How To Celebrate The Fourth Of July in Style (A Quick Nail Tutorial & OOTD Inspiration)

Happy 4th of July! Isn't it amazing how much inspiration you can pull from the world around you for your next outfit of the day? I created this outfit for the 4th of July and what started as a simple pair of jeans and white t-shirt spiraled into a montage to the holiday!

But the star of my look was my nails today! Here is a super quick video tutorial on how to achieve this look all by yourself.

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Products in this look: Nail Polish: Starry Starry Night, Blanc, Life of the Party JustFab - Stretch denim jeans Shoes - Shoedazzle Brandee Foot Petals Blossom Cushions

I hope you all have a safe and fantastic 4th of July!

Take An Oud to The Beach - Bond No. 9 Shelter Island Fragrance Review

There aren't many times when I would recommend wearing an Oud fragrance to the beach but Bond No. 9 put an astonishing marine twist on Shelter Island that I couldn't help but test it out this weekend. For starters, Oud is a dark and fragrant resin (also called agarwood) that comes from the wood of the tropical Agar (Aquilaria) tree. It is produced when the wood of the Agar tree gets infected with a very specific mold. The oud - when properly distilled or extracted - is a highly valuable ingredient to perfumers because of its distinctly complex woody, sweet and aromatic scent. I tend to be drawn more to oud scents during the colder months because they are normally heavier but Bond No. 9's Shelter Island took a fascinating turn with this fragrance that contrasted it into a light marine oud. 

It is a tart and lemony fragrance with notes of Citrus zest, black pepper, white lilies, algae extract, sandalwood, amber, myrhh, musk and oud. As I mentioned above, to me, oud tends to make a fragrance heavier but I love how the oud here contrasts with the natural aquatic aromas and candy sweetness to make this scent ideal for the summer and the beach. Plus the bottle was a perfect pairing for this holiday season.

It is available in a 1.7 oz and 3.3 oz from Saks.com and Nordstrom.com.

I hope you all have a fantastic and safe July 4th!

Enter to Win: Yves Saint Laurent, NARS & Marc Jacobs Cosmetics Instagram Giveaway

Are you guys sick of these giveaways yet? I hope not because it's time to launch the next one! I hope you're following me on snapchat (@Candy_Closets) because I always post sneak peeks and ask questions as to what you want to see next - plus there's our awesome giveaway song which I can't get enough of :-D. Also, I wanted to let you guys know that in addition to the regular giveaways that we have going on, I'm going to randomly start giving away prizes to people who are engaging on the blog and all of my social media channels. Not for nothing, but I read every comment and see everyone who constantly shows support or engages on the channels/posts and I want to make sure to show you all love whenever I can. So just keep an eye out. This will be going on...Forever -insert my Cardi B. face- :D.

But seriously, this is another way that I can thank you guys for constantly supporting Candy Coated Closets, so the more that you comment, like, share, engage etc. the more that I actually get to know you and it increases your chances in winning a prize (makeup, fragrances, shoes, gift cards or whatever it is that I think you may like). #RandomActsofCCC is going to be the hashtag for this.

Anyway...now onto the next Instagram giveaway!

GIVEAWAY ALERT It’s time to giveaway this high end cosmetics prize pack to one lucky Instagram followers! The pack includes:

• Marc Jacobs #InstaMarc Contour Powder in 60 Hi-Fi Filter (warm peach/deep bronze) ($49)
• NARS New Order Highlighting Blush ($30)
• Yves Saint Laurent Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils in color Black 1 ($32)
• Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat - Radiant Touch in color 1 Luminous Radiance ($42)

That's over $150 in prizes!

1. You must follow @candycoatedclosets on Instagram.

2. In the comments on this Instagram photo, tag three friends so they can learn about all of the fun we have on here.

3. You can enter up to 5 times with a new set of tagged friends in each comment.

That’s it!

Contest runs from Tuesday, June 28, 2016 and ends Tuesday, July 5, 2016 at 11:59pm est. One winner will be randomly chosen from those who commented (not those tagged within the comments) and announced within 48 hours of the contest ending.

No giveaway/spam profiles & profile must be set to public by the end of the contest so we can ensure that you are following @candycoatedclosets. Open internationally; 18+, to enter. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received.

Make sure that you click on the links above if you want to learn more about these amazing products from the giveaway!

GOOD LUCK!

