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Beauty Favorites Home / Interiors Nordstrom

Best Cozy Candles for Fall

October 8, 2021

Best Candles For Fall Diptyque, Jo Malone, Byredo

I love this time of year when we can bring out all kinds of cozy things for fall the season. It’s still quite warm here in Florida but the weather has noticeably started to shift. I’ve started to change our home scents to put us more in the mood for fall. Today I’ve put together a roundup of my favorite cozy fall candles from Nordstrom. I’ve included a few alternatives for diffusers and room sprays as well.

Diptyque Loves

Best Diptyque Baies Candles

Out of all the home fragrance brands I would say that Diptyque is my favorite. I still remember the first ones I splurged on and to this day my favorite is still Baies. It’s a classic blackcurrant and rose mix that is truly unique. I own this in multiple formats and sizes. The Standard Size 6.5 oz/190 g candle is a classic and has approximately 60 hours of burn time. For a splurge the 3-Wick 600 g comes in a black ceramic vessel and has 90 hours of burn time. The larger size has significantly stronger throw.

If you’re looking for a good gift set to treat yourself or gift as a hostess gift Best of Baies is a great one with a mini candle, mini room spray and scented oval.

Diptyque Best of Baies Set Nordstrom

Other scents I adore include Ambre which is a warm and creamy woody amber with vetiver, patchouli, aniseed, spices, incense, cistus and tonka bean. Santal is another favorite woody scent wand is probably my favorite sandalwood variation with a mix of velvety spices. Vanille is one of the best smoky vanillas I’ve tried.

Best Diptyque Candles for Fall Ambre, Vanille and Santal

The Diptyque room sprays are among the best ones I’ve tried. While they’re not as long lasting as a candle, I find they last longer in our home compared to other brands. I’ve splurged on a quite a few but the ones I like the most are Figuier and Baies.

Favorite Diptyque Room Sprays

Byredo

Best Byredo Scents Tree House, Burning Rose, Cotton Poplin

I also have so much love for Byredo. Their candles are really spendy but they have incredibly strong throw. Even their mini ones are quite potent. The ones I keep going back to are Tree House and Woods for fall. Both have a really unique woody vibe. Tree House is a complex scent with cedar, bamboo, sandalwood, guaiac wood and hay and spice, myrrh and labdanum. The first time I visited a Byredo store this was the scent they were burning inside and it was incredible. I splurged on the Room Spray and was really impressed.

Another favorite is Cotton Poplin which I think is more of a timeless home fragrance. It’s one of the most comforting fresh scents with a mix of chamomile, cedar and musk.

There are so many great options in candles. I also really like Burning Rose and Bibliotheque – both unique, smoky with a lot of depth. If you like the Bal D’Afrique Perfume you will really love Bibliotheque.

Le Labo

Le Labo Santal Candle and Discovery Set

Le Labo is another great line I think is universally loved. The Santal 26 Candle is one of their classics. It’s a creamy warm mix of amber, cocoa, vanilla, cedar, musk and sandalwood. It’s quite potent and fills the entire home within minutes.

They have a few mini candle discovery sets which I love. I own the Candle Discovery Set Trio with Figue 15, Palo Santo 14 and Petit Grain 21 (Nordstrom Exclusive) and think it makes for a great gift. They just added a new Candle Discovery Set with Calone 17, Laurier 62 and Verveine 32. I’m super curious about these and have them on my list to smell next time I’m in store.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Scented Candle

One of the most luxurious things I’ve been gifted was the Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Scented Candle. My bestie bought this for me last Christmas and I save it for special occasions. It smells just like the Eau de Parfum – mix of rich amber, floral notes, jasmine, saffron, cedarwood and ambergris. It has such an incredible throw.

Jo Malone

Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin Scent Surround Diffuser

Last but not least is Jo Malone. They have so many timeless classics and I love their holiday editions. The one I love the most is the Lime Basil and Mandarin which is clean, unisex, unique, sharp. I tried the Lime Basil & Mandarin Scent Surround Diffuser and love it.

Best Candles for Fall from Diptyque, Byredo, Jo Malone

I know this is a long list but since I work from home I find them worth the splurge. We always have something burning in the home for any kind of mood. I love that Andrew also loves a good smelling home.

Out of all the scents that I’ve purchased and repurchased, I would say my Top 5 for fall:

  1. Diptyque Baies
  2. Diptyque Santal
  3. Diptyque Ambre
  4. Diptyque Vanille
  5. Byredo Tree House

What I’m wearing in this post:

You can find all of my favorites available at Nordstrom. Don’t forget to check out their Gift With Purchase page to take advantage of extra minis! If you’re part of the Nordy Club they have 2x points on beauty through October 31st! What are your favorite scents for fall? Do you like more woody spicy scents or do you go for something more floral? Or opt for the sweeter gourmand scents? Would love to hear about your favorites!

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Many thanks to Nordstrom for partnering to sponsor this post. As always all opinions are my own.

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Fragrance Holiday Gift Guide Home / Interiors

Best Holiday Candles + Scents For the Home This Season

December 14, 2020

Best Luxury Christmas Candles Byredo, Diptyque, Cire Trudon | The Beauty Lookbook

I’m wrapping up my holiday gift guides with a few more roundups! Today I’m sharing my favorite luxury candles for the holidays. If you’re looking to splurge on something nice for the home or as a gift here are my favorites.

