Although I tend to be very loyal to the same fragrance and have been for a while, I always look forward to sampling new fragrances on the market.  My latest sampling was the Versace Yellow Diamond perfume, body lotion and shower gel.  Before getting into what I thought, I must first mention that I am drawn to really clean, fresh, light scents  and anything outside of that realm seems overpowering to me.

I found the Yellow Diamond perfume to be very  floral and fruity on my skin.  The top notes includes Citron, Pear, Neroli and Bergamot, the middle notes are Freesia, Orange Blossom and Mimosa and the bottom notes are Amber, Wood and Musk.

I applied very little, but the fragrance was still pretty intense, after a while I swear I could taste the fragrance in the back of my throat.  The perfumed body lotion was the same…much to intense for my liking.  I did however like the perfumed shower gel.  For some reason it did not seem as intense as the perfume and body lotion, it left a barely there, soft fragrance on my skin.  However, I would only use the shower gel if I were going out at night and did not plan on using any other fragrance.

If you’re into floral, fruity scents I would recommend giving this a try, what I would not recommend is using the shower gel, body lotion and perfume at the same time…not unless you enjoy being swarmed by bees or are intentionally trying to dissuade any form of human contact. If you’ve worn this perfume, I’d love to know what you thought of it.

*Disclosure

Gail Lewis

Gail is at times a model, most of the time a blogger, but always a beauty junkie.

Website - Twitter - Facebook - More Posts

Nine West has joined the ranks of countless other retail brands diving into the world of fragrance. The beloved shoe company debuted their premier scent, Love Fury, on January 23^rd 2012.

Created through an exclusive partnership with Firmenich (the company behind scents like Juicy Couture and Ralph Lauren Romance), Love Fury is a romantic, fruity-floral blend that easily takes you from daytime wear to a girl’s night out.

To me, the scent’s fruity notes are reminiscent of Betsey Johnson’s self-named fragrance released in 2006. The opening notes of both perfumes are irresistibly bright and floral, but the heart and drydown of Love Fury are more appealing by far with sensual sandalwood and amber.

The packaging is simple and chic, the stopper a unique nod to Nine West’s signature mark: a stiletto heel.

Visit your local Nine West store or www.NineWest.com to learn more about the fragrance, available in a 0.3oz. rollerball, 1.7 and 3.4oz accompanied by a 6 oz body lotion.

*Disclosure

Amanda Huggins

Amanda is a PR and communications girl living and working in the NYC area. She is a firm believer in the powers of a strong cup of coffee and fire-engine red lipstick.

Website - Twitter - Facebook - More Posts

Now you can take your Boyfriend wherever you go.

For the past year or so, I have been in a fragrance crisis. Despite how many times I searched through Sephora, Ulta, or my local department stores, I just couldn’t seem to find a scent that fits my personality.

The light, sweet notes found in my once-loved perfumes smelled a bit too young for me, but I didn’t want to lose the femininity that those fragrances embodied. There’s something indescribably feminine – even seductive – about amber and vanilla scents.

That being said, I  also love the woody, musky, and even citrusy notes that are present in most men’s colognes – I’ve actually been spraying Aqua Di Gio around my room as an air freshener lately. As you can imagine, I was totally floored to come across Boyfriend by Kate Walsh, a mens-inspired fragrance that had musky, woodsy notes while still keeping a very distinct level of femininity.

Kate Walsh missed the scent of her boyfriend on her skin (don’t we all love that smell?) and set out to create a fragrance that was mens-inspired but totally feminine. Walsh hit the mark – there is a distinctly masculine edge to the fragrance, but it is warm, comforting, and manages remains quite delicate and girly.

While this scent isn’t for everybody, it is my complete dream come true. Buy 1.6oz of Boyfriend at Sephora for $65.00 (and free shipping!)

*Disclosure: A small sampler was sent by the PR firm to review this product.

