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Beauty Favorites Fragrance Holiday Gift Guide

Gift Ideas for the Fragrance Lover

December 11, 2024

Christmas is just around the corner! Time during this month seems to move so quickly I can barely believe it. If you’re still looking for some holiday gifts I have a few more roundups for you.

Many of these discovery sets offer a voucher towards the purchase of a full-size perfume (I’ll note which ones have them below). There are still lots of ways to save on beauty sets this month. Some sales on my radar:

Sephora’s Gifts For All Event is happening now – save 20% off your order with code HAVEITALL (one time use) and 30% off Sephora Collection now thru 12/15
Ulta Beauty has lots of sales and promos each week, right up save up to $20 off in store and online – get $10 off $40 qualifying purchase with code CHEER24 or $20 off $100 qualifying purchase with code JOY24, they also have their Big Holiday Beauty Sale going on (my last minute gifts all on sale shared here and here)
Saks Fifth Avenue has their Spend More, Earn More event with code WNTRGCSF
Bluemercury is offering 20% off purchases $200+
Bloomingdale’s has their Beauty Treats Event to take $25 off every $150 you spend on beauty (some exclusions apply)

Onto today’s gift guide! I think Perfume Discovery Sets are such a fun gift idea whether you’re looking for something for yourself or a gift. There are quite a few brands I do not have in-person access to and the sets allow me to try perfumes without having to buy blind. I will admit that some sets have been a total fail in the sense that I didn’t end up liking any of the perfumes or notes, but it was still fun to try. I have a few friends who have completely different tastes in perfumes so I can usually find someone else who will gladly take any of them off my hands!

Celine

Celine makes some of my favorite scents. Right now they’re only sold online at Celine or in Celine boutiques in the US so they can be a bit hard to find. I bought the Coffret Miniatures a year ago when it had 10 perfumes and absolutely loved trying the scents. You can see my review of each one in this post here.

They’ve since updated this Coffret Set to include 12 scents including Zouzou (new) and Bois Dormant (10 ml each). They’ve also increased the price to $445 for 12 minis versus $385 for 10 minis (the older variation).

A more affordable option is their Discovery Set with has 11 mini vials each 2 ml for $48. This one comes with spritzers.

Guerlain

Guerlain Holiday is stunning this year! They have some beautiful discovery sets I’ve reviewed in depth here. I think these are among some of the best high quality perfumes I’ve ever tried. These are quite the splurge but I know some of you are die-hard loyal fans to this perfume line and I think the sets make for the most beautiful luxury gifts.

The Iconic Eaux de Parfum Set has three minis ($190, three 10 ml minis) from the L’art and La Matiere Line in Neroli Outrenoir, Angelique Noire, and Musc Outreblanc.

They also have two eight-piece Perfumers Sets in the Iconic Harmony and Floral Harmony ($395 each). This year they launched a six-piece discovery Exceptional Set with the Extracts and it is STUNNING ($630).

You can view all the Fragrance Gift Set offerings here.

Creed Fragrance

Creed is another beautiful perfume line and I think their Discovery Sets are stunning. I gift one to Andrew every year and he uses every single scent. Creed has a lot of variations including 3-piece sets ($250 each) or 5-piece sets ($345 each). They have variations for men and different ones for women. Right now at the time of this post Nordstrom is offering a discount on the Creed Sets.

Women’s 5-Piece Set includes: Aventus for Her, Love in White, Wind Flowers, Royal Princess Oud and Spring Flower
Women’s 3-Piece Set includes: Aventus for Her, Carmina and Wind Flowers
Men’s 5-Piece Set includes: Aventus, Green Irish Tweed, Silver Mountain Water, Aventus Cologne and Millesime Imperial
Men’s 3-Piece Set includes: Aventus, Green Irish Tweed, Silver Mountain Water

The Creed Refillable Atomizer is another beautiful gift option. They have different colors to pick from and both Andrew and I own and love these.

Byredo

Byredo offers the biggest selection of discovery and travel sets. I love that they have SO many options!

This year they’ve launched a stunning 24-piece discovery set called La Grande Decouverte ($250). This set comes with a $225 voucher to use towards any Eau de Parfum and they give you 6 months to redeem it. Each vial is 2 ml.

Byredo also offers several smaller 6-piece Discovery Sets ($60) and these also come with a $60 voucher to use towards a perfume. This one has a shorter window to redeem of 4 weeks but I think it’s still a great way to try them. The sets this year include:

La Decouverte Boise
La Decouverte Florale
La Decouverte Sur-Mesure – you can pick your own scents for this one!
La Decouverte Nomade

The 3-piece Travel Sets ($174 each) are still widely available at multiple retailers like Nordstrom, Saks, etc. I picked up La Selection Boisee with Super Cedar, Mojave Ghost and Black Saffron but there are multiple variations available with different combinations.

The Les Miniatures 5-Piece Set ($210) is available at Byredo with mini bottles in a dabber style.

