PR Sample. I bought it. Affiliate links.

Love fragrance? Me too! In fact…I’m a bit obsessed! I collect fragrances throughout the year & went through & picked my 5 main favorites of 2013. It was tough! Really! I decided to look at the fragrances I used most seasonally & then the top overall! Keep reading to find out more & to watch my video!

Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh Sunshine- Unfortunately…this was a limited edition fragrance for spring 2013. I know, I’m so sorry! But I would have been lying to not include it! Marc Jacobs scents seem to really resonate well with my body chemistry & when hubby & I smelled this I quickly received it as a gift! The notes that lure me in are so bright & fresh with floral juicy waves. With notes like strawberry, apple blossom, & grapefruit on top it then fades into jasmine petals, lily, & a touch of rose. The base consists of violet leaf, white oak, moss, & amber woods.

Laura Mercier Almond Coconut– Summer was an easy pick, this fragrance from Laura Mercier is the perfect complement to pretty much any summer fragrance! Sometimes I would use it to start out my day with the warm, clean scent & other times to amp up a faded summer fragrance before going out. This is warm with a touch of sugar along with the vanilla with notes of vanilla mousse & meringue. The coconut is what drew me in for the summer.

DKNY Golden Delicious– One of my favorite DKNY scent period this “Golden” version is deeper with light florals & a sensual warm scent. This is warm while still being radiant. With Golden Delicious Apple being on top you also have orange flower water, white rose, vanilla orchid, & a number of scrumptiously warm & comforting woods. A no brainer!

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb– Although I picked this for winter because I got it more recently than the Dior this is definitely a contender! Flowerbomb is one of the few oriental based fragrance I like…& actually I absolutely love it! So sensual, so sexy, & so feminine! My body chemistry naturally pulls jasmine & this one smells divine on me! Notes of sambac jasmine, Centifolia rose, Cattleya orchid, Ballerina freesia, & patchouli it is sophisticated enough for day & bold enough for night.

Dior Miss Dior Eau de Parfum– Meet my main favorite for 2013! I went through multiple vials & sprays of this before finally taking the leap! I’m surprised the Sephora ladies weren’t rolling their eyes when I requested it nearly every visit! This is also the first fragrance as an adult that I thought could be a signature fragrance. I bounce around scents constantly but this one hit me in the heart. So elegant, so sophisticated, & just beautiful. Oddly enough, I don’t like it upon first spray or sniff! But when it mixes with my body chemistry it is amazing! You honestly wouldn’t recognize it after 10 minutes & another sniff! With notes of mandarin, Egyptian jasmine, & patchouli it is a match made in fragrance heaven!

What were your favorite fragrances of 2013? Any that you have your eye on? Would love for you to share in the comments!

I had someone say to me the other day, “Wow, you sure are writing more about fragrances!” Truth avid reader, pure truth. I love fragrance & am more likely to be found without foundation on than without a scent of some kind. They make me happy, life my spirits instantly, & let me show my personality since each one reacts to create a one of a kind combo with my skin. What’s not to love? Well for the folks looking for a more natural approach to fragrance I introduce you to the 4 scents I have to sample from Pure Natural Diva: Pure, Natural, Diva, & Elixir.
From Pure Natural Diva:
Having spent years in the natural space, It was remarkable to me that there wasn’t a perfume option on the market for people like me… or those with perfume allergies, and importantly parents of children who suffer from allergies or asthma.   I mean, we all like to smell good, right? Was it too much to ask for a true botanical product, that was sophisticated, elegant and didn’t make me feel like I was sacrificing style for choosing a synthetic free option?

What was a Diva to do?  The answer was clear and Pure Natural Diva Botanical Perfumes was born.  My work was cut out for me, but once you experience our Botanical Perfumes I’m sure you’ll agree – it was worth the effort. We have created a REAL botanical perfume that will allow women everywhere feel GOOD about smelling GREAT.

Pure is sensually uplifting, like sunny day in a mixed field of lemongrass and Lavender. Notes include uplifting cassie, soothing chamomile, lemon, lime and an Egyptian neroli.

Natural is fresh and inviting: Imagine a picnic in a rose-bordered citrus grove. Notes include a hint of clary sage, exalting pink grapefruit, Moroccan rose, and soothing ylang ylang.

