Faith Hill True Perfume Is Clean and Breezy

Hi everyone,<br /><br />I love Faith Hill and her music. In fact, the first CD I bought in the U.S was "Breath" and I still have good memories when I heard the title song. When she came out with her first and eponymous fragrance, I bought and loved it a lot. Like Faith, her perfume smells very chic, classy, and feminine. Then, last year I got a travel size version of her second fragrance, <b><a href="http://faithandtimfragrances.com/faith-hill-true">Faith Hill True</a></b>, for a dollar!<br /><br />This perfume has been traveling with me to many, many places. Yet, I manage not to review it. Well, not anymore. Today, I am going to give my best shot at reviewing Faith Hill True perfume.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialKl1RNsEZL5egc2PxdCnN40MB7hJCC__277KK20mWgG1TquVmFaT8VPHzhPcosMsvffM2ruTSlO9Ysc7Q2uSHsPGp77wZ01WYsAzqqv88NHwSmqVnKWRAlubbC-A1KjelZ0Ef4Cc81MG/s1600/IMG_4079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialKl1RNsEZL5egc2PxdCnN40MB7hJCC__277KK20mWgG1TquVmFaT8VPHzhPcosMsvffM2ruTSlO9Ysc7Q2uSHsPGp77wZ01WYsAzqqv88NHwSmqVnKWRAlubbC-A1KjelZ0Ef4Cc81MG/s640/IMG_4079.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />According to the <a href="http://faithandtimfragrances.com/faith-hill-true/notes">website</a>, Faith Hill True is described as t<i>he ultimate casual allure of a musky floral fragrance. This passionate and spirited fragrance captures your attention with an invigorating scent of sparkling citrus notes like Yuzu and Sheer Mimosa. Gardenia and Lily weave a breezy aura while precious woods and musk provide a sensual base.</i><br /><i><br /></i><br />The notes are:<br /><br /><ul><li>Top Notes: Japanese Yuzu and Sheer Mimosa.</li><li>Heart Notes: White Lily and Gardenia.</li><li>Base Notes: Sandalwood and Sexy Musk.</li></ul><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yefFE8AomKM9PWoZjGlt_UyzxvI5m9b_WguXF4-tHj-99bZ-YoiqZpvnSD0kkXvo1Ws9YHuEbj7Xubn4eHF8LPJ9-MFTVZ3yT3bHh084HavL49QTm8hYsc0dgdR-fBZeK5bueKdJFd6Q/s1600/IMG_4081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yefFE8AomKM9PWoZjGlt_UyzxvI5m9b_WguXF4-tHj-99bZ-YoiqZpvnSD0kkXvo1Ws9YHuEbj7Xubn4eHF8LPJ9-MFTVZ3yT3bHh084HavL49QTm8hYsc0dgdR-fBZeK5bueKdJFd6Q/s640/IMG_4081.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My version is a traveling size with a removable mini bottle inside a cannister</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxiFiPMNMwzj_rg7oj3WGdJ1pmEakzh-W2aeY0IM9U2P44WIay67v6Mq6R8dOkcMDhuYdyDX368stGle_UZJR0m110xVbK1vlzeCvMKaqOAXpjOBsNHQPNLCa2aBFv-tVk_cUSsedmAzSg/s1600/IMG_4082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxiFiPMNMwzj_rg7oj3WGdJ1pmEakzh-W2aeY0IM9U2P44WIay67v6Mq6R8dOkcMDhuYdyDX368stGle_UZJR0m110xVbK1vlzeCvMKaqOAXpjOBsNHQPNLCa2aBFv-tVk_cUSsedmAzSg/s640/IMG_4082.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The juice has a hint of blue in it, which is hard to see in this picture</td></tr></tbody></table>Last year, since I traveled a lot, this was perfect for travelling. Not only it was small enough to tuck in the purse, it does not violate the liquid restriction when traveling by air. Also, while I love to smell nice when being on the road, I also do not want a fragrance-induced headache. After so many hours in the car, a strong scent can make me nauseated to a point of vomiting.<br /><br />Faith Hill True is none of that. It is so nice and fresh that I barely notice it. It smells like fresh air on a sunny day at the beach: so fresh, so clean, so cheerful. Many times in China, I smelled something nice around me only to realize it was this fragrance on my body! This scent is personal. I have worn it so many times and people always commenting that I smell nice, <i>not</i> I wear a nice scent. Once sprayed on my body, it becomes a part of my skin and I guess that's why people cannot differentiate it as a perfume.<br /><br />Moreover, Faith Hill True is not something I regularly wear. I am more of a fruity-floral-feminine fragrance wearer and this is not that. I would like to describe it as a watery scent with a tiny touch of chypre. Think of it as a lighter and more feminine version of CK One when it started out. However, as it progresses, Faith Hill True does not have that dirtiness that CK One has. It dries down quite sweet and feminine. Although it is not a strong scent, this perfume lingers on quite long. I spent 10 sweaty hours on the road only to come home and still smelled it on my skin. Amazing, right?<br /><br />Would I recommend it? Absolutely! This perfume is perfect for everyday wear and if you are a Faith Hill fan, this is a must! This lady knows how to make classy perfume and so far, the two I have tried do not disappoint. It is sold at many mass-market stores as well as drug stores. If you wait until the holiday season, you can get the set for $15-25 USD. Not bad for some seriously nice perfumes!<br /><br />That's all for today. Have you tried any of Faith's perfume? If you have, what is your experience? Share with me, ok?<br /><br />With love from your perfume loving friend,<br />Dao xoxo<br /><br />P.S: Please show some love by subscribing to my blog and <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">my feed.</a> Thanks a lot!

Faith Hill True Perfume Is Clean and Breezy

Hi everyone, I love Faith Hill and her music. In fact, the first CD I bought in the U.S was "Breath" and I still have good memorie...

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Justin Bieber Has a Perfume? What Is Going on???

Hi everyone, <br /><br />Recently, I was browsing the Ulta email ad and something caught my eyes:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOn0PmpO1Ue9OsdTxWUlE6zP2OFlACpo1AYGskNoEusIjyJRRQ95cPfUwrY1u0oqpgGukz1Q9NzfUW5qJVxuq_U5SKAJRuJbLSDGMuV3_dahKTcYYwna_h8BCB2urMo3hbTjMf5DV_gZI/s1600/justin+bieber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOn0PmpO1Ue9OsdTxWUlE6zP2OFlACpo1AYGskNoEusIjyJRRQ95cPfUwrY1u0oqpgGukz1Q9NzfUW5qJVxuq_U5SKAJRuJbLSDGMuV3_dahKTcYYwna_h8BCB2urMo3hbTjMf5DV_gZI/s640/justin+bieber.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like, srsly, Justin Bieber has a fragrance?<br />What is going on??? o_O</td></tr></tbody></table> I could not believe my eyes! I mean, this kid is 17, his rise of fame is faster than anybody else's in the music industry, he wrote <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Justin-Bieber-First-Forever-Official/dp/0062039741">a book</a>, and now he has a perfume?! What else hasn't he done? Running for the president?<br /><br />I just don't get it. People are treating him as if he's Baby Jesus's second coming or something. While I know he is talented, I also believe that he is over-promoted. Over and over again, we have seen child stars turned into troubled adults once they grew up and did not resemble the cute kids they once were anymore. I hope he is not going to be in that category but again, <i>Justin Bieber has a perfume?</i><br /><br />I know how 17 year-old boys are. My brother is one and he is only a few weeks younger than the Bieber. Boys that age don't care about perfumes (or their own personal hygiene per se.) The only "perfumes" they wear are those Axe cans that they freely douse on their bodies. You can smell their B.O with Axe several miles away. The smell of a team of 17-year old boys can suffocate a giraffe to death. Yet, the Bieber managed to have a perfume. And it's not for people of his same gender. It's for the ladies.<br /><br />Smooth!<br /><br />Apparently,  it's called "Someday" and looks like this:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJzuJCxO6sQat0iy4p8IWlWY5Np9G9betwv7REXDhd1fbhDE_InJGxXujjnH14mqPv-k3r-gU4clxOdKsLlTjCF4NhxAKBRvXTXvHrPrIygW8XJbErSOE5wJAgElKXiwyTt3nrnMqk4TM/s1600/justin+bieber+perfume.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJzuJCxO6sQat0iy4p8IWlWY5Np9G9betwv7REXDhd1fbhDE_InJGxXujjnH14mqPv-k3r-gU4clxOdKsLlTjCF4NhxAKBRvXTXvHrPrIygW8XJbErSOE5wJAgElKXiwyTt3nrnMqk4TM/s640/justin+bieber+perfume.jpg" width="538" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someday by Justin Bieber<br />Don't expect me to give a link. Just don't, ok?</td></tr></tbody></table>According to <a href="http://ulta.com/">Ulta.com</a>, this is what "Someday" supposed to smell:<br /><blockquote>Description<br />Playful, thought-provoking, fresh yet flirty and nothing but ordinary, the bottle comes with a removable, crystal heart charm from Justin. What better way to carry his heart on your sleeve? Top notes: Mandarin, Juicy Pear, Wild berries, Middle notes: Jasmine, Creamy Florals, Bottom notes: Vanilla, Soft Musks.</blockquote>From the description, it doesn't sound like a bad perfume after all. Someday is a fruity-floral with a soft musky base. Not bad, but not so unique, either. So many perfumes out there have the same description. Also, the bottle looks like that of Marc Jacobs Lola, don't you think?<br /><br />While I don't entertain the idea, I do expect this perfume to sell well during this holiday season. After all, the Biebs's team knows how to price their stuff ($30 for 1 fl. oz and $45 for 1.7 fl. oz.) It's ok if your teens like it. Blame it on their lack of exposure. But if you are over 25 and you sing praises to the Bieber's perfume, we need to talk.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/?action=view&current=endcredit.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/endcredit.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">P.S: If you like my blog, please </span><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" style="font-size: medium; text-align: -webkit-auto;" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" style="font-size: medium; text-align: -webkit-auto;" type="application/rss+xml">subscribe to my feed.</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> Thanks a lot!</span></td></tr></tbody></table>

Justin Bieber Has a Perfume? What Is Going on???

