The Mall Report: Chanel, Prada, Jo Malone, and Marchesa or what I really remember

So every once in awhile I have an extra long lunch break so I like to traipse over to the local mall and check out the latest fragrance offerings in the area.

First up Jo Malone's Blackberry and Bay which was not particularily very blackberry or bay, more citrussy than anything, which was disappointing because I love both of those things.

Then the big bad fruitchouli or as they are calling it over at Chanel, Coco Noir, sigh what an utter disappointment, the bottle is gorgeous, the name alone demands something good, but sadly this is a giant fruitchouli with some serious tenacity. Just no thank you.

Marchesa's Parfum D'Extase, big giant white floral, with possible headache inducing qualities, although touted as "fresh" and "different" I only smelled this on a card, and immediately knew it was not for I.

Prada Infusion d'Iris Absolue, this is pretty, very nice, not sure I need it with by bottle of Prada Candy still on the fuller side, as most have said imagine Infusion d'Iris mixed with Candy and you would have something like this but with a richer animalic dry down.

Tomorrow No6 by Naoko Stoop

SOTD: Infusion d'Iris

So the chosen date scent is: L de Lolita Lempicka pure parfum. For the first part of my day I will be wearing Infusion d'Iris, must have something calming today, I admit I have spoken to this guy for the last two nights late into the night, but I am such a nervous nelly.

image provided by artnet.com

image: Flush by Darren Waterston 2007

SOTD: Infusion d'Iris

There is not much to be said at the moment, other than I am working through this moment, and as usual in times of distress I reach for Infusion d'Iris, this is the scent that never begs for drama but rather has the effect of a soothing cup of green tea.

Music: Sour Girl by Stone Temple Pilots

image provided by artmagick.com
image: St. Cecily by Edward Reginald Frampton 1904
video uploaded by AtlanticVideos (by the way thank you Atlantic for actually allowing me to embed the video)

A Week In Review and SOTD

I think this week's theme would be HOT! Where as last week's theme was CAR DISASTER. Well I'll take heat over car disaster any day. The new week is starting off with the wonderful news of weather change which well brings a smile to my face. So I have decided to review this last week with some things I learned or enjoyed.

Three Ways to Survive the Summer Heat

1. Cold watermelon from the fridge with a sprinkle of salt, a couple of dashes of chili powder, and a squeeze of lime or lemon. This is utterly refreshing, will bring your temperture down fast, and is hydrating.


2. My Hawaiian Breeze fans, these really do keep you cool.


3. 4711, there is a reason why this cologne is a classic for heat!
   

My Household Cleaner Miracle

So I attract oil stains on my clothing like nobody else I know; I have had to get rid of so much clothing because of it, but that end's now due to a post last week by March at Perfume Posse. Get regular old Dawn dish detergent and put it on your oil stain spot let it sit for 10 minutes then throw clothing item in with rest of regular laundry load and get ready for a laundry miracle.

My Scent of the Day:

I'm going with the clean, easy, and ultimately soothing Infusion d'Iris.

image provided by artmagick.com
image: The Dragonfly by Gustave Moreau 1884

SOTD: Infusion d'Iris

This is the first image I ever really fell in love with of Leo and Diane Dillon's and belongs to one of my favorite books when I was younger (okay still a favorite), sadly I wasn't able to find the greatest image to illustrate the awesomeness of this cover. And if there was a scent to go with the character of Juniper well most definately her day scent is Infusion d'Iris (her night scent is most definately something incensey).

image provided by http://www.amazon.ca/Juniper-Monica-Furlong/dp/0679833692

image: Juniper by Leo and Diane Dillon

SOTD: Infusion d'Iris

Quote of the Day: The murals in restaurants are on par with the food in museums. -- Peter De Vries

image provided by artnet.com

image: Bronzino's Blue Bird by Claire Pestaille 2007

Most Worn in May: Infusion d'Iris and Osmanthus Interdite

Osmanthus Interdite is so utterly lovely it is scary and Infusion d'Iris continues its reign in fragrances I have worn.

mages provided by artnet.com
image: Deliberate Landscape III by Jennifer Scott McLaughlin 2006

SOTD: Infusion d'Iris

There is something incredibly serene about Prada's Infusion d'Iris, it has a quality that evokes lotuses and Egypt to me; at least my idea of ancient Egypt (as a child I had a love for all things Egyptian). Layering it today with GAP's Spun Orange Blossom and Smooth Sandalwood. Long Day ahead and serenity is needed.

