— fragrance —

Bath & Body Works Coconut Lime Verbena Review

May 16, 2011

B&BW Coconut Lime VerbenaMainstream Monday – Sniffing A Popular Perfume

I often wonder if I am a fragrance snob. I guess I am because I have more perfume opinions than the average person. But, then I think I’m not a snob because I try everything. I don’t get wowed just because some “eau” claims to be made by monks in the remote hills of Italy and retails for hundreds of dollars and smells like the orange blossom water I use in cooking. I have a few low-brow favorites like this one: B&BW Coconut Lime Verbena.

I’ve always thought of Bath and Body Works Coconut Lime Verbena as the poor perfumista’s Creed Virgin Island Water. I’m not judging anybody that spends $200 to smell like a “cocktail” that reminds us of a tropical vacation or a Caribbean cruise, but I can’t stomach paying that much for something that smells, well, forgive me, slightly low-brow. (Seriously, I really do love Creed Virgin Island Water!) And maybe I only feel that Creed’s is “low-brow” because B&BW Coconut Lime is so good, one of my favorite cheapie fragrances. And because of the HUGE price difference, I expect much more from something in the Creed price range. I can about fly to a tropical location at that price point!

Carmen Miranda
I <3 Carmen Miranda!

I love “beach” scents. Coconut fragrances? Yes, please. If a perfume reminds me of a piña colada and little umbrella topped tropical drinks, then I’m most likely going to love it. Coconut Lime Verbena is one of those perfumes. Coconut Lime Verbena opens up as bitter/zesty sweet lime and coconut fragrance. The coconut isn’t  heavy. It isn’t coconut milk. It is coconut water, a little salty. If I pay attention, I do get an aquatic fruitiness with a super sheer “white floral breeze” under the salty coconut lime. It reminds me of the melon in Hermès Un Jardin Après La Mousson. All these notes are zesty and work so well together. They dance around in their Carmen Miranda inspired platform sandals. Eventually, Coconut Lime Verbena becomes creamier on me but not overly coconut. It’s more of the sandalwood-basmati-musk like in Warm Vanilla Sugar. The sweet lime never leaves.

Coconut Lime Verbena isn’t long-wearing. That’s its downfall. I have tried everything in this line except for the EDT. Is it good? If I could get this to last at least 3 hours, I’d be one happy perfume snob 😉 My favorite beachy scent combo is to spray excessive amounts of the body spray over Queen Helene Cocoa Butter Lotion, a rich coconut-shea scented lotion that I always applied on my dry skin after hanging out on the Gulf Coast. I miss sandy beaches.

Notes listed include lime, lemon verbena, ozone, kumquat peel, melon, muguet, mandarin, jasmine, coconut water, sandalwood, and musk.

So if you want a cheap “beachy” scent thrill, try Coconut Lime Verbena regardless of your gender. This little cheapie satisifies my beach scent cravings for $12. This scent is available at Bath and Body Works.

Want more reviews? Try...

Basenotes (member reviews)

Fragrantica (member reviews)

9 thoughts on “Bath & Body Works Coconut Lime Verbena Review”

  1. This sounds like a fun fragrance. I’m not much of a beachy frag girl because they always have that blasted milky coconut note, and we just don’t get along. I don’t mind smelling it on others..is that weird? Anyway…I like the sound of coconut water. Someday I’ll get out to B&BW for a sniff!

    1. I don’t think it is that weird. Coconut usually wears so “heavy”. I often wonder if I’d like a scent like this if it lasted longer. Maybe I like it because it fades and isn’t so cloying?

      Most citrus to me is like coconut is to you. I don’t want to wear it. It works my nerves with time, but I like to smell it on others.

  2. I hear what you’re saying… I love beach scents too, but I’ve developed a fear that things like this will smell “cheap” or “fake”. I’ve become a ‘natural’ snob I guess. I do love Kevin Murphy Hair Resort. It is a perfect beachy scent in your hair.
    Erica (Becca & Mars) recently posted..We Love Silver Spring!

    1. You said it. I think that is what I mean by low-brow. Beachy scents smell “fake” to me. I mean they are meant to smell like drugstore tanning oils! But, I like them sometime. Just like sometime I’d rather have a frou-frou drink instead of a glass of red wine.

      And it’s OK to be a naturals snob 🙂

    1. I get chlorine from Creed’s too. There’s a “sweaty pool” accord in there.

      This one isn’t bad. It’s coconut without being too coconut. Really does remind me of coconut water. It’s really good for the price. But, you’re not missing too much. I wouldn’t be seeking it out on a trip to the US.

Comments are closed.