Savvy Thinker » Rose 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: 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: Fresh Cannabis Rose http://savvythinker.com/review-fresh-cannabis-rose/ http://savvythinker.com/review-fresh-cannabis-rose/#comments Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:56:47 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=5194
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    Continuing through the haul of samples passed to me by a POLer.

    Fresh Cannabis Rose can be found as an edp $75 for 3.4 oz. It is also available in bath gel and body cream.

    Notes: Bulgarian Rose, Pomegranate Flower, Bergamot, Cannabis Accord, Sheer Jasmine, Dark Chocolate, White Musk, Patchouli, Oolong Tea.

    What an intoxicating blend! Sensual for either a man or a woman, this rose fragrance is not your typical rose.

    What's the rose like?
    The rose is there, yes, but it is under the rest of the notes, not on top of them. And the rose is not sharp and pungent as some roses are on me. It is just bordering on that.

    How about the tea?
    I like to drink oolong tea. In a fragrance, I have to be more careful because teas in fragrance on me can take on a bitterness that is not appealing. This tea cuts the rose, and it is more like drinking a cuppa while enjoying the fragrance.

    Dark chocolate
    It has to be good for you, right? This is not a gourmand fragrance. The chocolate is not predominate. But it might give you the idea of a dark chocolate croissant, when done as it can be done in Europe.

    What about the cannabis accord?
    I like it. How about you?

    My take
    If you like rose, you would like this. And it is enough interesting that it will not dupe anything else that you have.

    How about you?
    Have you tried this? Do you like it? Do you wear it?

    Karin
    www.savvythinker.com

    Originally posted 2009-10-24 08:07:10.

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    ]]>     http://savvythinker.com/review-fresh-cannabis-rose/feed/ 0     Review: Amaze by POTL http://savvythinker.com/reviews-amaze-by-potl/ http://savvythinker.com/reviews-amaze-by-potl/#comments Sun, 04 Dec 2011 19:47:55 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=5166
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    Continuing to work thru the samples given to me by a generous POLer:

    AMAZE edt by People of the Labyrinths is available at Lucky Scent $170 for 90ml or $4 for .7 ml.

    Notes: Henna, Saffron, Taif Rose, Orange Blossom, Wardia Rose, Agarwood, Sandalwood, Musk, Civet.

    The notes
    What the heck does henna smell like? Once upon a time I used henna in my hair, but I don't remember that it had a particular scent at all, at least not compared to other hair dyes.

    Taif Rose
    I love Ormande Jayne's Ta'if, but this is just pulling rose on me.

    Ta'if Notes
    Top: Pink pepper, saffron and dates
    Heart: Rose oil, freesia, orange flower absolute and jasmine
    Base: Broom amd amber

    My take
    I expected this to be far stronger than it is based on my experience with Luctor et Emergo, which I love for it's complexity and sensuality.

    The rose in Amaze is dominant on me, and that is not a good thing, as rose and I do not agree. Ditto for orange blossom, but I'm not getting much of that, just rose. ROSE ROSE ROSE

    What kind of rose?
    Do you remember the smell of rose water? This is not that sweet rose scent. This is more pungent and sharp. Lucky Scent says it softens, but it doesn't on me. LS says one of their staff who swore to never wear a rose wears this well.

    So you can see there are mixed views. If it softens on you, it might be great, or if it went into a sweeter rose. This is the rose I do not like in a fragrance, it is not the sweet rose of a rose in your garden.

    However, and this is a big however for me, the longer it is on, the more wearable it becomes. But it doesn't do it fast enough for me, and considering how many great fragrances there are, why wear one that you dislike the opening notes? It makes no sense to me. Wear one you like from the beginning, unless the dry down is absolutely fantastically sensational.

    What do you think?
    Do you wear this one? Do you generally wear rose? Do you like Ta'if? How do you think it compares? Do you agree with me or not?

    Karin
    www.savvythinker.com

    Originally posted 2009-10-21 07:45:22.

