Savvy Thinker » Patchouli http://savvythinker.com thinking about life, playing with makeup Wed, 23 May 2012 15:58:02 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Review: Patchouli by M. Micallef http://savvythinker.com/review-patchouli-by-m-micallef/ http://savvythinker.com/review-patchouli-by-m-micallef/#comments Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:40:56 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=4991
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    Back to testing the samples I received from a POLer. For the past couple of days I've compared Patchouli by M. Micallef $200 for 100 ml or $4 for .7 ml at Lucky Scent on my right wrist to Ambra Nera on my left. That review will follow.

    Notes violet leaves, orris, heliotrope, patchouli, vetiver, cedarwood, leather, balsam tolu, benzoin, cistus, vanilla

    This is one of the nicest Patchoulis around. Whoa, I really like it. It is sweet, not dry, patchouli. My overall impression is sweet patchouli and tolu. If you have smelled Ormande Jayne's Tolu you can have a pretty good idea of what this one smells like.

    Ormande Jayne Tolu
    Top: Juniper berry, orange blossom and clary sage
    Heart: Orchid, Moroccan rose and muguet
    Base: Tolu, tonka bean, golden frankincense and amber

    I'm sure all that earthy, woody undertone, touched with violet (which some people say they get in the beginning, but I really don't smell that) serves to enrich the patchouli.

    Have you tried this one?
    Some people say it is their favorite.

    What I particularly like is that it doesn't smell artificial. It is comforting and easy to wear. Plus a very little goes a long way. I used literally one drop and it is enveloping. It is much stronger than Ambra Nera.

    I had Book Girl smell them both, and she liked them both. I had her smell the Ambra Nera first so she would be able to smell it.

    Karin
    www.savvythinker.com
    don't take my whole posts

    Originally posted 2009-10-07 07:58:31.

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    ]]>     http://savvythinker.com/review-patchouli-by-m-micallef/feed/ 0     Review: Malle Bois D’Orage (Men’s) http://savvythinker.com/review-malle-bois-dorage-mens/ http://savvythinker.com/review-malle-bois-dorage-mens/#comments Sat, 28 Apr 2012 05:35:49 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=4877
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    Bois D'Orage (AKA French Lover -- which may be sweeter and a little tobacco-y) (or Thunder Wood -- Malle flier) [or better yet: Thunderstorm Warning -- that's the sense I get out of it!] [$190 for 100 ml or $5.99 up for a sample at The Perfume Court] is a heady men's fragrance. It is very crisp and dry.

    Pierre Bourdon is the nose for this one. I have loved and worn two of his other fragrances: Dior's Dolce Vita and Malle's Iris Poudre.

    Notes: Patchouli, incense, tree moss, ceder, Angelica, galbanum and pimento.

    I almost put this in my dry Patchouli category, because it is Patchouli that blasts out at me. It is much, much, much too strong and dry for me, even with the tiniest squirt, when I first spritzed it from my sample.

    Of course I would have known to go easier, if I'd paid attention that it is a men's fragrance, even though I wear some. I expected it to be sweeter. It is definitely not sweet.

    But now, hours later, it is a rich, sophisticated "skin enhancer" as the sample flier states. I doubt anyone can smell it except for me unless they get close, which is how I like my fragrances.

    It is a terrific men's scent. I'm more circumspect when recommending it for a woman -- if you can get past the initial blast or if that first blast is different on you than on me it would work. The Non-Blonde can wear this one.

    From the flyer again:

    ...a dramatic, almost Wagnerian composition that expresses the contained sophistication of the smart man.

    Nathan Branch loves this one. He has beautiful pictures at his blog. He is the quintessential man for whom this was designed.

    This is how SMT feels about this fragrance-- if only it had smelled that way on me! I like to think of angel's singing when a fragrance really works. I'm going to remember this quote:

    And molecular attraction happens. They can say whatever they want about skin chemistry not existing. When a perfume really works on somebody's skin ...well, you just know it. You know it, your companion knows it, the sales assistant knows it... Barney's goes quiet for just a second to honor the solemnity of the moment. Perfume Smellin' Things

    Do you wear this one?
    Did it work for you?

