Nevermind the chocolates this Valentine's Day, here's something better

I'm  not sure if you've noticed, but I've definitely spotted that candy hearts, boxes of chocolates, discounts on flowers and hearts are everywhere at the moment. And of course we can't forget the new fragrance launches gracing the counters! Yes, Valentine's Day is upon us and I've picked up one of the newest love themed launches - the latest scent from Coach.

Now, I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical about this perfume because Coach is not my most favorite affordable luxury, but I put my biases aside, picked up a sample of Coach Love, and breathed deeply.

Spice. That is what you instantly experience. This latest launch from Coach opens with the floral spiciness of carnation and green aspects of violet and immediately catches your attention. It warms into a sophisticated scent layered with patchouli, light musk and caramel-y amber. Finally, the dry down adds one more dulcet tone - soft wisps of powder.

Gentlemen, if your lady's cultured, refined, and possibly even a tad enigmatic ... skip the chocolates and flowers, you've just found the perfect gift! 

Yankee Candle's new spring scents

It's the middle of January and spring is in the air! Well, it isn't really, but it is in my house and has been since December. That's when I picked up Yankee Candle's new spring fragrances!

Unfortunately I was only able to buy four out of the five new launches, Waikiki Melon, Paradise Spice, Golden Sands, and Black Coconut, but, nonetheless, don't their names sound like they'll carry you away to some fantastic faraway place?? I've got high hopes for these scents, especially the exotic Black Coconut!

Since Yankee tends to have such great cold throw, I'll start with this aspect of each candle first.

Paradise Spice's aroma is a gentle, sweet coconut, a pina colada type fragrance, that has layers of soft vanilla intertwined with it. There is an undertone to the fragrance which is hard to discern, and mostly makes the candle smell a bit odd. Possibly this is the 'spice' of the aforementioned candle, though it isn't cinnamon or clove like the Yankee website claims it to be, but possibly a bit aromatic in nature.

Next in line is Waikiki Melon. It has a soft, sweet, and water-y cold throw which pleasantly greets the nose. It's almost as if they combined a watermelon flavored jolly rancher with a perfectly ripe and juicy cantaloupe. It is a fresh, yet mellow and comforting, scent that is pleasing overall.

Onto Golden Sands. It has a more sophisticated cold throw than the others, yet is still a gentle scent. It is a clean, light floral with woody warmth. Despite it's serene tones, I wonder how this would smell in use.

Finally! The mysterious Black Coconut. It's cold throw is intense from first whiff - almost like the bartender on the beach has handed me a drink that's been made too strong! It's warm, creamy, coconut-y, and, oddly, whiskey like. Think Bailey's with a coconut accent (if that's at all possible!). This one should definitely have an interesting aroma in use!

And now, with these tropical scents in mind, we'll move onto their hot throws.

But unfortunately there isn't much to say about the hot throw ... for any of these scents. I tested and re-tested, but each time I nearly burned my nose off trying to experience their fragrance as they failed to scent the evaluation room. What a disappointment! No Black Coconut to indulge in! No Waikiki Melon to delight in!

Truly, it's lovely to have an island theme in my house in the dead of winter, but I have to admit that Yankee's scents did not succeed in whisking me away to any tropical escape. Oh, Yankee Candle, what's happened to your product?? I know the economy is still slow, but does the fragrance dosage or quality of ingredients in your candles need to suffer for it?

Ho-hum, how depressing!

Though, what about you? Have you tried any of these scents? Do you love them, do you hate them? Is your space being filled with a fabulously fragrant tropical bouquet? Make sure to leave a comment below!

Get lost in an Enchanted Forest

Hello 2013! I'm sure you've made all kinds of resolutions (I know I've got a whole list to get through!) and I thought perhaps, like me, one of your resolutions is to do a bit of traveling. I say, why not start now with Enchanted Forest, the new scent from The Vagabond Prince, and our debut fragrance review of 2013.

Enchanted Forest transports you to a deep, dark European forest where the floor of this treed maze is engulfed with blackcurrants: the two aspects of this fragrance that embrace you from the start.

As the scent warms green and woody aspects, which mingle with the sweetness of the black currant, emerge. Though, the enjoyment of these notes is interrupted by animalic castoreum tones. Unfortunately these notes become all too evident for my liking. (Though, to be fair, I'm smelling this on a smelling strip - perhaps on the skin the castoreum wouldn't be so prevalent).

Suddenly the phone rings and I'm pulled away from this black currant heaven; by the time I return to the smelling strip, the dry down greets me. There are pine needles a plenty whose notes tingle the nose, the sweet black currant tones still cling on at the back, and yet there is also a soft undertone of cedar which intermingles with the rest and brings a distinct woodiness to the fragrance.

An Enchanted Forest it is indeed, which the perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour has done well to capture.

Intrigued? You can find out more about The Vagabond Prince Perfume House and their debut fragrance at Fragrantica.

Are you one of the lucky winners of a sample from Fragrantica? Do you love it, do you hate it? Make sure to leave a comment below!

bliss lemon+sage body butter

Today we're going to check out a product which, though not exactly new, is from up and coming brand, Bliss. Bliss Spa was the creation of Marcia Kilgore, and while success didn't happen over night, it did come very quickly for this talented entrepreneur.