Best Holiday Candles Diptyque, Byredo, Maison Francis Kurkdjian | The Beauty Lookbook

DIPTYQUE

Diptyque Best of Baies Set | The Beauty Look book

Baies is my favorite of all the Diptyque scents, it’s great for holiday because it’s a unique mix of roses and blackcurrant. It’s a green and berry mix which I think is interesting and perfect year round. I’ve bought this in multiple sizes and adore the Baies Room Spray. Available in multiple sizes. In case you are not a fan of blackcurrant or rose, I’ve included a few others.

Best Diptyque Candles for Christmas Amber, Santal, Vanille, Feu de Bois

Vanille is a unique vanilla in the sense that it’s a smoky leathery one with a hint of spice. It’s not sweet like other vanilla candles.

Ambre is one of the prettiest holiday scents to me. It’s a warm mix of amber and musk giving it a cozy feel.

Feu de Bois is the best firewood scent in candle form. It has a smoky earthy kind of wood smell.

Santal is one of the softest sandalwood scents I’ve tried. Sometimes sandalwood can be a bit strong in other candles, this has good throw but has a well-rounded feel. It has a bit of a velvety feel to it.

A few other fun things to check out:

BYREDO

Byredo Tree House Room Spray Mini Bibliothque Candle | The Beauty Lookbook

Tree House is one of my favorite woodsy kind of candles, this year I opted to buy the Tree House Room Spray and am so impressed. It has the longest lasting power of all the room sprays I’ve tried. It smells just like the candle and is quite potent. It has a mix of pimento, bamboo, cedarwood, guaiac wood, sandalwood and leather. The Room Spray comes at quite a steep price but it is cased in a large glass spray bottle and I feel it will last a long time.

Bibliotheque is one of my favorites for the holiday, it has a really unique mix, almost like a more intense less sweet version of their Bal D’Afrique perfume. Bibliotheque notes are peach, plum, peony, violet, leather patchouli and vanilla. It is available in the standard 8.5 oz size and also in the mini 2.5 oz (shown here). Minis are harder to find sometimes as they sell out, but you can find them at Byredo, Violet Grey, Lucky Scent, Space NK.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Candle

The Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Candle was a gift from my bestie and it is AMAZING! I just bought the perfume and fell in love with it. The candle smells exactly like the perfume – woody, amber, floral and sweet with extremely good throw. It is quite a splurge but I would not hesitate to buy on my own. She bought it from Saks.

CIRE TRUDON

Cire Trudon Ernesto Candles | The Beauty Lookbook

There are so many things I want to try from Cire Trudon but I keep going back to my one favorite, Ernesto. Cire Trudon makes the best of the best in terms of how elegant and unique their candles are. They have the strongest throw out of the ones I have tried. I fell in love with Ernesto thanks to one of my readers who kept nudging me to try (she even offered to buy me one if I didn’t order one lol!). I eventually splurged and have never looked back. This year they launched Ernesto in a beautiful Alabaster vessel with a lid. It’s truly glorious. I ordered it over Cyber Week for some savings. It is like a beautiful work of art.

For Christmas, I have also tried Gabriel, Nazareth and Fir – all are truly lovely for the holiday season.

ACCESSORIES

Diptyque Photophore Glass

Crate and Barrel Glass Cloche Candle Cover

Glass Match Cloche Twist Skeem Design | The Beauty Lookbook

Wick Trimmers Diptyque and Lumira

A few accessories I love:

That wraps up my holiday candle favorites! I hope you enjoyed the roundup!

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GIVEAWAY

I’m hosting a giveaway! I’m giving away one $100 eGift Card to Nordstrom. ONE person will be selected at random to win and contacted by email from me ([email protected]). All you have to do is follow the steps in the widget below. The more steps you complete the more entries you receive. Open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to qualify. Not sponsored or affiliated. Runs through 12/21/2020 11:59 PM EST. Winner will be selected by 12/22 and will need to respond to my email within 3 days to claim prize or another winner will be selected in their place.

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Diptyque Holiday Gift Guide Home / Interiors

Favorite Fancy Candles for the Holidays

December 18, 2019

Best Fancy Candles from Diptyque, Cire Trudon and Byredo

There’s nothing quite like a good bougie candle to make your home feel extra fancy, warm and cozy all at the same time. By popular request I have an updated favorites roundup for the holiday season! My tried and true favorites remain the same with my top three favorite brands being Diptyque, Byredo and Cire Trudon. Many of these I started burning in late fall and will continue using many of these through early spring.

Diptyque

Best Diptyque Candles

1. Diptyque Baies is in my top three favorites and this one is my most burned, repurchased and recommended candle ever! It has notes of rose and blackcurrant, it smells like berries and rose to me. I’ve bought this in almost all the different sizes. If you are new to Diptyque this is the one I recommend to everyone.

2. Diptyque Feu de Bois is one of the best firewood smokey scents. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea but it always feels like Christmas to me! It smells warm and cozy.

3. Diptyque Vanille is a smokey vanilla. It’s not your typical sweet gourmand vanilla. It’s almost like a leather smokey kind of vanilla that has a warm vibe.

4. Diptyque Ambre is my favorite amber scent. It has the perfect mix of wood, vetiver and patchouli with a hint of spice. It’s another warm one – I bought the large colored glass version a few years ago and found it a lot more potent than the standard size (which is still very good).

5. Diptyque Santal is the best sandalwood candle. It’s not too strong or spicy and is perfect year round.

I bought the Mini Carousel Set and standard size Lucky Charm carousels last year and love them! They usually have them out only during the holiday season. Both are still available right now at Nordstrom.

