Perfume Collection⎪FINAL PART #4

I have finally made it to the end of the tunnel. This PERFUME COLLECTION video series has been a long journey, taking over a month to finish. I have finally gotten to the final part of the series, which is PART #4. This part will consist of Miscellani fragrances, meaning fragrances that I only have one of from their brand and so there was no need to make a separate video on just that. If you don't know, all the other three parts of the series were talked about by brand. Hence, these five didn't fit and so I have put them together into this miscellani video.

If you are interested, here are the other 3 parts:

Part 1: DIPTYQUE
Part 2: JO MALONE
Part 3: BYREDO PARFUMS

left to right: Stella McCartney, Le Labo Rose 31, Chanel Beige, Miss Dior, Escentric Molecules 01

For a full review on Chanel Beige, click here.

As for the Blogsale Alert on my Miss Dior eau de parfum, click here.

Now then, let's begin with Escentric Molecules, Molecule 01. This has taken a heap of craze on all the beauty blogs. I actually bought this over a year ago, in the smallest bottle so I could really try it out. Like everyone mentioned, at first you cannot smell it on yourself. The concept is thrilling. One molecule that develops on your skin, making this alluring effect on others. This was listed as one of the world's most sexiest scent. I mean, this totally sucked me in! I tried it at out store and found of course there was nothing to really think about then because I couldn't even smell it!

But here's the turn of events. After a few months I was able to smell the actual scent that it has. It is a very woody scent that has this human body smell on it. Oh goodness. That sounded gross. But really, what I meant was that it has that warmth of a human presence. I found that the scent was also pretty masculine and I did not like it at all. After all the intrigue about it, I came to a conclusion that it wasn't worth the hype. I hear more compliments wearing the perfumes I too love than this product. So as you can see from the video and pictures, I still have a lot left!

As for the Le Labo Rose 31 and Stella McCartney fragrances, they are both rose scents. These belong to my sister, who is a fan of all things rose. I, on the other hand, am not. Le Labo Rose 31 is a really strong masculine rose fragrance that was made targeted for men who love rose but find that most of the rose fragrances in the market are for women. Although they say it is for both men and women, I find that it is just really musky, spicy, woody and warm that embodies a lot of masculinity. If you go on their site, you can see the notes that combine in such a way that make it a really strong musky scent. I can't say that I love it, because it's far from my taste. Also, I found that most of their fragrances have the same really strong overpowering scent.

What I do love about Le Labo fragrances is their services and packaging. I went to the store in Soho and there is a perfumist there who works with you and combines the chemical/ingredients there on the spot for you. Also, you get your own personalized label with your name, location of where you got this fragrance, and the perfumist.

On the other hand, Stella McCartney is such a beautiful feminine flowery clean rose fragrance. Although I don't like the smell of roses, somehow this really captures a wonderful sensuality to it without any notes of anything heavy, thick, or musky. But again, it's not too light or airy either. Though it is not a very complex or dimensional scent (like the ones I love) I still enjoy for what it is!

So, there! This is the last Perfume Collection post of the year and who knows when the next one will be. This series has received the most responses and positive feedback on my blog and Youtube! So, thank you for all your great comments and responses :)

2 comments chanel, chanel beige, collection video, dior, escentric molecules, fragrance collection, fragrances, le labo, miss dior, neom, stella mccartney

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Byredo Parfums⎜Perfume Collection (Part #3)

I am nearing the end of my Perfume Collection video series! I am so happy with the response so far and I love to read your comments. Today is going to be about my most luxurious brand fragrance. It is a Swedish brand called Byredo Parfums (blogged about it the day I got it on my Tumblr). The 50ml values at $145. Yikes! Fortunately, I have a sister who was willing to buy them for me for my birthday some year back :)

As expensive as they are, I will without hesitation say that I do not regret a single penny! Though I have named Diptyque as my all-time favorite fragrance brand, I think that it also shares a seat with this babe too! As I say, they are perfection in a bottle.

I was first intrigued by this brand because I saw it pop up on random pictures on Tumblr. They weren't from beauty blogs but random home-topshelf pictures. The bottle I thought, was simply chic and so I began my investigation to finding out what this Byredo Parfums thing was all about!

No doubt, after a few reads and clicks on their website, I was completely sucked into them. As I have mentioned in my previous videos, I think fragrances MUST tell a story. The name, the packaging, the inspiration, and finally the scent must all come in one perfect package. This brand definitely did that job, impeccably. 

Before I popped into Barney's New York (department store in NYC) I took a hefty amount of time reading up on their fragrances so that if I was just as impressed with the actual scent as I was with their description online, I would know for what I would be spending this much money on. Thankfully, I met a lady at the counter who was so helpful in informing me about these scents. She helped me choose these two that I so love! When I went to Barney's I already had about 5 that I was seriously interested in. It came down to these two, and although I went to just get one, I ended up getting both!

