Bronze Goddess Body Shimmer Oil and Perfume by Estee Lauder

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

Every summer I indulge in one or two new perfumes that I think will work well in Mobile's intense heat and humidity. Typically these are fragrances that market themselves towards the summer season, which is definitely the case with Estee Lauder's Bronze Goddess.

I was particularly interested in the Shimmering Body Oil Spray ($42), as I love a good body oil  after a shower to both moisturize and scent my skin. However, I was hesitant to invest in the perfume without smelling it first, so I went with a 5 ml decant ($13.75) from Surrender to Chance, which sells perfume samples and fragrance decants.

Here are the notes as listed by Estee Lauder:

Sensuous Notes
Amber. Coconut Milk. Sandalwood. Vanilla. Vetiver. Myrrh
Warm Notes
Juicy Mandarin. Sicilian Bergamot. Lemon. Pulpy Orange
Radiant Notes
Tiare Flower. Jasmin. Magnolia Petals. Orange Flower Buds. Lavender

Bronze Goddess is frequently described as smelling like a day at the beach, and I'd have to agree with that. It definitely evokes skin that's been slathered with a coconut sun tan lotion that has alternately been warmed by the sun and then cooled down by a dip in the salty ocean. I still remember the frequent beach weekends of my teen years and the feel and smell of briny skin soaked by Hawaiian Tropic. Crossing my fingers that skin cancer is not in my future.

Yet it's a bit more elegant than just coconut suntan lotion on warm skin, although I'd be lying if I said I could detect the nuances of all the notes listed. While I wouldn't classify this as a light fragrance, it does have a skin scent ambiance in that it is not overpowering, which is what I try to avoid during the hot summer months.

Bronze Goddess Shimmer Body Oil ingredients

The Shimmering Body Oil spray is lovely to look at in the bottle and leaves my skin lightly scented with a soft sheen as opposed to visible shimmer. This is a dry oil and does not leave any obvious residue, just soft skin. I'm glad I got a decant of the perfume as well, as the two together give just enough fragrance that lingers for about 5-6 hours.

Estee Lauder releases Bronze Goddess each year in the spring, and reviews make me believe that each year's fragrance may be slightly different.  My decant is from 2008 (I believe), and apparently 2015's version emphasized lemon more than other years. I did read reviews saying that 2016's version smelled rather synthetic, and with current perfume ingredient limitations and trends, that would not surprise me.

I also saw more than a few comments from people saying they were underwhelmed with the fragrance of Bronze Goddess at first, but that it has grown on them with time and is now a favorite.  I'm more in the underwhelmed category right now, but am hoping to savor it with more usage. I just haven't been reaching for it as much as I thought I would, but it is a nice scent and definitely summer wear worthy.  I could even see breaking it out on a gray and chilly February day, when I need something to remind me that warm weather will be back with a vengeance.

Figuier Ardent Cologne Absolue Pure Perfume Spray by Atelier Cologne

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

Top notes:
bergamot from Calabria, anise from Turkey, cardamom from Guatemala

Heart notes:
fig leaf from Provence, salty fig, black pepper from Madagascar

Base notes:
cedarwood from Virginia, iris from Tuscany, tonka bean from Brazil

Of all the scents I've tried in the last few years, two brands have captured both my imagination and loyalty the most:  Atelier Cologne and Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab.  Both do a great job with fragrance storytelling, creating both olfactory and imagery experiences to capture the feeling around the fragrance.  Today I'll be talking about Atelier Cologne's new Figuier Ardent, a fragrance built around salty figs dusted with pepper.

The opening notes are decidedly tart, dry and unisex in tone, yet seem about right for a summertime scent that is not going  to hit you over the head in the heat.   The tartness starts to soften almost immediately, and I can begin to detect both salty and peppery notes surrounding what I can only assume are the figs and fig leaf.