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    ]]>     http://savvythinker.com/reviews-amaze-by-potl/feed/ 2     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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    ]]>     http://savvythinker.com/review-comparing-india-hicks-island-night-with-gucci-flora/feed/ 0     Review: Anya’s Garden Temple and River Cali http://savvythinker.com/review-anyas-garden-temple-and-river-cali/ http://savvythinker.com/review-anyas-garden-temple-and-river-cali/#comments Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:32:45 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=6714
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    Anya's Garden is an all natural perfumery, led by Anya McCoy of Miami Shores, FL. She is well respected in her field and knows more about natural perfumery than I would even know to ask. And she teaches classes -- and also offers personal consults and bespoke fragrance.

    To my knowledge, except for a couple of forays into what might be other naturals, this is my first exposure to natural perfumes with sophistication. And what beautiful perfumes they are!

    Anya sent me a packet of samples so I could wrap myself around her scents and get a feel for them.

    To do them justice, over the next few days I will review two at a time, so their essences don't get lost.

    Everyday for the last week or so, I've worn two different fragrances of hers, one on each wrist, for at least part of the day. I've worn them, I'm sure, in different combinations, but today's treats are Temple and River Cali.

    These are a far cry from the synthetic, sometimes plasticky, scents of many modern perfumes. Granted, many modern perfumes are delightful, but they are still somehow different in nature from these exotic scents of Anya's. If you have only ever tried department store brands, you might want to treat yourself to a couple of her samples. You will be immediately embraced in a difference.

    Temple
    Fragrance Family: Citrus-Incense-Spiced Wood

    The rays of hope focus empower and the steady verdant earth beneath the feet gives faith that the path may be sturdy and firm. Find strength in yourself, be your own Temple. Relax, center yourself and find peace. Anya's Garden

    Top notes: distilled orange juice, borneol crystals
    Heart Notes: aglaia flower, cassia, Ayurvedic herbs and spices
    Base Notes: sustainable Laotian and Vietnamese Oud agarwood, earth tincture

    Temple is a rich, exotic, woodsy fragrance, with citrus. If you've been reading my blog, you know I love fragrances with sweet orange, patchouli, and oud. This oud is rich and resiny. Lovely that it is from sustainable wood, and isn't denuding a forest somewhere.

    In addition to wearing this fragrance on your skin, you can put a drop in a bowl of hot water to scent your room. Perfumeshrine reports that this is lovely. I, however, love it on my skin, and I will just move room to room! Well, perhaps, I will try this drop in hot water later.

    3.5 ml parfum extrait is $75.
    Temple sample $11

    RiverCali
    Fragrance Family: Floral-Citrus-Gourmand
    If you like rose in a fragrance, this is the one for you! It begins with a lovely green, lime burst, underlaid with rose. It dries down to a warm rose. There's a bit of salt in there somewhere too, like drinking a margarita, salted glass, in a rose garden. When the drink is gone, you are still in the garden.

    Anya says that it takes you to a lush desert oasis -- it must be that salt.

    It is even better when applied a second time during the day. It jumps the beginning green again, and dries down more complexly. I have not tried applying it heavily the first time, but rather a large drop, then later another large drop. Remember I have samples, not full sizes!

    Top notes: African pink peppercorn
    Middle notes: Turkish rose otto, lemon, lime and orange leaves
    Base notes: Vanuatu sustainable sandalwood, creamy rich African vanilla, sexy musk seed

    3.5 ml parfum extrait $60
    15 ml edp $125
    sample $7

    Have you tried any of Anya's fragrances? Have you tried these? Do you have a favorite?
    For me, between these two, my favorite is Temple. It is mood-altering for me, being very centered and calming.

    You can find more about natural perfumery at Anya's yahoogroup or at Natural Perfumers Guild.

    See my review of Fairchild and Pan here.

    See my review of MoonDance and StarFlower here.

    And see my review of Kaffir here.

    Karin
    www.savvythinker.com




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    Originally posted 2010-05-13 18:25:27.

