Monday, September 24, 2012

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!

Monday, September 17, 2012

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!

Friday, September 14, 2012

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!

Monday, September 10, 2012

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!

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

A Hawaiian paradise in your home

Shhh. C'mere! I've got a secret to tell you! OK, maybe it isn't that big of a secret, but I thought it was time to tell you the truth. You ready? 'Cause here it is: I am a Costco addict. Food, furniture, electronics, eye glasses, pots, pans, hangers.  You name it, I buy it. Which is why you can't be surprised when I was taking my daily peruse of my favorite warehouse and I got something for you! Well, maybe it was a little for me, too.

Photo from
paradisecandlesofhawaii.com
On my way to the vegetable area to get my 5lb bag of fresh spinach, I was distracted by a simple, unassuming display of candles. Never one to pass up a chance to check out new products, I scuttled over and began smelling the enchanting scents of Paradise Candles of Hawaii.  Made in the USA, these tropical scented soy candles had fantastic cold throws and attractive natural wood containers. Not yet a millionaire, there was no way I could buy a sample of each variant, so after a long debate between Coco-Mango, Gardenia of the Gods, Fruit Stand Wipeout, and Kona Coffee, I opted for Green Tea and Ginger. It's subtle sweet-apricot-ginger-freshness kept me coming back, and was what won its place in my shopping cart.

So, now I have to be honest with you (again). I haven't properly had a chance to evaluate this candle because I used it. I used it and it's all gone. That's how wonderful this candle was - I loved it so much I didn't even get the chance to share it with you. Please forgive me!

What I can tell you is the hot throw of Green Tea and Ginger was just as magnificent as the cold throw. In use, its slightly-sweet-apricot-ginger-freshness filled the space of my large open floor plan (with vaulted ceilings!), and when unlit its fragrance gently filled the air that surrounded it. The website states the candles are scented with 'premium quality oils and fragrances' and there is absolutely no doubting this!

I hope you can forgive me for indulging so shamelessly in this wonderful candle, but if you got your hands on one I'm sure you'd do the same!

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

Thursday, August 23, 2012

The Naked Bee

A gift!  A gift!  I've been given a gift!  A friend was wandering around a shop checking out their inventory when she came across something she thought I'd love.  The next time I saw her she excitedly presented me with it:  The Naked Bee Orange Blossom Honey Moisturizing Hand & Body Lotion.

I looked quizzically at the spartan packaging of the brown pump bottle as she enthusiastically jumped around.  "You have to use it right now and tell me what you think it smells like," she encouraged.  I shrugged my shoulders, took a small amount of the 70% certified organic product, massaged it into my hands, and indulged in its scent.

She insisted on immediately knowing what I thought.  "Smarties!" I replied, suddenly craving the childhood candy.  But she disagreed, pulling out something from her cupboard.  "It is completely PEZ," the mother of two PEZ-loving kids argued, handing me a full dispenser.  As I munched away I agreed with her that it definitely had PEZ aromatics, but I still favored the overall smell to be Smarties-esque.

As the debate continued, I kept reapplying the lotion because those sweet, loud, nostalgic top notes quickly quietened (though did not completely disappear) to reveal a warmth in the heart.  It mellowed the candy top notes and enriched them to reveal a bouquet of citrus, soft floral, and honey.  It's a clean and comforting scent, as well as The Naked Bee's best selling variant!

The debate still continues, PEZ or Smarties, but it doesn't really matter because it's a fabulous fragrance (in a great lotion)!

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

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Purbliss: Killer Kandles

This week we're experiencing pure bliss!  Wait a second, I spelled that wrong!  We're experiencing PurBliss, all natural soy wax candles.  Purbliss is a family run business out of California.  Their candles are sustainable and eco friendly, which is great news for the environment!  I've been lucky enough to receive some samples of two of their ranges and today we're focusing on PurBliss's Killer Kandle range because, as I've just learned, it's being phased out!  So, since they'll only be around a short while longer, let's get started.