I say assume because I'm not really sure what a fig is supposed to smell like.   I can remember the fig preserves that my grandmother canned every year, and I can remember eating fresh figs right off the trees in her yard, but their smell?  That hasn't survived over the years.  Sweet it is not, nor would you assume it to be based on the notes listed.   If anything, I think the postcard image above convey Figuier Ardent quite well with it's figs, dry and weathered wood, and green glimpses of fern, moss, and evergeen sprigs.  

I can definitely see this working well on a guy and yet in no way do I think it's masculine to the point that women wouldn't want to reach for it as well.  Honestly my first impression was rather ambivalant, but Figuier Ardent is growing on me, much the way that Vanille Insensée did (review here).  The fragrance becomes more of a skin scent within an hour, yet it lingers for about 6 as it fades to a powdery softness.  I wouldn't say it's as long lasting as some of the other Atelier Cologne scents I've tried, which is disappointing, as I'm not one to reapply during the day.  I purchased the spray sized version from Sephora for $25.

Juliette Has a Gun Bullet Purse Spray and Samples

Disclaimer:  I won this in a contest.

I came home last week to an unexpected package, which turned out to contain all you see above.  I had won a contest sponsored by Beauty Undercover and Juliette Has a Gun!  I love those kind of surprises :-)

I was vaguely familiar with Juliette Has a Gun, at least enough to know their focus is perfume.  What I did not know is that it's a Paris based fragrance house that was established by Romano Ricci, the great-grandson of famed fashion couturier Nina Ricci and grandson of Robert Ricci, the progenitors of  L'Air du Temps.  Ah, the family tradition continues.

With more of an edge, however, as befits the era.  Juliette refers to Shakespeare's Juliette, but she's got a gun now.  Is she pissed, or just packing to send a message to those that might mess with her?

"This is William Shakespeare's Juliette with a ying of innocence and a yang of getting even with anyone who double crosses her, the modern woman. Only this time she is armed! The bullets are rose-filled, each scent a scenario playing around a different rose specie, a fragrant Shakespearian saga."  (Source:  Basenotes.net) 

The bullet shaped Universal Purse Spray atomizer ($35) definitely makes a statement.  It has a nice heft to it and is easy to refill, I'm quite tickled with this.  I've currently got it filled with a sample of Romantina, whose notes are listed as musk, orange blossom, and vanilla from Madagascar, in addition to rose, of course.  It's actually quite light and dissipates rather quickly on my skin, but lingers nicely on my clothes.  I like it!

Each sample came packaged in an envelope, sealed with the name of the perfume and with a description card inside.  The French are masters at presentation.  I'll never forget the care with which a simple pastry was wrapped, bow on a box, when I was in Paris years ago.  Just lovely.

The English translation (and spelling) are a bit off at times, which just goes to show you can't be perfect at everything :-)  I received Not a Perfume in the Recharge Bullet refillable size ($50), so between that and the 5 samples of Romantica, Mad Madame, Miss Charming, Lady Vengeance, and Anyway, I'll get a nice feel for the Juliette Has a Gun line.  Très nice.  Also, don't forget to enter the Clinique GWP set giveaway!

Sampling Scent with Surrender to Chance

I've recently gotten back into wearing perfume, after a long stint of relying on scented oils or body lotions as my fragrance vehicle of choice.  So, I've been reading perfume blogs to educate myself about what's out there, and then ordering samples from a perfume sampling and fragrance decanting site called Surrender to Chance.

You may ask "why pay for samples?" when you can get free ones from makeup counters at department stores.  My response would be that I want to venture beyond mainstream fragrances that sell in department stores and discover some of the niche or indie perfumes available - and there is a plethora of them out there!

I've placed 3 orders at Surrender to Chance, usually when they are running a special of some sort.  The process has been a breeze and I love the pretty boxes that the samples come in!  The vials are securely cushioned in bubble wrap and I've had no issues with breakage or leaks thus far.

