Rose Week 2012

I love rose perfumes and I find that I wear them the most in late winter. January hits and I start to crave fruity roses, dirty roses, attars and freshly picked roses. I typically like complex roses and shy away from soliflores. But, there is something about this soliflore, Sonoma Scent Studio Velvet Rose, that makes me rethink rose soliflores.

Sonoma Scent Studio Velvet Rose is a big, dewy rose. It’s undeniably a rose. It’s rose with a a raspberry fruitiness over crisp, dewy greens. With more time, I pick up on more bright citrus and raspberry rose. The dry-down reminds me of rose, powdery orris and a musk. This is a luscious rose in 3-D.

This scent really does smell like a Damask rose. I find it interesting because my husband describes this scent as foody, Indian and delicious. And it is. Damask roses are used in Middle Eastern and Indian cuisine. This scent smells culinary to me as well.

 This is a dewy, bright, fresh rose. It isn’t any more complex than a living rose. Because of this, this is something that you’ll like or dislike. I find that rose is a polarizing note. I love it but many people find it dull or old-fashioned.

Notes listed include Damask rose, bergamot, carnation, violet leaf, musk and patchouli. PERFUMER – Laurie Erickson

Give this scent a try if you are looking for a Damask rose soliflore or a green rose that doesn’t contain rose geranium. Try it if you like perfumes like Malle Une Rose, Diptyque Eau Rose, LUSH Imogen Rose, and/or Montale Aoud Damascus. Yes, this is rose but I find it unisex. There’s something so intriguing about a man in rose.

Projection and longevity of this scent is above average. I think it’s an excellent scent for the price.

Sizes vary with prices ranging from $32-$60. You can get this scent as a splash, EDP, or a parfum at Sonoma Scent Studio.

Victoria’s Final EauPINION – A green, crisp rose. I typically dislike rose soliflores but there’s something about this one that I love. This is a rose soliflore that I would wear. It has a thickness and it shows the natural complexity of a Damask rose.

Want more reviews? Try…

Fragrantica – member reviews

Now Smell This - review of the body cream in this scent

Sakecat’s Scent Project

*Sample given to me by the fabulous Undina’s Looking Glass. Product pic from Sonoma Scent Studio. Painting is Alma Tadema “Roses of Heliogabalus”.

©2012 EauMG. All Rights Reserved.

Rose Week 2012

Votivo Rush of Rose is an “old-fashioned” rose since it is a rose soliflore. Rush of Rose isn’t a powdery rose, it’s a “watery” or “dewy” rose. The rose is undeniably rose. Anybody that smells it will sniff and say “rose”. It’s a cool rose, a rose covered in cool dew. It reminds me of a rose in the early morning. This is not a powdery, cosmetic rose scent.

Notes listed include water greens, light ozone, aldehydes, Morrocan rose, damask rose, may rose, sweet musk and soft woods.

The burn of this candle is even and it has amazing throw. Votivo’s packaging is simple and classy.

This is a scent that you’ll like or dislike. I find that rose is a polarizing note that reminds different people of different things. Personally, I really enjoy this scent, especially for this time of year. I will be repurchasing it. You may like this scent if you like Jo Malone Red Roses, Diptyque Roses, and/or Tocca Florence.

The candle comes in a few sizes with prices ranging from $10-$26. It can be purchased at Candles Off Main.

*Candle purchased by me from Candles Off Main. Product pic from Candles Off Main.

©2012 EauMG. All Rights Reserved.