First up we've got Cherry Bomb, which smells exactly how you'd expect!  Taking the lid off of the candle tin I'm met with a sweet explosion of cherry candy.  Delish!  The scent is strong and I have to fight to keep myself from tasting it since it smells so yummy.  In use, the scent is delicate and soft, but still sweet cherry candy.  It is a flavorsome aroma, but, truthfully, the hot throw could be stronger!

Next we've got Desert Passion.  It's got a great cold throw strength of dry cedarwood and warm, yet fresh, aromatic pine, which is lifted by lemon top notes.  This guy's got a lot going on in its earthy aromas!  In use, the fragrance calms into a light citrus scent, gently warmed by its aromatic-woody dimensions.  It is a sophisticated fragrance with a great cold throw, but could definitely be a bit more robust in use.

Finally, Killer Kandle number three: Lemon Drop Pop.  The strength of this candle's cold throw is, yet again, fantastic!  It fills the nose with lemon drop (go figure!) sweetness, pledge cleanliness and herbal warmth.  It isn't as tasty smelling as Cherry Bomb, but I'm not bothered by that as the scent is much more dynamic overall.  In use, the bouquet is very linear and fills the room with a pleasant and gentle citral aroma.  Like with the others, its hot throw could also benefit from a tad more strength!

All in all these candles have great scents with fabulous cold throws that draw you in, yet (as noted) the hot throw could offer a little bit more to keep you coming back!

Have you tried these scents?  Love them, hate them?  Make sure to leave a comment below!

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Flanker Alert! Dior Addict Eau (not so) Sensuelle

I'm just going to jump right in and say it: this fragrance is a complete deviation from Dior Addict.  There are no hints of the luscious vanilla or the heady jasmine that so enraptured me in the original juice.  I'm not sure why Dior (other than for pure marketing reasons) attached this scent to the Addict line.  It truly is its own fragrance.  But, enough of my ranting.  Let's get on to the evaluating...

Dior Addict Eau Sensuelle is an extremely soapy-clean fragrance.  It opens with light rose aromas that subtly warm into fresh, light, and clean lilac notes.  They blend together flawlessly with the clean dry down of white musk which defines this scent and gives it a powdery-soapy-clean depth.  It triggers memory cues of Ivory soap... Did I mention this fragrance was clean?

If you read Scents n Scentsibility's post on Dior Addict Eau Fraiche, you'll know there's some confusion regarding these flankers.  Reviewers on Fragrantica overwhelming think Eau Sensuelle is only Addict to Life rebottled.*  Or if it's not Addict to Life they are comparing it to then they say it's a reincarnation of Forever and Ever Dior, which they prefer.

As for me, I'm wondering if this is Dior's take on Estee Lauder's groundbreaking 1996 pure and soapy-clean Pleasures.  And now that just leaves you - what do you think?

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

*I've never smelled Addict to Life, but the olfactive triangle tells me it is a Floral-Musky-Spicy scent (much different to what I've just smelled in Eau Sensuelle)

Monday, August 6, 2012

A year on, Givenchy Dahlia Noir still not so noir


The advert for Givenchy's Dahlia Noir is intoxicating.  Did you watch it?  If not, take a second and enjoy...

Scents n Scentsibility looked at this fragrance last year at its launch; a year on I thought it would be good to revisit it.  Instead of merely testing the fragrance in store, I was able to snag myself a sample so I could properly evaluate this scent at home.  With the ability to analyze over time and re-test, do I still find the fragrance a 'Flower Soixante Plus' - a fragrance for the over 60s?

Hmmm.  I believe it could best be described as "a delicate powdery note as subtle and sensual as the velvety texture of a newly opened flower blossom."  Which, unfortunately for Dahlia Noir, is the product description for Glade's (yes, Glade the air freshener) Soft Petals variant (available in the UK).  It is a heavy powdery-floral-vanilla-musk scent that immediately triggered scent memory cues of grandmothers and old skool aerosol air fresheners à la Soft Petals.  So, to answer the earlier question, yes, I still find the fragrance one for the older generations.