Hi everyone, Recently, I was browsing the Ulta email ad and something caught my eyes: Like, srsly, Justin Bieber has a fragrance? What is go...

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Cacharel Amor Amor: a Lovely Summer Scent

Hi everyone,<br /><br />This year, I haven't bought a single bottle of perfume. My perfume stash dwindled down to about 3 scents I love the most. I gave away my stuff before and after moving to Vietnam. However, I still have a new bottle of perfume. Recently, my aunt from Belgium came back home for a visit and gave me a bottle of <a href="http://www.cacharel.com/_en/_int/html/parfum_amor-amor.htm">Cacharel Amor Amor</a>. After experiencing the cloying scent of Cacharel Anais Anais, I was not sure if my love could go to its younger sister. I gave it a try and realized despite our differences, Amor Amor and I can work things out.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixto__qS0fWkSpwp95uqehg-tdBigonriMjz4fxk8hiLX7I1ZnX7sUlcDORkdMaQHnrULoDckpG5Y4vLQLpZCm4MwiIptbsO5GKnhTxXjozdaajalLPFDS-w2zAH6XF341QHUqAC9eJI4d/s1600/IMG_3977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixto__qS0fWkSpwp95uqehg-tdBigonriMjz4fxk8hiLX7I1ZnX7sUlcDORkdMaQHnrULoDckpG5Y4vLQLpZCm4MwiIptbsO5GKnhTxXjozdaajalLPFDS-w2zAH6XF341QHUqAC9eJI4d/s640/IMG_3977.JPG" width="534" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cacharel Amor Amor (comes in 30, 50, and 100ml EDT)</td></tr></tbody></table>Wanna know what I think about this perfume? Jump!<br /><br /><a name="more"></a>First of all, here is what Cacharel said about Amor Amor:<br /><blockquote>The atmosphere is electric as your glances meet. Amor Amor is the trigger: do you dare unleash passion? Sensual vanilla and jasmin mingle with sparkling blackcurrant; let the scent wrap around you both. Instant attraction, instant desire, instant Amor. </blockquote>Vanilla, jasmine and black currant sound really good to me. I took a sniff and realized this ain't the cloying, heady old-fashioned Anais Anais. This perfume is a light floral scent where all the notes blend well together. Initially, this perfume is very vibrant and flowery. I could detect a touch of jasmine with black currant to give it an edge. Nice but not too oriental. Then, the vanilla scent quickly emerge and the perfume has more edge. As it dries down, vanilla becomes more and more pronounced. Overall, it is a very clean scent. I wear it on hot days and it does not give me a headache.<br /><br />However, here is a major gripe:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdG5kSc0EZryBdq5Ha06M2stg15xa6NhAwNpQeYSJHJQHADjzvsb41Az_lfqOkYxGPHN2t7crMR_qKhsQJpiRatTt1c50sXKdwW8Iv4zo10SyU22fTsiQdm-HVndKxIKZ52LI0HY6XVa-/s1600/IMG_3978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdG5kSc0EZryBdq5Ha06M2stg15xa6NhAwNpQeYSJHJQHADjzvsb41Az_lfqOkYxGPHN2t7crMR_qKhsQJpiRatTt1c50sXKdwW8Iv4zo10SyU22fTsiQdm-HVndKxIKZ52LI0HY6XVa-/s400/IMG_3978.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cap.<br />Where is it?</td></tr></tbody></table>Of all the perfume bottles I've ever owned, this is the weirdest. I mean, where is the cap, Cacharel? Where is it? Do you think your bottle is going to stay nice and dandy on my desk forever? Hello, I may take it on a trip and how am I going to store it?<br /><br />Really, what did they think?<br /><br />Overall, I like the scent and the red bottle is a nice touch. It is not too bulky. My bottle is a 100ml size, yet it fits comfortably in my hand. For some reasons, the wires and the loop around the neck of the bottle make me think of a grenade. I know this is not similar to Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb but I can't help it. I smelled Flowerbomb before but it was not something I would wear. Amor Amor, on the other hand, is a lot more wearable thanked to the vanilla note.<br /><br /><b>Would I buy it again?</b> No. This bottle is going to last for a long time. Also, I don't wear the same perfume all the time. Moreover, Amor Amor smells similar to so many floral scents out there. Mariah Carey Lollipop Bling Honey smells a tad more intense but costs you only $20!<br /><br /><b>Where to buy:</b> department stores, drugstores, and online. This scent is very common.<br /><b>Price:</b> from somewhere around $35 to $65, depending on the size and where you get it.<br /><br />So, if you need a soft and sweet summer scent in the floral side, Cacharel Amor Amor is the one for you. It is not overwhelming and wears well in the heat, which is perfect during the hot months. I'm still finding a way to transport it safely during trips. The lack of a cap really bothers me.<br /><br />What do you think of Amor Amor. Have you every used it? What is your favorite summer scent? I'd love to hear all about it!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/?action=view&current=endcredit.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/endcredit.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">P.S: If you like my blog, please </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">subscribe to my feed.</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Thanks a lot!</span></td></tr></tbody></table>

Cacharel Amor Amor: a Lovely Summer Scent

Hi everyone, This year, I haven't bought a single bottle of perfume. My perfume stash dwindled down to about 3 scents I love the most. I...

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An Uncreative Way to Create New Perfumes