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Pretty in Pink (Graffiti): Preparing for a Date Night with Escada Fragrances

The notion that fashion is just putting on a pair of pants, a matching T-shirt and some stylish shoes is simply untrue. When I get ready for my day, there's so much more to it than just going into my closet and picking out a pair of jeans, t-shirt and pumps to match. Seriously, there are so many factors to consider when picking out the perfect outfit - whether you're going for a casual look or something that you're preparing for a night out on the town. The biggest thing that people tend to forget until the last minute is their fragrance.

Take Pink Graffiti by Escada for example. This Eau De Toilette is a bright floral fragrance filled with fruity notes like: pink grapefruit, red peony, wild strawberry, raspberry, blackcurrant, violet and hints of vanilla, musk and cashmere wood. Sounds great right?

Well this type of fragrance is one that you want to make sure you pair with the right kind of outfit for the right kind of event. Since it's so fruity and floral, you want to make sure that you wear it out for a light and fun event - maybe to a carnival or trip out with some of your closest friends. Since it's an Eau De Toilette - meaning that it has a lower concentration of perfume - expect it to last for up to 2 to 3 hours without having to worry about the scent fading or having to reapply it.

Light Blue Skies and Fluffy White Clouds - Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream Fragrance Review

There really isn't too much that I can say about Daisy Dream that hasn't been said already. This fragrance really got my attention in 2015 when it won the Consumer Choice Awards (2015) and the Best Packaging of the Year (2015) awards from The Fragrance Foundation. I mean just look at the bottle.

Like its sister scents, Daisy Dream is best described as a fresh and fruity, wispy floral fragrance. It was created by Alberto Morillas, the original creator behind the first Daisy fragrance, in collaboration with Ann Gottlieb, who was responsible for Marc Jacobs’ Lola, along with Marc Jacobs himself. The notes include:

Top notes: Blackberry, Grapefruit and Pear Heart notes: Jasmine, Lychee and Blue Wisteria Base notes: White Woods, Musks and Coconut Water

Even though this EDT is about 2 years old now, I was inspired to do this blog post because out of all of the fragrances I own, this is one of my go-to scents for the summer. It's fun, light-weight and it gives me a splash of sweet fruit on my skin without being too over bearing for the summer - perfect for these longer summer days.  

The bottle is adorned and decorated with vinyl white daisy motives, which to me makes this this cutest bottle from the line. I do wish that the scent lasted longer because everything seemed to dissipate on me after about two hours. Again, it is an Eau de Toilette so the concentration wasn't designed to make it last all day but I do wish that I could get at least 4 hours of wear out of it. All in all, that wasn't a deal breaker for me - the packaging really sucked me - however, do keep that in mind if you are planning on purchasing this.

I do recommend it, especially if you are a bottle collector or ever in the market for a fragrance for someone who is younger. It is as available as a 30, 50 and 100 ml Eau de Toilette with an accompanying body lotion, shower gel, rollerball, and minis.

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Tom Ford Orchid Soleil - A New Fragrance for Women

Tom Ford always has to play games with our wallets! The line has announced a new women's fragrance to the "Orchid" family - Orchid Soleil Eau de Parfum that is scheduled to be released in July 2016.

Orchid Soleil is a luxurious and glamorous rose gold flanker of Black Orchid (2006) and Velvet Orchid (2014). The notes will include pink pepper, bitter orange, cypress, vanilla, tuberose, red spider lily, chestnut cream, patchouli and of course, orchid. It will be available in a 50 and 100 ml bottle.

We've already been seeing sneak peeks of the gorgeous bottle on social as well. Images via @uliyastep

-Press Release-

Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris - A New Fragrance for Women

Oh why hello new obsession! Get ready ladies because Yves Saint Laurent is launching a new fruity and floral Eau de Parfum for women called Mon Paris. Mon Paris is being described as a "modern interpretation of a love full of intensity and dedication yet free from all constraints".

The notes will include raspberry, strawberry, pear, peony, datura, jasmine, orange blossom, patchouli and white musk and will be available in a 30, 50 and 90 ml.