Amanda Huggins

Amanda is a PR and communications girl living and working in the NYC area. She is a firm believer in the powers of a strong cup of coffee and fire-engine red lipstick.

Website - Twitter - Facebook - More Posts

I tend to be very loyal when it comes to my perfumes.  Rarely do I ever deviate from a particular brand or fragrance. The only time I ever switch my scents are in the summer and fall.  In the summer, I tend to go with very light body splashes and in the fall I return to my signature scent of perfume…a little less playful, but definitely a stronger scent…a bit sexier.  I have been using the same perfume for a few years now and though I’ve been tempted a few times by the bright lights and smiling faces at the department store perfume counters and I’ve managed to remain faithful to a fault…until I met the Italian…Gelsomino Nobile.

Gelsomino Nobile is a new fragrance from the Le Nobili collection by Acqua Di Parma and is centered on a species of Jasmine grown in Calabria, Italy.  The fragrance is inspired by a beautiful Italian garden with a sunny sea breeze wafting in from the Mediterranean.  I generally shy away from anything inspired by a garden of any kind because I normally find those types of fragrances overpowering, not the case with Gelsomino Nobile.  It is soft, sexy, feminine and sophisticated.  It is definitely a fragrance that I would only wear during the colder months and just a little dab goes a long way.  The process of choosing a new perfume is a very personal experience for me and one that I tend to experience by myself (and of course the salesperson)…maybe…But this time I decided to get a second opinion, that of the current boyfriend…no he is not Italian.  He thought the fragrance was subtle, sexy and not overwhelming.  I normally go through the entire sample of perfume before I decide 100% to purchase it, I’ve only used about 25% of the Gelsomino Nobile sample (seriously a little really does go a long way) but I’ve pretty much made up my mind and settled on the fact that I am going to cheat….

Gail Lewis

Gail is at times a model, most of the time a blogger, but always a beauty junkie.

Website - Twitter - Facebook - More Posts

The beauty industry has definitely contributed in large part to making traveling less stressful.  Yes we still have to deal with lines, delays and ridiculous baggage fees, but thanks to the beauty industry, as soon as we board we can treat ourselves to an in-plane spa session that will remove the memory of any stress prior to boarding.  One of the few products that I have noticed absent from the vast array of great airline travel-friendly products is perfume. Yes, there are perfumes available in sample sizes that you can pretend you’re going to buy later, but you actually won’t…you just want it because it’s in an easy to travel size (it’s OK, I do it and know of a few others that are guilty as well!)  But what is a girl to do? Sometimes I would like to freshen up my fragrance on the plane, but it’s usually not handy because it’s in my checked luggage…it being in a large, heavy glass bottle and all.  I knew it would only be a matter of time before some beauty industry genius came up with a solution and of course someone did, the geniuses at Travalo.

Travalo is a refillable perfume atomizer that is ridiculously user friendly and foolproof.  It allows you to rapidly transfer your favorite perfumes from their full sized bottles in to a convenient travel size container (about 3 inches long  and weighs .5 oz).  All you have to do is to remove the spray top from your perfume bottle and insert the pump stick of the perfume bottle into the bottom of the Travalo container, then press down repeatedly until the Travalo container is filled, it’s really that simple.

The Travalo container even has a clear window so that you are able to gauge the level of perfume it contains so you know when it’s ready to be refilled.  The container is very lightweight, shatter proof and environmentally friendly, I also love that it fits into the teeniest evening clutch.  Yes Travalo is absolutely genius, but now there is absolutely no reason to smell anything but fantastic…no matter where you might find yourself.

Gail Lewis

Gail is at times a model, most of the time a blogger, but always a beauty junkie.