Glossier Trio

This year Glossier added two new scents to their line and they launched a Glossier You Discovery Kit ($82) for the holiday with travel sizes. At the time of this post there are a few left at Sephora.com but it’s sold out at Glossier. The good news is you can find the Travel Editions (8 ml each) individually now in Glossier You, You Reve and You Doux for $32 each. Glossier is offering 20% off online until 12/15.

Parfums de Marly

Parfums de Marly is a new-to-me brand this year. I bought the Feminine Discovery Set ($50) from their website (comes with a voucher to use towards a full-size fragrance). The line is more widely available at retailers like Nordstrom, Saks, Neimans etc. and they carry it near me but I really liked having the discovery set to try them at my own pace.

I also love their Discovery Collection ($230, Saks) with four 10 ml sizes perfect to try or for your purse. It has Delina, Delina Exclusif, Oriana and Valaya. I’m a huge fan of the Delina line for the prettiest rose scents but my heart still belongs to Creed Spring Flower so I haven’t bought any of the Delina scents.

Victoria Beckham Beauty

I’ve been a huge fan of Victoria Beckham Beauty for the makeup and was super curious when they launched perfumes. I ordered the Original 3-Piece Discovery Set ($30) when it launched (this comes with a voucher). Out of the three I liked Portofino 97 the best which has notes of Bergamot, Amber and Vetiver (all my favorite notes) but I didn’t like it enough to buy any of the full sizes. It pulls unisex but slightly more on the masculine side on me.

They’ve since added a new scent and updated the Discovery Set ($40) to include the new one Reverie which has notes of Vanilla, Cedarwood and Plum. I haven’t tried the perfume but the PR team sent over their Hand Cream Collection Set ($144) which has all four scents in a hand cream and I really love Reverie. It has a similar vibe to MFK Baccarat Rouge 540 which I actually don’t wear anymore. I think the VBB Reverie is a much better variation. If you like vanillas I think it’s definitely worth checking out.

The Hand Creams are very smooth in texture without any sticky residue. I think they’re really nice. You can purchase them individually and they also launched a Hand Cream Tube Key ($12) to twist the end of the tube.

The Harmonist

I discovered The Harmonist line this year and fell head over heels in love with Moon Glory and Yin Transformation. They’re truly unique with exceptionally long lasting power. There is a Discovery Set ($85) I’m working my way through. I think it’s a truly special line.

Linking a few more Discovery Sets. There seems to be one for almost every perfume line!

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If you’ve been looking for some last minute beauty gifts I hope you found this roundup helpful! If you have any favorite perfume line you’re loyal to please let me know in the comments. I am always looking for more to try.

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Fragrance Gift Guide

Holiday Gifting with Guerlain

November 22, 2024

I am so excited to share a luxury beauty gift guide today with some stunning sets from Guerlain. They’ve kindly gifted a selection of their fragrances for me to share and I am thrilled to host a giveaway too! If you’re the ultimate perfume lover or have someone in your life who has everything, Guerlain has some really special sets I think are unique.

For Black Friday and Cyber Week they have some special gift with purchase options online from 11/25 thru 12/2:

Spend $100 and receive an Abeille Royale Night cream (7ml)
Spend $275+ and receive an Abeille Royale Night cream (7ml) + Gift Set with Abeille Royale minis and pouch with code THANKS24
Spend $500+ and receive an Abeille Royale Night cream (7ml) + Orchide Imperiale Sampler Set with code MERCI24
Spend $1,000+ and receive an Abeille Royale Night cream (7ml) + Orchide Imperiale Sampler Set + 3 wick luxury candle with code MERCI24

I really love their discovery sets as I do not have easy access to a Guerlain counter. They’ve added a few new ones from the L’Art + La Matiere line this year I think are exceptionally beautiful. I’ve also tried their Aqua Allegoria line for the first time with another set.

The Perfumer’s Sets

There are three Perfumer’s Sets from Guerlain. These have beautiful miniatures that have a selection of the L’Art + La Matiere perfumes. They’ve brought back the Iconic Harmony ($395) and Floral Harmony ($395) both containing 8 minis with a twist off cap. Each bottle has 10 ml of product. They also have a new trio with three of my personal favorites.

The Iconic Harmony Set has Neroli Outrenoir, Spiritueuse Double Vanille, Rose Barbare, Cuir Beluga, Musc Outreblanc, Angelique Noire, Herbes Troublantes and Oud Nude.

This year they added a new variation called the Iconic Eaux de Parfum Set ($190) with three pieces including Neroli Outrenoir, Angelique Noire and Musc Outreblanc.

Out of all the ones I’ve tried I love Neroli Outrenoir, Angelique Noire and Musc Outreblanc the most which happen to be the three scents in their new holiday mini trio.

The Exceptional Set

Another new launch is a miniature set with their Signature Extracts. This is the first time I’ve tried any of these scents. They are the high concentration versions and after testing a few of these I think they are exquisite. If you’re one who wants something with a very potent long lasting fragrance these are stunning.

