I feel like I should mention TokyoMilk perfumes more on EauMG. I mean, they retail for under $40, usually smell good and have cool packaging. Alas, I forget about them (for no good reason).
Tainted Love opens with bright, tart citrus with a crispness from tea leaves. The smoky, rubbery vanilla and tea in this reminds me of a more “cheerful” version of Bvlgari Black. Tainted Love is like a smoky tea with the addition of the sort of vanilla in TokyoMilk Dead Sexy, a vanilla that verges into “pencil eraser” turf. There’s vague florals with a powdery sandalwood. Tainted Love is marketed as “dark” and I’m sure the “DARK” marketing works extremely well for them. Yes, it’s a smoky scent; however, I don’t think of it as “dark”. It has tea and citrus, plus it has a nice sheer quality that keeps it from being too “noir”. I’m thinking it would be a good choice for casual, day wear.
ALSO – Tainted Love is driving me bonkers because it reminds me of something else but I don’t know what. I’m not saying it smells *exactly* like something else but it is really, really familiar. Like I don’t know if it reminds me of one perfume, a mix of perfumes, a body product…ugh, don’t you hate when this happens?!
Notes listed include dark vanilla bean, sparkling citrus, orchid, white tea, sandalwood and tonka bean. Launched in 2011.
Give Tainted Love a try if you like smoky tea scents. Or if you like perfumes like Bvlgari Black, TokyoMilk Dead Sexy, Elizabeth & James Nirvana Black, CB I Hate Perfume Russian Caravan and/or MAC MV3. I perceive Tainted Love as unisex.
Projection and longevity are below average. I would say it wears more like an EDT.
The 2 oz EDP retails for $36 at Beautyhabit and Beauty.com.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Smoky white tea with vanilla. I like Tainted Love but it seems familiar. Luckily, this “familiar” isn’t bad. It smells good and the price is right.
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I just tried a bunch of these at Sephora yesterday – what impeccable timing. :). I thought a number of them smelled “familiar” but I too struggled to place the scents. Tainted love smelled good, but felt a little heavy for me (sometimes I just feel smothered by certain fragrances). I did really like Everything and Nothing though, and the roll on of Yesterday, so one or both of those still probably go on the Christmas list as they are pretty darned affordable. Cheers!
Hey, great timing 🙂
I wouldn’t say familiar is bad if they smell good 🙂 But, this one reminds me of something and it’s driving me crazy.
I haven’t tried all from Dark, but there were a few that I liked Bittersweet? I think I liked that one and one with an Octopus on it. Great prices with these.
i have the one with the octopus. It’s called Excess and is an amber and patchouli scent with a bit of blood orange I think. I need to dig it out and use it. I think it’s one that my husband isn’t keen on, so it went back in the closet, but I really like it and think it would be perfect for this time of year. The artwork on these is lovely, and the pricing is great. Need to pick up the matching hand cream I think.
I didn’t wear Excess on the skin but I really liked it on the blotter, but I love patchouli. It would make sense that I’d gravitate to the octopus one 🙂
I’ve been so tempted to buy the hand creams without even caring what they smell like. I love the design and would want it out near my desk. They’re really cool looking.
[…] Perfume – TokyoMilkTainted Love Roll-On ($22). I like this one because it’s smoky white tea with vanilla. It’s really good for the price. I like the packaging which blends perfectly with the Providence Perfume Tea Sampler! Here’s my review of the scent […]