s me, or is it a perfume (since it happened 2 days in a row). Luckily for me, my other arm was scent free and didn’t smell salty, so it wasn’t me.