Savvy Thinker » Lily of the Valley http://savvythinker.com thinking about life, playing with makeup Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:15:26 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Gucci by Gucci http://savvythinker.com/gucci-by-gucci/ http://savvythinker.com/gucci-by-gucci/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:30:29 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/2008/04/09/gucci-by-gucci/

Gucci By Gucci edp is an interesting new fragrance.

It took me a long time to decide on this one -- and I had bought it. I thought I was going to end up swapping it away.

The first few times, it really didn't strike me -- or maybe the weather was off, who knows. My 12 year old liked it every time I spritzed it -- and I didn't spritz near my face.

But in the last day or so, it is smelling really good. It reminds me of a lighter version of PRADA .

It just goes to show you, don't swap away too soon.

The notes are:

· Top Notes: Pear, guava accord, chamomile.
· Heart Notes: Lily of the valley, Tiare flower, orange blossom.
· Base Notes: Patchouli, musk

For the record, I used to like lily of the valley fragrances and would wear them in the spring. I have never done too well with orange blossom, though I love sweet orange. And I generally love anything with sweet pachouli. Musk can be iffy on me, but usually it is the only-musk that I can't wear. When musk is an ingredient, but not the whole, I do fine.

Today, it is smelling like sweet patchouli with some interest thrown in. I've re-spritzed a couple of times already today, knowing that I don't have to be careful with it today.

The bottle is interesting also, with tiny handcuffs. The ad campaign is just silly, as far as my kids are concerned.

Try it, you might like it. My favorite SA at Nordstrom's said she loved the dry-down. That made me seriously try it again. I think it is one that does better as you use more of it vs. tiny amounts.

There is a new edt version, but I haven't tried it yet, or seen it in my local stores. The notes are supposedly the same, so I don't know if they tweaked any of them to be stronger or lighter in this version than in the edp. The edp isn't too strong, so I'd likely go with it again.

Let me know what you think. Have you tried either? Do you like it/them? Do you own either?

Karin
www.savvythinker.com

Originally posted 2008-04-09 09:53:17.

Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/gucci-by-gucci/feed/ 2 Review: Just Cavalli Her http://savvythinker.com/review-just-cavalli-her/ http://savvythinker.com/review-just-cavalli-her/#comments Sun, 11 Dec 2011 22:29:37 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=3754

Just Cavalli Her by Roberto Cavalli was introduced in 2004 for Women. It is considered an oriental floral.

When I wear it, I don't get too much from it except for sweet vanilla -- and the vanilla lasts through the entire fragrance. Getting stronger, if that is possible, which of course it is, because it is one of the base notes, which means it shows up at or through the end.

Top: Sicilian Bergamot, Ceylon Cinnamon, Bamboo Leaves,
Heart: Wild Lily Of The Valley, Apricot Tree Flower, Sambac Jasmine,
Base:Golden Amber, Madagascar Vanilla, Lebanese White Cedarwood, Powdery Musk

It is one of the nicer vanillas out there, but I have to be in the mood for it because it is vanilla.

This is not the sultry vanilla of Shalimar, and it isn't a particularly gourmand vanilla, like white cake.

On the whole, it is sweet. I prefer it not so close to my face. I should have spritzed my leg, not my arm.

As soon as I could, I switched to another fragrance -- to Light Blue -- to get away from the sweetness. I needed a little tart to go with it.

Is this a fragrance that you wear?
When do you wear it? I think it would have served me better on a fall night, not a summer morning. I was engulfed in a vanilla dream. I don't think I'm quite that sweet!

Karin

Originally posted 2009-06-17 07:27:14.

Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/review-just-cavalli-her/feed/ 0 Lily of the Valley Fragrances, for spring http://savvythinker.com/lily-of-the-valley-fragrances-for-spring/ http://savvythinker.com/lily-of-the-valley-fragrances-for-spring/#comments Tue, 06 Dec 2011 20:43:22 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/2007/04/03/lily-of-the-valley-fragrances-for-spring/

When I was in college, spring in Michigan was synonymous with breaking out my lily of the valley fragrances. I kind of got away from it with the heat of the deep south where spring lasts only about 10 minutes. Plus it just smelled too bright in the south, minus the brightness of a crisp spring day surrounded by the bright greens, real lily of the valley, tulips and other spring flora, and the scent of cold dirt blending with the fragrance....Never let anyone say: where we wear a fragrance and the climate we are in does not affect how it smells.