But, that's not to say that you will!  I decided to research Dahlia Noir reviews to see if others had the same opinion.  Some did, but there were many positive comments as well.  For example at Fragrantica, reviewers found the fragrance sophisticated, soft and feminine, and also romantic.

After reading these reviews I decided to give the juice another chance.  I sprayed it afresh and while evaluating the fragrance I watched the advert to get the full impact of the scent.

Doing this definitely altered my experience; it allowed me to ignore my memory cues and appreciate the depth of the fragrance.  The powder, the tiny hints of citrus in the top notes, the soft floral notes in the heart of the fragrance, the warmth of the dry down.

For forty-five seconds I was able to understand how it could be defined as sophisticated, feminine, romantic.  And then the advert ended and it was all grandmothers and air fresheners.  Completely unappealing and absolutely disappointing!

Oh well, at least I tried!

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

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Flanker Alert! Dior Addict Eau (so) Fraiche

Dior Addict is a sensual floriental which was originally launched in 2002 to great success.  Since then flanker after flanker* has been rolled out and this summer is no exception!  The Dior Addict range has expanded by two, the first of which we'll be looking at today.

Dior Addict Eau Fraiche opens with a delightfully bright bergamot hit entwined with juicy mandarin hints.  It quickly warms and as the fragrance progresses to the heart a vibrant musk and quiet rose character emerge.

The fragrance is quite linear once the citrus dimensions settle.  What remains is the heart, which is a refreshingly luminous (dare I say, fraiche!) citrus-floral-musk aroma.
In truth, I wasn't expecting much from this fragrance, but it's not the first time I've been proven wrong.  Dior Addict Eau Fraiche is simply a great fragrance!

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

*After doing some research, it's clear that the range of Dior Addict flankers is actually getting quite confusing!  Dior launched an Addict Eau Fraiche in 2004, but, looking at the 2012 Eau Fraiche olfactive triangle, it is a completely different fragrance.  That said, if you compare this review to the 2004's olfactive triangle it appears that the fragrances are quite closely related to one another, if not in fact one and the same!

Also, one comment on NST noted that a salesperson at the Dior counter informed that past fragrances, Addict to Life and Addict 2, have been reconceptualized (new bottle, name, marketing, but same fragrance) and are now Addict Sensuelle and Eau Fraiche.

Do you have clarity on this confusing situation?  Make sure to leave a comment below!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

DKNY London Olympics - Oops! Be Delicious

Today begins the quest for gold medals as the first of the Olympic competitions kicked off in the United Kingdom.  Yes, Friday is the official opening ceremony in London, but because the soccer competition takes so long to complete the first women's soccer matches were played today in Wales.  If you're wondering, GB beat NZ 1-0, and the US beat France 4-2.  Not a bad start, I'd say.  Well, that is depending on who you're supporting!

But, does it really matter who you're rooting for?  I'm not sure it does for DKNY's latest flankers in the Be Delicious range - aptly called DKNY Hearts The World.

The DKNY Be Delicious range first came into being with the launch of Be Delicious in 2004.  Since then the apple shaped bottle has graced fragrance shelves in a multitude of variations - Be Delicious Men, Golden Delicious, Delicious Night, Delicious Candy Apples, Red Delicious, Red Delicious Men... The list is long and has not stopped growing; the newest fragrances in the DKNY Hearts The World range all 'heart' a major city: NYC, Paris, Rio, and, of course, London.

So, what does DKNY think London's scent should smell like?  Sweat in honor of the athletes participating in the Olympics?  Rose in honor of England's national flower? Let's find out.

DKNY Be Delicious Heart London opens with a bright sweet citrus scent tinged with the tiniest hint of bubble gum.  It quickly warms to a gentle aroma of white floral and (yep!) rose.  The dry down remains rose-y and settles on the skin well due to its creamy amber and soft musk undertones.

It is an uncomplicated fragrance that is fresh, pretty and a perfect accessory for a sunny summer day... or a rainy one if you're in London!