After years and years of watching and sniffing and buying and begging for perfume samples, I came to one conclusion: the folks who name perfumes are not that creative.<br /><br />Right now, your reaction from my statement can be:<br /><br /><ol><li>I know, right?</li><li>Girl, what cha talkin' 'bout?</li><li>What's happening to My Makeup Blog lately? That girl has been on a bashing trip. </li><li>Really, I have no idea what you're talking about (preferably, the statement should be spoken with a British accent) </li><li>Dude, I don't care!</li></ol><br />Did you mark your choice? Oh, you did? Good, write it down somewhere, ok? Wait, don't tattoo it! I didn't say tattoo, I said write.<br /><br />While browsing the perfume counter, that realization hit me square in the head. More and more perfume companies have created spin-offs from the greatest or slightly alter the packaging of their best-selling perfumes. I've sniffed a few and needless to say, they are more of the same. Below are the three examples:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_CdtLRcAHE5VCB0pB9d0dnYZTYb4ECzg0I0iXhyphenhyphenLj1RH-CUvC5sFLUuJeggSA2pwT9uTytfH-aJneH99BvAZkwRIsQttBz3RUSFZjIQMXGnHRwJe1hyphenhyphenY7Zh6jNb1U_eNaLR4fdbJsno1J/s1600/chanel-eau-premiere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_CdtLRcAHE5VCB0pB9d0dnYZTYb4ECzg0I0iXhyphenhyphenLj1RH-CUvC5sFLUuJeggSA2pwT9uTytfH-aJneH99BvAZkwRIsQttBz3RUSFZjIQMXGnHRwJe1hyphenhyphenY7Zh6jNb1U_eNaLR4fdbJsno1J/s400/chanel-eau-premiere.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chanel no. 5 Eau Premiere (<a href="http://gracemagazine.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/chanel-eau-premiere.jpg">source</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table><b>Chanel no. 5</b> has a younger niece called <a href="http://www.chanel.com/um/lb/EauPrem08/en-us/default.php">Chanel no. 5 Eau Premiere</a>: I know, it is still under the numero cinco umbrella but Eau Premiere is a kitty cat while no. 5 (especially the EDP) is a cougar. Did you get my metaphoric comparison?<br /><br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMz8sjgjura7xNrQoU1ZFSQCpfFM_A3sqML_cN5MHRIfJiyUxBdIgwHcbPW1LeolnZjkkOZi1NO92Re7ejnZIG5OhyIFv8DjJWZJur07NenFussKUjkChb6bmNGy3Ox5o5x6I9X6OJlOY/s1600/Lancome_Tresor_In_Love_2.preview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMz8sjgjura7xNrQoU1ZFSQCpfFM_A3sqML_cN5MHRIfJiyUxBdIgwHcbPW1LeolnZjkkOZi1NO92Re7ejnZIG5OhyIFv8DjJWZJur07NenFussKUjkChb6bmNGy3Ox5o5x6I9X6OJlOY/s400/Lancome_Tresor_In_Love_2.preview.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tresor in Love (<a href="http://media.onsugar.com/files/2010/06/26/3/498/4981324/Lancome_Tresor_In_Love_2.preview.jpg">source</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table><b>Tresor</b> from Lancome has a spin-off called <a href="http://www.tresor-in-love.com/tresor-in-love/index.aspx">Tresor in Love</a>: Lancome did what? Tresor, so far, is the perfume I receive the most compliment whenever I wear it. Do they need to have a spin off? I mean, really, is that necessary, Lancome? Tresor is Lancome's number one best selling perfume and I don't expect a lot of great things from spin-offs.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszyjmzQiWj-7TmgQeddG-Ry9-gVDleoZCDhUEB0ScUjHQolESK_Q7VhF3I0T6mDPzbub27s2PdJstjLYza2AyDbGmTxKBfeMxwNzL_fxTWXMPIT7j8nWrPABUKwJWqGepu7zWNpA2gMg6/s1600/Marc+Jacobs+Daisy+in+the+Air+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszyjmzQiWj-7TmgQeddG-Ry9-gVDleoZCDhUEB0ScUjHQolESK_Q7VhF3I0T6mDPzbub27s2PdJstjLYza2AyDbGmTxKBfeMxwNzL_fxTWXMPIT7j8nWrPABUKwJWqGepu7zWNpA2gMg6/s400/Marc+Jacobs+Daisy+in+the+Air+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daisy in the Air (<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9tY39lbo-uqt4EgV2hsZpKMXqs5e-4-y2tyqywUa1ffuXyBbBfBud1g7ep4-S3Ql_t173dVkPfvyobjSwUSxEDJHvCvDyopG8Wgh65nWaQki4TKrau7PgV3BTsyO2xsSuHuWlvrQlkA/s1600/Marc+Jacobs+Daisy+in+the+Air+2.bmp">source</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table><b>Marc Jacobs Daisy</b> also has slightly altered sister called <a href="http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P255414">Daisy in the Air</a> : Worse than Lancome and Chanel, who actually did some work to slightly alter the design and scent, Daisy in the Air has the same yellow juice as the original Daisy but the flower is blue. It's a mood boosting perfume but I will not shell out my money for something that smells the same but looks slightly different.<br /><br />Please notice that these perfumes come from luxurious brands and were not "created" by celebrities. Although some of them are more modern renditions of the old and famous perfumes, I can't help but notice how lackluster they are when compared with the older versions. I guess brands are more focusing on gaining a younger crop of consumer by offering younger smelling scents. However, I don't think that's necessary. Just look at Guerlain Shalimar. Like Chanel no. 5, it is a timeless scent. However, nobody dares to alter it. Shalimar is what it is. Any alteration would smell ridiculous to me.<br /><br />What do you think about this trend? Would you buy a newer edition of a classic scent or stick with the original? Please let me know. Also, if you wrote down your choice from the above multiple-choice question, please feel free to share.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/?action=view&current=endcredit.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/endcredit.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>P.S: If you like my blog, please <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">subscribe to my feed.</a> Thanks a lot!

An Uncreative Way to Create New Perfumes

After years and years of watching and sniffing and buying and begging for perfume samples, I came to one conclusion: the folks who name perf...

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Chanel no. 5: I Get It Now

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKRXYllRBlQINJvkSwYzwAS6fdbY4Cf7mg_2xU4EdwIk1GDOXSsSIBa_OYfYHl7ceep6KCq3_AegcwBEnqM2qs8QoYcMLWbxuilSAcS2EMIOvxQRvNzH-CHaLsZhqE7OO3A3sfLv8_Aw/s1600/chanel+no.5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKRXYllRBlQINJvkSwYzwAS6fdbY4Cf7mg_2xU4EdwIk1GDOXSsSIBa_OYfYHl7ceep6KCq3_AegcwBEnqM2qs8QoYcMLWbxuilSAcS2EMIOvxQRvNzH-CHaLsZhqE7OO3A3sfLv8_Aw/s400/chanel+no.5.jpg" width="317" /></a></div>Family legend has it, my maternal grandfather was a Chanel no. 5 man. To be honest, I don't remember much about my grandfather since he passed away when I was so young. However, I recalled he was quite stylist and he smelled pretty good. My grandfather was tall, dark, handsome, and skinny. And he smoked, a lot. I did not know what kind of perfume he wore but it smelled interesting. Probably the tobacco smoke added some character to it.<br /><br />Later on, as I grew up, my mom told me the secret: Grandpa wore Chanel no. 5! Now, that came as a shocker to me. As we all know, Chanel no. 5 is the famous perfume for women. And how come he smelled so fabulous with it? I remember it was quite dark and smoky on him. An interesting mix, yet somehow it felt comfortable, too. I guess my grandfather did not overdo his perfume and the tobacco smoke just deepened the scent. I kept that information deep in my mind and at the time, I did not know what to do with it.<br /><br />Time passed, I became a beauty blogger. Yet, I was not convinced of the power of Chanel. Of course, Chanel makeup is more than fabulous. I want them but for now, I know for sure I can't afford them. Once in a while, I would cruise the Chanel counter and randomly sprayed some perfume like a fan girl. After doing it for a while, one day I realized I smelled pretty fabulous with Chanel Coco Mademoiselle. Like seriously, that day I smelled bitch-ass fabulous. I got a ton of comments on the way home. People wanted to know what I wore. Right then and there, I wanted to bust out my wallet and buy the smallest size possible of the Coco Mademoiselle.<br /><br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br />But the inner money conscious Asian inside of me begged to differ. Instead, I asked for a carded sample. The sales assistant was kind enough to search up and down the counter for me. I had high hope. But then, she looked at me and said, "Ma'am, we don't have any samples for Coco Mademoiselle. But we do have Chanel no. 5. Do you want one?"<br /><br />Of course, I was not insane. Disappointed, yes, but not insane. So I nodded. I came home, took a shower, and sprayed some no. 5 on my arms. Somehow, I managed to forget all about it until a couple of hours later when I caught a whiff of myself. <i>What is that?</i> I continued sniffing until I found the spot that I previously sprayed Chanel no. 5 on. Bingo! This is why I smelled good!<br /><br />Truth be told, I probably sprayed Chanel no. 5 ten times before that. However, the scent I smelled was not the same as the one I remembered. You see, scents and memory go hand in hand. Sometimes, a scent can invoke powerful memories of childhood. That's why I still can't wear lavender. It reminds me so much of my grandmother. But the Chanel no. 5 in my past was a lot different. It was darker, muskier, and sexier. It was Grandpa. And the current Chanel no. 5 is not. It smells too young to me. Even my mom said the same thing.<br /><br />Then, after some digging, I found out a lot of ingredients in Chanel no. 5 became synthetic since some of them are hard to find and/or take a lot of time to grow. That change probably made the current Chanel no. 5 less interesting. Also, if I remember correctly, my grandfather did not use his Chanel right away. He let it age for a while before using it. With that process, the perfume became more condensed and probably brought out more interesting characteristics.<br /><br />But that day when I sniffed my arms like mad, I realized one thing: like people, perfumes also have their own evolution. Hence, I don't expect Chanel no. 5 to smell the same 50 years from now, either. Behind the mist and legend, Chanel no. 5 is a pretty straightforward scent: it is a skin scent. Back in the day when it came out, this perfume probably was a sensation due to its overtly usage of aldehydes. But now, it is pretty tame. With all the perfumes coming out every year, we get a pretty wide spread of scents. Three years ago, if you told me that woody-floral would become trendy, I would have laughed at you. But now, with the advancement in chromatography, anything and everything is possible.<br /><br />With that said, I found a new love thanked to my grandfather. To me, Chanel no. 5 is a skin scent that is full of sensuality. It cannot be beat. But it is not for everybody. You need to be mature enough to understand and wear it. You need to own your no. 5. Otherwise, you will end up smelling like you're trying too hard.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/?action=view&current=endcredit.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/endcredit.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>P.S: If you like my blog, please <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">subscribe to my feed.</a> Thanks a lot!

Chanel no. 5: I Get It Now

Family legend has it, my maternal grandfather was a Chanel no. 5 man. To be honest, I don't remember much about my grandfather since he ...

