Friday, October 12, 2012

LADY GAGA FAME PERFUME REVIEW


In this day and age celebrities, their image and their brand are pretty much everywhere you go. They are no longer just a singer, actor, they are a brand.


Of course, with every brand comes the need to have products in just about anything you can think of, including a fragrance. Celebrity perfumes over all have not really given us outstanding, amazing and innovative fragrances. They almost always fall under two categories, on the simpler side of the categories. I am talking about the sweet and flirty or fruity floral. Lady Gaga with Fame did not disappoint us. Over all I think Fame is a nice, easy to wear fragrance. It is a non complicated fragrance, one you will get a lot of use of because it can be worn anywhere.

Back when reports came out that Lady Gaga was interested in having her own fragrance it was said that she wanted a fragrance that had notes of blood and semen. Of course when the reports came out people were a bit shocked to say the least, but expected because at this point anything from Lady Gaga was pretty much expected. Of course the perfume does not include notes of blood and semen, instead it includes a medley of notes that can be categorized as very common in celebrity fragrances these days, with a touch of interesting with the belladonna note.

Lady Gaga was quoted saying that she wanted the fragrance to smell like a very expensive hooker. Now, I don’t know what an expensive hooker smells like, but I know that they can do a lot better and wear more interesting notes if they go with something like Lady Vengeance by Juliet has a gun which is a sweet, seductive and sexy with notes of rose, patchouli and vanilla or even the classic Chanel No. 5 which gives us that hint of sophistication, sensuality and clean notes that makes it smell like an expensive boudoir.

Let’s talk Fame by Lady Gaga, the notes include, “"tears of belladonna, crushed heart of tiger orchidea with a black veil of incense, pulverized apricot and the combinative essences of saffron and honey drops”. If it’s one thing, the notes description makes it sounds more interesting than it really is. Fame is a good fruity floral. I would say it’s definitely a step up from the normal fruity floral you get with your main stream celebrity fragrance. Fame really did set out to be a good perfume that can translate in many places and times during the season. And it does this well.

On me fame initially really smells a bit like grape juice. I was quite disappointed with it. Eventually the fragrance starts to get a bit more interesting with the floral sweet, caramel like notes coming in. Its soft yet heady if that makes any sense. I have worn in on warm days and on cool days and it has worked fine on both temperatures. Sometimes the notes change a bit on me and I smell more of the fruity notes, and sometimes the floral sweet notes play at my nose. Coty has expressed that they used innovative technology with Fame “push pull technology” which makes the notes highlight aspects of each other not taking into account which one is more important than the other. It is not a bad fragrance by any means. It’s actually decent. The staying power was what impressed me the most about the fragrance. I smelled it on me pretty much all day. Five hours into a work day and it was still going strong but I felt that it was not offensive for the work place. The fragrance by no means is as innovative as I think Gaga and Coty wanted it to be. The fact that they used black perfume that sprays clear as their marketing gimmick did not make the perfume any more appealing. To me, the interest in the black liquid spraying clear last about as long as it took for the liquid to hit my skin.

Do I recommend Fame? Yes, if you are looking for an inexpensive fruity floral that is not as main stream as the rest of the bunch, and gives you a bit of some darkness with the belladonna note, give this one a try.

Until next time, continue to live an amazing, beautiful fragrant life!!

Alexandra



Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Top 10 Body Wash Products

For some people, taking a shower or taking a bath is the only time during the say where they get to reflect and unwind from their busy and hectic day.


For others, this is a time for relaxation no matter how their day went. This is a time where we can use fragrance in a very broad way. We can experiment, try new notes and rinse them right out if we do not like them.

Below is a list of the top 10 body wash products via www.oprah.com.



Dove Go Fresh Revive Body Wash

The scent: Sweet pomegranate and sharp lemon verbena.
Why it's a winner: It deeply hydrates with soybean oil and glycerin.


Olay Total Effects Body Wash Deep Penetrating Moisture

The scent: Fresh and citrusy.
Why it's a winner: A high concentration of vitamin E nourishes skin.


Nivea Touch of Honeydew Hydrating Shower Gel

The scent: Refreshing and sweet.
Why it's a winner: Synthetic beads gently exfoliate before releasing hydrating sunflower oil.