I've found a few favorites:  Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille, Sonoma Scent Studio's Champagne de Bois, and Smellbent's Hungry Hungry Hippies standout right now.  I'm not one to stick to a signature scent, as variety is more important to me, as well as matching my scent to the whim of the day.  Consequently, these little vials are perfect and I can always order larger sizes of my favorites, as I recently did with Tobacco Vanille.  I don't have to invest in a full sized bottle that will not get used up, plus it feels luxurious to have such a selection to chose from!

Sizes available. Source:  Surrender to Chance

There are several perfume sampling companies on the Internet and Surrender to Chance is just the one I tried first.  I've been fortunate that there is only one scent that I've sampled that I could not stand - Tom Ford's discontinued Japan Noir - but that's also part of the journey of discovering what notes I like, or hate, as the case may be. 

What fragrances are your favorites right now?  Do you have a signature scent or is variety your spice of life?

Disclaimer:  I purchased these and have no affiliation with Surrender to Chance.

Wicked Berry by Alice & Peter

Source:  Alice & Peter Facebook

"You’ll give in. It’ll be impossible not to!  The citruses dream up a fantasy that’s as devilish as it is gentle: the intoxicating trio of rose, lilac and freesia fill the air with the greatest of ease.  These petals blush upon contact with a sensual blend of blackberry, blackcurrant and raspberry. Warning!  Addiction is unavoidable: Warm woody amber and musk create quite the decadence, topped with a vanilla and sandalwood glaze."

When I first spray Wicked Berry, my initial impressions are powdery, fizzy, and incense.  I also smell a faint lipstick scent, but thankfully it never becomes very strong and stays more of a fleeting impression. 

I think the citrus top notes contribute to the fizziness, whereas the floral middle notes are what lean towards powdery.  The berry notes are definitely there, but nicely tempered so that I smell more than just citrus or berries.  Sadly, I don't get any distinct impression of the base notes, but assume they are what keeps Wicked Berry sweet without inducing any insulin spikes. 

HEAD
Lemon, Lime, Bergamot, Orange
HEART
Rose, Freesia, Lilac, Blackberry
Blackcurrant, Rasberry
BASE
Amber, Sandalwood, Vanilla, White Musk

The good news is that there was not a fragrance that I disliked amongst the entire Alice & Peter cupcake perfumes.  The bad news is that they do not last very long, making it hard to want to invest in a bottle.  Wicked Berry lasts for about an hour before it becomes close to my body and had completely vanished by hour three.  This was true of the entire collection, and based on other online reviews I looked at, seems to be a common experience. 

Granted this line seems geared towards a younger demographic, so I could see them being a good fragrance gift for daughters/granddaughters/nieces and such.  They are not heavy or overwhelming, the bottles are delightful, and the short wear time might be a plus for the fragrance sensitive.  Here are links to previous reviews for Bloody Orange, Cheery Cherry, Fancy Choco,  and Showy Toffee.  A sampler of the scents is available from Alice & Peter for $10. 

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

Showy Toffee by Alice & Peter

Source:  Alice & Peter Facebook

“Irresistible Temptation! Veering on the side of quirkiness, the unmistakable scent of freshly cut grass takes on a lemony allure. Rose, lilac and freesia enchant with whimsical brilliance. Finally, never short on audacity, amber and caramelized chocolate strut arm in arm into a patchouli parade.”

Showy Toffee by Alice & Peter is the fourth cupcake perfume in the series of five that I have sampled, and my second favorite after Bloody Orange.  The name is a bit of a misnomer, as I don't smell toffee in this perfume.  Notes listed are:

Top notes: lemon and fresh cut grass.
Heart: rose, lilac, freesia, water flowers and ozone notes.
Base: amber, vanilla, caramel, chocolate and patchouli.

Bet you weren't expecting fresh cut grass in there, were you?  I know I wasn't, and my nose certainly didn't register it.  However, the first spritz does have a fresh brightness to it that is probably a result of those lemon and grass top notes.  That initial freshness dissipates as the floral notes emerge and are warmed by amber and patchouli.  The scent stabilizes to a warm, slightly sweetened amber essence that has provided a nice atmospheric balance for the rawness of the chilly and rainy days that have predominated this past week.