-Press Release-

A Walk Through Central Park South by Bond No. 9 Fragrance Review

Summer - it's the most yearned for and most anticipated time of the year, am I right? As a native New Yorker, it really is all that we have to hold onto to get us through the unbearable winds of winter. For some, the seemingly never-ending sunshine and breezy air marks the beginning of a new shopping season, an occasion to store away the heavy layers of clothes and lighten your wardrobe with airy maxi dresses and flashback aviators. For me, I tend to want to just run outside and get lost in the wanderlust of the sights and smells of the city. There's nothing else in the world like going down to Central Park and experiencing an olfactory explosion from the newly bloomed flowers or getting little water droplets splashed on your face from the Bethesda Fountain. That's where Bond No. 9 got its fragrance inspiration for Central Park South - the world's most super-elegant city street with the world's most sumptuous greenery at its doorstep.Bond No. 9 Central Park South is a fresh and floral fragrance that features top notes of grapefruit flower and blackcurrant buds. It has seductive heart notes of jasmine and lily of the valley that blend into the base notes of classic wood. It's really a playground for the senses if you're looking for a fresh update to your floral fragrance wardrobe.  One of the things that I love about undressing this bottle is the use of accessories. You can wear the decorative neck piece as a bracelet - when fashion meets fragrance ;-).

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A Melody of Heavenly Scents - Eau de Ciel by Annick Goutal Fragrance Review

"A melody of ethereal, tender and innocent scents, so delicate as the flapping of wings of a butterfly." - Annick GoutalWith Summer just around the corner, I felt it was time to take Eau de Ciel out of the glam room and finally introduce her the world. You see, Eau de Ciel by Annick Goutal is the type of fragrance that is best worn on a warm summer day. It was inspired from Annick Goutal's love for the countryside South of France, and designed to be a fresh, soft, and airy natural fragrance.  Imagine that unique smell of nature after a hot summer rain has washed over your garden. It has top notes of Linden Tea and Brazilian Rosewood that you notice immediately upon its opening. About an hour or so later, the notes begin to unite and you will notice that the iris, violet leaves, neroli, beeswax and orange blossom mix together to make the fragrance one of the freshest scents in your collection. The perfume is presented in its famous ribbed bottle with an ivory ribbon tied against its gold neck. The spritzer is powerful enough that you only need two sprays on your hotspots (one on each wrists will be fine) to last for 6 hours. 

-Press Sample-

How to Make Your Fragrance Last Longer

Are you applying your favorite fragrance in the right spot?

Rose Pompon by Annick Goutal

Many people don’t realize the full impact of a fragrance and how it speaks for you without having to say a word. Your scent follows you wherever you go and lingers with each breath; so much so that it should be making and leaving an impression on the people that you meet. So whether or not you have a signature scent or you switch fragrances depending on the season, it’s clear that you want that scent to last as long as it can.

Sure, it’s important to choose a scent with specific notes that appeal to you and mix well with your natural essence and body oils but when you’re picking out a fragrance to wear, we want you to keep these four things in mind: projection, silage, intensity and longevity.

Projection (Distance) The projection of a fragrance is how far a scent radiates off of your skin and how it is perceived by others in the same room as you – if they are standing in close proximity to you or 10 feet away.

Sillage (Linger) The sillage of a fragrance is the length of time that a scent hangs around in the air after you leave a room. You can consider this your fragrance afterglow and scent trail that lingers when you are no longer present.

Intensity (Strength) The intensity of a fragrance is the strength and concentration of the notes, oils and aromatic compounds used in the final product. A fragrance will be stronger and more intense depending on the concentration and intensity of the notes, oils and aromatic compounds involved. In other words, it’s how hard the fragrance slaps you in the face once you catch a sniff of it which varies from Eau De Paufum’s, Eau de Toilette’s and Eau de Cologne’s.

Longevity (Endurance) The longevity of a fragrance is the amount of time that a scent clings to your skin. Similarly to the intensity of a fragrance, the longevity of a scent will depend on the concentration of the notes, oils and aromatic compounds used in the final product.

These terms are intimately related. Some fragrances can have great projection, poor silage and an intense scent and long longevity. On the other hand, some fragrances can have poor projection and low longevity while having a high silage and intensity. Honestly, it all depends on what is in the final product. And while you can’t control what’s in the bottle, there are a few fragrance tricks that you can do to help the scent last a little bit longer.

For starters, make sure that you’re misting your favorite fragrances on your pulse points to intensify the scent. Pulse points are the areas on your body that have the most veins under the skin, which makes them your hot spots. The heat will intensify the fragrance, help it to diffuse and release the top, heart, and base notes as you warm up throughout the day.

