If you had told me that the best packaging around would be a baby perfume, I would have rolled my eyes, but here we are, and this is the cutest little bottle I’ve added to my collection recently. Bvlgari Petits et Mamans, a baby perfume, is made in water instead of alcohol. The scent is reminiscent of doctor’s waiting rooms, vanilla oatmeal, and chamomile. It’s light, inoffensive, easy to wear in case you ARE going to an actual waiting room and want to wear something just because you’re in the habit of spraying something on first thing in the morning. For over $100, I’d say that spraying actual chamomile tea on yourself would be a better idea, but when it came on sale I regret not getting backups to gift.
Bvlgari Petits et Mamans Perfume Review
The Charlotte Tilbury x Disney 100 Collection
This Charlotte Tilbury x Disney 100 collection makes a lot of sense if you spend any amount of time watching, reading, or listening to the news. There’s a lot going on in the world, and we, even adults, need something uplifting. I never got the adult fascination with Disney until I went to Disneyland one Christmas – it really is the most magical place on earth and I appreciated it so much more as an adult than I did as a child. I think younger me was busy rolling my eyes and enjoying the rides, but older me wanted to buy into the magic.
This new collection celebrates 10 years of Charlotte Tilbury’s brand, and 100 years of Disney.
Charlotte Tilbury’s Disney collection repackages the iconic Magic Cream, and all the Magic Cream packaging is refillable so people that get this limited edition jar can treasure it for years to come. Honestly, I have a Magic Cream in my bathroom and one beside my bed. It’s very rich and luxurious, like an old-school cold cream, and it smells slightly rosy but not too strong, so I love using it.
The Beauty Light Wand highlighter is also available in special packaging, and in two new colours: Spotlight and Gold. The original Pillow Talk is also here (of course it is) and I’ve swiped all three shades on the back of my hand. I’ll swatch them on my face later, but know that these are incredibly long-lasting highlighters and very easy to use!
Philosykos Eau de Parfum and Eau de Toilette
I’ve almost had enough of figs this summer… almost… I keep going back to Philosykos as an edp and edt. Do you have a preference?I have to say that I prefer the eau de parfum version because the cedar is amped up and it’s my favourite part. The eau de toilette is creamier and more feminine. It’s pretty but too soft, I want something stronger. Regardless of concentration, the photorealistic nature of Philosykos, that walk in a fig grove, offers a reprieve from wearing heavier, more intense and complex scents – a kind of olfactory palate cleanser.
Did you know that the Apple in the Garden of Eden might have actually been a fig?
JPG Classique edp Review
JPG Classique is a fruity floral that leans heavily on the orange and pear with a sweet rose. On smelling this, I immediately thought of the fruity florals of the 90’s and wondered if Classique was referring to them. It turns out that Classique is from 1993 and this just happens to be a limited edition bottle.
If you remember the Britney Spears perfumes, the Paris Hilton perfumes, Ralph Hot, and you liked them, then this one is for you. I actually think it smells better than some of the over-sweet perfumes that came out at that time, thanks to the tonka which brings an almond-cherry to the background, and a nice dose of vanilla. It might not be my type of perfume but I can appreciate why people love it.
Who doesn’t want to go back in time to waste time in an air-conditioned mall in the middle of summer? Eat fries in the food court and then get chocolate-raspberry Yogen-Fruz, returning home with a head full of gossip and nonsense. Classique is the perfect pairing.
Chanel Les Exclusifs in My Perfume Collection
Supermodels of the perfume world: the Les Exclusifs. I won’t say that there’s not one out there I don’t love because it’s not true, but the elegance, refinement, and sheer sense of luxury that this line embodies are unmatched.
In order of preference: Coromandel – delicious warm incense.
Cuir de Russie – soapy leather but make it Chanel.
Bois des Iles – ylang-ylang and sandalwood.
Bel Respiro – summer in a bottle.
Boy is going to join the group this year, I can just feel it. Which is your favourite from the line?
Oh, and a magnetic cap: *chef’s kiss*.
Celine Bois Dormant Perfume Review
Iris perfumes that aren’t too serious. Prada’s Infusion d’Iris is a mainstay in my collection for when the weather’s warm, but lately, I’ve replaced it with Celine’s Bois Dormant which has a powdery pencil shaving combo that’s addictive to smell. My favourite thing about both of these is their sparkling opening, which feels cheerful instead of serious. These are optimistic, bubbly, and effervescent. My kind of iris this summer.
Here’s my full Celine Bois Dormant review.
Guerlain Iris Torrifie Perfume Review
I wore Iris Torrifie and loved it and then noticed the word Torrifie on the side of the coffee canister. Never noticed it before.
Torrifie means roasted but I didn’t get any coffee when I wore this. There’s definitely some tea and other things.
This is a gorgeous Iris scent, in the vein of Dior Homme Intense but more textured and layered… more refined, more expensive too, but it is what it is as the kids say. There’s a citrus and a dry cardamom in the opening, and I kept getting the wafts of tea if I wore it when it wasn’t very warm outside.
Then I made brownies and so my memory of this is mixed with a memory of chocolate. Last picture is my brownie recipe and it’s a great one and very easy to make. I used almond flour instead of regular all-purpose, and added 4oz of chopped chocolate in the batter too. Posting the recipe for posterity. It’s a good one. Enjoy.
L’Artisan Parfumeur Perfume Collection
A few that will never get cut – my L’Artisan Parfumeur bottles showing up for their #perfumeclasspicture. I discovered the brand ages ago but couldn’t justify getting any at that time, but then it just found me, and I realized that I don’t have to justify perfume that makes me happy.
I think what draws me to these is the simplicity of their structure and the clarity of their notes and a direct message to the heart. All of these have a clear gourmand component that speaks to the foodie in me, but they’re not like the crazy sweet perfumes we have now.
Safran Troublant – ras malai with rose water. Refreshing and sweet.
Dzing! – cotton candy from when you were little, too oblivious to whatever was going on around you.
Traversee any Bosphore – Turkish delight in a bottle.
Coeur a Vetiver Sacree – iced tea before it was trendy.
L’eau D’Ambre Extrème – cardamom crystallized in candy form.
Tell me if you’ve got a favourite.
Santa Maria Novella Muschio Oro Perfume Review
This is the epitome of some classic packaging via Muschio Oro from Santa Maria Novella.
So many ways to describe this perfume.
Some call it an old lady perfume.
Some say it smells like an expensive soap.
I think it has peachy aldehydes, warm sunny florals, and then syrupy sandalwood and clean musk.
I wore it on a day filled with hugs and so many people loved this old lady scent.
Watch the full review here, with a bit of the history of the house.
Portrait of a Lady Perfume Review
I want to be a morning person and see the sunrise, but I also love to stay up late. I want to savour the morning news with a cup of coffee, but I also want to scroll on my phone. I want to keep up with all the shows, but I love reading books too. I want to leave an impression, but I also want to observe.
I need to be impeccably dressed, the hardest working, the best-scented, the funniest, the wittiest, the quickest, the smartest.
For me, there’s Portrait of a Lady, a perfume I love but don’t wear enough because it is so potent! I love the mixture of spice and rose, and the rose patchouli, and most days I get out of bed wanting to wear something spicy and beautiful, but I also don’t need everyone to smell me at all times. One spray of this is more than enough, so a little bottle will last me a lifetime. I still remember smelling this at the Malle counter and being blown away by the spiciness in the opening, the mouth-watering cinnamon and anise, crispy and pungent. I was also blown away by the price and didn’t get it right then. Now, there are many great rose-patchouli options but this remains a kind of reference. What do you think? Are we over it? Do you still need it in your perfume collection?