Showy Toffee also has a bit more sillage and lasting power than the other Alice & Peter perfumes I've tried thus far.  Would that it was longer, however, as after one hour I can still smell it by sniffing my wrist, but it is close to the body.  After 3 hours, I can no longer smell it at all.

I'm fond of amber based scents and do not have negative associations of patchouli (dirty, hippy, BO), so that definitely influences my opinion of Showy Toffee.  There is also skin chemistry to take into account, as when I spray Showy Toffee on paper, it quickly goes stale and a bit sour.  On my skin, however, there is no hints of unpleasantness.  Ultimately, however, the quick disappearance of any scent at all makes Showy Toffee not worth a bottle investment for me.

If you would like to try the Alice & Peter perfumes, a sampler of all five scents is available for $10.

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

Fancy Choco by Alice and Peter

Source:  Alice & Peter Facebook

The third cupcake perfume by Alice & Peter up for review is Fancy Choco:

Watch out! There is no turning back.  A modern duo of mint and citrus take flight to an isle of tropical fruit.  Exquisitely exotic yet tart in flavor peaches and apricots balance the pure scents of of freesia and lilac.  A spontaenous soft amber unleashes a rich trail of wild imagination lead by a confection of deep dark chocolate and creamy caramel with a hint of tonka bean. 

Head: Orange, Lemon, Lime, Peach, Pineapple, Curly Mint

Heart: Apricot, Peach, Pineapple, Freesia, Lilac

Base: Amber, Chocolate, Vanilla, Tonka Beans, Caramel, White Musk

Even though chocolate is listed as a base note, it's the first thing I smell after I spritz it on, but it dissipates quickly and is followed by a lime citrus note.  My nose seems to think the chocolate note smells more like Tootsie Rolls anyhow, which is not unpleasant, but not necessarily how I want to smell throughout the day. Perhaps the chocolate will reappear at a later phase in a different form?

On the plus side, Fancy Choco is not overly sweet and has more of a refreshing vibe.  On the negative side, it fades incredibly quickly on me.  I do manage to smell a lovely, smoky, almost incense aroma when I sniff my wrist an hour later, but it's so faint and only on one wrist.  So disappointing, because Fancy Choco had a lot of potential based on the short amount of time I was able to detect a scent!  

I don't think my body eats perfume, as I've got others that do not fade so quickly.  I sprayed Fancy Choco on my scarf, hoping I would be able to smell it that way, but I can detect nothing there either.  As delightful as Bloody Orange, Cheery Cherry, and Fancy Choco have been when first sniffed, they just don't last on me.   Here's hoping Wicked Berry or Showy Toffee break that trend!

Disclaimer:  I purchased these.
 

Cheery Cherry by Alice & Peter

Captivating, give yourself over! With just one breath, bergamot frolics in the air as cassis and cherry reign with charm. Red and yellow fruit hold court and delight in the glory of a velvety floral bouquet while delicate, ripe strawberries soften vanilla and caramel's intoxicating curves, for a final indulgence in this very merry scent.

Cheery Cherry is indeed a cheerful scent.  The notes read like an explosion of fruit salad, or for those who grew up with it being a staple at holiday gatherings, fruit ambrosia minus the sour cream.

Head: Blackcurrant, Cherry, Bergamot, Orange
Heart: Red Fruit, Apricot, Peach, Rose, Peonies, Lilac, Freesia
Base: Strawberry, Raspberry, Vanilla, Caramel, White Musk

Cheery Cherry's fruitiness is slightly tempered by the white musk, but it does not develop much beyond how it smelled when first sprayed on my skin.  It's pleasant and I can see this appealing to those who like sweet, uncomplicated scents.

