On Fragrances: Oriental Summer by Celine

Some people are really attracted to warm fragrances, and I am quite undecided. However, this does not mean that I am closing my doors on them, especially if I could learn a thing or two about warm fragrances. With my experience, I find that they make great complements in opposing weathers-warm fragrances are for winter days and nights and the cool fragrances are for the summer days and nights. Are you with me on this?

I received this years ago as a Christmas present from my close friends' mom, and I have not had the chance to wear it for a long time really. You see, I am really a cool scent person, and I even like to sniff on men's cool-scented cologne, but I don't really have that much experience with warm scents for women. You can tell that it is an authentic signature fragrance because the bottle is really durable and the scent is intact after a couple of years.

"Celine Dion's Oriental Summer fragrance for women is fresh and fruity, a citrus-rich, floral-oriental scent that wraps around a fragrant note of jasmine, mandarin, all-spice pimiento and dried fruit introductory notes rest over a hear-composed of iris and heliotrope; a base of sandalwood, amber and vanilla is purely sensual and ultra-feminine-a fresh and endearing fragrance choice for women." 

My Observations

At first whiff, the strong notes of sandalwood and pepper come to life. It is a really spicy scent that brings to life an oriental appeal of sunsets, sands and the rich and exotic scents of the East. Just looking at the bottle brings me back to the carved interiors of opulent, Byzantine interiors, (yes I have been there in my dreams! Hahaha).This would be a great scent for Christmas and for those who like woody, spicy scents. I could even have a soft spot for this during the -ber months. 

It lasts long and although the first notes could be overpowering, the tail can be sweet and musky in the end. A little spritz goes a long way, and the scent also lasts long. As you can see, the bottle makes use of sprayer and this could be a great help for those who are prone to spilling perfume all over the place. 

For more fragrances by Celine, you can visit 99 Perfume and get authentic signature fragrances so that you can save more compared to the expensive prices in malls and boutiques. 99 Perfume carries many signature fragrances and has the varieties that you are looking for such as gift sets and body lotions from your favorite perfume connoisseurs.

This is where I am being transported every time I sniff this on my wrist. I hope you get to visit these places and watch the sunsets too.

Are you feeling lucky? You can join my paperback giveaway or you can win awesome prizes from my collaboration giveaway, join one or both!

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On Fragrances: Alien by Thierry Mugler

This is my latest mini haul from Sample Room. 

I will be reviewing both of them though, but first let me take on the perfume sample. Here I have Alien by Thierry Mugler Eau de Parfum and Colour Collection Vitamin E Sheer Lipstick in Pinkish Nude. 

What could possibly be so out of this world for such a fragrance like Alien? Is there something worth noting about this scent from Thierry Mugler that could bring a collision of universes, supernovas and just about anything mutual from creatures of other planets? 

The Left Hand of Darkness finally got to me! (Ok, corny private joke gone wrong here...) 

"Alien is more than a simple fragrance. It is a strange, different and unique fragrance that diffuses a sensation of fulfillment. It creates a sort of olfactory impact that awakens positive emotions within us. As if appeared from another world, it transforms us by revealing our inner beauty. More than  a fragrance of seduction, it is an elixir of positive power!"

Pros

• At first whiff, I thought that the first notes were pleasant, it has an oriental, exotic appeal which is something similar to Celine's Oriental Summer
• The packaging has my attention, both the box and bottle in gold and purple looks elegant and something coming from an advanced-even elegant planet (Could it be Winter? Ursula Le Guin's Left Hand of Darkness anyone?)
• No shimmer, just pure fragrance 

Cons

• The body is overpowering, it is too strong and then the tail just stops short, it comes out strong in the middle and then ends with meh...
• It is more of a hot scent than a cold scent, but I think this makes it a plus for an evening perfume because it is too overpowering in the daytime
• The bottle has no stopper to regulate the flow of perfume, so that means wasted fragrance. (But does that count for a sample bottle?) 

I am somewhere in the middle with this fragrance. It could be great maybe for evening affairs, but until then, I think I could share it with someone who would be really interested, like my Mom. But for some who might be interested in oriental, evening and warm fragrances, you can get full sized versions and even gift sets from 99 Perfume and save money from the usually jacked-up prices in malls and boutiques. 99 Perfume carries many signature fragrances and have the varieties that you are looking for as well.

 

Now, feast your eyes on the galaxy and yes, you are allowed to imagine just what it would be like to be among aliens, perhaps on a cold planet like Winter. Let me retreat to my fantasies of Le Guin, alright?

Are you feeling lucky? You can join my paperback giveaway which is open to all Philippine residents here. Will you bring home a copy of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children? 

On Fragrances: Pink Shimmer and Shine in Pretty and Pure

I got this when a friend of mine brought quite a haul in the office. So yes, I fell for it at first scent. I have to say that the package is an instant favourite because I am a big fan of teal and everything that falls in its radar. I am feeling that it is a good buy as soon as I saw it, and I will be sharing my reasons why.

About the Company

I think anyone who has a relative in the States and has received a balikbayan box knows or has tried some Pink products in the past. Pink is Victoria’s Secret’s sister company which has expanded into so many products already, from underwear, beauty products, sporting attire, shoes and fragrances, now they are introducing bags and totes. There are so many merchandise that they are conjuring up, it takes a girl quite a good amount of self control to decide which are really the essentials. As for me, I am content with this particular body splash. What's a girl on a budget to do?

Price

I got this 75ml bottle for only Php 350, so it must be a sale price of approximately $8.75. The regular items I see on the site are over $15-25 if these come in full size. I think it is already a good value for me, and I got to save on other fees, so yes, definitely a keeper. 

About the Product

The print on the bottle says that it is a sparkling body mist, and yes it is definitely sparkly! I like small bottles because I can toss them in my bag no matter how small it is and then carry them around no matter where I am. I usually head to the mountains for the weekends and then go back to the city when the week starts again. I also need some calming scents to help me start my day.

Who Is It For?

Pink's Pretty and Pure Sparkling Body Mist is for those who like:

• Subtle and refreshing scents
• Shimmery products to reflect on the skin 
• Candy bubblegum reminiscent fragrances

Pros 

I like that it offers:

• Fresh feeling
• Smells pleasant and becomes subtle as time goes on
• Not too sweet and not overpowering
• Reasonable bargain price thanks to my friend 
• Compact travel size bottle 
• Non-irritating

Cons

I don’t like that:

• It is too shimmery
• Creamy and milky texture that make it appear like lotion
• There is something wrong with the spritzer, it does not spritz it just gives a spurt and I need to rub it on my skin and it wastes an amount of product
• It is inaccessible, I don't see it on sale even in their own site and I have to see yet if they offer it here
• 
  

The Verdict

I find that Pretty and Pure is a calming scent that I really like. At the rate of how I spritz it, it will be consumed in no time. I am pleased with this product but I am sad that it is no longer on sale in the site.