    Karin
    www.savvythinker.com
    don't steal my posts

    Originally posted 2009-09-25 15:28:09.

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    ]]>     http://savvythinker.com/review-malle-bois-dorage-mens/feed/ 0     Review: Gucci Flora http://savvythinker.com/flora-gucci-by-gucci/ http://savvythinker.com/flora-gucci-by-gucci/#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:46:11 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=1397
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    Flora Gucci is a wonderful new fragrance, consisting of

    notes of citrus, peony, rose, osmanthus, sandalwood and patchouli.

    When it first came out, it was exclusive to a particular store, but now it can be found more locally.

    To me, it is a sort of cross between The One and Elle.
    It is softer than The One, and a little less patchouli than Elle. But the patchouli in it, I'm sure, cuts the sweetness of the other floral accents, as does the citrus.

    On me, the notes that are predominate are rose and citrus. The citrus puts it squarely in the younger group of consumers that Gucci is hoping to entice. It also makes it wearable for me, as I have trouble with roses being scrubbers.

    Frida Giannini, Gucci's creative director, says that

    Flora is lighter, the floral scent of course evokes a younger consumer, and she has a hedonistic, daring side. I don't want to say that Flora is the daughter of Gucci by Gucci but maybe the younger sister.

    Flora is probably a second cousin twice removed from Gucci by Gucci, which is far more straight up sweet patchouli.

    I even get a subtle memory of Bulgari Femme.

    Meantime, in the midst of cold weather, wearing this fragrance, it feels as if a cool breeze is bringing the scents of spring. The fragrance is perfectly balanced. It stays true all day, though it is nice to refresh it. It doesn't have a lot of movement. Rather, the notes appear together in soft brightness, just as a spring day.

    Have you tried it? Do you like it?

    Karin
    www.savvythinker.com





    Originally posted 2009-03-02 21:13:26.

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    ]]>     http://savvythinker.com/flora-gucci-by-gucci/feed/ 2     Review: Lavender and more lavender http://savvythinker.com/review-lavender-and-more-lavender/ http://savvythinker.com/review-lavender-and-more-lavender/#comments Mon, 26 Mar 2012 04:12:49 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=4156
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    Lavender is a note that is real iffy on me. Sometimes I like it; sometimes not. Sometimes it feels feminine; other times it is just too masculine.

    How about you? Do you like and wear lavender?

    Lavender supposedly has soothing properties and promotes restfulness and good sleep. I suppose that is true if you like lavender. But for me, it either is or it isn't. There are times when lavender does seem like a good addition for bedtime to aid in sleep, but if the lavender has a negative value to me, then it is more wake-inducing than sleep-inducing.

    There are a number of fragrances built around lavender, and lavender is a note in a lot of men's fragrances. I don't even particularly like it in men's fragrances, if it is a lavender note I don't like. Perhaps it is a function of what synthetics are used to mimic lavender or whether it is natural lavender or not, if that even exists. Perhaps real lavender is too fleeting or subject to change. Or it may entirely be a function of where the lavender originates. There are huge fields planted in various places, used in the perfume industry.

    One of the blogs I enjoy is French Word a Day. She has shown pictures a couple of times of an aunt making a woven sachet out of lavender. Perhaps she will leave a message here and give me a direct link to it. That's the kind of hand craft that is interesting to learn to do. It looks lovely when finished.

    Here are some lavender fragrances that I do like. I'll add others as time goes on or as I have time.

    Kilian A Taste of Heaven absinthe verte

    Inspired by Absinthe, bittersweet nectar of poets.

    This is a men's fragrance, but easily worn by a woman. From The Artificial Paradises for men, the lavender in A Taste of Heaven absinthe verte is lush and sweet; it isn't pungent or artificial. When it softens over hours, the lavender is barely visible under the whole of it. It doesn't become the whole of it.

    A little incensy; a little boozy; a lot sexy.