The Exceptional Set ($630) has six miniatures of Iris Pallida Extrait 6, Bergamote Fantastico Extrait 11, Jasmin Grandiflorum Extrait 30, Tonka Sarrapia Extrait 75, Vanille Planifolia Extrait 21 and Rose Centifolia Extrait 1. I am still working my way through all the perfumes but the gourmand ones are so beautiful, I think they’re perfect for holiday and I cannot wait to wear them all.

The first one I tried was the Iris Palladia Extrait 6 which has a beautiful blend of sweet and wood with a tiny bit of powdery almond and musk. It’s velvety and floral all at the same time. As a citrus lover I’m also smitten with the Bergamote Fantastico although I have my eye on a few other citrus scents from Guerlain that I still want to try.

Personalized Gift Ideas

Guerlain also sent a bottle of the Musc Outreblanc which I have been eyeing for over a year. They allowed me to personalize the bottle which I think gives it such a beautiful exquisite touch. I don’t know that I’ve ever been gifted a perfume this special! You can customize the plate on the cap, the ribbon color, seal and also add an engraving to the bottle. You can add this personalized touch for any of the L’Art & La Matiere perfumes.

I did not expect to love this customization this much, but if you have any favorites from Guerlain and do not have a boutique near you, I highly recommend trying the personalization feature online whether it’s something for yourself or a friend.

I also think their new Flacon Sac Travel Spray ($180) and Refills ($180) are so beautiful. This is quite a splurge but there are a number of scents to choose from and I think it has a WOW factor you won’t find in any other perfume brand.

Aqua Allegoria Sets

I’ve always been curious about the Aqua Allegoria line. I have several on my radar and wishlist but haven’t purchased any yet. Mandarine Basilic Forte is one on my wishlist and it comes in a beautiful Parfum Gift Set ($135) this year. As the ultimate citrus perfume lover this is a dream come true for me.

They also have Aqua Allegoria sets with the Floralbloom Forte and Rosa Rossa Forte.

Winter Must-Have: Lip Oils

One last mention for a Guerlain favorite. I think their KissKiss Bee Glow Lip Oils ($40 each) are the best lip oils I’ve tried. Full review + swatches I posted a while back here. I still love them very much. The formula is the best for that lush, cushiony and hydrating feel. Lips remain well hydrated even after product has faded. The colors are sheer but add a fresh pop of color and anytime a reader asks for a lip oil recommendation the Guerlain one is it!
I think it’s a great beauty splurge to treat yourself this holiday season if you haven’t tried one yet. I’m hard pressed to pick a favorite although I have been wearing Pop Rose Glow and Honey Glow the most.

That wraps up my Guerlain holiday gift guide. Be sure to check out all the holiday gift sets online at Guerlain. Every order arrives beautifully wrapped to perfection in a gift box and holiday bow. They also have samples available at checkout.

They have a lot more to choose from this year including Skincare Sets and more Fragrance Sets.

I’m so excited to be able to giveaway an extra set I have of the The Exceptional Set to one reader (US only). To enter for a chance to win simply complete all the steps in the widget below. Giveaway will run through 12/1/2024 11:59 PM est. I’ll pick a winner through the widget and email them directly on 12/2.

Enter through the widget below. It’s best if you enter via a Chrome or Safari browser to use the commenting system I have on this blog.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Many thanks to Guerlain for gifting a beautiful selection of holiday gifts.

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Diptyque Fragrance Home / Interiors

Diptyque Papier Collection

September 30, 2024

It’s been a while since I’ve added any new Diptyque launches to my home collection as I have been on a self-imposed candle ban trying to use up all the candles I currently have. The new L’Eau Papier Collection caught my eye and by the time it launched I felt like I had used up enough to justify two more splurges. I love the L’Eau Papier Eau de Toilette for a fresh clean mix of white musk, rice steam accord, mimosa and blonde wood accord. They added a Papier (Paper) Candle and Encre (Ink) Candle to the collection along with a few other scented Papier items. I’m 10/10 in love.

L’Eau Papier

The L’Eau Papier Eau de Toilette ($130 for 50 ml to $180 for 100 ml) is a unique clean minimalist kind of scent. It’s light, gentle with a hazy feel. It’s hard to imagine what a paper fragrance smells like but when you smell this scent it just makes sense. Diptyque added this in a few other formats. I decided to try one the L’Eau Papier Hair Mist ($72 for 30 ml) and I love it. It has pretty good lasting power although it is still very soft.

Candles

There are two limited-edition candles in this launch and I love them both. The Papier Candle smells just like the perfume. It’s a very soft and subtle scent but does fill the entire room within a few minutes. I love it. It has a crisp and clean vibe.

Diptyque also created an Encre Candle (ink) in this collection. It’s a mix of Indonesian patchouli and black liquorice and has a smokey vibe to it. It’s a softer creamier version of Feu de Bois. I wasn’t sure what to expect as I’m not really liquorice fan, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised! I think it’s a great summer to fall transition kind of scent.