Fruits & Passion Foaming Body Wash Grapefruit Guava

The scent: Tangy, invigorating and tart.
Why it's a winner: The foam formula won't strip your skin of moisture.

Thymes Agave Nectar Body Wash

The scent: Red grapefruit, guava and lemon blossom.
Why it's a winner: It's lightweight but packed with jojoba oil and aloe vera to soothe and moisturize.

L'Occitane Olive Organic Shower Cream

The scent: Woody and slightly green.
Why it's a winner: The ultra hydrating formula is perfect for sensitive skin.

MOR Snow Gardenia Hand & Body Wash

The scent: Juniper berry, ylang-ylang, vanilla—and a hit of gardenia, of course.
Why it's a winner: The delicate fragrance lingers on your skin all day long.

Molton Brown Paradisiac Pink Pepper pod Bath & Shower Gel

The scent: A mix of pink pepper, ginger, and patchouli.
Why it's a winner: It strikes the perfect balance between crisp and musky.

Juara Candlenut Hydrating Shower Gel

The scent: Flowery (freesia, jasmine and rose) with a hint of coconut.
Why it's a winner: It's free of potentially irritating sulfates and parabens.

Balenciaga Paris Shower Gel

The scent: Notes of rich violet, pepper and moss.
Why it's a winner: The silky lather and unique fragrance are utterly luxurious.


Go ahead and try them out and continue to live an amazing fragrant life!!

Alexandra


Wednesday, September 19, 2012

YouTube video is up. Here I go into more details about the Bath and body, perfume haul.


Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel and blog. Thanks for watching and continue to live a beautiful fragrant life.

 

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Fall Haul 2012 – Happy fall is around the corner

Today I want to share with you a haul. These items were purchased by me in the last month or so.



Bath and Body Works
Slatkin & Co. 3-wick candles were purchased during the recent 2 for the price of 1($19.50) sale during labor day weekend.
I really like these candles. So far the ones I have tried have had really great projection and scent pay off. The ones I purchased were;

Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin – It smells like fall to me. When I smelled this at the store I truly just wanted to dive right in. Its sweet, filled with spices that speak to my love of the fall in every way. Great candle. In B&BW’s website this scent is described as “sweet pumpkin pie, rich vanilla cream and a touch of cinnamon”.
Autumn – this candle spoke to me for the freshness that autumn brings. I love it when the weather first starts to change. The air has only a hint of the cold weather and you are filled with anticipation for the wonderful things autumn and the rest of the year has to bring with all the holidays and the wonderful scents that come with it. This scent is fruity, fresh with a hint of spice and sweet. In B&BW’s website this scent is described as “dark pomegranate, sweet red apple and woodsy fir balsam”.

I love the anti-bacterial hand soaps from B&BW’s. I always have one in my bathroom and kitchen with a scent that goes with that season. With that in mind I purchased the, sweet cinnamon pumpkin scent to go in my kitchen and bathroom. I was not that impressed with the scents. I purchase the one with the moisturizing beads for the kitchen and the creamy formula for my bathroom. The formula with the beads does not smell like sweet cinnamon pumpkin at all. It is more fruity and sweet with a hint of spice. The creamy formula is a bit more like what I expected but it still falls short in the “fall” department.

I purchased for one dollar a sample lotion for an upcoming new fragrance line at B&BW’s, Cashmere Glow. I really liked this lotion. It actually reminds me a bit of twilight woods. Really yummy.

Perfumes:
I acquired two new perfumes. One I purchased through Groupon for a discounted price and the other I purchased at ROSS department stores for a very affordable price. Both were blind buys but I am very happy that I purchased them as I am very happy with the fragrances.

Bvlgari – Omnia – This fragrance is spicy, dark, woody yet it holds a nurturing and sensual feel to it. It’s very inviting. The fragrance is described as a modern oriental, a few of the scent notes are mandarin, saffron, masala tea, and white chocolate.

Elizabeth Arden – Green Tea, Exotic – I already own the regular Green Tea version of this perfume and I really enjoy wearing it. Green Tea is light and fresh, perfect to wear during hot summer days. Green Tea Exotic has the basic same components with the addition of floral notes. It remains very fresh and clean but now has that hint of femininity that the original was lacking. Great scent and buy, especially for the price. Some of the notes are, tea, citrus, spearmint, in addition to exotic florals. The dry down mixes with woods and light musk.