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

Yankee Candle Fall 2012: Harvest Welcome

Spicy Chicken Vindaloo
http://www.currytastic.com/category/vindaloo/ 
You know what I love?  I absolutely love an Indian curry.  My taste buds delight in the exotic cardamom, cumin, and chili pepper flavors.  I think it is one of my favorite foods, if not my most favorite food of all time.  Hmmm, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!

But unfortunately this love has a draw back.  After a delectable curry the cardamom, cumin and chili pepper aromas suddenly aren't so pleasingly exotic, but are desperately, overwhelmingly strong and, yes, even malodorous.  Shirts, pants, jackets are all in need of either a good Febreze dousing or heavy duty washing!

Now, you must be asking yourself, why the heck is Scents n Scentsibility carrying on about Indian curry?  Aren't we were here to learn about the new fall scents from Yankee Candle?!

Right you are!  And Yankee Candle's new fall scent Harvest Welcome smells of ... can you guess?  Indian curry!!  I have no idea how this one got past the evaluation team unless YC marketing truly wanted a fragrance ripe with cumin, cardamom seed, and curry powder.  And this is no over-exaggeration!

Upon first indulging in the aroma you're greeted with a punch in the face of Big Red cinnamon, spicy cardamom, and also, disturbingly, a dirty note in the undertones reminiscent of vomit.  A person dear to my heart described it very elaborately as "gross".

Interested to see what the fragrance would progress to in use, I lit it and anxiously waited to see what would happen.

And what happened is my evaluation room smelled like curry!  It is strong - the scent seeping through the cracks in the door and infiltrating the outside space.  It is pure cumin, curry and cardamom seed and I immediately snuffed the candle out!

The only time I want my house smelling of curry is when I am cooking it, and even then, after the delicious meal, I do malodor control and open windows and spray air fresheners and light candles.

Wow, Yankee Candle.  I have no idea what you were thinking when you ok'd this fragrance for production!  'Farm fresh pumpkins spiced with just the right amount of brisk autumn air' it is not - Indian curry it definitely is!

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

Monday, July 23, 2012

Yankee Candle Fall 2012: Whoopie Pie

Find the recipe here: epicurious
(photo by: Mary Ellen Bartley)
whoopie pie (n):   a confection of two small and flat chocolate cakes with cream frosting in the middle; also called whoopee pie, black-and-white.

This delicious goodness originates from the New England area of the United States.  Although, interestingly, there is controversy as to which state this scrumptious treat hails from.  Is Maine its home, or is it Pennsylvania?  Or possibly New Hampshire or even Massachusetts?

Unbelievably, this is such a heated debate that Maine proposed legislature in 2011 to make the Whoopie Pie its official state pie, and thus staking claim to it!

I don't know the answer to its origins, but it is unsurprising, knowing Yankee Candle's New England roots, that they have a Whoopie Pie variant in their Fall 2012 candle range!  And my! What a heavenly Whoopie Pie they have created!

The first experience of the candle is intoxicating!  Its scent is rich with dry cocoa notes which blend seamlessly with soft mint tones and creamy marshmallow hints.  It is chocolate cake batter in a candle.  Delish!

In use a pleasant mouth-watering chocolate scent fills the room.  Infused within these chocolatey notes is the creamy marshmallow aroma which was present in the cold throw.  The mint notes disappear when the candle is burned, but it doesn't lessen the loveliness of the fragrance, just makes it less mint-chocolate-y.

As a chocolate lover myself, I can see only one problem with this scent - in use it isn't very strong!  What a pity - warm chocolate cake is one thing I don't mind my house smelling of!

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

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Yankee Candle Fall 2012: Apple Pumpkin

Have you ever eaten an Apple Cinnamon Nutri Grain bar?  If so, then you can perfectly imagine the aroma of the new Apple Pumpkin variant from Yankee Candle's Fall 2012 candle range.  It is an instantly recognizable apple-cinnamon-crumble-y-pie crust scent.  It's pleasant,  but disturbingly 'foody'.  Nutri Grains are definitely tasty, but to be honest, I'm not quite sure I'd want my home smelling of 'em!