I’ve been really happy with the purchases, however they don’t really fit the usual Diptyque vibe to me. Most Diptyque scents are more dynamic and a little more complex while this collection is more minimalist and subtle. I still love everything, but if you’re new to Diptyque and these are the first things you end up trying, just know it’s different from most other things Diptyque.

I still think Baies is their best candle.

Scented Matches and Accessories

As a Diptyque fan I also added a few other items to my home collection. I love their glass candle holders and photophores. They launched a Mini Ribbed Candle Holder ($84) for their minis. It’s so cute! When I decided to order it they were sold out online so I called one of the NY stores to have them ship it to my house. It has since popped up back in stock online a few times. You can set an alert if you want to order it online although I don’t know if it’s a permanent item.

Mini Candle Holder, Small Candle Holder and Standard Candle Holder.

I also tried two of the Scented Matches Sets ($30 each). These are longer matches in a paper box that were released with their refillable candle collection.

I asked the New York store which ones were their most popular ones and they told me the Moss and Orange Blossom. They are scented which makes them fun but there is really nothing super special about them to justify the splurge (in my opinion). I do think they’re beautiful and having longer matches is always a plus for me so they ended up being worth it just to have and try them. I don’t know that I’ll repurchase them or buy any of the other scents.

Overall love. Have you tried these yet? If not what kinds of scents are you loving for the home this time of year?

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You can find the Papier Collection out now. Available at Diptyque, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s and all other Diptyque locations.

P.S. Thank you for everyone who has messaged me about the recent hurricane. We were very fortunate that only the edge of the hurricane hit Tampa Bay. Our area in St Petersburg still experienced massive storm surge (this was the biggest storm surge in over 100 years in our area).

Andrew and I were not located in an evacuation zone so we stayed put and the counties here have been very proactive about warnings, alerts and providing resources for help. So many of the beaches, waterfront areas and many neighborhoods had life changing flooding and damage. We lost power for 3 days but no flooding to our home. So many have been very working hard 24/7 to repair broken power lines, clean up fallen trees. The storm surge was so bad many cars and boats floated to very odd places.

My in-law’s place is by the water and they had a lot of flooding inside their home and there is a lot of damage there. Their place is in a mandatory evacuation zone so nobody was there when the hurricane hit, but the damage is devastating. Andrew and I spent a few days cleaning everything out for them. Still, we have been very fortunate and we are grateful. Thank you everyone for your kind wishes and for checking in on me over the past week.

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Fragrance

Best Summer Perfumes

August 1, 2024

above: mirror, agate tray, marble tray, earrings

I have so many favorite fragrances right now. Summertime scents are my favorite to wear and luckily I live in Florida where it feels like it’s summer year round!

I’ve tried quite a few new brands and scents from samplers this year including Parfums de Marly, Kilian, Ex Nihilio, Giardini di Toscana, Valentino. I went down a rabbit hole wanting to try more and more after watching some fragrance YouTubers. There are so many options out there and I have to say that finding a few experts with similar taste is super helpful navigating the world of perfume.

There are so many stunning options for every mood but I’ve found that most on my current list are still my tried and true. I’ve split my favorites by type. I’ll also rank my top 5 most worn ones at the end.

Best Vacation-In-a-Bottle Scents

Creed Virgin Island Water

Creed Virgin Island Water ($345 – $470, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue) remains at the top of my list for the ultimate tropical scent. There’s nothing like it. It has the perfect mix of freshness, tropical fruit and coconut. It’s well balanced, unique and smells expensive. If you haven’t checked out their refillable atomizers I highly recommend them. They’re so beautiful and you can refill them with any scent.

NOTES: Lime, Bergamot, Tropical Fruits, Coconut Milk, Coconut Water, Jasmine, White Flowers, Tonka Bean and White Musk

Tom Ford Eau de Soleil Blanc

Tom Ford Eau de Soleil Blanc ($155 to $235 Nordstrom, Sephora, Ulta Beauty) will also always be at the top of my list. I alternate between this or the original Soleil Blanc. It’s fresh with a beautiful coco de mer + coconut vibe. I know some of you do not like the lighter Eau de Soleil Blanc version and only prefer the original Soleil Blanc. They pull very similar on my skin with my current favorite being noticeably lighter and fresher.

Eau de Soleil Blanc Notes: Coco de Mer, Ylang Ylang from Comores Island, Bergamot Flower

Kilian Sunkissed Goddess

NOTES: Ylang-ylang essence, tiare flower, coconut

Kilian Sunkissed Goddess ($295, Nordstrom, Sephora, Saks Fifth Avenue) was a spring time purchase and I think it was 100% worth the splurge. It has been several years since I tried anything from Kilian. I bought a sampler set and each one is very different and unique from what I’ve smelled in other brands. There are so many beautiful stand outs, but they didn’t really fit my personality. I think I might revisit them later in the year. I did fall in love with the Sunkissed Goddess. It’s vacation in a bottle, similar vibe to the Tom Ford but the Kilian has stronger floral notes.

