Sephora Favorites Sampler Set

Recently, fragrances have really caught my attention. It all started with Givenchy's Dahlia Noir Eau de Toilette. Then Harvey Prince's Flirt completely had me hooked. To help me expand my fragrance collection, I decided to purchase Sephora's sampler set. They give you an assortment of popular scents so you can try them on a couple times and decided if you really like them. The set is $50, but they give you a $50 voucher to redeem a larger size of the fragrance. Sometimes, the value of the fragrance is even more than $50 (ex. Hanae Mori's Butterfly).

The set comes in something resembling a book. When you open it, fragrances are on one side, the voucher and a booklet on the other. The booklet has a small description of each fragrance. As others have noted, it is difficult to remove the fragrances from the slots without spraying them. What I did was to take the whole tray out, and pop them out from the back. The plastic tray is so thick it doesn't even crease or damage.

1. Betsey Johnson- Too Too Pretty

I'm a fan of Betsey Johnson. She's so quirky and her designs are really fun. This scent reminds me of candy and fruit. It's not that sweet, but there's just something about it. Also has that "hollow" scent.

2. COACH- Poppy

I thought this was Poppy Flower instead of Poppy. Oops. This one is nice, but the florals are extremely strong. The creme brulee and whipped marshmallow part add a "warm vanilla" type of scent effect which I am not too fond of. You may be.

3. DKNY- Be Delicious

This scent has been on my wishlist for the longest time. We're talking years. I once smelled it and fell in love with the addictive apple scent. Maybe I smelled one of the other ones in the line? This one started out with a hint of apple, then progressed heavily into the florals. Tuberose and rose scents especially. What's also disappointing is that after a while there is an "empty scent" effect, as if smelling water.

4. Givenchy- Very Irresistible Givenchy

Unfortunately I misplaced this, and forgot what it smells like @_@

5. GUCCI Guilty Intense

Has that initial "fresh" scent, that fades into a gentler more feminine scent. Then it ends off on a much sharper scent. Yes. That's the best I can do on this one.

6. Guerlain- La petite Robe noire

It completely tickled me to smell the Sparkling Aldehyde (remember my Save on Scents order?). This also definitely has a licorice presence. The fruity floral part was nice, but the licorice and smoky black tea make it into a strange scent.

7. Hanae Mori- Butterfly

Turns out the Eau de Parfum has a much stronger initial fruity lychee-type scent than the Eau de Toilette. The Eau de Toilette (this one) quickly fades from a brief fruity scent to a heavy "warm vanilla" type of scent (from the sandalwood and cedar maybe?). Not a fan.

8. Viva La Juicy- La Fleur

The original Viva La Juicy is wildly popular, but I find it too sweet. Viva La Juicy La Fleur is a little bit less sweeter (still sweet!), but the sweetness is cut down with a bit of florals. Not bad =)

9. Marc Jacobs- Dot

This is a very light, uplifting scent. Out of the whole lot, this one is the one I like best. After a while, it also gets that "hollow"/ water type of scent.

10. Narcisco Rodrigues- for her

An interesting honeysuckle scent.

11. Prada- Candy

Smells a bit like window cleaner and something else.

12. Versace- Bright Crystal

The most prominent scent is the peony. I happen to like peonies, and this fragrance does indeed emit a playful scent.

Overall, I'm not too excited about any of these. They just mainly seem "ok". Hopefully this is returnable?...

Save on Scents Sniffies Order

I've become quite curious about scents since I don't know how to properly describe them. Thus, I ordered myself a few samples from Save on Scents to train myself. They allow you 5 scents/ order of Sniffies, but I accidentally thought it was 4 only = made 4 orders and only listed 16 scents. Man! If I had been in my right mind I would have only paid for 3 orders and removed a scent. Alas, SOS (haha!) contacted me and asked that I list 4 more.

I hate these sample tubes because they're almost impossible to open for me (feels like the contents will spill everywhere). And some did spill in the bag anyways. Careful, if you have oil on your hands, the ink on the label will get all over.