Cire Trudon

Cire Trudon Christmas

6. Cire Trudon Ernesto is the best candle of all time to me. It’s a magical mix of leather and tobacco – but I find it hard to describe. I have yet to try all the Cire Trudon candles (I have also tried minis of Positano and Rose Poivree which were lovely!). They’re the most expensive candle splurge I’ve made for the home in past years. Every Christmas they launch special edition packaging for a selection of scents. The Cire Trudon team was generous enough to send this year’s for review and it’s GLORIOUS! I have the Classic size but it also comes in two larger options.

7 / 8 / 9 Cire Trudon Gabriel, Nazareth and Fir have been on my radar for years but every time I’ve decided to buy one I always go back to Ernesto. They have a beautiful Odeurs D’Hiver Christmas Trio which is boxed in the most beautiful packaging I have ever seen. Every candle in the box is carefully packed with inserts around the edges and also in the top to protect the wick/wax. Gabriel is glorious mix of leather, chestnut and wood. Nazareth is a mix of clove, oranges and cinnamon (smells like Christmas!). I’ve always been more of a pine lover for Christmas scents but Cire Trudon Fir is so unique and sweet while still being very green.

Byredo

Best Byredo Candles

10. Byredo Tree House is my favorite one from the line. When I first smelled it years ago I actually did not like the way it smelled straight out of the jar. It wasn’t until I smelled it burning in their New York store that I decided to give it a try. It has the most amazing mix of cedar, bamboo, sandalwood, guaiac wood, hay, spice, myrrh and labdanum. It’s warm and cozy with wood and spice mix.

11. Byredo Bibliotheque is almost like a smoky candle version of Bal D’Afrique perfume to me. It’s not as sweet but to me it has a similar vibe that is so unique and unlike anything else I’ve tried. Even the little one has amazing throw.

Room Sprays

Aesop Room Spray Trio Set

12. Aesop Room Sprays – For those who cannot burn candles room sprays are a great alternative. I’m completely obsessed with all the Aesop Room Sprays and was thrilled to find they launched a mini trio this holiday! I’ve also loved Diptyque Baies and 34 Boulevard St. Germain sprays as well for our home. I’ve been dying to try one from Byredo but haven’t yet.

Best Christmas Candles

How I recycle and clean out wax to recycle/repurpose candles in this post here. What are your favorite home scents for the holiday season?

 

 

Cire Trudon candles gifted. All others purchased by me.

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Chanel Fragrance Tom Ford Beauty

Favorite Perfumes for Summer

June 12, 2019

Best Perfumes for Summer Tom Ford, Chanel Les Eaux de Chanel, Byredo and Jo Malone | The Beauty Look Book

Summer is almost here and today I’m rounding up my favorite perfumes perfect for the upcoming season. We are lucky to have warm weather most of the year but perfume is definitely seasonal with different months. I love this time of year when we’re transitioning from spring to full on summer. The heat is rising and there are so many scents that I love for warm weather. For me there are everyday summer perfumes and then there are summer perfumes that make you feel like you’re on vacation. I’m focusing more on the everyday ones for this round up but will list a few vacation vibe scents at the bottom of the post too. As always I’d love to hear about what you’re wearing right now!

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Tom Ford

Best Tom Ford Perfumes for Summer Soleil Blanc, Eau de Soleil Blanc and White Suede

Above: Daily Edited Large Cosmetic Case / Diptyque Large Outdoor Candle recycled

I would say that my most-worn perfumes recently are the ones from Tom Ford. I think he’s best known for the deeper rich and spicy ones, but my personal favorites are the lighter options. Soleil Blanc and Eau de Soleil Blanc have been must-haves for me for years now. Both are white florals that perfect fresh summery vibe. I also really love White Suede layered with either of the Soleil Blanc perfumes for a softer vibe. All the Tom Ford perfumes are available in multiple sizes, I’ve listed the ones I have below. I love that more of these are now coming in individual travel size sprays so I can carry them in my purse!

  • Soleil Blanc Eau de Parfum ($148 for 50 ml, also available in a .33 oz travel spray) is the perfect white floral! I carry the travel spray with me almost everywhere I go.
    • Notes include bergamot, cardamom oil Orpur, pistachio accord, ylang-ylang Comores Islands, benzoin extract Orpur, coco de mer accord
  • Eau de Soleil Blanc ($125 for 50 ml, 10 ml travel size here) is a brighter more citrus version that has a little more warmth with more noticeable amber and it’s not quite as strong on the floral notes as the original, both smell really similar
    • Notes include Vert de bergamot, orange bitter Orpur, petitgrain bigrade Orpur, ylang-ylang, pistachio accord, coco de mer accord
  • White Suede* ($235 for 50 ml) is one of the few soft musk perfumes I can wear that don’t turn on my skin, I love the way this mixes with the white florals. It’s a soft clean and warm kind of scent. The clear bottle is exclusive to Neiman Marcus but you can find it in the traditional brown at all other counters.
    • Notes include saffron, thyme, mate, suede, olibanum, musk
  • Runner ups from past: Sole di Positano, Fleur de Portofino, Neroli Portofino Acqua

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Byredo

Best Byredo Perfumes Blanche, Mojave Ghost and La Tulipe

Above: Tray West Elm /On the nails Essie Topless and Barefoot

Byredo has some of the longest lasting perfumes I’ve tried. Sometimes I notice my nose gets used the scent quickly and they seem to fade, but anytime I wear these, I get compliments and questions even hours after I’ve first applied. Andrew also notices them late in the day. I know purchasing a fragrance in person isn’t always possible (even if it’s the best way to buy them). In the event you don’t have a Byredo counter near you to smell, they have a La Selection Set with six minis which are a nice way to sample the scents. There are a number of trios available as well.