Vacation Inc.

NOTES: Petitgrain essence, Coconut water, Coconut milk, Bergamot, Solar Musk, Banana, Pineapple, Pool Water, Swimsuit Lycra, Sea Salt

Vacation Inc. Eau de Toilette ($60, Nordstrom, Ulta Beauty and in a Value Set at Nordstrom) is the ultimate summer time pool like scent. I don’t know that it’s for everyone but it smells just like summer. Has that summer sunscreen vibe that’s so unique and fun.

Fresh Lush Fruity

Parfums de Marly Meliora

above: brass mirror, hoop earrings, knot bracelet, nail color Premiere Dame

NOTES: Red Berries, Raspberry, Lemon essence, Rose, Ylang-Ylang, Jasmine Tea, Vanilla, Musk, Cedarwood

Parfums de Marly Meliora ($375, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus) was my first from Parfums de Marly. I finally tried the line this year with a sampler set and fell head over heels. It’s definitely in my top 3 favorites for all fragrance brands. I have so many on my wishlist from mini samples I’ve accumulated from a few orders now. I picked Meliora as my first which is very different from what I usually wear. I’m not really into fruity sweet scents but this one is just beautiful.

Dioriviera

NOTES: Rose and fig

Dioriviera Eau de Parfum ($150 to $450, Dior Beauty) is still a favorite. I’ve talked about fig scents before and while I love it in candle form, it’s hard for me to find one that has the right blend to wear. Dioriviera is the best one because it has some floral rose notes mixed in. It’s very potent, fresh, crisp but warm at the same time. Very unique and gives you the feeling you’re on a fancy vacation. Select scents from the La Collection Privee Line are also now available in a Travel Spray Trio.

Phlur Father Figure

NOTES: Waterlily, Lush Fig, Cassis Buds, Orris Root, Iris Flower, Jasmine Dew, Skin Musks, Vanilla Madagascar, Patchouli Leaf, Sandalwood

Phlur Father Figure ($99 at Sephora, travel size for $29) is another beautiful fig scent. I think this could be a unisex option. It has a beautiful mix of lush fig with some woody notes. I don’t know that most would call it a summer scent but I think it’s one you can wear year round.

Citrus Lover Perfumes

I am the ultimate citrus lover for that crisp clean feel you get with citrus notes. These are my tried and true favorites that smell fresh without being too soapy (if that makes sense).

Celine Parade

NOTES: Bergamot, Neroli, Vetiver, Musk and Oak Moss

Celine Parade is my most worn fragrance. I have to tell myself to take a break from it every now and then to mix it up. I think it’s so under-rated. It’s fresh with strong notes of bergamot and vetiver. The added musk makes it soft while the moss adds a bit of green feeling to it. Lasting power is strong on me. This one is a bit harder to find as you can only find it in Celine boutiques and online. They do offer a Sampler Discovery Set and a Miniatures Discovery Set if you can’t get to a store to try them in person.

Chanel Paris-Biarritz

above: Gloss 116, hamptons straw hat, straw bag

NOTES: Grapefruit, Mandarin, Lily of the valley accord, Vetiver and White Musk

Chanel Paris-Biarritz Eau de Toilette ($113 to $150, Chanel) is my second most-worn perfume. It’s been a go-to for years now. I love this for the soft citrus mix. It’s light so if you need something very strong this will most likely be too light for you.

Chanel Paris-Riviera

NOTES: Sicilian orange, Petitgrain, Jasmine, Neroli, Sandalwood and Musk

Chanel Paris-Riviera Eau de Toilette is a slightly stronger and sharper variation of the Paris-Biarritz. It’s more citrusy and crisp. This is another one I really love.

Fresh and Timeless

Parfums de Marly Valaya

NOTES: Bergamot, Mandarin, White Peach, Orange Flower, Nympheal, Vetiver, Akigalawood, Ambrofix, Musk

Parfums de Marly Valaya ($220 to $375) is my newest discovery and I am obsessed with it. I know musks can be hit or miss for many of you. I love this for the classic clean and crisp feel. The mix of bergamot and vetiver add freshness to it. I also splurged on the smaller size even though it’s incredibly expensive. We still have some trips planned so I now have the smaller one to bring with me.

Creed Aventus for Her

NOTES: Egyptian green apple, pink berries, Indonesian patchouli, Italian bergamot, Bulgarian rose, Turkish rose, Indian sandalwood, styrax, musk, sweet peach, cassis, lilac, amber, ylang-ylang

Creed’s Aventus for Her ($300 to $445, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks) is as classic and timeless as it gets. It’s floral, green and fruity. The apple adds a unique fresh twist to it while the rose gives it a feminine touch. Also available in a 3-Piece Travel Set and 5-Piece Travel Discovery Set.