    Notes:
    Fresh Note: Bergamot Calabria Oil
    Floral Notes: Geranium Bourbon Oil, Orange Flower absolute, rose Turkish absolute, green absinthe oil, lavender bareme oil, lavandin abrialis oil, lavandin green absolute oil, lavandin green concrete
    Amber Notes: Patchouli Indonesian oil, oakmoss extract, costus oil @ 1%, ambrarome absolute, vanilla beans absolute, tonka beans hyper essence.

    Perfumer : Calice Becker

    My first impression is Vanilla and Lavender, but much, much smoother and richer than BBW. No comparison. At it's final stages, there is a spiciness to it.

    I haven't bought this, but it is a possibility if I find I can wear this lavender as well as I'm wearing it today.

    Contact Sergio at SAKs in Las Vegas. He's the Kilian expert there and will take good care of you. (702) 733-8300. Sergio told me where the lavender is from that makes it so special, but I regret to say I have forgotten what he said. I will have to re-ask him and then add it to this post at a later time. If you talk to him and find out, leave a comment!

    I just got off the phone with him. Here's what his info says:

    The best lavender is from the north of France, and that is where Kilian gets his.

    Added late at night: after respritzing the one time, I got busy and didn't layer up to something else or respritz. Now, hours and hours later, I smell no lavender, just an intriquing sort of incensy sweetness. Have you tried this one?

    You can see an overview of all Kilian fragrances here.

    Tova by Tova
    If you've ever watched Tova on TV, you know how persuasive she can be. She is a lovely woman, married to Ernest Borgnine. This is her first of several fragrances. To hear her tell it, people follow her and whoever else is wearing it, whenever and wherever they are wearing it, to find out what it is.

    By day, the alluring Tova Signature scent envelops you in an unforgettable blend of bergamot, jasmine, and lavender.

    By evening, Tova Nights(R) fragrance enchants with its aromatic combination of lilies, lilacs, subtle spice, and a hint of musk.

    I like it, but it isn't me. I'm sure if I loved, loved, loved it, and wore it sufficiently, people would stop me too. It is an intriguing scent, different than anything else on the market.

    Lavender Vanilla Bath and Body Works Aromatherapy SLEEP
    Just as it says, lavender vanilla. At one time they had it in many formulas: lotion, pillow spray, oil, shower gel. I'm not sure what is available now, or if you can only find it during their big sales.

    This is sweet and comforting, whereas Kilian's is lush and sexy.

    I don't find it makes any difference in my sleep one way or the other. It is disconcerting to smell it on my pillow. I'd rather smell my own fragrance.

    Arbonne Unwind Unwind Rejuvenating Body Mist
    I have no idea if there is lavender in this. But I'm reviewing it with lavender because of its relaxation properties. I took it on my trip in case the world got to be too much with me, LOL! I did spritz it a bit in the car. I threatened to spritz my kids if they got too out of hand, but I never had to do it. It comes in a mist, a massaging oil, a shower gel, a lotion...

    Notes: Chamomile and ylang ylang
    The calming, botanically-based all over mist designed to hydrate the skin while imparting aromatherapeutic benefits of the Unwind essential oil blend. Recommended for all skin types. 4 fl. oz./118 mL ( 4 fl. oz./118 mL ) Price: $16.00

    If BBW Lavender Vanilla is a sledge hammer, Unwind is a whisper. There is hardly any scent to it at all.

    Does it work? Dunno. But I got there and back all right -- and I wondered before we started. 8 days driving/riding with a full car is a lot! What do you think, did it help?

    What's your favorite scent with lavender? Do you like and wear lavender or not?
    Karin

    Originally posted 2009-07-23 12:25:25.

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    ]]>     http://savvythinker.com/review-lavender-and-more-lavender/feed/ 0     Review: Sweet Patchouli fragrances http://savvythinker.com/review-sweet-patchouli-fragrances/ http://savvythinker.com/review-sweet-patchouli-fragrances/#comments Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:11:01 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=4872
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    Sweet Patchouli is almost a comfort fragrance for me, when it is soft and not in-your-face, lacking that strident note that is in some dry patchoulis. It is warm and sensual, but not abrasive.

    Here are two mini reviews from the gift of samples I received from a generous POLer. You can find samples of both at Lucky Scent. I am sampling one on my left wrist and one on my right wrist.