Shouldn’t I love a day filled with love, chocolate, champagne and lacy things? It’s one of the few things happening in gloomy February and it seems to be about the senses (*cough* among other things). However, I don’t love the holiday. I have a wonderful husband and access to champagne and chocolate every day of the year. I expect to be spoiled. But, this wasn’t always the case. Valentine’s Day was either a lonely day or a day that stressed me out because it had to be more “special” than the day before. As a person that expects to be spoiled, I do hate expectations But, I do love an excuse to receive flowers and pretty little things…

Here’s my 2012 gift guide filled with 14 little luxuries that you can buy for yourself or for others:

 For irresistible lips

1. Not Soap Radio You’re The Cutest High Shine Lip Balm – This rather large tub of lip balm with a clear sheen smells like those conversation hearts that you would get as a kid. I’d never eat those things now but I do like the nostalgic scent. This retails for $10 and is available at Not Soap Radio. *This makes a great gift for teens and younger gals.

2. By Terry Baume de Rose – This rose scented balm with SPF 15 nourishes lips and can be used on cuticles. There is no stickiness! It’s very luxurious and it should be at the price of $59. But, I love the stuff. I love to layer this rose scented balm over red lipsticks. It can be purchased at SpaceNK.

3. LUSH Sweet Lips Lip Scrub – This sugar scrub smells just like chocolate and includes cocoa and vanilla absolute. Delicious. This is a great product for getting smooth lips and a must have for priming winter lips for bold colors. It retails for about $9 at LUSH.

4. Hourglass Aura Lip Stain – I assume that some of you want a transfer resistant color on this day/night. I love this lip stain by Aura (here’s my review). It comes in 3 sheer, flushed shades. It retails for $26 at Sephora.

For smooth skin

5. Providence Perfume Co. Amber Cream Body Oil – I know you’ve seen this natural oil in my gift guides before but I love it. It’s such a nourishing oil with a sweet and creamy amber scent that layers nicely under anything. Seriously, any fragrance seems to go well with this blend. The packaging is gorgeous. A bottle retails for $26 at Providence Perfume Co.

6. L’Occitane Rose 4 Reines Pearlescent Body Cream – This rich cream is heavily scented with rose. That may seem a bit cliché for Valentine’s Day, but I love rose any day of the year! The subtle pealescent sheen looks wonderful under candlelight and dim light. It retails for $36 at Nordstrom.

7. LUSH R’os Argan Body Conditioner – This all-natural in-shower body moisturizer smells delightful. It’s a sweet rose jam. Perhaps my mind plays tricks on me but I do pick up a small about of toast. This product makes my skin feel so good. It retails for about $30 at LUSH.

8. The Art of Shaving Rose Absolute Shaving Cream – Obviously, this is a gift to give yourself. If a man ever gave me this as a Valentine’s gift, I’d have to slap his cheek with my satin glove. That being said, this is a wonderful gift for yourself. This rich shaving cream is scented with roses. I’ve been using this stuff for years. It retails for $26 and is available at Sephora.

Smell Wonderful

9. Sonoma Scent Studio Velvet Rose EDP – This is the time of year that I love rose scents. Velvet Rose is a dewy rose soliflore with wonderful projection. It’s lush and in 3-D. A large spray retails for $65 at Sonoma Scent Studio.

10. Neela Vermeire Creations Mohur EDP – I just tried this line last week and I’m in love. Mohur is a spicy rose oud with edgy leather and an approachable orris. It’s stunning. It retails for $250 at Luckyscent.

11. aroma M Geisha Noire Perfume – I don’t like to use the word “sexy” to describe fragrance but let me tell you, Geisha Noire is SEXY. In fact, it’s hyper sexual and that’s why I love it. I learned the hard way that this is not a work friendly scent. This is a thick amber in a leopard print push-up bra. This potent and powerful oil retails for $55 and is available at LuckyScent.

Ambiance

12. Belle Fleur Mayan Tuberose Candle – This candle line created by a rockstar of a florist, Meredith Waga Perez, is luxurious. Every detail has been thought out and executed to perfection. This candle is a heady white floral that is perfect for the boudoir. The candle retails for $48 at Neiman Marcus.

13. Gabriel’s Aunt Royal Couple Candle – Seattle based Gabriel’s Aunt uses the finest natural ingredients to create eco-friendly candles. Royal Couple is a blend of expensive rose and jasmine essential oils in a veggie and soy wax base. This handmade candle retails for $30 and is available at Gabriel’s Aunt.