Chanel No 5 L’Eau

NOTES: Lemon, mandarin, orange, rose, jasmin, ylang-ylang, vetiver, cedar, musk

Chanel No 5 L’Eau ($155, Chanel.com) isn’t a new scent but Chanel launched it in limited-edition packaging in a drop form. It’s beautiful and crisp. It’s clean and sharp and very strong.

Phlur Missing Person

NOTES: Skin Musk, Bergamot Nectar, Sheer Jasmine, Fresh Cyclamen, Neroli Blossom, Orange Flower, Sandalwood Australia Oil, Blonde Wood, White Musk

Phlur Missing Person ($99 at Sephora) isn’t really a summer scent but I think it’s timeless and can be worn year round. I love this for the warm and cozy feel. It’s like skin but better. I own it in the body oil and hand cream too. It’s a solid win.

Byredo Mojave Ghost

above: hoop earrings, brush, marble coaster

NOTES: Ambrette, Jamaican nesberry, Violet, Sandalwood, Magnolia, Chantilly musk, Crisp Amber, Cedarwood

I have been neglecting Byredo this summer, but pulled out Mojave Ghost ($225 to $320) again and love it. It’s another clean crisp scent with some sweetness to it. It’s very unique and distinct. Soft but still a bit sharp with the crisp feel. If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend checking out the discovery sets. They recently launched a Mojave Ghost Alcohol-Free version in the larger size. I haven’t checked it out, but it will be interesting to smell this in person!

My top 5 most worn scents this summer: Parfums de Marly Valaya, Creed Virgin Island Water, Chanel Paris-Biarritz, Kilian Sunkissed Goddess and Celine Parade.

What are your go-to summer scents this year? How many perfumes have you added to your collection this year?

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Fragrance Sephora

Sephora Fragrance For All Event

December 19, 2023

Sephora’s Fragrance For All Event is here with 20% off full-size fragrances for Beauty Insiders! The event runs through 12/24 with code FRAGRANCE20 at checkout (one-time use). They carry a wide range of perfume brands so if there’s something you wanted to try or stock up on this is a great time to save! Some exclusions apply. If you’re not a member you can sign up for free here.

Scent is seasonal for me so I rotate depending on time of year, but here are few that I really love.

Jo Malone Wood Sage and Sea Salt is my go-to for the best year round scent. It’s the best earthy woody scent with ambrette seeds, sea salt and sage. Nothing else compares and I love that it can also be unisex.

Wearing:

Foundation – Armani Luminous Silk Foundation 6.5
Powder – Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Powder in Medium
Blush – Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks in Petal
Highlighter – Tom Ford Soleil Neige Highlighter Gran Paradis
Eyeshadow – Pat McGrath Bronze Ecstasy
Lip Combo – Fenty Gloss Bomb in Champ Stamp Fantasy

You girls know my love for Phlur and I would say my most reached-for scents are from this line. Missing Person is the best skin-like musk scent. It’s warm, cozy, skin-like with a tiny bit of spice. It has a soothing comforting feel to me with white musk, bergamot, blonde wood, orange blossom, jasmine.

Phlur Somebody Wood is another one I love for a warm cozy sandalwood amber musk mix. I like layering this with Missing Person, but it’s great on its own too.

The Phlur Skin, Hair and Body Mists are beautiful. I think Vanilla Skin is one of the best cozy vanillas ever made. It’s sweet but not too sweet. Has a soft warm feel I think I could definitely wear year round.

For date-night spicy scents, I think Viktor and Rolf’s Flowerbomb and YSL Libre are the best ones. I just tried the Libre Absolu Platine which has a fresh floral vibe to it (really pretty).

The Sephora Fragrance For All Events runs now through 12/24 for Beauty Insiders. If you’re not a member yet you can sign up for free here! Use code FRAGRANCE20 at checkout for 20% off full-sized perfumes!

If you’re shopping for last minute gifts they are offering same day delivery for select areas with Free Same-Day Delivery using code GETGIFTS (for beauty insiders only, ends 12/24 at 12pm PT.)

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Sponsored by Sephora.

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Fragrance Gift Guide

Holiday Gift Ideas from Guerlain

December 18, 2023

We have one week before Christmas and I am so excited to share a look at some exquisite last minute gift ideas from Guerlain. They sent over a few things to try, all of which I think would make an exceptionally beautiful gift whether you’re looking to treat yourself or a perfume lover. I’ve ordered several things from Guerlain in the past year, and they always come beautifully boxed and wrapped.

For last minute gifts they are offering complimentary express shipping on all orders now through 12/21 and also offering a 4-piece Abeille Royale Gift Set on orders $200+ with code HOLIDAY2023.

Skincare Sets

For the skincare lover they have quite a few Abeille Royale Skincare Sets this year. If you love the Watery Youth Oil they have it in multiple sets, some come with cute makeup bags. The Honey Care Ritual Set ($195) has a full-size oil along with a small Abeille Royale Eye Cream and KissKiss Bee Balm in 258 Rose Glow (a pretty pink). This one comes in a boxed set.