So below, I attempt to describe them =P Uh oh.

Sandalwood Classic: OH.. that's what that scent is. Not sure how to describe except to say that it's warm and something I smell frequently paired with vanilla.

Jasmine & Primrose: Lovely floral scent. Something that I smell often as a bath product- soap/ detergent.

Guava Fruit: It does smell like guava, but has a hint of something else- kind of like a candy + perfumey, but not in a nice way. Not a clean guava scent. Blegh.

Honeysuckle Rose- Smells like honeysuckle and rose. Doesn't blend well nicely. The honeysuckle takes over. It's also too "clean"/ simple of a scent.

Green Tea: Doesn't smell like green tea. Smells like some other perfume

Green Tea and Jasmine: I smell the Jasmine, but there's something funky with their green tea, so the scent is strange.

Essential Oils-

Cedarwood: Like a cedar block. Sharp, hint of a "grass" type of smell.

Lavender: Smells like lavender scented things. You're hit with a strong pungent nose clearing scent, with an underlayer of something slightly sweet and floral.

Lemon: I know what a lemon smells like, I just wanted to see if I could make any interesting combinations. This one smells like lemon, a little hidden sweetness, and a hint of the bitter citrus peel.

White Grapefruit: Mmmm! Smells just like grapefruit. Fresh citrus scent.

The below are "keynote" scents, supposedly commonly used for perfumery

Chypre: Smells like baby powder (or does baby powder smell like it?) but fuller.  Also spelled wrong on the label (unless they gave me the wrong thing)

Pimento: Sharp, woodsy, kind of like the cedar block I just bought to keep moths away. This is what leaked everywhere, so my scents are slightly contaminated. I like it, but feel that it is more appropriate in potpourri. Maybe in small amounts?

Thyme: Sharp, herby, slight "mint" kind of effect. Smells like something we use on bug bites (asian thing). Not really sure what other scents can be paired. Although this with the Chypre/Pimento combination makes for a warm "spicy" scent.

Tonka Bean: Yum! It has kind of an almond scent going on. You just want to eat it.

Galbanum: Wow that is intense X_X. Sharp, smells like when you break off a piece of a juniper plant or something.

Artemisia Wormwood: Smells like spices. Can't really describe more...

Sparkling Aldehyde: It does smell like a "sparkling" drink. And a little fruity.

Cardamom: Haha, this one is funny. Another spicy scent. Hint of mint/cinnamon (ok not really) thing going on. Hint of sweetness. Smells like cough drops- so eucalyptus?


FAVORITES: Tonka Bean and Sparkling Aldehyde

Speaking of scents, I'm trying to pick one to wear for when I meet people from 10 years ago (vacationing). I need something that says I'm more mature and successful (and yet the "real" me is still so childish and prefers lighthearted things). .__. It's because all these other people have successful children (my age), and it seems like I'm the only dud of the generation. It's currently between Oscar de la Renta's Live in Love and my Hello Kitty fragrance. Maybe I should bring both just in case. I have a couple others but those are more "stuffy".

These impression ("face") things are no joke. You can bet I'm loading my bag with all my makeup gear and contacts (can't look like a dork when everyone else is all beauti/handsomified). My toes are getting another coat of Zoya Indigo before bed- hands are getting Pasha- I think. Don't even get me started on shoes. I know I need a pair of comfy walking shoes, then the bronze platforms are coming, but not too sure if I want my maroon heels. AUGH.

Hello Kitty Roller Girl Eau de Parfum

So excited! I tested this out at Sephora for fun because of the huge hello kitty top. Turns out I really like it!

The main attraction for me were the fruity top notes. It smells like apple? lychee sometimes. Then it fades into a pleasant warmer scent- doesn't smell too old school perfume-y at all. I'm bad at describing scents, but you should at least go test it out. I kept debating whether or not to go back for the big one, but then I reminded myself that these scent things take me forever to finish.

How cute is the packaging?! The outer box has Hello Kitties all over.