Diorissimo by Dior
What I used to wear the most for a lily of the valley fragrance is Diorissimo by Dior.

Introduced in 1956, Edmond Roudnitska was the nose. It is considered to be Floral - Fresh.

Top Notes: Greens, bergamot, calyx
Heart Notes: Lily of the Valley, jasmine, lilac, boronia, rosewood, ylang-ylang
Base Notes: Sandalwood, civet

On me, the greens and lily of the valley are far more prominant than any sandalwood, which I don't catch at all. In recent years, it has not been a scent I've worn, because it isn't a good fit for me any longer. On me, here and now, it seems to get brighter and stronger, not settling down.

Edmond Roudnitska described Diorissimo, saying, "This is a pure lily of the valley scent that also has the odor of the woods in which it is found and the indefinable atmosphere of springtime."

Woods of Windsor
By contrast, another fragrance lover passed Woods of Windsor to me that she wasn't wearing. I knew it would be lovely for spring.

It's notes are: Green Muguet, Jasmine, Rose, Orange Blossom and Citrus.

I wore it today, and even though it's been hours since I applied it, I still get momentary whiffs. To be on the safe side, I sprayed my leg, not my arm. I didn't want it around my face, in case it didn't match my mood or ended up being a scrubber. But it is quite lovely, and more wearable for me now, than Diorrisimo is.

Caron Muguet Du Bonheur
Then again, nothing beats Caron's Caron Muguet Du Bonheur with notes of:

Lavender, Jasmine, Rose, Carnation, Lily of the valley, Cedar, Tonka, Musk, Sandal...
Jasmine, Lilac, With Hints Of Musk.

It is said to honor the French tradition of offering sprigs of the bloom on the first of May.

Comparing it to the Windsor LotV, it is much sweeter at first application. Windsor in comparison, and only by comparison, picks up a sour (citrus) note, but now a couple of hours later, that part is much softer.

Likely if I still had Diorissimo, I would wear it to compare it also, because I'm in the mood for muguet.

So there you have it. Unbiased. Take your pick.

Do you like muguet? do you wear it?

Karin

Originally posted 2007-04-03 18:56:44.

Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/lily-of-the-valley-fragrances-for-spring/feed/ 0 Review Boyfriend by Kate Walsh http://savvythinker.com/review-boyfriend-by-kate-walsh/ http://savvythinker.com/review-boyfriend-by-kate-walsh/#comments Sun, 23 Oct 2011 04:09:07 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=7573

If you like patchouli, you will love Boyfriend. I was able to try it today at Sephora.

Now, go figure, because, supposedly, patchouli does not figure in the notes, but the combination of the notes is definitely sweet patchouli, at least to me. Maybe it is the myrrh and amber together.

Or maybe the idea is not to scare people with the name patchouli. But for those of us who love patchouli, use the name!

To me, it is a young, modern fragrance take on the 60's patchouli. And it may be more wearable than some other patchoulis.

It reminds me a lot of Prada. And it is less sharp than Gucci Gucci.

Yum, yum. I give it 5 *****.

Top notes: Dark plum and myrrh, Benzoin Tears (whatever that is)
Mid notes: lily and night blooming jasmine
Base Notes: amber and musk, vanilla woods.

Boyfriend was developed in collaboration with the Home Shopping Network (HSN) and Givaudan perfumery. The nose is Marypierre Julien.

You ever miss the scent of your boyfriend on your skin? Well, I did. So I created BOYFRIEND, a fragrance inspired by him but made for us. Kate Walsh

I dunno about that, but I do love the smell of it on my skin, and everyone that I've held out my wrist to, has agreed.

Have you tried it?
It is both dry and warm.

Prices range from $20 for a perfume oil pulse point to a kit for $95 that includes it all (- 0.5oz Eau de Parfum,
- 0.16oz Pulse Point Oil Mini, - 1.oz Dry Oil Mini, - 1.6oz Body Crème Mini.) Such a deal!

It is $65 for 1.6 oz edp.

Karin
www.savvythinker.com

Originally posted 2011-02-17 21:29:50.

Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/review-boyfriend-by-kate-walsh/feed/ 1 Scents that Sing Spring http://savvythinker.com/scents-that-sing-spring/ http://savvythinker.com/scents-that-sing-spring/#comments Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:19:58 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=6594

Spring is in the air! Once again Ayala has gathered us together to share our faves for this season.