I also picked up a few items at a store called Lot Less, you can get items here at a very very affordable price. I picked up three items from a natural beauty company called Ecotools.


Ecotools sustainable softness body lotion – very light and fresh.

Ecotools blooming planet body mist – Soft, clean and floral.

Ecotools love heels all, intensive heel cream - Its very creamy and minty.


These were the items I purchased for this haul. Let me know if you would like for me to review any of these items.

I hope you are enjoying the weather and I hope that you are just as excited as me for the upcoming fall season.



Till next time, and I hope you continue to live a beautiful and fragrant life.



Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Today, September 4, 2012, back at work after a long labor day weekend. I hope everyone had an amazing weekend with family and friends. I hope the fragrant scents of the last lazy days at the beach, barbecues and fun days at the park were part of your summer. For me this summer was more about the pool than the beach, and I didn’t get to enjoy the park as much. I have to say that I am looking forward to the fall more than I thought I would. I am usually all about the summer. But right now I just can’t wait to see the leaves change, the nice cool breeze that lets us know that the cooler weather is right around the corner, and the amazing scents that identify the fall and the holidays. For me, the fall truly is the most amazing time of the year.


Since summer is still with us, I did want to squeeze the last bit of it. This weekend I changed the hand soap that I am using in my bathroom and kitchen. I have Bath and Body Works, Papaya Melon Scoop in my bathroom, sweet and fruity, and in my kitchen I change to Bath and Body Works Dancing Waters fresh and aquatic.

For home fragrance, I am still burning the same candle that I have been burning all summer, Slatkin & CO Seaside Escape. Really awesome, fresh and yummy scent.

BATH AND BODY WORKS, PAPAYA MELON SCOOP


Bath and Body works describes the scent as a blend of honey, coconut milk, olive fruit extracts, and Mango Fruit extract. Lightly scented with iced papaya, melon and juicy watermelon.


For me it is very sweet, very fruity.












BATH AND BODY WORKS, DANCING WATERS




Light fragrance of cool water flowing through a field of fresh flowers.
For me its very clean and aquatic. Very light fragrance.


                                 


SLATKIN & CO, SEASIDE ESCAPE





Bath and Body Works describes it as a luscious guava and passion fruit, infused with juicy watermelon and rich tonka bean.










These are just things I use to remind me that although the last couple of days the weather seems to be cooler and beach time is technically over, summer is still here with us.
I am very much looking forward to the fall, but I also don’t want to rush it, as anticipation is also part of the allure.
Enjoy the rest of the summer and I hope it continues to be a fragrant time.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Woman by Donna Karan


A fragrance for multi-faceted women

Story

Woman by Donna Karan is inspired by all that women are… It celebrates their vision, generosity, and desire to inspire the world. It reflects beauty, intuition, but also vulnerability. ‘When I approached the project, I wove this idea of the multi-faceted woman into all aspects of the process’, explains Donna Karan. Woman is composed of woody notes (‘ingredients that are traditionally found in masculine fragrances’) wrapped with white flowers. According to Donna Karan, the fragrance embodies the ‘dichotomy of softness and strength’ of each woman.

Description

A woody-floral scent, Donna Karan Woman is brightened with orange blossom. The two main ingredients of this fragrance are Haitian vetiver and creamy sandalwood. Perfumer : Anne Flipo, IFF.

Top notes

Orange Blossom

Heart note

Vetiver, Floral Notes

Base note

Creamy Notes, Sandalwood



Via- www.ozmoz.com

Friday, August 17, 2012

This is part 3 of my perfume collection.
Let me know if you have any request's as to what perfume you would like for me to review.
Dont forget to follow my blog and subscribe to my youtube channel.
Enjoy your scented life!

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Work, To wear or not to wear fragrance?

As I sit at my desk and wonder about the scents that surround me, I ask. Do we all even bother to think about what our work space smell like. We spend most of our week at work and yet, it is one of those areas that we never think about when it comes to fragrance. Unfortunately, in a world were so many people are allergic to scents and a “fragrance free” work place is the norm. It’s almost quite depressing to think that the place where we spend so much of our daily life, lacks the personality, the comfort that scent can bring to us.