In the late '80s while studying at Columbia University, Kilgore started out giving facials to friends out of her apartment. As her skill grew, so did her clientele and in 1991 she opened up a one room office. Two years later she opened a three-roomed spa, and by 1996, with demand exceeding her space, she opened the first Bliss Spa in SoHo, New York.

With an emphasis on high quality skin care and services, and offering a pretentious-free environment, Bliss Spa was a hit. In 1999 it was acquired by LVMH, expanded internationally, and then acquired by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Now with spas in ten US states and around the globe, Bliss Spa is truly a success!

But, what about its products? The products that were given out on JetBlue overnight flights and that are also amenities in Starwood Hotels? Well, I got my hot little hands on Bliss Lemon+Sage Body Butter (purchased at my local Sephora, and also available at Ulta), and it's scent is fantastic...it's just not lemon-y what-so-ever!

Bliss Lemon+Sage Body Butter (paraben free) is a gorgeously vibrant lime scent which has added depth from its herbaceously-green sage dynamics. It's a compelling fragrance that is both light and fresh; warm and earthy, and while the lotion itself is moisturizing, the scent is dry.

It's very interesting indeed, and makes me intrigued by their other scents! Which one is your favorite?

Have you tried this scent? Do you love it, do you hate it? Make sure to leave a comment below!

Couture fantasy to fragrance: Marchesa Parfum d'Extase

Marchesa designer fashion label was launched in 2004 by Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig. Their oft whimsical and romantic designs are inspired by the life ambition of Luisa Casati, an eccentric early-twentieth century Italian heiress, who aspired to be a living work of art. Upon its launch Marchesa met with immediate success, finding fans in celebrities and critics.

Luckily this exquisite label hasn't kept their fantasy from us every day bods who can't afford red carpet wardrobes! 2012 saw Marchesa pen a deal with J.C. Penny and partner with Target and Neiman Marcus - the results of which should be in shops by the end of this year. But if you can't wait until then to get your own bit of whimsy, head to Sephora now! Just this month Marchesa launched their first fragrance (exclusive to Sephora), Parfum d'Extase.

A light, yet intense floral fragrance, Parfum d'Extase is the exact embodiment of Marchesa's whimsical, romantic, and artistic label. From first whiff of the fragrance you are transported to the most fabulous floral shop you could ever imagine. You're surrounded by a gorgeous symphony of scents that, each in turn, have their own solo. Rose and jasmine meet powdery violet and sweet green iris and meld with the (synthetic) velvety, creamy, yet delicate and elegent base notes of Ambrox and Muscenone.

I don't tend to like foral fragrances, but Marchesa Parfum d'Extase is a light, airy, romantic and powdery-dry floral fantasy. It is everything the Marchesa brand is: fanciful, exquisite, artistic, and while I may never wear it, I can definitely appreciate its harmonious beauty.

Have you tried this scent? Do you love it, do you hate it? Make sure to leave a comment below!

Wrapped in BBW's Cashmere Glow

This past weekend saw the promotion of Bath and Body Works new Signature Collection scent, Cashmere Glow. Did you partake in the promo via Facebook and get your free 2oz sample? I did, and I can't tell you how great it was to walk in the shop, go straight to the cashier and receive my freebie! If you didn't participate, don't worry! It's currently on sale for $1, so if you want to pick one up it won't break the bank! Fabulous!

Cashmere Glow with vitamin e, jojoba, and shea butter is a familiarly pleasant and comforting scent. And, honestly, BBW should be proud (and possibly give a raise to their marketing team!) because for once I have to agree with their marketing! It actually does make me feel as if I'm wrapped in a cashmere blanket, warm and cozy on my couch in front of a fire on a cool autumn night. How did they manage to transport me to such a fantastic place? Why through the fragrance, of course! The scent is a delicate mix of sweet fruit, white floral, vanilla, and musk. The combined effect of these aromas makes a wearable, yet luxurious, scent, perfect for the coming cooler months.

I'm not often a BBW fan as their scents are usually overwhelmingly sweet, but not Cashmere Glow. It's warmingly subtle aroma will have you feeling comfortably confident, and others wondering what that wonderful scent you're wearing is!

Have you tried this scent? Do you love it, do you hate it? Make sure to leave a comment below!

The cutest thing ever!

I was recently wandering through the beauty aisles of Target (or Target Boutique, as I like to call it. Target being pronounced with a French accent, of course:/tɑrˈʒeɪ/!), when I stumbled upon the cutest little thing in the whole wide world! You'll never guess what it is either. Go on, go ahead and try!

Huh-uh, that's not it, and I'm so excited I can't wait, so let me just tell you: Vaseline's Lip Therapy. And no, I'm not talking about the regular lip therapy that has a lipstick shape, but the little, mini-me Vaseline bottle. Check it out:

Can you even see it in there?? Is that not the cutest thing?! I just had to buy it, and luckily it was a new variant in the range, too. Double bonus!

Aside from its cuteness, Vaseline Lip Therapy Cocoa Butter has a great subtle fragrance. Its aroma expresses a creamy-vanilla-with-tiny-hints-of-chocolate bouquet, and there's no sugary sweetness to its cocoa butter balm! 

Vaseline's Cocoa Butter variant definitely gets the thumbs up from me - I'm a sucker for its packaging and the scent is fab!

Have you tried this scent? Do you love it, do you hate it? Make sure to leave a comment below!