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    ]]>     http://savvythinker.com/review-anyas-garden-temple-and-river-cali/feed/ 0     Talkin’ about Jolie Madame and Cabochard http://savvythinker.com/talkin-about-jolie-madame-and-cabochard/ http://savvythinker.com/talkin-about-jolie-madame-and-cabochard/#comments Fri, 22 Jul 2011 08:42:08 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/2007/01/05/talkin-about-jolie-madame-and-cabochard/
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    I loved this description:

    Jolie Madame is a very intelligent woman who is 100% conscious of her femininity and knows how to charm. She owns 50 lipsticks and always wears stockings. She's got great legs and will cross them to distract you.

    Cabochard is female and happens to be irresistable, but never looks in the mirror because she's busy reading physics. Her hair's glossy because she was born that way. When she looks up from her book, your heart nearly stops, her eyes are so beautiful. She doesn't wear makeup. It wouldn't occur to her.

    Fulltiltredhead at POL, with permission

    Jolie Madame 1953 Chypre-Floral
    Top Notes: Gardenia, artemisia, bergamot, coriander, neroli
    Heart Notes: Jasmine, tuberose, rose, jonquil, orris
    Base Notes: Patchouli, oakmoss, vetiver, musk, castoreum, leather, civet

    Cabochard by Gres for Women 3 Piece Set Includes: 1.69 oz Eau de Toilette Spray + 0.10 oz Eau de Parfum Miniature + 1.69 oz Perfumed Body Lotion has been one of my favorites for years. (I chose this set to highlight for you vs. the spray alone because I love the perfume. I've sampled the lotion, and it is great too, and often enough to wear alone for the fragrance.) However, I do love and wear makeup. ;p

    My comments are on the vintage for both.

    I think Jolie Madame by Pierre Balmain for Women 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette Spray is more wearable by more people. It is easier to wear, starts off easier and ends up easier.

    Cabochard is a lovely fragrance and one I've worn a lot at various times. I think I'm lucky to be able to wear it. Not everyone can.

    Cabochard 1953 citrus, leather, and tobacco; a refined, woody, arid fragrance.
    Top Notes¦Citrus with spice accents
    Middle Notes¦Jasmine, rose, orris, geranium, Ylang-Ylang
    Base Notes¦Amber, Castoreum, Moss, Musk, Patchouli

    ”Cabochard” is French for “charmingly persistent”, or “stubborn” perfect for the individualist…
    I recently read that it takes 6400 jasmine flowers and 240 roses to create one ounce of Cabochard…

    It starts off with a bang...and ends up, on me, delightfully softened, a sweet floralish note comes out (and I don't usually wear any white florals well) and sits, not demurely, with the leather in harmony.

    It's a kick-a&^ fragrance, one to wear if you want to make a mark on the world that day. And go really light with it, unless it hits the soften point fast. It might overwhelm you otherwise.

    It's not at all like Knowing, but it has that hugeness to it.

    Jolie Madame is a little sweeter from the get-go. I've only just begun to wear it. It's interesting to me that they both were created in 1953. I wear the parfum of Cabochard.

    How about you?
    Do you wear either of these?

    Karin

    Originally posted 2007-01-05 14:24:20.

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    ]]>     http://savvythinker.com/talkin-about-jolie-madame-and-cabochard/feed/ 0     Review: D&G Comparing Rose The One with The One http://savvythinker.com/review-dg-comparing-rose-the-one-with-the-on/ http://savvythinker.com/review-dg-comparing-rose-the-one-with-the-on/#comments Thu, 12 May 2011 05:09:33 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=5403
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    Rose The One
    I was able to try Rose The One in person tonight, and I have to say it is a nice addition to the original The One.

    What are the notes?
    Rose The One

    notes: blackcurrant, pink grapefruit, mandarin, lily of the valley, rose, litchi, peony, Madonna lily, ambrette seed, sandalwood, musk and vanilla.

    The One

    top: bergamot, mandarin, lychee and peach,
    mid: Madonna lily, muguet and jasmine,
    base: of plum, vetiver, vanilla, amber and musk.

