Fragrance
Spring Fragrance Series: GUESS Seductive Wild Summer
One of my favorite parts of the transition into warmer weather are the sunny afternoons spent working in my flower garden. As the sun sets and twilight turns to dusk the smells of my garden morph into something sweeter and more poignant. A time when I can settle and have a cuppa on my porch as I appreciate the labor I put into my garden. This is the time of day is our next fragrance review evokes from my memories. Today I’ll be sharing the second fragrance release from GUESS (and follow up to last year’s GUESS Seductive), GUESS Seductive Wild Summer.
Top: Red berries, Pear and Lychee
Mid: Orange Blossom, Jasmine and Rose.
Bottom: Cashmere Wood, Vanilla and Musk
Our thoughts: Classified by most as a woody floriental I found this more of a juicy floral. Tart red berries and sweet lychee greet you warmly, like the sun on a summer afternoon. There is a long moment of pure, blissful beauty when the sweetness of the the lychee fades and night blooms in a stunning citrus bouquet of crisp orange blossom. Rose dominates the evening as sweet tendrils of jasmine snake seductively around the senses. Finally cashmere wood supports a soft, romantic, creamy smooth vanilla and musk base. I love the uber-feminine pastel treatment on both the packaging and bottle. The flacon takes inspiration from the inverted triangular GUESS logo with a faceted cap. A nice touch is the heart spangle that hangs from a gold collar around the neck. The juice itself is a pastel pink.
The good: Wild Summer is a beautifully delicate floral with a creamy final composition that will linger on your skin for hours.
The bad: I found the scent slightly muted. If you prefer your fragrances to stick close and not exude outside of your personal space Wild Summer is definitely for you.
The verdict: A versatile fragrance that’s perfectly suited to the office or summer date nights with that special +1. Wild Summer is limited edition, so get a sniff before it’s gone!
GUESS Seductive Wild Summer retails for $52(1.7 oz) at GUESS retail stores, perfumery chains, department stores and www.guess.com
The product(s) in this entry were provided by the manufacturer or it’s PR agency. See our disclaimer for full details on our Editorial Policy.
Spring Fragrance Series: Reveal by Halle Berry
Halle Berry is, simply put, one of the most gorgeous women on planet Earth. She’s a true beauty icon who has only grown more engaging and beautiful as years go by. Does anyone object to me claiming she’s practically a walking guide to looking effortlessly ravishing?! Today I’ll be reviewing her latest celebrity fragrance release, Reveal by Halle Berry.
Top: Mimosa Flower, Juicy Peach, Honey Dew Melon, Red Berries
Heart: Iris Blossom, Plumeria Flower, Neroli Petals
Base: Vetiver, Cashmere Woods, Skin Musk
Our thoughts: A surprisingly sophisticated warm summer scent nicely balanced to avoid being too bold or heavy while maintaining a delicate woody complexity. Halle’s favorite flower is the Mimosa and this is apparent in Reveal as mimosa’s exhilarating bubbly signature stood out among a juicy infusion of melon and peach. A lush, warm heart of modern florals is at the center where you almost feel caressed by the gentle sweep of Iris. A base of vetiver, musk, and woods create a sophisticated balance and add a depth that left us feeling magnetic and mysterious. The flacon itself is a gold toned tear drop shape with a gold accents at the neck and a bold asymmetrical cap.
The good: Reveal’s sillage was a standout among the fragrances we reviewed for this series. Please don’t let the fruity notes fool you, this isn’t a juvenile juice. Reveal evoked steamy summer evenings and modern sexy glam. Halle Berry fragrances have a proven track record of popular, wearable scents with each release crafted to a high standard. Reveal is no different, described as “effortlessly glamorous” we think they got this one just right.
The bad: We don’t think Reveal will win any awards for breakthrough originality, but that isn’t inherently a bad thing. For a mass market fragrance Reveal is exceptionally pretty and won’t offend.
The verdict: I enjoyed wearing this scent and consider it a solid buy if you enjoy well crafted, warm, lush florals. This scent would gift well, keep it in mind when shopping for a Mothers Day present!
Reveal by Halle Berry is available at major box stores (Target, Walmart, et al) and selected pharmacies nationally. The retail prices are $17 (0.5 oz), $28 (1oz), and $35 (1.7oz). Also in the line are Halle by Halle Berry and Pure Orchid by Halle Berry.
Interested in more new spring/summer fragrances? Join us again next week as we review Guess Seductive Wild Summer.
The product(s) in this entry were provided by the manufacturer or it’s PR agency. See our disclaimer for full details on our Editorial Policy.
Spring Fragrance Series: Playboy Play it Lovely
Welcome to our spring fragrance series! Living in Texas I’m already well into the swing of spring. The weather has been gorgeous and my rose bushes have all put on a splendid showing hitting their first peak of the season. I know that many of you are still experiencing colder weather so I’m hoping to bring spring to you by reviewing a handful of fragrances that have just hit the market. Today we’re starting with the uber-flirtatious Play it Lovely which is one of three new fragrances from Playboy.
