Scented Bath Powder ~ an appreciation

Posted by Angela on 20 June 2016 90 Comments

Les Houppettes Caron

This past week I’ve had a touch of flu, the kind that kicks off with aching muscles, sensitive skin, and chills. For a day, the only time I was comfortable was in a hot bath. And what helped keep me comfortable before I pulled on the layers and slipped into bed was a gentle patting of scented bath powder.

I only use bath powder four or five times a year. It can be messy, and powder that’s talc rather than cornstarch has health risks. (Try not to inhale talc-based powder, and keep it away from your lady parts.) Most often after a bath my skin wants moisture, and I reach for lotion.

Bath powder has been out of fashion for years…

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Swedish Dream Sea Salt Soap and Hand Creme ~ fragranced body product review

Posted by Jessica on 2 June 2016 17 Comments

Kalastyle Swedish Dream Sea Salt

Last week I reviewed Oriza L. Legrand’s Villa Lympia, a seashore-themed perfume with Belle Epoque-styled packaging. This week I’m continuing my summertime theme with Kalastyle’s Swedish Dream Sea Salt Soap and Hand Creme, two body products featuring a “classic sea salt scent” and some very jaunty packaging of their own, with motifs of anchors and sailboats.

I’ve been using the Sea Salt Soap as a hand soap at the bathroom sink, but it would also be a fun treat in the shower and is even recommended as a shave soap. It’s a chunky circular bar that gives off generous creamy lather and an a cheer-inducing scent…

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Lush Sunny Day Anti-Static Hair Detangler ~ scented hair product review

Posted by Jessica on 19 May 2016 17 Comments

violet

Every spring, I reach for my favorite violet perfumes. At this point in my perfume-history, they include Guerlain Après L’Ondée, Annick Goutal La Violette, Atkinsons 1799 Love in Idleness and Balenciaga Paris. I’ve alway had a weakness for Lush’s violet-scented bath and products, too — my very first review here at Now Smell This was a look at Lush’s Bathos Bubble Bar — so I couldn’t resist a quick in-store spritz of their new Sunny Day Anti-Static Hair Detangler.

According to the Lush UK website, Sunny Day’s name is a reference to the Sesame Street theme song: “Sunny day / sweeping the clouds away / on my way to where the air is sweet.” Coincidentally (or not?), it has a weather tie-in to Don’t Rain on My Parade Shower Gel…

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Long Hot Summer ~ Soaps for the Sultry Days Ahead

Posted by Kevin on 11 May 2016 72 Comments

Man at His Bath by Gustave Caillebotte

Here at Now Smell This we know it doesn’t take long to spend LOTS of money on scented toiletries (I’m not talking perfume, either). I’m a big fan of fragranced bath products, and current pricing for “fine” soaps and bath gels is high. Who’d have ever thought Diptyque and Frédéric Malle would be on the bargain end of ‘exclusive’ bath lines? Diptyque shower gels are $44 and a bar of scented soap is $15 (reasonable!); Frédéric Malle body wash is $55.

Bath gels sell for what perfume used to cost — Hermès cleansing gel: $59; Tom Ford shower gel: $65; Bond no. 9 body wash: $75; Sisley shower gel: $85; Creed body wash: $95. Fancy soaps are less expensive to buy and go from the “low end” (Jo Malone and Atelier Cologne, $20 a bar; Hermès soap, $22; Chanel No. 5 soap, $26 per cake) to high and higher end — Bvlgari soap, $30 a bar; one Guerlain Shalimar soap, $31; Tom Ford soaps: $35 each, and, as with bath gels, Creed is most expensive at $45 per tablet (I’ll pass).

Hey, Roja Dove and Clive Christian! Have you lost your nerve(s)? I was expecting over-priced bars of soap from each of you for at least $100 apiece and bath gels (with pulverized Swarovski crystals and gold leaf) for $400 in 8 oz. over-dreck-o-rated bottles!

Though I’ve enjoyed many of the soaps listed above (Diptyque, Hermès, Atelier Cologne and Guerlain), today I’m writing about less expensive options that deliver great lather and quality aromas.

Kappus Violet Lilac

Kappus Violet Lilac | Germany, $4: This is an old-fashioned-smelling violet and lilac glycerin soap…

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Le Couvent des Minimes Eau Sereine Hand Cream ~ scented body product review

Posted by Jessica on 28 April 2016 2 Comments

Le Couvent des Minimes Eau Sereine Hand Cream

It’s been a hectic month or so at my “day job.” My workplace was temporarily topsy-turvy due to rush deadlines and personnel changes, major annual events, unexpected VIP visits and technical difficulties. I was getting home later and later at night, often with a headache — and I’m a just one small wheel in the organizational machinery, so I know the situation was even more stressful for many of my coworkers.

I had some chemical assistance on stressful days, at least, and I don’t mean pharmaceuticals or even a stiff drink. Instead, I relied on Enfleurage’s Sanctuary oil, and a new hand cream from Le Couvent des Minimes with a scent named (appropriately) Eau Sereine…

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