Diptyque Do Son

Posted on July 19, 2022 by Henna

Everyone deserves nice perfume. At least one bottle.

Some people can find what they love at Sephora or a department store, but others want something different, and if that’s you, then your starting point needs to be Diptyque, arguably the very first niche perfume house ever. Unfortunately, the person at my local Diptyque counter is useless, and insists on selling me Eau Rose, which is the best-seller but definitely not for everyone. It’s the one that’s an easy sell but that doesn’t mean it’s the best.

You need to start with Tam Dao if you want Sandalwood, or Do Son, which is what I put on today after a hot hot day outside.

Do Son came out in 2005 and is a white floral perfume but don’t let that turn you off. It’s actually so much more than that.

Inspired by a vacation resort in Indochina, this scent feels like an upscale resort. The tuberose has coconut with it and a bit of warm green. There’s a slightly aquatic feel not unlike a seabreeze. It’s absolutely perfect for spring or summer, and it really worked today.

I went to the Calgary Stampede today (the greatest outdoor show on Earth?, rides, cotton candy, horses), where the grounds are hot and unforgiving under a July sun, and I kept dousing myself in sunscreen. I needed to change the air when I got home, and reached for Do Son. Probably because it’s been on my mind. Do Son wears quite sheer, and has the rounded corners that are the hallmark of Diptyque. This would be a safe and discreet scent, especially for close quarters. It’s very chill. I have the EDT, but it also comes in an EDP. I find the toilette to be softer, fresher, and I enjoy that.

People say that Do Son is Diptyque’s version of Carnal Flower but they’re totally different. Carnal Flower feels damp, Do Son is watery. Serge Lutens Tubereuse Criminelle is minty, Datura Noir is sweeter.

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L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Noir Balm Mascara Review

Posted on July 18, 2022 by Henna

The marketing has been everywhere, and I finally tested out this L’Oreal Voluminous Noir Balm mascara. I know… mascara-balm.. it’s weird. Just like lip oils are weird. Every time I use one that’s an oil, I get that sensation of eating pizza as a little kid and having oils all over my lips. I hate it.

Text

Anyway, the idea of a balm mascara appealed to me… this would be nourishing and look good, no? I have a terrible time with normal mascara. it smears everywhere. I have oily lids, and lashes that end up touching my brown bone, so there’s always mascara everywhere, and most days I stick with tubing mascaras, so if I’m smart, this is something I should avoid, right?… well I just had to try it. I mean look at the glass tube. it’s really lux looking and just spoke to me.

I went into a drugstore to mail a package, and got this on my way out. I also smelled lots of perfume, but I also got this.

The wand also sold it to me. I love a rubber-bristled wand.

Turns out I don’t hate this! It goes on so easily. The formula is perfect and it does really remind me of a balm. It’s waxy and not too wet, layers well, and doesn’t flake.

Unlike a balm, this did not smudge and smear all over my face, and I think it looked pretty good at the end of the day, but there was a bit of flaking.

Have you tried this? Does mascara normally smudge on you? Drop your fav in the comments, please!

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Chanel Paris-Venise Perfume Review Video

Posted on July 15, 2022 by Henna

Do you have a favourite from Chanel?

Perfumer: Olivier Polge

Launched in 2018.

Official notes: neroli, vanilla, tonka.

Available in 50ml and 125ml. I have the 125ml bottle. I ordered online from Holt Renfrew but if you order from the Chanel website, they’ll gift-wrap it and include samples.

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Aesop Tacit

Posted on July 14, 2022 by Henna

You say basil, I say spaaaa, because that’s what Aesop Tacit smells like.

TextI have a strange relationship with this perfume, and let me know if you’ve ever experienced this: when I’m already in a good mood, I like it, but if I’m in a bad mood, it just pisses me off even more. It’s like a fly buzzing around my head while I’m trying to focus, and I do not enjoy it at all.

So weird.

 

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Scents of Wood Oud in Acacia Perfume Review

Posted on July 13, 2022 by Henna

This is like warm spiced drink on a cool day, and I think it’ll appeal to a lot of people.

Scents of Wood Oud in Acacia. In a market where everything seems to be done already, this brand ages their alcohol in barrels and then creates the perfume with the result. A resulting woodiness in all aspects of the perfume is part of the brand identity, and Oud in Acacia is interesting because it’s essentially wood in more wood… but without that generic woody dry down we’ve all become familiar with.

TextThis is a slightly sweet perfume, that’s quite ambery, boozy (there’s definitely a rum accord in there), and a bit spicy.  The opening has a yummy candied rose that’s positively delectable, but if you’re not really a rose person, don’t worry because this aspect of the perfume is quite fleeting and doesn’t last very long.  Despite the rose, I actually think that this perfume is fairly unisex.

The oud is sweet rather than being dirty or medicinal. The drydown is absolutely delectable and where the immortelle shines, with its maple syrup facets, and a touch of vanilla adds to the yumminess of this perfume.

This isn’t something I would normally buy or even try, but it’s so beautiful and I’m enjoying it quite a bit.

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Skincare I’m Loving Right Now: Dry Skin Love, Fresh Beauty, Strivectin, Trinny London

Posted on July 12, 2022 by Henna

I’ve been using a few new things on my face and never really talked about them so here we go.