The Pulp is something I wear more often than the other, partly because it is such a fresh, lively, explosive fragrance of ripe fruit. It works well all year around and what's wonderful about it is that wherever you are, you instantly create this atmosphere of life with this fragrance beaming out of your presence! It is intensely savory and heavy. It isn't one of those airy light fruit scents. I mean, this is serious business of real ripe fruits! 

In Pulp, a compilation of exotic and Swedish influences create an international fruit basket. A dramatic composition focused on the idea of ripe, sweet, shapeless mass of fruit, an unruly and intense savor. (website)

Here are the notes of Pulp

Top: Bergamot, cardamom, blackcurrant
Heart: Fig, red apple, tiare
Base: Cedar wood, praline, peach flower

Interestingly enough, very much like my other fruity scents (from Jo Malone the Blackberry & Bay and Grapefruit) it isn't as "feminine" as one would think. I don't know about you, but when I think of fruity scents I think of girly scents. It doesn't seem to be the case with these rich perfumes! They are more masculine than one would think! I would definitely find this attracting both men and women.

As for Seven Veils, the moment I took that first sniff of Seven Veils I was like THIS IS IT. When I first bought it, it had just recently launched. Here is what they say on their website: 

Seven Veils is a spicy oriental composition built around the warmth of vanilla flower and Indian sandalwood.
It is based on the biblical tale of Salome’s dance of the Seven Veils, a story of many layers. Tainted and bejeweled, Salome turns to the art of shameless seduction. Barefooted, sanguine and black eyed, she demands a man’s head on a plate in exchange for one single dance...
“On that first morning the moon sinks late and you feel the pull, as if it were night, magnetic in a way the sun could never be. Three memories pervade the air. The way you hold it; the way through fingers you let it slip; and the way the woven silk floats across the winds. So now floats a perfect fifth, in a minor chord, from an ancient bow, resonating in our ears louder and louder. And louder still until it grows stronger than even our beating hearts. You rise up, upon your feet, and even higher. With seven veils you dance, swirling swirling swirling.”

It is seductive, feminine, sophisticated, sweet, and oh my gosh.. just so alluring and chic! Here are the notes of Seven Veils

Top: Carrot, Pimento Berries
Heart: Tahitian Vanilla Flower, Laurier Rose, Glycine, Tiger Orchid
Base: Sandalwood, Vanilla Bean 

I would definitely say that this is really just for women. I mean, there is no category but I think if you smell it you'd easily agree that it truly embodies women. I love it so, but I definitely only wear it in the winter time. Or else, even a single spritz would be too dense and heavy for spring or summer!

4 comments byredo parfums, collection video, fragrance collection, fragrances, perfume, sweden

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Jo Malone Collection⎜My Perfume Collection, Part #2

Watch my video on Youtube for the full "talk" :)

Left to right: Grapefruit, Earl Grey & Cucumber, Blackberry & Bay, Lemon Tart, Wild Bluebell

I have finally gotten around to filming and writing up this JO MALONE fragrance collection post. Whew! What took so long you say? (Or maybe you didn't care at all :)) Well, I had weeks and weeks of dilemma of whether I wanted and needed two more fragrances added to my already 3-some collection. I had samples of these two. Sprayed them until they were gone. Went to the Jo Malone counter several times to sniff and sniff. And finally, I caved. I purchased the Lemon Tart (Limited-Edition) and Grapefruit Cologne! 

The package finally came today, and so it was only until now that I could film and get on with this perfume collection series! I was so pleased to see that my first video on my Diptyque collection went so well. Sure, nothing compared to those major beauty gurus' counts, but still, enough to fill my belly! :) So, hoping y'all like my new video on just my Jo Malone fragrances, I am writing this on up! (Make sure to watch the video, it's easier than reading I'd think?) 

As a short, very short brief- Jo Malone is a British fragrance brand that has fragrances, body products, room sprays, candles, and the like. I first found out about Jo Malone when I started watching Tanya Burr's videos (she's my idol, FYI). They are major in the fragrance industry today and it hasn't been that long since they started selling at Bloomingdales and such! Anyway, due to their really elegant packaging, fresh and elegant scents, they have become very popular everywhere. Though Diptyque stands in a level of its own, I can see Jo Malone rising in popularity and fame over time (though, to me, it just won't be anything like Diptyque). 

So, as I say in my video, Jo Malone is a bit of a love-hate relationship for me. I fall for it all the time, even though none would satisfy as much as Diptyque does. Yet, something is very very alluring about them. However, I haven't found them to be exactly "whole" on its own. Jo Malone is very well-known for its "combining" system(?). Though each and every scent can stand on its own, they are marketed and told to be better if combined with their other scents. They have a whole chart on this if you go to their website!