14. Aura Luscious Candle – If florals aren’t your thing, I recommend Luscious. This is what the name implies. It’s a rich blend of creamy vanilla and sandalwood. Many people use the word “sexy” to describe this scent. Here’s my review. It retails for $24 at Candles Off Main.

After putting together this gift guide, I think that maybe I do love Valentine’s Day. If it’s an excuse to buy fancy lip products, scented candles and rose fragrances, then it can’t be bad!

Here’s my Valentine’s Day Gift Guide from 2011.

Post contains affiliate links excluding Not Soap Radio, Providence Perfume Co., Sonoma Scent Studio, Luckyscent, Neiman Marcus, Gabriel’s Aunt, and Candles Off Main.  Debra Paget photo from www.fanpix.net.

©2012 EauMG. All Rights Reserved.

Operation Caron Powder Puff: 2012

My trip to NYC.

Hidden in a difficult to find tropical oasis in Midtown East is a Caron boutique. The Caron boutique hides above an ordinary Express in a Phyto Universe. It’s hot and humid with tropical plants growing up the walls. Inside this strange ecosystem in the city is a gilded oasis within an oasis. It’s Caron. This small space is filled with decadence, with luxuries, with pale peach powder puffs, rose scented powders, fountains filled with thousands of dollars of French perfumes, chandeliers and glimmering mirrors.

The only thing that I wanted from my visit to NYC was a Caron goosedown powder puff. The color selection was limited. Before going, I decided that I wanted a magenta, pale pink or pale peach small powder puff. All that was in stock was white, cream, light blue, a shade of yellow the color of a baby chick and a pale spring green. I couldn’t decide between the delicate yellow or the pale spring green. I ended up purchasing a sheer loose powder in Translucide, one of the pale shades with a slight peaches and cream undertone. Once I made my powder choice, I could decide on the puff. The pale spring green went the best with the slightly peach powder. I was only in love with the pale yellow because in my hand it reminded me of holding a fuzzy, soft and helpless chick. The Caron face powder smells strongly of Bulgarian roses and has a lovely texture and sheer finish. These two purchases were worth the trip.

Powder and puff in their new home.

I didn’t purchase any perfumes while visiting the boutique. I regret not buying Farnesiana, an old-fashioned sweet mimosa. I have rules. No purchasing without wearing on the skin first. This was my first time wearing Farnesiana. I also liked Or et Noir, an oriental amber rose, but didn’t try it on the skin. But, I’m not worried. I can always call the ambassador that helped us, Diane, and make an order.

Me sniffing at Caron NYC

I’m a Caron fan. I love their masculines and I love any of their violet based perfumes. It was lovely to visit the NYC boutique in person. I recommend that if you are ever in the city, visit this small boutique. The staff is wonderful and you’ll have fun sniffing the entire Caron line.

All photos are mine, © EauMG

©2012 EauMG. All Rights Reserved.

A Dozen Roses Iced White is a fruity-floral that smells naïve and innocent. Iced White isn’t marketed towards young people, but it should be. It seems to me to be a “starter fragrance”.

Iced White opens as  peachy peony. It actually smells “dainty” and like white petals. The peony is very prominent and it compliments “aquatic” peaches, melon and freshly sliced apples. Actually at this stage, it reminds me very much of Creed Spring Flower, the perfume that we are told that Audrey Hepburn wore. Iced White wears as freshly sliced fruits, peony and clean musk. There’s almost a “too ripe” black currant-ish note. The fruits ripen with time over the florals and musk. And then it all dries down to white musk and white musk and more white musk. You see why it is called Iced White.

Notes listed include white peony, white primrose, osmanthus, vanilla, white musk and rose absolute.