My immediate work space smells like my lotions and the occasional spritz that I put on from the perfume I may carry on my purse that week. But I do try to keep it to a minimal as not to offend anyone. That being said, I do work with someone who before you get to her workspace you can smell what perfume she is wearing. I love that. I know that this may cause grief or even discomfort for some people I think the fact that she uses fragrance to enhance her day is admirable. I love her abandon of the rules and her boldness as she wears what her heart desires in a world where wearing any noticeable scent to work is taboo.

Other scents that occasionally drift to my work space is the smell of food. As people go about their day and eat at their desk, I get to enjoy how diverse people can be just by the smells coming from the food they eat. I can be transported to the Caribbean, Italy, India, China, or down the street to the local burger place. One of my favorite ones is every now and then the smell of warm buttery popcorn makes its way to my desk. Popcorn to me will always be one of those nostalgic scents..aaaaahhh to be a child again and experience the big screen for the first time. Wonderful memories.

I say, wear what makes you happy. Enjoy the scents that bring joy to your life, but if at work, do it in moderation where both you and everyone around you is happy and maybe you can transform with the beauty of your scent someone who before you came along , lived a “fragrance free” life.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Check out the second part of my perfume collection!!
Stay tune for part 3.



Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Please check out My Perfume Collection Part 1. I will post part 2 of my collection this week.
Let me know if there is a perfume from my collection that you would like for me to review.
***Don't forget to subscribe***









Santal majuscule by Serge Lutens


Olfactory memories from school days



Santal majuscule is the third sandalwood fragrance Serge Lutens has dreamt up – after Santal Blanc, a rather gentle scent, and the spicier Santal de Mysore. To a certain extent, there’s even Jeux de peau, which Santal majuscule is somewhat like. The fragrance is reminiscent of Serge Lutens’s school days, when he entertained himself by embellishing the capital letters (“majuscules,” in French) of his essays with all sorts of doodles.

Description

Hard to categorize, Santal majuscule opens with spicy and syrupy notes. In the heart, sandalwood intertwines with a strongly present rose, before giving way to a sweetly woody trail with a chocolaty effect.


Top Notes

Spicy Notes, Syrupy Notes

Heart Note

Sandalwood, Rose

Base Note

Woody Notes, Chocolaty Notes

Via www.ozmos.com

Friday, August 3, 2012

Youtube Introduction Video

I have decided to venture into the world of video. I posted my first video on The Scented Nook's youtube channel. I will be posting reviews on perfumes, bath and body products and home products.
Go check it out and subscribe.




Fame by Lady Gaga


Oriental - Floral

You’ll go completely gaga for this black-hued eau de parfum

Story

American pop star Lady Gaga is launching her first fragrance. Fame is a reference to her first album, The Fame. The mysterious black juice changes color, going transparent when you spray it on. “It’s black like the soul of fame, but invisible once airborne,” Lady Gaga explains.

Description

Fame, by Lady Gaga, unveils a fruity apricot opening. Then the scent blossoms with floral notes of jasmine, orchid and belladonna before segueing into the end of its olfactory path with tonalities of honey and frankincense. Perfumers: Richard Herpin, Honorine Blanc and Nathalie Lorson, Firmenich.

Range

Eau de Parfum 1 and 1.7 oz.; Shower Gel 6.8 oz.; Body Lotion 6.8 oz.; Soap 5 oz.

Bottle

The golden cap is set onto the slightly oval bottle with a golden claw. The bottle is transparent, the better to flaunt the unusual black juice. Make no mistake: it really is the juice, and not the bottle, that’s black



Top notes

Apricot, Saffron

Heart note

Belladona, Jasmine, Orchid

Base note

Honey, Frankincense

Via www.osmoz.com

Monday, July 30, 2012

Love Love Love by Bath & Body Works




A scent for lovers

Love Love Love by Bath & Body Works is inspired by ‘one-of-a-kind love’. The brand wants to create a romantic atmosphere for the fragrance : ‘between a fairytale romance and a magical dream’. The scent is sweet and succulent. For more information: www.bathandbodyworks.com

Love Love Love starts with fruity notes of berries, white plum and juicy pear. At the heart, peony meets lily and freesia. The dry-down mixes blond woods with vanilla and musks.

.

Top notes

Bay, White Plum, Pear

Heart notes

Peony, Lily-of-the-Valley, Freesia

Base notes

Blond Woods, Vanilla, White Musks


Via http://www.osmoz.com/