Song: The Perfect Crime #2 by The Decemberists

Quote of The Day: No matter how cynical you get, it is impossible to keep up. -- Lily Tomlin

image provided by artnet.com

image: Lotus by Shi Ze

SOTD: Infusion d'Iris

So yesterday was not good, I came down with a fever and now have a mild case of the flu, no working on papers for me and now I am working on a deadline. Good goin Jen. The answer to this scent wise, Infusion d'Iris.
Sampled: Immortalle l'Amour by Ayala Moriel, starts off with a gorgeous vanilla extract note (apparently she used 3 vanillas in this) and dries down to the most mapley scent ever, you will want to lick your wrists. This has shockingly good lasting power. The tea made to go with this is also quite lovely.
Gaucho by Ayala Moriel, now this is herbacious! Has the most amazing smokey dry down, one I have never run across in any other fragrance, literally the scent of a match lit when run across stone. Sounds weird, but very addictive to smell. Sadly the lasting power of this scent isn't the greatest.

Quote of the Day: We rarely think people have good sense unless they agree with us. -- Francois de La Rochefoucauld, Maximes (1678)

Image: Birthday by Marc Chagall

SOTD: Infusion d'Iris

Once again work today, but luckly it is sunny outside, I must sound like a repeat offender with this constant choice for SOTD, but it is just lovely: Prada Infusion d'Iris. I can't escape its lovely tastefulness or that it is perfect for the season. It is a smart scent that never enters rigid.

Quote of the Day: "Most books on witchcraft will tell you that witches work naked. This is because most books on witchcraft were written by men. " — Neil Gaiman (Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch)

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Beast In Me by Mat Collishaw 2004

His and Her's

I admit I am fascinated by the concept of complimentary female and male fragrances. Although, I will add before going on that I fully support men and women going across the gender lines of perfume and wearing exactly what they want. And now back to his and her's fragrances, the fact is rarely do designers actually come out with his and her's scents that actually complement each other. So I have decided to propose my combinations that actually compliment each other from the catergories of male and female fragrance and I fully support the crossing of gender lines with these fragrances.

Bvlgari pour Homme Soir and Prada Infusion d'Iris

I would have never smelled the similarities of these two fragrances had my boyfriend not bought himself Bvlgarie pour Homme Soir on a whim. In fact I will say this on a paper strip these don't smell alike all, but once on the skin do they begin to share magical similarities. The magic note that brings them together: papyrus. Infusion d'Iris has always reminded me of the scent of papyrus but papyrus is not one of its listed notes, I suspect that Infusion d'Iris achieves this quality with the mixing of iris and vetiver. As for Bvlgarie pour Homme Soir well the papyrus note is achieved because papyrus is one of its notes.

The differences between these two are as interesting as their similarities. Infusion d'Iris remains through out its process to drydown with hints of green sap to complement the dryness of the iris and vetiver blend. Where as Bvlgari pour Homme Soir hints at the lightest fougere notes and dark violets surrounding a powdery grey iris note.

These two scents achieve a lovely cool elegance that is perfect for a spring and can easily be worn by either sex.

Official notes for both fragrances:

Infusion d'Iris: Galbanum, Mandarin Orange, Orange Blossom, Lentisk, Iris, Cedar, Vetiver, Benzoin, Frankincense

Bvlgari pour Homme Soir: Bergamot, Darjeeling Tea, Papyrus, Musk, Amber.

image provided by artnet.com

Male and Female Anglo-American Raccoons by Nicolas Huet 1817

SOTD: Infusion d'Iris

It is spring outside and I am stuck inside, so to keep the good spring with me I am opting for the ever lovely Infusion d'Iris (although, I admit I had a hard time choosing, I also had thinking about wearing Chanel 22 or Bvlgari pour femme). Such lovely weather and hear that a storm is coming this week.

Most Worn In February, It's a Four Part Tie Folks!

Un Bois Vanille by Serge Lutens

L de Lolita Lempicka by Lolita Lempicka

Euphoria by Calvin Klein

Infusion d'Iris by Prada

Vanilla image provided by http://www.browniepointsblog.com/2006/11/21/time-for-vanilla-beans-again/

immortelle flower image provided by www.botany.com/helichrysum.html

pomegranite image provided by http://www.nandyala.org/mahanandi/archives/category/milk/yogurt/

iris image provided by www.themayfly.com/weblog/this_and_that/

SOTD: Prada Infusion d'Iris

Today I am going with the lovely delicate Prada Infusion d'Iris. I'm entering that part of year where all I want is spring scents (I know rather early, but then again I usually pull out my heavy orientals in August because well I start craving the yummy scents of Autumn and Winter, really it is a violent cycle :-P). This is also helped by the fact that Illuminations just put out there new Spring scents and well they look really good. Especially the Bellini one. By the way this is the first Iris fragrance I have ever owned.