We have experienced a wonderful, prolonged spring which will segue into heat and humidity all too soon. I wish we had tulips and daffodils, and crocus and hyacinth -- and iris, don't forget iris! I look for those notes in fragrances: Bond No 9 Chelsea Flowers; Nohiba; White Linen (and flankers), Estee (for those who can wear it like my mother-in-law) ...

Today I hear my wind chimes, the sun is shining, and the weather is perfect. For the last week or so, I've been digging out my spring perfumes and enjoying them immensely.

When it's spring, I reach for:
Sweet Orange Fragrances (not orange blossom which I don't wear well, even though it is definitely a spring scent.)

Grapefruit scents or greens
I reach for these too. They are light and refreshing. Just yesterday (and just now) I spritzed Bath and Body Works Grapefruit Jasmine. I like that it is somewhat fleeting so I can enjoy another scent later.

Pomegranate or raspberry scents

Lily of the Valley -- It's surprising how many fragrances list this as a note.
Diorissimo or Caron's Muguet du Bonheur -- I don't have any Guerlain LE Muguet, but I'm betting it's terrific -- I just did a search on the fragrances I keep track of, and I'm guessing there are a 100 or more that have this note in them. I wish I had an easy way to print a list. Later today I will try to compile and link to this. Looking down the names, many are ones I wear this time of year. Who knew! But the lily of the valley in them is not as predominant as in Diorissimo which is very bright and green, almost too bright for spring here, but somehow went well with spring up north. (I think the scents in the air and the degree of humidity affect what we wear and how it smells on us.) Only a couple on the list are too heavy/heady.

Earthy Fragrances, such as Demeter's one note fragrances, like Dirt or Wet Garden or Rain. Anything that smells like a flower shop or the inside of the flower shop's cooler.

I've set aside my beloved orientals, but I will reach for them again once I get my fill of orange...

What do you reach for?

Karin
www.savvythinker.com

Check out other participants:

Katie Puckrik Smells
Perfume Shrine

The Non Blonde
I Smell Therefore I Am
Notes from the Ledge

Scent Hive
Smelly Blog
Roxana's Illuminated Journal
Perfume in Progress (Sonomascent)

All I Am A Redhead

Ambre Gris
Olfactarama

A Rose Beyond the Thames

Originally posted 2010-04-16 09:33:02.

Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/scents-that-sing-spring/feed/ 1 Bond No 9 Andy Warhol Union Square http://savvythinker.com/bond-no-9-andy-warhol-union-square/ http://savvythinker.com/bond-no-9-andy-warhol-union-square/#comments Sun, 31 Jul 2011 11:37:29 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/2008/03/27/bond-no-9-andy-warhol-union-square/

Union Square is a lovely fragrance. Billed as a seductive green floral and The Sweet (and Cool) Smell of Pop Art it sneaks up on you as you wear it.

I am sampling it from a vial, so I am not spritzing it.

I think the idea of sweet and cool in fragrance is today's trend. I don't want to call it a modern trend, because other fragrances which I would consider modern, don't always have this dichotomy of sweet with cool. It's as though sweet is too sweet and cool is too cool, but combining the two together, so long as they don't cancel each other out or end up a mishmash, gives a balance that those who desire neither alone (or at least on particular days) find intriguing.

When I first wear it, it reminds me of Miss Dior Cherie which also has a sweet and cool thing going on. Or M by Mariah Carey.

The notes are:

Lily of the valley (in a deliciously impudent frame of mind, they write), green stem notes (uncorruptible), sweet blue freesia (having it's 15 mins of fame); white birchwood (our very own Nature Girl); Amber (decadently mellow); Silver-Cloud Musk Accord (that's sultry on the outside, cool and collected on the inside).

Lily of the valley and greens give it the sharp coolness. The fragrance has movement, but still the notes are distinct, yet blending. My kids like it on me. That is always a good sign.

The bottle is fuchsia, red and yellow, popping from a two-dimensional plane. I quite like it.

For those wishing to recycle their bottles, Bond No 9 or anyone else's, they can be recycled at either SAKs or the NY Bond Boutiques. (As a way of thanking you, they will give you a refillable pocket spray with any purchase.)

There is, however, a niche for those who are bottle collectors. If bottles are kept long enough, are interesting enough, or are rare enough, empty (or not) bottles can fetch a pretty resale price.

I think Bond No 9's concept of the same bottle, but different designs is clever packaging. I only wish they were refillable, that would be really going green. I could see a shelf full of these empty lovelies as a design theme -- or still filled with fragrance if kept from light or heat.