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Victoria's Secret Island Escape Sheer Fragrance Mist: Vacation in a Bottle

Hi everybody,<br /><br />How was your weekend? Mine included rain, rain, and more rain. Therefore, the plan to go to the beach was pretty much done. Also, the spilled oil in the Gulf area made it hard to enjoy the beach these days. I wonder how St. George Island is doing these days.<br /><br />To substitute for the lack of chillaxing, I've put<a href="http://www2.victoriassecret.com/commerce/onlineProductDisplay.vs?namespace=productDisplay&origin=onlineProductDisplay.jsp&event=display&prnbr=GP-257991&page=1&cgname=OSBAFSTMZZZ&rfnbr=7155&atp=a"> Victoria's Secret Island Escape</a> sheer fragrance mist in heavy use these days. This is a part of Victoria's Secret's new <a href="http://www2.victoriassecret.com/collection/?cgname=OSBAFSTMZZZ&cgnbr=OSBAFSTMZZZ&rfnbr=7155">Secret Moments</a> body care line. It is a warm exotic sugary scent that reminds me so much of what's going on after a trip to the beach. This was billed as a "beachy coconut and sugar cane" scent and it does just that.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzygVIFfr67Vq4WSN9uO-28-6A0jHKBtRpn3DrWrsndtsSHh6qn75xdmmGXXogx_vyyeJQXdW8psLYz2AHUARBl9FL3tFl507BBfeTCL-OSx1LjtiUnVfrhZuC_uDCgXv13YRfVK3Z89g/s1600/IMG_1788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzygVIFfr67Vq4WSN9uO-28-6A0jHKBtRpn3DrWrsndtsSHh6qn75xdmmGXXogx_vyyeJQXdW8psLYz2AHUARBl9FL3tFl507BBfeTCL-OSx1LjtiUnVfrhZuC_uDCgXv13YRfVK3Z89g/s640/IMG_1788.JPG" width="434" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victoria's Secret Island Escape sheer fragrance mist</td></tr></tbody></table>This scent is really uncomplicated: it's just sweet and yummy, veering more toward vanilla with a tiny touch of coconut. It's not so much of a coconut scent to make it a gourmand fragrance though, it's just enough to make Island Escape smell like a vacation in a bottle.<br /><br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqArlmzei2TagpFNXt_M_m_032vAiWgtmB2vjPNTZXbVGuX5ctvKhx8UQre4JIZGkWy5QXASSWPyl4NeHxSm-m6LKlUrnGb0ihZeLdz0awn_ylKyUbF76CZzrZdX8pX836fpMosvKwtO8/s1600/IMG_1786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqArlmzei2TagpFNXt_M_m_032vAiWgtmB2vjPNTZXbVGuX5ctvKhx8UQre4JIZGkWy5QXASSWPyl4NeHxSm-m6LKlUrnGb0ihZeLdz0awn_ylKyUbF76CZzrZdX8pX836fpMosvKwtO8/s640/IMG_1786.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sides of the bottle have the words "Victoria's Secret" edged along</td></tr></tbody></table>The bottle is simple, yet elegant. I love the contrast of pale blue liquid and hot pink spraying straw (what does that thing called again?) At first, I wanted to get <a href="http://www2.victoriassecret.com/commerce/onlineProductDisplay.vs?namespace=productDisplay&origin=onlineProductDisplay.jsp&event=display&prnbr=GP-257992&page=1&cgname=OSBAFSTMZZZ&rfnbr=7155&atp=a">Room 504</a>, which is a sexy date night kind of scent. However, I realized I have a whole bunch of similar scents at home. <a href="http://www2.victoriassecret.com/commerce/onlineProductDisplay.vs?namespace=productDisplay&origin=onlineProductDisplay.jsp&event=display&prnbr=GP-203240&page=1&cgname=OSBAFDRAZZZ&rfnbr=2672&atp=a">Dream Angels Desire</a> has the same vibe as Room 504. Island Escape peaked my interest enough for me to pick it up. However, when I came home, I realized I have similar scents, too!<br /><br /><ul><li><a href="http://mymakeupblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/scents-of-money-conscious-woman.html">Body Fantasies Vanilla Fantasy</a>: for real, this one comes pretty close. Except for the slight coconut touch that Island Escape has, it smells almost the same to Vanilla Fantasy.</li><li><a href="http://mymakeupblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/bath-and-body-works-twilight-woods-let.html">Bath and Body Works Twilight Woods</a>: this one has the warmth similar to Island Escape. If you dilute a bit of Twilight Woods to Vanilla Fantasy, you may come with something close to Island Escape. However, the mixture may be really sweet.</li></ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvbCYIV4RknBpIINoQIt4pDDtHWyVvXyDTVZ-Sjb7NoJ-dSThKXSRQYT4gR4eUsofzvIsChvJunPsMi_E7UgtnR0gxnZL7HUE2lUCOeM_qEk3SFL-JUD68RfGP9SlnuN_r_IzyJ6-8jtc/s1600/IMG_1793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvbCYIV4RknBpIINoQIt4pDDtHWyVvXyDTVZ-Sjb7NoJ-dSThKXSRQYT4gR4eUsofzvIsChvJunPsMi_E7UgtnR0gxnZL7HUE2lUCOeM_qEk3SFL-JUD68RfGP9SlnuN_r_IzyJ6-8jtc/s400/IMG_1793.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What I'm reading: <i>The Swan Thieves</i> by Elizabeth Kostova</td></tr></tbody></table>"Why did you put the body mist on top of the book?", you may ask. Well, my dear, it's a loaner. And if you have ever borrowed books from the public library, chances are you may bump into a book that reeks of cigarette one day. This book even has some cigarette stains in some couple pages. I love the book enough to continue reading it and I can only do it with the aid of Island Escape. This spray is sheer enough to partly deodorize it without staining the pages. So far, it smells like vanilla mixed with a bit of cigarette. Kinda like a stronger MAC MVIII, which is not so bad after all. (Although I'm afraid of second-hand smoke, so I read it as fast as I can!)<br /><br />In conclusion, this is a nice summery scent that is not too cloying, annoying, or overly gourmand. Those who enjoy vanilla fragrances may find this scent enjoyable. At $12 USD a pop, it is decent for both price and lasting power. Also, it makes a good book deodorizer :)<br /><br />Disclaimer for FTC<i> et. al</i>.: I bought this product from my own pocket. For more information regarding My Makeup Blog's disclaimer policy, <a href="http://mymakeupblog.blogspot.com/p/disclosure.html">click here</a>.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/?action=view&current=endcredit.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/endcredit.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>P.S: If you like my blog, please <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">subscribe to my feed.</a> Thanks a lot!

Victoria's Secret Island Escape Sheer Fragrance Mist: Vacation in a Bottle

Hi everybody, How was your weekend? Mine included rain, rain, and more rain. Therefore, the plan to go to the beach was pretty much done. Al...

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Bath and Body Works Twilight Woods: Let Twilight Fever Begin!