- Top: Citrus, Blackberry and Juicy Peach
- Heart: Cherry Baby Orchid, Belle de Nuit and Tuberose
- Base: Amber, Patchouli and Tonka Bean
Our thoughts: Play it Lovely is packaged in a cute quilted peach box, every bottle topped with the iconic Playboy rabbit ears. The first spritz is all juicy notes of peaches and blackberry literally bursting from the bottle in a youthful, energetic opening. As the scent settled into my skin I appreciated the flirtation between the delicate heart notes of tuberose & cherry baby orchid, and the warm earthy base notes of predominantly amber and tonka bean.
The Good: The chemistry between my skin and Play it Lovely was undeniable. I was entranced by the oh-so-feminine heart of the scent that lingered well into the drydown.
The Bad: We found Play it Lovely’s stamina (longevity) a bit lacking
The Verdict: A juicy summer floral that hits a hits a high note at it’s price point ($17). Play it Lovely surrounded us in a cocoon of pretty femininity as we enjoyed a warm spring afternoon on a outdoor patio for lunch. I recommend layering this scent with it’s body lotion companion for a longer lasting experience.
Play it Lovely, Play it Spicy, and Play it Sexy are the first foray into womens fragrance for Playboy. The trio retail for $17 US each for 1oz and can be purchased from most local drugstores.
Want more spring fragrance ideas? Join us again next week for the next article in our fragrance spring fling featuring Halle Berry’s Reveal.
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.
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.
Givenchy Play
Givenchy Play is a perfectly suitable fragrance for a modern young man. The target audience of this Eau de Toilette is most apparent in the packaging: the bottle is fashioned after an iPod, which is likely to attract a younger, more tech savvy man. Fresh topnotes of bergamot and grapefruit slowly morph into a woody amalgam of vetiver, tonka and amyris wood with has just the right amount of warmth. The official notes list includes coffee flower and patchouli, but these are imperceptible at least on my skin. Play was tenacious and long lasting on my skin, lasting throughout the day without needing to be reapplied. My impression of the development of Givenchy Play was something akin to unwrapping a present: the fresh topnotes are likely to entice your attention, but the warm and woody base beneath is what you want out of the experience.
- Givenchy Play is available for $53 for a 50 mL bottle at Sephora, Nordstroms, Dillards, Macy’s and Bloomingdales.
L’eau Ambree by Prada: Sillage of the Year
The sillage generated by a fragrance is one of its most important qualities. (What is ‘sillage’ you ask? Why, it’s the French term for the trail of scent left by a perfume, originally used to refer to the wake of a ship.) It’s the first impression of a scent that you will impress upon those around you. Sillage done right can act as a lure: you may find your significant other enjoys keeping their face extremely close to your neck/chest/wrist, or it may inspire others to hunt you down demanding to know what smells so fabulous. On the other end of the spectrum, sillage done poorly can be purely repellent.
This is important to understand in order to fully appreciate why Prada’s latest release is So Incredibly Fabulous. L’Eau Ambree will delicately entice those around you to come closer and sniff its warm, clean embrace of woods and amber. It is comfortably feminine and feels like an effortless work of art. A large part of Prada’s mastery of scent falls in their ability to compose something so elegant that it can please the refined tastes of niche connoisseur while also appealing to throngs of women who just want to smell great. L’Eau Ambree fits into this archetype nicely. The “modern amber” note that is most distinctive upon the wearer is a minimalistic Amber: L’Eau Ambree is more like looking through a transparent lozenge of amber than being suffocated in the densely sweet or overwhelmingly powdery versions of yore. It’s also worth noting that if you liked Infusion d’iris, you’re likely to recognize some similarities in the base of this scent: Prada has developed a signature base accord that ties their fragrance compositions together as being recognizably Prada.
I cannot recommend this fragrance enough to everyone out there: You Need This. It’s perfect if you just want to smell fabulous, but it’s also perfect if you crave a refined piece of artistic perfumery. What more could you ask for?
L’Eau Ambree by Prada
Check out this video spot for Prada’s latest release, L’Eau Ambree. We’ll be reviewing it soon on Specktra.Net, and until then, here’s a snippet to entice you from Octavian Coifan at 1000 Fragrances:
“Here you have the latest Prada L’Eau Ambrée perfume that is for the next decade what Dune (Dior) was for the 90′s. A reinvention of the oriental note far from any sweet connotation.”
J Lo My Glow
Good news for lovers of Jennifer Lopez’s GLOW fragrance, a new version is being released this fall…
“For Jennifer Lopez now is the most perfect moment in her life. Poised between pride in the past and promise for the future, she feels fulfilled as never before. Her spirit is soothed with serenity, her heart overflowing with tenderness. There is no deeper love, no greater happiness than this. No words can describe it, but a fragrance can capture it.”
MY GLOW
a feminine, skin floral fragrance
A truly intimate fragrance.
Delicate notes of Lavender, Peony and Skin Musk
create a subtle, yet fresh scent.
Top: Lavender Flower, Water Lily, Freesia
Mid: White Rose, Wet Leaves, Peony, Casablanca Lily
Base: Skin Musk, Milky Sandalwood, Precious Woods, Heliotrope
Sounds intriguing, I think. I’ve never worn any of her perfumes, but freesia, white rose, and peony are there of my favorite scents, and the musk/sandalwood combination thrown in sounds like it would smell sweet and soft and feminine.
Available at www.hsn.com, HSN, JCPenney, Kohl’s, and Sears in October 2009.