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Browsing by tag: loccitane

Best Men’s Fragrances of 2011-2012-2013 (Better Late Than Never)

Posted by Kevin on 8 January 2014 21 Comments

Self Portrait, Dick Ket

Did I really skip 2011 and 2012 when it came to writing my annual best-of-men’s-perfumes post? (Wow…and the world kept turning — imagine that!) I’m two years behind so today I’ll catch up by picking my favorite men’s fragrances from 2011, 2012 and 2013 (you can see my picks for 2009 and 2010 here). Some of these perfumes are unisex, but with a masculine edge (to my nose anyway). Though I missed my fair share of fragrance releases, I’ve still smelled tons of perfume product in the last three years. I don’t feel that a masterpiece escaped my attention.

Every year, I tend to write about men’s fragrances that I either “love” or “hate” (using those verbs with feather-weight intent since I don’t cry over favorite perfumes gone missing or reformulated, and I don’t gnaw on my fingers when I encounter awful perfumes). I’m still, I believe, a Perfumista, but I’ve put perfume in its proper place…

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Holiday fragrance gifts 2013, part 7

Posted by Robin on 13 December 2013 11 Comments

Our second-to-last holiday gift post for 2013 focuses on budget options and stocking stuffers. Next: luxury, coming up on Sunday.

If you missed them, check out Part 1: scented body products, Part 2: travel sizes & coffrets, Part 3: home fragrance, Part 4: gifts for men, Part 5: teas & sweets and Part 6: more travel sizes & coffrets.

More shopping ideas: see the Winter Holiday Shopping Guide at Chemist in the Bottle.

Yves Rocher Hammam Beauty Ritual Duo

From Yves Rocher’s Hammam collection, a “Beauty Ritual Duo” with soap (scented with jasmine, rose and fruits) and Nourishing Argan Balm (scented with orange blossom). Normally $48, currently on sale for $25 at Yves Rocher…

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Holiday fragrance gifts 2013, part 4

Posted by Robin on 7 December 2013 12 Comments

Our series of holiday gift posts continues with gift ideas for the men in your life, although there are plenty of “unisex” ideas in the other articles, and there are probably a few things here that women might like. If you missed them, check out Part 1: scented body products, Part 2: travel sizes & coffrets and Part 3: home fragrance. Up next: fragranced teas and chocolates.

More shopping ideas: check out Persolaise’s round up of holiday 2013 fragrance gifts.

Acqua di Parma candle holder and Colonia candle

From Acqua di Parma, a candle holder fashioned from wenge wood and buffalo skin: “The wood’s strength and hardness, along with its black streaked dark hues, blend perfectly with the soft and compact brown buffalo skin that trims the entire edge. The leather has a discreet hot stamped logo.” £140 at Harrods in the UK, Colonia candle is sold separately, £53…

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L’Occitane Passionate Jasmine, Subtle Violet and Fleur d’Or & Acacia shea hand creams ~ scented body product review

Posted by Robin on 21 November 2013 31 Comments

L'Occitane Passionate Jasmine, Subtle Violet and Fleur d'Or & Acacia shea hand creams

I am a little surprised to see we’ve never reviewed one of L’Occitane’s shea butter hand creams, but hey, most of you are probably familiar with the product — according to L’Occitane, they sell one every three seconds. It’s a thick hand cream in a metal tube, sometimes with colorful decorations, sometimes without. The formula is 20% shea butter,1 but it sinks in nicely and doesn’t leave hands greasy. And it works, or at least, I find that it works quickly when my hands are parched in the winter.2 The metal tubes seem to hold up pretty well, which is more than I can say for some metal tube hand creams, which split along the sides before you’ve finished the product.3

Happily for perfumistas, L’Occitane regularly introduces new limited edition fragrances — actually, I’m not sure I’ve ever tried the “regular”, non-scented version, but I often have one of the 30 ml travel tubes, in one scent or another, tucked in my purse…

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L’Occitane Fleur d’Or & Acacia and Ambre & Santal ~ fragrance reviews

Posted by Kevin on 20 November 2013 26 Comments

L’Occitane Fleur d’Or & Acacia and Ambre & Santal

Earlier this year, L’Occitane launched a new line of perfumes — La Collection de Grasse; the collection started off with four fragrances and now has doubled in size.1 I’ve only had the chance to spend quality time with two of the perfumes: Fleur d’Or & Acacia and Ambre & Santal.

Fleur d’Or & Acacia

(lemon, bergamot, mimosa, acacia, white woods, musk)

Fleur d’Or & Acacia begins with, and maintains, an intense acacia-mimosa accord; and at first, this accord smells genuine (natural). The lemon note in Fleur d’Or & Acacia’s opening serves as a momentary “booster” for the florals. After Fleur d’Or & Acacia’s authentic-smelling acacia-mimosa notes vanish, and that happens quickly, they are replaced by acacia-mimosa ‘chemicals’ that soar into space, and up through my nasal passages…

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