Hello, everybody!<br /><br />Recently, I've noticed the number of products that have the word "Twilight" increases tremendously. I know vampires are the new black this year but come on, <a href="http://www.ghirardelli.com/products/chocbars_intense_twilight.aspx">Ghiraldelli Twilight Delight chocolate</a>? Really? If my recollection is correct, Edward Cullen does not eat. So who's going to eat le chocolat? Bella? I don't remember her liking chocolate either so really, what's the point?!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmodbZfVZzxFZoRvYbwZkb4LrzfaL-ifFrU49g40GHiukNaQEX_UZBPcTU5v_jhpy2-G89a3_WVM_VSTupneQtBl1fWOdG_WGbtXQmBtb1K9ds3tnNGzQsK6LhyyHFKmb_Y4gIQoN49k/s1600-h/twilight+woods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmodbZfVZzxFZoRvYbwZkb4LrzfaL-ifFrU49g40GHiukNaQEX_UZBPcTU5v_jhpy2-G89a3_WVM_VSTupneQtBl1fWOdG_WGbtXQmBtb1K9ds3tnNGzQsK6LhyyHFKmb_Y4gIQoN49k/s400/twilight+woods.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=3862049&cp=2484525">Bath and Body Works Signature Collection Twilight Woods</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of <a href="http://twilightguide.com/">Twilight Guide</a> <br /></div><br />However, the genius people from Bath and Body Works were so smart to name their newest scent from the signature collection "Twilight Woods." I can actually imagine Bella Swan wearing something like this. I got a coupon for a mini-sized product and chose the Twilight Woods spray. In store, I could not smell a thing, despite dousing myself heavily with the eau de toilette spray. Perhaps the store had so many strong scents that this perfume did not get a chance to shine.<br /><br />From Bath and Body Works website:<br /><blockquote><span class="prodDescription">Master perfumers have blended apricot nectar, mimosa petals, and Tuscan cypress to create this hypnotic fragrance inspired by a romantic walk in enchanted woods. </span><br /><span class="prodDescription"> <ul type="square"><li>Indulge your senses with our exclusive Twilight Woods, a hypnotic fragrance inspired by a romantic walk in enchanted woods.</li><li>Fragrance Top Notes: Juicy Berry, Sparkling Mandarin, hint of Coconut</li><li>Fragrance Mid Notes: Creamy Frangipani, Soft Mimosa, Wet Honeysuckle, Wild Freesia, Apricot Nectar</li><li>Fragrance Base Notes: Oud Wood, Skin Musk Captive, Vanilla Milk, Warm Woods</li><li>Indulge your senses with our exclusive Twilight Woods, a hypnotic fragrance inspired by a romantic walk in enchanted woods.</li></ul></span></blockquote><br /><a name="more"></a> From the description that BBW gave, I could imagine this to be a sweet fragrance with a touch of wood. The fruity notes (berry, sparking mandarin, apricot nectar), and floral notes (frangipani, mimosa, honeysuckle, freesia) guarantee it to be a girly fragrance. On top of that, the base notes have skin musk and vanilla milk and I was sure this is going to be sweet. The base notes have oud wood and warm woods, which intrigue me as I've been interested in this woody-floral category ever since I tried Estee Lauder Sensuous.<br /><br />As I came home, I sprayed a bit of Twilight Woods on my body and waited to see what happened. As predicted, this is a sweet fragrance. (BBW classified it as a "Cuddly" perfume.) My body seems to emanate the vanilla and musk scents more than anything else. I barely smelled the top and mid notes. Also, there is just a touch of woods in there, not enough to satiate my thirst for a woody-floral perfume.<br /><br />I went a step further to compare it to BBW Sensual Amber, which was my favorite BBW scent. I found out Sensual Amber no longer smells as sexy as I remembered it. It used to have a hint of smokey and leathery kick that drew me into it. Now, it smells kind of bland. Twilight Woods, on the other hand, smells a lot like the Sensual Amber I remembered, but with less kick and more sweetness in it. I wonder if BBW reformulated their scents recently.<br /><br />With or without "Twilight", the saga, 'Twilight Woods" is going to be a success to BBW. It is very wearable, yet not cheesy, overly sexy, or cheap like the earlier renditions of BBW. Instead, it smells decent and sweet. For those who like to change their perfumes from summer to winter, this sits very well with the cold season. As usual, BBW products are quite affordable (the EDT is $29.50 USD) and if you scout for coupons, you'll get them even cheaper.<br /><br />What do you think of Twilight Woods? Have you tried it? Do you like it? Give me some comments, ok?<br /><br /><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/?action=view&current=endcredit.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/endcredit.png" /></a><br /><br />P.S: If you like my blog, please <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">subscribe to my feed.</a> Thanks a lot!

Bath and Body Works Twilight Woods: Let Twilight Fever Begin!

Hello, everybody! Recently, I've noticed the number of products that have the word "Twilight" increases tremendously. I know v...

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Yves Saint Laurent Parisienne: Paris Light

Hi everybody,<br /><br />If I got to choose where I want to live and money were not a problem, I would choose to vivre à Paris. For some reasons, the City of Lights perks my interest and I for once would like to live there and eat cheese and croissant from a small platter (*smile*). However, the current currency exchange rate between the dollar and euro plus swine flu plus living expense say otherwise.<br /><br />And then out of the bloom, I got a bottle of YSL Parisienne to play with. Talking about making my day, right? Before Parisienne, the only YSL perfume I have is "L'Homme", the male fragrance released in 2006. "L'Homme" is a very beautifully crafted perfume and sometimes when the temperature drops, I find myself applying a drop of it on my wrists.<br /><br />Parisienne was crafted by Sophia Grosjman, the nose of the original YSL Paris, and Sophie Labbé. It is described as an "grand floral perfume with woody structure, luminous even in its mystery." This perfume, according to its creators, is "the perfume of ultra-femininty, warmed by the touch of the man who embraced her."  Kate Moss, a Londoner, was chosen as the face of YSL Parisienne.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2QRbjtDbNobojG05Zlg473bHAWuu89_BtAVEIC6AX-9Kcort6DXbvz4CPzO0ox_ghwXMM08RHj8vWPiZQyBwMGm8TXe5s7v6GZMbNCz-z3BvKUnf4Iw3T8yUfnYQpjo5Zq7f2zm68AA/s1600-h/YSL+Parisienne+SP+Ad.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2QRbjtDbNobojG05Zlg473bHAWuu89_BtAVEIC6AX-9Kcort6DXbvz4CPzO0ox_ghwXMM08RHj8vWPiZQyBwMGm8TXe5s7v6GZMbNCz-z3BvKUnf4Iw3T8yUfnYQpjo5Zq7f2zm68AA/s400/YSL+Parisienne+SP+Ad.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"You were not born in Paris but Paris adopts you...<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...because you know how to love, how to live"<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DlVwjzyCvZM&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DlVwjzyCvZM&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNacXo2zjIrQTL6PtcsEWU3QLG1k-YQ1h6n4qoT9tspoYoWLHOv5oxI06Ev7wigxclOO7oj-HnMFNnG_MQIKsOf_tmgz3TIIi4JnVGLV7abufEQDxGHFoht1Fy0zVdL8VmRds-Feqkka8/s1600-h/IMG_3089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNacXo2zjIrQTL6PtcsEWU3QLG1k-YQ1h6n4qoT9tspoYoWLHOv5oxI06Ev7wigxclOO7oj-HnMFNnG_MQIKsOf_tmgz3TIIi4JnVGLV7abufEQDxGHFoht1Fy0zVdL8VmRds-Feqkka8/s400/IMG_3089.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">YSL Parisienne<br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2LFis8vHb2Yc3Ll7mQN9MMaGAwOWihReZpJHU9dFkFcME6mz6gwAXL-gXQeDxbhyphenhyphenx3KN87aZ4p0RXwRMcjAXMJ4-h78ZpJdq0_rfNxBhbbhQdvO2O3dZMkD9s_IO6_NjtkOHdpZ3Dk0/s1600-h/IMG_3090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2LFis8vHb2Yc3Ll7mQN9MMaGAwOWihReZpJHU9dFkFcME6mz6gwAXL-gXQeDxbhyphenhyphenx3KN87aZ4p0RXwRMcjAXMJ4-h78ZpJdq0_rfNxBhbbhQdvO2O3dZMkD9s_IO6_NjtkOHdpZ3Dk0/s400/IMG_3090.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The bottle<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a name="more"></a><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote><b>YSL Parisienne composition:</b><br /><ul><li>Top notes: vinyl, cranberry, blackberry</li><li>Heart notes: Damas rose, violet, peony</li><li>Base notes: patchouli, vetiver, sandalwood, and musk</li></ul></blockquote> This perfume is really soft: in order to smell it, you need to be very near the person who wears it. On me, it opens up like a bouquet of flower that mixed with fruits. While the creators described the top notes as having a glossy, vinyl effect, it feels more sunny and cheerful on me as first. The berry notes are very pronounced and bright, I could not help but smile when I first tried Parisienne. About an hour later, the mysterious factor starts to kick in as patchouli and vetiver becomes more pronounced. I did not detect the heart notes or sandalwood and musk at all. Although this perfume smells like a whisper, the lasting power is not so bad as it lasts a whole day for me. Being an unobtrusive fragrance, it grows on me while not giving me a headache. I even wore it more than three times in a row, which is a record for perfumes.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpVlg0-BcSgWzB2t2K6V8vH-g_eBFB9OeHJfI0FR4tRt8phWwOw-ausf69Wn0WUkqCCr8AR0q_t_gWUtjWlEwybR1H275C8LQpcYQAVVhvD30BZjv1JH4A4l4j2dmDddeT7GOfQSNNkg/s1600-h/IMG_3094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpVlg0-BcSgWzB2t2K6V8vH-g_eBFB9OeHJfI0FR4tRt8phWwOw-ausf69Wn0WUkqCCr8AR0q_t_gWUtjWlEwybR1H275C8LQpcYQAVVhvD30BZjv1JH4A4l4j2dmDddeT7GOfQSNNkg/s400/IMG_3094.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Look what I found!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">YSL Parisienne in Marie Claire, October '09 issue<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you've seen the original YSL Paris, you will notice how familiar Parisienne is. The light lavender multi-faceted glass bottle also reminds me of Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb. To some, Parisienne is not strong enough or provocative enough. However, to others who prefer their perfume not to precede their reputation, this perfume is perfect. To me, this is a nice perfume for daytime as it is feminine, mysterious, and soft. However, those whose body chemistry does not bind well with vetiver, patchouli, musk, and sandalwood (the base notes), you may skip this.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Price:</b> $39 USD for 1.0 oz, $65 USD for 1.6 oz, and $85 USD for 3.0 oz at <a href="http://www.yslbeautyus.com/womens-fragrance-parisienne-fragrance/c36_115_116/p461/new-parisienne-eau-de-parfum-spray/product_info.html?gclid=CNeDy4Cqup0CFQwJswodXlDt2A">Yves Saint Laurent website</a> or <a href="http://www.sephora.com/">Sephora</a>.<br /><br /><b>My rating:</b> A <br /><br />That's all for today, folks! What do you think about YSL Parisienne? Have you tried it? Would you like to try it? Comment, ok?<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/?action=view&current=endcredit.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/endcredit.png" /></a><br /><br />P.S: If you like my blog, please <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">subscribe to my feed.</a> Thanks a lot!

