KristyVictoria's Archive
Prada – Infusion de Tubereuse
Infusion de Tubereuse, Prada’s third feminine scent release in the Ephemeral Infusions line, builds a bridge between modern niche and mainstream perfumery. The astringent, almost diesel like aspect of the Tuberose, a heady white tropical flower, has been amplified by the inclusion of petitgrain, a bitter orange essence. This is something of a precedent in regards to the use of Tuberose in perfumery: the waxy-creamy aspect of the flower, a divisive quality among perfume lovers which is amplified in scents such as Fracas and Estee Lauder’s Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia, is downplayed. The tuberose itself is a flower whose unmistakable scent combines the heady indoles of Jasmine, creaminess of Gardenia and exotic feel of Frangipani.
Simply, Infusion de Tubereuse is Fracas’ cuter, younger sister: demure and feminine, lacking the often overwhelming qualities of Tuberose. This Prada fragrance will appeal to a wide range of tropical and exotic floral lovers who want their perfume to be noticed, just not from 30 feet away.
- Prada’s Infusion de Tubereuse is $100 for a 3.4 oz bottle, available at Neiman Marcus
- Question? Comments? Got something you’d like me to sniff? Contact me at kristy.victoria@gmail.com.
Shu Uemura Essence Absolue
I’m not a hair product junkie, but I am pretty well versed in the product variety – so when I heard about Shu Uemura Essence Absolue, I was intrigued because I’d never tried anything like it. Essence Absolue can be used as a pre-shampoo or color protection treatment, a leave in conditioner, and a shine serum for blowouts.
I’ve used it all weekend and the condition of my hair is impressive – I had no idea it could be so soft! My ends are damaged from prior bleaching and after using Essence Absolue you’d never know. It’s just as soft and shiny as my untreated roots. Also, I’ve been using rinse-out conditioners for years and always find that if I’m particularly active during the day my hair is greasy in the scalp area by the evening. Essence Absolue does not do this! My boyfriend even remarked that my hair smelled clean after a 2 hour hike.
Shu Uemura’s
Essence Absolue is my new holy grail of hair products. It costs more than drugstore hair products but its performance warrants the higher price tag. I’m pretty sure this bottle will last me forever, and because of its dual use I now have more space in my bathroom – and can you really put a price tag on that?
…and, Shu, just one more thing – when are you going to bottle the beautiful Camellia fragrance of Essence Absolue and sell it? I promise to be first in line!
- Shu Uemura’s Essence Absolue is $65.00 for 150 mL, online and in retail stores
- Questions? Comments? Got something you’d like me to sniff? Contact me at kristy.victoria@gmail.com.
Kilian Collection: Valentine’s Luxury!
Kilian Hennessy has created a fragrance legacy in his ultra-niche luxury line, By Kilian. He has enthralled thousands of perfumistas as well as the likes of Dita von Teese, John Galliano and Adriana Lima. This year By Kilian has released a discovery collection that is the epitome of romantic gifts – just in time for Valentine’s Day!
The collection includes a tasseled black blox of eight of Kilian’s unisex scents, allowing both men and women to explode the “L’Oeuvre Noire” collection at once.
- Prelude to Love, Invitation
- Love, Don’t Be Shy
- Beyond Love, Prohibited
- Liaisons Dangereuses, Typical Me
- Cruel Intentions, Tempt Me
- A Taste of Heaven, Absinthe Verte
- Straight to Heaven, White Cristal
- Back to Black, Aphrodisiac
A delicate heliotrope and citrus, evocative of the flirtation that often precedes a romance. Exceptionally blended!
This gourmand features a marshmallow note that is to die for. If you liked Angel, this will knock your socks off. I generally don’t care for sweet scents but I couldn’t stop sniffing this one.
Jasmine and tuberose, one of the more standard compositions in the collection. The tuberose is tame here, don’t be put off if you hated Fracas – this scent will woo lovers of sweet floral fragrances with its use of high quality absolutes. Romantic in the most classical sense.
The peach in Liaisons Dangereuses is like the aroma that is given off by a perfectly ripe piece of fruit. An effervescent and airy scent with a hint of rose. Liaisons Dangereuses is the perfect pairing of fruit and floralcy.
Cruel Intentions is one of my all time favorite scents. The unusual mixture of violet and oud makes for a stunning and unusual fragrance that is sure to turn heads.