This means that their fragrances aren't entirely dimensional. Some definitely are, but most I've experienced are more simple. For example, my first Jo Malone fragrance was Wild Bluebell.

Wild Bluebell is in the family of light florals, and indeed it is very fresh and light. It is not a complex scent at all. It legit smells like bluebells. There aren't that many notes to them, and so even though they are great for just spritzing all over and smelling delightful, feminine, floral, and fresh-- I'd recommend combining it with something more structured and "based". Unfortunately, all the other four fragrances I picked up seem NOT to match with my Wild Bluebell (since I wasn't going for any combining anyway), and so I just wear it on its own. It's great for days you want to smell like something, but you don't really want to be overpowered by that scent.

Blackberry & Bay cologne was next on my list. I was wanting something fruity and a bit exotic, not the tropical kind but the plain summer breezy water kind, and I found this. This is succulent blackberries mixed in with balmy woods and scent of the bay! It just sounds refreshing doesn't it? I would say this is more of a gender-neutral scent and guys would do just well with this scent just as women (not that any of these have to have any standard for such!). It's definitely fresh and fruity, but I wouldn't say it is "sweet" fruity. It's more of a really juicy blackberry without hints of some sweetness-- because you know, blackberries aren't actually that sweet in taste. It has this slight bitterness and tanginess? It has a bit of that, based with some bay wood scent. 

I bought the Blackberry & Bay cologne along with this elegant thing: Earl Grey & Cucumber. Holy moly! This is definitely as BRITISH as you can get with a fragrance, and it's exactly why I love it! I mean, come on... earl grey tea? Yes, I say, yes. I absolutely love anything British, and so this completely drew me in. It is the "creamiest" out of all the Jo Malone scents I have. There is a freshness of cucumber along with the beeswax, vanilla, and musk! It's definitely the most "complex" and "dimensional" out of all the ones I own. It is such a statement scent that I can legit, only wear it on days when I want to feel that extra bit polished, refined, sophisticated, mature, and well, lady-like :) I wear this on more formal days because it just seems appropriate for that situation! Also, on rainy-days? Oh boy, my hands just reach for this! Something is truly British here. Definitely though, not a girly, fruity, sweet scent at all. It is really mature so sometimes I fear I may even smell a bit too mature. But still, there are days when it fits just right with the occasion. And besides, I found it so intriguing with the scent of earl grey and cucumber combined!

The next two I am thrilled to write about. They are most recent purchases (the ones I've been waiting for to actually get this post up and going!) and ones that I can actually combine to get them to be a better more appealing scent to me. It is the Lemon Tart (cough cough LIMITED EDITION) and the Grapefruit cologne. I have seriously been eying the Lemon Tart for so long because the whole concept was just perfect, and the packaging? Goodness. And the description was quite captivating. When I first took a sniff at the counter, I thought: whoa, very sour and "tingly"... It was definitely fresh but it felt a bit too sour? 

Then, an one occasion, I received both the Lemon Tart and Grapefruit. I don't know what it was, but I thought, hey maybe these two could work together? So, I spritzed them together and layered them. And... oh my goodness, I ended up sniffing my wrist the whole day! Something made that combo so attractive! They are both citrus-y but somehow they complement each other so well!

The Lemon Tart has of course, citrus and also verbena, meringue and lemon thyme. It has this really addictive sharpness that I think is so needed in the humid summer. This will definitely awaken the senses and I just love it! The interesting thing is I've read some reviews and people say they were disappointed that it doesn't smell as sweet as "lemon tart" supposes. I have to agree. It has nothing of a pastry-like sweetness (but if it did, I'd hate it!). I actually love the sourness of it because it makes it that fresh. But that is not to say that there is absolutely no sweetness whatsoever. There is that sweet tart subtly detectable in-between the citrus notes. 

The Grapefruit is a really nice one as well. This again, like the Blackberry & Bay cologne has a pretty large male followers! Though it is a fruity scent, it is based with a lot of musky notes: vetiver, rosemary,  some spice, all circulated with the citrus notes! Lovely, but I can definitely detect the "masculinity" of it. 

And... that's the reason why I love to combine them. Grapefruit on its own seems a bit too "guy-smelling" for my like! It's so attractive, but on me, I feel like I'm wearing a guy's cologne! (I'd like it on a guy, and not so much by itself just on me!) So, when I pair it with the rather feminine citrus of the Lemon Tart, goodness... there is this explosion of fruits, musk, herbs, spice, sweetness, citrus, on and on... It's rather lovely! 

I don't know if these two are recommended in their "combining" chart, but regardless, I love pairing these two together!

5 comments collection video, fragrance collection, fragrances, jo malone, perfume, youtube

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