Diva is full of soul—sultry and mysterious. Notes include natural musk derived from Ambrette, sinfully smooth New Caledonian Sandalwood, blended together in a lusciously robust Vanilla.

Elixir wakens the senses, like a lingering morning with an ocean view. Notes include aphrodisiacal vanilla, a hint of oakmoss, exquisite osmanthus, married with rejuvenating pink grapefruit and red mandarin.

I actually ended up liking all 4 of these scents but because I have so many I tend to group scents by when I’d use them. I hope that makes sense? My favorite was Elixir because it has a nice hit of vanilla which I think of as a year round note but the grapefruit pulled on me so it made it very wearable. This is one of those scents that can go from day to night seamlessly. I think Diva is more of a date night scent because it has a strong hit of vanilla mixed with the woods notes. Pure is very springy to me & smells really green on me as well. Natural was probably the only scent I don’t see myself really wearing because it just doesn’t smell as good on me. It pulls more like a cleanser & I like something a bit more feminine.

You can purchase this sampler from Pure natural Diva on her site here. I recommend doing that since the full sizes, although lovely, are a bit on the pricey side. You’ll definitely want to try them on your skin before jumping right in & the samples let you wear them 3-5 times each which is usually long enough for me to decide!

PR Sample. Affiliate links.

Spring & summer are easily my favorite times of year for fragrance. Growing up in Southern California I was spoiled with sunshine, tropical scents, & very little weather fluctuation year round. Crabtree & Evelyn has released a new scent called Somerset Meadow & it is the perfect spring accessory. I crave tart, fruity, & springy florals all the time now closely followed by tropical & summery scents. To kick off spring (because it is just barely considered spring here…it snowed less than a week ago!) I have been wearing this scent almost daily & it just makes me smile each time… Spring has finally sprung!

•  Spray bottle delivers a gentle mist of fragrance
•  Formulated without mineral oil, parabens or propylene glycol

 Can we please talk about how positively lovely this packaging is? Find me a scent that looks more like the definition of spring! Beautiful, floral, & spring the packaging completely embodies the fragrance itself. I love the way the box kind of unfolds to reveal the gift inside.

This scent leans tart on me & I think that is my very favorite thing about it. It has this slight zip of energy that lasts well into wear. I love the story behind this scent & it definitely had a wonderful description. While still feminine, it smells spring after a light, warm spring rain. All crisp & fresh with green notes blended perfectly with florals. I don’t usually go for scents that lean more green so this was a wonderful surprise.

Behind the Somerset Meadow Scent- Follow the wild and beautiful trail to Somerset Meadow, where the lush countryside unfurls into rolling green meadows ablaze with wildflowers, their fragrance carried on gentle breezes that linger over meandering streams and waft amongst the buds and blossoms of springtime. Upliftingly fresh and undeniably feminine, Somerset Meadow captures the flourishing splendour of a perfect spring day. The fresh scent of wildflowers mingles with dewy green notes of ivy and water lily, whilst fruity accords of blackberry and bergamot add a hint of sweetness. 

In the end, this has me longing for a jaunt across the pond because apparently it smells divine over there. I’ve found myself reaching for this all week so I knew I needed to share the love! What are your favorite spring scents? What says spring to you?

Victoria’s Secret has been making some of my very favorite (& my husband’s favorite) fragrances for ages. I love their body products & cosmetics as well but when you see me dashing out in the evening on the way to VS it is usually to give a new fragrance the sniff. The new Fabulous by Victoria’s Secret Eau de Parfum was absolutely not an exception!

Forever sexy. Forever Fabulous. Go glam in this thrilling blend of juicy currant, osmanthus blossom and pink freesia from our Victoria’s Secret Fabulous collection. Spray on eau de parfum for irresistibly fresh Fabulous scent that lingers.

 Let’s look at the composition shall we? Because this is always important to me!

Top
Juicy Currant, Violet Leaves, Apricot Nectar, Mandarin Natural

Middle
Osmanthus Blossom, Muguet, Jasmine Sambac, Pink Freesia

Dry-Down
Australian Sandalwood, Captive Musks, Bensoin, Whipped Vanilla

So why do I always try to post all of that? Because fragrances are original to each person’s personal chemistry. If you’re anything like me certain fragrance ingredients tend to “pull” on you. Ever notice that? For my friend, if there is a musk…you’ll smell it on her above pretty much everything else. For me? Everything tends to lean jasmine or more fruity. Just how each of us are unique!