Perfume Discovery Sets

I love perfume discovery sets and I think they make great gifts. They’re the perfect way to try on different scents at your own pace at home.

This year they have a few different perfume discovery sets for their L’Art and La Matiere perfume line. I bought one a few years ago and I absolutely loved it. I ended up splitting the set up among friends to try and sample. Guerlain perfumes are among the best in terms of quality and lasting power with a unique mix of options.

above: Floral Harmony Perfumer’s Set

They launched their Perfumer’s Set in two variations: the Iconic Harmony and Floral Harmony ($380 each). A lot of you have been asking for recommendations on floral perfumes and the Floral Harmony Set is a beautiful option to try and find your perfect floral. The set contains Neroli Outrenoir, Musc Outreblanc, Rose Cherie, Rose Barbare, Cruel Gardenia, Angelique Noire, Herbes Troublantes, Joyeuse Tuberuse.

I’ve already found 2 that I have on my wishlist for my next splurge. I’ve tried Musc Outreblanc a few times and love it for the soft clean skin like musk scent that has long lasting power. The Neroli Outrenoir and Herbes Troublantes are also both beautiful.

If you like a more diverse range of notes the Iconic Harmony is a great option. It has their Spiritueuse Double Vanille (one of the best vanillas I’ve tried) along with some of their other classics. It also has that Musc Outreblanc I love.

Their Hive of Wonders Advent Calendar ($720) is one of the most beautiful advent calendars out there. It has a mix of perfumes, mini candles, soaps, skincare and a few other things. All boxed up in a super chic bee hive. If you’re looking for the ULTIMATE splurge gift for the beauty lover, I can’t think of anything more luxurious than one these advent calendar gifts.

Perfume and Scented Options

The L’Art and La Matiere collection is absolutely beautiful. In my years of trying fragrances, I feel like there are few perfume lines that feel as luxurious as Guerlain’s. When you smell the line you can really tell the difference in quality of ingredients and the throw/ lasting power is very VERY good.

I’ve been really curious about the Les Matieres Confidentielles line of Eau de Toilettes and my first experience is Eau de Coton ($180). It’s a fresh powdery velvety citrus. There is a hint of soft musk. I think it’s going to make a nice layering scent. On it’s own it smells like fresh cotton with a soft and airy feel. Notes include orange blossom, almond, musk.

Guerlain also has a full line of candles and diffusers. I know buying scents blind can be tricky but the Figue Azur Scented Diffuser ($130) is the most exquisite fig scent I’ve ever smelled. It’s sweet, fresh and green in a bright way. The throw on this diffuser is very strong. This one is quite the splurge but if you’re looking for a diffuser that will fill the entire room and one that looks beautiful too, this is something I think you will really love. I have my eye on one of the candles to try, Palais D’Orangers or Figue Azur both sound beautiful. (Candles are refillable.)

Available at Guerlain. There is still time for last minute gifts as they are offering complimentary express shipping on all orders now through 12/21 and also offering a 4-piece Abeille Royale Gift Set on orders $200+ with code HOLIDAY2023 (while supplies last).

If you’re looking for some last minute gifts I hope you found this roundup helpful!

Guerlain items gifted for review consideration.

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Beauty Favorites Fragrance

Best Scents of Summer

July 31, 2023

Rounding up the best summer perfumes I’ve been loving this year. I love a good citrus perfume and often wear it year round. My go-to’s are still from Chanel and Creed, but I have some new favorites this year!

Chanel Les Eaux de Chanel Paris-Biarritz and Paris-Riviera

Chanel Les Eaux de Chanel Paris-Biarritz and Paris-Riviera Eau de Toilette Sprays ($98 to $142, Chanel.com) still remain at the top of my list for my most-worn fragrances. They’re fresh, bright and come in both full size and travel sizes (perfect for my bag).

RIVIERA NOTES: Sicilian orange, Petitgrain, Jasmine, Neroli, Sandalwood and Musk

Biarritz pulls a little softer while Riviera has a sharper more crisp feel.

BIARRITZ NOTES: Grapefruit, Mandarin, Lily of the valley accord, Vetiver and White Musk

Celine Parade

NOTES: Bergamot, Neroli, Vetiver, Musk, Oak Moss

Celine Parade Eau de Parfum ($280 to $410 at Celine) is one I discovered over Christmas and it’s my favorite of all the Celine perfumes. Full review of all the scents here. This one could definitely be considered unisex. To me it’s like a dressier more edgy variation of the Chanel Les Eaux perfumes I love.

Sample sizes are not available in this one they offer a Discovery Coffret ($385).

Dior Dioriviera

NOTES: Rose and Fig

I bought Dioriviera Eau de Parfum ($150 to $450 at Dior) without testing it as I do not have a Dior counter near me that carries the La Collection Privee scents. I watched a few videos on this before buying and based on their descriptions it was very difficult for me to be able to tell if I would like this or not.

Based on the name I expected a citrus sunshine kind of scent but it’s very different. It’s a lush mix of fig and rose. Sweet and bright – it smells like the scent you would smell in a very expensive five-star luxury hotel. I was very happy that I ended up loving it.