Yves Saint Laurent Parisienne: Paris Light

Hi everybody, If I got to choose where I want to live and money were not a problem, I would choose to vivre à Paris. For some reasons, the C...

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Scents of a (Money Conscious) Woman

Hello, gorgeous!<br /><br />On my birthday, one of my cousins wrote this on my Facebook wall:<br /><br />“Happy Birthday to you! You live in a zoo…you look like a monkey…and smell like one too!”<br /><br />Of course, this new verse of the “Happy Birthday” song came from the movie Madagascar. (And my cousin didn’t mean any harm.) While it’s all good, the song brought to my attention what I actually use to perfume myself. I own a lot of perfumes through the years. Each year, I usually get two to three bottles of perfumes – the real stuff, not those cheap body sprays. Yet, I don’t use the real stuff as much. While I don’t have skin allergy to perfumes, they do make me feel nauseated after 3 days of consecutive use of the same scent. And I want to smell good!<br /><br />And you’ll be really surprise of what I use. They are really cheap and may not last as long as EDT or EDP. But whenever I wear them, I smell good!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Scent #1</span>: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Body Fantasies Vanilla Fantasy Fragrance Body Spray</span><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yfPQxGW5WhXQYLMK861rawLEINlSb8VPe5ECI2udCGkUJ4AvwJl_fjMpGzl_3Y6zcnPsOvRVO46P1VBagsHWeXHnMrlvNv6hsEcInehAok4BNjJGZuQYh_ffnmVklktTCIApqTEVNXA/s1600-h/IMG_2469.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360250534583885986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yfPQxGW5WhXQYLMK861rawLEINlSb8VPe5ECI2udCGkUJ4AvwJl_fjMpGzl_3Y6zcnPsOvRVO46P1VBagsHWeXHnMrlvNv6hsEcInehAok4BNjJGZuQYh_ffnmVklktTCIApqTEVNXA/s400/IMG_2469.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Body Fantasies body sprays are like candied crack. They are cheap, they smell good, but they don’t last long. I think they are the drugstore Demeter but you get more volume with the same amount of money. These sprays smell surprisingly good and the lasting power is not too shabby. I was exposed to Body Fantasies through a scent called Fresh White Musk. To this very day, it’s the only musk scent that does not smell dirty on me.<br /><br />As far as vanilla scents go, most of them tend to smell dirty after half an hour wear. At first, they would go really nice and cheery to make me feel like a cheerleader. But as soon as I start to sweat, the vanilla scent would go rancid like old leftover cookies nobody wants.<br /><br /><span id="fullpost"><br />But Vanilla Fantasy is different. It goes out smooth and sweet, and stays the same until the very end. And I do feel like a cheerleader when wearing it! As far as aromatherapy goes, vanilla makes people feel comfortable and open. It can be sensual when pairing with ylang-ylang.<br /><br />A big bottle of Vanilla Fantasy costs around 6 dollars but I got it for a buck during Wal-Mart clearance sale! If you wait until Christmas, you can get 3 mini bottles of Body Fantasies sprays for 4-6 dollars! And if you wait ‘til the day after Christmas, it can be really really cheap! I’m just sayin’…if you can wait that long :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Scent #2:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Old Spice Classic Aftershave</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtY3VWkHMmboahJFnJG05zKYLHWmU4IZHQbFTev3QlGuzkt0fHipCsG4pQOhegnQoIwhNpELPQXMwZy-J5WrkF3tflyEkUiHL3PPxrqNvFhrCHvHSlJNLpz9vAGxU07HJpCWZmyVnVs0w/s1600-h/IMG_2479.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360250539676047874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtY3VWkHMmboahJFnJG05zKYLHWmU4IZHQbFTev3QlGuzkt0fHipCsG4pQOhegnQoIwhNpELPQXMwZy-J5WrkF3tflyEkUiHL3PPxrqNvFhrCHvHSlJNLpz9vAGxU07HJpCWZmyVnVs0w/s400/IMG_2479.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a>That's a bottle of Old Spice sitting on top of a Q- Tips cube :)<br /><br /></div>Ok, please don’t weird out! I know what I’m doing; this scent is an accidental finding to me. As you know, I love the smell of <a href="http://mymakeupblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/my-hair-secrets-out.html">Aveda Brilliant</a> shampoo and conditioner. I love it so much that I wanted to buy the bottled scent to use. But after asking and sniffing around the display area of Aveda Institute, I gave up! So far, Aveda does not bottle this scent of Brilliant to sell to the public. I know my nose is good but to mix ylang-ylang, rose, jasmine, and God-know-what essential oils together to create the scent of Brilliant is not a brilliant idea. I prefer to buy and use it instead.<br /><br />Then, one day I wandered around Target and saw some bottles of Old Spice on sale. Now, one of my cousins used to wear Old Spice aftershave and I remember to love the glass bottle very much. Yet, I did not recall the scent. Over the time, Old Spice came up with different variations of the scents and all of the sudden, aftershaves all smell the same to me: cloying and tacky. But curiosity got a better part of me and I found myself opening that bottle of Old Spice and rubbing a bit of it to my wrist.<br /><br />Ka-bam!<br /><br />It smells really lovely and familiar. But my famished self could not put one and one together. I left the bottle behind and went to find some food. Then the scent hit me in the head: Old Spice Classic is Aveda Brilliant! So I bought it, happy as a clam!<br /><br />To be honest, these two scents are very close: Old Spice Classic has more spice in it (duh!) while Aveda Brilliant is more flowery (double duh!) When Old Spice dies down a bit, the familiarity is astounding. I don’t know who moonlighted whom but I was happy to spend those three dollars plus some change for my Old Spice Classic.<br /><br />The lasting power is short, as it is an aftershave. I do feel good when wearing it and have no skin irritation whatsoever. While it remains a puzzle, I wear some spicy-woody male fragrances well. If I don’t tell you, you would not know they are male perfumes at all. I guess my body chemistry makes them smell sweeter and more feminine.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Honorary Mention:<span style="font-weight: bold;">Avon Sweet Honesty</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8q2MK5wvkugrLY6j3yptJVeNbP9vh4NXxn6Gx048aqLtCPUXG7pc6eIu_iKEKVXH_-9LuLfMWebE_5Glbnqf2ZshqALksMCoFXH0ausPMOLr8FFT37LFB_ls1o_tUb8Nb7LQqHTdpq8/s1600-h/sweet+honesty.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360252345846247762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8q2MK5wvkugrLY6j3yptJVeNbP9vh4NXxn6Gx048aqLtCPUXG7pc6eIu_iKEKVXH_-9LuLfMWebE_5Glbnqf2ZshqALksMCoFXH0ausPMOLr8FFT37LFB_ls1o_tUb8Nb7LQqHTdpq8/s400/sweet+honesty.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 357px; height: 357px;" /></a>Image courtesy Avon.com<br /></div><br />Although this scent is not really cheap like the others, you can always find deals at Avon website to offset the cost. It smells like baby powder but not in a premature way (or an old-fashioned way either!) I find Sweet Honesty to be quite endearing and like the other two, I don't get tired of it.<br /><br />How about you? What are your budget-friendly scents? Please tell me, I'd love to hear about them!<br /><br /><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/?action=view&current=endcredit.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/endcredit.png" /></a><br /><br />P.S: If you like my blog, please <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">subscribe to my feed.</a> Thanks a lot!<br /></span>

Scents of a (Money Conscious) Woman

Hello, gorgeous! On my birthday, one of my cousins wrote this on my Facebook wall: “Happy Birthday to you! You live in a zoo…you look like a...

