Frederic Malle Editions de Parfums is one of my favorite perfume houses, and their Musc Ravageur is one of my Top Five perfumes, so of course I felt compelled to buy the matching body products: the Huile à Tout Faire (body oil) and the Lait Parfumé (body milk). Perhaps it is because of the superb standards and quality of the other Editions de Parfums products I've encountered, but I must admit I am somewhat disappointed in the latter product…
Eskandar Black Tea & Lemon Body Wash
I have problems with the majority of the black tea fragrances on the market. Some of them, like Comme des Garcons Te and Speziali Fiorentini Te Nero, smell disconcertingly tarry, rubbery, or even incense-like. Perhaps they are supposed to render Lapsang Souchong in its full strength, and not the meek Earl Grey and English Breakfast teas I am used to. Others, like L'Artisan Tea for Two, have a strange cocoa-butter note; still others are too light and airy, or too floral. Even my reigning favorite, Elizabeth W. Sweet Tea, isn’t so much an accurate rendition of tea as much as it is a sweet sugary lemon and almond concoction with the barest hint of tea…
Scented body products from LUSH: Snowcake soap and Smitten hand cream
Those that know me are aware that when it comes to fragrance, I am a complete almond fanatic. It is by far my favorite note, and in the past few years I have tried almost every almond scent on the market in my quest to find the perfect one. But I’ve remained largely unsuccessful, mainly because in my mind, I already know what my perfect almond scent is, and it doesn’t come in perfume form yet. It is the smell of LUSH’s Snowcake, a wonderful soap with an incredibly lovely smell of cream and sugared almonds…
Acqua di Parma Capri Orange Lip Balm
Devotees of Acqua di Parma’s Blu Mediterraneo Capri Orange (formerly Arancia) Eau de Toilette already know that the bergamot, mandarin, lemon and orange fragrance is one of the most pure, bright and happy citrus perfumes around. The matching lip balm carries that same clear sunshiny scent, and applying it to one’s lips is like inhaling the smell of an orange grove in summer. The balm also boasts fabulous moisturizing power — a coconut oil, beeswax and shea butter formula creates a thin but emollient and lasting barrier against dryness. It is supposedly enriched with vitamins for “free radical defense,” and has the far less debatable benefit of broadband UVA and UVB SPF 20 protection as well.
The lip balm comes encased in a turquoise blue metallic tube which certainly looks attractive, but the metal is so thin and light it feels flimsy, and the fact that the balm inside is molded into a narrow sculpted lipstick-wedge instead of a traditional solid cylinder of wax only compounds the impression. The printed white lettering on the outside also chips and rubs off easily. This makes it look cheap, but it is anything but: at $27 – $30 for a 5 ml tube, it is one of the most expensive lip balms you can buy…
Jaqua Foaming Caramel Cappuccino Hydrating Body Syrup
Jaqua Foaming Caramel Cappuccino Hydrating Shower Syrup is one of a trio of shower gels offered in the Jaqua Café Collection, along with Soothing Vanilla Latte and Steamy Chai Spice Latte. As far as functionality goes, the Caramel Cappuccino is a well-made product with a pleasingly thick texture and adequate lathering and moisturizing properties, but the real draw is its magnificent fragrance.
“Foaming Caramel Cappuccino” is a slightly misleading title as there is only a faint trace of a coffee aroma; the predominant note is the alluring, mouthwatering smell of real, sweet, deep caramel…