Give Iced White a try if you like sheer florals or perfumes like Creed Spring Flower, Fresh Pink Jasmine, Fresh Sake, Crazylibellule & The Poppies 26 Juin Île d’Yeu, and/or Alfred Sung Shi. Iced White is very feminine, but I find it “girly”.

I see Iced White as a good fragrance for younger crowd, like 12-18. Iced White smells pretty, petal-y and innocent. I’ve always thought of Creed Spring Flower as a wonderful “niece” gift/first perfume. However, Iced White is much more affordable. It’s a fairly simple fragrance, a good “starter” fragrance. It’s a fruity floral that doesn’t smell like it has a celebrity’s name on it. At the same time, it’s not too complicated. It just smells pretty and nice.

A 3.4 oz bottle of Iced White retails for $95 and is available at Neiman Marcus.

Victoria’s Final EauPINION – A fruity peony, a more floral version of Creed Spring Flower. This is not a fragrance for “me” but it has a demographic. Does that demographic want to pay $95 for perfume? I don’t know.

Want more reviews? Try…

Another Perfume Blog

T-Magazine

*Disclaimer – A sample was provided by PR. I am not financially compensated for this review or any others. My opinions are my own. Product pic from Beautylish. Susanna Foster with kitten pic from www.fanpix.net

©2012 EauMG. All Rights Reserved.

I have limited exposure to Parfumerie Generale and because of Indochine, I realize that I need more exposure to this line. If half of their fragrances are as good as Indochine, then this is a line worth checking out.

Indochine is a rich, sweet tonka-benzoin-vanilla. You do smell the dried resinous benzoin. But, what makes this better than sniffing a jar of benzoin resins is that Indochine is complimented by cool spices like cardamom. The honey shows up on my skin. Remember, honey likes me. This honey smells whipped, weightless, sweet and animalic. It’s soft and wonderful. The dry-down is much like the top: sweet tonka-benzoin-vanilla. It’s sweet but not too sweet.

Something about Indochine is both ancient but completely modern. If you want something slightly more complex and slightly more masculine and way less popular than Prada Candy, here you go.

Notes listed include Siam benzoin, Kampot pepper, Ceylonese cardamom, Burmese tonka and Laotian honey. PERFUMER – Pierre Guillaume

Give Indochine a try if you love sweet benzoin scents or if you like perfumes like Prada Candy, Parfumerie Generale Cadjmere, Serge Lutens Arabie, and/or Maison Francis Kurkdjian Cologne Pour Le Soir. Indochine is unisex. I’m calling it the “masculine Prada Candy“.

I find that the fragrance has average projection and wears for a long time, especially for something labeled “EDT”.

The 1.7 oz EDT retails for $95 at Luckyscent.

Victoria’s Final EauPINION - Cool cardamom spice over sweet and smooth benzoin and honey. It’s good stuff.

Want more reviews? Try…

Ça Fleure Bon

Fragrantica - memember reviews

1000 Fragrances

Perfume Posse

*Sample purchased by me. Product pic from Fragrantica. Ethel Merman lounging is from www.fanpix.net

©2012 EauMG. All Rights Reserved.

Smell Bent Snobirds is a limited edition fragrance in The Snowman Cometh Collection. Snobirds has this tagline:

Winter somewhere warm.

Yes, I want to spend winter somewhere warm. I’m sick of cold weather. I’m sick of snow and rain. But, for me, Snobirds smells warm but it still smells like winter. It smells like a “winter neroli”.

Snobirds opens as a sweet orange. It’s like if an incense manufacturer attempted to do an orange creamsicle fragrance using all of their natural resins. A pop of cool green cardamom appears over the sweet resinous orange. It’s creamy, resinous orange blossom and that is a beautiful thing. With more wear, Snobirds becomes more amber-y, a sweet amber with ginger spice.