    Mazzolari and Profumum's patchoulis are so similar on me that there would be no need to have both unless you are really and truly a patchouli wearer. Take your pick.

    Mazzolari was founded in 1888 in a barber shop in Italy. Lucky Scent carries 11 of their fragrances. If they are as good as this one, I'd like to try more of them.

    Profumum fragrances come from Rome and were started in 1996, though the family has been involved in fragrance and soaps since the grandparents. Lucky Scent carries 21 Profumum fragrances.

    Mazzolari Patchouly/Patchouli $175 for 100 ml or $4 for .7 ml sample
    Mazzolari’s Patchouli is smooth and sweet with enough earthiness to appeal to any patchouli lover. It is even a bit spicy. This one is softer than Profumum's, and my 12 yo daughter preferred this one on me. The other notes serve to smooth out the patchouli; they are never really evident per se. It is glorious sweet patchouli at its best.

    Notes: Indonesian patchouli, spices, hints of amber, honey

    Profumum Patchouly $240 100 ml or $4 for .7 m
    This one starts out a little stronger and ends stronger. That is the difference between the two. The sandalwood and incense make their appearance in the smokiness that stays with this one.

    No one ever accused me of not having expensive tastes! This is the one that I would likely buy given the opportunity.

    But honestly, they are so similar; the difference is that Mazzolari's is softer. I could live with Mazzolari's quite nicely.

    Notes: Patchouli, amber, sandalwood, incense

    So, there you have it!

    Have you tried either of these?
    What do you think? Do you prefer one over the other?

    My Caveat
    Evidently there are a lot of perfumistas who can afford this price point of fragrances.

    And yes, there is a difference between the patchouli oils you can buy for a dime a dozen and these expensive ones. I wish they offered smaller sizes for less money.

    OTOH, once you get the feel of the heft of a 100 ml bottle, it's hard to go back to a 50 ml.

    Have I mentioned that I love patchouli when it is done right -- that is, when it is sweet for my sensibilities.

    How about you?
    Do you like patchouli? Do you prefer it sweet or dry?

    Karin
    www.savvythinker.com
    don't steal my posts

    Originally posted 2009-09-25 08:12:08.

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    ]]>     http://savvythinker.com/review-sweet-patchouli-fragrances/feed/ 0     October Launch: Guerlain Boise Torride http://savvythinker.com/october-launch-guerlain-boise-torride/ http://savvythinker.com/october-launch-guerlain-boise-torride/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:14:48 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=3931
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    Boise Torride is coming October 15, 2009, unless the launch date changes as has happened with some. And Boise Torride is how the Guerlain paperwork spells it.

    According to the paperwork, courtesy of Claire at the Palazzo Las Vegas location, here's the scoop.

    Words associated with this fragrance are:

    woody, rebellious, provocative, triumphant, bold and beautiful

    Sounds good already!

    And the notes:

    top: bergamot, tangerine, pink berries
    middle: marshmallow harmony, orange blossom, jasmine
    base: patchouli, white musk, cedar

    Marsh mellow makes me think of Mariah Carey's fragrance. Nothing wrong with marshmallow there.

    It sounds like a good mix between old and new. Time will tell!

    What do you think?
    Does this sound like one you will try? I've never really met a Guerlain that wasn't better than others with similar notes. The trick for me will be the orange blossom, as that is something that I usually have difficulties with. I look forward to trying this one just the same.

    Karin

    Originally posted 2009-07-05 12:09:37.

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    ]]>     http://savvythinker.com/october-launch-guerlain-boise-torride/feed/ 1     Comparing incense and patchouli and woods http://savvythinker.com/comparing-incense-and-patchouli-and-woods/ http://savvythinker.com/comparing-incense-and-patchouli-and-woods/#comments Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:58:08 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/2007/04/25/comparing-incense-and-patchouli-and-woods/
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    I promised I'd get to my incense/patchouli fragrances and that's what I've been doing the past few days.

