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Fragrance

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Dolce by Dolce & Gabbana

May 9, 2014

Dolce Eau de Parfum is the latest fragrance release by Dolce & Gabbana this spring (ranges from $29 for 0.25 fl oz up to $112 for 2.5 fl oz, at Sephora). It has a sophisticated delicate feminine mix of White Daffodil flowers, Neroli leaves and White Amaryllis. The combination gives Dolce a fresh and light airy feel with a very distinct sweet floral twist. The Dolce bottles have the an elegant design with a beautiful white floral cap with intricate details and finished with a tiny black bow. Depending on your size preference, there are four size options ranging from a 0.25 fl oz roller ball to a 2.5 fl oz bottle. (The roller ball size perfume is exclusive to Sephora.) Dolce & Gabbana kindly sent the largest size for me to try.


Notes:
Neroli Leaves, Papaya Flower, White Amaryllis,
White Daffodil, White Water Lily, Cashmeran, Musky Notes, Sandalwood.

Style:
Delicate. Joyous. Avant-garde.

I’ve been testing Dolce extensively for the past week and put it to the
test with close loved ones. All of them love it on me. It’s a sweeter and more floral compared to what I typically gravitate towards, but it has a refreshing uplifting feel that I really like. It has a good mix of soft florals and crisp sweetness. The strength and throw is quite good, I liked that it only needed a single spritz
for application. The lasting power is quite good lasting all day without fading, but it’s still soft enough to wear for everyday. Those who love white florals will find this a pleasant addition to their spring fragrance collection right now as it has a nice day-time spring vibe.

I’m in love with the intricate design of the Dolce perfume. It’s truly exquisite.

Dolce Eau de Parfum is available now across all Dolce & Gabbana retail locations in stores and online. Sephora has the most size options for you to choose from and Beauty Insiders are offered triple points on all fragrance purchases from Sephora through May 11th. Bottom line: Dolce is an uplifting polished white floral perfect for to brighten one’s mood for spring.

For more on Dolce & Gabbana and to stay up to date with their latest be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter @DolceGabbana, Instagram @DolceGabbana and search for #DGDolce and #DGBeauty.

This post was sponsored by Dolce & Gabbana. All thoughts and opinions are my own. All photographs taken by The Beauty Look Book. For more information refer to my Disclosure Policy.

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Fragrance

An Introduction to Lumira | Soy Luxury Candles in Persian Rose and Tahitian Coconut

May 1, 2014
image via Lumira

I’m very excited to introduce Lumira today. My readers know I am an avid fan of luxury home candles. A well designed and crafted candle can add that perfect little accent to your home or office decor as well as make your entire room smell amazing. I’ve been following several Australian candle designers on Instagram loving the beautiful decorative imagery and inspiration from their Australian followers. I was ecstatic when Lumira reached out to provide an introduction.

For those new to this line, Lumira is a luxury lifestyle brand based in Sydney, Australia that specializes in hand-made soy candles. The line made it’s debut this year by founder Almira Armstrong. The first products in the line include a range of eight scents including Oriental Jasmine, Tuscan Fig, Persian Rose, Tropical Gardenia, Tahitian Coconut, Sicilian Citrus, Cuban Tobacco and Balinese Ylang Ylang.

The Signature Candles currently come in two sizes:

  • A large elegant, ebony hand-filled glass with beautifully scented creamy soy wax, $55 AUD for 450g/15.8oz, approximately60 hour burn time
  • A compact travel tin with a twist-off lid, perfect for travel, on your desk or on-the-go, $19.95 AUD for 100g/3.5oz, approximately 15 hour burn time

image via Lumira
The line is currently available in Australia and select international locations. You can purchase items online at Atelier Lumira (they ship internationally). According to Lumira they plan to expand their line into the US at more locations later this fall (stockists listed here).

Lumira kindly sent the Persian Rose Signature Candle and Tahitian Coconut Travel Candle for review. Readers know I am extremely particular and very selective with scents (my husband calls it “super picky”). I am pleased to report Lumira Candles are extremely well made. Both scents are high quality with an amazing blend of luxurious oils. I’ve been burning these for over a week now and everything is quite exquisite.

Persian Rose comes in a heavy black glass container. It’s the largest candle I own at 450g/15.8g. Persian Rose has a mix of rose absolute, blended with subtle notes of Jasmine, Soft Musk and
Bois de Rose. This one is designed for turning any home into a relaxing sanctuary. It’s a relaxing soothing rose that isn’t too floral and far exceeds my other rose candles in composition and blend. Yes, this is my new favorite rose. It has a really clean burn that fills up the entire room.