Karin

Originally posted 2008-03-27 13:21:27.

Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/bond-no-9-andy-warhol-union-square/feed/ 3 A Madame Rochas kind of day http://savvythinker.com/a-madame-rochas-kind-of-day/ http://savvythinker.com/a-madame-rochas-kind-of-day/#comments Sun, 13 Dec 2009 12:08:24 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/2007/04/16/a-madame-rochas-kind-of-day/

Madame Rochas was introduced in 1960. It used to be one of my favorites for spring and summer. It's a floral aldehyde, but it has more zing than Chanel No. 5. The vintage fragrance was potent, but not over-powering. The modern version is different than the vintage -- no wonder that whenever on whatever rare occasions I found it and spritzed it, it wasn't me.

Original:
Top Notes: Hyacinth, neroli, aldehydes, greens, lemon
Heart Notes: Bulgarian rose, jasmine, iris, lily of the valley, violet, orris, narcissus, tuberose
Base Notes: Amber, cedarwood, sandalwood, moss, vetiver, musk, tonka bean

Well, I didn't think it was me for a long time. I gave it a couple of decades long break. It had been one of the bottles I had felt I'd had to use up before I could buy another one. Doing that, I always really tired of it. Ha! if I hadn't done that, I'd have my own vintage bottle, and it would still be in good scent condition.

Sometime in the last year I found vintage spray parfum on ebay, minus the decorative outer case/bottle. Never having worn the perfume, only the edt (I think) version which was as strong as edp, I thought I'd spring for it, if it were inexpensive enough, which it turned out to be. It certainly smelled fine, but again it wasn't me. I hated to use it up as room spray! So, I decided to wait...and try again.

Today with spring in the offing, loads of wind and plenty of sun, it just felt like a Mme Rochas kind of day. Plus it conjures up plenty of happy memories and moments. No sense whatsoever wearing anything with bad vibes, LOL!

Yep, I was right. Given the right atmosphere, it is just as beautiful, rich and full-bodied as it ever was, complete with lovely woods.

How to describe it....similar to Chamade in some respects, but brighter. Heavy on rose and jasmine but blended into the woods and iris so it has a green aspect to it. There is more moss in the base than there is musk, which is a good thing for me. I picture myself walking through the woods towards a companion seeing bits of bright green spring grass and moss, with sunlight dappling through the trees, after a rain or with dew or mist on the ground. Each of those things bring me joy; having them together is a bonus.

It is long lasting and makes you happy. What more could you want! I'm glad it worked today.

Do you wear it? have you ever worn it? Why, oh why, do they tweak with perfection!

Karin
www.savvythinker.com

MADAME ROCHAS OSCAR FIRST YSATIS SALVADOR DALI mini Gift Set MADAME ROCHAS OSCAR FIRST YSATIS SALVADOR DALI mini Gift Set Paypal US $39.88 3h 25m
Madame Rochas Body Lotion 200ml. Unbox Madame Rochas Body Lotion 200ml. Unbox Paypal US $59.99 5h 45m
VINTAGE~MADAME ROCHAS~eau de toilette ~3.4 oz VINTAGE~MADAME ROCHAS~eau de toilette ~3.4 oz Paypal 0 Bid US $10.00 5h 53m
Vintage MADAME ROCHAS .78 oz 23 ml Parfum Perfume Fragrance 0953 Paris France Vintage MADAME ROCHAS .78 oz 23 ml Parfum Perfume Fragrance 0953 Paris France Paypal 5 Bids US $56.05 9h 47m
Rochas Madame Rochas 3.4oz Women's Eau de Toilette Rochas Madame Rochas 3.4oz Women's Eau de Toilette Paypal US $32.99 11h 18m
Madame Rochas Paris 3.4 FL oz / 100 ML Eau De Toilette Spray Sealed Box Madame Rochas Paris 3.4 FL oz / 100 ML Eau De Toilette Spray Sealed Box Paypal US $39.99 22h 53m
MADAME ROCHAS 3.3 oz. EDT NATURAL SPRAY - NEW IN BOX MADAME ROCHAS 3.3 oz. EDT NATURAL SPRAY - NEW IN BOX Paypal US $38.00 1d 42m
Vintage Madame Rochas Parfum de Toilette LARGE BOTTLE probably 8 oz with ribbon Vintage Madame Rochas Parfum de Toilette LARGE BOTTLE probably 8 oz with ribbon Paypal 0 Bid US $100.00 1d 6h 17m
Madame ROCHAS Cologne 7.1oz EDC SPLASH NIB Perfume Fragrance Women DISCONTINUED Madame ROCHAS Cologne 7.1oz EDC SPLASH NIB Perfume Fragrance Women DISCONTINUED Paypal US $110.00 1d 8h 51m
★★ MADAME ROCHAS ROCHAS COLOGNE SPRAY 2 OZ & CREAM ★★ ★★ MADAME ROCHAS ROCHAS COLOGNE SPRAY 2 OZ & CREAM ★★ Paypal US $59.99 1d 11h 4m

Originally posted 2007-04-16 11:54:13.

Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/a-madame-rochas-kind-of-day/feed/ 0 Review: Covet by Sarah Jessica Parker http://savvythinker.com/review-covet-by-sarah-jessica-parker/ http://savvythinker.com/review-covet-by-sarah-jessica-parker/#comments Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:28:44 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/2007/08/07/covet-new-fragrance-by-sarah-jessica-parker/

Written when it first came out:
I managed to find Covet in my area today. I quite like it. I've had it on now for several hours, without renewal, except after the first five minutes. College Girl likes it on me too. She has yet to try it on herself.

The notes are: wet greens, geranium leaves, Sicilian lemon, lavender and chocolate; a heart of honeysuckle, magnolia and muguet, and a drydown of musk, vetiver, bois de cashmere, teakwood and amber.

The notes for Lovely, her first fragrance, are: Lavender, orchid and amber mingle with apple martini, paper whites and musk.

I don't get much similarity between the two, even if lavender, musk and amber are in both.

Mixed reviews
I've heard mixed reviews on Covet. Some say it is light; some say it is long lasting. Some say the top notes are fleeting. Some say the chocolate comes out in it; some say they can't smell the chocolate. Some like the color of the juice (light green); others don't like the color. I thought the color was clever -- as in, green with envy. And at my store, there was a rich-looking green faux leather box that came with it.

The SA wasn't sure if it would sell as well as Lovely has, but she was looking for me to tell her the notes, since she wasn't supplied with them. "It's hard to sell something, if you can't describe it," she said. She felt it was a light fragrance.

I didn't know what it would be, since it was described so differently.

What about the lavender?
Usually I'm not crazy about lavender, but this is wearable for me. The lavender remains on me to the drydown, balanced by the greens, which I like.

Green house fragrance
Not too long ago I was looking for a fragrance that would remind me of a green house or the scent you sometimes get walking into a floral shop where there are lots of cut greens. This fits the bill. This is wet greens, not a chypre green.

Does it last? in a word, yes.
First I spritzed a card, as I usually do on first try, then when I thought it was wearable for me, I spritzed a tiny spritz on my wrist, after smelling it on the card. In five minutes, I determined that I likely liked it, so I spritzed my arms more heavily. (This can sometimes be a mistake!) I could smell it up close, but it wasn't overwhelming my nose, so in that sense it is light. OTOH, it is several hours later and I can still smell it, so it is long lasting.

In the car with the a/c on full blast, I was treated to the sillage wafting off my arms back at me. Now, at the computer, I can still smell it.

What about the stages?
The first stage is mostly wet greens. There is a tad of sweetness to it, which must be the chocolate, but the chocolate is not predominant on me at all. This sweetness is not floral, except as it is lavender, which isn't noticeable until later in the fragrance. Hours later, I'm not getting any of the base notes particularly, only the greens. The florals are there, but mostly lavender and greens, or rather greens and lavender.

Who can wear it? Could you layer it?
It is an intriguing fragrance, because it is different. I think it could be worn by a man. I think you could layer this with other things to bring out some of the other notes in either it or the other fragrance.

To me, this would be a good fragrance to wear if you wanted to feel confident. It is heady, but it is not likely to be something someone else objects to, because it feels as though it stays close to you. You wouldn't find it wafting to the next cubicle, likely. But up close, you would be defining your space and enlarging it.

I picture myself walking into the glass enclosed cooler at a local florist where I have my pick of any of the different and exotic flowers she keeps on hand. In the past, I've wanted to ask her for a chair, so I could just enjoy the fragrance coming from the mixed cut greens. I can do it at my leisure now.

Buy: Covet by Sarah Jessica Parker Eau de Parfum Spray

Karin
www.savvythinker.com

ps 4 hours later, at almost 7 pm...the lavender is pretty well gone; the greens are still visible; there is a little floral sweetness; I don't smell any of the base notes.


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