Notes listed include orange flower, aged amber, sweet resins, dark patchouli, cardamom and golden ginger. PERFUMER – Brent Leonesio

Give Snobirds a try if you are looking for a “winter” orange blossom fragrance, if you are an amber love, or if you like perfumes like By Kilian Sweet Redemption (the closest to compare it to), Sage Amber, Dior Pure Poison and/or Hermes 24 Faubourg. It’s a unisex scent. I consider it “dupe” of By Kilian Sweet Redemption. They aren’t the same but the price isn’t the same either.

I reviewed the EDT of Snobirds and it retails for $45. A perfume oil is also available at Smell Bent. This collection will be available until the end of February 2012.

Victoria’s Final EauPINION -Orange creamsicle incense. I really like this one. It really is a “winter” neroli.

Want more reviews? Try…

Ça Fleure Bon

Here’s my reviews of the other perfumes in this winter collection: Hansel and Dreidel and Dead of Winter.

*Disclaimer – Sample provided by Smell Bent. I am not financially compensated for this review or any others. My opinions are my own. Pic from Smell Bent.

©2012 EauMG. All Rights Reserved.

I spent years trying to find an absinthe fragrance that I liked. And I found it. It is aroma M Geisha Green. I was disappointed by so many fragrances claiming to be inspired by absinthe. I thought they were jumping on the trend wagon to sell perfume. Now that I’ve found one that I like, I’m going back and revisiting those absinthe perfumes that didn’t please me at first. I still see Nasomatto as a bad, literal absinthe fragrance but I now see it as a really good vetiver fragrance “inspired” by absinthe.

Nasomatto Absinth opens with a smoky vetiver, grass and faint spices. A toasted almond wood appears and the salty vetiver remains prominent. Most absinthe themed scents are cool with a minty wormwood. Nasomatto Absinth is different because it is a warm fragrance. It’s different because it isn’t a literal absinthe. It’s a fragrance that is more about the allure and tales of absinthe. Nasomatto is dark, bohemian, decadent. In the heart, I start to smell beets ripped from the ground. The scent gets dirtier, not like patchouli, but like fresh dirt. And then I get marijuana.

As you already know,  I really disliked Absinth at first because I expected an absinthe perfume. After going back to it, I realize that Absinth is a vetiver fragrance and as a vetiver fragrance I like it. Unfortunately, I find most vetiver scents dull. Why? Because brands have already perfected vetiver and it’s hard to beat fresh vetivers like Malle Vetiver and Guerlain Vetiver and the salty greatness of Annick Goutal Vetiver and The Different Company Sel de Vetiver.

Notes listed include absinthe, herbs, and vetiver. PERFUMER – Alessandro Gualtieri

Give Absinth a try if you are looking for a dirty vetiver fragrance and not a realistic absinthe scent. Or give it a try if you like perfumes like Annick Goutal Vetiver, Tom Ford Grey Vetiver, The Different Company Sel de Vetiver, and/or Serge Lutens Vetiver Oriental. If you have any of these, I would say you could live without Nasomatto Absinth. But, if you are a hardcore vetiver lover and don’t mind owning more than a few bottles based on this theme, go for it. I think this is a good fragrance choice for a man.

Projection is above average. Longevity is above average. And I like all of the Nasomatto bottles.

Nasomatto perfume retails for $165 and is available at Lucky Scent.

Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Salty, smoky vetiver almond-woods over fresh dirt. It’s a good vetiver, a dark and smoky vetiver. This isn’t a literal absinthe fragrance. This is a fragrances that embodies the bad-boy image of absinthe.

Want more reviews? Try…

Opalescent

For the Love of Perfume

Worse Than Weeds

The Scentualist

Perfume Posse

*Sample given to me by Ron at Notable Scents. Product pic from Lucky Scent. Charlotte Rampling pic from www.allstarpics.com

©2012 EauMG. All Rights Reserved.