Sure, familiar spots such as your wrist and side of your neck are great areas to apply a scent, but to really make your scent last, try adding a spritz or two to a few of these other pulse points:

Pulse Points: - The Back of The Legs (Behind Your Knees) - Behind The Ears - Small of Your Back - Nape of Your Neck - Cleavage - Inside of Your Elbow - The Area Right Above Your Hip Bones - Belly Button - Hair - Under Your Arms

Fragrance is an art and your skin is a canvas. Once you purchase a bottle, you become the artist from and each pulse point on your body will help you get the most out of your scent.

A Kiss of Rose Gold - Rose Pompon by Annick Goutal

I can almost hear the sarcasm in Miranda Priestly’s voice as I open the panoply of spring floral fragrances that recently hit my desk. “Florals? For spring? Revolutionary!”

I guess the same can be said for floral fragrances that are centered around rose notes. It’s been one of the biggest trends in perfumery this year - harvesting rose notes and predominately using them in the fragrance formula - but I’m always left thinking…how creative can a perfumer be when there are a countless number of debutante rose, wild rose or garden rose fragrances already available?

When I opened the box for Rose Pompon by Annick Goutal, the dewy and faint rose accords took me on a journey; a sensory refuge - somewhere that I haven't been since I was a little girl. You see, when I was younger, I was fascinated with hybrid tea roses. My mother used to take me on trips to the New York Botanical Garden so that I could learn more about the various textures and two-toned ombré color combinations - the same thing that made my heart flutter when I was first presented with the pink-blushed ombré packaging of Rose Pompon.

It also didn't help that two of my favorite childhood shows had roses as a major focal point in their storyline. Do you remember Tuxedo Mask from Sailor Moon? To this day, I still get butterflies in my stomach when I see his red rose fly across the screen - a symbol of love and justice - as he arrives to save the Sailor Scouts.

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And then one of my all-time favorite Disney movies, Beauty and the Beast, that showcased an enchanted, magical rose floating in a glass dome.

Rose Pompon Inspo

These flashbacks were held in the seat of my memory and was seemingly unlocked by a quick sniff and intense look at this lighthearted floral rose fragrance. These memories are why I came to associate Rose Pompon as a unique sensory and emotional eau de toilette that exudes passion, fun and love.

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Rose Pompon fuses together top notes of summertime raspberries and blackcurrant that mingle together with spicy pink pepper for a flirty opening punch. Its heart notes open up to the sweet natural smelling essences of bulgarian rose, peonies and taïf rose, which exudes a joyful and sweet smelling innocence within the fragrance. For its final trail, the fragrance settles into a warm and velvet cloud of cedar, patchouli and white musk that adds depth and warmth to the scent. 

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The first thing that you notice about Rose Pompon in comparison to other rose fragrances is the packaging. The ombré pink-blushed bottle stands out with a fine double cord wrapped around its neck with a rose pompon pendant. I adore this simple but chic twist to the bottle design because it is adding a little bit more magic to my vanity.

The sprayer is a standard spritzer that is very powerful. I normally like to wear about 4 sprays of a fragrance on my hot spots but with Rose Pompon, I am able to spray two on my wrists and it noticeably lasts for 8-10 hours on me.

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It is available in a 3.4oz bottle on Annick Goutal's website and I cannot recommend another fragrance that would be a perfect gift for Mother's Day or even for a young girl as an introduction to her first chic and flirty floral rose scent.

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xoxo1

How to Get Naturally Glowing Skin

Naturally Glowing Skin: It's one of those phrases that gets thrown around so much in the beauty industry but do you know that the easiest way to get the most natural looking glow is to take care of your skin? As easy as that sounds, taking proper care of your skin requires a little bit of effort on your part. Yesterday, I was talking to my boyfriend about his lack of using lotion. It baffles me that he can moisturize his hands and feet but neglects the middle part of his torso. His response to me: "when shorts season comes around, I'll make sure to lotion my legs". After preaching about the need for daily moisture, my face went to  and I left it alone. He would learn one day.

Later that night, we were at a Game of Thrones premiere party and [SPOILER ALERT] the final scene with Melisandre aging with her skin sagging really threw him for a loop. "That can't be her, she looks like she belongs with Smeagol."