  • Blanche ($175 for 1.7 oz, shown is the .4 oz available in this trio) is a floral that has a mix of aldehyde and violet, it has floral notes with noticeable white rose and a hint of musk. It almost has a clean linen feel.
    • Notes include aldehyde, pink pepper, white rose, neroli, peony, violet, blonde woods, musk and sandalwood
  • Mojave Ghost ($175 for 1.7 oz) is the most unique fragrance I’ve ever smelled. It’s a soft fruity floral with violet and magnolia. There is a mix of musk, sandalwood and amber to give it a little warmth.
    • Notes include ambrette, Jamaican nesberry, violet, sandalwood, magnolia, chantilly musk, crisp amber, cedarwood
  • La Tulipe ($175 for 1.7 oz) is one of the scents I get the most compliments on! This is clean floral with noticeable freesia.
    • Notes include:<rhubarb, cyclamen, freesia, tulip, blonde woods and vetiver/li>
  • Rose Rinse Free Hand Wash ($35 for 1 fl oz) makes for a super fancy hand sanitizer, it has a beautiful soft rose scent with pink pepper and raspberry notes mixed in
    • Notes includepink pepper, raspberry, rose petals, magnolia, exotic patchouli, white musks

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Jo Malone

Jo Malone Basil and Neroli Perfume | The Beauty Look Book

Above: Bobbi Brown Crushed Liquid Lip Lychee Baby / bracelet Celine

Jo Malone was one of the first perfume lines I started using when I got into perfume. I think they make so many beautiful florals! Unfortunately most of my favorites have been discontinued or were limited-editions. I was so sad when they pulled French Lime Blossom and RIP Vanilla Anise. They used to have a pretty one called Sweet Milk which was such a unique one. I feel like perfume should never be limited-edition or discontinued, it’s so sad to find one you really love and then not be able to buy it when it’s used up! The same thing goes for foundation – all my HOLY grail foundations are now no longer made. The one I love right now for summer is Basil and Neroli, it doesn’t smell like basil at all!

  • Basil and Neroli ($68 for 1 oz) is the perfect neroli scent, it’s a fresh and fun lively kind of perfume. Andrew likes this one on me.
    • Notes include basil grand vert, neroli and white musk

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Chanel

Best Citrus Perfumes Chanel Les Eaux de Chanel Paris-Biarritz and Paris-Riviera

Above: Simplehuman Mirror / Tray / CC Cream swatches / Perle de Corail Le Vernis swatches

Chanel has so many classic perfumes but the Les Eaux de Chanel line stole my heart when they launched last year. These are Eau de Toilettes and are lightweight in feel. They give more of a splash of scent rather than a super long-lasting potent perfume. Living in humidity and heat makes the lightweight feel perfect for me. They launched three Eau de Toilettes last year first Paris-Biarritz, Paris-Venise and Paris-Deauville ($130 each for 4.2 fl oz). Shower gels and body lotions followed for each. I have not yet tried the body products, I’m worried I’ll fall in love and my wallet will hate me for it.

I’m thrilled to let you know that the three originals are now available in a 1.7 fl oz travel size individually for $80 each or as a trio in Le Voyage Set ($240 this one comes with a cute pouch). I ordered the mini of my favorite Paris-Biarritz the second it launched online. Right now the minis are available only at Chanel.com. The minis have a spritzer spray too! I feel like I had seen images of the minis for the European and Asian websites – I’m so happy they’re now available in the US.

  • Les Eaux de Chanel Paris-Biarritz ($80 to $130) is my favorite of the three original ones. It’s perfect for the citrus scent lover. It has notes of Sicilian Mandarin and Lily of the Valley. It has a very soft almost garden like feel to it. It’s refreshing and bright!

Les Eaux de Chanel Paris-Biarritz Full Size and Travel Size | The Beauty Look Book

This past week they just launched a fourth scent Paris-Riviera* which is lovely for those who love citrus scents. This one has vacation spa resort like vibes. It’s sweeter and a little more juicy the Paris-Biarritz.

  • Les Eaux de Chanel Paris-Riviera* ($130 for 4.2 oz) comes in one size right now. I asked if there were plans to add more body products or a travel size and they don’t have any information right now. It takes me away to a place where I feel like I’m away at a spa.

Les Eaux de Chanel Paris-Riviera Full Size | The Beauty Look Book

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Best Spring to Summer Perfumes 2019 | The Beauty Look Book

That wraps up my favorites right now. I rotate frequently! Top three favorites right now are the new Chanel Paris-Riviera, Tom Ford Eau de Soleil Blanc and Byredo La Tulipe. Runner ups for perfumes that smell like a summer vacation include Replica Beach Walk, Creed Virgin Island Water and Bobbi Brown Beach. But for now I’ve had the ones in this roundup in my spring to summer rotation.

What are you favorite summertime perfumes? Do you change things by season or do you have something you wear year round?

 

 

Press samples include Tom Ford White Suede, Chanel Les Eaux de Chanel in Paris-Biarritz (full size) and Paris-Riviera (full size). Others purchased by me.

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Fragrance

Spring to Summer Fragrance Edit

June 8, 2018

Best Spring Fragrances from Creed, Tom Ford, Byredo and more | The Beauty Look Book

It feels like we skipped spring this year and went straight to summer here in Florida! Today I have a roundup of spring to summer fragrances that are light and fresh. I’ve been thrilled to find that so many of you are die hard fans of Tom Ford Soleil Blanc and Creed Love in White like me. This year both brands have launched new variations of the classics! I know fragrance is so personal so I’d love to hear about your go-to’s. If you’re looking for something new but don’t know where to start I hope this list will give you some ideas of where to start exploring!