Notes:
Top: Sparkling Mandarin, Bergamot Zest & Sweet Orange
Mid: Budding Persian Rose & Geranium Essence
Base: Soft Musk, Patchouli & Dark Amber

Tahitian Coconut was sent in a travel size. I’ve been smitten with the Henri Bendel Travel Candles for their convenience, compact size and portability. Often times these candles are strong enough that you don’t have to burn them to enjoy the scent (I often just leave one opened). I like the concept of the travel candles with lids by Lumira. Tahitian Coconut is similar in concept to Henri Bendel’s Beach in the sense that it takes you away to a tropical getaway vacation. Tahitian Coconut is a blend of Coconut, Frangipani and Mandarin. It’s described as a scent that gives the feel of a mini-escape to be enjoyed all year round. It truly does. I find Lumira Tahitian Coconut to have a more rounded creamy feel, while Henri Bendel Beach is a bit sweeter and sharper.

Notes:
Top: Mandarin
Middle: Magnolia, Jasmine, Coconut, Orange Flower
Base: White Musk, Vanilla

The Lumira collection is available online at Atelier Lumira and within a handpicked selection of retailers across Australia and Internationally.
Lumira candles can be enjoyed as a full-size Ebony Glass Jar candle or in a convenient Travel Tin perfect for the office, when traveling, or in smaller spaces.
Have you tried Lumira? A shout out to my Australian readers! I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences 🙂 I can’t wait for the line to be available at more US locations. I’m already panicking about what I will do once they are finished burning.
You can find out more about Lumira on their website. Also follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (to see beautiful home decor ideas) for the latest news and to find out where they are launching.
Samples were provided by Lumira for review. All opinions are my own. Photos of Persian Rose and Tahitian Coconut all taken by me.
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Fragrance Home / Interiors

Fresh and Light

April 16, 2014

Right now I’m loving fresh, light and uplifting scents for the home. I always find it interesting how my scent preferences change with the seasons. I usually think I lean towards all-occasion types of fragrances but these days I’m gravitating towards lighter fresher scents. A few favorites right now I find to be unique with good throw:
  • Malin + Goetz Mojito ($52 for 9 oz for 60 hour burn) is a fresh mix of lime, mint, basil and rum. This is my first Malin+Goetz candle and I love how this burns really cleanly, the scent is so unique, I’ve never smelled anything like it before. Mojito has a fresh unique uplifting scent including top notes of lime, rum, mint leaves, peppery basil, middle notes of spearmint and Chinese mint, base notes of white musk. I highly recommend this one for a clean fresh scent.

  • Diptyque Geranium Rosa ($60 for 6.5 oz, 60 hour burn) is one of the Diptyque scents that is harder to find (for me at least), you can find it all Diptyque stores and more retailers are starting to carry it now. This one is a fresh light green floral with a hint of mint (however I think I’m the only one who detects any mint). Geranium Rosa is one of those scents that is extremely green and very floral, if you prefer scents that aren’t quite as green, opt for Roses or Baies which are not quite as sharp. I like this one for the fresh green feel it creates.

  • Byredo Fleur Fantôme ($80 for 10.5 oz, 60 hour burn) is one of the splurgiest candles I’ve ever purchased, it has a highly complex mix of florals. Top notes: Rhubarb, Lemon Petitgrain Leaves, Middle notes: Violet Leaves, Tulip Extract, Base notes: Galbanum, Heliotrope, Suede. It has a refreshing floral mix and for something so complex, it actually has a simple fresh feel. Fleur Fantome has to be one of the most beautiful smelling candle I’ve ever burned, it smells like a beautiful garden.

  • Henri Bendel Beach ($15 for 4 oz travel size or $30 for 9.4 oz size) is another unique fresh scent (it’s one of my most repurchased candles). Beach is like the ultimate vacation scent and the mix is pure genius. There is nothing like it and it smells exactly like a beach vacation. If you’re new to Henri Bendel’s line and are looking for a recommendation to try something new, Beach would be my top pick. Notes include warm white sand and earthly driftwood blend with the summery
    smells of jasmine, white lotus, creamy coconut milk and sweet
    rosewater. I find Henri Bendel to be among the best candles at a decent price
    range. They have a diverse range of amazing scents that aren’t too
    overpowering but still have really good throw.

What home fragrances are you loving right now as we transition into warmer spring weather?