    How do they compare?
    The main difference for me is the addition of pink grapefruit in Rose The One. That comes across strongly in the beginning, perhaps even stronger than the rose. But citrus notes burn off fast from the top notes, leaving a gentler, softer version of The One.

    Both fragrances begin with almost a fizz, but the fizz is stronger in Rose The One, as you would expect, because of the tart aspect of the grapefruit.

    Does it resemble the original The One?
    Unlike some flankers that have no resemblance to the original fragrance except for the name, Rose The One stays true to the original concept, while making it more wearable with the addition of the rose and pink grapefruit and softening it.

    My Take:
    I found over time that The One was a fragrance so distinctive that I tired of it. I couldn't layer up over it to get another fragrance later in the day, which I like to do.

    I like citrus in a fragrance. And I have trouble wearing roses. But Rose The One is one I can wear. I'm really happy that it has a lighter feel to it than The One. I prefer it.

    Have you tried it?
    Do you wear either of them? Which do you prefer?

    Karin
    www.savvythinker.com

    Originally posted 2009-10-26 19:26:44.

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    ]]>     http://savvythinker.com/review-dg-comparing-rose-the-one-with-the-on/feed/ 0     Perfume Review: Divine L’Ame Soeur http://savvythinker.com/perfume-review-divine-lame-soeur/ http://savvythinker.com/perfume-review-divine-lame-soeur/#comments Sat, 07 May 2011 03:46:08 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=5226
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    Revisiting the Divine fragrances to enjoy them again. I received this early on, but when I received 3 Divine samples in a large haul recently from a generous POLer, it spurred me to re-try this one.

    My first love is L'Inspiratrice. Second in order of my likes, but so close as to be identical is L'ame soeur (the soul mate.)

    L'Ame soeur, the most beautiful of encounters, epitomises a harmony beyond time, an eternal marriage of noble flowers and aldehydes.

    Essence of jasmin, otto bulgar rose and ylang from the Comoro Islands combine with ambergris to celebrate the natural elegance and innate sensuality of L'Ame soeur.

    What does it remind me of?

    It reminds me of Chanel # 5.

    At first whiff, I recognized a familiarity, but it was enough different that it took me a few minutes to catch it.

    How does it compare to Chanel # 5?
    #5 is brash in comparison to L'Ame soeur which is gentle and harmonious.
    #5 is brighter, even in the elixir.

    If you like Chanel # 5, you likely would like L'Ame soeur, or if you wish you could wear Chanel #5, you would likely enjoy wearing L'Ame soeur. They are sister fragrances, not identical, but close.

    Which do I prefer?

    I prefer L'Ame soeur to #5. L'Ame soeurstarts and ends on me with a beauty I don't find in # 5 on me.

    My take
    I quite like it. While I like Chanel #5, I never reach for it. It is too aldehydic and bright, even brassy on me. It never softens. I like that this is similar to #5, but much kinder and softer.

    Do you wear this fragrance?
    Do you wear any Divine fragrance? Do you prefer this to Chanel # 5 or vice versa -- or have you never tried it?

    Karin
    www.savvythinker.com

    Originally posted 2009-10-25 07:57:34.

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    What a pretty bottle:

    Photobucket

    11:00 Book Girl likes this one. Her first words:

    Oh, I like this one! This smells like a night time rendevous! Going to a club... It's definitely for someone in their 20's. Young and spunky. I like it!

    She says it's more elegant than skanky, and she didn't even know the name yet.

    Avon had Little Black Dress first, but it wasn't this version, and it wasn't with a French name. La Petite Robe Noire, Little Black Dress, AKA Little-Black-Dress-gone-clubbing, is considered a fruity gourmand, right up the alley of the 20-somethings. And it decidedly not noir noir, it is more fuchsia noir.

    Notes include Sicilian lemon, licorice, almond, rose, smoky tea, musk and vanilla.

    Yesterday I picked up more of the floral. Today I'm picking up more of a somewhat subdued Angel. It is Angel's youngest sister. Sweet and sassy. LVMH uses the word audacious.