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Secret Charm: a New Scent from Victoria's Secret

Hello everyone!<br /><br />So far, I’ve never finished a bottle of perfume in my life. Yet, I’ve owned so many bottles of perfumes to count. Also, I’ve never finished a vial of perfume sample either. Yet, I’ve collected a handful of them mostly via Sephora free samples program. This year, I got a gift card from Victoria's Secret to get a gift of $10 or less at their store. I get at least a bottle of perfume a year but so far this year, I haven’t bought any. So I took advantage of the gift certificate and sampled a whole bunch of perfumes from Victoria's Secret Garden collection. Turned out my timing was perfect: VS just released a new fragrance for the Garden collection called <a href="http://www2.victoriassecret.com/commerce/onlineProductDisplay.vs?namespace=productDisplay&origin=onlineProductDisplay.jsp&event=display&prnbr=CU-239363&page=1&cgname=OSBAFGARSCM&rfnbr=6394">Secret Charm</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AMb-21wA-Nc6tme6wBGNl3h4ADNWdczduDKY_d7A_8Vi9loQ-5AuXWfaQKMXdnQB7iYub8mBphPhEcBid57ti_XoveJSOzCEi8nZwIXVOVtyJt7sBB5sulWqYXqAWQaiRzJ4k7zTtXs/s1600-h/IMG_2333.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357665355146489314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AMb-21wA-Nc6tme6wBGNl3h4ADNWdczduDKY_d7A_8Vi9loQ-5AuXWfaQKMXdnQB7iYub8mBphPhEcBid57ti_XoveJSOzCEi8nZwIXVOVtyJt7sBB5sulWqYXqAWQaiRzJ4k7zTtXs/s400/IMG_2333.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a>Secret Charm EDT by Victoria's Secret<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6B8uYEH5Lo4MAxi5RV8wkQU7OBYtXczmFjLvt9p7L1xCUAxJ0viKl9hMv8Xtx_uFIQ3YNsbqtsWFFOVd-c8K8JS2JcNmbcVYJMgqiNx0K7b82yMg7Urb_JzfNbro3U4dAwwMwA_eFi8g/s1600-h/IMG_2335.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357665361927055618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6B8uYEH5Lo4MAxi5RV8wkQU7OBYtXczmFjLvt9p7L1xCUAxJ0viKl9hMv8Xtx_uFIQ3YNsbqtsWFFOVd-c8K8JS2JcNmbcVYJMgqiNx0K7b82yMg7Urb_JzfNbro3U4dAwwMwA_eFi8g/s400/IMG_2335.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a>The bottle<br /></div><br />The one noticeable thing about that day was I had a big bad headache, which was not a good thing for perfume testing. However, it was a blessing in disguise: any perfume that smelled too noxious could be quickly eliminated. My head would have spun out of control after one whiff! The Garden collection, besides being unbelievably affordable, have uncomplicated perfumes. When a bottle of 1 oz. EDT is sold at $9.50, you don’t expect much from it. Give or take, this collection has some really wonderful gems that I’ve cherished for years such as Amber Romance (an amber-vanilla scent), My Desire (a rose scent), and Endless Love (an apple blossom-honey dew-ylang ylang scent).<br /><br />Although perfumes are personal choices, I believe if VS launched this scent in Japan, it could have gone really big. With their beauty philosophy linked with water, this scent is very suitable for the Japanese market. To me, although described as amalgamate of honey suckle, Gala apple, and Stephanotis, Secret Charm smells like water! At first, I sprayed Secret Charm body mist to my arm and it did not smell like anything. The body mist, being a weakest juice in the perfume hierarchy, failed to provide enough scents. I asked the sales associate if she thought the EDT would be stronger and she said yes. And I was happy to get my birthday gift, as well!<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />When I came home, I immediately gave this new scent a try and the sales lady was right: the EDT does smell stronger. However, it is still a very light scent. The correct description should be “whispery soft”. I can’t help but connect Secret Charm to L’Eau D’Issey by Issey Miyake, the Japanese perfume. Out of curiosity, I sprayed Secret Charm on one arm and L’Eau D’Issey to another. Although I still can tell them apart, these scents are pretty close to each other, like sisters. While L’Eau D’Issey started out with jasmine note and calmed down to water notes, Secret Charm is the reverse. It started out smelling like water but as time progressed, the Gala apple and honey suckle notes opened up. However, the apple note is quite subtle. I only recognized it because I wore an apple note perfume when I was a child. That kind of note can’t get out of my head, by the way. It’s quite interesting and if done right, can smell amazing - not cheesy.<br /><br />Overall, I like Secret Charm more than most fragrances from Victoria's Secret Garden collection. I get tired of perfumes pretty fast: after 3 days, a perfume becomes old to me. It either gives me a headache or I simply lose interest. I’ve been wearing Secret Charm a lot last week and so far I still want more of it. I guess the lightness and watery property of this perfume really get into me. This perfume is a surprise to me as I am not really into watery scents. I guess it really has its own charm: the only way somebody to smell it on you is to be really close to you. I find scents like this endearing and charming as they do not precede you but follow you.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtUYYFzKTnXVXweoTFXdhw76xGcIu5UxCQFdhyphenhyphenVN5xMlDxP-ItoZPrjaAjHRORqdAO4rXKrPiHQqVV3eC7NJ_tmn6upCB6rAf6-vbESCsyduoak2nsen_tiPKSx-zK2zlWprU7sJgEGc/s1600-h/IMG_2332.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357665352413715666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtUYYFzKTnXVXweoTFXdhw76xGcIu5UxCQFdhyphenhyphenVN5xMlDxP-ItoZPrjaAjHRORqdAO4rXKrPiHQqVV3eC7NJ_tmn6upCB6rAf6-vbESCsyduoak2nsen_tiPKSx-zK2zlWprU7sJgEGc/s400/IMG_2332.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a>I tried to be more artistic with this picture ;)<br /><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price:</span> $9.50 USD for a 1.0 oz eau de toilette. You can mix and match 10 items from VS Garden for $40 at this time.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">My rating:</span> A+<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/?action=view&current=endcredit.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/endcredit.png" /></a><br /><br />P.S: If you like my blog, please <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">subscribe to my feed.</a> Thanks a lot!<br /></span>

Secret Charm: a New Scent from Victoria's Secret

Hello everyone! So far, I’ve never finished a bottle of perfume in my life. Yet, I’ve owned so many bottles of perfumes to count. Also, I’ve...

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Monday Musing over a Perfume Bottle: Magie Noire by Lancôme

Hi ladies,<br /><br />Happy Monday! Are you ready for a wonderful week ahead? Well, ready or not Monday is here. Last weekend I browsed the mall for inspirations since (a) I live very near the mall now and (b) that's what women do so guys, please don't ask me why :) All of the sudden, I saw a cute bottle of perfume at Lancôme counter that I haven't seen in such a long time. I picked it up and sprayed a bit to my left wrist then went on with my mall walk routine. Usually, I am very picky with perfumes and have a quite sensitive nose. Most perfumes do not seem to impress me that much and after 2, 3 hours, I get tired of them. So the ones I actually use smell like water or baby powder, the type that is not obnoxious enough to give me a headache.<br /><br />However, the most unpredictable thing happened after I sprayed the perfume to my wrist: by the time I reached Victoria's Secret, my nose was jammed to my left wrist as I inhaled in the perfume! Normally, if the perfume is intolerably bad, I would head straight to the restroom and scrub it down. Rarely does a perfume make me jam my nose to my wrist like that and I am wondering why.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxXrxqRYyKk4n_SC2xg2sT7IEQiHpKCWc_03uvftF-iC4qiyj5mWq2Aq5JSi0JAtKTXh3CKO4-REf9y8ztR25HH7Tasn4QdK8ZL6RN-QXKt5ZznYO7Nhpm622Qf08pRSnbz-wADXi8qB3/s1600-h/magie+noire.tif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308669907051050978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxXrxqRYyKk4n_SC2xg2sT7IEQiHpKCWc_03uvftF-iC4qiyj5mWq2Aq5JSi0JAtKTXh3CKO4-REf9y8ztR25HH7Tasn4QdK8ZL6RN-QXKt5ZznYO7Nhpm622Qf08pRSnbz-wADXi8qB3/s400/magie+noire.tif" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 327px; height: 399px;" /></a>Magie Noire perfume by Lancôme<br />Image from <a href="http://slimages.macys.com/is/image/MCY/products/2/optimized/287122_fpx.tif?bgc=255,255,255&wid=327&qlt=90,0&layer=comp&op_sharpen=0&resMode=bicub&op_usm=0.7,1.0,0.5,0&fmt=jpeg">Macy's</a><br /></div><br />It turned out the perfume is nothing new to me, it's Magie Noire (Black Magic in English) from Lancôme. My mom used to wear it in the 80s as her night time perfume and I used to think that she smelled awesome! (She still does, by the way, but has moved on from Magie Noire to Trésor and that's another story for another day.) You see, in the 80s heady oriental perfumes were all over the place and Magie Noire is one of them. I used to rub a bit of it on my hair but it never smelled good on me, like most spicy, heady oriental perfumes never do.<br /><br />However, rumors has it that Lancôme actually changed the formula of Magie Noire when re-releasing it after discontinuing it for a while. As I recalled, the version my mom used in the past was much spicier and headier than the one I tried in the mall. It was so spicy that it could knock an elephant dead from fifty miles away. I remember the air around her (and my aunts and grandma) filled with spice once she applied Magie Noire. And as the name implied, the perfume has some magical and alluring factor in it. Whoever use Magie Noire does look more mysterious and glamorous than usual. And when used at night time, wow!<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />I always think of Sophia Loren and Brigitte Bardot whenever I smell Magie Noire: glamorous and uber feminine women that exudes sex appeal out of their pores. It definitely is not a perfume for young girls (hence I did not like it when I was a kid.) As it is so distinct and special, I would think of it as a special event perfume to complete the look. Believe me, you do not want to wear Magie Noire when going grocery shopping: it is too much!<br /><br />Not only Lancôme changed the formula, the bottle also changed from time to time as well. As I remember correctly, the bottle in the 80s was black like this one:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSu4aAjlONdPAM780RwwpBlyFfakoAp0ofbK3v_eBM0I7XYMdh6a84yoIfXh-isFW_JpiTxJmkQuUokipmC0m3B3ZxnLyAWuGiqWerJiHR8EGfjEFGkc2sBgNBpV5kB44_S9SjX8LWkjj7/s1600-h/Lancome+-+Magie+Noire.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308669913143416210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSu4aAjlONdPAM780RwwpBlyFfakoAp0ofbK3v_eBM0I7XYMdh6a84yoIfXh-isFW_JpiTxJmkQuUokipmC0m3B3ZxnLyAWuGiqWerJiHR8EGfjEFGkc2sBgNBpV5kB44_S9SjX8LWkjj7/s400/Lancome+-+Magie+Noire.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" /></a>Image from <a href="http://www.qb.org.nz/files/Lancome%20-%20Magie%20Noire.jpg">QB</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The current version is so clean and simple that I did not recognize Magie Noire at first. Since Lancôme revised this perfume and made it less spicy, it is more tolerable to me and I actually like it since it is very distinct. In a jungle of fruity floral perfumes, Magie Noire definitely stand out. I find a tiny drop of this perfume last a very long time, as most Lancôme perfume do.<br /><br />As much as it is a fabulous perfume, to me Magie Noire is like an old friend. Whether I like it or not, my taste in perfume is influenced from my mom's choice of perfumes when I was growing up. The 80s was indeed a wonderful time to grow up in and I am glad Magie Noire brought back this perfume.<br /><br />Currently, Magie Noire is priced at $55 USD for a 2.5 fl oz ETD and that's the only version Lancôme offers. I will probably get it once Lancôme has a round of gift with purchase.<br /><br />Well, that's one of my favorite perfumes in the past. How about you? Do you have any favorite perfume when growing up? Please let me know, I'd love to hear about them.<br /><br />Take care and stay gorgeous,<br />Your Makeup Blogger<br /><br /></div></div> P.S: If you like my blog, please <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">subscribe to my feed.</a> Thanks a lot!<br /></span>