So why do I keep visualizing the Red Queen as played by Helena Bonham-Carter in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland when I think of Cheery Cherry?  Perhaps it's the subliminal suggestion from the namesake Alice of Wonderland, coupled with the cherry sitting on top of the cupcake perfume?  It can't be because Helena Bonham-Carter patterned her performance after her two year old daughter, noting that the "me, me, me" quality of toddlers was a big part of the inspiration for her portrayal of the Red Queen, as I didn't know that.  Or maybe it's because the Red Queen had tarts stolen from her by the Knave of Hearts or her froggy footmen, depending on which version you've got.  
Cheery Cherry is definitely one fruity tart cupcake, and while I'm not loving it like I did Bloody Orange, I do like it.  It's just lacking something for me, including lasting power, as both Bloody Orange and Cheery Cherry fade away far too quickly.  Samples of Cheery Cherry and the other Alice & Peter perfumes are available at their site.  I paid $10 for mine.

Disclaimer:  I purchased this. 

Bloody Orange by Alice & Peter

Once upon a time, there was Alice&Peter

This tale, for all who are infinitely curious, is presented to you and your imagination with the hopes of awakening your inner child. Alice & Peter, A fantasy dream world where you can stroll merrily along. Go with the flow and let your mind wander; take a break from reality to go back to an innocent, more playful time. The idea is simple: put some childhood wonder back into your life so that you reexperience a sense of joy and playfulness.

Something about these cupcake themed perfumes introduced in October of 2012 by Alice & Peter really captured my imagination.  That's Alice as in Wonderland and Peter Pan, in case it wasn't obvious.  I mean, who doesn't like cupcakes?  Of course, I may not want to smell like a cupcake (or maybe I do, it depends), but the notes listed in the 5 fragrances offered were intriguing enough that I ordered samples of each. A bit of background - while this line may be new, the perfumers are not.  Gerald Ghislain of Histoires de Parfums is the fragrance creater, with partner Magali Sénéquie as designer. 

First, here are the samples that I received.  They are a nice size, big enough at 2 ml to get multiple uses so that I can really get a feel for each fragrance.  Shipping was free, the samples were $10, and I received them in just under 2 weeks.  Considering it was peak package time with the holidays, they may arrive sooner now.

I'll be reviewing Bloody Orange first, and as described on alicepeter.com:

You won’t resist the passion of this orange!  Lively and bubbly citrus fruits merge with a mischievous carrot.  A magical explosion ensues, blasting a fresh bouquet of water flowers through the air. The aftermath is an inevitable swirl
of amber and caramel. As these forces flare, an earthy yet potent patchouli is wrapped in white musk, for a subtle relief. 

Notes listed are:

HEAD
Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit, Bergamot
HEART
Carrot, Cyclamen, Lotus, Jasmine, Cumin, Saffron, Cinnamon
BASE
Amber, Cedar, Patchouli, Leather, Vanilla, Caramel, White Musk

Clearly marketed towards younger women, Alice & Peter perfume bottles are in the form of cupcakes.  Personally, I love the whimsical nature of these.  But the real question is, how does Bloody Orange smell?

Source:  MRNY

It's delicious.  I may have started with the best (I don't know, I haven't tried the others yet), but this was love at first smell.  It's sweet without being cloying, and the initial citruses melt into a smooth blend of spices that takes it beyond the top notes.  Don't forget the carrot, as I think it has as much of a role to play as the namesake blood orange.  Some fragrances go stale on me when they get to the base note phase, but fortunately, Bloody Orange is not one of them and goes more the creamy route instead.

The downside?  I did not find Bloody Orange to be very long lasting, and I wanted it to be.  After an hour or so, I can still smell it by sniffing, but it is definitely close to the body.  I know that citrus based scents can be a bit ephemeral, so it will be interesting to see the lasting power of the others.  Bloody Orange is $49 for 1 fl.oz and can be found at Urban Outfitters, Henri Bendel, or Alice & Peter.  Next up in this series of reviews will be Cheery Cherry!

Disclosure:  I purchased this.