    I always recommend trying a fragrance more than once before buying it. And I also recommend comparing it to things that remind you of it that you are either considering buying or already own. That way you know if it is FBW or more or less a duplication, or if in comparison, you either really like it or you really don't. I learned this through trial and error. Sometimes the right combination of scents if you are doing a mini sniffa makes a fragrance smell better than it really does. Ditto for the weather or hormones or whatever. I find if I can't trust a fragrance to smell pretty much the same always, it makes it iffy for me to use it. Because while mostly I might like it, there are days when it can be a scrubber, so it's not one I'd reach for as often as ones that are always beloved.

    I compared Le Baiser Du Dragon By Cartier with L’air du désert marocain by Tauer with NEW BLACK ORCHID by TOM FORD .

    Notes for Le Baiser Du Dragon, introduced in 2004, a woody oriental:
    Amaretto, Neroli Blossom, Gardenia, Cedarwood, Iris, Bulgarian Rose, Vetiver, Patchouli, Amber, Benzoin

    Notes for L’air du désert marocain: The elegant head note is based on typical spicy scents of the Maghreb; coriander and cumin, joined with petitgrain. The warm heart note surprises with the fragrance of rock rose and a hint of jasmine. The body note is full of warm woods such as cedar wood, vetiver brilliantly joined with a fine amber background. Tauer Perfumes

    Notes for Black Orchid: top notes of Black Truffle, Ylang, fresh Bergamot, Black Currant.
    middle notes of dark florals and rich fruit accords, deepened with Lotus Wood.
    base notes of Patchouli, Incense and Vetiver, Vanilla Tears, Balsam and Sandalwood.

    The first day I compared BdD with DM. I bought BdD when I was on an Alaskan cruise. I probably tried it 25 times before buying it, because it was so different for me. I also wanted to know that those around me liked it. Re-spritzing does not make it too heavy. At the same time I wondered if it was the combination of the sea air and the cold that made it so delightful.

    I found that sometimes I can smell it, and other times, I can't smell it as well, but because it is so heady until it dries down a bit, I always go easy on it. Plus, it has good sillage, so others can still smell it. I wear it on days when I want a kick as& fragrance. More recently, it didn't hit me really well, so I set it aside until this trial between fragrances. The two blended together in a nice way in wafting, but if I wanted to smell either separately, I just smelled one arm or the other. I like to do that anyway. It's more interesting. DM is much sweeter, but also drier, as you'd expect with a fragrance that has the word 'desert' in its name.

    My husband's first comment to me that day: you smell good! (And I did.) I will likely do some layering with these two, as I prefer DM, but not to waste the BdD.

    Yesterday I compared DM to Black Orchid. I've wanted to like Black Orchid. It has many notes that I like in other fragrances. But every time I had tried it, it went odd on me. (Tom Ford, ever crude, has said he put the scent of a man's crotch in it, and perhaps he did. That funky note is either nearly absent or totally present depending on one's chemistry.) Nordstrom's is newly carrying it, and they had samples, which NM did not have when they first debuted it. This is one that I would not buy without making sure, sure, sure. I thought, good! now I can really try it.

    I have to say the first time I really liked it was when comparing it to DM. In comparison, Black Orchid (BO to some, pun intended) smells sweeter than it does if I'm not comparing it. I quite liked it. But when I asked my dh which he preferred, he picked DM. So, there you have it. The Black Orchid bottle is elegant. I think I'll get it anyway and wear it with DM.

    I have BdD and Black Orchid on this morning. I asked a friend which she preferred. On first sniff, she liked them both. On second sniff she liked BdD better. On third sniff, now that's it's dried down, she said Black Orchid smells better than it did, but she still prefers BdD.

    Looks like I'll have to get a bottle of DM. My decant is not going to be enough. It will be a nice treat for me. I do love the fragrance.

    The SAs at Nordstrom's were really talking about Black Orchid. I agree, in many ways it is a lovely fragrance, especially if it is wearable for you. It would smell great on a man, likely all the time. On me, I'd have to be careful, but that bottle is calling to me.

    Do you wear any of these? Which is your favorite? Is one calling to you, but you haven't decided?

    Karin

    Originally posted 2007-04-25 09:29:34.

