citrus

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Angel Eau Croisière

angel croiserie filterAirport duty-free testers are disgusting–those germs have survived tropics and tundras from all over the world–but this one was well worth the risk.

Angel “Cruise” opens loud and proud with delicious fresh mango that lasted the trudge to my gate and through fancy class pre-boarding–I was worried I would be THAT seatmate, who gives everyone in the row a headache with their perfume–but it settled nicely to a few inches off the wrist with pink grapefruit ice by the time I managed to cram my bag into the overhead compartment.
Somewhere over Iceland the sorbet gave way to Angel’s signature caramel patchouli, without the amber musk that I usually find cloying.
It was gone when we landed, and my connection too short to hit the shops for a bottle of my own.
Next trip, maybe.

Here’s some nice light jazz that’s actually wonderfully filthy.

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Miss Dior Eau de Parfum

miss dior eau de p
Ad peelie with rectangular bottle of pink eau.

I remember Miss Dior being lovely a long time ago– but this 2017 version not so much. Just opening the magazine peelie makes me feel hungover.
There’s some throat-clenching citrus, a bang on the head of rose, and some nauseating patchouli.
Not one I’m going to chase down in the shops.

Here’s another unnecessary 2017 cover–Rihanna’s song is awesome as is–though this one does it justice, stripped down and acoustic.

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Eau de Cologne Imperiale

eau de cologne imperiale edges oranges
Old “Bee” mini bottle with green label, on a pile of mandarin oranges.

Paul Newman wore this one.
Nice bergamot and neroli with a hit of waxy lemon polish at the end–basically 4711 driven by a race car rather than a horse-drawn carriage–and fades into the distance just as fast.

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The Entertainer was a theme in one of Newman’s greatest movies–the Sting.
Here’s an absolutely not-sober version by the Reverend Horton Heat, that ends as quickly as the cologne.

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Moscow Mule

moscow mule edge
Discovery set sample spray on printout of the bottle–the lid is copper toned.

Juliette Has A Gun’s Moscow Mule is the perfect mirror of the cocktail, down to the copper cup.

The first sip is a citrus twist, followed by big swallows of sparkling ginger ale. A wooden muddler mixes in clear vodka musk, until only the metal mug remains, a brassy mineral aftertaste.

A good happy hour scent.

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This song has a good kick to it.

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Light Blue

light blue edgesThis one, like Envy, has a double nature–

On a good day, Light Blue smells like sweet lemonade and apples, roses and cedar, and finishes with cool musk.
On an off day, it can smell like old shoes and lemon oil disinfectant.

Oddly unalluring for such a popular fragrance–though sweet and fresh, there’s no come-hither, smell-me-closer-tiny-dancer to it anywhere. The projection is a pretty shield around the body, encouraging a step backward–respect for personal space, rather than an invitation inside.

This song has some of the same synth freshness–

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Get A Room

get a room edges
Scentbird decant spray, and paper test cutout of Confessions of a Rebel cube bottle, on notepaper with scribbles--“Shiny, Lemon Pudding.”

Scentbird asked me for some write ups. This one was an extra in the samples they sent.

Get A Room glitters on the skin like cheekbone highlighter, and opens that bright, a juicy twist of citrus that immediately turns sweet and creamy and seductive, a kiss of lemon custard shared with a lover.

It soon brightens to fresh iced tea with sugar, a few inches off the skin, and stays there, dreamy and light, with a pinch of mysterious herbs and a flirt of vanilla all night long.

I want to spray my pillowcases with it.

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Another dreamy one.

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Nuvol de Llimona

Nuvol de Limona edgesSo Nivol de Limona means “lemon cloud.” I don’t get fluffy, but it does change shape as it quickly passes by.

Starts with a squirt of Dawn dish detergent, takes an enjoyable but brief snack of milk and lemon Girl Scout sandwich cookies, then disappears with a wave of sugar scented hand lotion.

Here’s a sweet cloud by Tori that lasts longer.

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Joy by Dior

Ad card featuring photo of pink eau filled bottle, with white spray sample.

Jennifer Lawrence’s bottled tears.

This is department store white musk and Earl Grey tea with cream. She might have a rose in her teeth, but it’s faux silk and plastic.

Joy by Dior has none of J-Law’s fun spirit. The musk is too cheap, the citrus too sharp, the rose too artificial.
I’m sad, too.