Dry Skin Love sent me their first product ever: a cleansing oil. Get this: it smells like chocolate orange! Why has a brand not thought of this?! It smells delicious and melts makeup and sunscreen, emulsifies with water to be rinsed off. There’s a bit of a residue after as this is a product for dry skin but I always do a foaming cleanser afterwards anyway. This is a brand out of Alberta, so if you are local, show them some love.

Fresh Beauty Black Tea Kombucha Facial Essence. Love this stuff and this is the second bottle I’m going through. It smells like cucumber and yes, it’s kind of like a toner or another layer of hydration before you apply your real moisturizer. I use it morning and night and I’m actually almost done my bottle.

New Strivectin BHA serum. Hard to know if this is doing anything but I hate that they put “pore minimizing” on the packaging. You cannot shrink your pores! The serum has a light texture and absorbs into my skin quickly.

I’m using the Bondi Sands Pure Self Tanning Sleep Mask (PR) (trust me, everyone needs the golden hue of a gentle self-tanner), and pairing it with my Trinny London Overnight Clarity Retinal/Niacinamide serum. I use the retinol first, wait a bit and then use the self-tanner, and don’t forget to wash your hands afterwards!

I don’t use a self-tanner everyday. This one is very moisturizing, and it’s basically a gradual tan moisturizer.

The Trinny London retinoid is also pretty moisturizing, and I like that it’s paired with a Niacinamide because that’s an ingredient I like in my skincare routine anyway. I normally use a serum, like the Bliss niacinamide serum, but I’ve found that layering too many serums can cause them to pill and clump up, so having this is a bit better for me in my routine.

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Favourite Summer Perfumes

Posted on July 12, 2022 by Henna

Tell me your favourite perfumes that hit best in the summer.

Here are mine:

Chantecaille Vetyver

Diptyque Philosykos

4711

Jo Malone Grapefruit

Chronotope Playalinda

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The best-smelling hair products: Christophe Robin Edition

Posted on July 11, 2022 by Henna

I’ve been meaning to write about these for a while, because life is short and you deserve to have hair that smells good. Also, I’ve gotten more compliments on how my hair smells than on my perfume, so I think nicely scented hair products are worth it. I can’t promise the scent will last, but you will have an excellent sensory experience.

TextToday, I’m just posting about Christophe Robin because I realized that I have quite a few products from this brand and they all smell excellent. Beautiful scents are really part of the French aesthetic and this brand does not skimp on the quality or quantity of their fragrance. They’re actually known for their salt scrubs… yes, it’s a salt scrub for your hair… a tiny bit foams and clarifies and I highly recommend having it on hand for the times that you really want to get everything out of your hair.

They became so popular that the brand came out with a limited edition La Bretagne scent last year, which is more citrusy. I’ve also pictured the Cleansing Volumizing Paste which has salt and clay but gives a similar effect. This one smells like rose water.

If you like the scent of rose water, then you need to try the Volume Conditioner or even the Cleansing balm which came out in a Christmas set last year, but without a doubt, my favourite scent is for the Aloe Melting Mask which smells like the finest fougere fragrance – it’s basically Penhaligon’s Sartorial in a bottle and I can vouch for the scent of the conditoner lasting in your hair for a long time, at least throughout the day.  We know that you can’t actually “hydrate hair” but this mask does smooth it out and make it smell amazing.

Have you tried anything from this brand? I think they should make perfume or a hair mist.

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Serge Lutens La Fille de Berlin Review Video

Posted on July 11, 2022 by Henna

Serge Lutens La Fille de Berlin. Year released: 2013Perfumer: Christopher Sheldrake. Rose and more rose. Also some rose. Have you tried this one?

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Empties: Setting Powder, Setting Spray, Vivier, Fenty, Vichy

Posted on July 10, 2022 by Henna

TextFinally hit pan on the setting powder I’ve been using, and finished a few other things. The setting powder is the Bare Minerals Mineral Veil and it has a bit of a blurring effect on your face, so it’s nice to use even just on top of sunscreen.

 

 

 

The Two Faced primer was ok. Honestly, instead of primer, I use the setting spray as a primer and I find that works much better. Which is why I’ve run out of my Tarte Stay Spray. I’ve had it for a year and I really started using it this past September.

I’m moving to the Charlotte Tilbury setting spray because so many people recommended it. In fact, take a look at the packaging of the Charlotte Tilbury spray: they recommend using it before makeup because it does actually work to help makeup stay on longer. I find it best to blend with a makeup sponge rather than my usual foundation brush.

 

Vichy 3-in-1 cleanser, I actually loved this. You could kind of use it like a Micellar water by putting it on a cotton pad and wiping your face. Left my skin soft, clean, and matte. I used it in the morning on dry skin as my cleanser.

Fenty Pre-Show Glow. This is a nice glycolic acid number.

Vivier Hexan cleanser. This is a pretty basic cleanser. For the price, I don’t think it’s anything special. I got this in a Christmas present a couple of years ago I think!

MooGoo body lotion. I love this stuff. It made my skin so smooth, and it has a soft soothing milky scent.

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