Clip of Game of Thrones scene

I laughed and immediately looked over to him and said, "well take that as your warning because that is what happens when you don't moisturize." The look on his face was priceless but I wasn't the only one who took note of that hidden message from GoT. A few hours  later, Clarins' Instagram page won the internet and posted this meme.I almost fell to the floor when I saw it pop up in my timeline but you know what, they're right. I spend at least 15 minutes every morning and night on my skincare routine. If I'm in the mood for a full spa treatment, it can take at least an hour. It sounds like a lot of work but by maintaining a proper skincare routine, you won't have to rely on using foundations and concealers everyday. Another bonus is that by taking preventative measures early on and establishing a healthy skincare routine, it will help to ward off wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots, and sagging.  Sounds worth it right? Here's what you want to do.

Start off by finding a skincare line that interests you. If you can, try heading into the department store or your local Sephora or Ulta for a quick consultation. Their skin care specialists can give you the background behind what's new and can advise you on the best products for your particular skin care concerns.I start with the One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Facial Cleanser because it washes away all of the dirt and dead skin without irritating my skin. The orange extract will soften your skin while the gentle silica microbeads will help to clear your pores, and the moringa seed extract purifies and refines your skin leaving it feeling refreshed. I absolutely recommend this is you have acne prone skin.  Next, I use the Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner. You can use any toner that fits into your routine to even out your skin tone, however, I would stay away from alcohol-based toners or toners that have heavy fragrant extracts which can irritate the skin. You should try to find a toner that is full of antioxidants, skin-repairing substances and cell awakening ingredients such as niacinamide.

I prefer to use the Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner because it brightens, smoothes, and balances my skin while helping to prevent the build-up of pore-clogging debris which can lead to acne. Also, I use this as an added step in caring for my hyperpigmentation. The Tamarind extract rids the skin of dry, flaky surface cells, while the White Nettle extract refines enlarged pores.

When applying your toner, remember that you want to dab or press the toner into your skin with a soft cotton ball or face pad. Do not make the mistake of swiping and dragging it across your face. After letting the toner dry down for about a minute, I apply the Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate. I love using this as it has a high antioxidant-rich formula and contains a much higher concentration of active ingredients which helps to heal and smooth my skin. With this product, a little bit goes a long way so try using two pumps of it to start. Remember to apply this before your sunscreen and before your daytime or nighttime moisturizer.For my day moisturizer, I use the Multi-Active Day Cream. Even though I'm not 30...yet...I like to be pro-active about my skin care so any steps that I can take to ward off wrinkles is good for me! The multi-active day cream contains active plant ingredients that are combined to restore elasticity to the skin .And lastly, for my night moisturizer I use the Multi-Active Night Cream. Paired with my daytime moisturizer, this encourages skin renewal with the kiwi extract and helps to reduce the signs of wrinkles with the natural carb extract.  Don't forget about your lips - yes they need moisture too! I literally swear by the Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm. It took me forever to find a lip moisturizer that I could put on a night, sleep for 8 hours, and wake up with my lips still feeling soft and not chapped. This one contains essential rose wax to calm and protect your lips while Ceramide 3 hydrates and replenishes them. I know this may seem like a lot to do but remember that the better condition that your skin is in, the better your makeup will apply and look throughout the day.

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Tory Burch Eau de Parfum - A Tomboy Chic Scent

When you create a namesake perfume, you want it to be an androgynous gem - something that isn't easily defined by a tradition label. And that's exactly what we got when Tory Burch decided to create her first namesake Eau de Parfum - Tory Burch.Tory Burch is a tomboy chic citrus Eau de Parfum from Tory Burch with a soft floral edge. It has polished notes of floral peony and tuberose that is blended with citrus hints of grapefruit, neroli and the earthy tones of jasmine sambac, vetiver and sandalwood. The spray comes in a beautiful glass bottle with a signature fretwork top. I was initially captivated by the beautiful glass bottle with the signature Tory Burch fretwork as the top. As I wore the fragrance, I immediately noticed the sweet mandarin and neroli top notes that is accented with the floral blast of the roses and beautiful lush peony notes. Once it began to dry down (after about 1.5 hours on me), I began to notice the fresh grapefruit and creamy tuberose gardenia scent.

The Fragrance Foundation Consumer Choice Awards 2016 - It’s Time to Vote!