Row 1:

  • Creed Love In White for Summer ($335 for 75 ml) is a new variation of their classic Love In White. The original is a crisp white floral with a powdery feel. The new version at first spritz smells almost identical but if you let it sit you’ll notice a softer vibe with a fruity touch. They both have that distinct white floral feel, but the new one is really beautiful! Right now Love in White for Summer is only available in the 75 ml form. I have purchased a few of their Leather Atomizers for travel or my purse. My husband also has a couple for his favorite which is Aventus for Men.
    • Top Notes: Bulgarian roses, Calabrian bergamot, sweet magnolia
    • Middle Notes: Florentine iris, rice, Virginian cedarwood
    • Base Notes: Ambergris, sandalwood, apple, jasmine
  • Louis Vuitton Apogee ($240 for 3.4 ml) is one of the soft earthy florals from Louis Vuitton. To me I notice the magnolia and jasmine notes the most. It’s a natural and earthy kind of floral. One thing I learned at the stores is once you buy the full size bottle you can get them refilled in store for a much lower price than repurchasing another full size bottle. These come in beautiful glass jars. If you cannot decide on one they have a lovely Miniatures Set which contains seven 10 ml bottles.
    • Notes: Lily-of-the-valley accord, Jasmine from Grasse, Magnolia from China, Gaiac wood, Sandalwood essence
  • Byredo La Tulipe ($165 for 50 ml) is another pretty clean floral. It has extremely strong lasting power – even though my nose gets used to it within a few hours, people who walk by notice it many hours later. To me it smells almost like fresh linen + white flowers combined. I also have this in the Hand Cream and Hair Perfume just for fun. In the event you want smaller options, it is available in the La Selection Florale Trio (12 ml vials). Alternatively on the Byredo Website you can order their Discovery Set (they limit 1 per person) and it comes with a voucher that you can use at Byredo Stores on Byredo.com.
    • Top Notes: rhubarb, cyclamen, freesia
    • Middle: tulip
    • Base: blonde woods, vetiver
  • Jo Malone Wood Sage and Sea Salt ($135 for 3.4 oz) is one of the best earthy sea salt scents I’ve tried that is so unique. It’s a great light everyday kind of scent one can wear year round, but it’s not a floral or citrus. It seems like most scents that are light need to be either floral or citrus or beachy. This one is none of the above yet it’s not spicy or heavy. I attribute the hint of bergamot to this fact. It’s one I can wear alone but I received the best tip from one of my favorite Jo Malone associates in San Diego to layer this with Wild Blue Bell. The Wood Sage and Sea Salt notes:
    • Top: bergamot, ambrette seeds, buchu leaves
    • Middle: sea salt, mineral accord, dry fruits
    • Base: driftwood accord, guaiac wood, white musk, sage

Row 2:

  • Diptyque Eau de Sens ($95 for 1.7 oz, also now available in a Solid Soap, Cleansing Hand and Body Gel and Hair Mist) is my all time favorite orange blossom. It’s not too citrus and it’s not too floral or powdery. It’s the perfect mix to be orange and floral. Lasting power is not as strong as Tom Ford or Creed on me but I don’t mind reapplying after a few hours as it fades nicely. I have the Hair Mist on my wishlist which I hope to pick up soon.
    • Top Notes: bitter orange, juniper berry.
    • Middle Notes: orange blossom
    • Base Notes: angelica, patchouli
  • Chanel L’Eau No 5 All Over Body Spray ($60 for 150 ml/5 fl oz) is a lighter variation of the L’Eau No. 5 reviewed here. I actually prefer the body spray version because it’s softer and not quite as crisp. It also comes in a Hand Cream option which smells completely different to me but is still lovely.
    • Notes: Lemon, Mandarin and Orange, Rose, Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, Cedar and Musk
    • Molton Brown Orange and Bergamot Radiant Body Oil ($49 for 100 ml/3.3 fl oz) is such a beautiful dry oil. As you might guess from this roundup I’m obsessed with anything that has bergamot in it! This one is a fresh one that has a blend of orange, bergamot and mandarin. It’s very bright and refreshing. The oil absorbs nicely into the skin and gives the body a luminous glow. Scent is very strong for a body oil, I can wear this alone instead of the perfume version. You can find this in other body products in their entire Orange and Bergamot collection.
      • Top Notes: orange, bergamot and mandarin
      • Heart Notes: neroli, cardamom and galbanum
      • Base Notes: musk, ylang-ylang and cedarwood
  • Tom Ford Eau de Soleil Blanc ($122 for 1.7 oz) is new this spring. It’s one of my favorites of the season and I did not think it could get better than the original. It’s really close to the original version but this one is lighter in feel and not quite as rich or deep. It’s more green and a tiny bit more citrus with a brighter feel. I do not think you need both if you are already well stocked on one. I used up my original so decided to buy this one and I’m 100% happy I did.
    • Notes: Vert de Bergamot, Orange Bitter, Petitgrain Bigarde, Ylang-Ylang, Pistachio Accord, Coco de Mer Accord

Row 3:

  • Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Oil ($74 for 8.4 fl oz/250 ml) is my favorite scented body oil. I wish it came with a spritzer but it’s so good I can overlook the packaging. It does come in a Dry Oil Spray Version which I personally did not like very much. For some reason the regular Body Oil works much better for my skin and smells better too.
  • Byredo Mojave Ghost ($165 for 1.7 fl oz) is one of the most unique scents I’ve tried. To me it smells a little fruity and floral with noticeable violet and magnolia notes. There’s a tiny hint of musk and sandalwood with amber to round it out and prevent it from being a full on floral. Lasting power on me is excellent.
    • Top Notes: ambrette, Jamaican nesberry
    • Middle Notes: violet, sandalwood, magnolia
    • Base Notes: chantilly musk, crisp amber, cedarwood
  • Tom Ford Fleur de Portofino ($230 for 1.7 oz/50 ml, also available in the All Over Body Spray which I’ve tried and loved) is a twist on their classic Neroli Portofino. They have several spinoffs of the classic and to me this one is the best because it mixes in floral making it softer, more feminine and well rounded. It smells like the spring to summer transition with crisp citrus and fresh floral notes.
    • Notes: Sicilian Lemon, Bigarade Leaf Absolute, Violet Leaf Absolute Orpur, White Acacia Accord, Jasmine Grandiforum Concrete, Acacia Honey Accord
  • Tom Ford Soleil Blanc is another classic that I’ve used up in the full size. The one shown is from a limited-edition Travel Atomizer which has just launched at Nordstrom! So many of you have said this scent is THE ONE for you. I think it’s a classic sunshine vacation scent in a bottle!
    • Notes: Bergamot, Cardamom Oil Orpur, Pistachio Accord, Ylang Ylang Comores Islands, Benzoin Extract Orpur, Coco De Mer Accord

_________________________

My top 3: Creed Love in White for Summer, Byredo Mojave Ghost and Tom Ford Eau de Soleil Blanc.

Creed Love in White for Summer, Byredo Mojave Ghost and Tom Ford Eau de Soleil Blanc

I know perfume is one of those beauty products that is best to shop for in person. I’ve ordered a few blind simply because I did not have a counter near me and it has been both hit or miss. After a couple misses I decided to never do it again. These days I’ve found more and more brands have started to sell sample vials or discovery sets on their websites. You may have to do a bit of searching to find them. Many larger retailers offer samples with beauty purchases, I almost always add one to my cart from Nordstrom. Lucky Scent also sells samples and sample packs of fragrances of their entire store. If you are ever in the Los Angeles area I highly recommend you stop by their store. You can read more in a feature I did here. In some cases you might not find any sample section online even on specific brand websites. I’ve also had luck a couple times e-mailing customer service to see if I could buy or order samples and in two instances they did!

That wraps up my spring to summer perfume favorites. I know it’s quite a lot and some of you stick to 1 or 2 scents but I also know women who rotate on a seasonal basis and like to switch things up like me. As always please share your personal favorites in the comments! I love reading about what you love and wear.

Press samples featured include items from Creed, Molton Brown and Louis Vuitton.

 

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Boutique New York Packing Travel

Three Days in New York – My Packing List, Beauty Shopping Map and Haul

May 9, 2017

Byredo Store Wooster St Soho NYC | The Beauty Look Book

I’m excited to share my packing list, shopping map and beauty haul for NYC! As mentioned in my previous post I was in NYC for 3 full days. 1 day was for a conference, I had 1 full day of exploring and meetings with my friend Cafe Makeup, and then the following day I had until around 12:30 before I had to head to the airport to catch my flight. On my third day I decided to go to Soho for a quick stop at Away in the morning but most stores did not open until 11:00 AM so my shopping/browsing time was a bit limited. Next time I go to New York I will be staying in Soho – the area is just so charming and I could walk around for hours!

First a look at what I packed. The weather was mild – by Florida standards it was cold, but in comparison to the winter in San Diego it was very similar. I packed three tops, two pairs of jeans, three jackets and then also had the clothes I wore to NY which included a tank, jeans and a cotton cardigan sweater. Being a high maintenance hair girl of course I packed my hair dryer and flat iron. Since I had just come from a quick trip to Dallas I used a lot of the same beauty products and skincare. In hindsight since I only had one day in between trips I could have flown straight to New York but I was getting homesick and really wanted to see the hubby and fur babies.

Luggage, totes and accessories packed included a Louis Vuitton Neverful MM, Away Bigger Carry On (c/o), Truffle Mini Clarity Clutches (navy one c/o) , Glossier Pouch, Anya Hindmarch Inflight Case, Tatcha Travel Bag (discontinued) and a Tumi Just In Case Tote. The Tumi actually folds up into a flat compact square – I stuffed it for the photo so you could see the size. I’ve had this for years (and a few older variations) – they’re great to bring with you just in case you need an extra bag to bring home. For this trip I did check my luggage and many of you have asked how the Away luggage holds up. Between Dallas and NYC I checked it 3 times and it held up really well. No deep scratches and only surface scuffs and dark marks. I asked the reps at the store how to remove them and they recommended warm water and a washcloth or a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. I did a little demo video on my Instagram stories which you should be able to see until around 6:00 PM EST. The magic eraser method really does work! Of course anything you check will get marks and eventually dents.

Travel NYC Packing List | The Beauty Look Book

What I packed here ended up being similar to my Dallas trip, but slightly more edited. I wanted to make room in my luggage to bring home some things and hauls. Most everything fit inside the Away Bigger Carry On.

