Enticed by Yankee Candle fall scents

Leaves are turning, days are crisp, jackets and scarves are making their appearance, and, of course, festive fall scents abound! Like in years past (make sure to check out 2011 and 2012) Yankee Candle has launched a whole array of new scents for the season. Since we're already halfway through fall and there's not much time left before the holidays, below are three of the most interesting 2013 autumnal launches from Yankee Candle.

1. The most comforting
Cozy Sweater is indeed the coziest of the scents in Yankee's fall offerings. That said, it's not the coziest because it is the warm floral-musk-patchouli scent that Yankee claims it to be, but because its scent is floral and powdery with the tiniest bit of patchouli for warmth. It's like a big hug from grandma. The cold throw of this candle is amazing. It is pleasant and strong, but not overbearing (kind of like grandma). It's a mix of soft florals, though mostly rose, and powder. The hot throw produces a much gentler scent which is mostly powder and rose, with a little bit of waxy-base emerging. Despite this flaw, the rose and powder notes prevail and the candle manages to conjure memories of kind words, comforting hugs, and being surrounded by grandma's love and warmth.

2. The most delectable
Fall is full of tasty treats and Yankee's Salted Caramel candle is one of them! While the cold throw is not the strongest, it is still buttery, caramel-y, and toffee-like: just one deep smell and you can virtually feel the caramel getting stuck in your teeth. Delish! What's more, the hot throw does not disappoint. The soft, sweet gourmand scent fills the evaluation room with its delectable notes and though it's more of a maple syrup-y scent in use (no caramel or salt here), it's tasty all the same!

3. The most peculiar
The third most interesting fall scent from Yankee Candle is Pumpkin Wreath, mainly for being the most unusual of the six new scents in Yankee's fall line up. The cold throw is strong, but confusing: pastry-popcorn gourmand mixed with hot cinnamon (imagine a candy (or whisky) fire ball), spicy clove, woody-dryness. It's all over the place, but in fact, this is what it's supposed to be. Here is the fragrance description on the Yankee Candle website: oakwood, cinnamon bark, and clove! The hot throw experience isn't as confusing. The mixture of gourmand-spice-wood comes through warm, if a little waxy, and unfortunately (or fortunately?!) very weak. While it may not be one you'd want to scent your home with, for once it's a candle which matches its description!

There you have it! Three new scents for your fall wardrobe and in the nick of time - I've just received Yankee's holiday catalog! Guess I'd better get smelling before Christmas is upon us!

If you've enjoyed any of these three scents, or any other new candle launches this fall, make sure to leave a comment below!

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.

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!