With trepidation I wondered, would the foodiness aspect of the fragrance be present in use?  I had to find out, so I hurried to my evaluation area and anxiously lit the candle.

Sadly, the strong notes that are easily perceived in Apple Pumpkin's cold throw are all but missing in the hot throw!  Yes, the disliked foody-Nutri-Grain aspects have disappeared to leave a soft apple-cinnamon scent behind, but the fragrance itself is completely unexciting and boringly status quo.  Where is the pumpkin?  Where is the clove and ginger the website claims is in there?!  What a (wholly unsurprising) bummer that Apple Pumpkin isn't as dynamic as the marketing portrays it to be!

Oh well...despite the disappointment in what Apple Pumpkin could have been, at least it is an overall decent apple-cinnamon scent!

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

Monday, July 16, 2012

Yankee Candle Fall 2012: Treehouse Memories

I don't know about you, but for me tree houses are a thing of folk lore - I've never had one, nor have I ever seen one!  To me, they are the special places that kids on TV retreat to, and also where they have their secret club meetings.  They are the coolest thing ever and to this day I'm jealous of Bart Simpson for having one!

Unfortunately, what this means is that Bart Simpson is way more qualified than I when it comes to knowing what Treehouse Memories could possibly smell like.  But, of course, I'm going to give it a go despite my deficiencies in this area!

Treehouse Memories from Yankee Candle's Fall 2012 range is warmly masculine.  It has a generic clean-woody-musc-y essence, much like a traditional men's cologne, but it is also intensely smoky, making it a more modern scent.

In use, Treehouse Memories is not very strong, but it does still manage to fill the room with a wonderfully woody-earthy-smoky aroma.

This fragrance is a mature scent and I'd be surprised if it reminded anyone of their own tree house memories.  But hey, what's in a name?

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

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Yankee Candle Fall 2012: Season's Blessings

I love that purple is the color of Season's Blessings, the next variant in our search for the best new fall fragrance from Yankee Candle.  Really, how often do you see a rich and sumptuous plum colored candle?  Not too often, which has got Yankee earning some brownie points!

Season's Blessings is a scent targeted at oriental-woody lovers.  The cold throw is an intricate mixture of berry, clove, and cardamom.  This sweet-spicy concoction is not at all food-y in nature, but is rather complex and enticing due to its base note of dry cedarwood.

In use, it is immediately apparent that the fragrance has lost a lot of its original strength.  A waxiness comes through and distracts away from the fruity sweet-spicy-woody tinged notes that should be taking center stage.  It is a shame that this happens because the scent would otherwise be warmly intoxicating!

The hot throw of Season's Blessing has really let this fragrance down, which is unfortunate because the cold throw implied it would be an aroma abundant in opulent notes.  Oh well, maybe we'll have better luck with the others!


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

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Yankee Candle Fall 2012: Caramel Pecan Pie

We begin our quest for Yankee Candle's best new fall fragrance with the scent that the sales assistant preferred the most: Caramel Pecan Pie.  She thought it was absolutely delectable; let's see if we do, too!


Yankee Candle describes Caramel Pecan Pie as 'a mouthwatering invitation . . . serve up a buttery slice of gooey goodness with this scrumptious recipe of walnuts, pecans and creamy caramel.'  I'm not too sure about the gooey goodness, but buttery it definitely is!

Upon first indulging in this scent a gourmand mixture greets your nose: creamy butter, soft wisps of cinnamon, hints of fresh red apple skin ... and popcorn.  Wait - what?!  Popcorn??  Maybe they made this scent a little too buttery!

In use the aroma is not heavy or overpowering.  It is a pleasantly sweet, cinnamon, buttery fragrance which fills the room and pleases the senses.

Caramel Pecan Pie is an inviting fragrance which gourmand lovers will easily approve of.  That said, with the lack of walnut, pecan and creamy caramel and the presence of cinnamon, red apple and popcorn, maybe they should have named this Cinnamon Apple Snack instead!

