new fragrance: Gucci Guilty

while at Macy's a few days ago, i came across a display for a new scent by Gucci called Guilty. intrigued, i had to stop and take a whiff of this new fragrance.

wow, am i glad i did.

while i didn't purchase a bottle (isn't it a great bottle?), i was happy smelling this on me for the rest of the day. with notes of mandarin, peach, pink pepper, geranium, lilac, patchouli and amber, Guilty is a scent that i can only describe as sexy (the ads are pretty steamy, too), and would be a perfect change of scent for me this fall/winter season. one spritz smelled fab without being overpowering, but is probably best for wearing out at night. overall, it's feminine with a modern, bold edge. another plus: it lasted well into the same evening and i could smell it faintly the next morning.

when you see Gucci Guilty in your local Macy's or Bloomingdale's, be sure to try it for yourself. the collection includes an eau de toilette, a shower gel, body lotion and shimmer powder.

xo

fragrance review: Halle Berry Pure Orchid

the second scent for the Oscar-winning actress, Halle Berry Pure Orchid boasts notes of jungle cactus flower, lemon, blackberry creme, star anise, masdevallia orchid, giant sequoia and patchouli, which sound like they should work together beautifully to create a fabulous, complex fragrance, but i'm sad to report, they fell short.



to be honest, Pure Orchid is nice. not good, not bad, but pleasant. it's a sweet floral that doesn't go too overboard in the sweet department, and truthfully when i first smelled it, i enjoyed it and was excited to wear it.

that all changed, and i'll tell you why. each time i've worn it (about a dozen or so times now), the pretty, if-purple-had-a-smell-this-has-potential-to-be-it scent didn't last. within a few hours, the scent just disappeared. as if i never put it on...

bummer.

you can find Halle Berry Pure Orchid at a drugstore near you and Walmart.com.

xo
product featured sent to me for review consideration; second pic (of bottle and packaging) taken by me :)

Summer Scents: Harajuku Lovers Sunshine Cuties

the Harajuku Lovers line of fragrances already feature great scents, but just for summer the little ladies have been decked out in their swimsuits and have fresh new scents (aren't they adorable?).



Love is the romantic scent; for summer her scent has a fruity-floral twist featuring notes of nectarine, passion fruit, lemon blossom, plumeria, osmanthus, rose petals, vanilla orchid, coconut water, sensual musk and sandalwood. Love is one of my faves in this collection.

Lil' Angel is the sassy rebel with a sweet side. for summer she's boasting a citrus-gourmand twist on her original scent. the combination of citrus and vanilla notes makes me thing of creamsicles-- meyer lemon, mandarin, touch of blackberry, pink rose, vanilla orchid, tropical sampaquita blossom, sugared patchouli, vanilla bean, skin musk and golden amber.




Music is typically a charismatic fruity-floral, so for summer she gets to show off a more sensuous side without being overpowering. notes include juicy pear, granny smith apple, dewy freesia, tiger Orchid, jasmine petals, honeysuckle, cashmere woods, creamy musk, and precious woods.

Baby maintains being her sweet, soft self but without the powdery notes for summer. a dewy-floral twist makes her another one of my faves from the collection-- crisp mandarin, wet neroli, bright sunflower, white poppy, living valencia, orange flower, jasmine absolute, soft musk, rich vetiver, and creamy birch woods.




G is as fab as ever and has a fun, creamy-musk twist for summer. coconut water, mandarin, bergamot, white peach, heliotrope, exotic tiare flower, orange flower, vanilla bean, tonka, skin musk, and creamy sandalwood maintains G's tropical vibe, but i prefer wearing this one in the evening.

Harajuku Lovers Sunshine Cuties are limited edition, so when summer is gone, so are they. find the collection at Macy's, Sephora and HLFragrance.com for more info.

xo
products featured were sent to me for review consideration; all pics taken by me :)

DKNY Delicious Candy Apples

sweet. crisp. juicy. delicious. all these words, to me, describe the flavor of a candied apple. DKNY has a new limited-edition line of fragrances called Delicious Candy Apples that smell as yummy as their inspiration.



Juicy Berry is the sweetest smelling out of all three scents on me, but not in a tooth-achy way. the combination of black currants, pears and apple blossoms is the perfect fruit-filled blend.



Red Raspberry is unique in that it combines the scent of raspberries with sweet flowers and cola accord (yes, there's a hint of a soda smell), creating a scent that is yummy yet surprisingly wearable.



Sweet Caramel is definitely my favorite out of the bunch. it's fresh like the original Be Delicious, but with the perfect hint of sweet thanks to caramel and vanilla notes.

have you smelled any of the DKNY Delicious Candy Apples? remember they're limited edition, so be sure to check them out soon at dkny.com and sephora.com

xo
full sized product samples were sent to me for consideration by representatives of Donna Karan Cosmetics

The Body Shop Introduces Love Etc...