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    ]]>     http://savvythinker.com/comparing-incense-and-patchouli-and-woods/feed/ 0     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/
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    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

    FLORA by GUCCI 0.25 FL oz / 7.4 ML EDT Spray New In Box FLORA by GUCCI 0.25 FL oz / 7.4 ML EDT Spray New In Box Paypal US $19.99 16m
    ★ Flora BY GUCCI 2.5 oz 75 ml Women edt Perfume Sealed★ ★ Flora BY GUCCI 2.5 oz 75 ml Women edt Perfume Sealed★ Paypal US $59.80 17m
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    Gucci - Flora by Gucci - GLAMOROUS MAGNOLIA MINI fragrance 5 ML / 0.16 OZ NIB Gucci - Flora by Gucci - GLAMOROUS MAGNOLIA MINI fragrance 5 ML / 0.16 OZ NIB Paypal US $20.00 29m
    GUCCI GUILTY POUR HOMME by Gucci 3.0 oz. edt Cologne Spray for Men * New In Box GUCCI GUILTY POUR HOMME by Gucci 3.0 oz. edt Cologne Spray for Men * New In Box Paypal US $70.81 31m
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    GUCCI FLORA by Gucci 2.5 oz edt Perfume Spray for Women * New In Box GUCCI FLORA by Gucci 2.5 oz edt Perfume Spray for Women * New In Box Paypal US $55.59 31m
    Guilty by Gucci for Men 3.0 oz Eau De Toilette (EDT) Spray Guilty by Gucci for Men 3.0 oz Eau De Toilette (EDT) Spray Paypal US $73.95 31m

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

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    ]]>     http://savvythinker.com/gucci-by-gucci/feed/ 2     Comparing Guerlain Moscow to Chanel Coromandel http://savvythinker.com/comparing-guerlain-moscow-to-chanel-coromandel/ http://savvythinker.com/comparing-guerlain-moscow-to-chanel-coromandel/#comments Sun, 20 Nov 2011 14:36:53 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=5981
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    • ]]>

    I'm laughing at myself today. Sometimes ya just gotta do what ya gotta do!

    I have so many fragrances that sometimes it is hard to choose, and if it's been a while since I've worn something, I need a scent nudge to remember how it smells on me or how it makes me feel or how it enhances my mood. But I don't want to pick the wrong scent for the day, because if it doesn't match what I hoped for, I'd be better off going scentless.

    Yesterday I wore Guerlain 68 for a while, but it wasn't doing it for me. It didn't have enough going for it or for me. I'm looking for a deeper fragrance to match the weather, I guess.

    I've been thinking of Coromandel for a couple of days, but first I was drawn today to Moscow. Then I thought, why not wear both at the same time, not one later, you might like it!

    So I have Moscow on my left arm and Coromandel on my right. I smell good!

    And to top it off, I'm burning a scent tart Autumn Fruit by Yankee Candle. That's yummy too. Interesting that they all go together.

    The stars have aligned!

    Moscow Notes: Musk, fruit, wood...vanilla, bergamot, red currants, absinthe, lemon, plum

    Coromandel Notes    ~ "named for the Chinese lacquered screens Gabrielle Chanel collected, is a spirited oriental with amber and dry notes". Orange peel, frankincense, patchouli, chocolate, vanilla.


    Coromandel     is much more in your face. It overpowers Moscow on the first spritz, but as it settles down, the two are equals.

    Moscow has a little more fruit (plummy) but this is not a teeny-bop fruit, oh no! This is grown up.

    And Coromandel has that patchouli-chocolate thang going for it. I'm a sucker for both, unless the chocolate is fake smelling or the patchouli is too dry. This is just perfect.

    Often if I layer a fragrance, I just spritz one on top of the other, but this I believe I would do exactly the same again. Each is more interesting with the other, but I would not want them blended. I like the distinctness of them both, and I get to enjoy two fragrances, not one.

    If you like plum
    Another plum is Rochas Femme, but I don't wear it as well.