Away Bigger Carry On Packed | The Beauty Look Book

Away Bigger Carry On Packing List via The Beauty Look Book

Clothing pack list:

  • Short Trench from J.Crew (old style, current classic version here)
  • Leather jacket by Joie (old style, similar here and here)
  • Black woven jacket from Banana Republic (from several years ago)
  • Black raw hem denim by Paige
  • Classic skinny jeans denim by Frame
  • Flats by Chloe
  • Chambray button down by Joie
  • Stripe tank from Rag and Bone
  • Cashmere sweater from Club Monaco (old style)

Clothing Pack List for NYC | The Beauty Look Book

Makeup packing list:

NYC Makeup Packing List for 3 Days | The Beauty Look Book

Skincare and haircare packing. I hoard my minis from GWPs as much as I can. Things here that you can buy individually:

NYC Skincare Packing List for 3 Days | The Beauty Look Book

Before I met up with Amy we discussed where we wanted to go shopping. I told her I was open to anything she wanted to see as she was taking the train up to see me for the day. I shared a map I had made last year (minus the tourist spots). I’ve done this for almost every trip I’ve gone on – I map out EVERYTHING from coffee shops, photo spots, restaurants, breakfast places, shops etc. This is an edited version with just beauty as my full maps get very cluttered. Thanks to Amy for asking me to publish this. She did an amazing one for Paris which I highly recommend. We didn’t get to everything on the map – in the course of one day we made it to around 6 places including lunch spots. We took our time, on our priority list was Creed and Bergdorfs and then we said we’d just take the day as it came. The map should be clickable/interactive – I’m not sure how it will look or work on mobile though.

This is what I ended up hauling, mainly beauty this trip. First a look inside Bergdorf Goodman:

Bergdorf Goodman Beauty Shopping | The Beauty Look Book

Next stop was Barneys New York – how cool is their Mask Bar?!

Barneys New York Mask Bar | The Beauty Look Book

From Barneys New York I bought two Sheet Masks from Starskin in the Diamond Mask and Close Up options, Cremorlab Silk Pearl, and the Peach and Lily Sheet Mask Set. From Bergdorf Goodman I bought a couple cushions from Sulwhasoo (I also ordered the third option from Nordstrom when I got home). Will be testing and report back soon!

Barneys and Bergdorfs Haul | The Beauty Look Book

At Creed I bought my husband the Original Vetiver Shaving Soap and Bowl – he’s been getting more into skincare and shaving and I thought this might be a nice unique gift for him even though it’s about 3x what he normally spends on a shaving soap. They wrapped everything beautifully and even made a couple fragrance samples for him!

Creed Original Vetiver Shaving Soap and Bowl | The Beauty Look Book

Some late night shopping at the Sephora in Times Square, they have Tom Ford, Natasha Denona and Pat McGrath. On Instastories a couple days ago I mentioned how many beauty insider points I had. I forgot that I had redeemed A LOT for Drybar and Supergoop goodies. I think I asked for all the sunscreen minis they had lol!

Sephora NYC Times Square Tom Ford | The Beauty Look Book

What I hauled from Sephora was more than I intended. I only was going to get the new Dior mascara but what was I thinking, I always leave the store with more than I had planned on buying:

Mega Sephora Haul | The Beauty Look Book

Last but not least a quick stop at Byredo. I had looked for the mint Hand Cream Duo at Barneys but they were sold out so I made a trip to the Byredo store on Wooster and it was very minimalist inside. If you’re looking for this you can find it online at Byredo and also online Neiman Marcus. It was beautiful but very sparse. Online and at counters the travel size perfumes come in pre-made sets. Usually you have to buy a set of 3 with the same scents although they occasionally release mixed discover ones. In the store you can make your own 3 piece or 6 piece set but they don’t have all the scents available. I made my own with 2 Mojave Ghost (I’ve had this on my wishlist for over 2 years, I don’t know why I didn’t just buy it earlier) and 1 Flowerhead. They recommend you only carry them inside the leather cases because the glass is fragile. I’m trying to be extra careful with mine as I have broken a couple.

Byredo Soho Wooster NYC | The Beauty Look Book

Byredo Haul | The Beauty Look Book

This is a shot of what I had with me on my way back home:

Travel NYC Packing List | The Beauty Look Book

Hope you enjoyed Part 2 of my three days in NYC posts! I already can’t wait to go back 🙂 If you have any favorite spots whether it be shops, restaurants, coffee shops, hotels etc please let me know in the comments! I’ll bookmark them for my next trip!

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Boutique New York Travel

Springtime Travels – Three Days in NYC

May 8, 2017

NYC Springtime Travels | The Beauty Look Book

Happy Monday lovelies! As promised I have a NYC post for you from my recent trip last month. I was in NYC for three days at the end of April. One day was for a conference and the other two days were for fun, exploration and a few meet-ups. Now that I’m on the East Coast, travel is a lot easier for me. It’s only a 2 hour flight from Tampa to NYC and I could not be happier! This was a short trip and I wish I could have had more time but I packed in as much as I could. This is Part 1 of 2. In this post I will share about where I stayed, what I saw and where I ate. In Part 2 I’ll share my full packing list and also what I hauled.

I flew into JFK and normally would have taken a taxi to the city, however my husband booked me a NY airport limousine service called Carmel Limousine. It was a bit pricier than a taxi but the fare covered tip and tolls and my husband wanted me to try it out. When it comes to travel and transportation I tend to be on the cheap side when traveling alone, my husband on the other hand always wants the best experience – he’s always really thoughtful when he helps me book my flights etc. When I flew in I was a bit worried about how I would find the car and driver. The way this works is you book your car and provide them your flight information and destination. The cars are usually waiting nearby or in the cell phone lot around the time of your arrival. There’s a number to call as soon as you land and they text you within seconds how soon the car will arrive and what model it is. In the window there will be a sign with your last name so you can tell which car is yours. My total wait time from the time I called was less than 5 minutes.