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

Monday, July 9, 2012

It's that time already: Yankee Candle launches 2012 seasonal scents

Fall scents already?  I haven't even perfected my tan yet?!  Little bit of déjà vu there for you?  That's because last July Scents n Scentsibility's inaugural post was a review of Yankee Candles' fall scents for 2011!  As I had only begun working on my tan, I couldn't believe that the warming scents of clove and cinnamon were already on the shelves.  But this year, being more seasoned (pardon the pun!), I was prepared, mentally at least, for the launch of Yankee's 2012 Fall Fragrances.

The next six posts will focus on their newly launched scents: Caramel Pecan Pie, Season's Blessings, Treehouse Memories, Apple Pumpkin, Whoopie Pie, and Harvest Welcome.

Now, I am of the opinion that it is still too hot to be concerned with pumpkin pie, leaves falling off trees, and snow arriving ...but which fall scent do you think your favorite will be?


Friday, June 22, 2012

Summer Flanker Alert! Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme Chanel

Store shelves have been stocked full of summer flankers for months and since it is now officially summer I thought it time we investigate what's out there!

Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme by Chanel is our first flanker.  It joins the Allure Homme range: the first fragrance of which was launched in 1999.  Despite this scent having a long list of ancestors and being (yet another) flanker, I have to be honest with you.  After I watched the below video I wasn't too upset to be indulging in Eau Extreme!  (yes, the Chanel marketing team has done their job well - I'm sold before I've even tried it!!)




Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme begins its scent journey with fresh citrus and light mint notes which slowly dance their way to dry dimensions of soft woods and warming tonka bean and musk tones.  Underneath all of this there is a hint of soapiness laying deep in the depths.

Overall it is a pleasant experience even though it's not very 'extreme' (i.e. not venturing from currently popular ingredients)!

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

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Yankee Candle Summer Love: True Crush

Summer isn't close to being over (thank god!), but our foray into Yankee Candle's Summer Love Limited Edition summer range is.  I don't know if I should be upset about this or not; it's like in Grease at the end of the summer when Danny and Sandy have to say goodbye.  They're sad to part ways, but yet ready for the summer to be over and for a new adventure to begin.  Oh, the complexities of life!

Anyway, we needn't worry about that today!  Instead, let's see if our summer love is a True Crush. 

When I opened the yellow hued candle I was instantly hit with a wall of fragrance.  Robust; citrus; aromatic; citronella; limoncello.  There is a lot going on with this cold throw and I have to admit that it isn't very pleasing.  The scent is almost like a lemon drop candy gone very wrong.  I'm sure you're not surprised to know that I didn't have high hopes for its hot throw.

But I can't always be right!  When I went into my testing room to see how True Crush fared in use I found something quite unexpected.  The character of the fragrance hadn't completely changed, but a soft and sweet scent pervaded throughout the space.  The 'lemon drop gone wrong' notes of the cold throw morphed to become something quite citrus-y sweet.  It is very enjoyable indeed.

Since it's the weekend (and if you have a husband that likes to shop on a Sunday like mine), take a gander around a Yankee Candle store and investigate the three variants in the Summer Love range: First Kiss, Loves Me Lots, and True Crush.  But remember, if you smell True Crush and think 'ew, gross',  don't be put off!  Purchase that candle and give it a chance.  You'll be pleasantly surprised at what Summer Love's True Crush will turn into!


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


Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Yankee Candle Summer Love: Loves Me Lots

The beach is calling and so is romance!  Yesterday our Summer Love began with First Kiss.  It was pretty good for a First Kiss, but there have definitely been better ones!


Today we continue our search for summer romance (although, technically, we can very easily find it at a Yankee shop and in the form of their latest Limited Edition range Summer Love).  Shall we see if he Loves Me Lots?

Loves Me Lots is a completely different from First Kiss.  It's cold throw belies strong notes of sweet citrus, fresh marine, and soft aromatics.  These aromas blend to create an enticing scent which made me anxious to check out its hot throw.