If you’re like me are unsure about this, if you order online at Dior they offer samples at checkout with orders which change often. They have Dioriviera as one of the samples right now.

Tom Ford Soleil Blanc and Eau de Soleil Blanc

Tom Ford Soleil Blanc ($295 for 1.7 fl oz) and Eau de Soleil Blanc ($155 for 1.7 fl oz) are also two long-time favorites. I cannot pick a favorite between the two. They both smell really close to me for that white flower coco de mer mix. Both are available in a smaller 50 ml travel size formats if you want to try/test a smaller option before committing to a full-size bottle.

Soleil Blanc Notes: Coco de Mer, Cardamom, Ylang Ylang

Eau de Soleil Blanc Notes: Coco de Mer, Ylang Ylang from Comores Island, Bergamot Flower

Loewe Paula’s Ibiza Eclectic

I currently own both of the Loewe Paula’s Ibiza perfumes and my favorite is Eclectic Eau de Toilette ($110 for the full size, $42 for the travel mini). It’s one of the most unique summery woody floral scents I own. I don’t think it will be everyone’s cup of tea as it’s very complex but I find it very different and I love it. If you like sandalwood scents I think you will like this one. I think it can also be worn in fall.

NOTES: orange flower absolute, jasmine sambac, Madagascan mandari, black pepper, incense essential oil, frankincense, coconut, vanilla, ylang ylang, musk and sandalwood

Creed Virgin Island Water

NOTES: Lime, Bergamot, Tropical Fruits, Coconut Milk, Coconut Water, Jasmine, White Flowers, Tonka Bean and White Musk

If I could only wear 1 perfume for summer Creed Virgin Island Water ($345 to $1,205) would be it. It’s a luxurious summer vacation in a bottle and to me nothing else compares. It makes you feel like you’re on a tropical cruise vacation. Has an aquatic vibe with tropical sweetness mixed in.

If you do not have a Creed counter or boutique near you they offer Customizable Sampler Sets online at Creed along with some pre-made sampler sets too.

Vacation Eau de Toilette

NOTES: Petitgrain essence, Coconut water, Coconut milk, Bergamot, Solar Musk, Banana, Pineapple, Pool Water, Swimsuit Lycra, Sea Salt

The Vacation Inc Eau de Toilette ($60, on sale at Ulta Beauty for $39 right now) has a classic pool like scent. Like pool water, sunscreen and salt mixed together. It’s light but fresh. Reminds me of childhood summers.

Diptyque L’Eau Papier

NOTES: White musks, Mimosa, Blonde woods accord, Rice steam accord

Diptyque L’Eau Papier Eau de Toilette ($125 – $175) was a new splurge for me and very different from most Diptyque perfumes I’ve tried. It has a natural skin like vibe, like fresh clean linen but cozy and crisp at the same time. Has a soft skin musk like feel. The scent feels really nice in the summer heat.

Byredo Loves

I’m a die hard Byredo fan. My favorites are the ones I feel like can be worn year-round. You can find lots of Discovery Set Trios or Sampler Sets available if you do not have a counter near you. Bal D’Afrique is one of the most unique creamy scents. It’s lush and sweet and has very long lasting power.

NOTES: Bergamot, African marigold, Bucchu, Violet, Cyclamen, Vetiver, Moroccan cedarwood

I also really love Mojave Ghost which has a fresh summery crisp feel to it.

NOTES: Ambrette, Jamaican nesberry, Violet, Sandalwood, Magnolia, Chantilly musk, Crisp Amber, Cedarwood

Phlur

Phlur is my second-most worn perfume line and I feel like I’ve fallen in love with so many of their scents. They have an updated Discovery Set with 10 scents online at Phlur. You can also find the perfume line at Sephora. Missing Person is still my favorite for a nice skin-like floral musk you can wear year round.

MISSING PERSON NOTES: Skin Musk, Bergamot Nectar, Sheer Jasmine, Fresh Cyclamen, Neroli Blossom, Orange Flower, Sandalwood Australia Oil, Blonde Wood, White Musk

Solar Power was launched in the spring and I love it for the floral sunny vibe it has. It’s like sunshine in a bottle. I feel like this one was made for me!

SOLAR POWER NOTES: Italian Red Mandarin, Sun-Drenched Bergamot, Jasmine Absolute, Neroli, Orange Flower, Driftwood, Solar Musk, Sea Salt

Their latest launch was a pleasant surprise, Father Figure is a beautiful fig. It is very rare that I can wear fig scents – I almost always love them for the home, but they usually turn on my skin. I love that this one isn’t too sweet on my skin. Feels like a fresh juicy burst of fig + summer.

NOTES: Waterlily, Lush Fig, Cassis Buds, Orris Root, Iris Flower, Jasmine Dew, Skin Musks, Vanilla Madagascar, Patchouli Leaf, Sandalwood

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What have been your favorite scents this season?

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