Website - Twitter - Facebook - More Posts

It’s that time of year again for a perfume change, a time of year also known to some as summer.   And I love celebrating summer and all that it embodies by going lighter and fresher with everything… diet, clothing, hair and of course fragrance.    I rarely ever wear perfume in the summer, opting instead to go with body splashes or a lightly scented lotion.  On those very rare occasions when I do choose to wear perfume, I look for fragrances that are clean, fresh,  soft, simple and pretty.  I like fragrances that are very easy to wear and that also require very close contact if you are looking to catch a whiff of it (what can I say, I’m very private about my fragrance, can’t have every Tom, Dick and Harry stealing a whiff…)

I managed to find a few perfumes that incorporate all of the attributes I look for in a “summer fragrance” and they are all by elizabethW san francisco.  The fragrances from the line that I absolutely love for summer are Leaves, Citrus Vervain and Sweet Tea. They are all very evocative of summer, but the fragrance that I chose as my new summer perfume was of course the Sweet Tea.  Not only does the name absolutely epitomize summer, but the fragrance is described as gracious,  spirited and elegant with enticing oriental black teas, juicy fresh Amalfi lemons and the sweetness of almond honey, what could be more summery than that?  I love how simple, clean and fresh it smells on my skin, I honestly don’t think it could be overpowering even if it tried.

Now that I have my Sweet Tea, I feel more prepared to don my straw hats and cotton dresses…all that’s missing is my Southern accent (something about sweet tea that makes me think Scarlett O’Hara…)

Gail Lewis

Gail is at times a model, most of the time a blogger, but always a beauty junkie.

Website - Twitter - Facebook - More Posts

I love fragrance. Certain scents can immediately whisk me back to a specific time in my life in a blink of an eye. Another helps create memories. There is such an abundance of great perfumes on the market right now, so I asked my fellow beauty blogger’s which were their must-have fragrance for Fall (and included mine too.)

Patty from Perfume Posse: For fall, I’m hands down in love with L’Artisan Nuit de Tubereuse. It’s rich, little spicy, nutty, the tubereuse isn’t the big white flower one of Fracas, it’s just absolutely stunning, warm and more than slightly addictive to wear. It’s a disturbing comfort. Like that moment when you are doing crow or a handstand in yoga, and it’s not something you feel confident about in the least, but you hit that one sweet moment when you know you’ve lined it up and that’s what it should feel like. Then you realize you are probably going to bang your nose on the floor or your arm might give out, but it’s almost weightless and without effort for a second and you may even look good doing it, but deeply disturbing in feeling right. (Find it at LuckyScent.com.) 

Marta from Talking Makeup: The hottest fragrance for Fall hands down is Womanity by Thierry Mugler!! Why? Wow factor.

Evie from Product Pasha: Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia Cologne: this simple yet intriguing fragrance is perfect for Fall – sweet and warm, fresh and fruity. I love that I can wear it alone or pair it with other fragrances to add more depth on colder days.

Shannon from A Girl’s Gotta Spa!: I am really loving pureDKNY. There is something about the scent of vanilla as the air cools down. But it’s not just a clean vanilla and water fragrance, it has a hint of floral too. So pretty. So simple.

What is your must-have fragrance for Fall?

Don’t forget to Like A Girl’s Gotta Spa! on Facebook, talk to me on Twitter @agirlsgottaspa and subscribe to this beauty blog!

*Disclosure

Shannon Nelson

Website - More Posts

With Gwen Stefani’s line of perfume, you’ll have all the guys following you around! Harajuku Lovers has a selection of great scents and each perfume is displayed in the cutest, most adorable glass figure with a little Harajuku doll on the top. Harajuku Lovers Perfume will satisfy all of your senses and leave you smelling fresh and spunky. Out of five unique fragrances in this line, the one that really stands out to me is Harajuku Lovers G. This fragrance will keep you feeling tropical and summery all year round! Harajuku Lovers G is a mix between sandalwood, pineapple and the most recognizable and strongest scent in this fragrance, coconut. Yummy! 

I love this product so much that I spray it on me about four to five times a day (I love to smell good, but don’t we all?) Sure, 4-5 times a day sounds like fragrance overload, but re-spritzing is because the scent doesn’t linger on your skin for very long. I do wish that the fragrance would last a bit longer, though because I just absolutely adore this scent. It smells nice and vibrant when you first put it on, but slowly fades throughout the day.

