time for a #beautytalk on fragrances!
alright alright alright. even though i haven’t worn these in a while i thought i’d document some of my favorite fragrances! i’ve narrowed these down over the years and like to think i’ve gotten a little more sophisticated in taste (at least my wallet agrees). one thing to note about fragrances is that it differs on everyone. so something may smell completely different on you than it does on me. it may smell a little different on you than it does in the bottle. so it’s always a good thing to TRY it before you buy it. this includes wearing it to see how to dissipates throughout the day. fragrance is personal but i also like to think it elevates any outfit. a lot like fashion, you reach for different fragrances depending on your mood.
i started wearing perfume i think in high school/college? it was in the days that all the guys were wearing Cool Water so… i go way back. my go-to back then was Ralph Lauren romance (classic florals with notes of lily and white florals). gosh i loved that. i ventured into Jo Malone’s wild bluebell (fresh floral with notes of bluebell, white musk, and persimmon) but found it started to smell weird on me or maybe the fragrance was damaged since it’s in a clear bottle and it had been too long? either way, there’s a theme i didn’t expect; i like the smell of florals. over the years i’ve tried so many more that i ended up giving away. i’m not really into strong, overpowering scents and find my nose be sensitive to smells in all beauty products in general. here i’m capturing my top four on my vanity and tips to how to keep perfume from lasting after the jump!
side ramblings: life is a little crazy lately but a lil plant update from this #wannabeplantlady. this weekend alone i added a dwarf zamioculcas zamiifolia (zz zenzi), a pilea peperomioides (money plant), and a philodendron birkin to my collection. apparently the zz and money plant are really hard to kill so there’s hope! i’ve been to only a few nurseries in ATX and so far i really like @thegreatoutdoors the most! i’ve also been looking on etsy/online and here are some cool stores i stumbled upon: @thenewplantco, @theplantchica and @californiatropicals. lastly, on a movie note, Wonder Woman was disappointing — too long & slightly cheesy && to all the boys: always & forever pt.3 releases 02/12!
currently on my playlist: you gotta be by Des’ree
first, some quick bullet points on how to make fragrances last on you by… PREPPING the skin:
exfoliate — get rid of dead skin cells sitting ontop
wash — fragrances usually have a body wash, this is a great way to double up
moisturize — this is key, make sure you moisturize so that the fragrance has something to “stick to” esp at the wrists where people normally spray (dab with other wrist and then behind ears & down the neck)
investing in extrait de parfum vs. eau de parfum vs. eau de toilette (EDT) — language used in high-end brands but basically extrait de parfum has the most conentrated oils which means it usually lasts longer but is also more expensive
the floral family pictured bottom to top:
1. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris baccarat rouge 540 //
notes: jasmine, saffron, cedarwood, and amergris
price tag: $300 for 2.4oz
bottom line: unique but a spurge that can only be found at high-end dept stores, but well worth it for any pick-me-up-mood-booster or for special occasions
this is the BOUGIEST of BOUGIE fragrances. the KING of the crop, one-of-a-kind, use-ultra-sparingly kinda fragrance. one of my (you guessed it, bougie) friends was wearing this and i couldn’t help but ASK what it was. i went home, googled it and GASPED. like how could one ever spend that much on perfume?! well i did and i’m obsessed. i put this on whenever i want a mood booster. could be everyday if i was made of money but also great for occasions/a night out. also available in extrait de parfum = long lasting, also the red bottle is #allthehearteyes.
2. PHLUR améline //
notes: rose, pink peppercorn, italian bergamot, patchouli
price tag: $96 for 50ML (which is approx 1.7oz, estimated 6-12 months of wear)
bottom line: clean fragrance that’s affordable and great for everyday wear (and shoot, gotta represent ATX)
i’m so glad that PHLUR reached out to me on IG to collaborate a couple years ago. i LOVE this company. i learned a lot about clean fragrances (none of the bad stuff, hypoallergenic, cruetly-free, vegan, sustainably sourced & packaged with recycled materials) and still in awe of their dedication that goes into creating quality fragrances. not only are they a clean company, they’re local so i’m all for it. i tried all their fragrances and améline stole my heart. this is my everyday go-to. it’s also packaged in an opaque bottle to preserve the fragrance (also the top is magnetic!!). PHLUR taught me that light actually damages it (so that’s why i store my baccarat in its original box). also, the TSA-approved refillable travel vessel makes it super easy to take a long on trips!
3. diptyque l’ombre dans l’eau //
notes: petitgrain, bulgarian rose, blackcurrant leaves & buds, bergamot, mandarin
price tag: $105 for 1.07oz
bottom line: slightly pricey and for special occasions (i’ve actually spotted some diptyque perfumes at costco.com but they go fast)
i was actually lucky to receive this in a goodie bag when i attended the grand opening of diptyque at the Domain a couple years ago. very rare that i’m gifted a perfume (blindly) that i actually end up liking but this made the cut. it smells very similar to my fave candle by them — baies. i usually reach for this on special occasions only.
4. Viktor & Rolf flowerbomb //
notes: cattleya orchid, freesia, rose, jasmine, patchouli, vanilla
price tag: $85 for 1oz.
bottom line: most affordable and readily available everywhere, you can even find it at costco.com too!
this is an honorable mention. i’ve reached for this less and less but it’s still there when i’m feeling SPICY. because.. it smells spicy. it’s a great alternative to the florals as it has a musky scent to it that’s also great for everyday wear.
what’s a couple of your fave fragrances?,
JD