Aquolina Pink Sugar: Smells Like Teen Spirit!

Hi ladies,

Happy Monday! Boy oh boy, we are 10 days away from Christmas, did you get all the presents yet? Well, last week I ordered something from Sephora and got some couple of perfume samples. Lately, my taste on perfume has changed significantly: now I'm more into the old-school perfume niche like Chanel no. 5 et al. As much as these perfumes are fabulous and smell fantastic, I cannot get over the fact that they are very serious as well as expensive. Out of the bloom, I picked Aquolina Pink Sugar as one of my free samples and thought to myself that I must be crazy. After all, Pink Sugar is known for its sugary sweetness! After some couple of clicks to send my order through, I realized it would be a fun thing to try this perfume for once. Sometimes opposites attract and who knows how fun this perfume can be!

Cute Pink Sugar ad courtesy of Sephora

The sample I got was packaged to look like a bigger version of Sweet n' Low, the sugar substitute powder. I laughed a bit when I saw it, as the sample is extremely cute. When I applied it to my body, my first thought was, "Holy cow, this is sweet!" The perfume smells like saccharine: unbelievably sweet! My mind immediately drifted back to high school where I used to read manga and drank soda pop as I tried to remember when was the last time I smelled this sweet and dandy.

The answer is "Never!" I'm serious, I've never smelled like sugar before! Once upon a time I wore a vanilla body lotion and it didn't work out quite well. That was the end of it. In high school I nicked off my mom's Yves Saint Laurent perfume and smelled like an old woman. In college, I wore various perfumes that are nice and feminine but not really sweet. Now, holding an ampule of Aquolina Pink Sugar in my hands really makes me think what I have missed out all my life: a sweet perfume!

Aquolina Pink Sugar EDT
Image courtesy of Wiz Wid

According to Aquolina perfumer, "Pink Sugar takes you on a journey through the pleasures and flavors of childhood with a playful blend of vanilla and caramel." Since I've developed a fancy in gourmand perfumes, I believe this is a very good perfume of its kind. I don't expect it to be as complicated as Thierry Mugler's "Angel", the famous cotton candy gourmand perfume. However, Pink Sugar is a step up from Harajuku Lovers G that I reviewed a while ago.

The notes:

• Head notes: bergamots, orange, raspberry, and fig leaf
• Heart notes: liquorice blossom, lilly, barbe-à-papa, red fruits, and strawberry
• Base notes: vanilla, candy, musk, tonka, and sandalwood.

Although other people could detect the liquorice blossom as well as orange when they wear Pink Sugar, I only smell the candy and tonka beans on me. The later makes this perfume smells creamier and I guess that's why tonka beans has been so popular lately. As it dies down to the base note, I smell more of vanilla and a hint of sandalwood. The musk is very minimal, almost to non-existent on me although my skin tends to amplify musks very well. This perfume is very long lasting and although I applied very little of it, I could smell a bit of sweetness here and there all day long. Pink Sugar definitely is not a heady perfume at all and can be worn as a day time perfume all year long.

Price-wise, Aquolina has a variety of products for Pink Sugar with price ranges from $12 USD (natural deodorant spray) to $55 USD (3.4 oz EDT). Although the product is targeted to the teen audience, the prices are not so friendly towards their pockets. For the young at heart, this is really perfect! Somebody compared it to Britney Spears' "Fantasy" but I believe "Fantasy" is more of a cupcake type of perfume whereas this one leans toward the sugary sweet candy version.

If you are looking for a gift for your younger sister, teenage niece, or that bubbly friend, I strongly suggest a set of Aquolina Pink Sugar. Sephora has one for $34 USD and shipping is free for orders over $50 USD!

Some extra savings for y'alls:

• MAC offers 25% off on some of their holiday gift sets, including Passions of Red, Little Darlings, Adoring Carmine, Enchanting Vermillion : 5 Basic Brushes, Charming Garnet: Glamour Basics (discount can not be used for Viva Glam, Kids Helping Kids, Red She Said or Monogram products). Free shipping ends at midnight tonight so hurry up and get your gifts!
  
• Victoria's Secret offers 25% off total order, which ends tomorrow. I browsed their website and some of the t-shirts are dirt cheap!
• Bath and Body Works offers 20% off your total order when you use code TWENTY for only two days (today and tomorrow). Also, when you buy anything in store, you will get a travel size item with the coupon below:
  

(click for a bigger image)

That's all for today. I hope you are having a wonderful week ahead. Stay healthy and gorgeous!

Love,
Your Makeup Blogger

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