In use the fragrance does not disappoint, if anything it gets better.  The citrus and aromatic characteristics are ever present, but the notes that jump to take the lead are lusciously marine.  Wow - it's a fabulous clean and fresh fragrance and I want more!  I wonder if I could convince Yankee to make this a permanent scent in one of their standard ranges?

So, I think I will pass on First Kiss and I definitely enjoy Loves Me Lots, but will it be my True Crush?  Find out in tomorrow's post!

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

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Yankee Candle Summer Love: First Kiss

Ah yes, we all know it well: the huge, crashing waves; the over-dramatic instrumental 'Love is a Many Splendored Thing'; the ever-so-fun scenes of Danny and Sandy playing and kissing on the beach...(sigh) nothing beats a summer romance!

And wouldn't it be nice if we could all have our own passionate summer fling à la Grease?  Well, never fear, we no longer have to wait around for our own Danny Zucco or Sandy Olsen* to come along anymore!  Yankee Candle's come out with the next best thing: a limited edition called Summer Love.



That is right.  You can go on down to your nearest Yankee (or just go online if don't want to risk getting skin cancer from the intense summer sun!) and get yourself some Summer Love.  Bear in mind that this is a limited edition, so if you want some love you can't wait around until September to get it!

There are three variants in the Summer Love range and today we'll be smelling First Kiss.

First Kiss has a very pleasant, albeit not too strong, cold throw.  It smells of sweet strawberry and  is a tiny bit waxy.  I wonder if this was done on purpose, though, because it mimics the scent of ChapStick's Strawberry flavor.  Just what you'd be experiencing on a first kiss!

In use First Kiss's scent is exactly what you would expect: it's a very innocuous (and not too strong) sweet berry aroma which gently fills the room.

First Kiss is an overall average candle, which means if this were my Summer Love's First Kiss ...I probably wouldn't stick around to see if he Loves Me Lots!

Have you tried this scent?  Do you love it, do you hate it?  Make sure to leave a comment below!
                                                                                                                     *Sandy has a last name!  Who knew?!

Thursday, June 7, 2012

L'Occitane Limited Edition Almond Smooth Hands

Il y a un parfum de lavande dans l'air ... il fait du soleil ... le ciel est bleu et beau ... où je suis?  Mais je suis en Provence, bien sûr!


Yes, if the French didn't tip you off then the above photo did: this weekend I stopped in my local L'Occitane shop.  It was quite a pleasurable experience - the store assistant was very knowledgeable about the products and L'Occitane's commitment to fair trade and sustainability, and I had the chance to experience their new face and body scrub!  (I was a bit hesitant at first, but when the assistant clarified that I didn't need to try the face scrub on my face, I jumped right in!)

After my sampling of the body scrub, the store assistant offered a lotion from their Almond range for me to try.  Unsurprisingly, of course, it just so happens that said lotion is currently available in the 30ml/1oz size hand cream format.  It is a limited edition and when asked if it would be extended into the full Almond range, the shop assistant said that it wouldn't.  She informed that their hand cream limited editions change frequently so once this variant is gone we'll have to keep our eyes out for the next one!

The store assistant did a good job and in the end I decided to purchase the Limited Edition Amande Mains de Velours [Almond Smooth Hands].  Not only does it 'moisturize and beautify' the skin, but it supposedly leaves it smelling of the delicate notes of almond tree flowers.  Well, let's see.

From the first whiff only strongly powdery notes are discernible; it's very reminiscent of J&J baby powder.  I almost feel like I am changing a diaper it's that intense.

In use the fragrance's violet toned floral notes present themselves and weave together skillfully with the powdery aromas.  It is indeed quite delicate and very clean, but sadly the scent does not have the sweet honey smell of an almond blossom.  Tant pis!

Almond Smooth Hands has a quite decent scent and as long as you don't know what a real almond blossom smells like you'll probably enjoy this product!

So, will you be rushing out to purchase Almond Smooth Hands, or is there another nicely fragranced hand cream you prefer?  Make sure to leave a comment!