If you would have told me when I first started blogging that I was going to become the fragrance aficionado that I am today, I probably would have laughed at you. But here we are...some hundred bottles into my collection later... :-D As you have joined me on this journey, we have explored some of the most designer and niche fragrances and now is the time where we as the consumers get a chance to shine the light on some of our favorite scents. That means that it's finally time to vote in the The Fragrance Foundation Consumer Choice Awards for 2016!

Beginning on Monday, March 28, 2016, you will have the power to vote in the following categories: Men’s, Women’s Popular and Women’s Prestige fragrances that launched in 2015. The nominees are: 

Men's - Dior Sauvage; Prada Luna Rosa Sport; Ralph Lauren Polo Red Intense. Women’s Popular - ARI by Ariana Grande; Victoria’s Secret Forever Sexy EDP. Women’s Prestige - Jimmy Choo Illicit; Marc Jacobs Decadence; Versace Eros Pour Femme; Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium.

So there are only two ways that this could get any better. For one, all voters will be entered to win select fragrances from each category in a random-selection sweepstakes (32 of you will win)! Secondly...well you know we have to dive into all nine of those fragrances before the voting period ends right? That's right! So from now until May 27, 2016, we are going to be diving into all of them as a group and as an individual fragrance to find out the story behind the scent. So why not get to know them a little bit more intimately before voting?

What can I say about Black Opium from Yves Saint Laurent that I haven't already? This fragrance literally took over my life from October 2015 to the start of the New Year. Seriously, I think I gave everyone this fragrance for the holidays. And everyone thanked me because of its addictive notes of rich coffee accord, orange blossom and sensual vanilla.A little bit of elegance, a hint of class and a blast of decadence. Marc Jacobs Decadence is a woody eau de parfum with hints of bulgarian rose, jasmine, liquid amber, papyrus woods, iris flowers and vetiver. The glamour of combining all of these notes together in such a stunning bottle design is what really made this fragrance my winter scent. ARI by Ariana Grande is one of the newest fragrances to my collection and I can tell you that I was first drawn in by the bottle. This is a sweet and soft scent that I'm looking forward to wearing more this spring as the notes remind me of a fruity and floral explosion. They include: crispy pear, pink grapefruit, juicy raspberry, soft muguet, rose buds, vanilla orchid, blonde woods, creamy musk and marshmallow - yum!

I'll be honest and tell you that I never smelled Jimmy Choo Illicit until the announcement of these awards. I cannot believe that I let such a good fragrance pass me by for so long too. Illicit is an alluring fragrance with noes of ginger, feminine sambac rose, turkish rose, bitter orange, honey-amber and sandalwood. I absolutely adore how rich the scent is and how it settles into my skin.

Versace Eros Pour Femme is a powerful floral fragrance with hints of citrus that has notes of Sicilian lemon, Calabrian bergamot, pomegranate accords, lemon, sambac jasmine absolute, jasmine infusion, peony, sandalwood, ambrox, musk and various cedars.Created with golden thread of Amber, Forever Sexy by Victoria's Secret is as beautiful as the lingerie. It has warm juicy notes of belladonna orange, creamy gardenia petals and warm golden amber.Prada Luna Rosa Sport is a flanker to already popular Prada Luna collection. Just an FYI - in the fragrance community, we normally refer to a newly created fragrance that shares similar attributes of an already existing fragrance as a flanker. These similar attributes may include the bottle design, the packaging, the name or even similar notes that were taken from the pre-existing fragrance.

Prada Luna Rosa Sport has citrusy notes with a tart blend of ginger and leads into the sweetness of juniper berries. The heart notes are enriched with lavender while the base notes of tonka beans and vanilla warm up and smooth out the fragrance.

Ralph Lauren Polo Red Intense is a fresh and spicy woody fragrance for men with notes of blood grapefruit, cranberry, lemon, saffron, ginger, coffee, sage, lavender, amber, red cedar and leather. This is definitely more of a concentrated and masculine scent than its predecessor Polo Red.

Dior Sauvage was created for a daring man who loves the outdoors. It was created with carefully selected natural and fresh ingredients of Calabria bergamot, ambroxan, precious ambergris and cedar.

Don't forget to click here to cast your vote and remember to come back every week to talk about one of the featured nine fragrances!