    Almost cherry or very cherry, it must be the almond thing going on, but it does not smell like the original Jergen's. And then there might even be a touch of Lolita Lempicka -- it's got to be the licorice.

    I want that bottle. Or, at least I want to see that bottle.

    Octavian has a nice write up at his blog, a play on French words, and a great picture of the window on Rue de la Paix.

    I keep hearing this lyric in my head:

    Someone left the cake out in the rain.

    12:40 Today, it is not moving past this first stage very quickly, but then I gave myself a double hit. The top notes are predominant, but make no mistake, it will move. I will update as the day goes on.

    3:00 pretty well gone, just smelled lighter
    5:00 gone; but still apparent on Book Girl
    5:47 I replenished with a drop on each wrist -- smells less like Angel when used in small doses
    7:06 much more of a fruity floral when worn this way

    Update December 2009 I got a great compliment while wearing my sample. I still have not bought this in full size, but considering the compliment, I ought to!

    Karin
    www.savvythinker.com

    Originally posted 2009-03-17 11:40:46.

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    ]]>     http://savvythinker.com/review-guerlain-la-petite-robe-noire/feed/ 2     Review: Guerlain Spiritueuse Double Vanilla http://savvythinker.com/review-guerlain-spiritueuse-double-vanilla/ http://savvythinker.com/review-guerlain-spiritueuse-double-vanilla/#comments Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:08:53 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=3151
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    OK, I admit, this fragrance has seduced me. Even in the store, I wasn't sure if I should get it or not. Something in me generally rebels against the idea of vanilla, which can be too sweet, and almost like the fragrance of white cake. Can you just feel the smell of white cake as I typed it?

    And doesn't the idea of double vanilla almost make you gag? (When you pronounce it the French way, it sounds far more sultry.)

    Choosing between this and another Guerlain, I would have picked the other, but I allowed two SAs to help me choose (on purpose.) And I'm not sorry I did. I'm generally not so wishy-washy on the spot, but my general malaise about vanillas would have overcome my judgment, and I would have leaned to the other fragrance, which will be another purchase for another day.

    It's as far from most vanilla fragrances as the east is from the west. It's not in the same universe as Coty's Dark Vanilla, for example, a fragrance I like to have around, but rarely wear, for it is a traditional vanilla, albeit darker.

    This is a sophisticated, adult, sultry fragrance which is romantic and sexy and not at all too much to wear all day into the evening. I don't seem to tire of it as I do other fragrances. It's long lasting. I don't have to layer it again, though I don't mind doing it as I love the scent. This is a smokey vanilla. It's all the benzoin, frankincense and spices. It's not like Korres' Vanilla Cinnamon which is far sweeter and just not in the same company.

    Notes of: vanilla, benzoin, frankincense, spices, cedar, pink pepper, bergamot, Bulgarian rose and ylang-ylang.

    I even had a good sized sample that I loved from a friend, but spritzing it from the bottle was a whole new experience.

    How does it make me feel?
    It is an empowering fragrance. Only wear it if you are prepared to roar, if need be.

    Going into a corporate meeting where you need to be taken seriously? Wear it.

    Meeting your lover or husband? Wear it.

    Going to dinner? Wear it, it won't conflict with your food.

    Meeting friends? Wear it. You'll stand apart.

    You're a man? Wear it. It will smell masculine on you.

    Did I tell you that I love it?
    What else can I add?
    The fragrance is stunning. It may be in the $230 range now, since prices have gone up, but it is worth every penny. You can also look for it in decants.

    How about you?
    Do you have it? Do you love it and wear it?

    Where to buy it?
    Call (702-732-7008) or email Claire (GuerlainPalazzo.STORE@lvmhuspc.com) at the Guerlain boutique in Las Vegas. He's the man. He'll take good care of you. And if he's not there, the others will treat you right too. Even better, stop in when you are in Las Vegas. You'll see I'm right.

    Tell them I sent you!

    Karin

    Originally posted 2009-04-25 14:23:54.

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