Cars were very clean, air conditioned and the drive was smooth. NYC taxis can be hit or miss with cleanliness and using this service was definitely a nice experience. If I were traveling with another person I think I would definitely use them again. On my way back my husband was going to book it again for me but since I didn’t know where I would be in the city I told him I’d just take a taxi back to the airport.

I couldn’t resist doing an Eva Chen-inspired shot (minus the fruit lol). Neverfull MM tote with a small Truffle Clarity Clutch mini (c/o) to hold all my travel essentials. Flats by Chloe. Jeans by Frame.

NYC Springtime Travels Carmel Limo Service | The Beauty Look Book

I traveled alone this trip so I decided try a smaller hotel. I had planned everything at the last minute and did not realize that the Tribeca Film Festival was happening the same week I was going to be in NY. In the course of a few days almost every hotel I had on my visit list was booked and almost double in price from their normal rates. Luckily I found one that was affordable with good reviews in Times Square in the theater district called RIU Plaza New York Times Square. I booked a King Size room and was thrilled to find that at check-in they gave me a room on the 26th floor (they have 28 floors). True to NYC style the room was very small, but it was clean, modern and functional. I had a pleasant stay – I would definitely stay here again, the location can’t be beat!

RIU Plaza New York Times Square Hotel Review | The Beauty Look Book

RIU Plaza New York Times Square Hotel Review | The Beauty Look Book

RIU Plaza New York Times Square Hotel Review | The Beauty Look Book

RIU Plaza New York Times Square Hotel Review | The Beauty Look Book

During my stay the weather was cloudy with some rain. I had checked the weather beforehand. Since moving to Florida I feel like I’ve been living in shorts and tanks and I knew the rest of the US was most likely not going to be in the high 80s. I packed an umbrella, several sets of layers, a few jackets and one pair of flats. The only thing I would have done differently for packing would have been to also pack some running shoes for easier walking. My flats were comfortable but there was a point where I wanted to walk through Central Park to find all of the cherry blossom trees (it was my first time seeing them in person!). I only made it about 1/2 a mile before I decided my feet and flats would not make the entire 2.5 mile walk in the rain.

Cherry Blossom Trees Spring NYC | The Beauty Look Book

One of the days I spend the entire day attending a conference in Soho. The conference was held by a company called Fohr Card and while I was dying to explore Soho, I was really happy to meet some other bloggers and make a few new friends. I ran into another blogger Kali from In Spades Blog and found out that we were both from San Diego, went to the same college and graduated the same year as me! Such a small world! We grabbed some dinner afterwards at Totto Ramen which I had been dying to try to catch up on life since graduating from business school. It was delicious! A quick snapshot of some other quick eats – on this trip I was on the go most of the day until late evening so relied on places open late. My brother made me promise to try this Indian street food place called Kati Roll and it was pretty close to my hotel so I did. It was also pretty good. One of the nights I grabbed some pizza by the slice near Times Square – I have really high expectations for pizza and even though it had really high ratings on Yelp I thought it was just ok. It hit the spot though – unfortunately I don’t remember the name of it.

NYC Eats - Totto Ramen, Pizza by the slice, Kati Roll

The following day was the highlight of my trip. I met up with long-time blogger friend Amy from Cafe Makeup. We’ve been pen pals for years and I’ve followed her blog for as long as I can remember. We spent the day exploring and shopping and had the best time! A look our stops below. We covered a lot of ground in one day: light breakfast at the Palm Court, a trip to B&H Photo (amazing!), a stop at the Creed Boutique, fun at Bergdorf Goodman, search for By Terry at Barneys New York, lunch and a meet up with Edward Bess, and then another trip back to Bergdorfs because we decided we needed more bronzer in our life.

Palm Court breakfast:

Palm Court NYC with Cafe Makeup

Perfume heaven at Creed:

Creed Boutique Madison Ave NYC

Shopping heaven at Bergdorf Goodman:

Bergdorf Goodman Shopping Heaven | The Beauty Look Book

Excited to see the entire line of Christian Louboutin Beauty in person!

Bergdorf Goodman Louboutin Beaute Counter | The beauty look book

Walking into the beauty level at Barneys New York, can you spot the By Terry counter?

Barneys New York beauty level makeup heaven | The beauty look book

Afternoon dessert with Edward Bess, I look so tan next to him! Thanks Cafe Makeup for the snap 🙂

Edward Bess x The Beauty Look Book selfie time

Beauty playtime with Edward:

Lunch with Edward Bess | The Beauty Look Book

Quick snapshots of Soho, Laduree, Repetto, Byredo:

Soho Springtime NYC | The Beauty Look Book

Soho NYC Byredo | The Beauty Look Book

Had to make a stop at the new Away store in Soho. They will deliver anywhere in New York and often have same day delivery which is genius! For those who know they’ll need an extra bag to take home items with them but don’t want to fly into the city with extra luggage this is perfect! They’ll deliver to your hotel 🙂

Away Travel Store in Soho NYC | The Beauty Look Book

Bryant Park at night:

Bryant Park at Night | The Beauty Look Book

Selfie at my happy place Sephora Times Square, short trench by J.Crew (old style, current Icon Style here), denim by Frame, iPhone case by Gray Malin.

Sephora Times Square NYC | The Beauty look Book

I hope you enjoyed this mini travel diary! I had so much fun in the short time I was there. Have you ever been to NYC for a short trip? What recommendations, tips or advice do you have for quick short trips? Give then amount of time I was there I was happy with what I booked in. I did waste some time by getting lost (I did a lot of walking) but sometimes getting lost takes you some fun unexpected places.

Part 2 to follow tomorrow with my packing list and haul!

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