On me I can really smell the currant, violet, & apricot/mandarin. Fruity, light, & very fresh. Perfect for spring. Next I definitely smell the jasmine (ah my wonderful chemistry, good thing I love jasmine huh?) & the sandalwood. This smells quite sparkling & fresh, the perfect day time scent. It is truly lovely & innocently sexy.It smells youthful & vibrant so it feels a lot more modern & easy to wear than heavier scents.
I love it & it is perfect for spring time! Now…if only the snow would melt!

You can purchase this fragrance form Victoria’s Secret stores & from Victoria‘s Secret online.

**Items featured were provided in consideration of review. All opinions are my own.

Are you ready for Valentine’s Day? Normally I would celebrate with my folks (it is their wedding anniversary) then with my hubby for dinner. Being that we are so far away, clearly we won’t be doing that. We usually exchange gifts & such as well! So, if you give gifts to your wife, sister, cousin, co-worker, daughter, or any other female, I hope you find this helpful! I tried to include some options that you could go pick up eight this minute along with some others I personally just love.

Lips & Blush – Let’s start with one of my favorite blushes ever, Everyday Minerals Blush in Wild Vines. This is the easiest to wear cool toned rose pink blush, perfection. In the red lip spectrum I chose OCC Lip Tar in Stalker & Rimmel Kate Moss Matte Lipstick in 111 Kiss of Life. Both are gorgeous reds that last a long time without the tight long wear feeling. For pinks I had to throw in one of my very favorite brighter pinks in 06 from the Rimmel Kate Moss line. For a cupcake/vanilla scented pink gloss there’s Palladio Herbal Lip Gloss in Eleventh Gorgeous. Want something more natural? Korres Pomegranate Lip Butter is without fault.

Dr. Hauschka Aromatherapy Bath Kit – I honestly think this kit is perfect for someone who loves a bit of luxury. With scents like Spruce & Sage this kit is super original & smells lovely. Other scents are Lemon, Lavender, & Rosemary. I have found you should use less than recommended, these are intense! Great gift idea for someone who needs a bit of stress relief & relaxation. This set is from Cut & Blow.

Pinch Provisions Minimercency Kit for Her – I included the for Him kit in my Men’s roundup & clearly love this one as well. What a fantastic idea! The Pinch Provisions Minimercency Kit for Her contains a bit more than the men’s but when don’t we need more stuff? With everything you’ll need in a mishap this kits is seriously the perfect kit for anyone. From elastics to clear nail polish to earring backs this kit kick butt!

Cleanlogic Soap + Sponge in Peach Berry – Let’s start with: I am now obsessed with soap sponge combos. I got one in a Glossybox & have been seeking out more. This one smells incredible & fruity & is just more special than your average bar of soap! I’ve also found these to be easier to grip & they don’t wear away as fast. This would be a great addition to a bath set!

Ghirardelli Chocolates – If nothing seems to quite fit, go with a winner. Ghirardelli is some of the best & my house takes chocolate pretty seriously. Dark chocolate is usually my flavor of choice. Dark Chocolate with Strawberry Filling? Yeah that doesn’t last long with my husband. Not into dark chocolate or even milk chocolate? Try the Ghirardelli Sublime White Vanilla Dream All Natural Chocolate which is made with real vanilla beans. It is ridiculously good.

Fragrance – If you are in a really giving mood (& preferably if you know the person & their preferences) then a fragrance can be an amazing gift. On the left is Victoria’s Secret Seduction Dark orchid which is a super sultry, sexy scent. The adorable bottle on the right is Betsey Johnson Too Too which is kind of a sexy rocker scent. I think this one might be going away (I’ve been seeing it on sale) so if you want it, grab it fast!

So there are my picks for Valentine’s Day this year, hopefully you can find something to suit your needs. What did you pick up for the women in your life who you love? Still unsure what to get the men in your life? Jump on over to my Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for Men 2013! 

**Some items provided in consideration of review while  most were bought with my own money.