The groundhog predicted that an early Spring will arrive early this year. If the Winter has been getting you down, or you’re just ready for the seasons to change, it’s the perfect time to consider outfitting yourself with a new fragrance.
Here are a few The Advice Sisters think will liven up those last weary weeks of Winter, and work well into the warmer days of Spring. Mothers Day is also coming sooner than you think. These fragrances will appeal to different people for different reasons, at different price-points and for different fragrance personalities. 
Her divorce hearing is just about to get started, she’s been in the media not just for her killer body, but for bringing her body through JFK airport without going through the regular security like a mere mortal, and she has toned down her va-val-va voom image at least a tiny bit of late. Kim Kardashian is a reality star whose sparkle hasn’t diminished. At least not yet. And while her star power is still strong, she’s recently launched yet another fragrance, this one called True Reflection. As you can see from the bottle in the photo, above, the bottle alone sends a message. It’s is, as the press literature proclaims: “the fragrance that embraces every side of you, from your entrancing femininity to your sophisticated glamour, True Reflection mirrors every layer of your captivating and vivacious personality.”
Actually, the presentation and the fragrance, are both more elegant than one would expect. The flacon is packaged in a a coppery metallic outer carton, embossed on the sides and top with a geometric design. Inside, the flacon is is a multi-facted chunk of grey ombre glass with a clear, faceted plastic multi-faceted topper. The bottle will appeal to those who love to collect fragrance bottles, but it also reminds me of the kind of thing a gem collector would covet. It feels precious. Speaking of which, the fragrance is supposedly an oriental, but if it is classified as such, it’s a very light version of one. That’s good news for the youngest Kardashian fans, who might not quite be ready for something too intense and spicy. The scent starts with a burst of sparkling Italian bergamot, luscious plum and succulent peach. The heart is floral: night blooming gardenia, chocolate orchid and lotus flower. Textured woods, patchouli and skin musk are included in the base notes.
While I am not convinced that True Reflection guarantees instant attraction, as touted, it is a nice fragrance. Like Kim herself, there are many facets that keep revealing themselves as you continue to use the scent. True Reflectionreally is a departure from Kim’s earlier fragrances, that tended to be fruity and floral, and not terribly sophisticated. Perhaps this latest really is a reflection of what Kim Kardashian has become, or at least, aspires to be. Price: 100ML $68.00 or 60ML $55.00 makes this a nice choice for a Mother’s Day gift (coming up in May), or a nice gift for yourself.
Where to buy? Available at KardashianFragrance.com, Sears stores nationwide
A totally different vibe is waiting for you if you try True Religion Love Hope Denim Eau de Parfum. Hippy chick meets hipsters, is all you need to know, when you see this happy fragrance! The bottle arrives festooned with colorful, 60′s style decorations of flowers, peace symbols, butteries, and words, strewn across a pristine white outer carton, as if they were painted on the side of a VW van. The bottle inside is a tactile, smooth, clear glass you want to hold like it’s a river stone. A collar of charm talismans on a slim, leather choker around the neck of the bottle (jeans, Buddah, a lucky horse shoe), and a topper that’s a voluptuous, oval of clear plastic, finish the look. Hang the talismans on the leather lanyard through your key ring, for good luck as well as showing your good taste in fragrance!
Inside, the scent is fresh, but redolent with a youthful favorite: vanilla. The Oriental Vanilla fragrance has top notes of fruits such as pink kiwi, apple, peach blossom, and iris, plus middle notes of caramel, almond and brown sugar, and base notes of Madagascar vanilla and candied musk. There is a lot of alcohol at first, but once it dries down you don’t get a sweet, cloying scent, but ones that’s toned down to a soft gourmand blend, It’s not the type of fragrance you’d probably choose to wear with a couture gown, but then again, it is made by a jeans company. Casual and carefree is perfect for True Religion’s Love, Hope Denim!
According to the press literature, the scent ”reflects the sweetness in every woman while making her both irresistible and addictive.” While I didn’t think it was all that sweet, it was very vanilla’-y. Vanilla is known to drive some men, wild. So maybe it’s sweet, but it’s also sexy! The scent stayed on my skin a long time, featuring the strong gourmand notes. However, the scent stayed true, True Religion, rocks! Get this nice fragrance for yourself or again, make it a a Mother’s Day she’ll remember,. $59.00 gets you 1.7 Fl. Oz., or go bigger for $79.00 (3.4 Fl. Oz) at Macys and Macys.com
There’s nothing we like more than his-and-hers fragrances. It’s just so romantic. So much fun, and so perfect for the stirring of Spring! Elizabeth Arden,Curve Appeal for Men (in blue) and Curve Appeal for Women (in pink) show just how well you can make fragrance harmony, or go it alone and still be smashing!
The first thing you can’t fail to notice is the packaging that is bound to appeal to a new generation of Curve fans. These fragrances are nicely packaged in eye-catching tins with bold graphics, and the bottles inside are slanted glass, festooned with shiny silver clips that look like a flat push pin. Pull the clip off to spritz the fragrance.
The men’s fragrance is fresh, clean, masculine, and light, with top Notes of Bergamot, Mandarin, Iced pear, Watermelon, Salty sea notes mix with a heart of Cardamom, Pepper wood, and Lavender. The base notes of Amber, Suede, Musk, Cedar give Curve Appeal men it’s sexy but clean sensibility.
The women’s fragrance is pleasing, in the way that isn’t a big departure from other fruity florals. The mix of floral, fruity and woody notes starts with a top of Italian mandarin, forbidden apple and nectarine. The heart includes sensual flowers of jasmine and iris, and the base has amber, patchouli, sandalwood, vanilla and musk. Mostly, I smelled the fruits and florals, not the base.