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Rose Splendide by Annick Goutal Fragrance Review

Oh why hello Spring? Are you there? Please meet one of my friends from my collection, Rose Splendide by Annick Goutal.Imagine that you were getting ready for a summertime date. Expecting it to be a warmer night than others; you put on a bit of BB cream just to give your face a bit of color and brighten it up, along with a slight hint of nude eyeshadow and a tinted pink lip balm. To finish off your look, you reach for your bottle of Rose Splendide.

This romantic Eau de Toilette is centered around the intense aromatic combinations of Centifolia rose, musk, magnolia and pear. It opens up very "green" on me which was surprising because I assumed the sweet rose and fruity pear notes would overpower the rest. After about an hour, it gradually mellowed out into the pink petal nirvana that I was initially expecting - perfect for a summertime date.

The 100ml glass bottle is very elegant and adorned with a romantic pink bow and gold cap. The spritzer is a standard spritzer and you will only need about 4 to 5 pumps of this on your pulse points to release the notes throughout the day. If you are interested in some additional charming and delightful rose perfumes, then check out the remaining rose collection by Annick Goutal. As you can see in the pictures, I still have a few more to review for you. ;-)

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Creed Royal Princess Oud Fragrance Review

Creed has described Royal Princess Oud as "a statement of modern elegance and sophistication in a bottle." If there was one fragrance in my collection that could truly boast about this, then Royal Princess Oud would have to be it.Creed really lived up to its name and created this one with luxury in mind. It's a perfect romantic scent that is geared more towards their younger feminine audience which is why I gravitated to it. The notes include top notes of Bitter Sicilian bergamot, rose and sweet violet; middle notes of Jasmin, vanilla, patchouli and iris from Tuscany and base notes of Benjoin Siam, a sweet gum resin from Thailand, Mysore Sandalwood and Styrax, an ancient resin extracted from bark of shrubs in Asia. Personally, I've worn it well over 10 hours and at first, it started off as an intense floral scent but as the day went on, it dried down into a subtle powder and vanilla woody scent.The bottle has a clear to red gradient color design with an embossed logo in the middle of it to showcase the passion of the scent. The cap is gold with the embellished red logo etched into it as well. The nozzle is a standard creed nozzle with a powerful "spritzer" so you really only need to spray this 3 to 4 times on your pulse points. Ladies, think high fashion and couture when you think about this scent. It is a bit pricey but this is one of those times that I can really say that you get what you pay for. And hey, all you really need to do is throw on a bold lipstick and this fragrance and you're good to go for date night.It's available at the Creed Boutique and Nordstorm's in a 1.0 oz and 2.5 oz.

Six Green Fragrances To Wear for St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day is finally upon us so it's officially time to pull out your favorite green accessories and beauty products to celebrate. Around this time, everyone pulls out their favorite green t-shirts, green hoodies and even green shoes in an effort to avoid getting pinched but what about the beauty girls? Well you know we have to put our on twist on things ;-) . Cue the takeover of green inspired eye shadow looks, lip ombres and 4 leaf clover nail tutorials but why stop there? In honor of St. Patrick's Day, here are six green fragrances worth trying:Bvlgari Mon Jasmin Noir L'Eau Exquise is an exquisite Spring fragrance that is light and airy (perfect to wear in the office for St. Patrick's Day). Its sparkling femininity is captured in a stunning bottle and filled with notes of jasmine, white tea, pomelo, almond anchor, musk and cedar. You'll tend to notice the citrusy scent and grapefruit notes more and more as it dries down.If you're looking for a floral fragrance with a bit of a punch to it, try Amouage's Epic Eau De Parfum for women. It's described as a spicy floral oriental with top notes of cumin, pink bay, cinnamon; heart notes of Damascene rose, tea, geranium, jasmine; and base notes of amber, musk, guaiac wood, orris, frankincense, oud, patchouli, sandalwood, and vanilla. I'll be honest, when I smelled the first spritz of it on my wrists, I wrote it off as being way too strong and spicy for me. As the night went on and the fragrance notes started to open (the heart and base notes), I really began to enjoy the warm rose and sweet sandalwood scent. If you order this fragrance or even go to test it out, make sure that you give it a few hours to settle before judging it.Dolce by Dolce & Gabbana is everything that you want in a romantic fragrance. The packaging is designed as a petite glass bottle topped with an ivory and pink marzipan flower. It opens with a soft and sensual blast of floral and citrus notes. You can immediate smell the freshness of the neroli leaves mixing together with the papaya flowers. Later, the fragrance mixes into it heart floral notes of white amaryllis and white water lily and finally settles into your skin with a soft cashmere and musk opening. I recommend this is your looking for a light, and floral romantic scent. Plus, the bottle is a cute vanity topper.Un Jardin Après La Mousson by Hermès pays homage to the spices and precious gems of India. It is a very warm and spicy eau de toilette that houses notes of ginger, cardamom, coriander, pepper and vetiver. This is one of those abstract fragrances that wears well on both men and women because of its pull on the freshness of cucumber spiciness, peppered cantaloupe and fresh rain water.We all know the feeling of falling in love. The butterflies and excitement that comes from a first date and the endless possibilities of what the future may hold. A floral and romantic eau de parfum with passionate overtones and sweet seductive undertones, Live in Love by Oscar De La Renta perfectly captures this feeling and emotion in its elegant bottle. It has notes of rose, sparkling ginger orchid, jasmine, lily of the valley, bergamot, african orange flower, white amber, musk and sandalwood.And the crème de la crème, Creed Green Irish Tweed. I remember how stunned I was when my boyfriend first opened his new bottle of GIT and sprayed it on his wrists. The fresh opening of the florentine iris and the explosion of violet leaves left me smiling because it reminded me just how close to spring we really are. Literally, every fragrance that is described as "fresh" and "green" is secretly aspiring to hit the mark that Green Irish Tweed has. It has notes of iris, lemon verbena, violet leaves, ambergris and mysore sandalwood. 