I’m usually very picky when it comes to perfumes and scents and dislike the really strong, overbearing smells. But with this fragrance, it’s not too strong but not too light, it’s just strong enough to get your coco-nutty smell across! Do you love coconut just as much as I do? Have you tried any of the scents in the Harajuku Lovers collection?

Brittany

Website - More Posts

CLEAN Perfume and A Girl’s Gotta Spa! have partnered to give YOU, my lovely readers, the opportunity to grab a sample of CLEAN’s Warm Cotton perfume. On Wed., March 3rd at 4pm EST, I will tweet a code that is exclusive to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! readers, Facebook fan page fans and @agirlsgottaspa followers on Twitter. The first 25 people who enter the code on CLEAN’s Facebook fan page “Fan Giveaway” tab, will find themselves the happy owner of a sample of Warm Cotton.

I know, there are thousands of you and only 25 samples may seem like an impossible feat to grab one, but that’s why it’s so important to be following on Twitter so that when I tweet the code, you can quickly scoop up the sample! Plus, it’s fun to talk with you all there anyway, right?

So March 3rd at 4pm EST on @agirlsgottaspa I’ll tweet the CLEAN Perfume code! See you then!

Shannon Nelson

Website - More Posts

This morning I was treated to a morning of fragrance and beauty at the Victoria’s Secret Valentine’s Beauty Preview and Gifting Suite at the Four Season’s hotel in San Francisco. The elegant suite was strewn with gorgeous spring flowers and several of Victoria Secret’s beauty collections. Before today I wasn’t too familiar with Victoria Secret’s beauty line-up. I must admit I was impressed at the variety of products, quality and well-designed packaging. I will be revealing more fab finds from this go-to resource for beauty and fragrance in the upcoming weeks.

Today I will be sharing a few of my favorite picks for Valentine’s gifting. I am always out scouting interesting and fun new products and here are four picks for Valentine’s Day.

All girls have their naughty and nice sides. Perhaps it depends on the day, the occasion or the event? These beauty collections from Victoria’s Secret speak to the rebel and romantic in all of us. Love Rocks pays tribute to your inner wild at heart, while the Tease for Two appeals to a softer and sweeter side. Both are perfectly appropriate for gifting or receiving. 

You have seen the moto-inspired trends all over the runways. Think leather Balmain motorcycle jackets, Pierre Hardy boots and Alexander Wang’s studded Coco duffel. Karl Lagerfeld even outfitted a custom Chanel motorcycle. A fresh take on this trend is the Victoria’s Secret Love Rocks Eau de Parfum (1.7 oz., $39). Fit for a rebel who is also a romantic at heart, this scent is a fruity floral giving off top notes of Bergamot, Peony and Raspberry sorbet. Middle notes includes scents of Sandalwood flower, Jasmine, Peach nectar, and Plum. The Love Rocks eau de parfum is bottled in a striking red lacquer bottle and the atomizer is accessorized with a black leather rosette. Another item from this collection that caught my eye is the super sweet Love Rocks Lip Gloss Ring ($12), it opens up to a little pot of sheer cherry red lip gloss and the word “Rocks” inscribed inside.

These gifts are for indulging your romantic side and sharing with another. A wearable and edible treat, from the Tease for Two collection, the Vanilla Craving Edible Shimmer Powder ($15) can be dusted on your décolleté for a pretty glimmer and nibbled off later. It is very delicate and is lightly scented, doesn’t leave a harsh metallic glimmer like some shimmering body powders. Also perfect for Valentine’s most intimate moments is the Kissable Massage Oil ($15)…the perfect ending to a romantic evening.

TheFind.com’s Disclaimer – I was provided with samples of products by Victoria’s Secret for editorial review purposes.

*Guest beauty post by TheFind.com

Shannon Nelson

Website - More Posts