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Tom Ford Oud Wood Eau de Parfum

January 9, 2014

Tom Ford recently released a series of Oud Fragrances to expand on one of his earlier releases Oud Wood Eau de Parfum. The three scents released in smoky grey-colored packaging include the Oud Wood, Oud Fleur and Tobacco Oud. At the counters I fell in love with the classic Oud Wood. After testing a small sample made at the Tom Ford counter, I went back a week later and purchased the 1.7 oz/50ml version for $210. It’s the most I have ever spent on a perfume, but well worth the price given how much I adore the scent and it’s lasting power.

Small 4ml samples made at the Tom Ford counter:

I’ve tried Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanille which is a lovely bold and rich vanilla. I had it on my wishlist for over a year but could never bring myself to purchase a full size bottle. Right when I had decided to buy it, I tried the Oud Wood series and Oud Wood blew me away. I still decided to test for at least a few days before committing to a full size. Oud Wood is described as “Exotic Rose Wood and Cardamom, blended with exuberant Chinese Pepper, envelop the wearer in warmth. Eventually, the center exposes a smokey blend of rare Oud Wood, Sandalwood and Vetiver. Finally, the creamy scents of Tonka Bean, Vanilla and Amber are revealed.”

It’s a strong and bold fragrance without being too overpowering. It does lean more masculine but I still think it’s unisex enough for a woman to wear. It has a lovely mix of vanilla, amber and sandalwood. It is a creamy warm scent. The oud in the scent is noticeable but on the softer side when mixed with the Tonka Bean and Vanilla. It wears very well on the skin and like most Tom Ford fragrances I’ve tried, lasts all day long without fading. I recommend reading the reviews on Fragrantica, Basenotes.net, Kafkaesque and Temptalia.

It usually takes me a long time to decide to purchase a fragrance. Even after careful consideration and time, I don’t always end up choosing ones that work for me (ie Jo Malone Ginger Biscuit, and I really wanted to love this one). After a month of wearing Tom Ford Oud Wood, I’ve found my perfect winter fragrance. It’s proven to be one of my favorites that I’ve tried (my other current favorite is Frederic Malle Carnal Flower). Oud Wood is strong enough to last all day long but mellow enough to not be overpowering and make me self conscious while wearing this to work.

I’m still considering Tobacco Vanille as I’ve read it layers well with Oud Wood. My other favorite by Tom Ford is Santal Blush. For now I’m 100% smitten with Oud Wood. Given the high price tag and number of perfumes I’m still working my way through, I’m going to wait a while before looking into buying another Tom Ford fragrance.

Tom Ford Oud Wood is available at Nordstrom, Saks, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales and Tom Ford Boutiques. The scent is available in a variety of sizes and body products. I bought the Shower Gel for my husband as I found it to be more woody/earthy and more masculine in scent. Oud Wood comes in the following options:

Do you have a Tom Ford favorite? I’d love to hear about your experiences and thoughts!

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Diptyque Eau Duelle Solid Perfume

December 20, 2013
I recently ordered Diptyque Eau Duelle Solid Perfume ($48 for 4.05 g/0.14 oz). It’s a very soft earthy vanilla. I had tested this a few months ago at the San Francisco Boutique and South Coast Plaza stores. I found it less intense and not quite as sweet as the Eau de Toilette and Eau de Parfum versions. Vanillas can be difficult for me to tolerate so I usually have to do sampling on various occasions by spritzing at the counter and wearing the scent for a few hours. My sensitive nose tends to react very strongly to sweet vanilla scents (in a bad way). It took me several months of thinking about Eau Duelle before I decided to buy. By the time I decided to purchase, all the counters and stores near me were sold out. I could only find it online at Neiman Marcus. Although the Diptyque reps have assured me it’s only temporarily sold out, a couple readers have told me that the solid version is being discontinued. At this time I’m not sure which is true.
I was lucky to get a few samples of the different versions of Eau Duelle. The liquid sprays are significantly stronger and sweeter in scent. The Eau de Parfum has an almost incense-like smell to it. The Eau de Toilette is lighter and sweeter. I prefer the Solid Perfume by far as it’s the softest, however I feel I may be in the minority in my preference. The lasting power is medium. Since I prefer softer vanillas I don’t mind that this one fades within a few hours.