Love Etc..., a new fragrance collection from The Body Shop features, get this, the first eau de parfum to feature an alcohol perfume base created from an ingredient which is fairly-traded and organic. how cool is that? in any case, this scent, to me, is everything one is likely to expect because of its name alone-- romantic, sweet, alluring and delightful, with a slight hint of luxuriousness.



Love Etc... Eau de Parfum***

described by The Body Shop as a floriental, the top notes consist of pear, neroli and bergamot; middle notes include jasmine, heliotrope and lily of the valley; base notes are warm vanilla, sandalwood and musk cream.


Love Etc... Body Wash***

when i first smelled this, i instantly liked it. it's soft, romantic-- you know, girly. it's young and vibrant, but not over-the-top. it will appeal to the masses, something that, i'm sure, was done on purpose. because really, what perfume doesn't want to be liked by everyone?



Love Etc... Body Wash***

i really love wearing this scent-- the Body Wash and Lotion are perfect to use on their own or to layer under the perfume, leaving skin with a fragrance that lasts all day. while i prefer to wear this during the day, it could work for night, too-- the bright quality will keep you in a love-is-in-the-air mood.

Love Etc... is now available at The Body Shop and online, thebodyshop-usa.com

xo
pics taken by me :)
***products sent to me for the purpose of review

fragrance review: YSL Parisienne

new scents are always intriguing. YSL's Parisienne was no exception. to tell you the truth, i was working on a post sharing my desire to smell this new fragrance, and then it showed up in my mailbox!* you can only imagine my excitement.

with notes of blackberry, damask rose and sandalwood, i expected Parisienne to be sexy and soft, playful and yet mysterious.

so what do i think now?

i really like it! and while i know fragrance is completely personal (you just might hate it upon first whiff), i have to say this one isn't like anything i own, and yet it fits right in with my preference for floral/fruit scents. i also find it to be a bit more glamorous and grown up, not syrup-y sweet or too musky and the bottle is gorgeous!



other notes you'll find in Parisienne are violet, peony, cranberry, patchouli, vetiver and musk with bold, edgy hints of vinyl and lacquer. i like to think that wearing this scent is like wearing a leather jacket over an evening gown-- fun, sexy and ultra cool.

visit yslbeautyus.com for more info on the scent and visit your local YSL counter to smell for yourself, if you haven't already!

xo
*this product was sent to me from YSL for review via Total Beauty
first image courtesy of YSL
second pic taken by me :)

Stella McCartney STELLANUDE Linen Scented Mist

when i received Stella McCartney's new STELLANUDE Linen Scented Mist, i actually thought it was perfume for my skin...

oops!

though i found out moments later (reading the box helps, LOL!), i still was thrilled to have this to add to my fragrance collection. after all, i do like to spray my pillow and sheets with a scent every now and again, and having a feminine and luxurious scent to spray on my lingerie is such a fabulous idea.

this new fragrance (it also comes in eau de toilette form) was developed to translate the delicacy and femininity of Stella's lingerie collection into a scent that would be like the most intimate accessory. notes of moraccan rose, hints of grapefruit and pink pepper as well as vanilla and grey amber blend together so beautifully; the scent is uber-feminine, sexy and striking, yet light. i think it's perfect for evening and works gorgeously for day.

Stella says: "i love the idea of walking through a scented mist in your lingerie. it's quite a cheeky, intimate way to start the day, and it's refreshing not spraying a scent directly on your skin."

in addition to loving the scent, the bottle is fabulous itself, don't you think?

find the Stella McCartney STELLANUDE fragrance collection exclusively at Sephora and sephora.com until december 31, 2009. it will become available at other select department stores beginning january 1, 2010.

xo
pic taken by me :)

L'Oreal Elnett Satin Hairspray

L'Oreal Paris Elnett Satin is a hairspray used by hairstylists around the world and, until now, hasn't been available in the states. now that it has made its u.s. debut nationwide, there is an excitement from both those who have experienced its fabulousness overseas and those who have only heard about it.

i recently started using Elnett, and have to say i now understand why it is so loved and obsessed over!

"hairstylists around the world have been using Elnett Satin for years. it is truly the hairspray of choice for on-set styles, red carpet looks, or anytime you need your hair to hold without looking stiff. it's also very gentle on color-treated hair," says Christophe Robin, renowned hair expert and consultant to L'Oreal Paris.

Elnett Satin hairspray provides amazing hold yet manages to disappear when hair is brushed. hair is left clean, shiny looking and soft to the touch. micro-diffusion technology allows for even application to set any style, while humidity protection lets it stand up to the elements.

if you haven't already used Elnett, this is one you must try a-s-a-p!

find Elnett Satin Hairspray wherever L'Oreal products are sold and online at target.com

xo