    Notes for Femme
    Top Notes: Peach, plum, bergamot, lemon, rosewood
    Heart Notes: Ylang-ylang, jasmine, May rose, clove, orris
    Base Notes: Musk, amber, oakmoss, vanilla, patchouli, benzoin, leather

    You might also like
    Ghost (deep night) (pretty bottle too, it looks like the moon.)

    top: hibiscus, rose petals and ambrette grains.
    mid: Jasmine, spicy sandalwood and warm frankincense tones
    base: vanilla, musk, ambergris and apricots

    Notes: Rose, apricot, peach, vanilla, musk

    So, asking a friend which she prefers, she likes them both, but Moscow might have the edge. But I love what Coromandel is bringing to it, having the edginess of the patchouli-chocolate along with it. I actually like them both together better than I've liked either one of them alone.

    Do you wear either of these?
    Do you have a favorite chocolate? patchouli? plum or fruit?

    And I'm listening to Christmas music on my iPod -- jazz at the moment. I hope you are having a great day!

    Karin

    Originally posted 2009-12-10 12:18:03.

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    ]]>     http://savvythinker.com/comparing-guerlain-moscow-to-chanel-coromandel/feed/ 0     Review: Comparing India Hicks Island Night with Gucci Flora http://savvythinker.com/review-comparing-india-hicks-island-night-with-gucci-flora/ http://savvythinker.com/review-comparing-india-hicks-island-night-with-gucci-flora/#comments Sun, 20 Nov 2011 02:34:43 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=1898
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    • ]]>

    Gucci Flora edp and Island Night edt are siblings; they aren't twins. They begin differently and end differently, but at the midpoint they are very much the same on me.

    And when I first spritz Island Night, I wonder what made me buy it at the store. It's a whopper. And, in general, I have to be very, very careful with orange blossom in fragrances. It usually goes sharp on me.

    The Road Not Taken
    TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
    And sorry I could not travel both
    And be one traveler, long I stood
    And looked down one as far as I could
    To where it bent in the undergrowth;

    Crabree and Evelyn sells Island Night. It comes in a beautiful midnight blue flask, with some heft to it. It is a pleasure to hold. It also comes in an evening compact with enhancer, body wash and lotion, a scented candle, and a fragrance diffuser for the home.

    Notes: purple and white orchids, night blooming jasmine, orange blossom nectar, green island palms, woods, musk

    I chose the edt over the compact as there was more scent to it. After spraying the edt, I could hardly smell the compact. The compact might be an easier way to wear it. I haven't tried either the candle or the diffuser, though the diffuser especially looks lovely.

    Then took the other, as just as fair,
    And having perhaps the better claim,
    Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
    Though as for that the passing there
    Had worn them really about the same,

    And both that morning equally lay
    In leaves no step had trodden black.
    Oh, I kept the first for another day!
    Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
    I doubted if I should ever come back.

    Why the two fragrances would be reminiscent of each other, at least at mid-point is a mystery to me:

    Gucci Flora notes: citrus, peony, rose, osmanthus, sandalwood and patchouli

    Perhaps it is the orange blossom-citrus thing going on.

    Island Night starts off with a bang. It is heady and heavy. You are in a garden with a lover, heavy-eyed, under a deep sky with stars low enough to touch.

    Gucci Flora begins at a similar place, only it is twilight. The winds have blown through the garden for a bit, and your lover has not yet arrived. It is easier to wear from the get-go.

    At the mid-point, there is not a lot of difference. Gucci Flora might be a tad sweeter.

    I shall be telling this with a sigh
    Somewhere ages and ages hence:
    Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
    I took the one less traveled by,
    And that has made all the difference. Robert Frost 1920

    And then, at the end, both fragrances circle back around again. Island Night has the same nuance at the end, as at the beginning but softened, not nearly as strong. Funny that it is gone in the middle. Gucci Flora stays the same through the end. Truly lovely.

    And what about several hours later? I can still smell Gucci Flora, though I have to bring my arm up. I could still smell it faintly before I got out of bed from the night before. Whereas, Island Night is gone. No trace. But it sure packs a wallop in the beginning.

    Which road will you take?

    Karin


    Originally posted 2009-03-15 16:26:56.

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