Bittersweet and refined, this is the most masculine of the bunch. The green notes are very accessible to those who may normally shy away from bergamot and lavender.
Boozy notes, earthy woods and a hint of salt bring to mind some extremely sexy pirates.
Aphrodisiac describes this one perfectly: sensual tobacco and vanilla. Raspberry, almond, and saffron all make an appearance here and manage to blend together beautifully. The vanilla is not overly sweet. Back to Black paints the perfect olfactory picture of a melding of senses: somehow through smelling this, it’s as if I am feeling, touching and tasting an entire experience.
This is the first collection I’ve ever tried that I loved each and every fragrance for vastly different reasons. The quality of materials and composition is unparalleled. The Kilian Collection set is distinctly uncompromising luxury that any fragrance enthusiast will love.
The Kilian Collection Set is $140 and will be available at Bergdorf Goodman, select Saks, and Saks.com as well as Apothia, Lucky Scent and Aedes de Venustas.
C.O. Bigelow Elixir Red Cologne
Bigelow’s Barber Cologne in Elixir Red is a fabulous addition to any fragrance wardrobe. Clean and crisp fig leaf gives Elixir Red a uniquely modern texture. The heart of this fragrance is composed of redcurrant and sandalwood accords which blend together nicely to create a warm sillage. I’m very impressed by this release, as the notes list looks like something I’d expect to find from a niche perfumery with an expensive price tag. To add to the charm of this cologne, the bottle looks like something you might find on Don Draper’s countertop. This scrumptious cologne is the perfect gift for you and the man in your life to enjoy together!
- C.O. Bigelow’s Elixir Red is available for $19.50, online and in retail stores
- Questions? Comments? Got something you’d like me to sniff? Hit me up at kristy.victoria@gmail.com.
Bath and Body Works: Holiday Gift Guide
Bath and Body products make great Holiday gifts – they’re a little bit of luxury that everyone uses.
Here’s my three favorite products for your consideration, and my tips for who is likely to love each product.
- Ginger Mentha Revitalizing Warming Body Scrub ($14.00): This luxe formula simultaneously warms the body while smoothing away dry winter skin with a spicy, revitalizing combination of comforting Ginger and fresh Peppermint. I love this scrub! The mixture of ginger and mint is invigorating and the warming sensation feels great, especially on stiff muscles.
- Twilight Woods Eau de Toilette ($29.50) is a hypnotic blend developed to instantly evoke the mystery and beauty of enchanted woods. When the sun has set and the evening begins, the unique enchantment of twilight woods is awakened through sights, sounds and scent. A new distinctly feminine fragrance, an alluring blend of bright flowers, surprising spices and creamy woods – layers upon layers of youthful luxury with an elegant touch of cashmere, captures the singular pleasure of a twilight stroll. This fragrance is like a warm hug in a bottle. An ultimate comfort scent, for anyone who needs a little reminder of home or family. Twilight Woods is a combination of ambery woods and a warm skin scent and feels very cozy.
- Winter White Cool Body Wash ($14.00): A crisp combination of white jasmine, frozen violet and cashmere woods. Lovers of floral scents will appreciate this sweet and feminine scented shower gel. The violet is cool and crisp, ages away from the vintage powdery violets of yore. The result is a clean and fresh modern floral. This is my personal favorite, and I hope to find the Winter White Cool collection in my stocking this year!
We’re giving away a full size Twilight Woods body lotion and Ginger Mentha Eau de Toilette! Leave a comment here by December 1st with your favorite Bath and Body Works product to enter! Sorry, due to shipping restrictions this contest is only open to US residents.
MAC’s Asphalt Flower
MAC’s Asphalt Flower is like the gravelly crunch of new leather boots afoot a freshly paved street. An edgy, cool incense and sweet berries (mulberry and currant, to my nose) adds a dimension of femininity to this revamped version of one of MAC’s earlier 1999 fragrance releases. Asphalt Flower reminds me of Pam from True Blood: feminine and fierce. The rollerball packaging feels very appropriate as this is a sensual, textured fragrance that lends itself well to dabbing on rather than spraying. Asphalt Flower is perfectly reminiscent of the brand it represents, and a must-have fragrance for fall.
- Asphalt Flower is available for $20 in a 6 mL rollerball from MAC Cosmetics
- Questions? Comments? Got something you’d like me to sniff? Hit me up at kristy.victoria@gmail.com.