Monday Musing over a Perfume Bottle: Magie Noire by Lancôme

Hi ladies, Happy Monday! Are you ready for a wonderful week ahead? Well, ready or not Monday is here. Last weekend I browsed the mall for in...

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Philosophy Inner Grace Perfume: My Inner Strength

Hello ladies,<br /><br />Happy Monday! We are three days away from Christmas Day and I hope the pressure of the holiday season is not getting into you. Lately, I've gone through a lot and it was hard for me to stay calm, let alone cracking a smile. Although I have a lot of perfumes in my closet, I needed one that calms me down and get me through tough time. While browsing Sephora website (I love thee!), I bumped into Philosophy web page. While toying between Amazing Grace, which is the most known Philosophy fragrance, and Inner Grace, the later one's description really pushed my button:<br /><blockquote>Inner Grace is your own personal heaven and was formulated with a scent to help bring peace and balance to your life. If you don't have time to meditate, Inner Grace offers an easy, one-second solution. </blockquote>"That is so what I need!" I thought. Within some couple clicks, a small 0.5 oz bottle of Inner Grace EDP was in my cart! Three days later, a nice FedEx guy delivered to my door a box from Sephora with some stuff and that tiny bottle of EDP.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-9fO5CziHMcPYnnNuuAOHADMg5UPaIhFAPoi_QNo4EPed7u1DszU5ohXf1L0AVHKUS_sdXOsFjePztNbdz8DOrqe-vn4g4iR-sasj9LxO1jzW49a9EcaP78GUbS0nNqsIPrZa7jTAhKN/s1600-h/mkup+103-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282443745350100034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-9fO5CziHMcPYnnNuuAOHADMg5UPaIhFAPoi_QNo4EPed7u1DszU5ohXf1L0AVHKUS_sdXOsFjePztNbdz8DOrqe-vn4g4iR-sasj9LxO1jzW49a9EcaP78GUbS0nNqsIPrZa7jTAhKN/s400/mkup+103-1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Philosophy Inner Grace EDP, 0.5 fl. oz ($15 USD)<br />...and my attempt of being artsy (click for a bigger image, of course!)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygLKRsxS1nAVeKoN03B_V8wOLXM6fBNgAxC1ejU6I_vlG_QDPyJ4E1gy5pOgdwVKNCxKbj2f208HfIzeJkzfzJ02knBG-vNCw6m_pnUGVsfSey1sVbsil9n_eGdeB9z71xa2uJLfspr6x/s1600-h/mkup+101.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282443739638424978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygLKRsxS1nAVeKoN03B_V8wOLXM6fBNgAxC1ejU6I_vlG_QDPyJ4E1gy5pOgdwVKNCxKbj2f208HfIzeJkzfzJ02knBG-vNCw6m_pnUGVsfSey1sVbsil9n_eGdeB9z71xa2uJLfspr6x/s400/mkup+101.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a>Text on the front of the box:<br />"to know peace is to know God. within the context of peace, we can know joy, love and happiness. in the absence of peace, we own nothing but the turmoil of our minds that jump from one negative thought to the next. to find peace, you must shut off your mind and open your heart to the only thing that matters, the gift of the present moment, peace personified."<br /><span id="fullpost"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Philosophy listed this perfume as a soft floral and does not mention the notes. When I wear it, a strong scent of patchouli is very pronounced and as it dies down, it smells a little bit sweeter and I can smell a tiny bit of musk. Usually perfumes with patchouli smells old on me and I was quite put off by it at first (come on, I am the one who recommended Aquolina Pink Sugar, remember?) However, as the day went by, I was more drawn into Inner Grace and the next thing I knew, I took off my shirt and sprayed it all over my body!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwf4tbLIF-wCtEooF4yngBWusoeIUH7OwscjfJUCqT24PeGiKtgtGfWoQAMrhuEiBK-lufynzVBJG7S0A67zGZMiS9rxFrxIcZNoCqlhyphenhyphenmycbmiegFo84TEdLDjrbGlsCCjPEeNrp1kfM7/s1600-h/mkup+102.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282443742421014130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwf4tbLIF-wCtEooF4yngBWusoeIUH7OwscjfJUCqT24PeGiKtgtGfWoQAMrhuEiBK-lufynzVBJG7S0A67zGZMiS9rxFrxIcZNoCqlhyphenhyphenmycbmiegFo84TEdLDjrbGlsCCjPEeNrp1kfM7/s400/mkup+102.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a>I really love the amethyst color of the bottle as well as the simplistic design.<br />Very zen indeed!<br /></div><br />With all that said, Inner Grace is not a heavy or heady perfume at all. Somebody already compared it with Sarah Jessica Parker's first perfume "Lovely" and I care to disagree. I for once cannot stand Lovely at all as it is quite strong and gives me sneezes or headache. Also, I really smell like an old woman (or not showering properly) whenever I wear Lovely. Inner Grace, on the other hand, is lovely! (I know, I'm the master of my words!) It is a type of perfume that is quiet, the kind that you wear for yourself. It does not get into anybody's space but the one who is close to you. It is uplifting and on the days that I think I needed some boosts, I spray a bit of Inner Grace and my days went faster. Sometimes I even dare to think this perfume saves me some neurons. And that's why I love it so much!<br /><br />If you are looking for some peace in your life, this perfume is definitely for you. I cannot think of any other perfumes that I can wear three days in a row without getting tired but this one. Inner Peace is quiet and calm: God knows there are days I just need something like this! I urge you to give it a try, the 0.5 fl. oz is only $15 USD! It also makes a nice stocking stuffer for your loved ones.<br /><br />For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.philosophy.com/web/store/prod_inner-grace-eau-de-parfum____35503_30502_66572?cm_sp=fragrance-_-feb08-_-inner-grace-eau-de-parfum%20text">Philosophy website</a>. Sephora has a better variety of Inner Grace and shipping is always free when you spend $50 USD or more at their website.<br /><br />Happy Monday, ladies! I wish you peace and love during this week. As usual, stay gorgeous!<br /><br />With love,<br />Your Makeup Blogger<br /><br />P.S: If you like my blog, please <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">subscribe to my feed.</a> Thanks a lot!<br /></div></span></div>

Philosophy Inner Grace Perfume: My Inner Strength

Hello ladies, Happy Monday! We are three days away from Christmas Day and I hope the pressure of the holiday season is not getting into you....

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