What scent are you wearing to celebrate and bring you luck today?

Happy Valentine's Day With Guerlain's La Petite Robe Noire

Happy Valentine's Day love bugs! I was trying to find a way to celebrate with you guys and it took me a bit to figure out how I wanted to capture this moment in an image. You know...photographer problems. :-)

As I was getting ready for my date, it finally hit me. What's the one thing that I have in my collection that could truly capture beauty, fashion and love in one shot?

My new bottles of La Petite Robe Noire by Guerlain.

Prada Candy Kiss - A New Fragrance by Prada

-Press Release-

It truly is the season of love and now is the perfect time to announce the new Prada Candy Kiss fragrance!

Scheduled to launch by the end of this month (February 2016), Prada Candy Kiss is a flanker to the earlier Prada Candy collection. Just an FYI - in the fragrance community, we normally refer to a newly created fragrance that shares similar attributes of an already existing fragrance as a flanker. These similar attributes may include the bottle design, the packaging, the name or even similar notes that were taken from the pre-existing fragrance.

So Prada Candy Kiss is a flanker to the playful gourmand collection from it's earlier years: the original Prada Candy from 2011, Prada Candy L'Eau from 2013 and Prada Candy Florale from 2014. Last year, you may remember the adorable Candy Kiss mini collection that was launched (mini bottles of the three original fragrances in 20ml).

Now the new flanker, Prada Candy Kiss which was developed by Daniela Andrier, channels the addictive nature of the Candy composition and enhances its characteristic scent of musk. It's described to have been designed to re-activate emotions and impressions. Largely, this idea has evolved from the sensual veil of musk evoked in delicate white cotton all in a sensual cloud. There are also notes of vanilla and orange blossom which will enrich and brighten the fragrance as it opens. It will be available as an Eau de Parfum in 30, 50 and 80 ml.

I will keep you updated on my social pages as to the launch day and of course I'll be reviewing it for you!

Do you think you'll be adding the new Prada Candy Kiss to your collection?

Introducing Poison Girl - The New Fragrance By Dior

It's time to introduce a new fragrance into your collection - Poison Girl by Christian Dior.

Developed by Francois Demachy, Dior’s Poison Girl is a new addition for women to the fragrance house and its Poison collection. It comes in a light pink bottle in the traditional shape of the Poison packaging and was specifically designed to introduce the brand to a younger audience.

It's notes are described as a bitter sweet floral with sicilian orange accents, the heart of roses (May rose from Grasse and Damascus rose, warm vanilla and almond, Venezuelan tonka bean, and sandalwood from Sri Lanka. It will be available in 30, 50 and 100 ml as  an Eau de Parfum.

*photo from a google.com image search*

So what do you think fragrance lovers, will you be checking out the new Dior Poison Girl?