THE BOOK OF LOST FRAGRANCES fuses history, passion, and suspense,
moving from Cleopatra’s Egypt and the terrors of revolutionary France to Tibet’s battle
with China and the glamour of modern-day Paris. Jac’s quest for the ancient perfume
someone is willing to kill for becomes the key to understanding her own troubled past

If you pre-order this book, you will receive a sample of the exclusive perfume featured in the book, Âmes Sœurs (French for “soul mates”). The perfume, Âmes Sœurs, was created by Frederick Bouchardy of Joya. The fragrance contains ancient notes of frankincense and myrrh paired with heady, romantic notes of jasmine and orange blossom. I’ve had wonderful experiences with Joya perfumes in the past and here are my reviews of Composition No. 1 and Composition No. 6.

If EauMG readers are interested in this book and receiving a perfume falcon, follow these directions for pre-ordering. The book retails for $24. For more information on the book, please visit M. J. Rose’s website.

©2012 EauMG. All Rights Reserved.

I can’t look at this picture of Greer Garson without getting the urge to dye my hair red. I feel the hair is what made Greer rock the technicolors and made her famous. This look proves that redheads can wear bold orange lipstick. Here’s what I did to get a similar 1940′s Greer Garson makeup look:

FACE: With my fingers I applied Guerlain Lingerie de Peau Foundation in Beige Clair. With a concealer brush, I applied MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW30 under the eyes. With a powder puff, I applied Coty Airspun Powder in Neutral. I took a contouring powder and contoured down the nose and the hollows of the cheeks. A bronzer should do if you don’t own a contouring powder. On the apples of the cheeks, I applied NARS Blush in Orgasm, a shimmery pink-peach.

EYES: Greer’s brows are filled in to perfection. I’m not a redhead so it would look silly to have red brows. I filled in brows with the brush included with Clinique Brow Shaper in Soft Brown. I applied NYX Eye Shadow Base in Skin Tone (not pictured) to the lids. I used Physician’s Formula Baked Collection Eyeshadow in Baked Sands. With a large eyeshadow brush, I applied the shimmery champagne shade from lash line to brows. In the crease, I blended Lancôme Color Design Eyeshadow in Optic, a sheer dove grey shimmer. I put a small amount of this shadow in the inner corner of the eye for a “light” effect. I smudged the darkest warm brown shimmer in the Physician’s Formula Baked Sands trio on the top 3/4 of the lash line. With a wet liner brush, I applied Clinique Water-Resistant Eyeliner in Muted Brown to the top lash line, making the line thicker towards the outer corner of the eye. I curled lashes and applied a few coats of Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara (not shown) to top lashes and a coat to bottom lashes. I then applied a half strip of Ardell lashes.

LIPS: As a long-time fan of orange lipstick, I love this look. I lined lips in a “40′s” way with more emphasis on the top lip with a wider cupid’s bow using L’Oreal Colour Riche Lip Liner in Timeless Coral, a surprisinly neutral coral. Directly from the tube, I applied Lancôme Color Design Lipstick in Studded, an orange filled with gold shimmer. For a little bit of a glossy look, I applied a Anastasia HydraFull Lip Gloss in Bellini, an orange with gold shimmer, to the bottom lip. Despite my photo, this duo looks very much like what Greer Garson is wearing.

For a fragrance, I decided on Caron Parfum Sacré.

I was very happy with how this look turned out but I’m disappointed with my picture. Weird western Washington daylight makes it impossible to get “warm” pics and I’m not a talented photographer. In person, the look came out very much identical in shade to Greer’s. I couldn’t capture it with the camera and instead everything looks cold and harsh (brows, liner). Seriously, all of the light here in the winter is like those Twilight movies.

Do you have any weekend plans? I’ll be leaving for NYC on Sunday and staying until Thursday. I’m working on automating my posts for next week, packing and fretting over makeup to pack. Have a great weekend and stay tuned next week for my NYC updates!

*Greer Garson photo from www.doctormacro.com. Post contains affiliate links. Thanks!

©2012 EauMG. All Rights Reserved.