The real excitement happens when you layer them or wear them together. Then, you’ll make something unique to the two of you, and some real magic. And you won’t have to spend a lot of money either. Both the men’s and the women’s fragrances run just $23.00 to $48.00. Get yours in mass market retailers like Walmart and Target.
For something a bit different, Parfums Mercedes offers Jus d’Amour, the Essence of love. This fragrance was created by Mercedes Ganon. Jus d’Amour is her first release, although the press literature says Mercedes has always been in love with fragrance and even liked to mix scents as a child, from samples her Aunt would bring from Paris. That being said, Jus d’Amour is one of those earthy, sensual, and not easily identifiable fragrances that will delight women who are tired of the traditional, same-old, same-old, but it’s not for everyone. Just seven notes are blended together to combine both masculine and feminine aspects. To notes are cocoa palm, aqualeaf accord, middle notes are night blooming jasmine and violet, and the bottom notes are Tahitian vanilla, sandalwood and cashmere woods. The fragrance reads “for women” but at drydown it could almost be worn by an adventurous man. It’s kind of an earthy plus green fragrance that reminds me of wildflowers and moss in the forest. It is hard to categorize, but if I had to, I’d call it a strong floriental.
The perfume oil absolute arrived in a luxe velvet drawstring pouch, the precious scent housed in a tiny, classic, clear, square glass bottle with a roller ball in the top and a silvery metal plaque as a label. Just a little bit of fragrance goes a long way, and it will linger on your skin and meld with it. You can take the tiny vial with you for touch-ups, but you might not need it. Prices around the net vary widely for Jus d’Amour and at press time, the official web site wasn’t loading the sales page for the fragrance, but it appears the the price for a 0.25 oz Perfume Oil Roll is about $90.00. A 2.0 oz Eau de Parfum Spray see,s to have a going rate of about $60.00. While it isn’t inexpensive, it will be a signature. You won’t smell your scent on every woman coming and going and you are sure to be stopped and asked: “what are you wearing?” Get used to it! Learn more at http://www.jusdamour.com/
This is an exciting time for Fergie, who just announced in February that she is expecting her first child in 2013. Stacy Ann Ferguson, otherwise known as Fergie, is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, fashion designer, television host and actress. She was a member of the children’s television series Kids Incorporated and the girl group Wild Orchid. She is the female vocalist for the hip hop group The Black Eyed Peas, but her debut solo album won her five Billboard Hot 100 top five singles, three of which went to number one.
Fergie is also known as a fashionista, having gone through a number of dramatic style transformations. She is also a designer of clothing and accessories, and also fragrances. The latest is Viva by Fergie, launched by Avon in 2102. The slogan “Live by Your Own Rules” is a nice sentiment, and the fragrance, created by Laurent Le Guerned, is a fresh, somewhat fruity floral that will appeal to girls and women of virtually every generation.
According to Fergie: “Viva is a fresh and unexpected fragrance that brings out the duality of a woman. Powerful, yet seductive, and living life by her own rules.” You might not really get that from the fragrance, which seems pretty understandable and user friendly, with green top notes including mint, a heart of Lavender, Spices, and Flowers, and a more masculine and clean base of vetiver. However, the packaging featuring shades of lavender slashed with a deep “V” of burnished gold ombre, shows the power of a woman, along with her femininity. Avon knows how to make a bottle, beautiful, and this one is no exception, featuring the lavender-tinted juice in a squared-off triangular bottle, featuring that deep “V” down the middle, in burnished gold metal. The “crystal” topper catches the light and makes a nice accent over the spray diffuser. With a price of $30.00 for a 1.7 oz bottle, it is a nice fragrance to consider for mother’s day, or as a gift for your bridesmaids, this June. There is also a Body Lotion (6.7 fl. oz.) for $12.00 and a Shower Gel ( 6.7 fl. oz) also just #12.00. Visit avon.com to order and learn more.
The reason I’m including Thinking of You in this review, even though it launched in 2010, is that this floral and gourmand-y scent really is a message in a bottle. Meant to “capture the emotions and feelings that connect women,” the petite, round clear bottle with a topper of smooth, ice-blue plastic over the spray diffuser is very pretty. Dangling from the neck of the bottle is a little silver heart charm that is remove-able thanks to a little lobster clasp. Your recipient (or you, of course) can put it on a bracelet or wear it on a necklace, or perhaps, somewhere else). But it is the exceptional and clever packaging that caught my attention. The bottle is housed in an a carton with a hard sided brown base, but an oragami-style top. When you lift the lid it opens up to reveal the message you have written underneath, to your recipient. It is a card and a gift, all in one. That’s really pretty nifty! The shape of the box reminds me of a fancy chocolate box (it is even held closed with a thin, brown, satin ribbon and bow) and the nice price of just $30.00 for the 1 fl. oz spray flacon, makes this a ready-to-give gift to have on hand for when you need one, quickly. Bring one to a friend who is having man troubles, or for mother’s day, or to a hostess. Who wouldn’t love to get a little box of happiness with a personal message, revealed when she opens the box? That’s where I think the real excitement for this fragrance, lies. As to the scent, like so many other things, it is a matter of taste. For me, it was a bit on the sweet side. I sensed a lot of vanilla over fruits at the first sniff, and in the end, it dried down to a light, soft scent that smells ”young.” I have no doubt that women and girls who like this type of fragrance, will be big fans. The actual top notes are mandarin orange, peach and plum; middle notes are jasmine, honeysuckle and lily-of-the-valley; base notes are musk, patchouli and vanilla. Visit www.marykay.com/ to see the collection and find a personal beauty consultant in your area.