I’m still on the hunt for the perfect vanilla fragrance. I love Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille on others. It’s a bit too dark for me. Others are too sweet or strong. For now the sweeter round scents I like are Tom Ford’s Oud Wood and Jo Malone’s Dark Amber and Ginger Lily. Not exactly vanilla-like, but there is a slight vanilla-ish undertone to each one (review on these soon).
I’m happy I purchased Diptyque’s Solid Perfume version of Eau Duelle, but I’m still on the hunt for my perfect vanilla scent. If you have one you love I’m all ears for your recommendations.
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Diptyque Fragrance

Diptyque L’Ombre dans l’Eau Solid Perfume

November 3, 2013
While in San Francisco both my husband and I fell in love with the solid perfumes at the Diptyque Boutique on Maiden Lane. His favorite for me was L’Ombre dans l’Eau while I preferred the Eau Duelle. I spent several weeks thinking about the options before deciding on the L’Ombre dans l’Eau ($48 for 3.6 g). This scent is the companion to the Baies Candle. It’s described as a “mixture of crumpled blackcurrant leaves and rose petals.” L’Ombre dans l’Eau is a unisex scent that is fresh and green and floral with a hint of blackcurrant all mixed into one. It’s one of those scents I feel is perfect for fall.

The solid perfume comes in a heavy weight oval compact. There is a tiny grey pouch to store it in which protects the packaging. It’s beautiful to look at and I love how easy it is to carry with you in your purse or small clutch. The lasting power is medium. It’s quite strong when you first apply but fades very slowly throughout the day. Most Diptyque fragrances in the liquid form fade very quickly on me. I find the solid perfumes to last a bit longer on me.

Ingredients:

The L’Ombre dans l’Eau Solid Perfume is almost identical to the Eau de Toilette version, but there are noticeable differences. They basically dry down to the same scent, however I prefer the Solid Perfume version which is more earthy and natural smelling. The latter is a bit greener and fruitier which is still nice but a bit synthetic smelling. The only other scent I’ve tried that I can think to compare it to is Jo Malone’s Blackberry and Bay which is significantly sweeter with berry notes. Comparing the two side by side, the Jo Malone makes the Diptyque smell slightly musky. They layer quite nicely together although I prefer to wear them separately since I prefer subtle scents.

L’Ombre dans l’Eau Solid Perfume

Overall love. I’m normally not a fan of strong florals but the more scents I explore, the more I find that I like scents that have some kind of floral blended into them. L’Ombre dans l’Eau Solid Perfume is a perfect everyday rose/blackcurrant scent. It’s not overpowering so I don’t feel self conscious wearing it to work. It’s a nice feel-good kind of scent. It’s also a huge plus that my husband likes it on me. If you can try in person I highly recommend testing it. I still have my eye on Eau Duelle but will hold off for now.
L’Ombre Dans l’Eau comes in a wide variety of other formulas and options. I absolutely love the convenience and compact size of the Solid Perfume. It also comes in an Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum, Roller Ball Oil, Shower Gel, Lotion and Soap. The scent is one of their best sellers.

The Solid Perfume in L’Ombre dans l’Eau retails for $48. You can find it at all Diptyque locations and online at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Barneys and Diptyque.com.

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Boutique California Diptyque Travel

Diptyque Boutique Maiden Lane – San Francisco

October 27, 2013
Diptyque | Maiden Lane, San Francisco

I took a much-needed mini vacation this month with my husband. We spent a week in San Francisco visiting family and friends. I’ve been a die-hard Diptyque fan so the Diptyque Store on Maiden Lane was on my list of must-see places. The store featured the new Diptyque Electric Diffuser (quite impressive) which will accomodate a small selection of scents in 34 boulevard st germain, Figuier, Baies, Amber and Feu de Bois. Both my husband and I were seriously tempted.

The Maiden Lane boutique is a small intimate store. It has a warm slightly rustic-library feel with the wood shelves and decor. The store is split into an upper and lower level creating a home-like feel. The combination of all the scents was so incredible. I wished I could take the entire store and transport it into my own home. I learned so much from the Diptyque staff on each of the different categories of scents – they were incredibly friendly and patient with all our questions as we asked about each candle. I’ve since developed quite a long wish list of items to try in the future. Due to our traveling situation I limited myself to 2 items (since we didn’t want to check any luggage) and purchased two of the Boutique Exclusives in Mousses (forest-moss) and Tilleul (linden tree). If you have a chance to visit one of the boutiques I highly recommend it. The store Diptyque reps are incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. The stores themselves are decorated so beautifully – I felt inspired to up the game in our own house decoration-wise with subtle candle accents.

Mini 2.4 oz candles shown below all lined up ($28 each):

Boutique accessories (photophores are store exclusives):

My picks Mousses  and Tilleul

Have you been to a Diptyque Boutique? I normally purchase my candles from Nordstrom or Barneys but fell completely in love with the Diptyque store. What are your favorite Diptyque items?

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